Bleacher Report - Front Page

Everton FC: Complete Stats Guide to the Toffees' 2012-13 Premier League Season

Matt Cheetham — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:10:24 -0400

Everton's 2012-13 Premier League season, the last under David Moyes, is now well and truly consigned to the football annuals of time.

A sixth-placed finish and 63 points may well have been taken by most supporters back in August, but an unfortunate lack of European football and two dismal cup exits will leave a sour taste lingering in the mouths of many.

Several excellent, in-depth analysis of the Toffees' fluctuating fortunes have already been written, highlighting the styles and trends of the season. Following on in this style, here's more of a focus on the individuals, as opposed to the team.

Goalkeeper

We start with a look at Everton's goalkeeper, which, as it has been for the past seven years, was almost entirely Tim Howard. Jan Mucha performed heroics in a memorable win over Manchester City, but the rest of his season was almost completely irrelevant, mirroring his previous three years on Merseyside.

Here's a look at Howard's statistics, compared to his form over the past five seasons:

It's actually quite remarkable how similar Howard's five years have been, but these numbers don't show the American's sporadic production. Six clean sheets in his final nine appearances actually glossed over a lengthy bout of inconsistency and rather augmented his final return, as this article shows.

Initially his season was on course to be his worst at Everton, as early-season lapses against Newcastle, Stoke, Norwich and Fulham ultimately cost the Toffees dearly. His five individual errors, all during the first half of the campaign, are his worst return for the club.

On his game, the American is still one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the division, but there is certainly a need to identify a younger model to develop behind him and eventually replace him with.

Defence

After an uncertain middle period, Everton's defence rallied to finish the year as the top flight's fourth-best unit, conceding just 40 goals. Here's a look the main defensive contributors:

It doesn't take a vaguely educated eye to spot the main culprit for the Toffees' poorer spells at the back. Having been awarded the Fans' Player of the Year award last season, to say John Heitinga had disappointed over the ensuing 12 months would be a huge understatement.

He recorded the lowest production in most categories and too often handicapped a side that conceded far more goals with him in defence. Leighton Baines may be slightly disappointed with his overall contribution at the back, although his sensational offensive facets more than atone for this.

In contrast, Seamus Coleman was arguably Everton's most improved player this season, and his growing effectiveness is demonstrated by some impressive numbers, while Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka are extremely consistent throughout.

That previously mentioned uncertainly relates to a period between September and January when the Toffees failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 matches. A worrying trait that became particularly prominent during this run was an inability to cope with physical strikers. Only Wigan conceded more goals in the air than the Toffees' 15, which is reflected by the aerial duels won column, in which only Distin excels.

Jagielka is exceptional on the ground and in almost all aspects of defending, but perhaps only average in the air. Everton need a towering presence in their left-sided berth to not only complement Jagielka's other excellent assets, but also to compensate for Baines' lack of height. Without Distin, Heitinga is not able enough in this department, and too stylistically similar to Jagielka to partner him, ever. An imposing centre-back must be brought in over the summer.

Midfield

Next, here's a look at Everton's midfield men. When looking at scattered numbers like these it must be remembered how different players have different roles to perform. Sometimes these statistics are useful merely in identifying them as opposed to making instant judgements without relevant context:

One of the main issues with the Toffees' midfield was a lack of bite when not in possession. With Marouane Fellaini predominately occupying a forward berth, Leon Osman, Darron Gibson and Phil Neville were generally left responsible for Everton's core.

Gibson produced the worst tackling figures at the club, Osman was dribbled past more than anyone in the Premier League (aside from Santi Cazorla) and Neville's ground duel success is rather awful. In other words, the Toffees were often vulnerable through the middle.

Fellaini reappeared in a deeper role toward the end of the season and, coincidentally, the Toffees only conceded four goals in their last 10 games—although they also scored far less. With the Belgian potentially about to depart the club, a physical, energetic presence should be targeted in midfield.

Elsewhere, Pienaar's exceptional creative production is emphasised, a return that makes his sometimes sloppy retention skills slightly more forgiveable. With the ball, Osman and Gibson produced fine campaigns, with Gibson's poise and Osman's passing in the final third especially impressive.

Strikers

Attack was Everton's glaring weakness this season, with the Toffees managing at least 10 goals fewer than each of the six sides around them. Here's a look at the main offenders:

It's hard to sufficiently summarise Nikica Jelavic's fall from grace. Having started brightly enough, with six goals in 15 games, the Croatian's currently on a demoralising run of just one Premier League goal in 22 games.

While it may have initially had something to do with Fellaini's forward berth, the fact that the Belgian's recently returned to a deeper role dispels, or at least quiets that argument for now. After such a bright burst late last season, this year has only brought disappointment, and he now looks bereft of confidence.

As a result, he records some pretty dismal figures. He creates the least, wins little in the air, misses the target most often and, crucially, needs more chances to score than any other forward.

Elsewhere, the reason for including Kevin Mirallas here is to reveal his increasing effectiveness in the final third. As well as leading the creative and dribbling stakes, he more than holds his own in the shooting department and is surely a candidate to play behind the striker more frequently next season.

Fellaini enjoyed an outstanding start, with eight goals in 14, but found it hard to maintain the pace. The Belgian was still dominant in the air throughout the year and was his side's most clinical player in the final third. Without producing anything statistically stunning, Victor Anichebe produced his most consistent year in an Everton shirt and can be an effective foil for more subtle players around him.

Best and Worst

To finish, here's a light-hearted look at some of Everton's best and worst statistical performers:

It's impossible to review the season in numbers without mentioning Baines' outstanding creative production. The England man fashioned out 116 openings for his teammate, the most in the Premier League—by 12—and currently the most in Europe's five major leagues.

He was also the Toffees' top crosser, made the most tackles, had the most touches and played every minute of a season. He was effectively his side's heartbeat and was rightly crowned the club's Player of the Year.

Statistics via EPL Index and WhoScored?

Follow @Matt_Cheetham

What's Next for Kevin Durant After OKC Thunder 2013 Playoff Exit?

Jimmy Spencer — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:42:01 -0400

Kevin Durant’s season of missed opportunity supports multiple truths that we already knew:

1. Even the most elite of superstars can’t do it alone in today’s NBA.

2. Scoring will never be valued ahead of winning.

3. Durant is still the second-best superstar.

That last detail may be too tart to digest for the league’s sweetheart, considering how much the Oklahoma City Thunder's scorer is "done with" his runner-up baggage, as he said to Sports Illustrated.

But all that feel-good stuff for the 24-year-old, the one who seems like he's already been around for a decade, is ticking toward expiration.

Even if it's still wide open, the window for a title is inevitably closing, and this season proved Durant can't win without sidekick Russell Westbrook.

That’s not harsh; that's the NBA. Excuses don’t carry over in discussions decades later when Hall of Famers are ultimately judged by championships.

Durant dominated offensively in the postseason, averaging 31.8 points after Westbrook went down with a season-ending knee injury in the second game of the first round.

The box score looked fantastic. But so what?

He didn’t succeed late in games when victories were absolutely available. In Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Durant combined to shoot just 3-of-17 from the field in both fourth quarters and in one overtime. Oklahoma City lost each game by six points.

Spare us all the “he was the only reason the Thunder were close” escapist harmony. LeBron James didn’t get that back in Cleveland.

Durant didn’t come through. It was his moment to overcome the improbable in a way that creates all-time greats. Instead, Durant was awful at 5-of-21 in the Thunder's series-ending Game 5 loss. He had the opportunity to tie that game in the final seconds and missed.

The league’s No. 2 superstar could not return to even second-place without his second guy.

That’s ultimately how his 2012-13 season will be remembered, like it or not.

2012-13 by the Numbers

The season that ended too abruptly for the league's finest scorer also came with the end of three consecutive scoring titles. Durant finished with a scoring average of 28.1 points, just a smidge behind Anthony's 28.7-point average.

Other than that, it was buckets per usual for the 6’9” try-and-stop-this, box-score magician.He finished second in Most Valuable Player voting to James, receiving 93 out 121 second-place votes.

Durant didn't catch that elusive No. 1 spot, but he did claim the second-highest-scoring season of his career and balanced it with a career-high 4.6 assists, which by the way was second-highest for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City finished first in the Western Conference standings, and, yes, second overall behind the Miami Heat.

No championship yet, but Durant’s postseason numbers were quite ridiculous despite his late-game failings versus Memphis. In 11 playoff games, he averaged 30.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 44.1 minutes per game. As the singular focus of a thinned-out lineup, Durant still shot 45.5 percent.

What They're Saying

There’s nothing wrong with being a good guy; there’s no requirement that says winning a title is only accomplished by being a hardwood punk.

The “not nice” marketing campaign is relevant only to selling apparel.

Still, the clean image continues to follow Durant, even as he nicely barked a little during exit interviews after the Thunder’s second-round exit.

Durant was asked if he felt the 2012-13 season was "wasted," a sentiment expressed once before by Godfather superstar Kobe Bryant after seasons that didn't end with a title.

According to DailyThunder.com, Durant said:

I don’t give a damn. I’m going to be who I’m going to be...I’m not Kobe Bryant. I’m not Michael Jordan. I’m not LeBron James. I’m not Magic Johnson. I’m me. I’m not ever going to compromise myself and my integrity and what I believe in for winning some basketball games or winning a championship. That’s just not how I was brought up. I’m always going to fight for the game I love.

I’m going to claw until the last buzzer sounds and if I win a championship, of course I’ll be happy. I’m not satisfied to be in this league and losing, I’m going to work as hard as I can to get to that mountaintop. I enjoy playing the game, I enjoy being here, but I’m never [sic] come out to the media and say I wasted a year because we lost a championship. Like I said, I don’t have to be Kobe Bryant.

It’s hard to decode what Durant is getting at when he says he won’t compromise his integrity to win a championship. It’s subtly insinuates that the guys he mentions did.

It would have been interesting to hear Durant expand on what exactly he meant, or perhaps the quote can simply be credited to misinterpreted thought.

Either way, what he's saying there doesn't add up with what he's already said.

Stock Watch

For Durant to say he doesn’t “give a damn”? C’mon.

Of course Durant cares. He's the one who said he was tired of being second. He's the one who vocalized his distaste for being the second-best player out of high school, second in the NBA draft and second in MVP voting.

He cares. And so do 99 percent of all NBA fans who qualify superstars against one another, past and present.

Even if Durant truly doesn’t “give a damn,” well fine; that doesn’t mean the comparisons will cease. Expectations for the great ones will always be overly scrutinized.

Durant is awarded patience by popular opinion mostly because of his young age and a humble attitude that never guaranteed immediate championships.

Obviously Westbrook’s injury led to a backward step after an early arrival last season.

Contract Situation

Durant signed a five-year deal for $86 million in the 2010 offseason that will carry him through the 2015-16 season.

Between Durant's paycheck and Westbrook’s deal that extends through 2016-17, the Thunder have an unshakeable core—if not for further injuries—through at least the next three seasons.

By not tying up all its money with a third big-money contract for James Harden, the small-market franchise has left financial room to operate moving forward.

If the team can continue to stay in a healthy financial situation, it will only prolong Durant’s window of winning a title. Durant and Westbrook are both 24 years old and Serge Ibaka is 23 years old.

Projected 2013-14 Stat Line

27.8 PPG / 8.3 RPG / 5.2 APG / 52 FG% / 42 3PT%

Durant upped his assists to 6.3 in the postseason, a clear effect of guiding more Oklahoma City possessions without the presence of Westbrook.

Durant has already dropped hints that he would like to become more of a complete player in the NBA, and he showcased that in the postseason.

Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman quoted Durant:

“I can do a lot more,” Durant during the conference semifinals. “It's always things you can do more. I talk to one of my good friends and he said no matter how good you're playing you always can do more.

“That's how I look at it. I just got to find ways to help them out and put them in great positions and continue to just be a vocal leader, a positive leader on the bench and every single time down the court and we'll be fine.”

Durant’s ability to create shots through his unmatchable length will always remain. His true shooting percentage of 64.7 percent this past regular season was the highest of his career.

As his scoring maintains, Durant will naturally shift defensive pressure away from teammates. As he develops a greater veteran lens, his ability to read defenses will naturally create added assists. His long body creates automatic passing lanes.

The Crystal Ball Says...

The pressure will begin to mount.

The wealth of an NBA franchise can spoil quickly and dramatically. Even the infallible can fall suddenly, as was the case when Westbrook went down.

Durant lost a season because of a teammate’s injury.

The outpouring of love for Durant still exists, but the demand to win a title will eventually devour even the most adored superstar. He’s already showing frustration in his role as the league’s deputy MVP.

If Durant and the Thunder fall short again next season, how long will the fickle sports world remain patient?

How long will Durant himself remain patient?

Durant will return for the 2013-14 with a heightened sense of urgency.

With a roster that will includes Westbrook and the potential of another scorer added in the offseason, the Thunder will return to the NBA Finals.

From there, Durant will have the chance to finally ascend to No. 1.

Follow @JimmySpencerNBA

Why We Want to See Mark Hunt Earn a Title Shot with a Win over Junior Dos Santos

Dustin Filloy — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:36:20 -0400

Two years ago, the prospect of watching hard-hitting heavyweights Mark Hunt and former UFC champ Junior dos Santos lock horns in the Octagon seemed like a far-fetched proposition.

Hunt had just snapped a six-fight losing skid with his first win in the UFC, while “Cigano,” was riding an impressive seven-fight winning streak that included five victories via knockout in the UFC.

But the once down-and-out Hunt has evolved radically in the last two years, revitalizing and ultimately transforming his volatile career with four straight wins.

His good fortune has landed him in an advantageous position that few envisioned him leveraging two years ago.

Hunt will square off with Cigano on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 160 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. UFC president Dana White has deemed the bout a de facto heavyweight title eliminator.

Since rendering Chris Tuchscherer unconscious at UFC 127 for his first win with the company, Hunt’s reeled off notable wins over Ben Rothwell (unanimous decision), Cheick Kongo (TKO) and Stefan Struve (TKO).

Hunt broke Struve’s jaw with a vicious leaping left hook in the third round of their enthralling fight at UFC on Fuel TV 8 to help his popularity reach new heights. The win also garnered him "Knockout of the Night" honors and catapulted “The Super Samoan” to No. 9 on the UFC’s heavyweight rankings.

Hunt, who decisioned the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in Japan’s Pride Fighting Championships, had already built a loyal allegiance of fans before joining the UFC.

With one-punch knockout power, sound technical striking chops and a jaw of steel, The Super Samoan represents the prototypical fighter that spectators of all walks of life can pull for.

Hunt also sports a Rocky-like persona that spawned when he began training after being discovered at a street fight outside a nightclub in Auckland, New Zealand.

Not only does The Super Samoan consistently invite a violent, back-and-forth brand of stand-up brawl, he also opposes most forms of ground fighting—unless of course he's in a dominant spot to strike in the top position.

If Hunt can continue to develop a defensive grappling prowess, then The Super Samoan could realistically threaten the UFC's heavyweight strap, regardless of who's holding it.

First, however, Hunt must get through the man that many considered indestructible before his last bout against champ Cain Velasquez at UFC 155.

Before getting brutalized and dropping a unanimous decision to Velasquez in their rematch, Dos Santos terrorized the UFC's heavyweight division winning nine straight fights, seven by way of knockout.

Cigano's dynamic skill set has influenced the oddsmakers to deem him a significant favorite to best Hunt. In fact, Bovada.com has named Dos Santos a 4.5-to-1 favorite (-450) to prevail at UFC 160.

He may not carry the oddsmakers' blessings, but that never stopped Hunt from pulling off an upset over a seemingly unbeatable opponent in the past.

One thing's certain, however; as long as Hunt continues to live the life of a head-hunter, The Super Samoan will always have a large contingency of fans behind him—win or lose.

Chicago Bulls' Step-by-Step Guide to the Offseason

Mike B. — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:22:46 -0400

If you’re hoping for an exciting Chicago Bulls offseason, you’ll be deeply disappointed.

The team doesn’t have the money to sign a top-notch free agent, and it's not going to pull off any blockbuster trades.

There has been speculation, a la Grantland's Bill Simmons, of a deal that would send the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love to Chicago. While a squad featuring Derrick Rose, Love and Joakim Noah would be fun to watch, a major transaction like that just isn’t in the cards for the Bulls.

Rose and Noah are basically untouchable. Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler aren’t going anywhere either unless a trade offer emerges that the Bulls can’t turn down.

Also, Carlos Boozer won’t be amnestied, especially after a solid season. The Bulls could let him go next summer, though.

Will Nate Robinson or Marco Belinelli be bought back? What about Nazr Mohammed?

And who should the Bulls draft with their first-round pick—a center or shooting guard?

This slideshow lists the team’s offseason decisions in the order they will be addressed as well as how they will be handled.

Begin Slideshow

To-Do List for Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry to Return Better Next Season

Scott Burns — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:15:46 -0400

Steph Curry lit up the scoreboard and the national fans’ attention spans with dominant playoff performances, but he still has a to-do list to become even better next season.

Curry is arguably the best pure shooter in today’s NBA game, and he will work to improve on his shot selection and his ability to move off screens, since he is now one of the top 10 players in the Association.

With him propelling into stardom, teams will be focusing on limiting his movement and forcing him into close quarters. Curry will need to break through double-teams, use his brilliant ball-handling skills and use his vision to create opportunities for him and his teammates.

Getting Stronger

The first item on his to-do list is to get stronger and strengthen both of his ankles. As you can remember from the playoffs, he hurt his non-surgically repaired ankle, and it significantly limited his mobility in the San Antonio series.

The strength will help Curry play and grind out the extra minutes that he will be playing next season. The stronger each ankle gets from conditioning and hours in the weight room, the better off he will be going into the late season and the playoffs.

He can’t majorly bulk up, or he will lose some of his quickness, but if he can add strength to his frame, he can continue to drive to the center of the court and take on other teams’ bigs. He has perfected his floater as you can see in the video below.

Curry is very creative when he drives to the basket, but the major missing ingredient is that he doesn’t get the fouls and hasn’t generated enough trips to the line.

Finding His Way to the Foul Line

If he can start getting the fouls, and his rising ascension around the league will help, Curry is a deadly shooter at the charity stripe. He shot 90 percent from the line, but he only earned 291 free throws, ranking him 42nd in the league and 12th versus point guards with an average of 3.7 attempts per game.

When he became the “guy” in the playoffs, Curry only averaged 3.2 free throws per game. Yes, he converted at a 92.1 percent rate, but he could have used at least four or five more free trips. In the same number of games (12), Memphis Grizzlies’ point guard Mike Conley has averaged 6.8 attempts per game.

The strength will help show the league that Curry isn’t someone who is afraid of the contact and won’t always be in a position to pass the ball when contact is near. However, he is a very creative passer, as evidenced by his assist to Carl Landry below.

Curry dribbles around and draws the defenders up before he spots Landry near the baseline. He lofts a pass that only Landry can catch, and Landry converts on the play.

Increasing His Assists

Passing is a strength of his game, but he needs to continue to develop the skill before the start of next season. Curry needs to have a 360-degree awareness at all times, so that he can make transition passes, start the pick-and-roll with Andrew Bogut or David Lee and find the open man when he draws more than one defender.

The focus on passing will further enhance his shooting ability, because defenders will have to react to Curry, instead of focusing on just his shot or his dribble-drive penetration. Curry can’t fall into the habit of just relying on his shooting ability.

During the season, Curry averaged 6.9 APG, which ranked him 13th among point guards. In the playoffs, he stepped it up a notch as he dished out 8.1 dimes per game. If he can bring that type of consistency to next season, he is one step closer to becoming one of the league’s best players.

Limiting the Turnovers

Curry has outstanding ball-handling skills, but he can give up easy turnovers here and there. The ankle problems have increased the occasional turnover at times, but this is one area that he really needs to focus on this summer.

He finished the season ranked tied for 180th place in the NBA with former Warrior Monta Ellis by committing 3.1 turnovers per game. Yes, Curry has the ball in his hands more than most players, but he finished tied for 39th place out of 43 point guards.

He can’t force the ball when nobody is open. He needs to survey the floor and kick the ball back to a wing or Andrew Bogut, if he is hanging out near the top of the arc.

On this play, Curry has the ball batted away, which leads to an easy conversion by the San Antonio Spurs.

Combining his assists with his turnovers, Curry has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.25, which ranks him 35th among point guards. Top-tier point guard, Chris Paul has an AST/TO ratio of 4.26.

If he can increase his assists and lower his turnovers, Curry will help the Warriors win more close games and pad his star status.

Becoming More of a Defensive Presence

Coach Mark Jackson and assistant coach Mike Malone have reinvented the culture of the Warriors with an intense defensive focus. Curry is a good defender, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

Hopefully with a full offseason without any surgery, Curry can improve his lateral quickness. Against the Spurs, he didn’t have what it took since he was hobbled by his ankles.

Tony Parker dribbles around Curry, gets him off balance and forces him to reach with the foul. As you can see from the remainder of the highlights, Curry is running very slowly and he can’t use his legs to break through the screens.

When he returns next season, he will need to use his new strength and quickness to get between his man and the basket, while he breaks through and avoids players trying to shield him from the play.

He needs to be more effective off the ball where he can fill passing lanes to deflect passes and be in the right position for medium to long rebounds. He also needs to finish plays and not give up if the ball isn’t in his vicinity for a period of time.

Ideally, he should have a sit-down with Chris Mullin, who was known for wearing out his opponents on both sides of the floor.

Curry has a solid foundation in place, and if he can strengthen and condition his body during the summer, he will be an even better player next season. He can isolate and pay particular attention to his weaknesses, Curry could very well move into MVP consideration.

We saw during Game 1 versus the Spurs what Curry can provide.

If Curry can provide this type of consistent play all season, his teammates will benefit from an open floor, and the win total should continue to increase. He can also become a certified All-Star and build on the Warriors' championship dreams.

Updated NBA Playoff Superstar Rankings: How Conference Finals Are Shaking It Up

Adam Fromal — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:08:56 -0400

The players populating these updated NBA playoff superstar rankings are so close to a championship that they can taste it. Well, maybe some of them are still using their noses rather than their taste buds, but the point still stands.

We're into the conference finals now, so only players from four teams—the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs—are still eligible for the rankings.

This round features a number of incredible individual matchups. Tony Parker and Mike Conley are going head-to-head out on the perimeter. Marc Gasol and Tim Duncan are banging bodies in the paint. LeBron James and Paul George are doing everything they can to embarrass each other on both ends of the court.

So, who's emerging out of the pack? Has anyone dethroned the league MVP? How are things changing from last week's edition?

You'll have to read on to find out.

Note: All stats, unless otherwise noted, come from ESPN and Basketball-Reference.com and are current through Tuesday, May 21. Performances from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals were accounted for, but the listed stats do not reflect them.

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down the Biggest Keys to Another Alabama Football National Championship

Charlie Potter — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:46:31 -0400

The University of Alabama is on top of the college football world, after winning its third national championship is four years, and it will look to do the unthinkable and win a third consecutive title in the upcoming season.

But the Crimson Tide are not invincible to obstacles that every program faces during the offseason. No, Alabama must overcome the departures of several key contributors and groom inexperienced players into elite playmakers before the Tide's Aug. 31 matchup with Virginia Tech.

There are pieces already in place for Alabama to reach the same level it met in 2012, but there are still aspects of the game that need to be addressed before head coach Nick Saban and Co. can begin to think about the coveted three-peat.

Here, we break down the biggest keys for Alabama to obtain yet another national championship.

Begin Slideshow

Paul George Says He Wishes Hibbert Played in Key Game 1 OT Possessions

Jesse Dorsey — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:35:39 -0400

LeBron James blew by Paul George for the game-winning layup in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the help defense for the Indiana Pacers never showing up, Roy Hibbert sitting 25 feet away on the bench.

It was one of the most criticized moves of the game, Frank Vogel deciding to go with Tyler Hansbrough over Hibbert for the final play.

Hansbrough, George, David West, George Hill and Sam Young were on the court for the play, and when LeBron got the best of George, the only person down low to help out was the 6'6" Young.

LeBron scored and the Pacers lost.

Vogel's reasoning behind benching Hibbert was centered around Chris Bosh's ability to hit a jumper.

"That's the dilemma...when they have Bosh at the five...his ability to space the floor." -Vogel
— KJ_NBA (@KJ_NBA) May 23, 2013

He definitely makes sense, as the fleet-footed Hansbrough is a better option than Hibbert to chase Bosh around on a single possession, but you can't overcompensate for a team's third option when its first option is LeBron James.

Similarly, on the first go-ahead layup that LeBron hit in overtime, George was on the floor with Hill, Lance Stephenson, Young and West, Hibbert chilling on the bench.

The reaction from most was utter shock that Vogel left Hibbert on the bench for those two huge plays, especially since LeBron scored at the rim on both plays.

George wished Roy Hibbert was on the floor at the end: "Yeah, I think we all would. 100 percent he would've been there."
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 23, 2013

Thankfully for the bamboozled Pacers fans, Vogel is man enough to admit when he's made a mistake.

Pacers Coach Frank Vogel on Roy Hibbert at the end of the game: "I would say we'll probably have him in next time."
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 23, 2013

Besides the desire for Hibbert to be in the game late, there was one other big takeaway from George's press conference.

You know what the problem is when you wear a silly shirt to a basketball game?

Paul George postgame podium look: twitter.com/BeyondTheBuzze…
— Beyond The Buzzer(@BeyondTheBuzzer) May 23, 2013

When you look like this, it's hard to get much sympathy from the people watching.

Next time these two meet, let's all hope for a lot more crunch-time Hibbert and a lot fewer amoebas on shirts.

Ranking the Top 10 Free Agent Left Wingers Available This Offseason

Tyler Donohue — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:33:40 -0400

Though the spotlight currently shines squarely on Stanley Cup playoff action, it's never to early to take a peek down the road and reassess rosters in preparation for the offseason. Players from across the globe will be up for grabs.

Some seek solely money, while others are doggedly pursuing elusive Stanley Cup titles. For squads in need of a left winger, there are a variety of options to chose from.

Here we take a look toward free agency with a rundown of top available left wing standouts.

Begin Slideshow

Shame on PGA Golfers for Not Condemning Sergio Garcia

Chris Landers — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:33:20 -0400

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this was just any other week on the PGA tour.

After Sergio Garcia channeled his inner Fuzzy Zoeller, media solicited opinions from just about everybody. Most commentators rightly responded with outrage, condemning Garcia for a racist and hateful remark. But, significantly, many of Sergio's peers refused to take a stand, opting instead to simply brush it off.

Rory McIlroy claimed that it was simply "a bit of a mountain out of a molehill." Lee Westwood claimed that it was "none of his business" and looked as though he was undergoing a root canal at the podium. But these reactions aren't simply lazy—they're irresponsible at best and hateful in their own right at worst.

We feign shock and awe when someone makes an inflammatory remark, disturbed that someone in 2013 could not only hold such opinions but feel comfortable enough with them to air them publicly. But, really, why are we surprised given the reaction they elicited from the men who Sergio spends the majority of his time with? Why would we expect anything different when his peers seem not to?

Sergio Garcia has always been childish. We know this. He came up as a brazen teenager, eagerly staring down the game's greats with flair to match his game. But a funny thing happened—Sergio Garcia never grew up.

He never became anything more than that same brash kid with prodigious talent without the head space to match. He's consistently wilted under pressure, whether Tiger's stalking him or not, and we shouldn't be stunned when he escalates a petty feud to this level of hatred. This is all he has left as he stares into his 30s and wonders about the career that could have been.

What should very much concern us, though, is the institutional reaction—something that can't simply be measured by an official press release. If systemic change is ever going to happen, it's going to stem from someone setting an example. Someone needs to be willing to get angry, to throw golf's antiquated sense of decorum to the wind and call out his (or her) peers.

This isn't simply "a bit of a mountain out of a molehill." These are attitudes still all too pervasive in America today, and we shrug them off at our own risk.

Those who are most able to effect change, to set the tone for future generations, have chosen to stand apathetically by—and that should make us as angry as anything.

Frank Vogel Chokes Away Game 1 For Indiana Pacers

Jimmy Spencer — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:32:36 -0400

Frank Vogel blew it.

The Indiana Pacers coach allowed LeBron James an open lane for a last-second layup when he kept his rim-protector, Roy Hibbert, on the bench in the final seconds of a 103-102 Game 1 overtime loss to the Miami Heat.

What could have been a monumental victory for the Pacers to begin the Eastern Conference Finals turned into a dreadful coach's decision that will be heavily scrutinized.

The Pacers led by one with 2.2 seconds left in OT as the ball was inbounded from half court to James, who pivoted quickly on an overplaying Paul George and attacked an unguarded rim for the game-winner.

George shouldn’t have allowed James to catch the ball off the inbound in the first place, but by crowding him without help underneath, the league’s strongest driver finished on what paralleled a pregame layup line.

Without the 7'2" Hibbert in the game, the only help became 6'6" reserve Sam Young, who only could watch as James rose over him to the basket.

And all Hibbert could do was shake his head from the bench.

It didn’t just happen once...it happened twice.

Prior to that moment, when the game was tied at 99-99 with 11.4 seconds remaining in overtime and the shot clock down to five seconds, James attacked a naked rim as Hibbert's defense sat.

James blew by George Hill—who had switched on to James after George was screened—leaving only a matador’s swipe by David West, who was caught in no man’s land between lightly shading to help on James and watching Chris Bosh on the perimeter.

So, again, why did Vogel not have Hibbert in the game?

Let’s get this straight: Vogel opted to allow James an easier path to the rim in order to hedge against Bosh's perimeter jumper?

That’s a blown decision.

If it's pick your poison, never opt to test the greatest player in the game. Even if Hibbert was in and came to help on James, thereby leaving Bosh, then assign a rotation that takes away Bosh's open look.

Apologists will swarm to Vogel's defense, but in this instance, it was a coach over-thinking and not allowing his best interior defender to do his job. There's absolutely an element of "LeBron is simply too tough to stop anyway," but it's Vogel's job to put his team in the best situation possible. And he did not do that.

There's always a layer of excuses, but the wrong decision was made. That doesn't make Frank Vogel a bad coach; it just means his poor decision, paired with a poor defensive overplay by George, led to the Heat's win.

At least Vogel is admitting as much.

Follow @JimmySpencerNBA

LeBron James Shows Paul George Official Definition of Clutch

Grant Hughes — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:17:35 -0400

LeBron James' buzzer-beating overtime layup gave the Miami Heat a 103-102 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but it also snatched the spotlight from Paul George, whose own late-game heroics couldn't quite measure up to those of the reigning MVP.

James finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but the enduring images from what'll surely go down as a playoff epic were his two overtime layups. The first came with just 10 seconds remaining; it put the Heat up by two points.

The second sealed the deal as time expired.

The game-winner was the first of its kind in quite some time.

More interestingly, James' clutch performance was a study in stone-cold dominance. He was never fazed by the moment, got incredibly high-percentage looks (thanks largely to great play calls by coach Erik Spoelstra), and never panicked when things looked bleak.

George, while terrific in his own right, was actually kind of responsible for creating the situations in which his team needed clutch shots. So, in much the same way as a relief pitcher can't come into a game with a 10-run lead, give up seven and walk away with a save, George's goofs have to detract a little bit from his otherwise clutch finish.

George's finish was fantastic, but James' seemed almost predetermined.

With 20 seconds remaining and his team trailing by just two points, George drove the lane, left his feet without a clear plan, and whipped the ball to a wide-open Sam Young in the right corner. Unfortunately, Young was uncovered, because he was out of bounds...on the bench.

That play was a potential killer for Indiana, but some good luck factored into George's game-tying shot at the end of regulation as well.

If Ray Allen, free-throw God, hadn't missed one of his two attempts when the Pacers intentionally fouled him three seconds after George's turnover, the game would have been out of reach. But Allen did miss. And the odd circumstances of George's "clutchness" at the end of regulation didn't end there.

The Pacers' final possession was an odd one, complete with a bizarre decision by George and a subsequent redemption—within the span of just a few seconds.

George took the inbound and quickly found himself with a favorable mismatch, as Udonis Haslem had switched onto him after a somewhat lazy pick-and-roll. Instead of blowing by Haslem and drawing a defender (or even taking the quick two-pointer), George picked his dribble up. When his pass to George Hill was deflected, all seemed lost for Indiana.

But somehow, the ball found David West, who flipped a handoff to George as he streaked to his left. From about 30 feet, the 23-year-old All-Star rose and fired.

James, who was closing out on the play, didn't even jump to contest the shot. He was surprised George had taken it. As the ball tore through the net, James merely shrugged, perhaps knowing that he would ultimately have the last laugh. Or, in this case, the last sociopathic non-reaction.

George continued his brilliant play in overtime, scoring eight points and assisting on the Pacers' only other basket. But his go-ahead free-throws with just 2.2 seconds left came as a result of a phantom foul by Dwyane Wade, who appeared to have barely grazed George on his desperation three.

Fittingly, that play was a broken one, too. George had nearly thrown the ball away on the inbound pass, forcing Hill to dive on the floor to retain possession. George ultimately came up with the ball and drew the "foul" on Wade, but things could have gone a bit more smoothly if he'd simply thrown a decent pass from the sideline.

It's hard to take anything away from Paul George, who buried three clutch foul shots to give his team the lead. But LeBron James simply wasn't going to let the Heat lose.

On a brilliant, floor-spacing play that featured all four Miami players fanning out to the corners at the moment James caught the inbound, LBJ blew by a slightly-too-aggressive George and laid the ball softly off the backboard.

It certainly helped that Roy Hibbert wasn't on the floor for the play, but a somewhat curious rotation decision by Frank Vogel shouldn't detract from James' cold-blooded drive.

I'm making a point to compare some of the shakier circumstances of George's play down the stretch to James' icy, flawless finishing moves. But know this: George conducted himself with far more poise than we have a right to expect from a 23-year-old player.

James was just better when it mattered most. Plus, he didn't even crack a smile or pump a fist when he iced the game.

Remember, though, that hasn't always been the case. James used to catch the same kind of flack (and much worse, actually) for his perceived inability to come through in the clutch. It's probably safe to say that he's past all that now.

The positive upshot of the Pacers' gut-wrenching loss is that they (and George, in particular) now believe they can compete with anyone. After all, they hung with the champs on the road in a hotly competitive Game 1.

The thought that should worry the Pacers, though, is this: LeBron James doesn't just believe he'll come through in the clutch these days. He knows it.

Why D.J. Hayden Is the Next Darrelle Revis

Christopher Hansen — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:13:48 -0400

Make no mistake; every NFL team would love to have a Darrelle Revis. Not every team would be willing to take a risk on his knee and pay him what he demands, but every team would love to have his consistent production. Revis is still the prototypical cornerback that everyone wants because he does everything well and can shadow and shutdown No. 1 receivers.

When looking at the 2013 rookie class, only one has the chance to be the next Revis, and it isn’t the player that replaced him in New York. The next Revis is actually University of Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden.

In what was a one of the biggest surprises of the draft, the Oakland Raiders traded down from No. 3 to No. 12, didn’t draft University of Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and selected Hayden. The Raiders were even willing to take Hayden at No. 3 if no trade had materialized.

Drafting Hayden that early only makes sense if he can be the next Revis.

When a team drafts a cornerback that is—at worst—the third overall player on its board, he is expected to become one of the best in the league. The expectations should be high, and comparing Hayden to one of the best cornerbacks in the league shouldn’t be that much of a stretch.

The Athletic Comparison

Revis is 5’11” and 198 pounds and ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at his pro day prior to the 2006 NFL draft. Up until that point, Revis was considered a cornerback that should go at the end of the first round and he ended up going 14th overall to the Jets.

Hayden is 5’11” and 191 pounds and ran between a 4.33-second or 4.42-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, depending on the source. Up until that point, Hayden was considered a cornerback who should go in the second or third round, but he ended up going 12th overall to the Raiders.

In Hayden’s case, he was also coming off one of the most unique injuries in the history of the draft. After tearing his inferior vena cava in a November practice, an injury that is almost always fatal, Hayden lost 30 pounds. Just four months after the injury, he was running a blazing time at his pro day.

At least from a size and speed perspective, Revis and Hayden are quite similar. If Hayden can add a few more pounds after he gets into an NFL weight room, the difference between the two will be very hard to discern.

Level of Competition

We can make athletic and size comparisons easily, but the real test will be once Hayden faces the best receivers in the world. Outside of Hayden’s injury, for which he is now totally cleared, the biggest concern about him was the level of competition he faced playing in the Conference USA.

Teams aren’t going to disclose which players they really like, which left only a handful of media members with access to game film the opportunity to truly evaluate Hayden.

The only games available to the general public were two 2011 games and one 2012 game against UCLA—not enough for amateur draft scouts to give Hayden a complete evaluation and ease the concern about the level of competition he faced.

Mike Mayock of NFL.com elevated Hayden above Dee Milliner on his draft board just days before the draft, citing his performance against Louisiana Tech’s Quinton Patton. Rich Eisen of NFL.com asked Mayock on his podcast who had been a "tape warrior" and Mayock shared this story about Hayden:

I got a bunch of phone calls while I was on the road in March doing pro days:

"Have you done the Houston-kid yet on tape?"

I was like, ‘no, because of the medical’ and they’re like:

"Hey, he just ran 4.38 at his pro day; you better go watch his tape."

I went back and put three of his tapes on the next morning. I was all pumped up; I love these kinds of things and five teams called me in the same day.

"Did you watch D.J. Hayden?"

So the next morning at 5:30 in the morning, I got D.J. Hayden on and I’m like:

"Man, that’s a great tape."

I put his second one in.

"HA! This kid can play man, he can play off, he can play press, he tackles."

Then the third tape was Louisiana Tech and they got Quinton Patton, who is probably a second-round wide receiver, and D.J. Hayden got in his jock and shut him down: four catches, 36 yards, kid couldn’t get off the line of scrimmage.

About the same time that Mayock was coming to the conclusion that Hayden was the top cornerback, Greg Cosell of NFL Films was doing the same. Cosell appeared on the Yahoo’s The Shutdown Corner Podcast and said some pretty interesting things about Hayden (via the Santa Clara Press Democrat):

I watched four games of D.J. Hayden this week, and I’m telling you it was the first time I’d ever seen him play, and as I’m watching I say, “Wait a second, this guy’s the best corner in the draft.” My guess is he won’t be drafted as such. But on film to me, he was the best corner in the draft. He has the naturally quickest feet of any corner in the draft. His backpedal was the most fluid. His balance and body control was absolutely remarkable. He was a sudden mover. He was competitive. He played the run. To me, he was the most physically gifted corner in this draft class.

Typically a late-riser on draft boards is due to tomfoolery by NFL teams, but Hayden’s hype appeared to be real. Despite two of the most respected analysts being high on him, there were still some questions about Hayden’s ability because his performance against Patton never really saw the light of day…until now.

Off-Man Coverage

When Revis was at his best in 2009, the Jets allowed league lows in yards per attempt and touchdown rate despite an average pass rush. Revis had a huge impact on the entire defense because he did everything so well, including playing off-man coverage.

Matt Bowen of the National Football Post calls off-man coverage the hardest thing to play at the NFL level. Bowen also cites Revis as a guy who is a top-tier defensive back because of his ability to play both off-man and press-man coverage.

Off-man is the most difficult coverage because it requires the defensive back to “stay on top with enough cushion to turn (their) hips and run, or to plant and drive downhill on the comeback, curl and dig.” The cornerback will either have single-safety help over the top or no help at all.

Hayden displayed excellent off-man coverage skills in the matchup against Patton. In this example, Houston is using Cover 1, which means single-safety help for Hayden and the other defensive backs.

Hayden shows like he’s going to press Patton, but drops off the line just before the snap. Louisiana Tech has three receivers to the left, meaning Hayden can’t totally rely on the deep safety to be there for him. Notice Hayden’s eyes are on the quarterback.

Hayden gives himself adequate cushion to turn and run with Patton if needed, but he also trusts his instincts. The quarterback didn't even released the ball and Hayden had already stuck his foot in the ground to drive forward and eat up the cushion he had given Patton.

With the ball in the air, the entire cushion is gone and Hayden is draped all over Patton. Hayden is there so quickly that he has to be careful not to commit pass interference. The quarterback sails the pass, perhaps expecting Patton to shake free like he did the rest of the season.

Hayden has great awareness and is able to turn, run and dive to try to make the interception. The ball lands just out of Hayden’s reach, but the fact that he was anywhere close to making the interception is remarkable.

Press-Man Coverage

The Raiders had a two-time All-Pro cornerback in Nnamdi Asomugha who thrived playing press-man coverage for years, but he struggled when asked to play other coverage types with the Philadelphia Eagles. Like Asomugha, Hayden can play press-man coverage, but he’s not just a one-trick pony.

Bowen says that press-man coverage is all about hand placement and being a physical football player:

If you can use those hands to disrupt the release of the WR, keep leverage and play to the hip of the route, you will be in a position to make a play.

You’ll notice in this example that Hayden is playing press-man at the goal line on Patton. A mistake here means six points for Louisiana Tech.

Hayden strikes the chest plate of Patton, disrupting the route and forcing Patton to run around him to try to get open. Hayden could have been more physical, but at the goal line, it’s more important to make sure the receiver doesn’t get separation.

Hayden drops into Patton’s "hip pocket" and mirrors his release. Even the bravest quarterbacks wouldn’t throw into such tight coverage.

If the quarterback were to take a chance, Hayden is in perfect position to make a play as he rides Patton’s hip across the back of the end zone. Patton gets absolutely zero separation from Hayden, and the quarterback is forced to pull the ball down. He is eventually tackled before he makes it into the end zone.

Run Support

Some cornerbacks can cover, but not every cornerback is willing to make plays in the run game. If a defensive coordinator wants to use Cover 2 schemes, he needs to be confident his cornerbacks can come up and make a tackle.

If a cornerback can come help in run support while playing man coverage, that’s an even bigger bonus.

Hayden’s willingness and effectiveness supporting the run gives a defensive coordinator great flexibility to use whatever coverage is best for the situation.

One play after Hayden stuck to Patton like glue at the goal line, he made this play in the run game. Louisiana Tech comes out in the pistol formation with three running backs and two receivers. Hayden is again using press-man coverage on Patton to the outside.

Hayden’s savvy enough to peek into the backfield only to see the running back getting the ball at the 7-yard line.

As the Houston defense strings the Louisiana Tech running back to the outside, Hayden fights off Patton’s block, plants and explodes forward to attempt the tackle.

Hayden lowers his pad level and puts a big hit on the running back, knocking his own helmet off in the process. Hayden had to come out for a play by rule, and Louisiana Tech scored a touchdown on the following play.

Zone Coverage

There are some cornerbacks who thrive in zone coverage who aren’t very good in man coverage. Some defensive schemes don’t even ask the cornerbacks to do both because finding players who can do so effectively are rare.

Revis actually has underrated zone coverage skills that give a defense a lot of flexibility; he’s just so good shutting down No. 1 receivers in man coverage that the Jets didn’t use him in zone coverage very often.

Hayden is that same kind of rare cornerback who can play zone and man coverage.

The Raiders will love the different things they can do with Hayden that they wouldn’t dream of doing last season with a depleted secondary.

The best zone cornerbacks are intelligent, understand offenses and are able to trust their instincts to make plays on the ball. On this 3rd-and-10 play, Hayden understands that Louisiana Tech is just trying try to get to the first down.

Hayden drops to the first-down marker, keeping his feet under him so he can quickly break on an underneath pass and make the stop to force fourth down.

As the quarterback starts to throw, Hayden breaks on Patton’s route.

You may notice that Hayden is the only player to break hard on the underneath route as the rest of the defense continues to sit at the first-down marker. The obvious goal for the defense is to prevent the first down, but Hayden’s instincts told him he’d either be able to make a play or force the throw to go elsewhere.

Although Louisiana Tech would get the first down by beating the zone to the flat on the opposite side, Hayden’s zone technique and instincts were excellent. If the quarterback had tried to force feed Patton, Hayden would have been in position to make a play on the ball.

This is the kind of technique you want to see from a good zone cornerback. Hayden will make plays, force quarterbacks to come off their primary read and help Oakland’s pass rush. These are the same qualities Revis possesses and why he is the highest-paid cornerback in the entire league.

Not There Yet

Although Hayden has the skills to be the next Revis, that doesn’t mean he’s already there. NFL offenses are significantly more complex than the ones he faced in Conference USA.

It sometimes takes a little time for a young cornerback to put it all together, so there will be some growing pains. One shouldn’t expect Hayden to shadow No. 1 receivers as a rookie, and he’ll probably get burned a few times too.

Hayden also has a tendency to get overly physical when the ball is in the air, which could result in pass interference penalties (he had two against Louisiana Tech). The good news is that Hayden wasn’t committing pass interference because he got beat or was out of position.

There was also at least one instance that Hayden was fooled by a play-action fake, had to flip his hips early to run with Patton and got beat by a double move. These are the types of little things Hayden will need to improve at the pro level if he wants to be an elite cornerback.

Hayden is not a finished product, but he does have the whole package.

With the right coaching and hard work, Hayden will become the next Revis. It might be a miracle Hayden is alive, but it will not be a miracle if he develops into one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league.

Special thanks to the University of Houston for providing the game tape and making this piece possible.

Toronto Raptors: Can the Raptors Make a Push into the Playoffs Next Season?

Patrick Yaghoobians — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:59:02 -0400

Last season had its up and downs for the Toronto Raptors. They started off the season horribly. It seemed like Toronto might once again be one of the bottom-feeders of the Eastern Conference.

Right after Andrea Bargnani went down with an arm injury in a game against the Portland Trailblazers, the Raptors seemed to pick up the pace. With Ed Davis in the starting power forward slot, the Raptors now had two big men in Davis and Jonas Valanciunas who defended the paint, grabbed rebounds on both ends of the floor and made a couple of baskets here and there.

The Raptors seemed to be poised to make a push for the playoffs, as they were creeping up to the eighth spot, and things seemed to be going in the right direction.

Then, in a pretty unexpected move, the Raptors traded away longtime Raptor Jose Calderon and Ed Davis to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for one of the elite small forwards of the game in Rudy Gay. Gay finally gave the Raptors the small forward they were looking for.

Since the Gay trade, the Raptors were 18-18 to finish off the season, right at the .500 mark. If this were to happen throughout the whole season, so to speak, the Raptors would have been in the playoffs and probably would have given Miami a better run for their money than the Bucks did.

With Gay, the Raptors now have someone who can create his own shot, and although some of his shot selections are not the best, Rudy Gay can score. His defense is also above average, using his length and wingspan to guard opposing small forwards and, at times, power forwards.

The true result of the trade will be seen in the near future, but for the upcoming season, it looks like Bryan Colangelo made a smart move. The chemistry between Rudy and DeMar DeRozan got better as the season went on, and it seemed like they complemented each other very well near the end of the season.

With more chemistry under their belt, this young Raptors squad could definitely make the playoffs next season. DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas are still young and are key pieces to this team's future.

Terrence Ross may not end up being a starter with the acquisition of Gay, but he can be the sixth man who brings defense, athleticism and the three-point shot off the bench. Ross struggled last season, but he was only a rookie and is still learning the game at the NBA level.

With Bryan Colangelo no longer the general manager, all Raptor fans are wondering what the new general manager may do in order to improve this team.

They don't have much cap space, so free agents are not going to solve anything in the near future, and they have no picks in this draft, so the one thing Raptor fans can lean on is chemistry, hoping this team learns to work with each other in order to make a push for the playoffs.

It is safe to say this upcoming season may be the most exciting one, and it will definitely come with huge expectations. The playoffs aren't guaranteed, but this Raptors team can definitely make a push next season.

Indy 500 2013: Complete Race Preview and Predictions

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:58:28 -0400

Sunday's 97th running of the Indianapolis 500—if it's anything like last year's race—figures to be one of the most competitive in the history of the 102-year-old race. Speeds are slightly up from last year's event, which was filled with close racing, lots of passing and wasn't decided until a daring last-lap move produced a crash in turn 1.

Last year's winner, Dario Franchitti, is one of two three-time winners of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing trying Sunday to join the ranks of Indianapolis' all-time elite drivers with four wins.

Other drivers, like surprise pole-sitter Ed Carpenter or current NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger, will seek to take the checkered flag, drink the traditional celebratory glass of milk in Victory Lane and have their face etched forever on the famous Borg-Warner Trophy.

Next, we'll preview everything you need to know about this year's Indy 500.

Begin Slideshow

How San Francisco 49ers Losing Michael Crabtree Still Leaves Room for Optimism

Joe Levitt — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:53:03 -0400

So, the San Francisco 49ers lose No. 1 wideout Michael Crabtree until Thanksgiving, but can still feel optimistic?

Uh, what?

USA Today first reported that Crabtree had torn his right Achilles tendon on a basic seven-on-seven drill during Tuesday’s organized team activities. He immediately underwent surgery and is expected to miss up to six months, according to Mike Garafo lo of USA Today.

The 49ers will now hit the gridiron without their first 1,000-yard receiver since Terrell Owens' 1,102-yard campaign in 2003. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will not have the services of his most trusted target during his first full season as a starter.

Crabtree produced his two highest game totals for receptions, three of his four highest averages per catch and four of his five best receiving outputs for total yards with Kaepernick as his quarterback. He also hauled in the majority of his touchdowns from the dual-threat QB.

More illuminating are Kaepernick’s 606 passing yards and five touchdowns landing in the hands of No. 15, which represented one-third and one-half of his season-long production, respectively.

Kaepernick continued targeting his favorite weapon throughout the playoffs. Crabtree commanded 28 throws, bringing in 20 for 285 yards and three scores.

Again, how can San Francisco find optimism in these seemingly dire circumstances?

Because the Jim Harbaugh-led 49ers feature a tight end-friendly, power-run offense that derives its mojo from a quarterback who can do it all and a defense that sends opponents packing with tourniquets and pain killers.

A thoroughly talented receiver corps—albeit young and returning from injury—should not be undervalued as well.

Think: multiple tight end sets with all-world Vernon Davis and high-round draftee Vance McDonald; triple-headed backfield of Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James; Super Bowl-winning wideouts Anquan Boldin and Mario Manningham; a ferocious defense boasting All-Pros Justin Smith, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

Oh, and one Colin Kaepernick— a quarterback with the biggest arm, pre-eminent speed and most game-breaking ability.

Now let’s realize our inner devil’s advocate.

What happens if Davis—the most dynamic weapon in this offense—doesn’t establish rapport with Kaepernick, as was evidenced last year?

What if Gore wears down significantly, Hunter experiences difficulty recovering from his own Achilles tear and defenses neutralize James in year two?

Will Boldin make that big of an impact in his first season with the 49ers?

Can an injury-plagued Manningham and Kyle Williams and an inexperienced receiving unit of A.J. Jenkins, Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette pick up the pieces?

And will this defense, even with all the draft reinforcements, dominate as thoroughly as it did for the majority of 2012?

In a word (or two): no in response to the negative and yes to the affirmative.

The 49ers are still a viable Super Bowl contender without Crabtree for the majority of the season. An 11-win total in the regular season was a reasonable projection before the Achilles tear and remains a likely scenario post-injury.

San Francisco’s championship aspirations will certainly be harder to attain. And the competitive balance in the NFC West, the NFL’s top division, increased as a result.

But the 49ers’ heart and soul does not materialize through a wide receiver, however great he was a season before.

Harbaugh will devise the appropriate game plan, Kaepernick will execute it and the league’s most feared defense will ensure winning results on a weekly basis.

Sometimes you just have to let optimism reign supreme in the face of overwrought gloom and doom.

Follow me on Twitter @jlevitt16

Twitter Reacts to LeBron James' Game 1 Triple-Double, Game Winner

Jesse Dorsey — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:52:53 -0400

LeBron James put in two go-ahead shots for the Miami Heat in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, the second one dropping in at the buzzer and giving the Heat the 103-102 win, sending Twitter into a frenzy.

In all, LeBron finished up with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and one buzzer-beater to start off the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night.

LeBron James is the 1st player with at least 26 Pts, 10 Ast, 10 Reb & 3 Blk in a playoff game since Ralph Sampson in 1986.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 23, 2013

As Dwyane Wade fouled Paul George on a three-pointer attempt with just over two seconds to go in overtime, it seemed as if the Pacers had the game in hand.

George hit all three freebies to put the Pacers up by a point, and the visitors just needed one final stop to nab home-court advantage away from the Heat.

ONIONS!!!!!!!!! Phenomenal game. PG making the leap...

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 23, 2013

Fans are leaving.
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) May 23, 2013

Of course, 2.2 seconds is always too much time when you've got a guy like LeBron James on the court. Heat fans should know to stay in their seats.

LeBron got the ball at the top of the key, just barely got the corner on George, and...well you know the rest.

LEBRONATHON
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) May 23, 2013

"Hey, remember when you guys thought I wasn't clutch?"
— Adam Fromal (@fromal09) May 23, 2013

LeBron: "Paul, you may have arrived, but I've done been here."
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 23, 2013

Of course, the biggest issue that almost everybody on the planet knows is that a particular gigantic man who plays tremendous defense wasn't on the court to protect the rim.

The Indiana Pacers really are in desperate need of defensive-minded center with length.
— Kelly Dwyer (@KDonhoops) May 23, 2013

Know who might've helped there on that contest? That 7-2 guy sitting on your bench, Frank.
— Royce Young (@dailythunder) May 23, 2013

Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 23, 2013

Of course, always the team player, LeBron spread the credit around in the postgame interview.

LeBron immortalizes Chris Andersen's "Spirit of Basketball."
— Bethlehem Shoals (@freedarko) May 23, 2013

Regardless of who won the game, there's one thing that's obvious after such a game: basketball is super fun.

Not sure who deserved to win that game but it was fun to watch!
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) May 23, 2013

You know what's been awesome? The past 28 hours of basketball.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 23, 2013

Sucks that today’s world won’t let us kick back and marvel at LeBron the way we should.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) May 23, 2013

Hopefully we can get six more games exactly like this one, Indiana getting the upper-hand in a few and the Heat getting the upper-hand in a few.

These two teams know how to put on a show, and that LeBron James character is certainly good at basketball.

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat: Game 1 Postgame Grades and Analysis

Peter Emerick — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:41:30 -0400

What a battle in Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers—specifically Paul George and LeBron James down the stretch.

It's clearly LeBron's world, and he graciously just lets us all live in it.

The Heat won an absolute thriller in overtime, 103-102, courtesy of a LeBron game-winning layup as time expired in OT.

With the game on the line, and Roy Hibbert on the bench for some reason, LeBron drove to the bucket and silenced all the critics who still say he's not clutch.

It was back and forth between LeBron and George during the final minute of overtime, with George scoring the final six points for the Pacers and LeBron scoring the final four for the Heat.

LeBron ended Game 1 with 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the field, with 10 rebounds and 10 assists—giving him his ninth playoff triple-double.

George was equally impressive, scoring 25 of his 27 points in the second half and overtime. He ended the game with 27 points, five assists and four rebounds, but he also committed six turnovers.

Game 1 certainly sets the stage for what is going to be a legendary Eastern Conference Finals, between two teams who are capable of competing with each other night in and night out.

Game 2 is set for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip on Friday night. You aren't going to want to miss any second of this series.

Begin Slideshow

Penguins vs. Senators: Why Blowout Win Doesn't Solve Pittsburgh's Problems

Nicholas Goss — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:33:17 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the Ottawa Senators Wednesday night with a 7-3 Game 4 victory to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the conference semifinals.

When the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Friday, the Penguins will have an opportunity to close out the series and clinch a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the team hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2009.

The Senators have overcome a lot of adversity and proved a lot of doubters wrong this season, but erasing a 3-1 series deficit against a superior opponent is a nearly impossible task for this club. Erin Nicks of NHL.com talked to team captain Daniel Alfredsson about the challenge after the game.

Even still, though its Game 4 performance was remarkable in several ways, Pittsburgh's convincing victory over a young Ottawa team didn't solve any of the team's primary weaknesses.

The Penguins' chances of winning a championship this season will be determined by the play of goaltender Tomas Vokoun and the defensive performance from the team as a whole.

Even though Vokoun is 4-1 since replacing Marc-Andre Fleury in the first round against the New York Islanders, he's also shown some signs of weakness. He hasn't tracked pucks very well at times, needlessly giving away many scoring opportunities to the Senators as a result of his rebounds.

As Ian Mendes of Sportsnet pointed out, rebounds were again an issue for the Penguins netminder early in Game 4 when Ottawa led 2-1.

Vokoun has allowed three goals in three of his last five games, but it hasn't been a huge problem for the Penguins of late because they have a strong advantage over the Senators in scoring depth.

Pittsburgh was able to win Game 4 with an offensive explosion despite giving up three goals, but it's important for this team to tighten up defensively; it will not generate this much offense in a likely Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Boston Bruins, who have a 3-0 lead in their second-round series against the New York Rangers.

The Bruins are playing their best hockey of the year at the moment, and the team's offense has been firing on all cylinders since its remarkable Game 7 comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Boston ranks third among all playoff teams in scoring with 3.20 goals per game, and it has scored 10 goals against Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist through three games.

Vokoun has to play better and fix some of the problems in his game, or Tuukka Rask and the Bruins will almost certainly be the ones playing for the Cup.

The Penguins also struggled on faceoffs Wednesday night (losing, 34-31), which has been an issue for them all postseason.

Pittsburgh has won just 49.3 percent of its faceoffs in the playoffs, which ranks fifth among the eight remaining teams. The Bruins, meanwhile, have the best faceoff percentage (58.6), and of the five Boston forwards who have taken 70-plus draws, four of them have a success rate above 54 percent.

Another problem for the Penguins is their inability to start games well defensively. Pittsburgh has allowed the most first-period goals (10) of all the remaining teams, and it gave up two against Ottawa in Game 4.

The Penguins cannot rely on their high-powered offense to constantly overcome the team's early defensive struggles. Head coach Dan Bylsma has to do a better job of getting his team focused and intense from the first puck drop.

With that said, there were plenty of positives that the Penguins should look to build on from the blowout victory.

James Neal elevated his play and confidence with his first multi-goal game of the playoffs, while the team's power play scored two goals after going 0-of-6 in Game 3.

Superstar forward and captain Sidney Crosby played very well with a goal and an assist to increase his scoring total to 14 points in nine games. He also made some history with his 40th career playoff goal:

Scoring seven goals against a quality goaltender like Craig Anderson is encouraging, but if Pittsburgh doesn't correct some of its main concerns, it won't reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Every great team finds areas in need of improvement no matter how seemingly dominant its recent performances. As a veteran group that has plenty of championship experience, expect the Penguins to make some adjustments and finish the series on Friday.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. Nick was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs, and he is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 NHL playoffs in Boston.

Chelsea vs. Manchester City: International Friendly Odds, Preview and Prediction

Kevin Stott — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:30:31 -0400

Chelsea takes its act on the road to St. Louis on Thursday for the first of two end-of-season international friendlies against Manchester City in the United States. Uncle Roman's Flying Circus continues its globetrotting ways in an effort to appease its worldwide fanbase.

Are you listening, Antarctica?

Who: Chelsea FC vs. Manchester City FC
What: International friendly
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
When: Thursday, May 23, 2013
Weather: The Weather Channel forecast
Time: 1:30 GMT/8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN2, ESPN3 [ESPN3 Link] (US). Chelsea TV [Chelsea TV Link] (UK, Ireland)

Odds: Chelsea +155, Manchester City +155, Draw +255
Source: LVH SuperBook (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)

And if it seems like these two storied clubs were just playing in the English Premier League days ago, well, they were.

So why more soccer so soon?

Well, after a Premier League-record 69-game marathon, the Blues now find themselves just 14,572 miles short of a frequent flier bonus in which the club can qualify for a free Cristiano Ronaldo. So there obviously is a method to their royal blue madness.

Anyway, the current Europa League and European champs (well, for at least two more days) sent 23 players to the Gateway City, and it's not to sample the Budweiser or skinny dip in the Mississippi River.

Pretty much everyone on Chelsea's first-team roster except captain John Terry and Ryan Bertrand made the trip, meaning Blues fans in the Midwest can get a nice big dose of Frank Lampard if the vice-captain plays.

Some younger guys who may be trying to prove their future worth to the club and who should get some minutes over the two matches are goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, defensive midfielder Nathan Aké, defender Andreas Christensen and midfielders Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marko Marin.

And while getting guys like these some valuable playing time against a quality opponent is a priority here, making sure that none of the key cogs for next year like Petr Čech, Juan Mata, David Luiz, César Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard get hurt surely must be another.

For this reason, expect a somewhat loosey-goosey game from both sides.

Besides the aforementioned Blues players, Chelsea will also have 37-year-old goalkeeper Hilário, Paulo Ferreira, Branislav Ivanović, Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill, Ramires, John Obi Mikel, Yossi Benayoun, Oscar, Victor Moses, Demba Ba and Fernando Torres at its disposal for the two games.

Like Chelsea, Manchester City is looking for a new manager after Roberto Mancini was let go. Rumors from the Telegraph that Málaga's Manuel Pellegrini will end up getting the Sky Blues gig look to be coming to fruition.

Exactly who Manchester City will choose to play, like Chelsea, is a mystery. But with players like goalkeeper Joe Hart, Carlos Tévez, Sergio Agüero, David Silva, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Matija Nastasić, Gaël Clichy, James Milner, Yaya Touré, Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri, among others, to work with, the fans should be entertained even if the game is entirely meaningless.

The two clubs met four times this past year with City going 3-1-0 in those meetings—a 3-2 win in the Community Shield (Aug. 12); a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge (Nov. 25) and a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium (Feb. 24) in Premier League play; and a 2-1 triumph in the FA Cup semifinals (April 14).

Wagering on a game like this one seems about as smart as buying little pastel sweaters for your twin pet ferrets, but hey, some people do that, so who are we to judge?

If you feel the need, it may be a good idea to take a good look at the draw here with the steep payback (+255). Neither side will really care about the win and both would settle for a tie.

So will there be a blue moon over St. Louis on Thursday night?

Possibly. And if so, the big question is will it end up being sky or royal blue?

The two clubs will meet again on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in New York City (Fox Soccer Channel, 5:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. ET).

PREDICTION: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 2

BET: Draw +255

Follow me on Twitter: @KevinStott11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NBA Do More Moments of Week 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Shield's Domination of WWE Has Only Just Begun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Begin Slideshow

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.

Begin Slideshow

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.

Begin Slideshow

Gareth Barry Talks to B/R About Manchester City, His Former Club and NYCFC

Joe Tansey — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:01:44 -0400

Q: You and your Manchester City teammates are in New York City preparing for a friendly against Chelsea at Yankee Stadium, how has America treated you so far?

A: It's different for the players. Once the season is finished, it is usually time for holidays. The people in New York are so friendly and they have treated us so warm, we are looking to playing two good games here.

Q: The match is being playing at Yankee Stadium, which is one of the hallowed grounds in American sports. Has it resonated in the City camp how historic the stadium is over here and can it compare to the likes of Old Trafford and Wembley Stadium in England.

A: The players have spoke about it, it is going to be a big honor to play in a stadium as famous as Yankee Stadium.

Q: What are your thoughts on the brand-new partnership between Manchester City and the Yankees in the formation of New York City FC?

A: Everyone in England can see the progression that MLS is making, Every year it seems to get bigger and bigger.I think this next step is just another step to where it wants to be. It is a massive step for both teams.

Q: Would you ever consider taking the David Beckham route and ending your career?

A: Of course, you can never rule anything out, With the league getting bigger and bigger, it is something that is brought up in conversations across the Barclays Premier League. The players who have made the move seem to enjoy their football. Me personally, I would never rule it out, if the opportunity arose, it would be something that would definitely be considered.

Q: Most people would consider finishing second place a success but in Manchester City's case, it resulted in the sacking of Roberto Mancini. What was the mood like in the dressing room after the season ended?

A" i think because of last season, the target was obviously to retain the EPL title. we were slightly disappointed to finish second. It shows where the club are at right now and the progression we have made. We want to be winning the league every year, second is not that bad but we want to get it back next season.

Q: Is there something that the current crop of players would like to see in terms of a new manager and new players at the club this summer?

A" I think anything that will make the team and the club go forward,if that means a new manager and new players coming in to the club, then that's fantastic. To have success, you need competition.

Q: You played with Aston Villa earlier in your career, did you keep track of their relegation battle this season?

A: Yeah, of course. I spent 12 years at Aston Villa, it was a big part of my life, a lot of my friends are still in Birmingham. Their's is the first result I look at besides our own. It was pretty close but they finished the season in great form and they deserved to stay up.

Q: Manchester City and Chelsea both have a foreign presence on the roster. A lot has been made in recent years about the FA developing English talent. Is there something that you would want to help along the further development of English players so that they can break into the EPL?

A: I think its something that could be looked at. For a young English player, it is harder than ever now to break into the Premier League and play for the top English clubs. A lot of foreign-born players have boosted the quality of the league and it is a tough time for English players, maybe some changes can be to help the national team itself.

Q: From being a member of the England squad, what do you see the Three Lions doing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, have any expectations been set for Brazil at all?

A: With England, our group is tough to qualify out of and that is the first goal before we go to Brazil. There are some big games ahead for England and it will be a tough battle to qualify.

Q: With the Yankees partnership, it has been mentioned that the Yankees would play a match at the Etihad. How would a big team like the Yankees and the sport of baseball be received in Manchester if this were to happen?

A: The Yankees are a massive brand all over the world. If something like that were to happen, it would be amazing. Nothing like that has ever happened before and I'm sure it would get a lot of attention.

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)