Bleacher Report - Front Page

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: Premier League Live Score, Highlights and Recap

Charlie Melman — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:45:53 -0400

Arsenal will travel north to play Newcastle in a game that has one team with everything to play for and one simply cruising into the summer.

It might not actually be that simple, however. Alan Pardew, in his infinitely misplaced grandiosity, declared to the UK's Chronicle Live that the Magpies would need to put on a show for their fans in the final game of the season.

But it will be difficult to do that against an Arsenal side that will certainly not lack motivation. The math is simple for the Gunners: Win and they're into the Champions League next season, barring a catastrophe in a qualifier match.

There is an outside chance that they will have to play a playoff game against Chelsea, depending on how the final day's results turn out, but simply winning, in any manner, will be at the fore of Arsenal's mind.

Like every game on the final day of the Premier League season, kickoff is at 11:00 a.m. ET. But make your way here at 10:30 and I'll bring you live team news, analysis and the best of Twitter.

Follow @charliemelman

Fact vs. Fiction from Miami Heat's NBA Playoff Performance so Far

Sam Richmond — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:25:11 -0400

The Miami Heat have won eight of nine games to start the 2013 NBA playoffs. That's not a surprise. But some of the reasons they've had such success might be a little unexpected.

Miami is rebounding the ball well, but now turning the ball over. Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen have struggled from beyond the arc, but Norris Cole can't miss.

So, let's play a little game of fact or fiction with these mentioned seemingly surprising elements of Miami's postseason, and others, and determine if these trends will continue.

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New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 6 Score, Highlights and Analysis

Michael Walsh — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:15:10 -0400

Game 6 was an emotional roller coaster for both the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. Each team went on runs that looked to put the other away, but in the end, the Pacers ran away with the game and the series, 106-99.

The Pacers looked to have things in hand through the first half, but an outrageous three-point bonanza got the Knicks right back into the thick of things.

It was only some lockdown fourth-quarter defense, holding New York to just 18 in the final frame, that pushed the Pacers to the next level.

Carmelo Anthony put up 39 on 15-of-29 shooting, but that won't be what New York fans remember. Anthony scored just four points in the deciding quarter, as the Pacers pulled away.

The Pacers' bruising style is what won out in the end, with Roy Hibbert and Paul George making clutch defensive plays and pounding the paint on offense.

Hibbert went for 21 points and 12 rebounds, contributing majorly to the Pacers' 52 points in the paint.

George finished with 23 points, going 9-of-15 from the field. He also contributed a fair amount to J.R. Smith's 4-of-15 performance.

Neither player was the biggest story of the night, however. It was New York-born Lance Stephenson who had the clutch play to grant the Pacers a conference finals berth.

Stephenson missed only four shots en route to a team-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. He was relentless through the final buzzer, scoring nine points in the final five minutes.

The Pacers rode some of the best basketball Stephenson has played in a while to a 55-47 lead at halftime. the young shooting guard put up 16 points and seven rebounds before intermission. That included a tough three-point play with seconds remaining.

The Knicks went on a three-point shooting barrage late in the third quarter. Iman Shumpert netted three straight from beyond the arc, and J.R. Smith's trey with 3:10 remaining knotted things up at 72.

Another Shumpert trey tied things up at 79 with 48 seconds left. That bucket gave Shumpert 16 points in the quarter, and 19 overall, the most he had scored since March 13. From there, Anthony and George traded hoops to make things 81-81 entering the fourth quarter.

The three-point bombardment continued with Chris Copeland in the fourth quarter. His second trey of the quarter put the Knicks up 87-84 with 10:10 to go.

The two teams continued playing their own games through the fourth. The Pacers worked things inside for layups at one end, while Smith netted yet another three for New York. Hibbert came up with a monster block of an Anthony dunk and then had a layup at the other end. Stephenson's and-1 with 3:55 remaining pushed the Pacers ahead 95-92.

Stephenson again attacked the rim, and this time drew Tyson Chandler's sixth foul. Chandler's game hadn't been going well as it was, with just a minus-16. He took his two points and five rebounds to the bench for the remainder of the game. Stephenson made both freebies, putting Indiana up 97-92

Stephenson just kept it coming, while Anthony committed three straight turnovers. Smith got a pair of free throws to bring New York within four, at 101-97 with just 1:15 remaining.

Anthony got to the rim for a dunk, possibly the only easy shot he had all night. The bucket put the Knicks down four, 103-99 with just 49 seconds to go. It was only Anthony's second basket of the fourth.

Copeland missed a three with about 30 seconds remaining in the game. However, the Knicks waited until there were just nine ticks left to foul.

George went to the line with the opportunity to really ice the game over. Unfortunately, he bricked both freebies, but, like they had done all night, the Pacers got another rebound. Sam Young came up with the grab and hit one of two free throws, finishing off the Knicks for good.

The Pacers advance to face the waiting Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Every 2012-13 NBA Playoff Team's Finest Hour

Kelly Scaletta — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:13:59 -0400

Only one team will ultimately win the NBA title. The number of teams who can potentially claim that gradually dwindles down, as now only four teams can make that claim. That doesn’t mean every team failed, though. Every playoff team has its own finest hour.

One team’s accomplishment is another team’s disappointment. For one team, merely being in the postseason defies expectations, while for another, winning a title is this year’s goal. For more, it’s getting one round further than the previous year.

Regardless of who they are, every team had that moment, that shot, that run, or that little stretch of games where they believed, surpassed expectations, and were greater than the sum of their parts.

Since accomplishments can’t be compared or ranked because of differing expectations, they are listed in alphabetical order. This is merely a chance for fans of all the postseason teams to feel good about their teams for a moment. They all have reason to be.

Believe, fans! If not for this year, for the next, or the one after that.

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Rory McIlroy's Decision to Start Management Firm Will Help Him Achieve Greatness

Jesse Reed — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:05:08 -0400

Rory McIlroy is one of the brightest young stars on the PGA Tour, and he's made a decision that will serve him well in the future.

According to a report by Karl MacGinty of The Irish Independent, McIlroy has decided to leave his old management firm Horizon Sports and will now be managed by his own firm, run by family and close friends.

McIlroy's good friend and fellow pro golfer Graeme McDowell confirmed MacGinty's report, via Karen Crouse of The New York Times, saying:

Management is a funny thing, and when things are maybe not going 100 percent on the golf course it’s natural to question everything you are doing from relationships, business and just everything you do. Sometimes we decide to make choices and decisions and take new paths.

For McIlroy, this move lines up perfectly with what's best for his future.

The Northern Irish star has been around for a few years, but at the age of 24, he's still younger than many of the young players on the PGA Tour. In his eight years as a professional, McIlroy has won six PGA Tour events—two of which just so happen to be major championships.

Not only is McIlroy an exceptionally gifted golfer, but he's also quite charismatic. When he's on his game and playing well—his smile on full display for the world to see—McIlroy's charisma shines through like a beacon.

Fans want to love him, and major corporations want to use him.

Fans get too caught up in what players do from shot to shot, from week to week on tour. Fans are also fickle, and many turn on players at the drop of a hat when results haven't been exemplary for a few weeks.

"How can this guy call himself a professional golfer," they might say after McIlroy misses the cut for the second straight week. They'll inevitably come up with all sorts of "logical" excuses for why the young man suddenly isn't playing up to expectations—most of which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Tiger Woods destroyed the perception that golf is actually a really hard game to play by making it look easy for years.

His heyday ruined how fans view golfers.

The truth of the matter is that golf is not an easy game, and there aren't many people in the history of the world who could put up a 10-run to rival Tiger's best.

That said, in the long run McIlroy's immense talent will inevitably lead to a career of consistent success, and he's already proved he is a marketable star. At the start of this new year, McIlroy signed a lucrative five-year contract with Nike that was worth over $100 million, according to Crouse.

Entire commercial markets have been created and destroyed because of our society's penchant for instantly falling in love with athletes to the point where we want to buy stuff attached to their names.

McIlroy will get plenty of other opportunities to sign huge endorsement deals with other major companies as he continues to improve as a professional golfer. Winning more majors will certainly help him increase his demand, and from what we've seen of this young man, he's more than capable of adding to his total.

But as his marketability increases, so does the pressure to stay on top.

McIlroy likely feels that his family and friends are more concerned with his future than a big marketing firm, which is surely why he made the switch.

Golf is such a mental game, and when your mind is troubled—however minor it may feel on the outside—it's a game that is difficult to play.

Perhaps this is why other elite athletes such as Tiger Woods, tennis star Roger Federer and world football player Lionel Messi have made a similar life choice to be managed by close friends and family, via MacGinty.

Looking at the career paths of these three megastars, the strategy has seemingly paid off.

Handing over the financial and personal decisions that will inevitably shape one's career is a daunting task. Professional athletes must be able to focus solely on their craft in order to achieve greatness.

With people in place McIlroy knows he can trust, he'll be able to completely let go of any worry or concern he may have about his future plans. This will allow him to simply put his mind toward what he has on his plate from day to day.

McIlroy's future as a professional golfer is just getting started.

With this added bit of mental security, he will continue to rise up as one of the best golfers and most marketable athletes on the planet.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78.

Why Venus Williams Needs to Retire from Singles Competition

Nick McCarvel — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:03:20 -0400

Venus and Serena Williams have never been held to the same standards as other athletes in their sport. They were the ones who were meant to win rooms full of trophies in singles, doubles and mixed—most of which they did—and in turn have become two of the most storied tennis players in the history of the game.

But as Venus, now 32, has hobbled along a 2013 schedule littered with disappointing losses and a flurry of last-minute withdrawals due to a nagging back injury, the standard she can’t help be compared to is the one she helped develop herself: Serena.

At 31, the younger Williams sister has continued to be the dominant force in women’s tennis, each week entering into another tournament as the “one to beat;” some calling her the greatest of all time.

So while Venus might have a few years—and desire—left in her tank, it’s time for her to hang up the laces on the singles court, unless she wants to risk marring what has been one of the most dominant careers the game has ever seen.

The numbers tell much of the story for Venus. Between 1998 and 2005, she won 33 of her 44 career titles. But since then—in the last seven years—the American has captured just 11, including none in 2011. It marked the first time since 1997 that Venus hadn't won at least one title on tour. Fourteen years.

And while Venus' star has continued to wane, its Serena's that has continued to shine, and extremely bright.

It’s that simple: If there were no Serena, then Venus should play on. But fact is there is a Serena (there always has been) and with the now 15-time major champion (to Venus’ seven) showing no sign of slowing down, the gap between the sisters is growing in a host of categories, including ranking (1 to 24), titles (50 to 44) and overall tennis talent (Serena thumped Venus the last time they played in April 6-1, 6-2, the most lopsided match in their 24 meetings).

It was a marked event, that match in April. The media played it up as a massive showdown as the sisters would meet for the first time in four years, but it was also the first time they faced one another since Venus was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome, which has left Venus sapped of energy at times on the court, trying to fight an aging body that also is downright exhausted at times.

In Charleston, the sisters played a day after they had played back-to-back matches because of rain, and Serena noted that Venus was more tired from the schedule than she'd admit.

"I mean she'll never admit it, ever, but I don't think she was 100 percent," Serena told reporters. "But you will never get that out of her, and quite frankly, three matches for her is much tougher than three matches for me. And so you know, it's definitely not easy, because I'm struggling, and I can't imagine what she must be feeling."

Yet tennis fans should not fear: Venus has proclaimed that she wants to play through the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, which she should—but only in doubles, and mixed doubles at the Grand Slams.

Last year, she and Serena captured gold in doubles at the London Games in a moment Venus described as one of the best of her life. Together, the sisters have won 13 majors alongside one another, still the force to be reckoned with in tennis’ team game.

That’s the lifestyle Venus needs: continuing to grow her EleVen fashion line in tennis and beyond, managing new off-court ventures like her Jamba Juice stores, her interest in Billie Jean King’s World TeamTennis and play the occasional doubles match.

Not just play. Win. Venus Williams is a winner. It’s just time for her to walk away as such, and keep one foot on the (doubles) court while figuring out that her life outside tennis is much richer than losing in the first round in Rome, like she did this week.

Andy Roddick shocked the tennis world by walking away at the US Open last summer, but for many—myself included—it was the right time for Andy to hang up his racket. He knew his time had come.

Olga Puchkova. Elena Vesnina. Those are just two names of many that Venus has lost to in the last year—and beyond—that she just shouldn’t have. She can’t hold herself to the same standard anymore, so step away, V; it’s the right thing to do.

Liverpool Transfer News: Players Reds Could Use to Beef Up 'Shallow' Squad

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:01:22 -0400

Asked what his main goal with Liverpool over the summer transfer window would be, manager Brendan Rodgers' response was simple.

"I think there will be a natural transition in the summer because we need to improve our depth because the squad was very shallow," Rodgers said, via ESPN. "You want to do your business as early as you can and we will look to reinforce but come the beginning of the season we would hope to have a squad ready to challenge."

With a transfer kitty reportedly around £20 million, Rodgers will have plenty of options available to him as he seeks to build that squad over the summer transfer window.

Read on to see some of the players he could use to beef up his "shallow" squad in the offseason, and which names could have a huge impact at Anfield next year.

Christian Eriksen, Ajax

Perhaps the biggest name linked with a move to the Reds recently has been Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen, who would no doubt be a great signing for Liverpool.

He would seemingly fill the centre-attacking midfielder role that Rodgers would love to solidify next season—allowing him to play around with the likes of Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge at the top of the attack. Moreover, it would create great depth in midfield and allow for a seamless transition when Steven Gerrard opts to end his career at the Merseyside club.

The latest reports from The Daily Mirror suggest that Liverpool are in a close battle with Borussia Dortmund for the £15 million-rated Danish playmaker.

And with Dortmund left possessing a lot of money from their Mario Gotze deal, Liverpool will seemingly have to move fast if they want to sign Eriksen.

Asmir Begovic, Stoke City

Many don't like the move here to say that Liverpool need another goalkeeper, but the reality is that neither Brad Jones nor Pepe Reina are world-class players. And whilst the man mentioned here—Stoke City's Asmir Begovic—isn't that either, he is probably an upgrade on either shot-stopper this summer.

The key for me, however, isn't that he's an upgrade.

Reina has long been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, and if that transpires, Rodgers will need to have a ready-made replacement.

Brad Jones simply isn't a replacement, and the Reds can ill-afford to start the season without a legitimate No. 1 goalkeeper. If Reina leaves late in the transfer window, that could very well happen, and Liverpool must therefore be ready to sign Begovic if the opportunity is there from the Potters.

Stoke signed Jack Butland over the winter transfer window, so there's no issue for them in terms of having a goalkeeper to turn to if they lose Begovic.

The biggest question will just be as to whether Liverpool will pull the trigger on Begovic or not, and whether Rodgers is prepared to pay £15 million for him.

Christian Tello, Barcelona

Barcelona striker Christian Tello has reportedly fallen under the watchful eye of Rodgers this summer, with the Reds' manager fancying a move for the 21-year-old.

According to David Maddock of The Daily Mirror, Tello "has a release clause in his contract priced at around £8.5 million, and, after failing to force his way into the starting line-up at Barca on a regular basis this season, will seriously consider his options in the summer."

As far as Liverpool is concerned, it's a great deal all around if they can manage to pull it off. He's young and relatively inexpensive and comes with a great skill set that the Merseyside club would no doubt be able to use in the seasons ahead.

Suarez and Sturridge are the future of the Reds' attack, but there isn't a whole lot of depth in terms of striker behind that. Rodgers will know that, and having already highlighted his desire for depth, could well be encouraged into making a move for the Barcelona star over the summer transfer window.

And what a good move it would be indeed.

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

NBA Playoff Stars out for Redemption

Ben Leibowitz — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:59:29 -0400

As the 2013 NBA playoffs inch ever closer to the finals, some of the league’s biggest stars are out for redemption.

The Miami Heat’s big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh aren’t on the list of players out for “redemption,” because they won it all last season. They’ll certainly be under a great deal of pressure. Therefore, proving they’re the best again by establishing league dominance is their goal over redeeming anything.

Players on teams that have been counted out all season long, however, will be looking to prove themselves.

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs will battle it out in the Western Conference Finals, while the Indiana Pacers will move on to face the Heat.

NBA teams remaining in the postseason have already proven a great deal, but a collection of players are out to redeem events of the past.

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New York Knicks Eliminated from NBA Playoffs After 106-99 Loss to Pacers

Tim Keeney — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:57:26 -0400

With a 106-99 Game 6 win, the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks from the postseason and clinched the last spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Frank Vogel got a balanced offensive effort from his team, but Lance Stephenson was undoubtedly the superstar of the night.

After making some monumental plays down the stretch to propel the Pacers to the home win, the third-year guard out of Cincinnati poured in a career-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, three assists and a steal.

In the loss, Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 39 points and seven rebounds.

Fueled by Stephenson's 16 first-half points, the Pacers entered the locker room up by eight points and seemingly en route to a dominant, series-clinching win.

But the third quarter belonged to Iman Shumpert and the Knicks. With New York down 10, Shumpert drilled three-straight treys and immediately injected some fire back into his team:

He would go on to score five more points—including his fifth three of the game—in the quarter, and we headed to the final period locked at 81.

With the Knicks up 92-90 with with five minutes left, Roy Hibbert came through with this game-changing block (via Bleacher Report):

Then the Stephenson Show started up again:

The young guard got to the rim at will during the next few possessions and scored the game's next seven points to put the Pacers up 97-92 with just under three minutes left.

Anthony and J.R. Smith kept the Knicks close, but the Pacers were able to knock down their free throws in the waning seconds to close out the series.

Indiana will now take on the Miami Heat for a trip to the NBA Finals, while the Knicks officially begin their offseason, where they will attempt to find creative ways to improve with very little salary coming off the books.

UFC on FX 8: The Real Winners and Losers from Belfort vs. Rockhold

Jeremy Botter — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:56:22 -0400

Saturday night's UFC on FX 8 card marked the return of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Brazil.

Two years ago, that would've felt like a big deal. Today, the UFC seemingly takes its circus on the road to Brazil every two or three months, so a bit of the novelty is lost. This one wasn't even the usual pay-per-view offering; it aired on cable television.

But it was a televised card with plenty of intrigue, at least in the top two fights of the night. The main event between Luke Rockhold and Vitor Belfort featured two of the world's best middleweights, and the co-main event saw the UFC debut of Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. That was a moment plenty of us have been waiting a long time for.

Who were the biggest winners and losers on the night? That's what I'm here to discuss. In the following slides, I'll name the fighters who gained the most and the athletes who were knocked down a few pegs by their performances.

Keep in mind that these aren't the winners and losers of each fight, though it often ends up working out that way. If someone wins a fight but looks terrible in doing so, the chances of them appearing on our list of winners is slim to none.

Let's get started, shall we?

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Indiana Pacers: The Rebirth of a Franchise and a New Mentality

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:53:55 -0400

After defeating the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers are now heading to the Conference finals to play the Miami Heat.

This win was much more than that.

Winning this series officially brings the Pacers back into the elite group of NBA teams. The win makes a statement not only to the league, but to the fans that they are finally back.

Gone are the days of Reggie Miller and Co. paving the way in the Eastern Conference. However, this new team has rebuilt after so many seasons of mediocrity and controversy. Now, they are heading to their first Conference finals series since 2004.

The "Malice at the Palace" was the beginning of the decline of this franchise. For the next few seasons, the team was in disarray. Issues on the court were problem enough, but serious problems off of the court that included multiple shooting-related incidents and players constantly coming in and out created a real disconnect from the community.

The Pacers began turning things around slowly, working on forming a team around Danny Granger, but the team wasn't able to take the next step.

Then Frank Vogel came in.

Vogel was named the interim head coach during the 2010-11 season, and the team was able to make the playoffs under Vogel for the first time since 2006.

The very next season, the Pacers finished with a 42-24 record and made it to the Conference semifinals before falling to the Heat. The addition of David West provided some real leadership to the team.

This season, everything has changed.

The Pacers finished the regular season with a 49-32 record while finishing first in their division for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

No longer is there a team of players the community dislikes. The current roster consists of a rising superstar in Paul George, a hometown hero in George Hill, a talented big man in Roy Hibbert and an established veteran leader in West.

Even though the Pacers still had one of the lowest average attendances in the league, according to ESPN.com, the community is finally starting to fill in the stands. The team is no longer mediocre, but they are now one series away from the NBA Finals.

How fitting it is that the Pacers head to the Conference finals after beating Reggie's old rivals in the Knicks. With Spike Lee in attendance, they were able to stop Carmelo Anthony and head to the next round.

Regardless of how the season ends for the Pacers, the fact that they have now made it this far shows that this team has finally rebuilt. The community is now fully behind the team, and it seems that the state of Indiana is once again fully focused on basketball at all levels.

The fans ended Game 6 with a "Beat the Heat" chant, and it certainly seems like this team has a shot of doing it.

Logan Couture Injury: Updates on Sharks Center's Leg

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:40:11 -0400

The San Jose Sharks were already facing an uphill battle in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup versus the Los Angeles Kings, and now the underdogs might be hemorrhaging on offense.

UPDATE: Saturday, May 18, at 10:53 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Couture is back on the ice:

---End of update---

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, center Logan Couture left Saturday night's Game 3 action at HP Pavilion after crashing hard into the boards:

LeBrun notes that the San Jose star was heavily favoring his left leg, though it's unclear what part of his leg was injured:

Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun noted that Couture was unable to put any weight on his leg heading back to the locker room.

Couture left the ice midway through the second period with the score tied 1-1.

San Jose came into Saturday night's action down 2-0 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings. Buoyed by the excellence of goalie Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles was able to stifle a Sharks attack that struggled for long stretches during the regular season.

Things will would only get worse if Couture is out an extended period of time. The 24-year-old center isn’t mentioned among the Sidney Crosbys of the NHL, but has fast become the Sharks’ most reliable offensive threat. Couture had nine points in six playoff games heading into Game 3, which was tied with seventh among all players.

That performance falls in line with Couture’s strong finish to the regular season. The fourth-year pro finished the 2012-13 campaign with 37 points, including a team-high 21 goals.

While an assist is all he has to his name versus Los Angeles, Couture’s mere presence is a threat that has to be accounted for every time down the ice. Without him in the lineup, the Sharks will have to make major adjustments to their lines, ones that could prove critical against a Kings team peaking at the right moment.

The Sharks are yet to release an official statement on Couture’s condition.

Can the Indiana Pacers Win an NBA Title in the Near Future with Current Core?

Poch de la Rosa — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:21:20 -0400

The Indiana Pacers are making great strides in the 2012-13 NBA playoffs, but is the core of this team capable of winning a title?

Will Pacers fans eventually relish an NBA championship with the likes of George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert in the mix?

The first and only time Indiana made it to the NBA Finals was in 2000, with the likes of Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, Dale Davis and Rik Smits representing Pacers blue and gold. Indiana lost, 4-2, to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Being a small-market team, the franchise is hungry for glory and recognition. Nothing less than a championship would suffice.

For the purposes of this article, several crucial factors within the context of the five most recent NBA champions (2012 Miami Heat, 2011 Dallas Mavericks, 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and 2008 Boston Celtics) will be analyzed:

Offense
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Offense

Based on the website Basketball-Reference.com, only one of the past five NBA champions (the 2012 Miami Heat with 98.5 points per game) failed to average at least 100 points per game.

In terms of offensive ranking, the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers finished third in the entire NBA with 106.9 points per game. The same team's 2010 version had the lowest offensive ranking among the past five champions, finishing 12th in the entire league with 101.7 points per contest.

It's also interesting to note that four of these five championship teams had at least one player average at least 20 points per game. The only exception was the 2008 Boston Celtics, whose leading scorer that season, Paul Pierce, tallied 19.6 points every night.

The 2013 Indiana Pacers lagged far behind when it comes to offensive output, finishing just 23rd in the NBA with 94.7 points per game. In addition, not a single Pacer averaged at least 20 points during the season. Paul George led the team in scoring with 17.4 points per outing.

Based on these findings, recent NBA champions average above the 100-point mark more often than not and rank no lower than 12th when it comes to offense. One guy on the team also scores at least 20 points. The Indiana Pacers do not meet any of these criteria.

A healthy Danny Granger can really help in this regard (assuming he'll be in top form when he returns). Granger, an eight-year veteran, has three seasons in which he averaged at least 20.5 points. If there's also one guy who's poised to become a consistent 20-point scorer, it's none other than 2013 NBA Most Improved Player Paul George.

Defense

The 2013 Indiana Pacers are mediocre offensively. However, they thrive defensively.

During the regular season, Indiana finished second behind the Memphis Grizzlies in terms of points allowed at only 90.7 per game. The presence of defensive stoppers such as 2013 NBA All-Defensive Second Team member George and Hibbert (2.61 blocks per game) really helps the Pacers' cause immensely.

The fact they only allow only 90.7 points really bodes well for them in terms of their championship aspirations. The 2008 Boston Celtics held their opponents to only 90.3 points per game. As far as the most recent champion teams are concerned, the worst defensively were the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers who gave up 99.3 points each night (although they did outscore the opposition by almost eight points).

Clearly, championship contenders do not allow the other team to routinely score 100 points against them. Judging by the Pacers' stats this season, they are more than capable as a defensive juggernaut.

A recent article written by Mike Prada of SB Nation gives the casual fan an idea of how Indiana plays defense. The picture below from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks shows how each Pacer stays with the opposing shooters while watching the ball at the same time.

Indiana does not opt for the weak-side zone in the event that Carmelo Anthony decides to kick the ball out to a teammate for the jump shot.

Rebounding

Another Indiana Pacers' specialty

Nobody rebounded the ball better than the Pacers in 2012-13. They averaged 45.9 boards per contest, asserting their dominance in this department. Hibbert and veteran David West lived up to their billing in the frontcourt.

However, seeing either small forward Paul George or shooting guard Lance Stephenson snag 10 rebounds in the postgame stat sheet wasn't uncommon. That's how good the Pacers are in cleaning up the glass.

Among the five recent NBA champions, each team averaged around 41 rebounds per game.The 2010 Los Angeles Lakers were the best of the bunch with an average of 44.3 while the 2012 Miami Heat bottomed out with only 33.5.

Surely, the Heat won the 2012 NBA Finals because they played to their strengths (namely the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) in spite of there shortcoming on the boards. The Pacers, on the other hand, are poised to become championship contenders if the sole category for consideration is rebounding. However, it's plain and clear this is just one aspect.

The video below demonstrates Indiana's tenaciousness on the boards courtesy of veteran warrior David West. Notice how great his nose for the ball is. Big man Hibbert takes a 14-foot jumper and misses, but West manages to beat three Cleveland Cavaliers in the paint for the offensive rebounds and successful putback.

Turnovers

The Pacers' Achilles' heel

Indiana finished 22nd overall in terms of turnovers, averaging 14.5 per contest. Third-year man Paul George was the worst offender with an average of 2.9.

However, hope looms in the horizon in the form of the 2008 Boston Celtics, who were 27th in the NBA that season with an average of 15.2 turnovers per game. This team had a lot of miscues, but leaned on their areas of strength (second in points allowed, fourth in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point percentage and fifth in steals as per Basketball-Reference.com).

Among the other champion teams, the 2010 Los Angeles Lakers took care of the basketball the best, as they finished sixth in the league with only 13.4 turnovers.

The video below, featuring Pacers coach Frank Vogel after the loss to the New York Knicks, 90-80, on April 14, describes how Indiana's 26 turnovers gave the game away to New York, which committed only 11 miscues.

Bench

Another weak area of the Indiana Pacers

Prior to the 2012-13 NBA season, Indiana locked up shock troopers D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green in an attempt to fortify its bench strength, but to no avail. The bench has largely been a disappointment all year long with the Pacers ranking 29th in terms of bench scoring (25.3 points per game) as per Hoops Stats.

However, as alarming as this may sound, this should not deter the Pacers in their quest for a championship.

Two of the last three NBA champions ranked in the lowest percentile when it comes to bench scoring (both the 2012 Miami Heat and 2010 L.A. Lakers finished 28th in the NBA). Among the past five NBA champions, it was only the 2011 Dallas Mavericks (second overall) who cracked the top 10.

This tells us an NBA champion team does not rely too much on its bench as far the trend has been in the last five seasons. However, with the Pacers' weakness when it comes to offense as mentioned previously, they sure could use a spark off the bench to help get them to the next level.

Conclusion

To recap, the Indiana Pacers are on track to become championship contenders because of their main strengths—defense and rebounding. These are facets of the game which Indiana is better at than most of the recent NBA champions.

However, some holes definitely need to be plugged.

The fact that the 2008 Boston Celtics were worse when it comes to turning the ball over doesn't mean the Pacers should be okay with where they are now in this department. You simply don't win championships if you cough up the ball way too much. That being said, there is no better time than now to take better care of the ball.

Even though the bench may not be a major issue based on recent championship trends, Indiana still needs somebody to step up from its rotation in order to boost its mediocre offense, one of the main impediments in its quest for its first title. So far, that hasn't happened.

Based on our findings, retaining the current core plus the return of a healthy Danny Granger or an offseason acquisition who can provide an additional scoring punch (and doesn't turn the ball over) will be a good recipe for an Indiana NBA championship.

It's an achievement which we hope will come sooner than later.

Unless noted otherwise, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and ESPN.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Lack of Triple Crown Threat Diminishes Marquee Race

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:14:40 -0400

The 2013 Belmont Stakes is still a few weeks away, but the outcome of the second leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday unfortunately diminishes the significance of one of horse racing's marquee showcases.

Hall of Fame tandem of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens teamed up to push 15-to-1 long shot Oxbow to victory at the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. That thwarted a Triple Crown bid by Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who encountered traffic problems and finished in fourth.

The luster of the Triple Crown achievement is what drives casual interest in horse racing, which is unfortunate in a sense. As Courier-Journal contributor J.J. Hysell highlights, the competition could make for an exciting race:

Golden Soul and Revolutionary played second and third respectively at Churchill Downs, but unfortunately the majority of outside observers don't particularly care for also-rans in this industry.

When ESPN's Darren Rovell was asked earlier in the week about the potential impact an Orb loss would have for Belmont Park on June 8, the consequences were revealed to be dire:

The Run for the Carnations in Elmont, New York is a grueling 1.5 miles that tests the endurance and strength of the competing thoroughbreds.

Though Oxbow is considered more of a sprinter, Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner documented Stevens' comments after the race, which indicated he may have had even more in the tank with Oxbow:

Even with Lukas setting an all-time record with 14 Triple Crown victories and Stevens winning his third Preakness to match his three triumphs at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, the hype will be significantly diminished without horse racing's ultimate honor on the line.

An Orb victory would have boosted the sport's national relevance and profile for the Belmont Stakes and would have been a wonderful development for anyone who had an interest in the event.

Affirmed remains the last horse to win the Triple Crown in 1978, and that's bad news for those who were looking forward to witnessing a shot at history. There is nothing quite like a thrilling finish involving a premier horse chasing the Triple Crown and an upstart thoroughbred trying to deny him.

Belmont Stakes ratings were actually up by 13 percent last year from 2011, when I'll Have Another was bidding for the Triple Crown. However, he was scratched at the last minute, and that was part of the reason why viewers stuck around.

Betting is always a rush that comes with horse racing, but the decreased significance brought on by Orb's letdown is going to cause ratings to drop from their encouraging upward trend of 2012.

NHL Playoffs: Why Chicago Blackhawks Need Viktor Stalberg vs. Detroit Red Wings

Derek Wolff — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:11:52 -0400

For all of the supposed depth the Chicago Blackhawks possess throughout their talented lineup, such didn't seem to be the case Saturday as they were thumped by their biggest rivals in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

The visiting Detroit Red Wings came into the United Center and turned the tables on the hometown 'Hawks, cruising to a 4-1 victory while stealing a game to even the series at 1-1. Chicago was flat-out beaten in every area of the game and looked lethargic after taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Blackhawks, who seemingly skated in circles around the Wings in their 4-1 win in Game 1, were nowhere to be found during Game 2, and the United Center crowd reflected that. I haven't heard the building that quiet since the days of "Dollar Bill" Wirtz, an era before Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews revived the franchise and made the "Madhouse on Madison" a rocking place to be again.

Speaking of Kane, he finally got off the schneid with his first goal since April 2011, but the 'Hawks couldn't hold the lead and looked awful in the final two periods as the Wings scored four unanswered goals.

The sudden lethargic attitude stemmed from an inability to adjust, as the vulnerable Detroit defense from Game 1 made adjustments to stymie the prolific Chicago forecheck. The roles reversed, Chicago simply shut down and played one of its worst games, if not the worst game, of the year. And while the Blackhawks don't need to panic at all, they do need to make some changes before playing Game 3 Monday night in Detroit.

Enter Viktor Stalberg.

Stalberg, who played in all five games of the Blackhawks' first-round series victory over the Minnesota Wild, has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the Detroit series. While there has been no direct indication as to why he hasn't suited up against the Wings, it's likely that Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville wasn't impressed with his energy level in the week off that the Blackhawks had while they waited for their second-round matchup.

Stalberg was limited to just one assist in five games against the Wild, but brings an unparalleled speed game to the Blackhawks that the Wings won't be able to match. Lining up on the wing with Dave Bolland and Bryan Bickell as his linemates, the 27-year-old Swede scored nine goals and added 14 helpers in 47 regular-season games, tied for fifth on the team with 23 points.

The winger played well against Detroit in the regular season, scoring one goal and adding two assists while going plus-two over four games. But the thing Stalberg brings the most to the table, aside from his blinding speed, is his solidification of the third line. Andrew Shaw's chippy and aggressive play have kept him on the third line alongside Bolland and Bickell after the former returned from injury at the start of the Detroit series, but it's time for Coach Q to again juggle the lines.

While it's not fair to be overly critical of Bolland, a main staple in the Blackhawks' success over the past five years, he had an awful Game 2 against Detroit, racking up eight penalty minutes on four minor calls. While the 'Hawks penalty kill remained stellar in another brilliant special teams showing, the penalties Bolland took in the game were, in a word, dumb.

Worse, while the Wings power play failed to convert, the 'Hawks burned valuable five-on-five time to kill them off. Shaw served one of the minors when Bolland took two minutes for roughing and another two for slashing at 14 minutes, 45 seconds in the first period. While Shaw remained clean in Game 2, his overaggression twice put the Wings on the power play in Game 1.

Daniel Carcillo, who played with Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger on Chicago's fourth line, took a cross-checking penalty shortly after Damien Brunner tied the Game at 1-1 early in the second period. This penalty was unmerited and selfish, putting the Blackhawks again at a man disadvantage and killing any rally after the Brunner goal.

With both Bolland and Bickell playing on the third line as natural centers, Shaw has been moved to the wing. Inserting Stalberg back into the mix in his usual spot on the third line would most likely see Shaw replace Carcillo alongside Frolik and Kruger on the fourth line, which would benefit the Blackhawks as well, giving them more scoring talent and increasing the depth. Better yet, Shaw's grit would benefit his linemates, who play more of a speed game and are crucial to the 'Hawks' penalty kill success.

Inserting Stalberg into the fray would inject some much-needed life into the Blackhawks, who will no doubt come out hungrier on Monday, looking for a chance to steal back home-ice advantage. Fans would be hard-pressed to find a faster skater on Monday night than No. 25 for Chicago, nor a player who wants to help his team win more.

Stalberg told the Chicago Tribune that Quenneville had not been happy with his play and that he understands he'll need to pick it up to receive more ice time and remain a constant in Chicago's lineup. Plus, he'll be playing for a new contract, since he becomes a free agent when the 2013 season is over.

Certainly he'll want to help the 'Hawks extend that deadline as far as they can.

Chicago lost back-to-back games just four times in the regular season. Expect its intensity to be much better come Monday night.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Orb'S Preakness Loss Takes Excitement out of Storied Race

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:08:55 -0400

Those planning their weekend of June 8 around seeing horse racing history at the 2013 Belmont Stakes should probably consider making secondary plans.

The nearly four-decades-long Triple Crown drought continued in Saturday's 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, as 16-1 underdog Oxbow shocked the world at Pimlico Race Course. Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who came into Pimlico as an overwhelming favorite, finished fourth.

It was a result that baffled some and shocked nearly all.

And with Belmont lingering in three weeks, race officials have to be wondering how they'll drum up excitement for the Triple Crown capper. Because for right now, Orb's loss feels like one massive pulling of the rug by a sport that's continually done so since 1978.

What makes this latest rug-pulling so dejecting is that—for arguably the first time since Big Brown in 2008—it felt like Orb had a legitimate shot at taking the whole thing. His Triple Crown odds were down to plus-225 on Bovada's sportsbook heading into Saturday's race, which is an astounding number for a horse that had just a third of the journey down.

Everyone felt like something was special in the air with Orb.

The three-year-old colt had already become the first since Big Brown five years ago to win from the favorite at Churchill Downs and was an overwhelming favorite at Pimlico. At 5-7 odds, Orb was getting bet on heavily by those in the public and those in the know.

Even opposing trainers couldn't help but marvel about Shug McGaughey's ascending colt. Doug O'Neill, trainer of Goldencents, said prior to the race that Orb had a very good shot at capturing the Triple Crown.

"I definitely think it's well within his range. He's a Triple Crown threat, for sure," said O'Neill, per USA Today's Gary Mihoces.

The legendary trainer Bob Baffert went one stop further, saying that those not rooting for Orb had "something mentally wrong with them," per the Lexington Herald-Leader's horse racing feed:

This is a good time to remind you that Baffert had a horse, Govenor Charlie, in this field. Even those who stood to financially gain from Orb's misfortune were rooting for Orb, so you can only imagine the public's feelings heading into this race.

Of course, we knew there were plenty of mitigating circumstances working against Orb. Starting on the inside post, he was looking to become the first thoroughbred since Tabasco Cat in 1994 to win starting from the No. 1 position. And he also became the fourth straight Derby winner since the turn of the century to lose in a field of nine or fewer horses, per Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.

It didn't matter for most. This was the horse that would finally break free and win all three races because it had to be.

Horse racing's journey to find the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 has become sports' version of chasing the proverbial dragon. Every year casual and hardcore fans alike desperately cling to the hope that this could be the year. That competitive fields and the increased sophistication of trainers and owners hasn't created a parity-driven sport out of one that was once predicated on individual transcendence.

Parity works for the NFL. It doesn't for a niche individual sport.

So you'll forgive most if they were a bit dejected over Orb's failure on Saturday. Following the race, most took to Twitter to express their feelings—good and bad—about what just transpired.

Some, like Eric Stangel of the Late Show w/ David Letterman, understandably went right to the humor well:

Others, like Chris Brown of Smart Football, made astute observations about why things went wrong for Orb:

The rest, well, we can't print those. Suffice it to say the worst possible side of social media comes out when folks don't get their way.

This entire amalgam of emotions eventually comes at the expense of the Belmont. Without a Triple Crown threat, this five-week span of races limps to its death—the sport's superficial embodiment of breaking a leg. Sure, the race will go on and some people will watch, but the intrigue has been sucked almost completely dry.

Perhaps it was David Steele of the Sporting News who put it best:

It's ultimately a bit unfair to the people involved at Belmont. Even without a potential Triple Crown, the Stakes are one of the more interesting races in the entire sport. The mile-and-a-half-long track is a titillating test of endurance, especially for three-year-olds that have already hit the starting gate twice in such a short span.

Again, it doesn't matter. Trying to drum up excitement for this year's Belmont is like trying to save a broken marriage. You can try to talk yourselves into things like couples counseling or forced date nights, but you're only going through the motions before the inevitable, sweet end.

And that's likely what we'll be doing in these coming weeks. Perhaps we'll be able to drum up some pseudo-excitement if Orb and Oxbow both head to New York or if Rosie Napravnik again tries to make history.

Just know that we'll be happy to sign our divorce papers with the 2013 Triple Crown season come June 8.

Atlanta Braves: Bullpen Issues Continue with Injuries to Lefties

Joe Tansey — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:03:23 -0400

The Atlanta Braves were handed a double dose of bad injury-related news this week as Jonny Venters' second Tommy John surgery was announced and Eric O'Flaherty was put on the disabled list with a torn UCL.

Over the last few seasons, both left-handed relievers were heavily relied on in the Braves' chase for the playoffs.

While the duo were pitching in a combined 293 games over the last two seasons, the concerns about the longevity of both players' have been ever-present.

Both Venters and O'Flaherty have provided the Braves with some superb work in relief and they formed one of the most feared bullpen combinations in the majors with closer Craig Kimbrel.

But with both relievers out for the foreseeable future, the criticism of how the two pitchers were used can be heard even more than it was in the past.

Throwing a reliever over 60 games in just one season can do some damage, especially combined with two seasons of stress-filled situations on the mound in the latter innings.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez now faces a situation that he created himself. His two best left-handed relievers are most likely out for the season and now he has to find capable relievers to fill that void.

Luis Avilan and Cory Gearrin will assume the "next man up" mentality for now. And the addition of veteran left-hander Joe Beimel, who is on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery himself, will help the ball club if he reaches the majors.

There is also be some concern about the right arm of Kimbrel, who has appeared in 142 games over the last two seasons and 16 games already this season.

If Kimbrel begins to experience arm issues, the World Series and even playoff hopes of the Braves could go down the drain in a heartbeat.

For now, Braves fans can focus on the terrific job that Gearrin and Avilan have done in relief so far this season. But if they fold under pressure in the seventh and eighth inning roles in front of Kimbrel, the criticism will grow around Gonzalez on how he managed his bullpen over the past few seasons.

Follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Every 3rd-Round Team's Most Glaring Weakness

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:01:39 -0400

The 2013 NBA playoffs are just one round away from the crowning of this season's champion. As the conference finals take shape, however, each and every one of our legitimate title contenders are tasked with overcoming significant weaknesses.

The question is, what is it that could bring down these respective teams?

The Western Conference finals are set in stone, as the veteran San Antonio Spurs will take on the defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies. This is a rematch of their legendary first-round series from 2011, when the No. 8-seeded Grizzlies upset San Antonio.

The common theme? Rudy Gay wasn't present then, and he's no longer with the team now.

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat have advanced, as expected, and will await their competitor. The options are the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, who both thrive defensively but play a different brand of offense.

Regardless of which team Miami draws, each have their own weaknesses. No one is invincible.

Memphis Grizzlies: Perimeter Scoring

Regular Season Record: 56-26

Postseason Record: 8-3

Key Statistic: 4.7 3PT FGM (30th)

The Memphis Grizzlies are a dominant defensive force, pairing perimeter brilliance with interior power. From Mike Conley and Tony Allen locking down the guards to Tayshaun Prince controlling the corners and Marc Gasol defending the rim, there's little that Memphis can't do defensively.

On offense, however, there's one thing they're helpless with—shooting the three.

Conley leads a group that can shoot, but the issue isn't what they're capable of. The issue is that Memphis has no go-to shooter, nor does it possess a player that can counter a three-point attack from another team on a consistent basis.

Going up against a San Antonio Spurs team that ranked seventh in three-point field goals made and fourth in three-point goal percentage, that could be disastrous.

Memphis finished the 2012-13 regular season with an average of 4.7 three-point field goals made per game. Not only was that the lowest number in the league, but the Grizzlies were the only team to make less than 5.4 per game.

It doesn't help that they were 24th in three-point field-goal percentage.

Miami Heat: Rebounding

Regular Season Record: 66-16

Postseason Record: 8-1

Key Statistic: 38.6 RPG (30th)

The Miami Heat are the best team in the NBA, both by measures of advanced metrics, personnel and victories. With that being said, there is a significant area that the Heat are the worst in the league.

Rebounding.

During the regular season, Miami was dead last in rebounds per game at 38.6. They were 28th in offensive rebounds per game, as well, at 8.2 per contest.

They were one of just three teams to grab less than 9.0 offensive rebounds per game.

Perhaps most dangerous of all, Miami was 20th in opponent offensive rebounding at 11.2 allowed per contest. This has resulted in their ranking of 29th in opponent second-chance points scored (via NBA.com).

For a team that approaches perfection with every performance, there is one area that could be their ultimate undoing.

San Antonio Spurs: Athleticism

Regular Season Record: 58-24

Postseason Record: 8-2

Key Statistic: 14.2 fast-break points allowed per game (24th)

The San Antonio Spurs are a veteran team with an abundance of three-point shooters, a dominant interior presence, a legendary head coach and depth at every position. With that being said, the Spurs are also a team that thrives on finesse more so than power or athleticism.

That's not a flaw, but here's what is—San Antonio just isn't athletic enough to maintain an up-tempo pace throughout the postseason.

When things slow down, the Spurs are one of the most dominant defensive teams in the NBA. They allow just 96.6 points per game, are ranked eighth in opponent field-goal percentage and have the length to contain the three-ball.

With that being said, there's one number that speaks volumes to their makeup—San Antonio was 24th in opponent fast-break points (via NBA.com).

The Memphis Grizzlies shouldn't pose too much of a threat in this instance, but the Miami Heat and New York Knicks are threats. Both teams get out in transition and attack the basket, both punishing the rim and pulling up for the three-ball.

For a Spurs team that dominates in the half court but struggles when the pace picks up, it's imperative that San Antonio slows it down from hereon out.

Watch Official's Lousy Jump-Ball Toss in Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6

Grant Hughes — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:01:19 -0400

J.R. Smith's bricked jumpers weren't the only errant tosses in the New York Knicks' Game 6 battle against the Indiana Pacers. Referee Ken Mauer also joined the party by heaving up one of the worst jump balls in the history of organized basketball.

It's always a little weak to jump on officials. Usually, they're doing the best they can in what amounts to a no-win situation. No matter what they call, somebody is always unhappy.

Note to whiny fans: Your team probably lost because it wasn't any good—not because there's some league-wide conspiracy to shortchange your favorite squad.

But this one's fair game. I mean, how hard is it to execute a jump ball?

Really, there are only two steps in the process. First, the referee has to wait until both players are ready and in position. Looking at the video above, it's pretty clear that Mauer blew that one.

"Ok guys, we'll jump it up on three. One, tw...NOW!" -The ref doing the jump ball.
— Referee Logic (@RefereeLogic) May 19, 2013

Maybe this is the start of a new trend in the NBA: the surprise jump ball. That sounds kind of fun, doesn't it? A ref could either fire the ball up way before either team is ready or, even better, wait for about 10 minutes with all 10 players lined up. You know, just to see how long they'd stand still.

Anyway, Mauer missed the "timing" portion of his jump-ball officiating class. But he also screwed up the second part by tossing the ball right to Amar'e Stoudemire, who was so stunned by what happened that he spiked the rock right into the waiting arms of Sam Young.

Had the Pacers scored on the ensuing play, Stoudemire would have deserved an assist.

Oh, I almost forgot that Mauer botched a third aspect of the jump ball. Look where he's standing! Don't be afraid, Kenny. You're allowed inside the circle. In fact, that's where every other referee in the history of basketball has stood during the jump ball. Get in there, buddy.

The befuddled Knicks took awhile to recover from the strangeness.

The Knicks appear to be still stunned from that awkward jump ball toss.
— ESPN (@espn) May 19, 2013

And it seemed like Mauer was under attack from all angles, as New York supporters came out of the woodwork to hassle him.

John Starks not happy w/ref Ken Mauer's tech call on J.R. Smith. Starks walks to court & yells, "You were terrible when I played, Kenny."
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 19, 2013

Ultimately, this isn't that big of a deal. But it's undeniably weird when something as common as a jump ball suddenly takes center stage in a playoff game for all the wrong reasons.

Preakness 2013: Biggest Takeaways from Historic Race at Pimlico

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:38:36 -0400

The 2013 Preakness didn't give fans the Triple Crown contender they wanted, but it delivered an exciting race worthy of all the hype that surrounded the event.

Oxbow ultimately picked up the Preakness win despite 15-1 odds heading into the race. He proved that anything can happen in horse racing, dominating the race from wire-to-wire and becoming the first horse to do so in 31 years, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Here's how the race shook out for each horse in the field.

Place	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Earnings
1	Oxbow	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	$620,000
2	Itsmyluckyday	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	$200,000
3	Mylute	Tom Amoss	Rosie Napravnik	$100,000
4	Orb	Shug McGaughey	Joel Rosario	$50,000
5	Goldencents	Doug O’Neill	Kevin Krigger	$30,000
6	Departing	Albert M. Stall Jr.	Brian Hernandez Jr.	-
7	Will Take Charge	D. Wayne Lukas	Mike Smith	-
8	Govenor Charlie	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	-
9	Titletown Five	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	-

It was certainly a shocking result as no one expected Oxbow to be a serious contender. In all, it was a memorable evening of racing that fans won't forget anytime soon.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Oxbow's historic performance.

Orb Isn't Who Everyone Thought He Was

Orb came in as a huge race-time favorite. Despite the No. 1 post position, which has historically been difficult to win from, he was being bet at 5-7 odds at post time.

His stunning come-from-behind victory had experts talking about a potential run at the Triple Crown. Given his brilliant run at the Derby, it was understandable that bettors didn't take into consideration his starting position.

However, it turned out to be too much for the colt to handle. He was boxed in from the beginning and struggled to get the space needed to make the final push that could have challenged Oxbow. He ended up in fourth place and outside the money.

Perhaps more than any other sport, a sure thing doesn't exist in horse racing. Orb simply didn't have what it takes to win the Triple Crown.

Oxbow Has Elite Speed

After a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, it was easy to see why Oxbow was considered a long shot at Pimlico.

What bettors didn't factor into it was Oxbow's top-end speed. The sprinter-friendly, shorter track turned out to be just what Oxbow needed to become a serious contender. While he faded late down the stretch at the longer Churchill Downs track, he had enough gas to keep up his torrid pace at Pimlico.

If Orb's disappointing finish showed the importance of post position, Oxbow's showed the importance of track length.

With the big win, he has to be considered a factor at the Belmont Stakes.

The Belmont Will Be Wide Open

Some will say that losing a potential Triple Crown winner will make the Belmont Stakes uninteresting. To an extent, that's true. Had Orb pulled off the victory, the buzz leading into the race would have been much bigger.

But that doesn't mean the race won't be interesting.

The Belmont is now wide open. Orb has shown that he's a great horse with his Derby win. A better post position in the 1.5-mile race, and there's little doubt he'll be a serious contender. Oxbow's win was impressive, but if he didn't have the endurance to finish the Kentucky Derby, how will he do on the longer Belmont track?

Throw in the likely presence of horses that skipped out on the Preakness like Golden Soul and Revolutionary, and this race is anyone's to win.

Odds courtesy of Bovada.

New England Patriots Hope Defensive Tackle Changes Improve Run Defense

Randolph Charlotin — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:35:12 -0400

Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Brandon Deaderick and Kyle Love were released this offseason by the New England Patriots. All played defensive tackle—the position at the heart of the first line of defense.

A purge at one position typically indicates a problem area for a team. But the Patriots run defense finished ninth overall in yards allowed (1,630) and sixth overall in yards per attempt (3.9 average) in 2012.

Upon further analysis, though, good teams don’t fear New England’s run defense and for good reason.

New England’s run defense was aided by the prolific offense that forced many opponents to abandon running the ball just to keep up with the Patriots. In close games, however, opponents pounded the ball for four quarters and wore down New England’s run defense.

The first step in evaluating the run defense was to separate the blowouts from the games decided by 10 points or less. The blowouts were wins over Tennessee, Buffalo, St. Louis, Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Houston and Miami. The close wins were over Denver, the Jets, Buffalo, Miami. and Jacksonville, while the close losses were to Arizona, Baltimore, Seattle and San Francisco.

While yards per carry were nearly even (3.8 yards/attempt in blowouts, 3.9 in close games), the average yards per game jumped from 87.1 to 109.9.

The increase of 22.8 rushing yards per game doesn’t sound like much, but that was gained with an additional 5.1 more attempts per game. That’s a yards-per-carry average of 4.5 yards.

To put that in perspective, 109.9 yards allowed per game would rank 14th in the NFL in 2012. Eight yards more than New England’s season average of 101.9 rushing yards per game would change the Patriots run defense from good to mediocre.

In an attempt to be fair, the 31 yards gained by San Francisco’s Dashon Goldson on a fake punt was subtracted from the total yards, as was his single rush attempt. If these numbers were included, the rushing yards would increase from 989 yards to 1,020 yards, 254 attempts, a 4.0 yards-per-carry average and 113.3 yards per game allowed.

Run Defense in Blowouts Versus Close Games
Type of Games	Games	Attempts	Yards	Yds/att	Yds/gm
Blowouts	7	161	610	3.8	87.1
10 Points or Less*	9	253	989	3.9	109.9
2012 Totals	16	415	1,630	3.9	101.9
*Dashon Goldson’s one rush for 31 yards subtracted from totals

Brace and Pryor couldn’t stay on the field. New England said the release of Deaderick and Love was performance related. It might be more about a change in approach for the defense.

Only six 300-pound space-eating defensive linemen are currently on the roster. Based on the current roster, the defensive linemen won’t be waiting for the ball-carrier to come to them in 2013. The approach will be less two-gap play and more penetrating, getting into the backfield and making the play kind of D-line play.

Vince Wilfork is the prototype for what the Patriots want at defensive tackle. Free-agent addition Tommy Kelly had 14.5 sacks combined in 2010 and 2011, and New England hopes he can regain his penetrating ways. Armond Armstead had six sacks in his only season playing for Toronto in the CFL.

The remaining DTs are Marcus Forston, a rookie free agent in 2012 who spent most of last season on the practice squad, and 2013 restricted free agents Cory Grissom and Dewayne Cherrington.

That’s a lot of change at one position, but it had to be done. Last year’s run defense wasn’t as good as the numbers suggested.

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

Chelsea Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Blues' Latest Summer Transfer Buzz

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:24:11 -0400

With outgoing manager Rafa Benitez revealing to ESPN that Chelsea will look to spend around €100 (£85m) over the summer transfer window, a number of big-name players are being linked with prospective moves to the West London club.

Having bombed out in both the Champions League and the Premier League this year, Chelsea will again be looking to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season and will no doubt be hoping to bring in several high-profile stars to help them do that.

Which players could be on a move to Stamford Bridge this summer?

Read on and find out all the latest summer transfer buzz for the Blues.

Wayne Rooney, ST, Manchester United

After Wayne Rooney asked Manchester United for a transfer over the summer transfer window, Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay whatever it takes to sign the England international over the summer, according to The Daily Mirror.

Per the report, Chelsea are willing to pay up to £30 million to land the wantaway striker ahead of Paris Saint Germain as well as match his current salary.

United are adamant that they will not be selling Rooney this summer, but with the former Toffees player reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye with incumbent United manager (and former Everton manager) David Moyes, there are no guarantees that the reigning champions will keep their star player.

Especially if the Blues end up signing Jose Mourinho as manager.

Radamel Falcao, ST, Atletico Madrid

Having been linked for a long time with a move to Chelsea, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao was the subject of strong transfer rumors that suggested the star striker had signed with Monaco in 2013.

However, according to comments made by the striker, his future remains at the Spanish club for the rest of his contract. The Metro quoted him as saying:

I don't know anything [about the rumors], and the only thing I have in mind is to keep concentrating on Atletico Madrid. I keep myself apart of what is being discussed. It it was up to the press, I would have already been transferred to Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United. I don't find any news that is being said about me to be true, and the only real thing is that I am under contract until 2016. All the rest is only speculation.

Falcao is still being tracked closely by the Blues and is thought to be one of their main targets this summer. The striker would likely cost upwards of £50 million.

Fernando Torres, ST, Chelsea

There is increasing speculation that current striker Fernando Torres will be leaving the club over the summer transfer window. According to talkSPORT, Fiorentina are reportedly eyeing up a move for the striker, should they lose Stevan Jovetic.

However, after Torres finally started to consistently score goals for the Blues and won another European title this season, a departure is far from certain this summer.

The striker was quoted via The Daily Mirror earlier in the week as saying that he's "feeling more important than in the past, so I think the future will be even better."

Torres netted the Blues' first goal in their recent Europa League win over Benfica.

Romelu Lukaku, ST, Chelsea

Having thrived on loan at West Bromwich Albion this season, several Premier League clubs are clamoring to try and sign Romelu Lukaku for next year.

The Belgian international wasn't receiving any playing time at the West London club before the move, and whilst it's not yet known whether that would change under a new manager next year, the fact that the Blues are looking to buy more strikers would suggest that Lukaku isn't their No. 1 priority.

Lukaku would fetch upwards of £20 million on the open market, with Swansea City and West Ham both keen for loan moves next season, according to The Daily Mail.

Cristiano Ronaldo, LW, Real Madrid

One final bit of transfer news for Chelsea, and it's perhaps the most out-there rumor of them all, with the Blues reportedly interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes, that Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Daily Mail reports that the London club are at the center of a bidding war with Manchester United for the £80 million-rated Real Madrid winger, who has been touted as a potential summer departure alongside manager Jose Mourinho in the past few weeks.

Any deal for Ronaldo would likely hinge on the Blues landing Mourinho first.

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

Belmont Stakes 2013: Predicting Top 3 Finishers in Triple Crown's Final Leg

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:21:22 -0400

In what can be described as nothing short of a stunning display of dominance, Oxbow led from start to finish en route to a victory at the 2013 Preakness Stakes. With the win, Orb's pursuit of the Triple Crown was crushed and Oxbow entered his name into the hat of favorites for the Belmont Stakes.

The question is, how will the Triple Crown's final leg play out?

Orb entered the race as the odds-on favorite, but it was Oxbow that was led by multi-time Preakness Stakes winners in jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Stevens took home his third career Preakness Stakes crown, while Lukas corralled his sixth.

With both men experiencing success at the Belmont Stakes, another win could be on the horizon.

Just don't sell the field short before the action even begins; some horses that ran well in the Kentucky Derby but skipped the Preakness might contend as well.

Oxbow enters the race in fierce competition with Orb to own the label of the favorite, as both have won major races this season. With Oxbow taking the Preakness Stakes and Orb earning the Kentucky Derby nod, the top two contenders at the Belmont Stakes could be the previous winners.

The question is, how will it all play out when it's all said and done?

Date: Saturday, June 8

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Venue: Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

3. Orb

Orb may have finished in fourth at the 2013 Preakness Stakes, but he was starting off of the rail in the No. 1 post. Not only is that unfavorable position, but it's a sign of things to come—no horse has won the event from the rail since 1994.

Even still, Orb finished in strong position considering the way he came out of the gates.

With this in mind, there's no reason to believe that Joel Rosario will be unable to ride Orb to yet another victory. After all, legendary trainer Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey has won at this event before, taking home the 1989 Belmont Stakes title.

The question here is simple—what post position will Orb draw?

If Orb starts in favorable position, there's a powerful possibility that he walks away with the victory. With that being said, confidence and focus is a key here, and Orb cannot be thrilled with the way the Preakness turned out.

Even still, this horse will be in it until the bitter end.

2. Oxbow

Fresh off of a win at the Preakness Stakes, it's not hard to see why Oxbow will be a favorite at the 2013 Belmont Stakes. It certainly doesn't hurt that Oxbow has the supporting cast to lead a charge toward a victory.

Both jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas have each won the event before.

Stevens enters this race having won the Belmont Stakes in 1995, 1998 and 2001. For what it's worth, the 1995 title came alongside none other than Lukas.

The two helped lead Thunder Gulch to the crown.

Individually, Lukas has won the Belmont Stakes on four separate occasions. He won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes consecutively in 1994 and 1995.

There's a high probability that Lukas' reign of terror continues in 2013 with Oxbow.

1. Mylute

One of the most surprising finishes at the 2013 Preakness Stakes was held by Mylute. Starting out of the No. 5 post, Mylute ended up finishing third and surprising the field by finishing ahead of Orb by a relatively wide margin.

Expect history to be made at the Belmont Stakes.

Mylute is guided by jockey Rosie Napravnik, a 25-year-old from Morristown, N.J. Not only is she one of the fastest-rising jockeys in the world, but she's on pace to reach the height of legends with a win at Belmont.

Napravnik can become the first female jockey to win the Belmont Stakes since Julie Krone in 1993.

Napravnik and trainer Tom Amoss appear to have limitless potential together, which will shine through in Elmont, New York. Together, they could join the ranks of history and place Napravnik in a class of her own in terms of modern riders.

Bank on it.

Can Boston Celtics Build Legitimate Future Around Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green?

Matthew Schmidt — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:20:38 -0400

Regardless of whether or not Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce return next year, it's obvious that the two key pieces of the Boston Celtics' future are Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green.

Rondo, 27, will be the clear-cut best player on the team once Garnett and Pierce leave. It's no secret that a Celtics rebuild hinges on his ability to teach a group of youngsters and lead by example, and some wonder if Rondo has it in him to do that.

Green, 26, demonstrated his ability throughout the 2012-13 campaign. We saw him erupt for 43 points against the Miami Heat and then average 20.3 points per game in the playoffs. The question with Green is not if he can do it; it's if he will do it consistently.

Let me preface all of what I am about to say by stating this: Boston needs more than just Rondo and Green.

In this day and age, teams absolutely need a reliable third piece in the NBA. Unless they have a Shaq and Kobe-type of duo (and I don't see anything currently in this league that even begins to resemble that), the teams must have at least three dependable scorers to have a shot at a title.

Now, taking that into consideration, the answer to the original question is a reluctant yes.

I say the word "reluctant" because it is strongly predicated on the C's finding that third wheel. Maybe that third wheel is already on the team. Perhaps it is Jared Sullinger, who also figures to be a significant part of a Celtics rebuild. No matter who it is, Rondo and Green need some support, preferably being in the form of a big man.

That being said, having Rondo and Green is undoubtedly a nice start.

Rondo is unquestionably one of the best point guards in the game, possessing otherworldly floor vision and a tenacity that few players in the league actually have. He is also incredibly unpredictable, making him all of the more dangerous, especially out in the open court.

Green is a Swiss army knife.

He can shoot from the perimeter, put the ball on the floor, explode to the rim and post up. He is also a fine defender, displaying solid shot-blocking prowess this past season and a knack for playing tough, physical defense on opposing small forwards. Green's versatility allows him to man both forward positions, creating mismatches at both spots.

What Celtics fans must understand is that this is going to be a rather difficult transition.

No matter how effective Rondo and Green are, they are not going to be as dominant as the combination of Garnett and Pierce (not to mention Ray Allen) was when the Big Three first formed in Boston back in 2007. That was essentially a once-in-a-lifetime type of team that we'll be lucky to witness again in the near future.

So, Rondo and Green will be good. Just not that good.

Then again, who knows? As has been said ad nauseam, if the C's can add another star to the club while also filling out the rest of the roster, Rondo and Green can do special things. After all, we already know that Rondo and Green will likely comprise a great tandem, given Rondo's affinity for getting out on the break and Green's propensity to run the floor like a gazelle and throw down monster slams.

Rondo also has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

He definitely heard all of the chatter about the Celtics being better without him this year. People said that Boston's offense actually ran more smoothly sans No. 9, stating that Doc Rivers' squad shared the ball more and ran quicker, crisper sets.

Of course, that talk was thoroughly disproved in the playoffs, as the C's' offense came to a grinding halt without their floor general. Don't think that means Rondo has forgotten all of the criticisms that were thrown his way, however.

The ACL tear could serve as sort of an awakening for Rondo. When tragedy strikes, you really stop and put things into perspective, and we can only assume that the point guard did that and more while watching his brothers go into battle without him from Jan. 27 through the rest of the season.

Green has that chip, too.

The four-year contract he was given by the Celtics last summer was chastised by many, especially by former ESPN writer John Hollinger. Hollinger, who is now the vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, called the deal (ESPN Insider required) "without a doubt, the worst contract of the summer."

How about a personal apology to Jeff, John?

While Green does not have the type of stubborn personality of Rondo, you can bet that he has taken Hollinger's words—as well as the comments of everyone else who doubted him—to heart.

It's not just about playing with extra motivation, though. It's also about utilizing your talents to the fullest, and in the right situation, Rondo and Green are both perfectly capable of doing just that.

In the end, there is a large faction of individuals who consider Rondo to be a top-two or top-three point guard in the NBA. There is also the ever-growing Green bandwagon that feels as if we are watching the birth of a new star.

I think I'll take a top-flight point guard and a potential star forward as building blocks for a successful future.

Wouldn't you?

Undrafted Free Agents Who Could Make the Pittsburgh Steelers Roster

Joseph Bruno — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:16:09 -0400

Any team in the NFL can get a good player in the first round of the draft, and the really good franchises are the ones who consistently find steals later on. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the better teams in the NFL in finding players late in the draft from Antonio Brown (sixth), Brett Keisel (seventh) and James Harrison (undrafted) to Willie Parker (undrafted).

In this article I am going to look at five of this year's undrafted free agents that have the best chance at making the Steelers’ 2013 roster.

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IndyCar 2013: Ed Carpenter Still a Long Shot Despite Winning Pole

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:14:41 -0400

Even after winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500, it’s still unlikely that Ed Carpenter actually pulls off the win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Carpenter won the pole position on Saturday, with the Indy Motor Speedway's official Twitter account announcing his victory.

The last win for Carpenter came in September of last year, winning the MAVTV 500 after starting fifth. In the 141 races he has started, he has only won twice.

This is actually Carpenter’s second career pole position, despite racing for 10 years. For a racer who has been in the IndyCar series for so long, you would expect to see more wins and pole positions.

In his career at the Indy 500, Carpenter’s average finish is around 15. That’s not a horrible average finish, but it’s not where he wants to be if he wants to be considered an elite racer. His best finish came back in 2008, where he finished in fifth.

Pole-sitters at the Indy 500 tend to have some success, but it isn’t a guarantee. The last winner who started from the pole position was Helio Castroneves back in 2009. Other winners from the pole since 2000 happened back in 2008, 2006 and 2004.

The competition surrounding Carpenter will be fierce. Previous winners who will be driving include Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Buddy Lazier. Other big names will be racing as well, with Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti in the hunt.

At the moment, Carpenter is currently No. 23 in the IndyCar series standings. That’s not a good start through the season’s first four races. In fact, only four drivers are lower in the standings, with only two of them actually racing in all four races.

Carpenter also has a few guys close behind after the qualifying results. According to USA Today, Andretti and Castroneves finished in the top 10 qualifiers as well. Talented drivers like those two will provide plenty of competition for Carpenter early on in the race.

While starting in the pole position is always nice, it likely won’t help out Carpenter much. He’s a driver with few wins in his career, despite racing for a decade. There is likely to be plenty of hype surrounding Carpenter heading into the race, but going the fastest during qualifying doesn’t always transition into a victory.

NASCAR Sprint Showdown 2013 Results: Reaction, Leaders and Post-Race Analysis

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:03:58 -0400

Jamie McMurray won the NASCAR Sprint Showdown on Saturday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. McMurray, along with runner-up Ricky Stenhouse Jr., clinched a spot in the forthcoming All-Star Race.

To the surprise of few, Danica Patrick, who finished ninth, won the fan vote to get the 22nd and final spot, per NASCAR on ESPN:

No points were at stake in this precursor to the All-Star Race, but it didn't diminish the excitement or the significance for McMurray, as documented by NASCAR Stats on Twitter:

McMurray finished the first of two segments of 20 laps in front of pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. by approximately nine-tenths of a second, and he never relinquished his lead. The wire-to-wire victory got McMurray a well-deserved spot in the marquee showcase set to take place later on Saturday.

Below is an overview of the top finishers in the field, followed by further analysis of how the action played out.

2013 NASCAR Sprint Showdown Top 10 Results

Place	Driver	Car
1	Jamie McMurray	1
2	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	17
3	Jeff Burton	31
4	Paul Menard	27
5	Martin Truex Jr.	56
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	42
7	Aric Almirola	43
8	Travis Kvapil	56
9	Danica Patrick	93
10	Casey Mears	13

Casey Mears boldly decided to stay out on the track in an effort to get a leg up on the competition. USA Today's Jeff Gluck wondered if that was the soundest strategy:

Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out for Mears. He couldn't improve upon his career-best sixth-place finish in the Sprint Showdown and wound up in 10th.

After that, Mears and McMurray went to pit lane to get all four tires changed, and McMurray's stop was particularly effective, as his team enhanced the control he had on his car in a matter of just six seconds.

Juan Pablo Montoya, an Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing teammate of McMurray's, was penalized coming out of the pits, as the team's official Twitter page documented:

Though he jumped the gun somewhat in that instance, his crew gave him a strong set of adjustment, and he ran all the way to sixth position in the end.

Truex bumped the wall while battling with third-place finisher Jeff Burton with 12 laps to go. That made an indent in Truex's car and caused him to finish in fifth in the end—just outside of automatic qualification for the All-Star Race.

Patrick obviously didn't qualify, and reaction to her selection has been polarizing. On one negative end is Shawn Courchesne of RaceDayCT.com:

It makes some sense, since Patrick has just one Top-10 finish and sits 26th in the Sprint Cup points standings. However, her marketability and appeal are undeniable, and she is popular with the fans.

She will gladly take the spot, and upon hearing the news, Patrick was fired up, according to Claire B. Lang of NASCAR Sirius XM Radio:

The 40-lap thrill ride lent itself to all-out, aggressive styles rarely seen from some of stock car racing's premier drivers in regular races. That didn't deter McMurray from dominating and putting himself in ideal position to succeed against the tougher field he'll face next.

2nd-Round Draft Prospects Guaranteed to Interest the Detroit Pistons

Jakub Rudnik — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:50:18 -0400

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons will have the No. 8 pick in the second round. Players available that late rarely turn into All-Stars, but the Pistons should be able to find a player who can play valuable minutes in their rotation next season.

The Pistons need to upgrade their starters on the wing, but they also need to find reliable backups at point guard and in the frontcourt. Here is one player at each position that the Pistons should strongly consider drafting in the second round.

Point Guard: Myck Kabongo, Texas

The Pistons only have two players under contract that can play point guard, Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey, and both struggle running an offense.

Texas' Myck Kabongo has very good upside and plays like a traditional point guard.

Kabongo's draft stock dropped a bit after he was suspended for the first 23 games of the 2012-13 season, but there is no question that he is a very talented player. When he was eligible, he led the Longhorns in scoring (14.6), assists (5.5) and steals (2.0) and was second in rebounding (5.0).

He is on the small side, measuring just 6'1" and 180 pounds at the combine, but he makes up for it with great quickness and the ability to finish in traffic. Listen to Texas head coach Rick Barnes break down Kabongo's ability to finish on a fast break:

Kabongo has also shown a willingness to work on the defensive end, something that not all young guards have. That, combined with his ability to run an offense, will make Kabongo a solid backup point guard right away.

Shooting Guard: Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

If the Pistons don't get a chance to draft Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore in the first round, they would be incredibly happy to see Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. fall to them in the second round. Hardaway has the talent to be a first-round pick, but it is not even close to a lock at this point. ESPN's Chad Ford has him ranked No. 34 on his most recent big board.

Hardaway can score in a variety of ways, has NBA three-point range and is a solid athlete. He was the second-best player on a Michigan team that lost in the NCAA championship game and has NBA pedigree, as his dad (Tim Hardaway Sr.) was a five-time All-Star.

Scouts worry that Hardaway is not elite at any aspect of the game, and that he is shorter than a prototypical shooting guard (he measured 6'4.5" at the combine).

Regardless, Hardaway has the talent and athleticism to be, at the minimum, a valuable role player on the wing for the Pistons. With more focus on defense, Hardaway could develop into a starter at some point.

Small Forward: Reggie Bullock, North Carolina

Small forward is another position where the Pistons desperately need to add talent. Reggie Bullock from North Carolina could become a solid 'three and D" player for the Pistons on the wing.

Bullock became a very effective shooter during his three seasons at North Carolina. He shot 48.3 percent from the field and 43.6 from behind the arc in his junior year. He also proved to be an effective rebounder, averaging 6.5 per game.

He is an excellent athlete, but, like many other second-round prospects, Bullock is short for his position (he measured under 6'6" at the combine).

Bullock's offensive game is not as versatile as Hardaway's, but he has better range. His shooting alone will allow him to find playing time on an NBA roster from Day 1.

Power Forward: C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

The Pistons already have Greg Monroe at power forward, but they have very little depth in the frontcourt. C.J. Leslie from North Carolina State has the ability to play as an undersized stretch-4 in the NBA.

Measuring 6'7.5" at the combine, Leslie is a classic "tweener." He has elite athleticism and can rebound the ball (he averaged over seven in each of his three seasons at N.C.State), but at just 209 pounds he won't be able to guard bruising power forwards in the post.

With two true low-post players on the roster, Leslie could be a great change-of-pace player off the bench for the Pistons. He could also be very useful against teams like the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets that consistently use small-ball lineups.

Center: Lucas Nogueira, Brazil

There will be very few legitimate big men available in the second round of this year's draft. Lucas Nogueira from Brazil is one of them.

Nogueira is a very raw prospect and has little offensive talent, but he has the potential to be a difference-maker on the defensive end.

Nogueira is listed at 6'11" and 218 pounds with a 7'5" wingspan. He is clearly very thin for his position, but that is something that many international prospects address once they reach the NBA.

The Pistons already have Andre Drummond as their starting center of the future, but Nogueira has more potential than any big man available this late in the draft.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford wrote of Nogueira:

Nogueira has excellent potential as a rim protector at the NBA level, and even if he is stashed for another season or two -- he is under contract with Estudiantes until 2014 -- there are few defenders like him in this draft.

At this point in their rebuilding process, the Pistons have more pressing needs than a backup center and will likely want a player that can be on the roster this fall. However, Nogueira could be very valuable down the road.

Preakness 2013: Winners and Losers from Pimlico

John Scheinman — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:41:40 -0400

The overwhelming number of opinions said that Orb was a powerful likelihood to win the Triple Crown, so authoritative was his Kentucky Derby two weeks ago at Churchill Downs.

But what a difference two weeks make.

Orb was nowhere and old-timers were everywhere, as two Hall of Famers, trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 77, and jockey Gary Stevens, 50, teamed to win the 138th Preakness Stakes.

The race was the kind of feel-good spoiler that you can't get too upset about, considering the connections of the winners.

Here are five winners and five losers from this year's second leg of the Triple Crown.

Begin Slideshow

2013 Preakness Payout: How Top Favorites and Longshots Made out

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:34:00 -0400

The owners of Affirmed can crack the proverbial champagne, as the Triple Crown drought will continue pushing into its fourth decade after Saturday's 138th Preakness Stakes.

Starting from the sixth post, underdog Oxbow came from 16-1 pre-race odds (via Bovada) to end Orb's quest for history. The Kentucky Derby winner was unable to find that extra gear against the nine-horse field, getting lost in a sea of horses down the stretch en route to finishing fourth.

The John Velazquez-jockeyed Itsmyluckyday finished second, while Rosie Napravnik's Mylute came in third place.

But Saturday's story was all about Oxbow. Jockeyed by Gary Stevens and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Oxbow got off to a roaring start. The three-year-old colt took the lead from the opening gate and never once relinquished the advantage for a wire-to-wire triumph. You can take a look at the full results of Saturday's race on the video embedded below.

Meanwhile, the run was one of disappointment for Orb, who burst onto the scene with a dominant performance at Churchill Downs. Shug McGaughey's top colt came in as the heaviest favorite in a Preakness since Big Brown and was thought of as a legitimate Triple Crown threat.

However, it was clear that the horse didn't have an extra gear to come from behind as the folks at Pimlico Race Course saw one of the more shocking upsets in the sport's recent history.

As always is the case in major horse-racing upsets, the payout fallout is often as intriguing as the race itself. With that in mind, here is a look at the complete results for the 2013 Preakness Stakes along with the payout for each of the three top finishers:

Pos.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Post	Payout
1	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	6	$32.80, $12.00, $6.80
2	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	9	$7.80, $5.00
3	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5	$5.20
4	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1
5	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	2
6	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	4
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	7
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	8
9	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	3

Results via NBC telecast, payouts via America's Best Racing.

Notable Results

Underdog Oxbow Steals the Show

Of the horses thought most likely to prevent Orb's run at a Triple Crown, Oxbow was at or near the bottom of the list. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained horse was one of three thoroughbreds ending the event for the legendary racing figure and had the second-highest odds of any entrant in Saturday's race.

Then the race started, and it became clear just what fine form Oxbow was in on Saturday. The colt burst out of the starting gate and was dominant from the outset. Oxbow's wire-to-wire win was the first time since Aloma's Ruler captured the 1982 Preakness that any horse has led the entire way, per Derby Contenders' Twitter feed:

Perhaps, we should have seen this coming, though. The 77-year-old Lukas is arguably the greatest trainer in the sports history, a man now with a record 14 Triple Crown victories. Speaking on NBC's telecast after the race, Lukas noted his penchant for shocking the world.

I get paid to spoil dreams," said Lukas (h/t USA Today's Reid Cherner).

And while it's easy to have 20/20 hindsight, Oxbow's post draw also indicated a strong impending performance. As ESPN Stats & Information points out, the No. 6 post has produced the most Preakness winners in the storied race's history:

For those who had faith in history repeating itself from a gambling standpoint, Oxbow was obviously a major win for anyone who took a chance. The $32.80 payout for a win bet is one of the largest in history and a signal that anything truly does happen in horse racing.

Orb Fails to Finish in Money

Oxbow's scamper to a dominant win may have shocked the world, but Orb's fall from grace disappointed it. The Kentucky Derby winner came into Saturday's race with the largest hype of any horse in a half-decade and it felt anticlimactic seeing Orb drop from contention down the stretch.

Granted, Orb was racing against a good bit of history. There hadn't been a Preakness winner from the inside post since Tabasco Cat in 1994—and that's the only one over the past five-plus decades. Even in smaller fields, the inside post is a death knell for plenty of top-notch horses, as opponents scamper to get inside position.

And as Chris Brown's Smart Football Twitter feed pointed out, starting on the inside gate left Orb squeezed a little too tight at a couple different points:

Nevertheless, it was obvious Orb did not have that extra gear on Saturday. Even when Joel Rosario finally got his horse some breathing room, the burst to the front was just not there. A horse that came in as -500 to finish inside the top three (per Bovada) came up one spot short.

Speaking after the race, trainer Shug McGaughey said he was disappointed mostly because of the fan letdown, per John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader:

It's a great sentiment from McGaughey, who is one of the sport's most beloved faces. But as we begin the lead-up to the Belmont Stakes, the sport again feels like something major is missing. There was no second triumph for McGaughey, Orb or any of the folks who spent countless dollars riding the hot hand.

Mylute Jockey Rosie Napravnik's Success at Pimlico Continues

Mylute was a fast-riser up the odds boards heading into Saturday's race, and it was likely a little puzzling for those who hadn't been paying attention. The three-year-old colt had run 10 races in its short career and only won twice—and not once during this calendar year.

Mylute's biggest banner performance of the 2013 racing season was a fifth-place spot in the Kentucky Derby. And while that made the Tom Amoss-trained horse the second-highest Derby finisher in this Preakness field, that was something of a backhanded compliment. This field had three different new shooters at the starting gate, all of which put this field in massive flux prior to Saturday.

However, the major reason Mylute being bet hard made sense was the presence of jockey Rosie Napravnik. The 25-year-old Napravnik came into the Preakness Stakes with an intricate knowledge of how Pimlico works. Her first victory was at the legendary track, where the New Jersey native spent much of her youth building up a strong reputation.

You could see that familiarity on display throughout Saturday's festivities. Napravnik expertly navigated Mylute through a sea of horses midway through the race, emerging and blowing past Orb en route to a third-place finish.

While not quite the history-making victory Napravnik was hoping for, she did become the highest-finishing female jockey in Preakness history. And as Amoss points out, Mylute looks like he's only going to get better going forward, per Derby Contenders' Twitter feed:

It's unclear whether Mylute will race in the Belmont, but Napravnik might just make history after all if he does.