Bleacher Report - Front Page

Ranking the 10 Best Starting Lineups in College Basketball History

Doug Brodess — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:38:20 -0400

As you look throughout the history of college basketball, there are dozens and dozens of great teams that have made their mark on the sport.

But, even among the great teams, there are a select few that stand apart from the rest.

Here are the 10 best starting lineups of all time.

This list is not solely based upon numbers of NBA draft picks or a variety of rewards and recognitions. This list looks at team accomplishments instead of potential or talent.

Some teams had the horses but didn't ultimately finish the race. They are not included.

These teams played well and won lots of games...and championships!

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NHL Playoffs 2013: The Most Important Matchup in Each 2nd-Round Series

Mark Jones — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:50 -0400

The most prominent series in the NHL playoffs are often decided by the most subliminal of factors.

On the colossal stage of the conference semifinals, eight teams are currently battling it out for just four spots in the next round.

The handful of squads that get there will likely do so by the smallest of margins—one timely penalty kill, one spectacular save or one strategic line change that, in the end, made the biggest of differences.

As each Stanley Cup quarterfinals series reaches the stretch run, one crucial unit vs. unit or player vs. player matchup is beginning to emerge as a deciding factor. For some, a special teams advantage is paving the way to a string of victories; for others, one singular star—outperforming his counterpart on the opposing end—is leading the rest of his team onward.

An examination of each series' most important matchup falls on the coming slides.

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Breaking Down Texas Rangers' Best Options for Jurickson Profar

Zachary Krueger — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:11:21 -0400

The Rangers may find themselves in a tough place once infielder Jurickson Profar finally solidifies himself with the major league club. The top prospect of the 2013 season is listed as a shortstop, but with the talented Elvis Andrus already holding down that position for the Rangers, Profar finds himself in a crowded place.

Here are some ideas Texas could consider for Profar's future with the team.

Move Kinsler to First Base

It's not uncommon to see a major league team ask one of its stars to change positions to make room for another upcoming player. You might recall Michael Young's time with the Rangers, where he played every position in the infield aside from catcher.

Texas could ask one of their star players to do the same once again.

Kinsler is one of three players who could be asked to change their positions. Having been a second baseman for his entire career, a move to first would make the most sense. He would still be able to play on the left side of the infield, and at 6'0" could make for a nice target to throw to.

Kinsler has never won a Gold Glove with Texas, so defensively he could be replaced. With the Rangers' history of asking players to change a position, it would not be crazy to think they could ask Kinsler to do so in order to make room for Profar.

Move Andrus or Beltre

Once again, this topic also deals with the position changing of a superstar. We've seen this before where a shortstop or third baseman will switch positions for a player of the same position. Most notably, the Orioles had prospect Manny Machado play third base despite his experience as a shortstop, a move that has worked out well for Baltimore.

There is no chance that Texas would move Beltre to shortstop, meaning that either Andrus or Profar would be taking over third for the Rangers. At 34 years old, Beltre's age could make him expendable, but the fact that he is a three time All-Star and four time Gold Glove winner could make this another tough decision for the Rangers.

Andrus or Profar would be the most likely options to end up at third base should the Rangers decide to switch up the left side of their infield. Being the incumbent, I'd expect Andrus to remain at shortstop while Profar goes to third, and Beltre either finds himself at first base or designated hitter.

Trade Profar or Another Key Player

There is no denying that Texas is stacked offensively and defensively. They boast one of the top hitting corps in the league, and their pitching staff has the ability to shut down any offense in the majors.

Depending on how Texas chooses to address its situation with Profar, it would not be surprising to see them trade one of their top infielders, or Profar, to bring in other needed talent. While they have a deep roster, there are still areas that could be improved on.

The Rangers could use help at catcher, designated hitter or the outfield. Age could come into play for two of Texas' players, as catcher A.J. Pierzynski and designated hitter Lance Berkman are veterans in their mid-to-late 30s. Both players are signed to one-year deals, an indication that neither may be with the team after 2013.

In the outfield, Nelson Cruz is still a great power hitter and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Lenoys Martin has had a nice year for Texas, hitting .283 on the season with a .333 on-base percentage, but he has only two homers and five RBI through 38 games.

Daniel Murphy has struggled this season in left field, but has been a good player for Texas since 2008. Even still, his numbers could certainly be replaced by a top-tier player.

The problem that Texas has is really a luxury. Any team would love to have too many good players on their roster.

Whatever it is the Rangers choose to do with Profar or other players on their roster, they appear to be in great shape for years to come. They can only improve from the eventual addition of Profar to their everyday roster, or moving him to another team to address a need.

Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Offense Will Be Better Than Expected

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:11:08 -0400

It's easy to focus on whether Notre Dame's defense will step up this season in the absence of Manti Te'o, Zeke Motta and Kapron Lewis-Moore, but many are ignoring an offense that has the potential to make up the difference.

To say Notre Dame's success won't be heavily predicated on its defense is silly, but there is reason to believe the Fighting Irish could put more points on the board in 2013-14.

First of all, you can't talk about Notre Dame's offense without talking about evolving quarterback Everett Golson. Golson had a breakout year last season, finishing in the top 10 in Notre Dame history in passing yards for a single season (2,405). More importantly, he took care of the ball, tossing 12 touchdowns to six interceptions (we all know what not taking care of the ball looks like in South Bend).

That's not all. Golson also rushed for 298 yards and six touchdowns on the season, displaying his dual-threat ability. Keep in mind, this was in his first year starting.

Then you look at the losses Notre Dame took on offense.

Losing tight end Tyler Eifert and running backs Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood hurts, but, then again, the Fighting Irish have some promising breakout candidates.

There is George Atkinson III, who averaged 7.1 yards per carry last season. Atkinson not only added seven pounds this offseason to deal with a bigger workload, coaches have also been impressed with his ability to catch balls in the slot, per Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com.

You also have top recruits Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston, both top-10 running backs in the 2013 class, according to 247Sports. Bryant—a compact, strong, surprisingly elusive back—could be productive right away for the Fighting Irish.

In the receiving corps, T.J. Jones and DaVaris Daniels have the potential to break out in the absence of Eifert. Jones posted 50 catches for 649 yards and four touchdowns last season. Daniels added 31 catches for 490 yards. Both have big-play ability.

It's not out of the question that the Fighting Irish offense surprises in 2013-14. Golson has a season under his belt. With an extra offseason, he should be better. The backfield should be fun to watch. And Jones and Daniels aren't slouches. Coach Brian Kelly said he thought Jones was "an elite player" ready to bust out, via NBCSports.com.

With all the attention placed on Te'o's departure, a promising group of players on the offensive side of the ball is going largely unnoticed.

It's a promising group of players that could boost the Fighting Irish back to a BCS bowl.

Miami Dolphins: The 5 Best and Worst Moves of the 2013 Offseason

Richard Santamaria — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:05:55 -0400

The Miami Dolphins have improved themselves more than any other team since the 2012-13 NFL season came to an end. The Dolphins are clearly the 2013 offseason champions, but can Jeff Ireland's seemingly brilliant work translate into regular-season success?

Miami added Mike Wallace, Brent Grimes, Dustin Keller, Brandon Gibson, Lance Louis, Tyson Clabo, Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler, Dion Jordan and Jamar Taylor, among others—while retaining Brian Hartline, Randy Starks, Matt Moore, and Chris Clemons.

The subtraction of Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, Reggie Bush, Sean Smith, Anthony Fasano and Jake Long almost seems insignificant when compared to the immense combined talent of the aforementioned group.

Which of these roster moves will prove to be the most significant for the Miami Dolphins?

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Key Adjustments Miami Heat Must Make to Win Eastern Conference Finals

Peter Emerick — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:02:57 -0400

The Miami Heat are set to square off against the upset-minded Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, May 22, but they aren't just going to walk in and knock off the Pacers.

LeBron James and company strolled past the Milwaukee Bucks and they easily handled the Chicago Bulls, but the Pacers are a very different beast.

Not only are they the most physical defensive team the Heat have faced all postseason, they also have defensively sound depth in their frontcourt which is the Heat's Achilles' heel.

Because the Pacers can fill the paint with guys like Roy Hibbert, David West and Tyler Hansbrough, they are able to force the Heat to beat them on the perimeter.

Without interior penetration, the NBA's second-best three-point shooting team, the Heat, won't be able to shoot at the high percentage they normally do—39.6 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

While the Bulls gave up the least points per game, the Pacers play more physical defense in terms of shooting percentage—forcing opponents to shoot just 45.3 percent from the floor during the regular season.

In addition to that defensive pressure, the Pacers were also the best rebounding team during the regular season, averaging 45.9 rebounds (12.9 offensive) per game.

When you mix their interior depth, their defensive pressure and their ability to rebound the ball, you can see how they pose a significant threat to the Heat's championship hopes.

The good news is that the Heat can counter those advantages the Pacers have with two key adjustments, starting with allowing LeBron James to control the ball at the point.

Allow LeBron James to Control the Ball at the Point

LeBron is the Heat's best point man, and it's because of his 6'8'' and 250-pound frame, mixed with his insane ability to control the ball.

When guys like Mario Chalmers and Dwyane Wade drive against the Pacers, they meet Roy Hibbert and David West's physicality. And while they are able to score at times against the Pacers' dominant duo, their lack of size gives the Pacers an advantage.

That means the Heat's best chances of collapsing the Pacers' defense lie within LeBron's ability to get into the paint.

Collapsing the defense not only opens up the Heat's perimeter offense, it also is a great way to get the Pacers' bigs in foul trouble, which is something the Heat would greatly benefit from in this series.

The Knicks got beat by the Pacers because they couldn't knock down shots from the perimeter, and that's because they had no one to collapse the Pacers' defense.

Luckily the Heat do, and his name is LeBron James. It also just makes sense for the Heat to give the ball more often than not to the best player on the court and in the entire NBA—that's just common sense, right?

The final key adjustment the Heat must make to beat the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals is to get into transition at all costs.

Focus First and Foremost on Transition Offense

There's no doubt that the Heat are the best team in the NBA at dominating games with transition offense. And that's exactly what they need to do to beat Indiana.

The Knicks and Hawks failed to get into transition, which allowed the Pacers to set up their fearsome half-court defense.

The best way to beat the best defense in the NBA is honestly to not allow it to set up, and with LeBron and Wade running in transition, that's exactly what the Heat can do.

Guys like Hibbert and West don't thrive in transition. But the Heat, with frontcourt players like Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen, absolutely do and they need to maximize that advantage.

That's certainly easier said than done, especially with the Heat's rebounding woes, but it's doable because the Heat have the athleticism it takes to control the break.

If the Heat are able to minimize the Pacers' interior defensive pressure and get into transition, they will be able to beat the Pacers in four or five games—that's how good the Heat are.

If they don't focus on those adjustments, it will be a much longer series for Miami, possibly going a full seven games.

The Best Player Remaining at Every Position in 2013 NBA Conference Finals

Jimmy Spencer — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:56:16 -0400

As the field of the 2013 NBA playoffs is once again cut in half, the decision to name the most elite players remaining at each position becomes more contentious.

Through two rounds of play and one month's time, the individual postseason resumes have become more telling.

Because they're still playing into the conference finals, most of these guys have contributed to their team's success—though that's not the universal case.

There's incredible talent leading each spot on the floor, as new names are pushing harder against those been-here-before veterans.

Here's your starting All-Star team from the remaining postseason teams.

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Biggest Key to Heat vs. Pacers Game 1

The One Thing — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:53:29 -0400

The One Thing is a prediction-and-preview show that will tell NBA fans what to pay attention to in every matchup in the playoffs.

The NBA's Glen "Big Baby" Davis is here to break down Game 1, and he picked the one thing that he thinks will have a huge impact on the series.

LeBron James and the Miami Heat face off against the Indiana Pacers in what should be a very physical Eastern Conference Finals.

How do these teams match up? Which players are the keys to success?

Let us know in the comments below!

Ryan Vogelsong Injury: Updates on Giants Pitcher's Hand

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:52:24 -0400

Ryan Vogelsong sustained a fractured right hand in Monday night's game against the Washington Nationals. SFGiants.com tweeted:

Vogelsong's wife, Nicole, added an update on the right-hander's status:

Vogelsong injured his hand when swinging at an inside pitch in the fifth inning. The ball ran into his hands as he was turning.

Ironically, it was in the midst of one of Vogelsong's best starts of the season. He had pitched five scoreless innings up until that point.

It's been a nightmare season for the 35-year-old Vogelsong. He entered the game with a 1-4 record and an 8.06 ERA. In his previous start, he gave up three runs in two innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. His breakout campaign was in 2011, when he boasted a 13-7 record with a 2.71 ERA, and he compiled a 14-9 record with a 3.37 ERA in 2012.

Vogelsong is not the only starter who has struggled for the Giants in 2013. Tim Lincecum has a 4.70 ERA and Matt Cain has a 5.43 ERA. Despite all of this, the defending champions have managed to stay afloat at 24-20 headed into Monday's affair, backed by their offense and a strong bullpen.

It's been a tough start to the season for the veteran Vogelsong, and it just got a whole lot tougher after his Monday freak accident. The Giants hope that he will be able to come roaring back when he returns, like he did in 2011.

The Best and Worst Moves of the Denver Broncos' 2013 Offseason

Travis Wakeman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:51:45 -0400

After falling short in the 2012 NFL playoffs, the Denver Broncos are piecing together a solid offseason that has put them amongst the elite teams in the league, at least on paper.

Denver has used free agency and the NFL draft to bolster their secondary, which was torched by Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.

They have also added a few valuable players who could be the difference between a divisional round loss and a run to the Super Bowl.

Here, we will take a look at the best decisions the team has made in the offseason along with some that haven't been so good.

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Warning Signs That You've Watched Way Too Much of the 2013 NBA Playoffs

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:51:06 -0400

We're a month past the start of the NBA playoffs, into the conference finals and raring up for the NBA Finals right around the corner. I think it's safe to say that a lot of us have watched way too much basketball since the playoffs started.

Save a few key days (like Monday, for example), we've had at least one meaningful basketball game every night for a month straight.

It's getting to the point where I'm almost relieved for a night off every once in a while to sit back and stare out the window for a while.

Ah, what am I saying? I could watch basketball every single day of the year and be happy about it.

However, if you're anything like me, or some of the people I've interacted with over the past month, there are some strange thoughts going through your head as of late.

There are a few tried and true signs that there's been a bit too much playoff watching going on in your household. If you're guilty of thinking or doing more than a few of the following—I don't know, go catch an afternoon baseball game or something to calm down.

You're ready to strangle Will.I.Am

ESPN, the NBA and it seems like every single commercial dealing with the playoffs are all using at least a snippet of the spot that Will.I.Am filmed with a handful of basketball players for the playoffs.

It features his song "#thatPower," which is a dumb enough song name on its own. However, once you've heard it for the 375th time, enough is enough.

I've settled on muting my television every single time this commercial pops up, but now my mute button is starting to wear down.

Instead, I just decided to pull up this GIF and watch it while the commercial plays.

You're starting to wonder what LeBron James would look like with Manu Ginobili's bald spot

It's gotten to the point where I've switched back and forth between the pictures of their heads rapidly just to see a bit of an overlap.

They are the two most prominent dudes in the NBA with a little bit of male pattern baldness going on, and sometimes my mind starts to wander late in the second quarter.

If those two end up playing against each other in the finals, then I'm going to be forced to spend a while trying to work this out via Photoshop.

Metta World Peace's Twitter account has you enthralled

Every night that features a basketball game, I've kept an eye on Metta World Peace's Twitter account.

He's taken to live blogging when he's watching the games himself, which can lead to some interesting conversations—that he seemingly has with himself.

Good game!! #tonyparkersshoes game him extra power!!!!I was suppose to get a pair but whatever. Kobe's will do! nba.com/#$/index.html
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) May 19, 2013

While some of his thoughts do get weird, he really is insightful at times and adds plenty of extra entertainment to games.

Stephen Curry is the best shooter ever and nobody will ever convince you otherwise

This is one of the few over-the-top notions on this list that I've yet to understand.

Curry absolutely lit teams up throughout the playoffs: He made 42 three-pointers in 12 games and nearly shot 40 percent from behind the line.

However, one amazing season and a solid playoffs doesn't suddenly make him the best shooter in the game, nor does it make him and Klay Thompson the best shooting backcourt of all time, Mark Jackson.

They're both really freaking good, but if we could pump the breaks a bit, it would be much appreciated.

You're having nightmares starring Joey Crawford

This one actually happened to me.

After weeks of seeing Joey Crawford and actively complaining about him multiple times, I had a dream with Crawford in it that freaked me out a bit.

Now, Crawford was a bit of a disfigured Freddy Kruger-type character, and he seemed to be following me around, but he never actively did anything threatening.

It was unsettling to say the least. May he never haunt your dreams as he has mine.

You've started to contemplate naming your offspring different variations of your own name

Lance Stephenson has had a pretty solid playoffs so far, including a 25-point, 10-rebound performance in the closeout game against the New York Knicks a few days back.

Watching him go off in Game 6 against the Knicks completely jarred something loose in my mind and made me remember that Lance Stephenson (who is named after his dad) actually has a younger brother who goes by the name Lantz.

It's weird, sure, but how far could this go?

He could have an uncle named Lanse, a cousin named Laynce and two more named Layntze and Laynss.

Maybe he's going to continue the tradition with his own family and have a son named Lants, who would of course have an older brother named Lanz.

You can predict Skip Bayless' inane rants before they happen

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated from the playoffs in five quick games by the Memphis Grizzlies, and I knew what was coming next.

The next day Skip Bayless was going to go off about how Durant flopped in the clutch and let his team down.

Move on a few days later to when the Knicks get eliminated, and he's going to go through the same dance with J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony.

You know, it can't ever simply be that the other team was better.

Anyway, it's gotten to the point where Skip is going to have to mix things up or people are going to stop watching. Why watch when you already know what's going to happen?

At least three different times you've shouted at Gregg Popovich to put in Tracy McGrady

This has been one of my favorite, yet sad subplots of the entire playoffs. The Spurs have been involved in a few blowouts thus far, which means we get to see some Tracy McGrady!

It's a bit sad to see him relegated to the role of the guy at the end of the bench who comes in to mop up and get sarcastic cheers, but he's in the Western Conference Finals with a team that has a shot at a ring, so I don't feel too bad.

Popovich never fails, though, to wait just a little bit too long to put him in. McGrady always gets in with just a handful of ticks left on the clock, meaning anything he does is purely out of desperation with the shot clock winding down.

Hopefully the Spurs continue to stick around; I'm not ready to let go of 12th-man McGrady just yet.

Seattle Mariners 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 1st-Round Targets

Todd Pheifer — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:46:50 -0400

The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft will take place (via MLB.com) from June 6-8, 2013, and the Seattle Mariners have the 12th pick in the first round. Seattle has drafted well in the last few years, and the franchise is regarded as having some real talent in the farm system.

A year ago the Mariners selected catch Mike Zunino (pictured), and the organization has high hopes that he will be an impact player in the near future. Will the Mariners find another gem in this draft?

Since the Mariners have the 12th pick, they are arguably looking at guys who are projected behind the top few players on the board. Still, there are times when team needs do not match up with the available prospects, and a better player can slip down a few spots.

For Seattle, the tough part of drafting is deciding on the top priority. Do you draft based on certain positions, or is it wiser to just get the best player available? It seems reasonable to assume that every team has a particular philosophy on talent evaluation.

Unfortunately, some highly-touted players do not pan out. Such is the nature of the business.

Taking into consideration the needs and potential strategy of the Mariners, here are their top five first-round targets.

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Ranking the Biggest Offseason Needs for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Greg Swartz — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:44:31 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering a crucial offseason for their rebuilding plan, one that will hopefully have them fighting for a playoff spot next spring.

Recently, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors have risen from years of lottery picks to enjoying successful playoff runs, all thanks to outstanding offseason work.

The Cavs could easily be the next young team to follow this path, provided they fix a few glaring needs.

Expect the postseason to be a realistic option for the Cavs next season if they can take care of these four major issues this summer.

4. Veteran Presence

Developing their young talent is obviously a must for the Cavs, but it's important to mix in a few veteran pieces if they truly want to start winning.

Anderson Varejao is a nice start, but no other player on the current roster has yet to see his 30th birthday.

Re-signing point guard Shaun Livingston would be a nice start, as would adding a player like Mike Dunleavy, Nazr Mohammed or even Mo Williams.

None would single-handedly push the Cavs into the playoffs, but all would carry a wealth of knowledge and experience at a reasonable cost.

3. Acquire a Rim Protector

The Cavs were one of only three NBA teams that didn't have a single player average at least one blocked shot per game.

As a result, the defense suffered and opposing players felt like they could attack the rim whenever they wanted.

Basketball coaches at any level will tell you good defense starts from the inside out and that protecting the paint is a must.

The Cavs need that dominating force who can strike some fear into opposing guards looking to attack the basket. Someone like Nerlens Noel and his 4.4 blocked shots per game would certainly help, and there are other centers in the draft who Cleveland could take later to help shore up its inside D.

Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller are a fine center combination, but neither will ever be a shot-blocking threat in the NBA.

2. Find an Assistant Coach to Run the Offense

Mike Brown is a defensive mastermind who has had great success running the Cavs' D in the past.

To say that he's offensively challenged, however, would be putting it kindly.

Better known for his scowls and confused looks than his X's and O's, it's best for everyone involved if Brown leaves it to one of his assistants to run the offense.

John Kuester filled this role for the Cavs under Brown from 2007-09, and there have been rumors he could return in a similar role once again, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio.

Whether it be Kuester or someone else, Brown needs someone to run the money-making side of the ball.

1. Find a Reliable Answer at Small Forward

The 3-spot has been a problem for years now and finally needs to be taken care of.

Alonzo Gee is better coming off the bench and would be doing so for any playoff team.

The most likely scenario of filling this void would be the drafting of Otto Porter of Georgetown, which would be a solid, safe bet.

The Cavs could also get creative, though, and swing a trade for an expendable scorer like Danny Granger from the Indiana Pacers.

Free agency is also an option, as a player like Andre Iguodala and his impressive overall game would fit in well, as would his veteran leadership.

Whichever direction they decide to go, the Cavs just can't begin another season with Gee as a starter and expect to be a serious playoff squad. Cleveland needs to find a quality starting small forward this offseason to completely tie its starting unit together.

Michigan Basketball: Ranking the 5 Most Hyped Recruits in Wolverines History

Zach Dirlam — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:36:07 -0400

Several highly touted prospects have come and gone through the Michigan basketball program. Some have met the high expectations, while others have failed to live up to their billing. The hype surrounding five players in particular has been unparalleled over the past several years.

The Fab Five will certainly have a few recruits on this list given the fact five highly ranked freshmen had not come together in the same class prior to 1991.

Earning McDonald's All-American honors and other prestigious awards will certainly be a determining factor in how high these prospects are ranked as well. How well their respective careers turned out at Michigan will have nothing to do with this list. This is about pre-college hype, after all.

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Biggest Key to Spurs vs. Grizzlies Game 2

The One Thing — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:34:26 -0400

The One Thing is a prediction-and-preview show that will tell NBA fans what to pay attention to in every matchup in the playoffs.

The NBA's Glen "Big Baby" Davis is here to break down Game 2, and he picked the one thing that he thinks will have a huge impact on the series.

Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs look to go up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals against the resilient Memphis Grizzlies.

How do these teams match up? Which players are the keys to success?

Let us know in the comments below!

Why David Moyes Can Become the Next Sir Alex Ferguson

Jerrad Peters — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:29:18 -0400

Come on David Moyes

Play like Fergie’s boys

We’ll go wild, wild, wild

The Manchester United travelling support welcomed the club’s incoming manager in their own unique way on Sunday.

As the Red Devils and West Bromwich Albion played to an entertaining 5-5 draw at The Hawthornes on the final matchday of the season, the visiting fans in the Smethwick End broke out into a chant based on the 1973 Slade single “Cum on Feel the Noize,” (covered 10 years later by Quiet Riot) imploring Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor to maintain the standard set by the 71-year-old Scot over the last 26-and-a-half years.

“Play like Fergie’s boys.”

It will be the criteria by which departing Everton boss David Moyes is judged at Old Trafford. And the club, which hasn’t experienced a managerial transition since Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson in 1986, will expect nothing less.

Stability is as much a part of the fabric as winning is at United—the two are hardly mutually exclusive—and unless Moyes can at least maintain the status quo, he will be less compared to Ferguson than Wilf McGuinness, who succeeded Sir Matt Busby in 1969 and lasted just 18 months.

United botched that transition, and they are hell-bent on avoiding a similar descent into mediocrity this time around.

They want Moyes to succeed, and they’ll likely take a patient approach as a result.

On the shoulders of giants

There’s a school of thought that suggests unless Ferguson is completely out of the picture, Moyes will be unable to realize his potential at Manchester United. The example of the shadow Busby cast at Old Trafford long after his retirement as manager is often trotted out to back up the theory, but it’s one Ferguson, himself, would have no problem debunking.

On May 15, 1991, United travelled to Rotterdam for the European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Barcelona. And while Ferguson had guided Aberdeen to a European trophy just eight years prior, the experience with United was a different one entirely.

He describes it himself in his autobiography, Managing My Life:

As our coach made its way to the stadium through streets brightened by the colours of rival fans, the sight that warmed me the most was the smiling face of Sir Matt Busby. He was glowing with pride. When the coach drew up outside the main entrance, our supporters were in a frenzy, battering the windows and sides of the bus, urging us with clenched fists and screaming out affection for the team. But as the door swung open and Sir Matt led us out, the clamour ceased instantly and in its place there was polite clapping, which he acknowledged with a dignified wave. There could hardly have been more reverence for the Pope in St. Peter’s Square. It was a moment I knew I would remember forever. I just followed on behind Sir Matt. ‘I’m with him,’ my body language was saying.

Busby was 81 years old at the time and had been a director and president at United after stepping down as manager in 1969.

Having arrived at the club several months before the end of the Second World War (while Old Trafford was a bombed-out shell of a stadium), he became inseparable from a narrative that would eventually include the Busby Babes, the Munich Air Disaster and the 1968 European Cup.

Given the transformative times—both at the club and in the early post-war period—he was, perhaps, even more a central figure at United than Ferguson would become, although there are certainly parallels between the two.

Over nearly a quarter-century, Busby would turn an outfit with just three major trophies to its name into a continental contender, and during a stint that lasted two years longer, Ferguson brought an underachieving, boozed-up side into the 21st Century, embracing the establishment of the Premier League and the worldwide marketability it enabled.

The challenge for Moyes will be rather more straightforward, but maybe even more difficult than those his famous predecessors were faced with.

His job is to keep on winning, to not be poor Wilf McGuinness and to ensure the errors of transitions past do not repeat themselves.

The title is his starting point.

If anything, having Ferguson down the hall will be a reassuring, even a helpful thing as he tackles a near-impossible task.

Glasgow men

“I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever,” Moyes admitted to reporters after it was revealed he had been appointed Ferguson’s successor, per The Sun. “But,” he added, “the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn’t something that comes around very often.”

Moyes, United were careful to point out, had been personally recommended by Ferguson before receiving unanimous approval from the decision-makers involved in the process. And Ferguson, in endorsing the 50-year-old, made sure to shed some light on his thought process.

“David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic,” he said in a statement in the Guardian. “There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.”

Some of those qualities, not coincidentally, are mirrored in Ferguson’s own experience.

Both are Glasgow men, and Moyes’ father worked as a draughtsman in the same shipyards where Ferguson served his apprenticeship.

“With all the great Scottish managers you can see the working class backgrounds—from the shipyards, the coal mines,” said Moyes in a statement earlier this month per The Sun. “They came from that background and were keen to get into something they really wanted to do.”

Ferguson, who brims with energy and commitment, has no doubt noticed the same elements in Moyes’ character. And even though Moyes failed to win a single trophy over 11 seasons at Goodison Park, he never once took his attention away from the design, never once backed off from the coal face.

He is a long-term man, and the six-year contract presented him by United speaks to that.

On Monday Moyes turned up at his new club’s training complex—reporting to work 43 days early. If he doesn’t go on to be the next Alex Ferguson, it won’t be because of lack of work, or because the club didn’t have everything in place to give him every chance at becoming just that.

Matt Kemp to Donate $1,000 Per Home Run to Victims of Oklahoma Tornadoes

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:26:31 -0400

Matt Kemp's home run on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers helped the Los Angeles Dodgers emerge victorious, but it will also help Oklahoma City.

Kemp announced after the game via his Twitter account:

At least 51 people were killed when a tornado struck the small town of Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City on Monday, according to CNN.com. At least 145 people have been hospitalized, per the report.

The Midwest City, Okla., native was a star in both baseball and basketball at Midwest City High School.

This is not the first time that Kemp has done something for the community. He's been actively involved in several children's charities throughout his career. His website, TheRealMattKemp.com, aims to allow fans to communicate with him on a personal level.

He recently gave a terminally ill Dodgers fan a signed baseball, his hat, jersey and cleats after a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. He did this without realizing it was being filmed and the video has since gone viral.

It's nice to know there are people out there like Kemp in the wake of such tragedies. He gets it. When so many superstars lose touch with reality, he doesn't. In times like these, baseball is just a game, and Kemp understands that.

Now, when one of Kemp's hits soars out of the ballpark in the coming months, we will know where it's headed...Oklahoma City.

Potential Pau Gasol Trade Scenarios to Boost LA Lakers' Depth

J.M. Poulard — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:24:27 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers are committed to several large player salaries, which gives them very little wiggle room for upgrading their roster. The one bargaining chip they can afford to dangle around the league is Pau Gasol.

Although he spent the bulk of the 2012-13 regular season being misused in Mike D’Antoni’s system, the coaching staff eventually figured out how to properly utilize the Spaniard. Gasol rewarded D’Antoni’s adjustments by consistently flirting with triple-doubles in the final month of the campaign.

Just when his value had hit rock bottom, Gasol flashed his brilliant all-around game as a big man and turned himself into a valuable commodity.

Heading into the 2013 offseason, general manager Mitch Kupchak needs the roster upgraded, but it comes with a qualifier: The additions cannot compromise the available salary cap the Lakers project to have in the summer of 2014.

LeBron James has an early-termination clause in his contract that allows him to enter free agency at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season, and the Lakers will be suitors for his services.

It’s worth noting Dwight Howard will enter free agency once the 2013 postseason concludes. Thus, the Lakers must acquire quality talent for the sake of convincing him the Purple and Gold is serious about contending for a title immediately.

That alone might sway him into rejoining the franchise.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s have a look at what trade partners the Lakers should be entertaining discussions with concerning Gasol’s talents.

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Blackhawks vs. Red Wings: What Happened to Chicago's Star-Studded Offense?

Nicholas Goss — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:21:57 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks have lost back-to-back games for the first time in the 2013 NHL playoffs as a result of their 3-1 Game 3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

The reason why the Red Wings lead the series 2-1 is because their top players are producing at both ends of the ice. Superstar forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk rank first and second on the team in scoring during the playoffs, respectively, and they both played very well in Game 3.

Datsyuk scored a momentum-killing goal in the third period with an unreal snipe to beat Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford about two minutes after Patrick Kane cut the Detroit lead to one with a goal of his own. Meanwhile, Zetterberg continued his excellent defensive performance against Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, who has made almost no impact in this series.

Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, Toews isn't the only star forward who has failed to produce offensively in the last two games. Here are some stats involving the team's top-six forwards over the last two games combined.

Player	G	A	P	+/-	SOG
Jonathan Toews	0	0	0	0	10
Marian Hossa	0	0	0	-1	6
Patrick Sharp	0	1	1	-1	5
Patrick Kane	2	0	2	-2	6
Brandon Saad	0	0	0	0	7
Dave Bolland	0	0	0	-3	3

From a Blackhawks perspective, there are far too many zeros on the chart above. Kane is the only top-six forward who has found the back of the net over the last two games, which to no one's surprise, were both losses for Chicago. Nobody in the Western Conference scored more goals than the Blackhawks during the regular season, which is why the team's inability to score goals right now (one goal in each of the last two games) is so surprising.

The play of Toews, in particular, has been the biggest disappointment for the Blackhawks in this series. Detroit has made it obvious that one of the team's goals is to play physical with Toews and make him work hard for every puck and each scoring chance.

Zetterberg and the other Red Wings forwards are hitting and pushing him at every opportunity, and the chippy play has really frustrated the young superstar. Every time he goes to the net, there's a player in a red sweater cross-checking, shoving or hooking him. The 25-year-old star has complained to the referees on several occasions and provided this comment to the media on Saturday (via Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times).

As a former Stanley Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist, Toews won't be intimated by the challenge in front of him, but zero goals in eight playoff games is unacceptable for a player of his caliber.

Toews normally elevates his game in the second round of the playoffs (13 points in 12 career conference semifinals games prior to this series), but a combination of bad luck and good defense by the Red Wings has prevented him from getting on the scoresheet.

Marian Hossa is another star who must play better for the Blackhawks to avoid a 3-1 series deficit. He's one of the highest-paid players on the team and is so critical to its success with his strong two-way game.

But Hossa has been absent for most of this series with one point, a minus-two rating and 11 total shots in three games. Chicago needs the 34-year-old winger to create some more offense for himself and his linemates Toews and Brandon Saad because without a good performance from their top line, the Blackhawks offense will not improve.

One of the central matchups in this series is the Red Wings' heavy game versus the high-end offensive skill of the Blackhawks forwards.

Through three games, Detroit has done an effective job in frustrating Chicago's best scorers by winning the majority of the physical battles in all three zones. The Red Wings have a clear size and strength advantage on the ice, which is why they have out-hit the Blackhawks 66-44 in the last two games.

As a finesse club without a lot of players who like to play a physical game, the Blackhawks cannot afford to lose their composure against a Red Wings team that does a good job of getting under its opponents' skin with after-the-whistle jabs and trash talk. Chicago was rattled at the end of Game 3, and it was obvious with some of the penalties it was taking.

Another reason why the Red Wings are shutting down the Blackhawks' best forwards is the coaching brilliance of Mike Babcock. The league's best head coach has won the matchup battles with his opposite number Joel Quenneville, and his ability to motivate his players in an unfamiliar underdog role is impressive. With two full days off until the puck drops in Game 4 on Thursday, Babcock has plenty of time to watch film and find more ways to slow down Chicago's offense.

It would be unfair not to give a lot of praise to Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, whose brilliant play in net is one of the main reasons why the Blackhawks' star-studded offense is struggling right now.

He has played consistently well in this series and has made all the big saves late in games over the last two matchups. His confidence is growing with each victory, and his rebound control was fantastic in Game 3. Howard stopped 39 of the 40 shots he faced on Monday night, and as a result, his save percentage (.923) and GAA (2.43) numbers are better than they've been at any point in his postseason career.

Howard has given the Red Wings the advantage in net thus far, and if he wins the goaltending matchup, Detroit will reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

The Blackhawks got away with lackluster performances from their stars in the first round against the Minnesota Wild, who were forced to play their backup and third-string goaltenders for the entire five-game series.

Against a Red Wings team that's getting good goaltending from Howard, scoring production from its top three lines and winning the physical battles, Chicago won't survive the second round if its best forwards continue to struggle.

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, a team's star players need to lead the group and be productive at both ends of the ice on a consistent basis.

If the Blackhawks don't get better performances from players such as Toews and Hossa in Game 4, this team will be pushed to the brink of elimination and might become the latest Presidents' Trophy winners to fail in the playoffs.

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

6 of World Football's Best Players on the Decline

Samuel Post — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:20:50 -0400

It's a fate that every great player hopes to avoid: decline and irrelevance.

With squads shifting and football evolving so quickly, even those who hit the highest of heights often have trouble maintaining their level at the top. Sometimes it's a move to a new club. Sometimes it's a devastating injury. And sometimes, it's a manager who just doesn't believe in a player's ability to contribute any longer.

Let's have a look at some of world football's erstwhile top players who find themselves at various points on the downward trajectory of their careers.

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Nate Diaz's Manager Fighting a Losing Battle Regarding Diaz's Offensive Tweet

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:15:00 -0400

Totally and utterly baffling, that’s the only way to describe the manner in which Nate Diaz’s manager is handling the suspension and fine that were handed down to his client late last week.

On Thursday Diaz decided it was a good idea to throw the below tweet out there (since deleted):

I feel bad for pat Healy that they took a innocent mans money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest Fag in the world ..

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 16, 2013

The tweet was directed at Bryan Caraway, the fighter that benefited, to the tune of $65,000, when Pat Healy’s “Submission of the Night” award from UFC 159 was stripped away after Healy failed his post-fight drug test. (via MMAJunkie.com)

On Friday the UFC decided that Diaz’s use of a homophobic slur was a violation of the promotions code of conduct and that it was worthy of a 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine.

In a statement on the UFC website, the promotion spelled out the reasons for the penalty. That statement said, in part, “The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated.”

On Monday Diaz’s manager, Mike Kogan appeared on the MMA Hour (via MMAFighting.com) and did what a manager is supposed to do: He defended his client. The problem with the defense was that it totally missed the point of why Diaz was punished for his tweet. Kogan told MMA Hour host Ariel Helwani:

Nate doesn't feel remorse for what he said. I don't feel remorse for what he said. I don't feel remorse for defending what he said or elaborating on what he said. Because it was not a homophobic statement. It was not intended to offend homosexuals. We weren't even talking about homosexuals. One can debate the multiple uses of this term.

Kogan can defend Diaz’s use of the particular slur all he wants, but as Aaron McQuade, director of news and field media at GLAAD, wrote in a Twitter exchange with Yahoo.com’s Maggie Hendricks,

When you use an anti-gay slur, even not to describe a gay person, what you tell all gay people is “my subconscious wanted to find the worst insult it could, and what it came up with ... was you.” Those slurs are almost never intended to actually hurt gay people, but they do.

Kogan is probably correct, Diaz probably didn’t mean it as a homophobic statement, but it was, and McQuade’s tweets explain in perfectly plain language exactly why it was homophobic and hateful.

Kogan also seemingly questioned the UFC’s reasoning behind the code of conduct, saying, “The mere fact that there is a protocol to deal with these crisis situation implies its lack of sincerity."

The code of conduct is there to avoid situations that make the UFC look bad in the court of public opinion. In other words, the UFC is acting like every other major sport, in that it wants their athletes to represent the promotion in the best possible light. Everything a UFC fighter does reflects back on the promotion. When a UFC fighter calls refers to another individual in a derogatory manner the general public will remember that. No business that is trying to grow needs that. No sports league would tolerate that.

Kogan has the option to file an appeal, but the odds of he and Diaz winning that appeal are slim; after all the tweet violated two clauses in the code of conduct:

Derogatory or offensive conduct, including without limitation insulting language, symbols, or about a person’s ethnic background, heritage, color, race, national origin, age, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Inappropriate physical, verbal, and online behavior (such as inappropriate statements made via e-mail, text messaging or social networks).

Kogan’s defense of his client is admirable, it’s also not going to help him in any way. The best thing Kogan and Diaz can do at this point is pay the fine, have Diaz serve the suspension and move on.

To think that there will be a lesson learned here for the Diaz camp is probably too much to ask for, but hopefully at least one fighter will see what happened with Diaz and realize the UFC means business with its code of conduct.

Randy Orton: His Next Main Event Run Needs to Happen Now

Sebastian Maldonado — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:10:07 -0400

There comes a time where an established wrestler needs to take a backseat from the main event. Sometimes retirement is a factor, while most times, it’s for creating new stars. But, there comes a time when that wrestler is ready to return to the main event.

Randy Orton’s next main event run needs to happen now.

Extreme Rules has passed, and Orton defeated the Big Show in his hometown of St. Louis. He used the punt to put away Show for the three count. The momentum has changed for the Viper.

Where does Orton’s path lie? Which way does he go to: the face or the heel?

Well, Orton’s better as a heel. His turn from Legend Killer to Viper was a dramatic change in his career. He went from a smug, arrogant man to an edgy, nearly psychotic performer. His demeanor changed to a vicious nature. He became a huge star, which led to his current face turn.

Rumors swirled since last year of Orton’s supposed heel turn, which hasn’t happened yet.

Bringing the heel Orton back would cause more problems than solutions, though. Too many heels stock up the main event with Ryback, Jack Swagger, Show, Mark Henry and Dolph Ziggler. When CM Punk comes back, that heel roster will become more convoluted. The WWE has officially made more significant heels than faces.

For this reason, Orton needs to stay a face. Now, how does his face turn not become stale? Ironically, enough, the WWE might be up to something.

A double switch could work. They could make Ziggler face and put him in a program with a heel Orton. That could work wonders for both Superstars who work very well together.

Maybe they keep things the way they are, which wouldn’t change much.

But changing might not be the answer. Orton has still remained an edgy competitor. Look at the other faces. John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Kane and even Sheamus have softened up a bit. Orton remains that constant.

Randy Orton’s next main event run needs to happen now. It shouldn’t matter which side Orton is on. What should matter is bringing the Viper back to where he belongs: the main event.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game 2 Preview and Predictions

Zach Buckley — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:04:48 -0400

With the Memphis Grizzlies' twin towers reduced to a one-man show, the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 105-83 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday.

Despite an uncharacteristically quiet offensive performance from Tim Duncan (six points, 3-of-9 from the field), the Spurs set the tempo and sprinted out to a 17-point edge after the first quarter. Memphis eventually whittled that lead to as few as six points late in the third quarter, but San Antonio closed the period on an 11-2 run and never looked back.

The methodical inside-out attack of the Grizzlies could not find contributions from both sides of that equation, but the missing half was hardly the one Lionel Hollins expected to be without. Reserve wing Quincy Pondexter (17 points, 5-of-9 from three) provided the perimeter scoring, but All-Star forward Zach Randolph struggled mightily to the tune of a season-low two points (1-of-8 from the field).

San Antonio looked like the team that closed out the upstart Golden State Warriors with three double-digit wins over the last four games of its second-round series, holding decisive advantages on both ends of the floor.

Still, the significance of a single victory won't be taken out of context by either club.

San Antonio had a 2-0 lead on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, only to watch the series waste away behind four straight OKC victories. Memphis lost Game 1 of both of its previous series (and Game 2 to the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round) before closing each matchup with four consecutive wins.

Time: Tuesday, May 21, 9 p.m. ET

Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio

Series: Spurs lead 1-0

TV: ESPN

Game 2 Key Storyline: Accountability

It's too late in the year for any dramatic adjustments to be made, and these teams wouldn't be standing today if they were needed. Coaching a seven-game series often tests each side's ability to fine-tune its game plan, relying on maximizing the effectiveness of the style that brought each club to this position.

For San Antonio, a resounding 22-point victory certainly suggests that Gregg Popovich is ahead in this coaching chess match. But he still has work to do before moving into checkmate position.

Another 14-points-on-15-field-goal-attempts game out of Duncan and Manu Ginobili combined could push the Spurs into the loss column. San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford has built a talented roster capable of withstanding these kind of nights, but clearly this is a pattern that the Spurs would like to avoid going forward.

As for Memphis, accountability means playing the exact role that the team expects from each player.

It means providing enough help to alter Parker's penetrations without exposing the Grizzlies to an open shooter on the perimeter. It means Randolph and Marc Gasol have to set the tone on the offensive interior, demanding defensive attention and still finding gaps within that coverage to create looks for themselves or for their teammates.

The Grizzlies forgot who they were on Sunday. Their stifling defense was lost amid a flurry of ball-chasing help, a far cry from the disciplined attack they used to frustrate opponents up until now.

Series Star So Far: Tony Parker

Pop's time-tested system often masks the tremendous accomplishments of individual players (perhaps another reason why this team is so often overlooked), but Parker's Game 1 effort was badly needed with his two tenured teammates hurting for offensive rhythm.

Parker's stat line was noteworthy (20 points, 9-of-14 from the field, nine assists), but it doesn't jump off the page the way he did in the eye test.

He decisively raced around screens, constantly found his way into the paint, then either finished the drive himself or found an open shooter on the perimeter.

Feels like a broken record at this point, doesn't it? But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Coach Lionel Hollins prepared his team for San Antonio's pick-and-fill-in-the-blank (roll, pop, slip) looks, but Memphis overcommitted to deny Parker and his screener from getting open looks.

The results were late rotations, missed assignments and a dazzling aerial performance by the Spurs. San Antonio shot 14-of-29 from the outside, with Kawhi Leonard (4-of-5), Danny Green (3-of-6) and Matt Bonner (4-of-6) doing the heaviest lifting.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Memphis: Mike Conley, PG; Tony Allen, SG; Tayshaun Prince, SF; Zach Randolph, PF; Marc Gasol, C

San Antonio: Tony Parker, PG; Danny Green, SG; Kawhi Leonard, SF; Tim Duncan, PF; Tiago Splitter, C

Grizzlies Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

None reported

Spurs Injury Report

None reported

Grizzlies Will Win If...

...They get back to playing Grizzlies basketball.

Memphis had a rare showing of hero ball creep into its offensive system on Monday, a complete reversal of the ball-movement-oriented system that capitalizes on the team's biggest strengths.

There are no prima donnas on the roster, no stat-crazed players putting individual achievements over team success. But there is plenty of star power, even if the accolades don't always match the talent level.

In other words, there's no real excuse for the ball-stopping, momentum-killing possessions that showed up in Game 1. The ball is going to find its way into the most capable hands more often than not, but setting up those chances with multiple passes will test the Spurs' defensive discipline and the legs of their shooters.

The Grizzlies have the talented individual defenders to keep help responsibilities to a minimum. Memphis needs to play the role of aggressor on San Antonio's screens, forcing Parker's reads rather than reacting to them.

Easier said then done, but remember this team has an All-Defensive first-teamer on the roster (Tony Allen) along with the Defensive Player of the Year (Gasol).

If Mike Conley can dictate the pace on both ends of the floor, this series could easily be tied when it shifts over to the Grind House.

Spurs Will Win If...

...Tony Parker continues making the right decisions with the basketball.

Whether or not he's better supported by Duncan and Ginobili in Game 2 (history suggests he should be), Parker's still the key to San Antonio holding serve on its home floor.

His matchup with Conley was widely considered to be the most important position battle in the series (and one of the most entertaining to watch), and the wide margin between the two players mirrored the enormous gap left on the scoreboard.

There have been some slight variations, but in large part the Spurs have gone as far as Parker's been able to guide them in this postseason.

Their opening-round series sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers aside, his performance has typically dictated the outcome of the game. Including Sunday's Game 1 win, he's averaged 23.6 points on 47.4 percent shooting and 8.0 assists in Spurs' victories compared to just 18.5 points on 38.2 percent shooting and 3.0 assists in their losses.

Analysts have grossly underestimated what remains in San Antonio's aging back of tricks, but Parker has left little doubt about which member of the Big Three means the most to this team.

Prediction

Hollins isn't going to let his defense lose sight of its identity again. Randolph's volume (in terms of both offensive chances and points) is sure to increase in Game 2. San Antonio won't convert nearly half of its three-point attempts again.

But the eventual outcome of Game 2 will be no different than Game 1; it should simply have a more dramatic beginning and ending.

In the battle of adjustments, Popovich has the history and experience to hold a commanding edge.

The pace may well slow down, the play may be a lot more physical. But the Spurs are built to adapt, formed to throw a variety of puzzles at their opposition on either end of the floor.

Too much Parker, more Duncan and Ginobili and another strong performance by the supporting cast will give San Antonio a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in as many years.

Spurs 93, Grizzlies 88

Follow @Hoops_Guru

WWE Payback 2013: 9 Matches We Need to See

Anthony Mango — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:04:15 -0400

On June 16, 2013 a new pay-per-view will take place: WWE Payback.

More than likely, this will be one of those events that we never hear from again such as what happened with Capitol Punishment, December to Dismember, Breaking Point and Fatal 4-Way.

Nonetheless, it is up to WWE to give us the best possible card to make us want to pay to see it, and after what happened at Extreme Rules, there are certain things that need to be addressed.

What matches are probably going to appear on WWE Payback's lineup? Which feuds need to continue, and which ones need to end?

Let's take a look at everything that might be coming our way and what plans WWE should be setting up.

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Dwight Howard Reportedly Complained About Mike D'Antoni in Exit Interview

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:02:51 -0400

Dwight Howard used his exit interview with general manager Mitch Kupchak to voice his frustrations with head coach Mike D'Antoni, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles.

The topic was expected to arise at some point, as D-12 experienced the worst season of his career under D'Antoni's guidance. Surprisingly, it wasn't just the on-court issues that made Howard so upset. It was all about whom the head coach opted to seek for leadership.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard's frustration with D'Antoni -- particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard's voice.

It doesn't end there.

D'Antoni recently removed assistant coach Chuck Person from his staff, which had an adverse effect on D-12's morale. Person was viewed as a "confidant" to Howard and was one of the few things keeping his relationship with D'Antoni intact.

It certainly doesn't help that Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, who was with D-12 in Orlando for five years and joined him in making the trip to L.A., is interviewing for head coaching gigs.

Per McMenamin, Person and Clifford were viewed as the "buffers" between Howard and D'Antoni. Without them, sources put it simply by saying it's "a bad thing."

Something you do not want to hear as the Lakers general manager—not after the experience the Orlando Magic had with D-12.

Perhaps most concerning of all is the fact that Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that Howard is intrigued by the prospect of playing for the Houston Rockets. With Houston possessing mountains of cap space and a star of their own in James Harden, L.A. could be in a dangerous position.

It's worth noting that Texas has no income tax.

There is no guarantee that it will come down to Howard or D'Antoni, so that assumption would be premature. With that being said, the two were unable to work together in the manner expected of them during L.A.'s disastrous 2012-13 season.

All Howard can hope for is that the Lakers' front office doesn't allow pride to get in their way of making the proper decisions this summer.

3 Pittsburgh Penguins Players Not Pulling Their Weight in 2nd Round of Playoffs

Michael Prunka — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01:12 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on quite a warpath in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. The only thing that can slow them down now is players not pulling their weight.

They ousted the New York Islanders in six games in the first round of the playoffs, and currently hold a 2-1 series lead on the Ottawa Senators.

The Penguins haven’t marched through the playoffs uncontested. John Tavares and company gave them a run for their money. More recently, Craig Anderson, Erik Karlsson and the Senators’ defense proved to be a problem for the Penguins in Game 3.

As the Penguins look to take down the Senators and move past the second round, here are three Penguins who aren’t quite carrying their weight thus far.

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WWE Raw Results: Twitter Reaction to Paul Heyman Announcing New Client

Ryan Dilbert — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:04 -0400

Monday's WWE Raw featured a major surprise when Paul Heyman introduced a repackaged Michael McGillicutty as his newest client.

Fans, writers and WWE Superstars reacted to the unexpected move on Twitter with surprise, excitement and, for those hoping it would be Rob Van Dam, disappointment. Heyman introduced the son of Curt Hennig and grandson of Larry "The Ax" Hennig as Curtis Axel:

Axel joins Brock Lesnar and CM Punk as the third member of Heyman's growing stable. Kudos to those with clairvoyance enough to see that coming.

WWE recently hinted at a possible new client with a speculative article on WWE.com. The piece said that, "WWE Superstars and Divas are still abuzz over the possibility of Heyman's ranks increasing by one."

That buzz became a reality when Axel walked to the ring to a fantastic remix of his father's old entrance music. The discussion then crackled on Twitter.

Cageside Seats tweeted that going with Axel was the right move:

Choosing Axel is certainly bold. It puts a man who has rarely been seen in a position to succeed. Having Heyman in his corner gives Axel momentum aplenty.

Fighting Spirit Magazine made a great point about how selecting Axel is a move that builds for the future even if it doesn't get an immediate response:

The mostly silent fans in attendance may have either been shocked about Heyman's choice, or they could have simply forgotten who Axel/McGillicutty was. Regardless, WWE can't live off part-timers. The company has to roll with newer guys and see what sticks.

Whether Axel fails or flourishes, it's worth giving him a shot.

He has the right music now, and his name is certainly an improvement. Kaitlyn weighed in on the name change:

As Podswoggle.com pointed out, typing Curtis Axel is infinitely easier than typing Michael McGillicutty:

Not every fan was happy with the choice. Lance Storm tweeted something to mull over for those wishing Heyman's new client was someone else:

Too often, WWE fans spend too much time critiquing the product rather than enjoying it. No one knows how pairing Axel with Heyman will work out. It's more fun to sit back and see how things turn out than second-guessing the move.

Axel later faced Triple H in the night's main event.

He weathered Triple H's initial attack and then began to stomp on and wear down his foe. The match ended when Triple H seemed to still be suffering the effects of his Extreme Rules match with Brock Lesnar.

Sure, the story became more focused on The Game than Axel, but being in the WWE Raw main event seemed impossible for him before the show started.

If he rides this night into something big, fans can look back at this WWE Raw as the moment it all began. Heyman's newest client at the very least has folks talking.

Ryback and the Embracing of the Heel Role in the WWE

David Levin — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:03 -0400

The night after Extreme Rules, Ryback proved he has fully embraced his new role as antagonist of the WWE. By calling out John Cena after their “no-contest” finish in the Last Man Standing match, which sent both men through the back part of the stage in St. Louis, all he did was make himself an even bigger star.

Sunday night, Ryback proved he could handle the role, handle a championship match and hang equally with more seasoned WWE superstars. Maybe the WWE knew what it was doing all along.

For the better part of the match, it was Ryback carrying the show, taking it to Cena (although Cena sold it pretty well) and meeting him blow for blow and providing more offense than the current WWE champion.

The match upcoming, an Ambulance Match at Payback in June between the two (which Ryback proposed on Monday night), figures to be an epic battle—one where Ryback should be (and WWE needs him to be) better than he has been so far.

Ryback was also more aggressive with the microphone Monday night. As he called out Cena, there was more energy in his voice, more anger in his movements and more determination in calling out and insulting the fans in the crowd.

The fact that he came out in "heel" fashion and abused an already-damaged Zack Ryder also added to his coming full circle.

After Sunday night, I am confident both men will take their feud to a whole new level.

In the past, we have seen wrestling heroes embrace their changes in character with no hassles. Barry Windham became one of the greatest heels in wrestling history. Hulk Hogan committed the ultimate “betrayal” when he made the jump to the dark side.

Others had a few issues with the change. Sting could never make the jump with ease. "Dr. Death" Steve Williams looked uncomfortable with the move. Daniel Bryan is much better as a face than a hated character.

The greatness associated with the heel in the past was that they are the ones who controlled the match, determined moves and won matches on television while the face won more than lost in live arena shows.

Remember as well, the Monday after a pay-per-view is always about the drama and what can lead to the next pay-per-view. We did not see John Cena on camera. Whether he is actually hurt to some degree or if the WWE was "selling" his injuries even if he walked away from the ambulance is not known.

Like my friend and fellow colleague Tom Clark said via Camel Clutch Blog, "John Cena is indestructible. That’s it. Do whatever you want to him, hit him as hard as you like, take the boots to him for a straight hour if you want, beat the man to a bloody pulp and then sit back and watch what happens next."

The question now becomes whether Ryback can take on more responsibility in his match with Cena. Should he be able to "progress” more, then the feud, the rivalry and the title could all change with a count of one-two-three.

This was a Raw program we all expected in terms of drama. There is a new "Heyman" guy. Daniel Bryan looked like a man possessed. I think he and Kane could be at odds over who the weak link is in the tag team. We saw what might be a game-changer for Wade Barrett. And Triple H played the "injured card" well, much like HBK did in 1996.

But the thing the WWE needs now more than ever is for Ryback to take his ball and try to run over the company and, more specifically, John Cena.

Follow me on Twitter @david.levin71 for my thoughts on professional wrestling.

Players Who Could Overtake Jadeveon Clowney as Top Pick in 2014 NFL Draft

Marques Eversoll — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:01 -0400

Widely considered to be the top prospect eligible for the 2014 NFL draft, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is nearly flawless as a player.

Matt Miller has likened Clowney to a defensive Andrew Luck, saying Clowney would have been his No. 1 overall prospect had he been eligible for this year's draft. But as a true sophomore, Clowney isn't eligible to enter the NFL until next year.

But while Clowney has the inside track at being the first name off the board next April, several players will be competing for the top spot throughout 2013 leading up to the next year's draft.

Most drafts are centered around the quarterback position. If there's not a top-tier signal-caller at the top of the board, then players who can protect the passer or rush the quarterback usually flood the top 10. So if a player is going to steal Clowney's spotlight, it will likely either be a quarterback or a lineman.

Let's take a look at some players who could overtake Clowney as the top pick in next year's draft.

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The 8 Best and Worst Moves of Philadelphia Eagles' 2013 Offseason

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:56:34 -0400

The last few months have been the honeymoon period for Philadelphia Eagles fans when it comes to new head coach Chip Kelly, whose coaching style seems very different from Andy Reid.

Both are offensive masterminds, but even before the season begins, it's become very obvious that the Eagles offense in 2013 will be significantly different from last year's team.

After all, running back LeSean McCoy called the practices "a freaking track meet."

But although Kelly has definitely made the team significantly better from the disaster of 2012, he hasn't been perfect.

The following eight slides will highlight some good and some bad from Kelly's current tenure with the Eagles, in no particular order.

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