Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick George

The Real Week 1 Rankings

Nick George — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:39:05 -0400

This is the rankings in college football based off an unbiased look at the week's games and the strength of schedule and conference.

1. USC

The Trojans flexed their muscles with a dominant performance over Virginia. The Trojans looked like the strongest team this week.

They held Virginia to 187 yards of offense compared to their 555 yards. The defense dominated and the offense looked very explosive as a different player scored on every touchdown.

2. Florida

The Gators held what was considered one of the greatest scoring offenses in the county a year ago to only 10 points in their opener.

The Gator defense swarmed all over the swamp and suffocated Hawaii with an effective running game. The Gators seem to beat this team easily.

3. Georgia

This was a nice little warm-up game for the No. 1 team in the polls. The Bulldogs had a solid game. They didn't have the most dominant performance of the weekend but still looked like they were one of the best teams atop the SEC.

4. Oklahoma

Oklahoma literally ran over the Chattanooga Mocs. The Sooner defense was unbelievable as they held the Mocs to only 36 yards of total offense. They held the Chattanooga offense to just one first down.

The offense looked dominate as expected but the Sooner defense just looked scary good. I would be afraid to play the Sooners anytime soon.

5. Ohio State

The Buckeyes demolished Youngstown State. They inevitably looked impressive. The defense showed they were ready for the season holding Youngstown to negative-11 yards rushing.

But the low point of the game was Wells getting injured. That hurts the Buckeye's offense a little bit if his injury becomes serious.

6. LSU

The Tigers are back and they are hungry. If hurricanes can't stop them, what's to say anything can stop this team? They had an overpowering rushing game, forcing them to not having to rely on the passing game. If the defense can be similarly dominant, the Tigers have a chance to get to the promised land once again.

7. Missouri

Missouri may have been the only team in the top 10 of the AP or USA today polls that was tested in this first week. The Zoo had a thriller against the Fighting Illini. Interceptions, kick returns, the Missouri Tigers used everything in their arsenal to come out with the victory.

8. Alabama

The Crimson Tide was victorious beating a very talented Clemson squad. They held Clemson's Davis and Spiller, maybe the best running back tandem in the nation, to only 20 yards rushing. Nick Saban should be ecstatic that his young team is starting off with a big win and a lot of confidence.

9. West Virginia

West Virginia surprised the nation when it beat Villanova through the air. That's right, the Mountaineers used their high powered spread offense through the air instead running the football. New coach Bill Stewart should be concerned, though.

The Wildcats offense was put up good numbers against the Mountaineers defense. In fact they gained more total yards than West Virginia.

10. Texas

Despite three late hits on Colt McCoy, the Texas Longhorns rolled right along past lowly Florida Atlantic. Texas may not have had the most impressive win this week but they showed they were as solid a team as ever.

They balanced the run and pass well with 271 passing yards and 232 rushing. The defense was not overpowering but it got progressively better as the game went on.

11. UCLA

The Bruins struggled mightily in their game. The Volunteers fought and battled the whole game and it came down to a field goal in overtime and Daniel Lincoln for Tennessee missed.

The Bruins came back from throwing four interceptions in the first half to rally in the second. UCLA may have struggled in this game, but look for them to bounce back and surprise No. 15 in the rankings Brigham Young.

12. Auburn

Auburn has always played with a certain style. Against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, it was no different.

The Tigers were able to get their usual ground game going with a rushing attack that ran for 321 yards. The defense and special teams also accounted for the first two touchdowns of the game.

13. Texas Tech

The Eastern Washington Eagles' task was simple: score more than the Red Raiders and they would win the game. Well, its safe to say easier said than done.

Graham Harrell threw for 536 yards with three touchdowns en route to a 49-24 victory. To be fair the Eagles made some plays, but just not enough to keep up with Texas Tech.

14. Wisconsin

The Badgers ran, ran, ran. Wisconsin had a solid running game with 404 rushing yards, led by PJ Hill with 210 yards on the ground.

They ran their game plan to near perfection if it hadn't been for some untimely turnovers. But the Badgers had a good overall game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

15. Oregon

Despite losing a quarterback, the Ducks looked confident in their season opener. It could be a good year for Oregon. The have an exciting balanced offense and a fast defense. They showed a little preview in against Ty Willingham's floundering Washington team.

16. Kansas: Set a new attendance record as they beat Florida International 40-10.

17. Utah: Beat what was supposed to be an improved Michigan team.

18. Arizona State: They beat up Northern Arizona threw the air on a way to a 30-13 victory.

19. Penn State: Coach Paterno got his 373rd victory against Coastal Carolina.

20. Fresno State: Fresno State came in and beat Rutgers in Rutgers Stadium.

21. South Florida (USF): The Bulls came out strong with a 56-7 win.

22. California: Battled a tough Michigan State team proving too much for the Spartans.

23. Eastern Carolina: Surprised the entire nation by beating Virginia Tech at their own game with a touchdown off a blocked punt to win it.

24. Boston College: Chris Cane takes over and leads the Eagles to a victory over Kent State.

25. Clemson: They are maybe the most talented team in the country, but so far that hasn't translated into wins.

Lakers-Celtics: A Rivalry Revived

Nick George — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:56:42 -0400

The atmosphere, the passion, the fire in the eyes of the players. The Lakers and Celtics meet in the finals once again. There are new coaches, new players, new looks—but the same old rivalry.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson once competed for the championships in the 1980's and helped fuel what has become a storied rivalry between the two championship organizations.

A year ago the Celtics were a lowly team in the league. They were young and were growing, but still struggling to win games. And, Paul Peirce was becoming increasingly upset at the fact that the Celtics were not winning.

Before the draft things looked dismal for the Celtics—they were hoping for the ping pong balls to help them grab the next big deal in the draft. Shortly after that, the Celtics were able to deal and wheel and grab Ray Allen. That move was enough to ease the tension in the organization.

Shortly after the acquisition of Allen, the Celtics landed maybe the most influential deal in years—getting Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That led to the big three of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. They had the best regular season record in the NBA and now have gone through the Eastern Conference playoffs and landed in the Finals for the first time in 21 years.

The Lakers had their own experience in reaching the Finals. Before the season their star Kobe Bryant demanded a trade, saying that the Lakers were not commited to winning right now.

Thankfully for the Lakers he was not traded, and once the season came, he played like he has always played—everything seemed to fall into place.

The young players had improved and everything was gelling until Andrew Bynum went down.

That led to the lopsided trade in which the Lakers got Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for two young players. This led to a rejuvanated Lakers team that played their way to the finals.

Now we have what could be another classic Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics. Two championship caliber teams clashing to get a championship.

This looks to be a very interesting match up.

Are the Boston Celtics For Real?

Nick George — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:05:47 -0400

Are the Celtics for real? It is a question that must be asked.

The Celtics has been phenomenal all year long, gaining the best record in the league and home-court advantage in the playoffs. They were known for their cohesiveness, defense, and of course the "Big Three"; Paul Peirce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen.

They looked unstoppable going into the Eastern Conference playoffs. They were the No. 1 seed, facing the lowly Atlanta Hawks, a team that was under .500.

Piece of cake, right?

Well, one day after the Celtics finished Game Three against the Hawks, a team that had won 29 less games than them, we had to wonder about the fortitude of the team we once thought an unstoppable force.

In the regular season, the Celtics looked like the best defensive team in the NBA, on the court and on paper. But in their first-round series with the Hawks, they made Josh Smith look like MJ, and couldn't contain Joe Johnson to save their lives. No offense to Joe, but he isn't exactly the amazing offensive force he was in this series. The Celtics defense looked terrible away from home.

We have to wonder; if they didn't have home-court advantage, would they have won the series?

Ray Allen's usually dependable stroke could only be classified as streaky at best. Kevin Garnett lacked his usual intensity all series long. Paul Peirce was at times inconsistent, but had a very good series. It seemed as if he was the only one who realized that they were not coasting, they were in the playoffs!

All of the issues in this series have left some question marks with the Celtics, as they move on to face Lebron and his Cavaliers. If the Celtics can't stop a middle-of-the-road player in Joe Johnson, how can they expect to stop the best player in the East?

Los Angeles Lakers: A Well Oiled Machine

Nick George — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:56:15 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers have swept the Denver Nuggets. Most people expected the Lakers to win, but no one could have predicted that the Nuggets, a fifty win and very talented team, would get so summarily swept.

It has become apparent that the Lakers are starting to pull away from their Western Conference counterparts. Kobe has become the leader the rest of the league feared he could become. He looks primed to lead this tightly knit, effective unit straight to the Finals.

Pau Gasol has erupted as an offensive force on the block. Lamar Odom has that look in his eye like he is ready to take his man to the hole every time he gets an angle. Kobe is working in the triangle beautifully, taking his shots and most importantly dishing off to teammates he trusts.

Phil Jackson's triangle offense has once again become the force it was meant to be, with movement and unselfishness. The Lakers bench still seems to be one of the best in the NBA using their energy and cohesiveness to sustain the solid play when the starters take a rest.

The rest of the West should watch out, because the Lakers are peaking and with Kobe leading the way it doesn't look like anyone is going to get beat anytime soon. The Lakers have shown us that they can dominate games against a talented team.

And what's the scariest thing for the other teams left in the West?

We still have yet to see the best of these Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers: It's Showtime Back in Hollywood

Nick George — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:01:54 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers have returned to the top of the basketball world.

They have really come together this season. They have shown that they are cohesive unit on defense and a well oiled machine on offense as the younger players are starting to excel in the triangle offense.

The Lakers boast one of the best benches in the NBA, several veteran leaders such as: Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol. Oh, and did I forget maybe the most talented scorer of the new era, Kobe Bryant.

With this young and talented team things are going up and the Lakers are once again in the top tier of the Western Conference.

Several seasons ago things looked dismal for Dr. Jerry Buss's team. Shaquille O'Neal was traded away. Coach Phil Jackson left the team. Kobe Bryant was angry at the world and calling out his teammates.

The Lakers were heading down and fast. Hope was all but gone when the Lakers' General Manager used a draft pick on an unproven, 7 ft. high school kid, the youngest to ever be drafted to be precise.

This led to a string of events which escalated quickly with Kobe's desire to be traded if the front office would not prove that they wanted to build a championship team now instead of rebuild.

Needless to say, I think Kobe is happy, as well as Lakers' fans everywhere. The team is playing with a sense of pride and toughness and showmanship that reminds many of the old Magic/Kareem "Showtime" teams.

Kobe is loving it, Phil is back, the team is young and competitive. The Lakers set out to return to dominance—mission accomplished.

Lakers-Wizards: Los Angeles Wins in OT

Nick George — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:17:28 -0400

The Lakers hosted the Wizards and came away with a 126-120 win in overtime.

This ends the Lakers' two-game skid.

Kobe Bryant scored a modest 26 points to complement his 13 assists. However, a strange thing happened: "Mr. Big Shot" for the Lakers, Derrick Fisher missed the game winner.

However, he did come back with a huge shot late in overtime to give the Lakers an edge.

It was a hard-fought game both ways as Caron Butler and his Wizards gave the Lakers all they could handle.