Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Kidwell

Open Mic: Let's Comp-Eat!!

Justin Kidwell — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:04:16 -0400

It is interesting to me that the definition of sport is so convoluted. The following are examples of characteristics of an activity that have been used to shape the definition of sport: the use of a ball or an object, a score or tabulation, required physical exertion, required physical skill, a large following or a listing at the Olympic games.

Is chess denied the sport label because no score is kept and it involves limited physical exertion and skill? Poker has grown so much that it is featured on television regularly (and not just on ESPN), but is this enough to make it into the ranks of sport?

Each year we listen to middle school children spell words spectacularly (and, I don’t know about you, but I would be sent on an early trip to the showers) on national television, but are they engaging in sport? I would love to hear someone try to tell a marathoner that a 26.5 mile run is not a sport because there is no use of a ball or an object.

Sport: an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

The loose nature of this definition is what causes all the fun. It can be argued that anything can fall under this umbrella, so we treat the topic as a subjective one.

I have many friends who have Kerry’d (flip-flopped) on activities like synchronized swimming, "What?! That is nothing but choreographed dancing in the water, and they can’t even dance! Now if you could get the swimmers to dance like The Fly Girls, I would be forced to change my stance!"

After years of conversation, they have come around because they now understand the rigorous training and body control involved to get to such a level of precision that is necessary for success at a high class competition. However, we are still waiting on Rosie Perez to jump into the synchronized swimming arena.

This weekend in New York, we will have America’s Independence and Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. While I have never been to the event, my interest grows each year.

It uses no ball and it is only viewed once a year, but this competition is amazing to me. I will admit that my interest has risen each year as Kobayashi dominated. The “Most Dominant Athlete of Our Generation” discussion is for another time, but clearly Kobayashi was in the running as he devoured hot dogs and blew the Fridge away.

However, his dominance is in the past. As a result of last year’s upset, this year’s competition includes added drama because Kobayashi will attempt to get back on the top of the mountain among hot dog superstars!

That would be the equivalent of the feeling fans would get on the eve of the Tour De France if Lance Armstrong lost the year before and was poised to recapture his rightful place at the top of the sport!

Does it get any better than that? Say what you want about definitions. Although this event uses no ball or object, and is not in the Olympics, it gets me excited, and that is all I need to call it a sport!

NBA Draft: Best Available or Best Fit?

Justin Kidwell — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:49:09 -0400

As we are surrounded by the frenzy that culminates in tonight’s NBA Draft, our minds reflect on the issues and topics swirling around the annual event.

A couple of trades have already been announced, rumors of potential deals fly about, information about secret workouts is revealed, and everyone has their own theories about who should be drafted and when—and this list of discussion points is the tip of the iceberg.

In all of this draft mayhem, one debate that arguably defines the core of draft strategy is either barely touched on or not mentioned at all: Should one draft the best available player, or should one draft the player that best fits the most pressing need for the organization on the clock?

Since there are few—if any—players who possess all of the skills necessary to win a championship in any sport, front offices are charged with the daunting task of evaluating players to determine the best choice for a given franchise.

There are so many constraints that need to be managed that one team’s answer to this question may change daily because of adjustments to the team, league, and/or macroeconomic framework. Players are analyzed, in the scope of the team’s philosophies, for their effectiveness both on and off the court, field, or ice.

Additionally, the team evaluates the relative value of each player in the draft pool, the possibility of gaining the opportunity to draft each player, the possibility of signing each player, and the cost incurred for the consummation of the contract. My head spins when thinking about the extent of this analysis, and this is only the beginning.

League changes such as salary caps, league alignments, opposing teams’ adjustments, and more serve to cloud the issue, not to mention the major media dollars and markets that figure into teams’ decisions.

It is clear that the draft process is involved and fluid, and that the answer to the question is that a team always opts for the player that best fits the team’s framework.

What seems to be lost in the discussion is the fact that a team drafting a player who fills a need already addressed by players on the current roster still chooses the player who is the best fit for the team. It just happens that the decision is based on other changes that will be made by the team to incorporate the draft choice into the fabric of the organization.

This is demonstrated by the decision faced by the Chicago Bulls in this year’s NBA draft. With point guards Kirk Hinrich and Chris Duhon (and Ben Gordon, who is viewed by many as an undersized shooting guard) already on the roster, it is highly anticipated that the Bulls will select Derrick Rose—another point guard—with the first pick in the tonight’s draft.

Many people may view this with skepticism, but there is more at play than simply adding a point guard to a roster saturated with guards. The Bulls may attempt to play a more guard-oriented style of basketball, one where the ball is pushed up the floor offensively and where more pressure is applied to opposing backcourts to further attempt to force the tempo.

The Bulls may attempt to build depth on their roster, gradually introducing Derrick Rose to the rigors of the NBA game by limiting his minutes on the court.

More likely, Derrick Rose serves as an upgrade to the point guards already on the roster due to his Chicago roots and his ability on the court, and the organization may attempt to use the point guard(s) currently on the roster to make other improvements to the team’s overall makeup.

One can point to other situations and see the focus on the best choice for the team. The rumors about the Miami Heat looking to draft O.J. Mayo instead of Michael Beasley are proof of this theory.

Many believe that Beasley has been the best performer of any player in this year’s draft, and the current Heat roster seems like it could use more help in the frontcourt than on the perimeter.

But apparently there is a reason to entertain O.J. Mayo, a fantastic perimeter player with some character questions surfacing over the last few weeks, as a choice to play alongside Dwayne Wade in the backcourt.

Maybe the fact that Shawn Marion decided to stay with the Heat changed the team’s outlook on the draft, but it shows how quickly ideas fluctuate about changes to an organization.

The fluid nature of professional athletics, combined with the thrill of the unknown, makes draft season a great one for all sports fans. We hypothesize and analyze the situation from our positions, and we enjoy the analysis and attempt to figure it all out.

However, we are not privy to the same information as these sports managers, so while the fans may designate a player as the best available, I contend that these managers are more accurate in their determination of the players’ value.

If a player is chosen, that player is both the best fit and the best available to the team.

Regardless of the choice, we fans will always give our post-draft analysis!

Detroit Pistons Analysis: Down the Stretch in Motown

Justin Kidwell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:09:11 -0500

As the NBA season approaches the All-Star break, we can look back at the first half of the season at what we wanted to happen, and look forward to the best part of the NBA season—the second half.

The moves by the Suns, Lakers, Spurs, and Warriors have changed the NBA landscape.

Three of these teams got bigger, the other went for depth, and still more teams are expected to address some needs (Jason Kidd anyone?) before the trade deadline.

In the midst of these changes and the upcoming festivities in New Orleans, however, stands a team that has won six straight and seems to be hitting their stride.

All season the Detroit Pistons have been strong, but recently they emerged from a cold streak to post wins against some strong teams (Lakers, Magic and Mavericks).

While the Pistons are not in the news for any trade rumors or free agent signings, they seem to be well positioned to continue their strong play into the second half of the season.

Once again, Detroit is a defensive powerhouse (number two in scoring defense and in defensive FG percentage, number one in defensive FG attempted), an efficient offensive machine (number nine in FG percentage, number 11 in points per shot, number two in assist/turnover ratio) and continues to boast one of the best (if not THE best) backcourts in the NBA.

What has many sports personalities high on the Pistons is the play of their bench. Jason Maxiell, Jarvis Hayes, Flip Murray, Aaron Affalo, and Rodney Stuckey have contributed ample minutes to the play of a Pistons bench that has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. These reserves have allowed some of the starters to get some valuable rest in tough games and during tough stretches.

Pistons fans should be excited about the team and its shot at another deep playoff run.

While many see the improved bench play as the key to the Pistons’ success, I am apprehensive in heaping so much praise on the Pistons reserves. With the departure of Nazr Mohammed and with Amir Johnson not yet playing a major role, the Pistons are limited to Jason Maxiell as the only true big man in the bench rotation.

It is no secret that Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are of advanced age and experience, and the length of the season can take a toll on older bodies. The last few campaigns for these two vets have seen around 100 games and I fear that the moves made by the Western powers, the expected length of this season, and limited rest during games and road stretches are causes for worry.

The backcourt rotation is strong, but asking ‘Sheed, McDyess, and Maxiell to carry the load through May and possibly beyond, is a tough request.

Cleveland, Orlando and Boston are good teams and one can expect each to push any series to the limit. The Pistons’ three-man rotation is definitely a cause for concern and may need to be addressed before the deadline or through a more equal share of playing time for the current cast.

Detroit is already among the bottom half of the teams in the league in rebounding and a tired frontcourt could damage their championship opportunity.

We’ll have to wait and see the impact of these minutes on the Piston big men.