Bleacher Report - Articles by Bare Knucks

Why the Cleveland Browns Should Cut Braylon Edwards

Bare Knucks — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:04:26 -0400

Yeah, I said it. Cut Braylon Edwards. The former third overall pick out of Michigan is a prima donna and can’t catch a football. Isn’t that the purpose of receivers, to catch the ball?

The Browns should’ve traded him away when they had a chance, but it appears they aren’t going to get anything for him at this point in time.

Cleveland slipped up by not pulling the trigger on the deal when the New York Giants offered second- and fifth-round picks along with WR Domenik Hixon.

Braylon led the entire NFL in dropped passes last season with 16. 16! That’s one a game! Some of these balls he dropped were extremely crucial to his team’s success.

Edwards picked up where he left off last season, dropping a touchdown pass on the first ball thrown to him in their pre-season opener against the Packers.

Edwards’ BS may have been acceptable under Romeo Crennel’s terms, but Eric Mangini should have B-Easy on a very short leash.

Crennel was a teddy bear and it’s clear he didn’t have any discipline in the locker room. Mangini, on the other hand, is kind of a hardass.

I’m surprised he didn’t crack the whip after Braylon missed the beginning of training camp. Edwards missed the first four days of training camp due to an undisclosed leg injury. I’m guessing he broke a toenail.

Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. Kind of a corny saying, but it’s true for the most part. Braylon Edwards, aka B-Easy, was drafted third overall out of Michigan by the Cleveland Browns.

His physical attributes have never been in question. He’s got all the tools to be a premier receiver in this league…he was a stud at Michigan and we saw flashes of what he’s capable of in the NFL in the 2007 season. [READ MORE...]

Will Favre Ever Come Back? Bigger Question, Why Do We Even Care?

Bare Knucks — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:14:26 -0400

“Should I come back?” “Maybe.” “Will I come back?” “I don’t know.” “Do I want to play?” “Yes and no.” The vagaries here laid out could belong to none other then former Wisconsin hero Brett Favre. Favre has developed an uncanny way of managing his own press; he only answers his own questions. Even then, nobody can record a straight answer from the conflicted quarterback. It’s now clear that Favre will be cutting grass as opposed to reading bedtime stories to Adrian Peterson. What is not clear is why we all cared in the first place.

Favre’s latest technique in his increasingly desperate attempt to stay relevant is to set deadlines at which point something of absolutely no interest will be announced. Recently ESPN reported that he would announce his final decision Friday, July 24th. What we got on that day, which has come and gone, was an announcement that his decision would be announced the following week. When we finally received word that Favre would not return the mania only increased. This is a man that broke down and cried at his first semi-retirement, do we really believe this is the last we will see of Favre in the NFL?

We all know that Favre cannot resist the spotlight, or the urge to play. All of these press conferences, semi-announcements, and teary eyed interviews we have endured over the past few years have nothing to do with Favre’s ultimate decision. Favre won’t play this season but his ego will still be battered every Sunday when he goes out to face his backyard rather than a front seven.

The bigger question surrounding this melodrama is why did we care at all? This is no longer a prolific quarterback. In the past five years he had one spectacular year with the Packers, and otherwise has been mediocre, or even detrimental. Down the stretch for the Jets last year he single handedly lost them games, and his teammates turned on him quicker than Favre can turn one interception into three. [Read more...]

Ray Allen Used to Be a Likeable Guy, Now No One Can Stand Him

Bare Knucks — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:49:23 -0400

Ray Allen used to be a likeable ball player. Who didn’t like Jesus Shuttlesworth in ‘He Got Game’? It was difficult to dislike the silky shooter when he laced them up for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics, but he has progressively gotten tougher to like after being traded to Boston in 2007.

Ray Ray is still a great ball player and undoubtedly one of the best shooters to ever play in the league. With a career 3P% of .398 and FT% of .893, the numbers speak for themselves. He trails only Reggie Miller for the all time record of three-point field goals made. However, regardless of his career accolades, Ray Allen has become a tool since landing in Boston.

Why exactly has one of the smoothest shooters in the game become someone so easy to hate? There isn’t a definitive answer, but there may be a few explanations for it.

Jesus Shuttlesworth used to be a humble dude, that is, until he won his first ring in 2008. After teaming up with other ringless stars Kevin Garnett (another tool) and Paul Pierce to form the ‘Big 3,’ the Celtics won a championship last season. It seems like Allen has gotten cockier and has been playing a dirtier style of ball after winning the championship.

Another possible explanation for Ray Allen’s douchebagness can be attributed to the players surrounding him. Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, Paul Pierce etc… You can’t honestly tell me you think KG or Rondo are swell guys! Additionally, Garnett is one of the dirtiest players in the league, and I think it’s clear his dirtiness (as well as the lenience to hate him) has rubbed off on Allen and the rest of the team.

With the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace and a healthy(?) Kevin Garnett next season, the Celtics will definitely be contenders. There’s no doubt Boston will be one of the better teams in the league, but with so many tools, they will also be one of the most hated teams in the NBA. [Sports news you can drink a beer with - Bareknucks.com]

Coach K Coaches Nothing but Winners, Except for When He Is Coaching Duke

Bare Knucks — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:03:04 -0400

Mike Krzyzewski is regarded as one of the best coaches in all of college basketball. He certainly has a good amount of hardware to back it up, but these trophies are from a long time ago. In regards to the popular phrase, “what have you done for me lately?” the answer is “not much.” Duke’s last NCAA tournament championship was in 2001, and it looks like the only championships Mike Krzyzewski will be celebrating in the future will be with Team USA, not the Dukies.

It’s great what the Blue Devil program has going for them with the whole “this isn’t just basketball, we’re teaching you how to succeed in life after basketball” approach. It really is. Considering the majority of the most recent and current Duke players aren’t cut out for the NBA , it’s great to prepare them for the “real world,” but let’s not stroke ourselves. Not many fans care about the graduation rate of their favorite team’s athletes; they care about wins and championships. Wins they will get, but championships are a different story.

I’m not quite sure what Coach K and the Blue Devils are aiming for, but it is definitely not a championship. It’s great to recruit some players with a lot of character to your program—every championship team has at least one of them, but assembling an entire team full of these guys is not a recipe for success. Krzyzewski and his Dukies are like Charlie Weis’ Fighting Irish of college basketball. Weis’ plan at Notre Dame is to “assemble individuals who are good people first, studious people second and good football players third.” He claimed he “could get hoodlums and thugs and win tomorrow,” but he “won’t do it that way.”

Well Charlie, it sounds nice and all, but the Fighting Irish will continue to disappoint their fans if that’s the plan you’re so adamantly sticking to. Unfortunately, you don’t win championships for putting together the team with the most genuine and warm-hearted players.

Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils’ basketball program seem to have taken a very similar approach when it comes to assembling their team (too bad they didn’t rub off on their lacrosse team). Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee headline Duke’s recruiting class this season, and they undoubtedly fit the mold—lanky, goofy looking white boys with a dependable jump shot who lack strength but make up for it with a "great attitude."

Hate to break the news, but championship teams typically consist of superior athletes. Character, basketball IQ, coaching etc. are obviously other important factors, but without great athletes, these factors are generally not enough to win a ‘ship.

It’s great if you want to recruit these four-year guys and try to teach them the harsh realities of life via basketball if you’re taking the Dr. Phil approach to coaching, but this isn’t Oprah. If you want to teach life lessons, take up counseling or something of that nature. Go coach at Yale. Hell, I don’t care what it is. Just don’t do it at a premier basketball program like Duke.

Don’t get me wrong, team cohesiveness is crucial for success, but it must be coupled with several other factors. You could assemble a team of valedictorians with average skill sets and let them play their four years together, but you will not win a championship by doing so. So what if you’ve got to recruit some potentially "one-and-done" type players? Do whatever it takes to bring home the hardware.

The only logical explanation I can think of for Duke’s recent methods is that maybe they got scared after the Corey Maggette incident (where he admitted to taking money, but of course Coach K and the Duke program had no idea) and vowed to go about the recruiting process honestly in an attempt to not tarnish Duke’s reputation. Let’s be real. While players are getting paid under the table and all sorts of recruiting violations take place all the time, we only hear about a small percentage of them.

Whatever the Blue Devils’ objective may be, it’s not working. Duke fans are accustomed to success and are thirsty for another championship. They will remain thirsty until Krzyzewski and crew realize their current motives aren’t going to bring home the bread. [Sports news and analysis with humor - Bareknucks.com]

Why Fans Cannot Be Trusted with MLB All-Star Voting

Bare Knucks — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:11:32 -0400

Now that the MLB All-Star game supposedly “means something,” it’s time that the league stops accommodating the fan so much.

Look, it was fine to let fans treat the game like a high school popularity contest prior to the decision to make the game decide home-field advantage in the World Series. But now it’s time that we tweak the voting system a bit.

There are several flaws in the way the voting currently works. It’s no secret that every year we see an enormous amount of votes in favor of players for big market teams, such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets. As a result, we see a lot of injustices being done to those lesser known stars of clubs such as San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh.

Also, the fans are placing too much emphasis on what players have done in the past. Too many times we’ve seen a player get voted to the All-Star game despite a sub-par season simply based on their career body of work. I mean, fans nearly allowed Manny Ramirez to participate in this year’s festivities. What a joke.

Let’s look at a few disturbing instances from this year’s All-Star voting results.

1. No Miguel Cabrera?

Miguel Cabrera is having a monster year at the plate, despite normally dependable sluggers surrounding him having off years.

The Tigers came into 2009 with questions mainly focused on their pitching staff. The offense, on the other hand, was not supposed to be a problem.

However, it’s been quite the opposite thus far. The Tigers’ pitching, mainly the starting rotation, has been rock solid thanks to the likes of Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson, while the offense has been the “kink” in Detroit’s armor.

Cabrera has been one of the lone bright spots for this club at the plate. Through July 12, he is hitting .324 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI, for a division-leading team nonetheless.

The American League has an abundance of great first-baseman (Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau), but with Dustin Pedroia recently announcing that he will not attend the All-Star game due to the pending birth of his first child, a spot opened up. While it was given to a first baseman…it was the wrong one.

Carlos Pena was the man given the vacated spot. While Pena is at the top of the league in home runs, he is also hitting a mere .230 and has struck out 111 times through 309 at bats. Those are not All-Star numbers.

Miguel Cabrera was robbed, plain and simple.

2. American League’s 2B situation

If the fans had it their way, Dustin Pedroia would be the guy manning second base in St. Louis for the American League’s All-Star team. However, Pedroia recently withdrew his name from the roster due to his wife’s pending child birth.

Thanks to this, it will most likely be reserve Aaron Hill getting the well-deserved start.

The problem I have is how Pedroia’s spot was filled. Pena, the fourth first baseman added to the AL roster, was given the nod over someone like Ian Kinsler.

Forget the fact that Pena strikes out more than that one kid from your Little League team who was clearly gay despite his dad’s best efforts to de-gay him through athletics (every team had one of those kids).

The problem I have is that the AL is now stuck with only one second baseman and one middle infielder on the reserve roster following Pedroia’s withdrawal. Why add another first baseman, especially one hitting .230, when Kinsler was clearly more deserving?

Kinsler has hit 20 HR and 55 RBI through July 12, and his batting average is 23 points higher than Pena’s. Not to mention the added dimension he would bring defensively.

3. Pablo Sandoval: Cheated by you, the fan

Fan voting is ridiculous, and “exhibit A” right here.

Not only is it insane that this guy wasn’t voted to the team in the initial voting process, but he was again snubbed by the MLB’s “final fan vote.”

The 22-year-old rookie is hitting .334 with 15 HR and 55 RBI, all while being one of the few threats on the surprising Giants’ roster from an offensive standpoint. The guy weighs close to 250 lbs and has still managed three triples and 4 stolen bases.

He is a lot of fun to watch and deserves to be in the All-Star game, as a reserve at least.

The two third baseman on this roster in front of Sandoval are David Wright and Ryan Zimmerman.

Wright’s batting average is 11 points lower than Pablo’s, he has hit 10 fewer home runs and has driven in 12 fewer RBI.

Zimmerman? 42 points lower in terms of BA, and is also slightly behind “Kung Fu Panda” from HR and RBI standpoints.

Sandoval is one of the biggest snubs of this year’s voting.

Other notable snubs: Russell Branyan, Derek Lee, Mark Reynolds, Johnny Cueto

I am not opposed to allowing fans the right to vote in one final player for each team, but allowing fans to vote up to 25 times for their favorite players is insane. You can’t tell me that Red Sox fans would vote for someone like Jorge Posada over Jason Varitek or vice-versa regardless of how they compare number-wise.

Allowing fans from big-market cities to vote 25 times for a player essentially kills lesser known player’s chances of getting an All-Star birth. Fans are biased, and this should not be a popularity contest. This isn’t your high school prom king and queen voting.

It’s time to bestow the voting rights on a mix of players, sportswriters, coaches, and those most familiar with the league

[Sports News and Analysis with Humor - Bareknucks]

What the Giants Need Before the Trade Deadline to Put Them over the Top

Bare Knucks — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:51:13 -0400

With the MLB trade deadline looming, it’s time to take a look at each contender’s needs and provide potential solutions for those needs. We at Bareknucks.com will take a look at a few of the top teams in each league, evaluate the weaknesses in each roster, and look at the options available to strengthen those weaknesses.

The San Francisco Giants find themselves sitting in second place behind the MLB’s best team in terms of record, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NL West. Despite having the second best winning percentage in the National League, it seems the only road to October for the Giants is going to come via a Wild Card birth. The Giants do, however, seem to be the frontrunner at the moment for that Wild Card spot, a very surprising fact given the questions surrounding this team entering 2009. With arguably the NL’s best 1-2 punch in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain at the front end of the starting rotation, it’s difficult to see this team fading anytime soon.

Rookie of the Year favorite Pablo Sandoval has had an enormous impact on an offense that really lacks any consistent threat. It is the offense that is the biggest weakness in this club, and is the reason behind many trade rumors surrounding San Francisco’s management and its inquiries regarding a few available bats around the league. Aside from Sandoval, who is hitting .327, no other player with more than 130 at-bats this season is hitting over .300. The top three homerun hitters in this lineup have only combined for around 30 home runs heading into the mid-way point of the season (Albert Pujols laughs at this). With this and the considerable strength of their starting rotation considered, it’s easy to see that if this team needs anything, it’s another bat. And make no mistake, if they want to contend come October, they need that bat.

The outfield really has no holes, forcing the Giants to attempt to replace someone in that infield. What better place to start than the first base position. Currently playing first base for San Francisco are Travis Ishikawa and Rich Aurilla, neither has managed to hit better than .260 through the first 70-plus games of the season. Luckily, there’s a great first base option available in trade talks right now, and you can bet the Giants have already inquired about the man I’m referring to.

Possible solutions: The Washington Nationals are certainly not in any position to contend for anything this season, or in years to come for that matter. Therefore Nick Johnson has been said to be available, and Johnson is a perfect fit for the Giants’ offensive needs. Nick is hitting just under .300 this season and has a lot of pop in that bat. He’s a solid defender, but his bat is what is really interesting to the Giants. With an outfield featuring Aaron Rowand, Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, and Nate Schierholtz, they have enough depth to move one of the four.

Schierholtz fits perfectly with what the Nationals could potentially be looking for. He’s still relatively young at the age of 25, and he has already proven he can handle major league pitching. Currently hitting .307 for San Francisco, he can help provide the Nationals with the youth that they so deeply covet. Johnson is getting older, and he is not going to help this team get to where they need to be while surrounded by the current youth movement. A package deal including Schierholtz and a few prospects for Johnson makes sense for both sides. It would help the Nationals down the road and would make the Giants a serious threat in the National League right away. [Sports News and Analysis with Humor - Bareknucks.com]

What the Boston Red Sox Need to Do Before Trade Deadline

Bare Knucks — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:42:02 -0400

With the MLB trade deadline looming, it’s time to take a look at each contender’s needs and provide potential solutions for those needs.

We at Bareknucks.com will take a look at a few of the top teams in each league, evaluate the weaknesses in each roster, and look at the options available to strengthen those weaknesses.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are the American League’s most balanced team. With the deepest pitching in baseball and a stacked lineup of proven hitters and exciting young talent, the Red Sox hardly have any glaring needs.

However, they find themselves in a most enviable position. John Smoltz looked very good in his second start with Boston, going back to his Atlanta days by painting the outside corner of the plate with that diving fastball.

Clay Buchholz has been nothing less than dominant in the minors this season and is pegged for an August call-up. Daisuke Matsuzaka is due to return from the disabled list rested and ready to go sometime soon as well.

Combine that with the recent dominance of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Brad Penny, and Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox find themselves with almost too much starting pitching. It’s not often a team can say that, especially when you consider that they also feature the best bullpen in baseball from both a depth and quality standpoint.

Mark Kotsay, Rocco Baldelli, and the plethora of shortstops at their disposal give the Red Sox plenty of bench depth in every necessary aspect.

It’s no secret that Boston is shopping Penny around the league as most teams are looking to acquire a solid starter for the stretch run.

With Mike Lowell struggling to stay healthy, the Red Sox could use another corner infielder with a solid bat to compliment their already intimidating lineup. Kevin Youkilis’ ability to play both corner infield spots at a Gold Glove level allows Boston to look for potential help from both a regular first and third baseman.

Boston is not in a panic mode when it comes to potentially replacing Lowell, but, as I said earlier, their immense depth of arms allows them to go get someone just in case. I can’t state how advantageous the Red Sox are in this regard.

Possible solution

Stud shortstop Jed Lowrie is currently rehabbing and is set to return to the Red Sox lineup shortly. With the emergence of Nick Green as a dependable shortstop both defensively and at the plate, Julio Lugo could potentially find himself (along with his large contract) as the odd man out.

The Red Sox pride themselves on the way they’ve set up their bullpen. They are well aware of how important a reliable relief staff is come playoff time, making it unlikely that they part ways with someone like Manny Delcarmen, or anyone else out of that ‘pen for that matter. There’s no need to.

Given the log-jam at the shortstop and the starting pitching positions, a package of Julio Lugo and Brad Penny seems feasible. Although it may be hard to find someone looking to unload a hitter for someone like Julio Lugo who stands to make $9 million this season, you have to consider the fact that he is hitting .370 since the beginning of June, making him considerably enticing regardless of contract issues.

Matt Holliday is a likely option for certain teams as the Athletics find themselves out of contention and most certainly unable to hold onto Holliday after 2009. But you can bet they are going to be looking for young prospects rather than aging players like Lugo and Penny.

Nick Johnson has also popped up in Red Sox rumors recently, but again it’s hard to imagine the worst team in the league looking to add age and large contracts as opposed to youth.

With this in mind, I think Colorado could be the team to provide the Red Sox with their help.

Todd Helton is getting up there in years, and the Rockies are a team of youngsters. Colorado is in contention for the Wild Card in the National League, but then again who isn’t?

They could certainly use some pitching, and Penny’s game could fit well at Coors Field. Helton’s contract isn’t small, so losing that would allow them to pick up Lugo’s similarly sizeable contract. This would give them some infield depth and a solid option off the bench in pinch hitting situations…a very important aspect of any National League club.

Although Colorado doesn’t have a viable option to replace Helton at 1B necessarily, it’s not difficult to acclimate one's self with the position. With Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart currently fighting for playing time at 3B, they could potentially move one of them to first and give the other the chance to play on a regular basis.

Boston would then find themselves with the power bat they need. With Helton manning first base, Youkilis could move to third to relieve Lowell.

That would also give an already deep Boston bench another solid hitter in Lowell. Kotsay, Baldelli, Green, and Lowell would round out one of the better benches in all of baseball.

It’s not a certainty that Colorado would necessarily be open to shopping Helton while still in contention, but this trade makes sense for both sides.

Pitching wins championships and the addition of Penny and Lugo could make the Rockies a Wild Card favorite.

[Sports news and analysis with humor - Bareknucks.com]

LeBron James Staying or Going?

Bare Knucks — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:30:31 -0400

A source reported LeBron James said he will remain a Cleveland Cavalier following this season.

King James is one of many superstars who will hit free agency in 2010 and would obviously be the top prize. By this point, we’ve all heard the chit chat about LeBron dipping to the Big Apple or to New Jersey to unite with close friend and hip hop legend Young Hova (Jay-Z), but it appears that is not going to be happening.

How much weight does LBJ’s statement really hold though? I’ll believe it when I see his John Hancock.

It was reported by ESPN that The King told former Lakers utility man Trevor Ariza that he’d be staying put following next season when asked if he was going to remain in Cleveland.

Of course he said this! What else is he going to tell him? “Hey Trevor; I might be skipping town after next season, but sign a multi-year deal with us to give me some much needed help this year.”

LeBron has been a loyal guy thus far, so it’s very possible he truly intends to stay in Cleveland. However, regardless of his intentions at this point in time, he could very well change his mind throughout the course of next season.

Why might the King change his mind? The front office!

Danny Ferry and Coach Mike Brown are a bunch of bums! The playoffs and offseason have exposed their abilities, or lack thereof. The “I have LeBron James on my team” award given to Head Coach Mike Brown prior to the postseason was clearly awarded to the wrong guy. In reality, he’s a pretty awful head coach. Shortly after Cleveland’s Eastern Conference Finals defeat, I remember hearing an analyst claim (I wish I could remember who it was that said it) Mike Brown is a great coach in practice and off the court, but can’t translate his coaching to real-time. Hmm… Is there a problem here?!?

[Read more...]

U.S. Men's Soccer Takes Second, Remains Irrelevant

Bare Knucks — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:57:49 -0400

Much to the surprise of U.S. soccer fans everywhere, the Men’s team found themselves up 2-0 over the heavily favored Brazilian team in the finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup just recently. What transpired in the second half could potentially have put to rest any hope of an increase in popularity for the sport in this country (much to the dismay of David Beckham).

After reaching the semifinals to face another heavily favored squad in Spain, America’s team upended the Spaniards 2-0. An impressive feat considering Spain hadn’t allowed a single goal till that point in the tournament. It was at that point that Americans took notice and media outlets such as ESPN started to give the sport a little coverage. It looked as though U.S. Soccer may have finally broke through in this country, something it had failed to do for so many years.

What an opportunity against Brazil. Some argued that simply reaching a finals match in a significant tournament was enough to garnish some interest around these parts. However after leading 2-0 at the half against Brazil, potentially setting up the biggest “Cinderella Story” the sport has seen in many years, the U.S. team epically collapsed and smothered any and all potential interest in the sport heading into next year's World Cup.

Soccer, much like hockey, is a sport where a two goal lead should be enough to get a victory…especially with only a half remaining. Ignoring this fact, the Americans blew the lead and eventually lost to Brazil 3-2. Forget the fact that they lost for a moment. They were expected to. The fact of the matter is they were up 2-0 in the most significant game in the country’s recent history. With so much was riding on the second half of that match, the U.S. team blew it. It was a choke-job, there’s no debating that (although ESPN’s PTI attempted to make a debate of it).

National League First-Half Awards and Predictions

Bare Knucks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:13:34 -0400

With about two weeks until Major League Baseball breaks for its annual All-Star festivities in St. Louis, it’s time to evaluate each league’s performances both from individual and team standpoints. This piece, highlighting the National League in particular, will offer the traditional MLB awards and will finish by predicting how each division race/playoffs will play out.

National League MVP: Albert Pujols/ 1B/ St. Louis Cardinals

.328 BA, 28 HR, 74 RBI, .451 OBP

What an easy choice. If you don’t agree with this one, then you must not watch a whole lot of baseball. Albert Pujols is having the most productive post-testing era seasons ever. Pujols is on pace for nearly sixty home runs, 157 RBI, and 125 walks.

Aside from his production at the plate, he is also on pace to steal nearly 20 bases to go along with his gold-glove work at first base. No other player in the league is as dominant and feared as this guy. It’s becoming more and more confusing as to why pitchers even offer this guy anything near the strike-zone.

If I’m an opposing manager with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded with two outs and this guy in the box, I’m intentionally walking him regardless of who is on deck. His home run and RBI numbers at this point in 2009 are impressive enough for most hitters through an entire season, much less 76 games. If this guy doesn’t win the NL MVP Award, barring some injury, I’ll be the most surprised man on the face of the earth.

National League Cy Young: Tim Lincecum/ SP / San Francisco Giants

7-2, 2.57 ERA, 124 SO

Lincecum had a few struggles early in his 2009 campaign, but it seems the dominant 25-year-old pitcher has again figured it out, returning to the 2008 form that saw him win this very same award. Leading the upstart Giants to the National League’s second best record, Lincecum has combined with Matt Cain to become one of the best one-two punches featured in the NL.

The diminutive right-hander with the unconventional delivery is on pace for 16 wins and 275 strikeouts. In his last four outings, Lincecum has two complete game victories (one a shut-out) and has only allowed 6 ER in 33 1/3 IP.

If his club can surprise the baseball world by reaching the playoffs, you can bet Tim will be rewarded for being on of the main reasons why, and I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge that from a pitcher’s perspective than being handed the Cy Young Award.

National League Rookie of the Year: Pablo Sandoval/ 3B/ San Francisco Giants

.340 BA, 11 HR, 38 RBI, .391 OBP

Pablo “Kung-Fu Panda” Sandoval has taken the MLB by storm in his rookie season. The pudgy 22-year-old switch-hitting third baseman has been nothing less than phenomenal in 2009. Currently on a nine-game hitting streak (13-32 in those 9 games), Sandoval has been the offensive spark that the Giants so desperately needed to compliment its strong starting rotation.

This guy has been invaluable to this club and has a strong case for MVP consideration given his amazing .340 batting average. His ability to figure out major league pitching this early in his career is staggering to say the least and scary for the rest of the National League in the future.

National League Manager of the Year: Joe Torre / Los Angeles Dodgers

I don’t think this award is very debatable. Torre has lead a Manny-less Dodger club, chalked full of young players, to the best record in all of baseball. At 48-28, the Dodgers are a clear favorite to nab the No. 1 position in the National League come playoff time.

Torre has had his share of naysayers during his tenure with the Yankees given the amount of talent he had to work with, but he is really utilizing his time with LA to establish himself as one of the best in-game managers in all of baseball. This could potentially be one of the most intriguing post-seasons in recent memory.

A potential Red Sox/Yankees ALCS followed by a Dodgers/Red Sox World Series would be exactly what baseball needs to start forgetting about the steroid-era. Manny and Torre teaming up against the Boston Red Sox on the game’s biggest stage, how could you not tune in?

Breakout Performance of 2009: Yovani Gallardo / SP/ Milwaukee Brewers

8-4, 2.86 ERA, 102 SO

It’s hard not to choose Sandoval for this award as well, but for the sake of a little diversity, I’m going with Gallardo. It’s not as if the guy isn’t worthy himself.

Gallardo is only 23 years of age, and is already establishing himself as one of the premier aces in the game today. With the departures of C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets, Gallardo has been exactly what the Brewers needed to stay in contention in the NL Central following last season’s Wild Card bearth.

Yovani is sometimes a victim of poor run support, so his 8-4 record should be overlooked, and in turn overshadowed, by his impressive 2.86 ERA. If you’ve been fortunate enough to see this kid pitch, you’re aware that his stuff is as nasty as any other pitcher in the league.

If he can keep this up, Milwaukee could find themselves in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and he will be widely regarded as one of the biggest reasons for that.

Division Finishes

NL East
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Diego Padres
5. Arizona Diamondbacks

NLDS Results

Los Angeles Dodgers over Philadelphia Phillies (3-1)
St. Louis Cardinals over New York Mets (3-2)

NLCS Results

Los Angeles Dodgers over St. Louis Cardinals (4-3)

American League First Half Awards And Predictions

Bare Knucks — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:22:22 -0400

American League: First half awards

With about two weeks until Major League Baseball breaks for its annual All-Star festivities (this year to be held in St. Louis), it’s time to evaluate each league’s performances both from individual and team standpoints.

This piece, highlighting the American League in particular, will offer the traditional MLB awards, and will finish by predicting how each division race/playoffs will play out.

American League MVP: Miguel Cabrera/1B/Detroit Tigers

.331 BA, 16 HR, 47 RBI, .395 OBP

It’s tough to ignore the rapid pace of production out of Minnesota’s Joe Mauer following his return to the Twins’ lineup, but similar to the beginning of the 2009 season, it is my opinion that Cabrera will eventually go on to win the American League’s most prestigious annual award.

As long as the Tigers go on to win the Central division over the Twins, Cabrera should do enough to out-vote Mauer. According to ESPN.com, Cabrera is on pace for 197 hits, 31 home runs, and 103 RBI. These may not be staggering statistics, but when you consider the lack of production surrounding Cabrera, they are actually remarkable.

Normally dependable hitters like Placido Polanco, Curtis Granderson, and Magglio Ordonez have been anything but their normal selves. Detroit finds itself in the division lead because of surprisingly strong starting pitching, but it’s been Cabrera’s consistent bat that has complimented that beautifully.

The Tigers would be a surprising AL Central champion, making Cabrera a slight favorite for the league’s Most Valuable Player.

American League Cy Young: Roy Halladay/SP/Toronto Blue Jays

10-1, 2.53 ERA, 88 SO

The 2009 AL Cy Young race will be one of the closest since 2007 when C.C. Sabathia narrowly bested Josh Beckett.

With pitchers like Zach Greinke, Josh Beckett, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and a few others having some of the best years of their careers, it’s tough for any pitcher to stand out of the crowd, however Roy Halladay is doing just that.

The 32-year-old is again providing Toronto with one of the most statistically dominating performances from a starting pitcher in recent years, something he seems to do annually. On pace for a record of 21-2 and 188 strikeouts, Halladay is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best pitchers in the game today.

While it’s a shame that this guy is on a team that plays in the toughest division in baseball, making it improbable that he will appear in the playoffs, it just makes his dominance year in and year out that much more impressive.

American League Rookie of the Year: Rick Porcello/SP/Detroit Tigers

8-4, 3.55 ERA, 44 SO

Porcello has been a pleasant surprise for the Detroit Tigers in 2009 who have had plenty of questions regarding their starting rotation, especially following the initial struggles of ace Justin Verlander.

Porcello is on pace for 18 wins in his rookie campaign, and is currently holding opposing hitters to a .266 batting average. As I stated earlier, the Tigers are where they are because of starting pitching, and Porcello has been one of the main reasons for the rotation’s success.

Rick is 7-1 in his last 10 games, with his only loss coming to the league’s best team: the Boston Red Sox.

American League Manager of the Year: Terry Francona/Boston Red Sox

Terry Francona can sometimes be overlooked simply based on the amount of talent on his roster, but also commonly overlooked is the way he goes about utilizing that talent.

Francona has tip-toed his way around injuries to shortstops Jed Lowrie and Julio Lugo, as well as inconsistent play from normally reliable players such as David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. He has led his team to the American League’s best record, and a place atop the league’s toughest division, the AL East.

Using players like Nick Green, Mark Kotsay, and the entire bullpen to perfection, Francona has found a way to get the best out of his players, and has once again put his team in prime position for a World Series run.

Breakout performance of 2009: Adam Jones/CF/Baltimore Orioles

.309 BA, 12 HR, 44 RBI, .362 OBP

If you haven’t seen this guy play, it’s about time you found your local team’s schedule and circled the Oriole’s next visit, because this guy’s worth the price of admission. Adam Jones is going to be a star.

The Oriole’s organization is beginning to resemble the Rays club prior to their explosion onto the MLB scene in 2008 in the number of young impact players featured on that roster.

Although only in his third season with Baltimore, and at the ripe age of 23, Adam Jones is already one of the most feared hitters highlighted in scouting reports prepared by opposing clubs.

On pace for 27 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2009, Jones is certainly on his way to being the most recognizable “Adam Jones” in sports.

Watch out “Pac-man.”

Division Finishes-

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

AL West
1. Texas Rangers (in one game playoff over LAA)
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

ALDS Results

Boston Red Sox over Detroit Tigers (3-1)
New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3-2)

ALCS Results

Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees (4-2)

NBA Draft Mock Roundup and Analysis With Predictions, Part Two

Bare Knucks — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:44:52 -0400

With the NBA draft approaching, Bareknucks.com featured a mock draft analysis and predictions piece yesterday that covered picks 30-21. As promised, here is part two; picks 20-11.

20. Utah Jazz

ND: Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville
DE: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC
MND: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC
CF: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC

Analysis: Forget Psycho T, I’m rolling with Austin Daye here. A good work ethic and psycho drive is valued, but I just don’t see Hansbrough being anything more than an energy guy coming off the bench.

Carlos Boozer will most likely depart Salt Lake City, and if Hansbrough is expected to fill those shoes, he will fail to satisfy expectations. If Daye slips this far like I think he will, Utah would be foolish not to pick him up.

Contrary to Hansbrough, Daye has a ton of potential. He’s extremely versatile, with the ability to play around the hoop or step out and knock down shots. The former Zag has great handles for a big man as well. He does have to put some meat on his bones, but that shouldn’t prevent the Jazz from taking him if he is still on the board.

I’ll roll the dice on a player with a ton of upside and the potential to develop into a superstar over Psycho T any day.

Additionally, Hansbrough isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, which is kind of a problem in the NBA, if you don’t have extraordinary athleticism to make up for it (i.e. Derrick Rose).

Prediction: Austin Daye, 6-11 SF, Gonzaga

19. Atlanta Hawks

ND: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
DE: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
MND: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
CF: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest

Analysis: Atlanta would be a good place for point guard Jeff Teague to land. Acie Law is certainly not the PG of the Hawks’ future.

Teague isn’t a pure PG, but that’s not all bad. He’s awfully quick and is a great scorer. At 19th overall, Teague would be a bargain for ATL here.

This draft class is loaded with talented PGs, and Teague has the potential to be one of the better players to emerge from this draft.

Prediction: Jeff Teague, 6-2 PG, Wake Forest

18. Minnesota Timberwolves

ND: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
DE: BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State
MND: Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga
CF: BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State

Analysis: The T’Wolves are undoubtedly going to draft a PG with one of their three first-round picks. With the deep class of point guards in this draft, I think this is the spot to do it, as opposed to filling the point vacancy with the sixth overall pick.

If BJ Mullens were available here, I think the Wolves would be obligated to pull the trigger on him, but I don’t anticipate Byron James to be on the board here.

PG Eric Maynor would be great for Minnesota. He’s got decent size for his position and can pretty much do it all. As far as rookies go, Maynor is ‘NBA ready.’ With Sebastian Telfair and Randy Foye to compete against, Maynor would most likely get a significant amount of play-time.

Prediction: Eric Maynor, 6-3 PG, VCU

17. Philadelphia 76ers

ND: Ty Lawson, PG, UNC
DE: Ty Lawson, PG, UNC
MND: Ty Lawson, PG, UNC
CF: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU

Analysis: The Sixers are in need of a point guard…good thing this class is littered with them. I’ve got Jonny Flynn going here, which is a little farther down the draft board than most mocks, my main reason being size.

Size is crucial in the NBA—we witnessed the importance of size in the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t pass on a player strictly because of a few inches, but if it’s a close call, I’m siding with the bigger player.

I don’t think Flynn’s size will be too much of a factor due to his ridiculous athleticism and swagger. He is a pure point guard who looks to drop dimes first, but has the ability to get to the tin with his blazing speed and superior athleticism.

Another plus is that he is an extremely vocal player, which is crucial in a PG (Derrick Rose needs to speak up, but maybe he’s not capable of playing and talking simultaneously).

Prediction: Jonny Flynn, 6-0 PG, Syracuse

16. Chicago Bulls

ND: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
DE: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
MND: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
CF: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh

Analysis: I’m still not convinced that DeJuan Blair will be able to transfer some of his success from the college level to the big leagues, but given his dominance at Pitt, he seems worthy of a mid-round pick.

Blair is a grown-ass man, that’s for sure. His weight and lack of size for a power forward are reasons for concern at the NBA level, but then again I thought that would be an issue in college, that is until I saw him manhandle UConn's Hasheem Thabeet on the boards and practically every facet of the game.

Blair is a brute and will undeniably bring physicality to the Bulls. One advantage of his lack of size is his low center of gravity on the box out. I’ll be damned if someone is going to move that man on a box out, that’s like moving a tree trunk out of the way.

He should compliment Chicago’s other bigs nicely and help set the tone physically.

Prediction: DeJuan Blair, 6-7 PF, Pittsburgh

15. Detroit Pistons
ND: BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State
DE: Earl Clark, SF/PF, Louisville
MND: BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State
CF: Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga

Analysis: BJ Mullens is the obvious pick here. The Pistons could use a dominant low-post presence (among many other things). His talent is raw at the moment, but with the proper training, this kid has a chance to be special.

Once deemed as a top-three pick, I expect the former Buckeye to be around here for Detroit to snag. If he stuck around another year like he should have, there’s no doubt in my mind he would’ve been a top-three pick. An additional year to develop would’ve helped tremendously, but I can’t blame him for chasing the dollar signs.

Mullens has great athleticism for a seven-footer (a white boy at that), and could potentially be a superstar. I don’t know of any other seven-foot white boys with 36-inch verticals; most of them have what I call ‘the phonebook hops.’

It’s crucial to have a versatile big who can run the floor. If he puts in work, utilizes his physical abilities and further develops his shot, he could be one of the most dominant centers in the league in the near future

Prediction: BJ Mullens, 7-1 C, Ohio State

14. Phoenix Suns

ND: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
DE: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
MND: Earl Clark, SF/PF, Louisville
CF: Earl Clark, SF/PF, Louisville

Analysis: I expect the Suns to go for a SF here, although a future replacement for Steve Nash is a viable option as well. I’m convinced Phoenix will take former Louisville star Earl Clark. Clark is extremely versatile and can play multiple positions.

Clark is great on the boards, an above average defender (although Phoenix doesn’t play D, do they?) and has a pretty nice shot. He’s got to polish up his skill set, but he’s got a chance to be a stud.

Prediction: Earl Clark, 6-9 SF/PF, Louisville

13. Indiana Pacers

ND: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
DE: Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy
MND: Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy
CF: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

Analysis: I’m not sure why these mocks have the Pacers taking a PG, with TJ Ford and the uncertainty that Jarrett Jack will jump ship. Indiana is in need of a power forward, and with James Johnson on the board, they should be inclined to draft him.

Johnson has size and is a versatile player, with the ability to play small forward as well. He’s got great athleticism and is an efficient scorer with a nice jumper for a PF. James Johnson it is.

Prediction: James Johnson, 6-9 PF, Wake Forest

12. Charlotte Bobcats
ND: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC
DE: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
MND: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
CF: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke

Analysis: NBAdraft.net is out of its mind putting Hansbrough in the final lottery slot. Like I stated yesterday, if Hansbrough is selected in the draft lottery, I will completely give up on the NBA.

Gerald Henderson to Charlotte makes complete sense here. The Bobcats are in need of a SG, and Henderson will be their guy. He is tremendously athletic, plays great defense and has a solid jump shot.

Oh yeah, Coach K took him under his wing at Duke. If Henderson is available at this spot and Charlotte passes…I will be appalled.

As for NBAdraft.net…I’m at a loss for words. Here’s a tip: Don’t let your 10-year-old daughter on the computer when you’re editing the Web site.

Prediction: Gerald Henderson, 6-4 SG, Duke

11. New Jersey Nets

ND: Earl Clark, SF/PF, Louisville
DE: Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville
MND: Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville
CF: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest

Analysis: Props to DraftExpress and MyNBAdraft for taking Terrence Williams here. T-Will would be perfect playing alongside Devin Harris and Vince Carter.

Carter and Williams together…imagine it; they’d be tossing oops all over the opposition, jumping around with their exceptional physical capabilities.

The former Louisville utility man can play multiple positions, has freakish athletic ability and stuffs the stat sheet. Points, assists, steals, blocks, you name it. Some consider it a risk taking him this early, but I strongly disagree. The fact that Chad Ford has him going 21st to the Hornets baffles me, although his mock draft I’m basing this off of isn’t his most current.

Sorry, I’m not an ESPN Insider. I refuse to pay money to take a gander at Chad’s full draft board. Anyways, Terrence Williams to the Nets with the 11th pick.

Prediction: Terrence Williams, 6-6 SG/SF, Louisville

So what do y’all think? Out of my mind? On point? Let’s hear it!

Will finish the first round off tomorrow with picks 10 – Blake Griffin.

[Best Funny Sports News and Analysis]

NBA Mock Draft Analysis and Predictions Part One

Bare Knucks — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:08:09 -0400

With the NBA Draft approaching, it’s time to break things down more scrupulously and take a glance at what might unfold Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. There are dozens of mock drafts, none of which are precisely the same. Some mocks are surprisingly dissimilar, for the reason that nothing is certain come draft night (with the exception of Blake Griffin going first overall).

A first-rate draft can turn a borderline team into contenders (i.e. Derrick Rose’s effect with the Bulls), and a wrong selection can haunt a franchise forever (i.e. Portland drafting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!).

There are several draft forecasts I oppose, and surely an abundance of others do, so I thought it was fitting to give my take on the upcoming draft (first round, or top 30 picks), after all, the draft can’t be assessed enough.

Keep in mind there are a handful of players who, in most of the mock drafts, I feel would be too much of a gamble if taken at their projected spots. For instance, currently NBAdraft.net has the Charlotte Bobcats taking Tyler Hansbrough with the 12th overall pick. Unless the folks over at NBAdraft.net know something I and the rest of the sports world don’t, that prediction is totally ludicrous.

If Tyler Hansbrough is taken in the lottery, I’m done with the NBA. In all seriousness, I will cut all ties with the National Basketball Association if Psycho T is taken in the top 12. Moving on…

The idea of this is to discuss the upcoming draft. We all have different thoughts about certain players, and it’s interesting to hear different perspectives. I can’t be the only one who’s tired of ESPN’s Chad Ford. What makes him such an expert on this anyways? He’s a professor of conflict resolution…that doesn’t make him an NBA expert! Let’s get to it.

ND = NBAdraft.net
DE = DraftExpress.com
MND = MyNBAdraft.com
CF = ESPN’s Chad Ford

On with picks 30 – 21

30. Cleveland Cavaliers
ND: DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown
DE: Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, Cholet
MND: Taj Gibson, PF, USC
CF: Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh

Analysis: Ultimately, the Cavs need to find a replacement for their Lithuanian giant (Ilgauskas). Dwight Howard is going to be around for a long time, and if Cleveland doesn’t want to get handled come playoff time they need to let Big Z crawl back up his beanstalk and search for a more athletic big.

That big man will come in free agency as there will be slim pickings at the center position at this spot in the draft. Cleveland will definitely not be taking Rodrigue Beaubois with their first pick, given he will most likely be on the board for their 2nd pick (46) if they wanted him. DaJuan Summers or Sam Young would be a great fit for this Cavs team. If Sam Young is on the board, I believe Cleveland would have a hard time passing on him.

They are in need of an athletic SF such as Young. He plays good defense, has nice size, a reliable jumper and could contribute immediately. He also looks like he could be LeBron’s long lost father.

Prediction: Sam Young, 6-6 SF, Pittsburgh

29. Los Angeles Lakers
ND: Derrick Brown, SF, Xavier
DE: Lester Hudson, PG/SG, Tenn. Martin
MND: Nick Calathes, PG/SG, Florida
CF: DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown

Analysis: Alright…Lester Hudson? Please! DraftExpress already ruined any credibility they might have had. Where in the hell do these guys come up with such ridiculous predictions? Lamar ‘Candyman’ Odom and Trevor Ariza are free agents, and it will be difficult to keep them both around.

Derrick Brown or DaJuan Summers seem to make the most sense if the Lakers don’t plan on keeping both Odom and Ariza around. They are both 6’8, extremely athletic and have large wingspans. If they are both available, LA would probably take Summers ahead of Brown.

Prediction: DaJuan Summers, 6-8 SF, Georgetown

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Boston)
ND: Jonas Jerebko, SF, Sweden
DE: Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC
MND: Omri Casspi, SF, Israel
CF: Patrick Mills, PG, St. Mary’s

Analysis: Chad Ford is definitely right about the T’Wolves needing a PG, but I think they will address this position with the 18th pick. After addressing the SG and PG positions with the 6th and 18th picks, I think their best bet might be to take Swedish SF Jonas Jerebko.

Prediction: Jonas Jerebko, 6-9 SF, Angelico Biella

27. Memphis Grizzlies (from Magic)
ND: Taj Gibson, PF, USC
DE: Nick Calathes, PG/SG, Florida
MND: Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona
CF: Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona

Analysis: Looks like the walking Q-Tip is the trendy pick here. It’s definitely a possibility, but I’ve got him going sooner than this. If Budinger is not around, Marcus Thornton of LSU would be a nice fit for the Grizzlies with the 27th pick. Thornton can fill the score sheet, play defense, has good athleticism and is ready to contribute right away in the NBA.

Prediction: Marcus Thornton, 6-4 SG, LSU

26. Chicago Bulls (from Nuggets)
ND: Toney Douglas, SG, Florida St.
DE: Omri Casspi, SF, Israel
MND: Marcus Thornton, SG, LSU
CF: Toney Douglas, SG, Florida St.

Analysis: NBAdraft.net and Chad Ford hit this one on the head. Toney Douglas would be a great fit for the Bulls. Ben Gordon could be gone to free agency (although I don’t expect him to go anywhere), but regardless of Gordon’s future with the team, Douglas would be an exceptional player to bring off the bench.

He is a lethal scorer with a wet jumper, plays good defense and could contribute immediately. His offensive repertoire is very similar to that of Ben Gordon.

Prediction: Toney Douglas, 6-2 SG, Florida St.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Spurs)
ND: Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC
DE: Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona
MND: DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown
CF: Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech

Analysis: Like a lot of teams, the Thunder could use a center but won’t have many options at this point. I expect the Thunder to take a SG here. Wayne Ellington should still be on the board, and is a probably the second best shooter in the draft behind Stephen Curry. If they can get over the fact that he looks like a Cabbage Patch doll, look for Oklahoma City to pull the trigger on the silky shooting Tar Heel.

Prediction: Wayne Ellington, 6-5 SG, UNC

24. Portland Trailblazers
ND: Victor Claver, SF, Spain
DE: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
MND: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
CF: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA

Analysis: Darren Collison anybody? I’ve got to agree. Portland is one of the deeper teams in the league, so there aren’t many positions they need help with. Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless aren’t pure point guards, and given the Trailblazers’ bench stability, it makes sense to use this pick to fill that void. I’m sure Portland would be thrilled if Collison was still on the board at this spot.

Prediction: Darren Collison, 6-1 PG, UCLA

23. Sacramento Kings (from Houston)
ND: Omri Casspi, SF, Israel
DE: Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh
MND: Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh
CF: Nick Calathes, PG/SG, Florida

Analysis: After watching tape on this Casspi kid from Israel, I think Sacramento would be fortunate to get him with the 23rd pick. His overall game is pretty polished, and anyone who draws Hedo Turkoglu comparisons is OK in my book.

As for Ford’s prediction… I’m not crazy about Calathes; actually, I can’t stand the guy. I’m not too sure the former Gator will succeed in the NBA, and frankly, just looking at the guy bothers me. I’m not sure what Chad Ford has been puffing on that made him put Calathes at this spot…but it must be potent.

Prediction: Omri Casspi, 6-9 SF, Israel

22. Dallas Mavericks
ND: Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona
DE: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
MND: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
CF: Ty Lawson, PG, UNC

Analysis: The Mavs are in desperate need of a big man…kind of sad when your only big is Erick Dampier. Unfortunately, the center Dallas needs won’t be acquired with this pick. Jason Kidd is a free agent, and I don’t expect him to stay put in Dallas.

In concurrence with most of the other mocks, the Mavs should address the PG position here. Because of his size disadvantage, Ty Lawson should be available here for the Dallas Cubans to scoop up and would fit in nicely.

Prediction: Ty Lawson, 6-0 PG, UNC

21. New Orleans Hornets
ND: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
DE: Austin Daye, SF/PF, Gonzaga
MND: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
CF: Terrence Williams, SG, Louisville

Analysis: Tyson Chandler will likely get traded this off-season, so filling his void at center would be the number one priority, but as you’ve noticed; bigs are not abundant in this draft class. Some think Chris Paul could use a backup PG with this pick, but I oppose. I think Chase Budinger would be a nice acquisition for New Orleans with the 21st pick.

Budinger might slip further than this given his lack of toughness…what a shocker, huh? The dorky white Q-Tip looking kid is marshmallow soft! On the plus side, he’s extremely athletic, versatile and has a lot of upside, so there is a lot of potential with him, which is what the NBA is all about. If he fails in the league he could always go back to volleyball….

Prediction: Chase Budinger, 6-7 SG/SF, Arizona

What does everyone else think? Input is encouraged!

Picks 20-11 coming tomorrow, followed by 10-1 on Thursday. [Best Sports News Site]

Ricky Rubio Is Destined to Be Next International Bust

Bare Knucks — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:36:58 -0400

With the third pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select Ricky Rubio, point guard from Spain. If ESPN’s Chad Ford is on point with his NBA Mock Draft, Rubio will be the third player taken off the board come the night of June 25th, following only the surefire first overall pick Blake Griffin (unless the Clippers front office has no idea what they’re doing, which wouldn’t be a shocker) and 7’3 Tazmanian center Hasheem Thabeet.

A number of online mock drafts are in concurrence with Ford (insidehoops.com), while the remainder of the online mocks (nbadraft.net, draftexpress.com etc) have the kid from Spain going fourth overall to the Sacramento Kings. If these forecasts are accurate, the PG from professional Spanish basketball team Joventut Badalona will be the first point guard taken in Madison Square Garden on the night of the draft. I smell a bust!

Well, I’m not the only one who anticipates a Ricky Rubio bust. Brandon Jennings, the highly touted PG who forewent college ball (AKA wasn’t smart enough to pass his exams, c’mon, even Derrick Rose did!) to play in the Euro league, has played against the shaggy-haired Rubio in International ball, and apparently he wasn’t too impressed (Rubio had 0 pts, 3 asts, 3 TOs). Jennings had this to say about the Spanish point guard:

“I think the dude is just all hype. I can’t even front. I’m just going to be real with you guys.”

Although Brandon Jennings hasn’t exactly played like a stud in the Euroleague (7.6 pts, 1.6 asts), I can’t disagree with him. With a draft class that includes players like Rubio, Jennings, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague and Eric Maynor, there is certainly no shortage of talent at the PG position.

Is Rubio really the best out of this group of players? In regards to the depth at the position and the hype surrounding Rubio, Jennings asserted:

“Well, put it like this: If he was in a workout with me [and fellow point-guard prospects] Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Tywon Lawson, Stephen Curry, he wouldn’t probably be at the top” (SI.com)

I couldn’t agree more. Maybe the kid from Spain fears he would get shown up by the other PGs, which would explain why he has yet to work out for any NBA teams. I mean, why wouldn’t a potential lottery pick work out with some teams? Afraid to step away from International ball? Worried he might get shit on by better athletes?

[Read more...]

Phil Jackson Is Luckier Than Catching a Drunken Leprechaun

Bare Knucks — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:28:31 -0400

It is tough to argue against a head coach when you simply take a glance at the Nine NBA Championship wins under his belt, but Phil Jackson is not worthy of all the praise he receives. Sure he’s got plenty of hardware, but when you take a look at his successful career more meticulously, you will find that it is extremely deceptive.

Jackson’s first title came in the 90'-’91 season with the Chicago Bulls, which paved the way for his first ‘three-peat.’ It didn’t hurt being blessed with a team that consisted of the one and only Michael Jordan, along with players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. Jordan ‘retired’ after the Bulls three-peat, and guess what happened? No more titles for Phil and his Chicago Bulls squad.

After he gave his baseball career a shot and realized America’s pastime was not his forte, Air Jordan came out of retirement to pick up where he left off, this time with virtually an All-Star team. His Airness wasted no time in putting a fourth championship ring on Phil’s hand.

Now that his star was back, Jackson could hop back on the train which Michael Jordan conducted and let MJ and crew carry him to greatness. The Bulls three-peated for the second time in the decade, with the first title coming during the 95'-96' season. Are all these championship wins a result of spectacular coaching? No way! Let’s take a look at this Chicago Bulls Roster which Phil had for his second three-peat and break it down:

Michael Jordan – Hands down the greatest player of all time
Scottie Pippen – Overshadowed by Jordan, but was a true all-star himself (named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history)
Dennis Rodman – Arguably the best defending/rebounding forward of all time
Toni Kukoc – Could play any position on the floor besides PG. Won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 95'-‘96
Steve Kerr – Retired with the best three point field goal percentage of all time (45.4 percent).
Along with Luc Longley and a productive bench.

God damn! Talk about a stacked team. Anyone with a pulse could lead this team to a championship!

With Pippen and Rodman’s departures from Chi town pending and Jordan retiring, Phil Jackson decided to hang it up. What’s the matter Phil? Don’t want to coach without a ridiculously stacked team? [Read more...]

Boston again sticks it to NY, Yankees consider filing sexual assault charges

Bare Knucks — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:40:30 -0400

Another chapter of the most heated rivalry in sports in the books, another lopsided Red Sox victory.

Boston is now 6-0 against the Yankees on the year, including a streak of seven straight wins dating back to last season. Remember when these roles were reversed and Boston was the one being beaten like a red-headed step child on a regular basis? Well, those days seem to be long gone.

New York hasn’t even sniffed a World Series Championship since Boston’s epic 2004 ALCS comeback, which ultimately signified the end of an era in New York, an era that saw the Yankees establish themselves as one of the most impressive dynasties in the history of Major League Baseball.

Sure, it’s only been five years since that ALCS appearance, and it’s been less than a decade since their last World Series title (2000), but with the spending habits and marquee players annually featured on that roster, these are significant points.

Boston, on the other hand, has been crowned World Series Champs in both 2004 and 2007, and have been to four ALCS’ dating back to 2003. There’s no denying who has been the real dominating franchise in the last 5-6 years.

Not even one of New York’s prized pitching acquisitions could stop the bleeding Tuesday night as pitcher A.J. Burnett was battered for five runs to go along with five walks in less than three innings of work. He even served up a mammoth home run to David Ortiz. Wow.

Burnett came into this year boasting a 5-0 record against Boston in his time with the Blue Jays. Since donning those Yankee pinstripes, it has been an entirely different story.

In Burnett’s two starts again Boston this season, he has allowed 11 earned runs in only seven-and-two-thirds innings to accompany his eight walks and thirteen hits allowed.

Conversely, Josh Beckett continued his recent string of dominating performances. In six innings of work, Beckett allowed a mere one hit, an infield single, while striking out eight to improve to 7-2 while dropping his ERA to a now respectable 3.77 after what was a rough start to 2009. [Read more...]

Why Stephen Strasburg Is Destined to Be the Next Mark Prior

Bare Knucks — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:14:44 -0400

The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft got underway Tuesday night, something casual baseball fans may be unaware of. However, even the most casual of fans should by now know the name Stephen Strasburg, the man who went first overall to the Washington Nationals.

The 6’5” 220 lbs right-hander out of San Diego State University went 13-1 this season for the Aztecs, posting an impressive 1.32 ERA. Even more impressive was his sheer dominance over hitters consistently during the course of the year. With 195 strikeouts in only 109 innings pitched and an opponent’s batting average of .172, there’s no denying the raw talent displayed by this kid.

Strasburg has an incredible fastball that explodes on hitters. Despite the fact that it sits in the high 90’s on a regular basis (sometimes touching 100+ mph), he still generates a lot of movement with it allowing him to use it as an out pitch and in turn keep hitters guessing. He also features a slightly above average slurve-type breaking ball which sits in the mid 80’s, and an average changeup that is generally clocked in around 80-82 mph (a good speed differential in relative to his fastball).

Strasburg has received an unprecedented amount of coverage leading up to Tuesday night’s festivities, and has generated arguably the most hype ever for a pitching prospect. The hype is certainly not unwarranted as this guy possesses a future ace-type arsenal of pitches, however I think the label of a “sure thing” that so many have bestowed upon him is a little premature. There are a few things to consider before we induct him into Cooperstown.

Secondary Pitches: Strasburg’s secondary pitches are undeveloped and cannot truly be relied on as “put-away” pitches at this point in his career. This is mainly attributed to a lack of command.

There is a difference between control and command in regards to a pitcher’s ability to locate, and Strasburg’s slurve and changeup are a good representation of this. He has little trouble finding the strike-zone with these two pitches, but for the most part lacks the ability to spot them where he wants in that zone. This is something that he can, and most likely will, develop as he continues to grow.

However if he fails to do this, his fastball will be rendered useless at the next level. Just getting those pitches over the plate might be enough to find success in the Mountain West Conference, but it will surely be a different story when facing major league talent day in and day out.

Lane Kiffin Is the Kelvin Sampson of College Football

Bare Knucks — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:06:11 -0400

Tennessee Volunteers football coach Lane Kiffin is making headlines yet again, and similar to the other publicity he has received, it’s negatively associated. The ignorant coach who took over head coaching duties for the Vols' football program has committed another NCAA violation (they’re looking into it at this point, but he’s definitely guilty). This guy is on a roll!

Once Tennessee is through with "looking into it" and finds their mistake of a coach culpable of another recruiting violation, the tally of violations Kiffin has committed since being introduced as the head coach Dec. 1 will be at five. Stay hot Lane!

ESPN reported this:

A segment of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” which aired Sunday, showed Kiffin in his office with two people identified by the network as recruits.”

According to NCAA recruiting rule 13.10.1, “A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution’s coaching staff member.”

Sounds to me like there is nothing to look into, it says it all right there; he committed another recruiting violation. Is Lane Kiffin ignorant or just flat out stupid? How many recruiting violations can a program make until they are sanctioned? This is getting ridiculous! [Read more...]

Vikings Set Deadline for Favre: Minnesota Nursing Homes Filling Up Fast

Bare Knucks — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:42:03 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings have set a deadline of this week for prima donna Brett Favre to make his decision on whether he will be back for his 19th season to quarterback the Vikes. The NFL should have set a limit of how many times a player is allowed to retire and then un-retire.

With hopes of further damaging his legacy, Favre recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder to eradicate problems related to his torn biceps tendon. Clearly he plans on making another run at it. I’m almost certain the former face of the Green Bay Packers will reply to Brad Childress’ deadline with something along the lines of, “Yes, I’ll be suiting up in purple and gold for my 19th season. Let’s kick some Green Bay ass!”

Now with awesome photoshop!

It’s pretty apparent Favre has had this planned out all along. He was/is extremely disappointed at the way the Packers front office handled his situation. The Packers refused to deal him to their NFC North rival last season, and General Manager Ted Thompson made sure the New York Jets wouldn’t deal him by including a clause in the trade agreement that Green Bay would receive three first-round picks if he was traded to Minnesota. [Read more...]

“Big Papi” David Ortiz, Searching for Any Excuse, Has Eyes Checked

Bare Knucks — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:09:37 -0400

David Ortiz has been in an epic struggle at the plate all season, that’s no secret to even the most casual of baseball observers. As a person who has seen nearly every Red Sox game this season I can attest to that.

I can count the number of times that he has been able to catch up to a 90 mile per hour fastball in 2009 on one hand…and still have a few fingers left.

Bill Simmons said it best when describing a David Ortiz at-bat in Fenway Park: “It’s filled with 35,000 parents of the same worst kid in Little League who dread every pitch thrown in the kid’s direction. There is constant fear and sadness and helplessness. Nobody knows what to do.”

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has tried everything. He gave Ortiz the entire series in Seattle off, opting to go with a young unproven Jeff Bailey instead. Recently he tried dropping Ortiz to sixth in the lineup hoping to spark the aging icon, with minimal results.

So what does Big Papi do? Well he gets his eyes vision checked of course. The result: his eyes are fine, his bat…not so much.

Seems logical, his eyes have never been a problem before this point in his illustrious career, so maybe all of the sudden they went to shit overnight. Yeah, right. At this point Ortiz seems to be searching for any excuse for the slump that he is in.

In 51 games played Ortiz is hitting .197 with an on-base percentage of .288. Come on David, .288 is hardly a respectable batting average, much less on-base percentage. I don’t even have to mention the fact that he has a mere two home runs and 22 runs batted in. That’s embarrassing to say the least for a player of his caliber. [Read more...]

BJ Upton May Be Owned in 98.6% of Fantasy Leagues, Only Proves Overrated

Bare Knucks — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:57:12 -0400

What on Earth is wrong with BJ Upton? The Tampa Bay Rays center fielder has struggled miserably at the plate this season.

BJ, or ‘Bossman Junior’ (his original name is Melvin, I might change my name too if it was Melvin, but I don’t think it’d be ‘Bossman Junior’), has only 15 RBI to go along with a measly three homeruns. The former second-overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft has a dismal batting average of .223 so far this season, and to say he is underachieving would be an understatement. To his credit, Upton is error-less in the field and has stolen 17 bases so far.

The speedy outfielder has been previously criticized for his lack of hustle. Tampa Bay’s manager Joe Maddon has disciplined his apathetic center fielder before, and he should consider sticking Upton on the bench again if his play keeps trend. The guy just doesn’t seem motivated.

Fantasy owners have been waiting for the Bossman to break out of his slump, but it has yet to happen. ESPN reports that BJ is 98.6 percent owned in fantasy leagues, but is he really worthy of a roster spot? I’m starting to think his name should appear on the list of free agents. [Read more...]

Exclusive Phone Interview with Phil Jackson Before NBA Finals

Bare Knucks — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:35:59 -0400

We talk to Phil Jackson about how he’s planning on stopping Dwight Howard, his thoughts on Michael Pietrus not wearing Kobe Bryant’s shoes, and what he found out about Lamar Odom and his candy addiction.

What do you think of the video? Please be honest!

Dear Pittsburgh Pirates' Fans, We Have Ripped Out Your Heart and Soul

Bare Knucks — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:42:27 -0400

First off, I’d like to send my condolences out to Pittsburgh Pirates' fans. After making his first All-Star game and winning a Gold Glove last season, up and coming outfielder Nate McLouth was shipped to Atlanta in exchange for three prospects. It’s no wonder why the Pirates' ball club continues to stink it up. What an awful move!

The speedy outfielder was sent to the Atlanta Braves, who were in need of a boost at the position. With this new addition to the team, Atlanta will be more competitive in the deeply talented NL East. The Pirates, however, got the short end of the straw.

The ‘Burgh received three prospects in return for the All-Star outfielder; OF prospect Gorkys Hernandez (really? Gorkys?) and pitching prospects Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke.

Now, the Pirates’ farm league is one of the worst, and this trade certainly gives it more substance, but trading a player like McLouth is absolutely ridiculous. Pittsburgh just signed him to a three year deal worth roughly $16 million not too long ago, he makes his first All-Star appearance, wins a Gold Glove, is starting to cement himself as an All-Star caliber player, and they trade him?! I just don’t get it! [Read more...]

Lamar Odom: Addiction Unlike Any Other

Bare Knucks — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:49:44 -0400

The key to the Los Angeles Lakers success in the NBA Finals relies heavily on the contributions from one player in particular. We know Andrew Bynum will most likely be a non-factor if he keeps postseason trend, but Lamar Odom has got to be motivated and play at a consistent level if the Lakeshow wish to bring home the trophy.

Odom has tremendous talent. At 6’10” combined with his skill set, he can be a lethal player…if he wants to be. That’s the problem. It seems like Lamar is more concerned about what kind of candy treats he’s going to be consuming than he is about the game of basketball.

Seriously, this ‘addiction’ to candy is ridiculous! Munching down treats at halftime, spoiling himself with an array of tasty treats post game, waking up in the middle of the night to chew on a tootsie roll…the list goes on. Lamar definitely has a sweet tooth, and he undoubtedly satisfies it.

It’s one thing if he likes to munch on his "peachy sugarcoated rings" with no side effects, but when it starts to affect his play on the court, it becomes a problem. Dr. Daniel Amen said this about Odom’s addiction:

“I’ve been telling my patients for years that sugar acts like a drug in the brain. It causes blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, leaving you feeling tired, irritable, foggy, and stupid. Eating too much sugar impairs cognitive function, which may explain why Odom doesn’t always make the smartest decisions on the court” (ESPN). [Read more...]

Terrell Owens Will Continue To Struggle without a Hall of Fame QB

Bare Knucks — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:10:57 -0400

We all know and are sick of hearing about Terrell Owens and his ridiculous antics. His stays in both Philadelphia and Dallas have been full of conflict and mudslinging exits.

Despite his incredible physical ability, all but the most desperate teams (yes, Buffalo is desperate) have labeled him not worth the risk.

Is this fair? Is there any one person more responsible than the rest? Are these outbursts just the result of good intentions?

TO and Donovan McNabb had an incredibly public relationship. They had their arguments, their mocking of the media, and, more importantly, their Super Bowl let-down.

They seemed to work through all the conflict until the last straw broke the camel’s back. That last straw was Owens questioning of McNabb’s effort in the Super Bowl.

Donovan (probably the most talented all-around quarterback in the modern era) has never been questioned regarding his quarterbacking skills. What he lacks has always been determined to be his mental strength and ability.

Playing in probably the toughest city for any pro athlete, Philadelphia, where the fans are notorious for letting their own players have it, McNabb has repeatedly been questioned regarding his fortitude.

Was his latest fallacy derived from a lack of self-confidence? Despite his unquestioned ability, did Donovan possess the mental and emotional capabilities to harness the unmatched determination and competitiveness of Terrell Owens?

In steps Jerry Jones, a gun-slinging maverick, and seemingly the spokesman for everything Texan, thought he alone had the capability to harness TO. He must have believed this because his head coach and starting quarterback definitely did not possess this grit.

Everyone knew from day one that Wade Phillips was a big softy. Tony Romo, between his extra point fumbling and pregame Mexican lounging, was clearly not on the level of...

[Read more here...]

Calipari: Classy Recruiter—and by Classy I Mean, Bling, Hoes, and Money

Bare Knucks — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:05:18 -0400

We previously featured an article on Coach John Calipari during his tenure at Memphis. This piece hinted at shady business on Calipari’s behalf, which stirred up quite a bit of controversy with Memphis Tigers fans. It turns out Coach Cal and the Memphis program were up to no good.

It was revealed last week that a Memphis player cheated on his SAT in order to be eligible to play ball. That player in particular was phenom point guard and former number-one overall pick in the NBA Draft, Derrick Rose.

This news comes to new surprise, seeing as it’s no secret that Rose isn’t exactly the crunchiest chip in the bag…have you heard him talk? I can’t believe it took this long for the allegations to be released to the public!

In addition to committing an academic sin (cheating on the SAT), the Memphis program reportedly spent over $2,200 in trips, hotel rooms, and things of that sort for the stud prospect.

Calipari throws out the rulebook and will do whatever it takes to make sure his team has the premier recruits in the nation. It seems like everyone has forgotten about the whole Marcus Camby ordeal at UMass!

In case you aren’t familiar, let me remind you: Calipari took UMass to the Final Four in 1996, which was eventually vacated by the NCAA when it was revealed that their big man, Marcus Camby, had received money from agents.

In addition to money, Camby also obtained jewelry, clothes and prostitutes. Calipari’s recruiting methods are almost as if he ripped a page out of the movie "He Got Game." [Read more...]

Cavaliers-Magic: Cleveland One Miracle Shot from Being Failures

Bare Knucks — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:02:18 -0400

It’s as simple as this:

If LeBron doesn’t hit that ridiculous buzzer-beating three to win Game Two, the Cavaliers are sitting at home right now just like the rest of us—being tortured by those LeBron and Kobe puppet commercials during commercial breaks of these NBA Playoffs.

How does a team that went 66-16 in the regular season, including a league-best 39-2 at home, fall behind 3-1 to the Orlando Magic (59-23 regular season) in a best-of-seven series?

How does a team that steamrolled its way into the Eastern Conference Finals, going a combined 8-0 in the first two series, proceed to drop three of its next four games when it matters the most?

That’s a good question, and one that I’m sure is perplexing even LeBron James at this very moment. Well LeBron, let me break down a few things that are going on.

One guy in particular I’d like to focus on: Mo “Mr. Guarantee” Williams.

When the postseason began, I wrote an article pertaining to Mo’s importance to Cleveland’s success in these playoffs. I referred to him as “the most underrated player in the NBA Playoffs.” Clearly, I was right about one of those two statements.

Williams has been in the ballpark when it comes to comparing regular season vs. postseason numbers in terms of points, assists, and assist/turnover ratio, however his shot has been M.I.A. to this point.

In the regular season, Mo shot .467/.436/.912 (field goal, three-point, and free throw percentages). However, in the postseason those percentages have decreased in every single category and now look like this: .400/.333/.704.

After William’s guarantee, he proceeded to shoot 5-for-15 from the field in Tuesday night’s loss in Orlando. Come on Mo, you’re supposed to be an All-Star. [Read more...]

Mike Brown Is to Blame for Cleveland Cavaliers' Struggles

Bare Knucks — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:51:19 -0400

Is Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown worthy of his accolade of Head Coach of the Year?

Brown and his Cavs finished the season with an NBA best record of 66-16, and were the most-dominant team on their home court (39-2 at the Q).

However, now that his squad is facing a team other than a Pistons group in shambles and an inferior Hawks club this postseason, Brown’s coaching blemishes have been exposed by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The favorites to prevail from the Eastern Conference have found themselves in a bit of trouble. Had it not been for LeBron James’ extraordinary and potentially season-saving three-point buzzer beater, the Cavs would be down three games to none (assuming a Game Two loss wouldn’t spark a Cavs Game Three win) and on the brink of elimination.

The Orlando Magic create several match-up problems (Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis) for the Cleveland LeBrons, and Mike Brown has done a poor job adapting to this dilemma.

The Cavs squared off against the Magic three times in the regular season and were defeated in two of those games, one of which included their worst and most embarrassing beatings of the season—a 29-point loss). Clearly Mike Brown and his Cavaliers have a problem dealing with Ron Jeremy’s (aka Stan Van Gundy) Orlando Magic.

Now, excluding The King, no other Cavalier has really given Coach Mike Brown any assistance (the refs have tried their best) versus the Magic in the playoffs. Nevertheless, the struggles of the Cleveland Cavaliers is traced back to their head coach.

Brown is regarded as a defensive specialist, and his Cleveland team is one of the better defensive squads in the league. Nonetheless, facing a team that poses so many matchup problems with a roster that includes Howard, Turkoglu, and Lewis requires roster adjustments coupled with a different style of ball—something Mike Brown has failed to recognize.

There are several changes that need to be made both offensively and defensively. Here’s what Cleveland needs to do to avoid being ousted, and it doesn’t seem like rocket science to me.

Go with a smaller lineup

This means Zydrunas Ilgauskas has got to have limited minutes! The 7’3" Lithuanian center that looks like he just climbed down the beanstalk is slower than molasses getting up and down the court and it has hurt Cleveland this series.

With a freak physical specimen who can run the floor like Dwight Howard at center, Big Z gets left in the dust. He’s got great size and length, but he’s just not agile or athletic enough to keep up with Howard. Additionally, Z has struggled shooting the ball well this series.

Defensive matchup adjustments that should be made

Anderson Varejao on Howard – Guarding Orlando’s dominant center is never an easy task, but Sideshow Bob (Varejao, in case you’re a little slow) is a pesky defender and is great at drawing fouls.

LeBron James on Rashard Lewis – Lewis is a lethal scorer. He can stroke the three and has the ability to put it on the deck. To no surprise, ‘Shard has been shooting well from deep this series (9-of-15). Allowing The King to guard him should put a muzzle on Rashard’s offensive production. LeBron’s size and athleticism should prevent Lewis from driving to the tin and his lockdown D should rattle his three-point shooting.

Joe Smith on Hedo Turkoglu - Joe Smith is an experienced veteran and is a great defender. Delonte West did a good job on Hedo last game (1-of-11), but we can’t expect Turkoglu to shoot like that every game. Although West plays great defense, he gives up too much size to the 6’11" Turk. [Read more...]

Stan Van Gundy Not Only Looks Like Ron Jeremy, He Also Coaches Like Him

Bare Knucks — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:29:45 -0400

I know a good Magic act; let’s see Stan Van Gundy disappear. Orlando’s success is hindered greatly by this overly-dramatic coach.

Van Gundy’s job as the Magic’s head coach is a bit insecure now that Dwight Howard publicly criticized him following Orlando’s colossal collapse, and it most certainly should be.

After blowing a 14-point lead in the 4th quarter of game 5, Superman came out and openly addressed his problems with his emotional coach, stating

“Our coach has to recognize that when he has a certain group out there and they are getting the job done, we have to leave those guys on the floor.”

That’s right Dwight; that seems like something most coaches should be able to distinguish. I think a middle school coach could recognize that!

SVG will be able to carry on his job a bit longer following his team’s defeat of the Boston Celtics, but that does not mean that this emotional wreck of a coach should be coaching in the NBA.

Let’s be real, Stan Van Gundy is one of the worst coaches, if not THE worst coach in the league. He’s got an extremely talented team, but they will never be able to reach their full potential with SVG at the helm.

Tim Duncan: The Greatest Power Forward to Play the Game?

Bare Knucks — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:23:11 -0400

When the debate of the best Power Forward to ever play the game is brought up, Tim Duncan seems to be the trendy pick. I can’t consent with this for a couple of reasons.

Tim Duncan isn’t even the best Power Forward in the NBA right now:

How can we say Duncan is the best PF ever, when he’s not even the best in the league at this moment in time? Or the past decade for that matter?! Have we forgotten about Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett?

The infamous ring argument:

One will be quick to bring up the fact that Duncan has four championship rings while Dirk has a goose egg and KG boasts only one finger’s worth, but do rings really matter when we are talking about pure talent? No!

I mean, when we say "The best power forward ever," I interpret that as the PF with the best skill set, NOT the player who has had a more successful career.

So many people use the ring argument when trying to justify a player’s abilities, but if that was the case Robert Horry (seven rings) would trump the players mentioned above. Nothing against Big Shot Bob, but is he better than Duncan, Nowitzki or Garnett? Hell no!

The Numbers (Career Averages):

Garnett: 20.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Nowitzki: 22.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg

Duncan: 21.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg

[Read more...]