Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe No. 19-ranked Michigan Wolverines will open conference play on Saturday at Indiana. The Hoosiers have started the season 3-0 behind the strong play of quarterback Ben Chappell. Their non-conference schedule was a bit of a joke and now the competition level amps up with a ranked foe coming to town. Michigan has won their first four games of the season and feature one of the most exciting players in Denard Robinson. The college football lines show the Wolverines are a 10.5-point favorite.This is the second straightDenver Broncos jersey
year Rich Rodriguez has led the Wolverines to a 4-0 start. There is a different feeling with this team, however, as Denard Robinson has rejuvenated a passionate fan base with his play through four games. Robinson suffered a knee injury last week against Bowling Green that had a stadium of over 100,000 fans holding their breath, but he is expected to play this week versus Indiana. The dual threat quarterback has thrown for 731 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Where Robinson is really hurting opposing defenses is with his feet. He has gained 688 yards on 79 carries and scored six touchdowns. Michael Shaw is second on the team in rushing with 44 carries for 245 yards. He has scored five touchdowns, but is day to day with a sprained knee that could keep him out of action this weekend. The Wolverines feature the second-ranked rushing attack in the nation at 331 yards per game. Darryl Stonum is Robinsonfavorite target through the air, catching 15 passes for 226 yards and two scores. Roy Roundtree leads in receptions with 20 for 211 yards and a touchdown. Michigandefense does have room for improvement. They are giving up 400 total yards per game, which ranks 93rd in the country.Indiana is off to a hot start thanks to a soft schedule and an aerial Detroit Lions
assault on their opponents. Head coach Bill Lynch knows that the Hoosiers will need to have their A-game on Saturday if they want to pull off the upset over Michigan. Ben Chappell has been nearly perfect under center, completing 72 percent of his passes for 890 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a Honorable All-Big Ten mention a year ago and is producing at a very high rate early on. IU ranks 11th in passing yards per game, averaging over 304 yards. Running the ball has been a little more difficult for this team. Darius Willis leads the team with 219 yards on 46 carries and two touchdowns. He is averaging nearly five yards per carry. The Hoosiers donhave much depth behind Willis so expect to see him on every possession Saturday. Junior Damarlo Belcher has caught 21 passes for 284 yards and two scores. Ted Bolser leads the Hoosiers in touchdown receptions with four. Terrance Turner is a big target that has 17 receptions for 190 yards. Indiana does a good job in the spread system utilizing all sorts of receivers. Their defense has yet to face a player as good as Denard Robinson. They only return four starters from a squad that gave up nearly 30 points per game last year.Michigan has had Indiananumber for quite some time now, winning the past 16 games by an average of 21.5 points. Last year Michigan needed a late touchdown pass to hold onto a 36-33 victory over the Hoosiers. Indiana ranks near the bottom in rushing yards allowed per game and now go up against the top running game in the Green Bay Packers jersey
Big Ten. That could spell big time trouble for this team. I think they will be able to put some points on the board against a suspect Wolverine defense, but Michigan should score at will covering the spread.Play: Michigan -10.5 Get all of your expert football picks from the team at Locksmith. No site provides more winners than Jimmy Boyd and company.
2011年1月24日星期一
2011年1月22日星期六
22 Jan 11 South Carolina's Win Over Furman Produces More Questions Than Answers
Mike Zarrilli/Getty ImagesAs I sat in the stands watching this football game, I caught myself (a very optimistic fan) asking, is this really the 13th-ranked team in the country?My answer was a very cautious yes.Furman is no regular small school team. They have history and on the field look very large. They also had one Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
of the fastest receivers I have seen this year (other than Carolina's own Ace Sanders).After the game, Steve Spurrier had positive comments, which I didn't expect. I trust the Ol' Ball Coach, but I was expecting him to lash out about a game that was much closer than the score indicated.Here are some musings from the game.1. If South Carolina wants to win the East, Stephen Garcia must wake up and play better.Garcia missed wide-open receivers and had two interceptions. One of the interceptions was the result of a bad play call mixed with a bad decision. The other was just a bad throw. With Garcia struggling to get the ball out of his hands and to his playmakers, the passing game has looked bad.Connor Shaw may have to get a look soon if Garcia struggles more.2. Marcus Lattimore's Heisman hype will be all but gone after this game.Which I am glad about...he is too young to bear that sort of burden. He is a great back, but these games against teams like Furman are the games where Heisman hopeful backs are supposed to get a couple hundred yards. Latti didn't even break Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
70.The line struggled to get any sort of push against this Furman team. That doesn't bode well for the future.3. Ace Sanders is now officially M.I.A.After having a huge opening game against Southern Mississippi, Sanders has sort of disappeared. He had a couple of catches against Furman, but none of the big play variety it looked as if he would be contributing on a regular basis. One good-looking play got called back on a hold.What happened to the idea of getting the ball in Ace's hands more?4. There is nothing wrong with the pass rush.There were seven sacks in this game by the South Carolina defense. Enough said.Devin Taylor and Cliff Matthews are still two of the SEC's best ends. The tackles have played well, and the linebackers have looked better than anyone would have originally thought.5. What happened to the insanely deep defensive back corps?At the beginning of the season, South Carolina's defensive backs were considered by many to be the BEST in the country. Now, after being torched for over 200 yards by ONE RECEIVER, one has to wonder if a lack of focus is in play.Stephon Gilmore played well. Beyond that, there were way too many busted coverages in the middle of the field.6. The special teams woes are officially gone.South Carolina's special teams have looked good. The coverage has Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
been good, and the kicking has been phenomenal.This seems like the biggest improvement from last year.Overall, this isn't what anyone expected, but a win is a win. Next week is a benchmark game that will truly show where this South Carolina team ranks. A win over Auburn, and South Carolina should hop into the Top 10 for a big time showdown against Alabama.
of the fastest receivers I have seen this year (other than Carolina's own Ace Sanders).After the game, Steve Spurrier had positive comments, which I didn't expect. I trust the Ol' Ball Coach, but I was expecting him to lash out about a game that was much closer than the score indicated.Here are some musings from the game.1. If South Carolina wants to win the East, Stephen Garcia must wake up and play better.Garcia missed wide-open receivers and had two interceptions. One of the interceptions was the result of a bad play call mixed with a bad decision. The other was just a bad throw. With Garcia struggling to get the ball out of his hands and to his playmakers, the passing game has looked bad.Connor Shaw may have to get a look soon if Garcia struggles more.2. Marcus Lattimore's Heisman hype will be all but gone after this game.Which I am glad about...he is too young to bear that sort of burden. He is a great back, but these games against teams like Furman are the games where Heisman hopeful backs are supposed to get a couple hundred yards. Latti didn't even break Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
70.The line struggled to get any sort of push against this Furman team. That doesn't bode well for the future.3. Ace Sanders is now officially M.I.A.After having a huge opening game against Southern Mississippi, Sanders has sort of disappeared. He had a couple of catches against Furman, but none of the big play variety it looked as if he would be contributing on a regular basis. One good-looking play got called back on a hold.What happened to the idea of getting the ball in Ace's hands more?4. There is nothing wrong with the pass rush.There were seven sacks in this game by the South Carolina defense. Enough said.Devin Taylor and Cliff Matthews are still two of the SEC's best ends. The tackles have played well, and the linebackers have looked better than anyone would have originally thought.5. What happened to the insanely deep defensive back corps?At the beginning of the season, South Carolina's defensive backs were considered by many to be the BEST in the country. Now, after being torched for over 200 yards by ONE RECEIVER, one has to wonder if a lack of focus is in play.Stephon Gilmore played well. Beyond that, there were way too many busted coverages in the middle of the field.6. The special teams woes are officially gone.South Carolina's special teams have looked good. The coverage has Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
been good, and the kicking has been phenomenal.This seems like the biggest improvement from last year.Overall, this isn't what anyone expected, but a win is a win. Next week is a benchmark game that will truly show where this South Carolina team ranks. A win over Auburn, and South Carolina should hop into the Top 10 for a big time showdown against Alabama.
2011年1月18日星期二
18 Jan 11 The Iowa Hawkeyes after Tucson: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Beautiful
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesDuring our optimistic moments in the offseason we Iowa Hawkeyes fans gloried in the opportunities for growth for the returning offensive players at the skill positions.We looked forward to break-through defensive seasons for Jeff Tarpinian, Tyler Nielson, and Micah Hyde, while our Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
D-line dominated everyone they faced, and our secondary set interception records. Our new O-line would quickly reach excellence by practicing against Adrian, Christian, Karl, and Broderick. We dreamed about a national championship.During our pessimistic moments we wondered how Iowa could lose more talent to the NFL than any other Big Ten team without a serious drop-off in victories. We feared that the new offensive line would be no better than the 2005 version, and Ricky Stanzi would throw more interceptions while running for his life, and our young running backs would search futilely for holes to run through. We feared not qualifying for a bowl game.Would 2009 turn out to have been the high point?What we havenhad is a chance to make a realistic assessment against a good opponent. In Saturday night34-27 loss to the Arizona Wildcats, we got our first real chance to evaluate the 2010 edition of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Now we have a better idea where we are at this early point in the season.The GoodStanzi is definitely taking better care with his passes. He had his first interception against Arizona (only after the ball went through a receiverhands), although the Wildcat safety dropped one in the end zone.DJK is looking better than last year. If he stays healthy, the receiving records are going down. Marvin McNutt is still capable of making some brilliant catches. Colin Sandeman has been impressive in the slot.The offensive line has done its job against lesser defensive lines. Riley Reiff is turning into an effective pass blocker on the edge.Allen Reisner has been an important receiving option. Brad Herman has emerged as a capable second tight end.Our running backs are capable of gaining yardage and scoring touchdowns, if the holes are there.The defensive line has been excellent in stopping the run (with help from the linebackers) and pressuring the passer (without help from the linebackers). Adrian Clayborn is drawing a lot of double-teams, allowing the rest of the linemen to make plays. They have.The linebackers are doing their jobs, and are usually in position and making tackles.Micah Hyde is a good cornerback. Heno Amari Spievey, at least not yet, but he and Shawn Prater do a pretty good job on the outside. Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood continue to be as solid as last year.Ryan Donahue has continued to boom his punts, while giving the coverage team opportunities to down punts deep in enemy territory.Freshman Michael Meyer has improved the distance on Iowakickoffs.The BadOur running backs need some holes to run through. They canquite make their own, or use brilliant quickness to bounce outside, on a consistent basis.The new lack of depth at tailback is glaring. Who will back up Adam Robinson until O'Meara returns? Will a true freshman redshirt get burned, or will Brad Rogers move from fullback?The offensive line is not yet able to hold its own against good defensive line and linebacker combinations. The Hawkpass-blocking schemes can sometimes be defeated. Be certain that other teams will study the attacking methods Arizona used to sack Stanzi three times on the final Iowa possession.Stanzi is still capable of missing receivers and trying to force the ball into tight coverage.McNutt may have made some beautiful catches Saturday, but he also blew several catches. Johnson-Koulianos also failed to make a catch, albeit a difficult one, on a fourth-quarter bomb inside the Wildcat five.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesOur pass defense is susceptible to a patient short passing game, run by a decisive quarterback with good touch and accuracy. Hopefully Nick Foles will turn out to be the best that we face in 2010.The secondary has given up several long passes. Most werenwide open, and required excellent throws, but the Hawkeyes will face a number of QBs capable of Kansas City Chiefs jersey
making those passes this season.We had way too many penalties Saturday. Fortunately, the U of A had more, but this is a problem that has to be fixed. We canblame the road game, the noise, or the referees. We have to be more focused.The UglyKickoff coverage. Something isnworking, and I havenfigured out what it is yet. Im sure the coaching staff is looking at the successful KO returns to see if each is attacking the same spot. Is it possible wed be better off with shorter kickoffs? I doubt it. Weve been vulnerable on a couple of them, as well as some longer ones. The touchdown return Saturday night swung the momentum right back to the Wildcats following Iowabeautiful 93-yard drive. If we donfix this soon, it could soon cost us more games.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesArizonafast start was hardly an unavoidable situation. The Wildcats came out fired up and dominant, at least in team spirit. They took early gamblesgoing for the block on Iowafirst punt; throwing the long balland Iowa didnseem to anticipate them. Are we seeing effects of Norm Parkerabsence, or does the staffpreference for playing a reactive style sometimes backfire? Ittoo early to tell, but we may see other teams try to duplicate itespecially Michigan.When the game-deciding plays were being played at the end of the fourth quarter, it was the home team making them. Last year we fans got accustomed to them going Iowaway, at least as long as Ricky was healthy. But sometimes that was possible because our opponents either werenas good as us, or got too desperate. We cancount on that every game. When push came to shove Saturday night, the Wildcats were already confident they were the best team on the field. It turned out they were right that night.The BeautifulThe second-half comeback Saturday showed the Hawkeyes havenlost that cool confidence from last season. It wasnsimply an offensive or defensive comeback, it was a whole team, no reason-to-panic attitude that showed Iowa is still a contender.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesIowa is capable of long, clock-eating, sustained drives, even against an excellent defense (which the Wildcats have), and finishing them. We still have not had to settle for a field goal in the red zone.The VerdictIowa will not play for the national championship in January.The Hawkeyes, like every other year, need to improve every week, every practice. We have a lot of holes to patch, even if theyre little holes.We have limitations, even if they are less glaring than recent years. Big, strong, athletic defensive lines may be able to shut down our running game. And injuries may require the staff to burn a redshirt.We are better when rested. The increased depth on offense and defense has really paid off. In places where we lack depth, noticeably the offensive line. We may see real issues with fatigue in tight games, especially against big D-lines.A loss is a loss is a loss. How the players respond to this setback will be the main determinant as to how the season goes from here. We canafford to take Bowling Green lightly, but we donneed to be afraid of Penn State. We are capable of winning or losing either contest.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe preseason assessment of how great Iowaschedule was can now be thrown away. The schedule has gotten harder with the emergence of Michigan as an offensive powerhouse. The team that scored the most points on the Hawks last season will be capable of putting up 35-50 in the Big House next month, if our defense doesnhave a truly excellent game, such as it had in the Orange Bowl. Miami Dolphins jersey
We canthink road games against Indiana, Northwestern, or Minnesota will be automatic wins, and we need to improve to win those tough Big Ten home games on the schedule.The fans need to show as much cool as their team. We do not need to panic. If our team improves gradually, getting a little better every week, we should be able to climb back into the top-15 rankings. It will take more improvement to return to the top 10, but neither is out of reach.I still think the Hawkeyes are one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and capable of beating anyone on their schedule. But they will still have to do it with hard work and discipline. There wonbe any gimmes.
D-line dominated everyone they faced, and our secondary set interception records. Our new O-line would quickly reach excellence by practicing against Adrian, Christian, Karl, and Broderick. We dreamed about a national championship.During our pessimistic moments we wondered how Iowa could lose more talent to the NFL than any other Big Ten team without a serious drop-off in victories. We feared that the new offensive line would be no better than the 2005 version, and Ricky Stanzi would throw more interceptions while running for his life, and our young running backs would search futilely for holes to run through. We feared not qualifying for a bowl game.Would 2009 turn out to have been the high point?What we havenhad is a chance to make a realistic assessment against a good opponent. In Saturday night34-27 loss to the Arizona Wildcats, we got our first real chance to evaluate the 2010 edition of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Now we have a better idea where we are at this early point in the season.The GoodStanzi is definitely taking better care with his passes. He had his first interception against Arizona (only after the ball went through a receiverhands), although the Wildcat safety dropped one in the end zone.DJK is looking better than last year. If he stays healthy, the receiving records are going down. Marvin McNutt is still capable of making some brilliant catches. Colin Sandeman has been impressive in the slot.The offensive line has done its job against lesser defensive lines. Riley Reiff is turning into an effective pass blocker on the edge.Allen Reisner has been an important receiving option. Brad Herman has emerged as a capable second tight end.Our running backs are capable of gaining yardage and scoring touchdowns, if the holes are there.The defensive line has been excellent in stopping the run (with help from the linebackers) and pressuring the passer (without help from the linebackers). Adrian Clayborn is drawing a lot of double-teams, allowing the rest of the linemen to make plays. They have.The linebackers are doing their jobs, and are usually in position and making tackles.Micah Hyde is a good cornerback. Heno Amari Spievey, at least not yet, but he and Shawn Prater do a pretty good job on the outside. Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood continue to be as solid as last year.Ryan Donahue has continued to boom his punts, while giving the coverage team opportunities to down punts deep in enemy territory.Freshman Michael Meyer has improved the distance on Iowakickoffs.The BadOur running backs need some holes to run through. They canquite make their own, or use brilliant quickness to bounce outside, on a consistent basis.The new lack of depth at tailback is glaring. Who will back up Adam Robinson until O'Meara returns? Will a true freshman redshirt get burned, or will Brad Rogers move from fullback?The offensive line is not yet able to hold its own against good defensive line and linebacker combinations. The Hawkpass-blocking schemes can sometimes be defeated. Be certain that other teams will study the attacking methods Arizona used to sack Stanzi three times on the final Iowa possession.Stanzi is still capable of missing receivers and trying to force the ball into tight coverage.McNutt may have made some beautiful catches Saturday, but he also blew several catches. Johnson-Koulianos also failed to make a catch, albeit a difficult one, on a fourth-quarter bomb inside the Wildcat five.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesOur pass defense is susceptible to a patient short passing game, run by a decisive quarterback with good touch and accuracy. Hopefully Nick Foles will turn out to be the best that we face in 2010.The secondary has given up several long passes. Most werenwide open, and required excellent throws, but the Hawkeyes will face a number of QBs capable of Kansas City Chiefs jersey
making those passes this season.We had way too many penalties Saturday. Fortunately, the U of A had more, but this is a problem that has to be fixed. We canblame the road game, the noise, or the referees. We have to be more focused.The UglyKickoff coverage. Something isnworking, and I havenfigured out what it is yet. Im sure the coaching staff is looking at the successful KO returns to see if each is attacking the same spot. Is it possible wed be better off with shorter kickoffs? I doubt it. Weve been vulnerable on a couple of them, as well as some longer ones. The touchdown return Saturday night swung the momentum right back to the Wildcats following Iowabeautiful 93-yard drive. If we donfix this soon, it could soon cost us more games.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesArizonafast start was hardly an unavoidable situation. The Wildcats came out fired up and dominant, at least in team spirit. They took early gamblesgoing for the block on Iowafirst punt; throwing the long balland Iowa didnseem to anticipate them. Are we seeing effects of Norm Parkerabsence, or does the staffpreference for playing a reactive style sometimes backfire? Ittoo early to tell, but we may see other teams try to duplicate itespecially Michigan.When the game-deciding plays were being played at the end of the fourth quarter, it was the home team making them. Last year we fans got accustomed to them going Iowaway, at least as long as Ricky was healthy. But sometimes that was possible because our opponents either werenas good as us, or got too desperate. We cancount on that every game. When push came to shove Saturday night, the Wildcats were already confident they were the best team on the field. It turned out they were right that night.The BeautifulThe second-half comeback Saturday showed the Hawkeyes havenlost that cool confidence from last season. It wasnsimply an offensive or defensive comeback, it was a whole team, no reason-to-panic attitude that showed Iowa is still a contender.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesIowa is capable of long, clock-eating, sustained drives, even against an excellent defense (which the Wildcats have), and finishing them. We still have not had to settle for a field goal in the red zone.The VerdictIowa will not play for the national championship in January.The Hawkeyes, like every other year, need to improve every week, every practice. We have a lot of holes to patch, even if theyre little holes.We have limitations, even if they are less glaring than recent years. Big, strong, athletic defensive lines may be able to shut down our running game. And injuries may require the staff to burn a redshirt.We are better when rested. The increased depth on offense and defense has really paid off. In places where we lack depth, noticeably the offensive line. We may see real issues with fatigue in tight games, especially against big D-lines.A loss is a loss is a loss. How the players respond to this setback will be the main determinant as to how the season goes from here. We canafford to take Bowling Green lightly, but we donneed to be afraid of Penn State. We are capable of winning or losing either contest.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe preseason assessment of how great Iowaschedule was can now be thrown away. The schedule has gotten harder with the emergence of Michigan as an offensive powerhouse. The team that scored the most points on the Hawks last season will be capable of putting up 35-50 in the Big House next month, if our defense doesnhave a truly excellent game, such as it had in the Orange Bowl. Miami Dolphins jersey
We canthink road games against Indiana, Northwestern, or Minnesota will be automatic wins, and we need to improve to win those tough Big Ten home games on the schedule.The fans need to show as much cool as their team. We do not need to panic. If our team improves gradually, getting a little better every week, we should be able to climb back into the top-15 rankings. It will take more improvement to return to the top 10, but neither is out of reach.I still think the Hawkeyes are one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and capable of beating anyone on their schedule. But they will still have to do it with hard work and discipline. There wonbe any gimmes.
2011年1月15日星期六
15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams "Chances of a St. Louis win at New England hinge on Jackson's health
Fans are holding their collective breaths in St. Louis right now as the 2-4 Rams prepare to play at the 4-2 New England Patriots on Sunday. Those fans may not be able to exhale until the announcement is made whether star running back Steven Jackson will be able to play against the Patriots.Jackson, who rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams' win over the Dallas Cowboys last week, is trying to bounce back from a bruised quadriceps muscle and may not be able to suit up this week.Commentary: For the feel-good story of the Rams to continue, Jackson Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
has to be in the lineup. In the Rams; two victories this season, Jackson has rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns. In the Rams; four losses, Jackson has totaled 269 yards and one score.If Jackson can;t go for the Rams, the candidates won;t exactly strike fear into the hearts of the Patriots. Antonio Pittman, Travis Minor and Kenneth Darby are the players who will try to fill Jackson;s big shoes. Pittman has only rushed for a total of 145 yards in his two-year NFL career. Minor has the most experience, but has only accumulated 1,218 yards in eight years in the league. Darby has amassed a whopping total of 9 yards in one year in the NFL.Jackson;s status may not be known until game time on Sunday. He's has been very limited in practice this week. The Rams know that they need him against the Patriots, but they also don;t want to risk further injury to Jackson.Fan Pulse: Fans know that the Rams are in trouble if Jackson can't play against New England. However, they also don;t want the team to risk his future health by rushing him back too soon. Fantasy Impact: The fantasy impact starts and ends with Jackson. He has been the only productive Ram this season, and his owners were dancing in the fantasy football streets after his three-touchdown performance last week against the Cowboys. If Jackson Arizona Cardinals jersey
doesn;t play, there is no fantasy running back option for the Rams. Be very afraid of picking up whichever back fills in for Jackson.Injury report: Besides Jackson;s injury, the Rams are hurting on the defensive line because of Adam Carriker;s ankle injury. Carriker wants to play against New England, but it is likely that he will have to sit. Wide receiver Derek Stanley is recovering from a concussion and will probably not play on Sunday. (4)
has to be in the lineup. In the Rams; two victories this season, Jackson has rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns. In the Rams; four losses, Jackson has totaled 269 yards and one score.If Jackson can;t go for the Rams, the candidates won;t exactly strike fear into the hearts of the Patriots. Antonio Pittman, Travis Minor and Kenneth Darby are the players who will try to fill Jackson;s big shoes. Pittman has only rushed for a total of 145 yards in his two-year NFL career. Minor has the most experience, but has only accumulated 1,218 yards in eight years in the league. Darby has amassed a whopping total of 9 yards in one year in the NFL.Jackson;s status may not be known until game time on Sunday. He's has been very limited in practice this week. The Rams know that they need him against the Patriots, but they also don;t want to risk further injury to Jackson.Fan Pulse: Fans know that the Rams are in trouble if Jackson can't play against New England. However, they also don;t want the team to risk his future health by rushing him back too soon. Fantasy Impact: The fantasy impact starts and ends with Jackson. He has been the only productive Ram this season, and his owners were dancing in the fantasy football streets after his three-touchdown performance last week against the Cowboys. If Jackson Arizona Cardinals jersey
doesn;t play, there is no fantasy running back option for the Rams. Be very afraid of picking up whichever back fills in for Jackson.Injury report: Besides Jackson;s injury, the Rams are hurting on the defensive line because of Adam Carriker;s ankle injury. Carriker wants to play against New England, but it is likely that he will have to sit. Wide receiver Derek Stanley is recovering from a concussion and will probably not play on Sunday. (4)
2011年1月13日星期四
14 Jan 11 Carolina Panthers Keary Colbert Keyshawn Johnson Steve Smith
After a promising rookie season in 2004, Carolina Panthers receiver Keary Colbert slumped badly in 2005, his sophomore season, which led many to wonder if he even deserved to be in the team's top four on the receiving depth chart. The former USC star, who is also a former second-round pick, needs Atlanta Falcons jersey
to rebound next season in order for the Panthers' offense to reach its full potential.In '04, Colbert emerged as one of the most reliable young wideouts in the NFL, catching 47 passes for 754 yards and five touchdowns. More impressive than those numbers was his terrific yards per catch average, 16.0. Not only did he prove his worth as a possession receiver, but he showed the ability to break free from opposing cornerbacks and accumulate big yardage. Subsequent to that performance, there was all kinds of hope for Colbert entering his second season, but it all came crashing down in '05.To follow up his superb rookie season, Colbert's production was just about cut in half, as he caught just 25 passes for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Colbert caught 22 less passes, gained nearly 500 less yards and saw his touchdown catches diminish by three. Along with that, the 24-year-old saw his yards per catch fall by nearly five yards, as it dipped to an uninspiring 11.3.Now that the Panthers have lost one of their consistent over-the-middle receivers from last year, Baltimore Ravens jersey
Ricky Proehl, it's imperative that Colbert regains his rookie form coming out of the slot. In order for quarterback Jake Delhomme to experience the kind of success he has in the past, it's key that he has a legitimate third receiver to throw to. Colbert was that guy two years ago and a committee of wideouts performed the task last year, but having one player catch 50 passes is much better than two or three individuals.Since the Carolina Panthers signed proven veteran Keyshawn Johnson to solidify the starting receiving corps opposite All-Pro Steve Smith, they won't need a ton of production out of Colbert. Prior to the Johnson signing, there was talk that the 6-1, 200-pound Colbert might have had to step into the No. 2 position, but luckily for Carolina, that will not be taking place. If Colbert can catch over 40 passes and be a legitimate threat for opposing defenses to worry about, he'll be one of the better and more productive No. 3 receivers in football. The Panthers' offense could be one of the best in the NFC next season, if Colbert can step out of his funk. Buffalo Bills jersey
If not, they might be staring at excruciating frustration in a division that includes a terrific Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, an Atlanta Falcons squad ready to rebound from '05 disappointment, and a much-improved New Orleans Saints roster.--Get more Keary Colbert insights
to rebound next season in order for the Panthers' offense to reach its full potential.In '04, Colbert emerged as one of the most reliable young wideouts in the NFL, catching 47 passes for 754 yards and five touchdowns. More impressive than those numbers was his terrific yards per catch average, 16.0. Not only did he prove his worth as a possession receiver, but he showed the ability to break free from opposing cornerbacks and accumulate big yardage. Subsequent to that performance, there was all kinds of hope for Colbert entering his second season, but it all came crashing down in '05.To follow up his superb rookie season, Colbert's production was just about cut in half, as he caught just 25 passes for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Colbert caught 22 less passes, gained nearly 500 less yards and saw his touchdown catches diminish by three. Along with that, the 24-year-old saw his yards per catch fall by nearly five yards, as it dipped to an uninspiring 11.3.Now that the Panthers have lost one of their consistent over-the-middle receivers from last year, Baltimore Ravens jersey
Ricky Proehl, it's imperative that Colbert regains his rookie form coming out of the slot. In order for quarterback Jake Delhomme to experience the kind of success he has in the past, it's key that he has a legitimate third receiver to throw to. Colbert was that guy two years ago and a committee of wideouts performed the task last year, but having one player catch 50 passes is much better than two or three individuals.Since the Carolina Panthers signed proven veteran Keyshawn Johnson to solidify the starting receiving corps opposite All-Pro Steve Smith, they won't need a ton of production out of Colbert. Prior to the Johnson signing, there was talk that the 6-1, 200-pound Colbert might have had to step into the No. 2 position, but luckily for Carolina, that will not be taking place. If Colbert can catch over 40 passes and be a legitimate threat for opposing defenses to worry about, he'll be one of the better and more productive No. 3 receivers in football. The Panthers' offense could be one of the best in the NFC next season, if Colbert can step out of his funk. Buffalo Bills jersey
If not, they might be staring at excruciating frustration in a division that includes a terrific Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, an Atlanta Falcons squad ready to rebound from '05 disappointment, and a much-improved New Orleans Saints roster.--Get more Keary Colbert insights
2011年1月12日星期三
13 Jan 11 How Good Would This Nets Team Still Be With Their Core Together?
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesJason Kidd wanted to be traded and they got a solid deal for him so would they still have a solid roster. Not too bad getting Devin Harris in return.Vince Carter had just resigned with the Nets,and Richard Jefferson said he wanted to stay a Net for his career.that Jefferson for Yi and Simmons trade was astrocious, and that VC trade didn't do much for them either so far. starting 5 would bePG Devin HarrisSG Vince CarterSF Richard JeffersonPF Ryan AndersonC Brook LopezIn a weak Eastern Conference had the Nets kept this roster Ibelieve they are a 46-36 team finishing4th in the Eastern Conference. Instead they are chasing infamy at a woeful 3-34. The Nets would still be a solid team had they kept this core. Jefferson is not too old, Carter can still light it up, Brook Lopez looks Minnesota Vikings
extraordinary, and Ryan Anderson has come along well. The Nets would still be a player or 2 away from being a contender in the East and we'd still be excited to watch a team of solid players play. Yes they have cap space for 2010 but with the type of season they had not many free agents may want to wear a Nets uniform this season. Nets may have given up on the core too early and lost out on having a really good team still. This team would at least be very interesting to watch and may be as good talent wise as many teams in the NBA. Instead we are caught watching one of the worst teams weve ever seen in this league.
extraordinary, and Ryan Anderson has come along well. The Nets would still be a player or 2 away from being a contender in the East and we'd still be excited to watch a team of solid players play. Yes they have cap space for 2010 but with the type of season they had not many free agents may want to wear a Nets uniform this season. Nets may have given up on the core too early and lost out on having a really good team still. This team would at least be very interesting to watch and may be as good talent wise as many teams in the NBA. Instead we are caught watching one of the worst teams weve ever seen in this league.
12 Jan 11 Good News, Better News As Golden State Warriors Get Blown Out At Home
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesWarriors UpdateJan. 28, 2010New Orleansrookie Marcus Thornton knocked down an open trey at the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter last night, stretching the Hornets' lead over the Warriors to 23.With anotherGoldenStateloss secured and Chris Paul safely on the Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
bench, our beloved Warriors Update crew cried uncle and left Oracle Arena. It was another meaningless fourth quarter for an irrelevant team, out of the playoff picture 44 games into the season.Yesterday par-for-the-course woeful performance was overshadowed by Oracle Arena buzz of Warriors news that was good, and got better. No, we are not drinking and texting simultaneously (we always remember the golden rule: drinking, driving, texting: only one at a time).As harsh as it sounds, part of yesterday good news was the Warriors being undressed despite dressing 11 players. Supporters who double as believers (read: team-employed announcers and beat writers who need access) can no longer exercise their pre-packaged, pop-in-the-microwave excuses: the team is short handed; they are road weary; they are playing an elite team.Jeez, even their best excuse, Monta is worn out, didn fly; Ellis was well rested, having had the previous four days off.(Which, by the way, reminds us that weve been thinking about the Warriors injury bug. It begs the question: is it just a coincidence that the Ws have more injuries than other teams? Or is there an issue with the strength and conditioning staff and program? Just saying)So the Dubs were blown out by an 8-16 road team that recently shed two rotation players for salary cap/luxury tax reasons (if you don think Devin Brown matters, recall the Dec. 23 Hornets-Warriors game. Brown started, played 25 minutes and chipped in with 11 points, two boards, two dimes and two steals).Last night performance was indicative ofGoldenState last 100 games. They came up way short, not even competitive. The naked truth is clear:management dismantled a very good 2007 playoff team, and have absolutely nothing to show for it.Perhaps this could Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
be a springboard for change. Which leads us toYesterday Better News: It was reported and confirmed that earlier in the day Larry Ellison, the fourth wealthiest person in the world, stated unequivocally that he would like to buy the Warriors. Let me repeat: Larry Ellison wants to buy the Warriors . This should be Shubert, or at least Radiohead, to the ears of anyGoldenStatefan.By now, everyone agrees that any change is good change. But it better than that. The truth is, Ellison likes to win. Wemean he really, really likes to win. Onedoesn build an empire like Oracle, amassing a $22 billion net worth without the drive and desire to claim victory at every turn. Moreover, his dedication to winningAmerica Cup is almost unprecedented.Ellison is willing to do what it takeshire the best advisors, put together the best team, spend what it takes to put his team in position to win it all. Sound like a good formula for the frozen tundra Warriors? In the words of everyone favorite helicopter-riding moose hunter, you betcha!Apparently, the Ellison news conference went down like this:at the Oracle headquarters inRedwood City,CA, a post business announcement QA included the plea can you please buy the Warriors? Ellison quickly responded, Im trying, Im trying. Then, as if to underline the dysfunctional nature of the current Warrior franchise, he added: Unfortunately, you can have a hostile takeover of a basketball team.It's true, no one can force a sale of the team. But fans can change the financial and emotional equation for the current owner. Then, who knows? Perhaps he Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
tires of the public humiliation, the futility, the losing, the financial losses. Maybe he relents and puts a realistic price tag on the franchise he has run into the ground.So remember: friends don let friends attend this season Warriors games. Connect the dots: Less attendance, less revenue, more financial losses, increased desire to sell, asking price lowered, non-hostile transaction is completed.Were No. 28.Here to hoping it gets worse, so it can get better.As always, go Ws
bench, our beloved Warriors Update crew cried uncle and left Oracle Arena. It was another meaningless fourth quarter for an irrelevant team, out of the playoff picture 44 games into the season.Yesterday par-for-the-course woeful performance was overshadowed by Oracle Arena buzz of Warriors news that was good, and got better. No, we are not drinking and texting simultaneously (we always remember the golden rule: drinking, driving, texting: only one at a time).As harsh as it sounds, part of yesterday good news was the Warriors being undressed despite dressing 11 players. Supporters who double as believers (read: team-employed announcers and beat writers who need access) can no longer exercise their pre-packaged, pop-in-the-microwave excuses: the team is short handed; they are road weary; they are playing an elite team.Jeez, even their best excuse, Monta is worn out, didn fly; Ellis was well rested, having had the previous four days off.(Which, by the way, reminds us that weve been thinking about the Warriors injury bug. It begs the question: is it just a coincidence that the Ws have more injuries than other teams? Or is there an issue with the strength and conditioning staff and program? Just saying)So the Dubs were blown out by an 8-16 road team that recently shed two rotation players for salary cap/luxury tax reasons (if you don think Devin Brown matters, recall the Dec. 23 Hornets-Warriors game. Brown started, played 25 minutes and chipped in with 11 points, two boards, two dimes and two steals).Last night performance was indicative ofGoldenState last 100 games. They came up way short, not even competitive. The naked truth is clear:management dismantled a very good 2007 playoff team, and have absolutely nothing to show for it.Perhaps this could Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
be a springboard for change. Which leads us toYesterday Better News: It was reported and confirmed that earlier in the day Larry Ellison, the fourth wealthiest person in the world, stated unequivocally that he would like to buy the Warriors. Let me repeat: Larry Ellison wants to buy the Warriors . This should be Shubert, or at least Radiohead, to the ears of anyGoldenStatefan.By now, everyone agrees that any change is good change. But it better than that. The truth is, Ellison likes to win. Wemean he really, really likes to win. Onedoesn build an empire like Oracle, amassing a $22 billion net worth without the drive and desire to claim victory at every turn. Moreover, his dedication to winningAmerica Cup is almost unprecedented.Ellison is willing to do what it takeshire the best advisors, put together the best team, spend what it takes to put his team in position to win it all. Sound like a good formula for the frozen tundra Warriors? In the words of everyone favorite helicopter-riding moose hunter, you betcha!Apparently, the Ellison news conference went down like this:at the Oracle headquarters inRedwood City,CA, a post business announcement QA included the plea can you please buy the Warriors? Ellison quickly responded, Im trying, Im trying. Then, as if to underline the dysfunctional nature of the current Warrior franchise, he added: Unfortunately, you can have a hostile takeover of a basketball team.It's true, no one can force a sale of the team. But fans can change the financial and emotional equation for the current owner. Then, who knows? Perhaps he Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
tires of the public humiliation, the futility, the losing, the financial losses. Maybe he relents and puts a realistic price tag on the franchise he has run into the ground.So remember: friends don let friends attend this season Warriors games. Connect the dots: Less attendance, less revenue, more financial losses, increased desire to sell, asking price lowered, non-hostile transaction is completed.Were No. 28.Here to hoping it gets worse, so it can get better.As always, go Ws
12 Jan 11 Keys to the Wolf Den: Timberwolves Howl at Home and The Gator
You got to laugh at that picture.In all seriousness though, the Wolves are bad, and perhaps will have an even worse record than last season. But the difference between last season was that the Wolves had won more games on the road then they had won at home.Astonishing, as they were the only team in the NBA Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
that had done that. But this season is different, the Wolves have won 10 games so far, but 7 of those victories have come at home.Although a 6 home win to 4 visitor win isn't a large differential, the Wolves as of late have played significantly better at home, and horrible on the road.The Wolves in their last three home losses, have lost by a combined total of 10 points.As of late, the Timberwolves have been blown out on the road, and have shown drastic improvement at home.The Wolves have been blown out due to a lack of luster in their starts of the games, showing no effort or energy, which is something that should never exist in a young ballclub.In the Wolves den, it appears that the Wolves are a different team, win or lose.The reason why it matters is because the Wolves haven't played well on either circumstance, and it would be nice for Minnesotans to have a sport to watch at home or attend, because of the Vikings destroying themselves.It's merely something to look forward to when the Wolves come home.Corey BrewerOkay, how many times is this guy going to pop up in a bleacher report article?You have to admit that he's playing extremely well, and unlike some pups, it's been over a large span of games.Has been the leading Wolves scorer six times out of the last 10 games.Has now had ten 20+ point games.He's the sixth player in Timberwolves history to have a 25+ points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ steals game. The last to achieve that feat was Kevin Garnett in 2003.Averaging over 16 points over his last 25 games.The reason I keep bringing this guy up is because he's slowly but surely looking good for the future of the Wolves. The strides that Brewer has made play him into Most Improved Player standards, but the losing record will probably ruin that.The ceiling for Corey Brewer Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
is possibly a player that averages 14-17 PPG, who's the team's best defender, a good open court shooter, and high level energy guy who can either start or come off the bench.But if you add 15 pounds, and more polish on his offensive game...that's a different story.Just a quick read, congrats to the Wolves on their wire-to-wire win over the Clippers.Thanks for reading!
that had done that. But this season is different, the Wolves have won 10 games so far, but 7 of those victories have come at home.Although a 6 home win to 4 visitor win isn't a large differential, the Wolves as of late have played significantly better at home, and horrible on the road.The Wolves in their last three home losses, have lost by a combined total of 10 points.As of late, the Timberwolves have been blown out on the road, and have shown drastic improvement at home.The Wolves have been blown out due to a lack of luster in their starts of the games, showing no effort or energy, which is something that should never exist in a young ballclub.In the Wolves den, it appears that the Wolves are a different team, win or lose.The reason why it matters is because the Wolves haven't played well on either circumstance, and it would be nice for Minnesotans to have a sport to watch at home or attend, because of the Vikings destroying themselves.It's merely something to look forward to when the Wolves come home.Corey BrewerOkay, how many times is this guy going to pop up in a bleacher report article?You have to admit that he's playing extremely well, and unlike some pups, it's been over a large span of games.Has been the leading Wolves scorer six times out of the last 10 games.Has now had ten 20+ point games.He's the sixth player in Timberwolves history to have a 25+ points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ steals game. The last to achieve that feat was Kevin Garnett in 2003.Averaging over 16 points over his last 25 games.The reason I keep bringing this guy up is because he's slowly but surely looking good for the future of the Wolves. The strides that Brewer has made play him into Most Improved Player standards, but the losing record will probably ruin that.The ceiling for Corey Brewer Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
is possibly a player that averages 14-17 PPG, who's the team's best defender, a good open court shooter, and high level energy guy who can either start or come off the bench.But if you add 15 pounds, and more polish on his offensive game...that's a different story.Just a quick read, congrats to the Wolves on their wire-to-wire win over the Clippers.Thanks for reading!
2011年1月10日星期一
10 Jan 11 Chicago Bulls: Outlook On the Team After the Trade Deadline
Nick Laham/Getty ImagesThe Chicago Bulls had a very difficult job to accomplish.They had to figure out how to cut salary and open up cap space for next year big free agent market, while keeping the current team in the playoff hunt.Looking back on this the day after the deadline, it can be said that the Bulls job was successfully Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
accomplished.The Bulls traded away Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons to Charlotte and Milwaukee, respectively. The Bulls, overall, received Ronald Murray, Joe Alexander, Hakim Warrick, and Acie Law. They also received a future first round draft pick from Charlotte.All four of the players received have expiring contracts. With the moves Chicago made, they have opened up $18 to 20 million in cap space. They currently have enough room to sign one max free agent deal, and there will be a ton of options come July.But not only do these moves allow for the Bulls to sign a top free agent next summer, they also don compromise this year run at a playoff spot.The Chicago Bulls need to make the playoffs this year and give their players, like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson, valuable playoff experience. Rose and Noah played in the epic seven-game series against Boston last year in the first round, but the more playoff minutes the better.The Bulls did not want to throw away this year team at the deadline, and they didn. They kept Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Taj Arizona Cardinals jersey
Gibson. They dealt Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons, two bench players who weren having great seasons and were not living up to their expectations.The five starters remain intact, lead by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Noah is still nursing an injury and it is unknown when he will return, but he will likely be back on the court soon. He is currently average 12 rebounds per game, good for third in the NBA. He also is the reason the Bulls lead the league in rebounds and blocks.The bench does lose two players who, while not living up to potential, where solid contributors to this Bulls team. One can hope that at least one of the four players the Bulls received in the trades can contribute off the bench.It would be very disappointing to see the Bulls miss out on the playoffs this year. They play in the Eastern Conference, in which, if the season Atlanta Falcons jersey
ended today, the Bulls would be the sixth seed. And they are only 27-26. It should be fairly easy for the Bulls to qualify for the playoffs with their current roster because of the key pieces that they didn trade away.The outlook that this team has is a good one. You can expect a playoff berth, but you can also expect a fast exit. Next summer though, you can expect the Bulls to be in the thick of the race for at least one ofthebig free agents.
accomplished.The Bulls traded away Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons to Charlotte and Milwaukee, respectively. The Bulls, overall, received Ronald Murray, Joe Alexander, Hakim Warrick, and Acie Law. They also received a future first round draft pick from Charlotte.All four of the players received have expiring contracts. With the moves Chicago made, they have opened up $18 to 20 million in cap space. They currently have enough room to sign one max free agent deal, and there will be a ton of options come July.But not only do these moves allow for the Bulls to sign a top free agent next summer, they also don compromise this year run at a playoff spot.The Chicago Bulls need to make the playoffs this year and give their players, like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson, valuable playoff experience. Rose and Noah played in the epic seven-game series against Boston last year in the first round, but the more playoff minutes the better.The Bulls did not want to throw away this year team at the deadline, and they didn. They kept Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Taj Arizona Cardinals jersey
Gibson. They dealt Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons, two bench players who weren having great seasons and were not living up to their expectations.The five starters remain intact, lead by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Noah is still nursing an injury and it is unknown when he will return, but he will likely be back on the court soon. He is currently average 12 rebounds per game, good for third in the NBA. He also is the reason the Bulls lead the league in rebounds and blocks.The bench does lose two players who, while not living up to potential, where solid contributors to this Bulls team. One can hope that at least one of the four players the Bulls received in the trades can contribute off the bench.It would be very disappointing to see the Bulls miss out on the playoffs this year. They play in the Eastern Conference, in which, if the season Atlanta Falcons jersey
ended today, the Bulls would be the sixth seed. And they are only 27-26. It should be fairly easy for the Bulls to qualify for the playoffs with their current roster because of the key pieces that they didn trade away.The outlook that this team has is a good one. You can expect a playoff berth, but you can also expect a fast exit. Next summer though, you can expect the Bulls to be in the thick of the race for at least one ofthebig free agents.
2011年1月9日星期日
9 Jan 11 The San Antonio Spurs Can Feel Tony Parker's Pain
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesTony Parker and Steve Nash collided in the San Antonio backcourt. The Spursguard appeared to take the brunt of the hit and stayed downfor more than 20 seconds.His Phoenix counterpart extended a hand.Parker wiped a drop of blood from his nose, but it wasn't his. Instead, Nash needed themedical attention.His nose bled until referees ruled him unfit to stay on the court. He finished his gutsy 31-point performance with one final trey to keep the Suns close.With a steady diet of Tim Dunan, Parker, and Ginobili, San Antoniodispatched Washington Redskins jersey
Phoenix like some pesky house fly.This was Game One of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, the toughest series the Spurs faced en route to a fourth championship.The high-scoring openingaffairseemed to sum up the Suns' deficiencies against their nemesis. No matter what Nash did, Parker was better. Nash totaled 31 points with eight assists, butParker poured in 32, parading to the hoop at will.Then, the 67-winDallas Mavericks and 60-win Suns constituted the Spurs' chief challengers for West supremacy. No one else appeared fit to tackle the task.The Spurs still scared the daylights out of teams withsuperior talent. Theycould defend as if their mealtickets depended on every stopand boasted two electrifying backcourt stars as unpredictable and indefensible as the Texas weather.The score of Game One of the 2005 Western Conference Finals between the two outfits? Spurs 121, Suns 114.Duncan and Parker terrorized the defenseless Suns, at times outgunning them at their own fast-breakgame.Sunday afternoon, the teams reprised their one-sided rivalary. Phoenix could compete and sometimes dominate regular season matches, but San Antoniotriumphed when it mattered most.Luck and idiocy have always played a role.Joe Johnson missed most of the five-game 2005 joust. The league suspended Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw after leaving the bench in 2007but not Duncan for doing the same two quarters earlier. The Suns blew a 16-point lead and lost Game One in 2008 in double overtime.Amare Stoudemire could have sealed that contest with a 20-footer. Instead, hesteamrolled a stationary Kurt Thomas, pickingup his sixth foul. That boneheaded play set up a remarkable one.Moments later, Duncan squared up behind the three-point line and drained his first triple of the season to force anotherfive minutes.The latest bit of fortuity for the Spurs? Jason Richardsonblew a wide-open dunk late Sunday afternoon that would have knotted the score at 107.The Suns lost again to their tormentors, but the afternoon did not feel like a flashback to 2005, 2007, or 2008.The Spurs' fortunes have changed, and an ailingParker highlights the team's woebegone state of affairs.San Antonio won 113-110--beating an opponent ahead of them in the standings for the second time this week--and remained in seventh place.The Spurs are closer to ninth place than first or second. This was never the case in the championship years.Parker delivered a pedestrian buthelpful16-point effort while Nash sleepwalked to his season averages of 18 points and 11 assists.There were some reminders of playoff series past. Nash trimmed the deficit to one with an off-balance trey late in the fourth quarter.Duncan's cerebral play again proved the difference between the two frontcourts.Stoudemire went berserk on the Spurs with 41 points.Everything else feels different.Parker has not been his explosive self, and the Spurs have fought the worst identity crisis of the Duncan era.Coach Gregg Popovich wanted his ultra-talented roster to coalesce enough to return to the Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
stingy defensive form of year's past.Friday night in Houston, the Rockets led the Spurs 59-41 at the half. What defense?The personnel also promised to deliver more offense than ever before. The Spurs average more than 100 points per game, but those numbers lie.Never before has a Popovich team struggled so muchto execute in crunch time.The Spurs choked away a 10-point lead several weeks ago at the Rose Garden. Brandon Roy missed the contest, but the Blazers still swept the season series.The Utah Jazz also completed the franchise's first season sweep of the Spurs since Duncan entered the league in 1997.Parker's injury-riddled season explains the dropoff better than anything else can.At 27, the French guard is entering the prime of his career.The Spurs appear more well-done than burned prime rib.The latest ailment might be humorous under different circumstances.This time, food poisoningsidelined the former Finals MVP instead ofa hip flexor, plantar fasciitis, or a sprained ankle.He hurts, and the Spurs can feel his pain.When Ginobli and Parker fail towreak havocaround the rim, San Antonio lookslike a .500 ball club headed for the lottery.There is no reason to entertain the Spurs as Secaucus-bound yet. They can still make a postseason push and surge into the top half of the West playoff picture.The second and third seeds remain a mathematical possibility. However, the Spurs will need the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets to belly up to surpass them. Neither club wants to falter now.The Mavs have won seven in a row since the trade that landed Caron Butler and Brendan Haywoodin Dallas. The Nuggetsalmost beat the defending champion Lakers for the third time this year.Maybe Richardson's botched dunk is a sign of things to come. With 24 losses, one more than in their last championship year, the Spurs cannot afford to be picky.Of the remaining foes, 18 own winning records. San Antonio will play eight back-to-back sets, more than any other team in the playoff hunt out West.The Spurs play the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Magic twice. They visit Bostonand Oklahoma City a second time.The Spurs could once count on Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli to carry them through demanding stretches.One-third of that trio is now hobbled, a shell of his All-Star self, and the Spurs don't often look like $80 million.The Big Easy beckons the underachieving, frustrated squadtonight.The New Orleans Hornets have managed to stay afloat sans Chris Paul, and they will want to avoid a seriessweep.The Hornets alsovisit the ATT Center on Friday.If Ginobli has played more like the Ginobili of old, Parker has regressed. A myriad foot problems and a hip ailment have sabataged his agility and his finishes in traffic.Parker abused Nash and anyone else who tried to slow him for most of those 2005 and 2007 series.Even in the 2008 playoffs, Parker led a game-three rout with 41 points. The Spurs led the series 3-0 and won in five.Sunday, Parker and Nash danced again, even if they did not confront each other muchin one-on-one situations.Mike D'Antoni would put Nash on Bruce Bowen oranother marginal scorerto hide him on the defensive end. Alvin Gentry has found a way to do the same.Parker stumbled across the dance floor again on hisswollenfeet. Thanks to George Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Hill, Duncan, Dejuan Blair, and clutch free throw shooting by Ginobili,Parker did not have to carry the team during any significant stretches of the contest.The Spurs still own the Suns, and maybethe confused, angry bunch from the Alamo Citycan take heart and find solace in that.A look at the standings provides no such relief.Ifthe Spurs topple the Hornets tonight, theycould move up a slot or two.In 2007, the third seed was all but locked up by the end of February.Now, the team must fight justto secure a postseason berth.Parker hurts. So do the Spurs.
Phoenix like some pesky house fly.This was Game One of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, the toughest series the Spurs faced en route to a fourth championship.The high-scoring openingaffairseemed to sum up the Suns' deficiencies against their nemesis. No matter what Nash did, Parker was better. Nash totaled 31 points with eight assists, butParker poured in 32, parading to the hoop at will.Then, the 67-winDallas Mavericks and 60-win Suns constituted the Spurs' chief challengers for West supremacy. No one else appeared fit to tackle the task.The Spurs still scared the daylights out of teams withsuperior talent. Theycould defend as if their mealtickets depended on every stopand boasted two electrifying backcourt stars as unpredictable and indefensible as the Texas weather.The score of Game One of the 2005 Western Conference Finals between the two outfits? Spurs 121, Suns 114.Duncan and Parker terrorized the defenseless Suns, at times outgunning them at their own fast-breakgame.Sunday afternoon, the teams reprised their one-sided rivalary. Phoenix could compete and sometimes dominate regular season matches, but San Antoniotriumphed when it mattered most.Luck and idiocy have always played a role.Joe Johnson missed most of the five-game 2005 joust. The league suspended Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw after leaving the bench in 2007but not Duncan for doing the same two quarters earlier. The Suns blew a 16-point lead and lost Game One in 2008 in double overtime.Amare Stoudemire could have sealed that contest with a 20-footer. Instead, hesteamrolled a stationary Kurt Thomas, pickingup his sixth foul. That boneheaded play set up a remarkable one.Moments later, Duncan squared up behind the three-point line and drained his first triple of the season to force anotherfive minutes.The latest bit of fortuity for the Spurs? Jason Richardsonblew a wide-open dunk late Sunday afternoon that would have knotted the score at 107.The Suns lost again to their tormentors, but the afternoon did not feel like a flashback to 2005, 2007, or 2008.The Spurs' fortunes have changed, and an ailingParker highlights the team's woebegone state of affairs.San Antonio won 113-110--beating an opponent ahead of them in the standings for the second time this week--and remained in seventh place.The Spurs are closer to ninth place than first or second. This was never the case in the championship years.Parker delivered a pedestrian buthelpful16-point effort while Nash sleepwalked to his season averages of 18 points and 11 assists.There were some reminders of playoff series past. Nash trimmed the deficit to one with an off-balance trey late in the fourth quarter.Duncan's cerebral play again proved the difference between the two frontcourts.Stoudemire went berserk on the Spurs with 41 points.Everything else feels different.Parker has not been his explosive self, and the Spurs have fought the worst identity crisis of the Duncan era.Coach Gregg Popovich wanted his ultra-talented roster to coalesce enough to return to the Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
stingy defensive form of year's past.Friday night in Houston, the Rockets led the Spurs 59-41 at the half. What defense?The personnel also promised to deliver more offense than ever before. The Spurs average more than 100 points per game, but those numbers lie.Never before has a Popovich team struggled so muchto execute in crunch time.The Spurs choked away a 10-point lead several weeks ago at the Rose Garden. Brandon Roy missed the contest, but the Blazers still swept the season series.The Utah Jazz also completed the franchise's first season sweep of the Spurs since Duncan entered the league in 1997.Parker's injury-riddled season explains the dropoff better than anything else can.At 27, the French guard is entering the prime of his career.The Spurs appear more well-done than burned prime rib.The latest ailment might be humorous under different circumstances.This time, food poisoningsidelined the former Finals MVP instead ofa hip flexor, plantar fasciitis, or a sprained ankle.He hurts, and the Spurs can feel his pain.When Ginobli and Parker fail towreak havocaround the rim, San Antonio lookslike a .500 ball club headed for the lottery.There is no reason to entertain the Spurs as Secaucus-bound yet. They can still make a postseason push and surge into the top half of the West playoff picture.The second and third seeds remain a mathematical possibility. However, the Spurs will need the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets to belly up to surpass them. Neither club wants to falter now.The Mavs have won seven in a row since the trade that landed Caron Butler and Brendan Haywoodin Dallas. The Nuggetsalmost beat the defending champion Lakers for the third time this year.Maybe Richardson's botched dunk is a sign of things to come. With 24 losses, one more than in their last championship year, the Spurs cannot afford to be picky.Of the remaining foes, 18 own winning records. San Antonio will play eight back-to-back sets, more than any other team in the playoff hunt out West.The Spurs play the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Magic twice. They visit Bostonand Oklahoma City a second time.The Spurs could once count on Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli to carry them through demanding stretches.One-third of that trio is now hobbled, a shell of his All-Star self, and the Spurs don't often look like $80 million.The Big Easy beckons the underachieving, frustrated squadtonight.The New Orleans Hornets have managed to stay afloat sans Chris Paul, and they will want to avoid a seriessweep.The Hornets alsovisit the ATT Center on Friday.If Ginobli has played more like the Ginobili of old, Parker has regressed. A myriad foot problems and a hip ailment have sabataged his agility and his finishes in traffic.Parker abused Nash and anyone else who tried to slow him for most of those 2005 and 2007 series.Even in the 2008 playoffs, Parker led a game-three rout with 41 points. The Spurs led the series 3-0 and won in five.Sunday, Parker and Nash danced again, even if they did not confront each other muchin one-on-one situations.Mike D'Antoni would put Nash on Bruce Bowen oranother marginal scorerto hide him on the defensive end. Alvin Gentry has found a way to do the same.Parker stumbled across the dance floor again on hisswollenfeet. Thanks to George Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Hill, Duncan, Dejuan Blair, and clutch free throw shooting by Ginobili,Parker did not have to carry the team during any significant stretches of the contest.The Spurs still own the Suns, and maybethe confused, angry bunch from the Alamo Citycan take heart and find solace in that.A look at the standings provides no such relief.Ifthe Spurs topple the Hornets tonight, theycould move up a slot or two.In 2007, the third seed was all but locked up by the end of February.Now, the team must fight justto secure a postseason berth.Parker hurts. So do the Spurs.
2011年1月8日星期六
8 Jan 11 Can Big Baby Fix Your Windshield?
Elsa/Getty ImagesBecause he owns the glass... (I know you laughed.... but probably said "cheesy" at the same time..)In a year in which everyone is saying the Celtics can rebound, Big Baby is doing exactly what he has always done throughout his career. For some reason, a reason I can quite figure out, it feels as though Glen is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Maybe it is because he felt like he let the team down during the time his hand was wrapped up and he couldn't be on the floor?Last year once he became a starter, he became more of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
a regular player. What I mean by that is that he became more of a jump shooter, and really didn make (as many of)the gritty plays that he is making now. What we notice when he is in the game is many offensive boards. I commend his hustle, but I sometimes despise hisattempts to90% of the time shoot right after he gets the board. If he gets the rebound, and is away from the basket, more times than not the entire other team is down there because they expect to easily get the defensive rebound. So that leaves a loaded paint area for Baby to try and meander his way around. Sometimes this leads to some very awkward shots.What I don mind is when he gets it directly under the hoop and puts it right back up (maybe after a few of his patented pump fakes). Or, another time I don mind it is when he can clearly Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
notice that it is a one on one opportunity instead of a 1 on 4.It is obvious that Davis saw how effective Kevin Garnett was at his mid range shot, and wanted to add that to his repertoire. He did that last year, but with the thumb injury this year has struggled to find his stroke. Another thing he should take after KG is The Big Tickets ability to pass from the post area. If Big Baby were to have the court vision on some of these rebounds he grabs, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce could get some wide open attempts for three.How can I really complain too much, though. He is doing what very few players on the team can do. All I can do is nit pick and say what would make him great at what he does instead of "good". In the past 3 games, he has averaged only 17 minutes, but in those minutes he has reeled in13 rebounds with an astonishing Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
10 of them being of the offensive variety. If that isn't hustle, and something that will be great in the playoffs, than I don't know what is.This post was created by GreenBanner18 of Gino's Jungle (a Boston Celtics news and opinion resource)
a regular player. What I mean by that is that he became more of a jump shooter, and really didn make (as many of)the gritty plays that he is making now. What we notice when he is in the game is many offensive boards. I commend his hustle, but I sometimes despise hisattempts to90% of the time shoot right after he gets the board. If he gets the rebound, and is away from the basket, more times than not the entire other team is down there because they expect to easily get the defensive rebound. So that leaves a loaded paint area for Baby to try and meander his way around. Sometimes this leads to some very awkward shots.What I don mind is when he gets it directly under the hoop and puts it right back up (maybe after a few of his patented pump fakes). Or, another time I don mind it is when he can clearly Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
notice that it is a one on one opportunity instead of a 1 on 4.It is obvious that Davis saw how effective Kevin Garnett was at his mid range shot, and wanted to add that to his repertoire. He did that last year, but with the thumb injury this year has struggled to find his stroke. Another thing he should take after KG is The Big Tickets ability to pass from the post area. If Big Baby were to have the court vision on some of these rebounds he grabs, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce could get some wide open attempts for three.How can I really complain too much, though. He is doing what very few players on the team can do. All I can do is nit pick and say what would make him great at what he does instead of "good". In the past 3 games, he has averaged only 17 minutes, but in those minutes he has reeled in13 rebounds with an astonishing Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
10 of them being of the offensive variety. If that isn't hustle, and something that will be great in the playoffs, than I don't know what is.This post was created by GreenBanner18 of Gino's Jungle (a Boston Celtics news and opinion resource)
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