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2009-10 NBA Season Outlook
Posted by: | CommentsThe 2009-2010 NBA season is less than two weeks away, and speculation of a hoops campaign even greater than last year is already underway. Just when we thought we had seen it all with the Kobe Bryant-Lebron James puppets, a new season with far more parody is about to take flight.
The NBA has been through several ups and downs since the end of last season. Highlighting its offseason is Commissioner David Stern’s lockout of veteran referees. The current deal between the league and its officials expired September 1, 2009. As of now, the two sides have reached an agreement on two of the three pressing issues: severance payments for referees who retire, and the number of game assignments given to referees from the NBA D-League and WNBA. The only remaining matter is the referees’ pension plan. Stern wants a reduction while the referees’ association wants to leave it the same or increase it.
As far as basketball is concerned, many people believe that the Los Angeles Lakers are still the team to beat in the Western Conference, in spite of all the distractions they’ve had to deal with. They recently acquired Ron Artest, who has a history of bringing drama wherever he goes. I disagree with this move and feel they would have been better off re-signing the more manageable Trevor Ariza, rather than taking a chance on somebody who many call a “ticking time bomb.” The Lakers also had a long offseason dealing with Lamar Odom. Many felt that he would be playing elsewhere this upcoming season, but the Lakers waited until the last possible minute to re-sign him. Additionally, he just got married to reality star Khloe Kardashian. It’s bad enough that the Lakers play in Los Angeles (the ultimate place for distractions), but now, Odom has given himself a natural excuse to underperform.
Last year, the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets were considered the Lakers’ biggest competition. However, neither of these teams made significant moves in the offseason to upgrade their roster. The key word here is significant. The Rockets signed Ariza, the unsung hero from last year’s Lakers’ championship team. This is a great addition for the Rockets, yet, it makes little sense. The Rockets are already one of the best defensive teams in the league and have been since Rick Adelman assumed head coaching duties in 2007. Ariza was credited with shutting down stars like Hedo Turkoglu and Carmelo Anthony in the playoffs. His sole purpose on a stacked Lakers’ team was to defend. So, why add more defense? Ariza has improved his offense since entering the league in 2004, but is simply not yet ready to carry a team on his back.
The Denver Nuggets were in the best position to oust the Lakers from last year’s playoffs. However, their failure to add one or two more players in the offseason will cost them dearly. They may even have problems repeating as division champions. Both the Utah Jazz and Portland Trailblazers represent young teams that seem ready to take the next step. As close as the division was last year, I can’t fathom why the Nuggets think they are good enough to remain with the status quo. It was apparent to all who watched the series that the Nuggets were just one big man away from eliminating the Lakers. They failed to make that move and could consequently find themselves on the outside looking in this season.
The Eastern Conference, however, is far more intriguing. I believe that it will be a three-team race toward the end of the year with Cleveland, Orlando and Boston separating themselves from the rest of the pack. With Shaquille O’Neal going back to the east to team up with LeBron James, can anyone say championship? The last time Shaq went to the east and was paired with one of the most dynamic players in the league, he came away with a championship. (Remember Dwyane Wade?) If you think the Cavs had fun last year, just wait until Shaq gets acclimated to his new teammates.
The Orlando Magic lost their leader in Hedo Turkoglu, but replaced him with a seasoned veteran in Vince Carter. Carter will not be able to fill Turkoglu’s shoes because the whole offense ran through him starting in the fourth quarter. Carter does not have the same skill set as Turkoglu, but nevertheless, he represents great star power to have at shooting guard. They also made a great move in matching the offer for center Marcin Gortat. He will still play behind Dwight Howard, but Head Coach Stan Van Gundy believes that at times during the game, they can both play together.
Many NBA fans have forgotten about the Boston Celtics. The NBA champions from two years ago made a significant move in signing Rasheed Wallace. Wallace will be able to ease the pressure on Kevin Garnett, as well as spread the floor because of his ability to knock down the three. He also works as an insurance policy in case anything else happens to Garnett. Moreover, let’s not forget about Rajon Rondo, who was already one of the best point guards in the league. He’s added another year of experience under his belt, which could only pay dividends.
We have endured the NBA offseason for a long three months, and it is finally tipping off on Tuesday, October 27, when the Celtics visit the Cavs. Obviously, the NBA schedule-maker is just as excited as we are to see how these two teams will perform with their new stars.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Monday Night Football Review and Preview
Posted by: | CommentsThrough the first five weeks of what has been an intriguing football season, the Miami Dolphins are the most successful team rushing the ball, averaging 177 yards per game. The funny thing about this fact is that they are doing it in a most unconventional way by utilizing the Wildcat offense. The phenomenon of the Wildcat offense has caught many defenses in the NFL off guard. The New York Jets experienced it firsthand on Monday night. The Dolphins have said over and over again that they will continue to put their best players on the field. The difference is they put all their best players on the field at the same time. The Dolphins one-two punch of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams combined for a total of 226 yards against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. Once again, head coach Tony Sporano executed his game plan to perfection, converting on nine of 14 third-down attempts.
The Wildcat is not a new offense. The Dolphins’ version features their most electrifying playmaker, Brown, taking a direct snap from center, and then having the option of handing the ball of to the motion receiver, in this case Williams, or faking the handoff and taking it up the gut himself. This type of offense was developed in college football many years ago, and was recently implemented into the NFL last year by Sporano and former coach and current Dolphins’ VP of Football Operations Bill Parcells. In the past, coaches would not dare run this type of offense because NFL players were said to be too strong, smart, and quick for an offense such as this. Apparently, Sporano and Parcells knew something the rest of the league didn’t.
For some odd reason, the New York Jets looked extremely confused on defense. First-year head coach Rex Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens last season. Mind you, the Ravens have been known for boasting one of the top five defenses in the league since 2000. He brought this same philosophy to the Jets, along with some of his favorite players including Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard. He also played the Dolphins twice last year, shutting down this same Wildcat offense both times. So, if any blame is to be placed for Monday night’s debacle, it solely rests on Ryan’s shoulders for failing to adequately prepare his team.
Next Monday night, however, may be a game for the ages. The undefeated Denver Broncos travel to San Diego for the first time this season. Forget the fact that it is only their first meeting and we are only six weeks into the season; this is a must-win game for the Chargers if they want any shot at making the playoffs. Once again, they’ve gotten off to a slow start (2-2), except this time it may hurt them more than ever before. Last season, the division was fairly competitive. But after looking at both teams’ schedules with four games remaining, it was easy to conclude that the Broncos were probably not going to make it to the playoffs.
This year, however, poses a different Broncos’ team that seems focused and has taken on the mentality of their new head coach, Josh McDaniels. Their staff does a great job of putting the team in successful positions to win games. Add this to the fact that they have a great defense and a quarterback named Kyle Orton who doesn’t turn the ball over, and it seems that they are in a prime position to steal a victory in San Diego.
What makes this scenario even more likely to come true is the fact that the Chargers’ organization is currently in a state of flux. They were the premier team in the division and have been for a long time. But all of a sudden, they can’t run the ball because of a poorly assembled backfield. And they can’t stop the run because of dreadful outside linebacker play, which means there is no pressure on the opposing quarterback so they have trouble defending the pass. This chain of reaction is what the Chargers face every game. The Broncos’ staff is comprised of several former New England Patriots coaches, some of whom are widely recognized as the best game planners in the NFL. I believe that McDaniels will exploit the Chargers for their long list of shortcomings because that’s the New England way.
Get ready for another interesting Monday Night Football game!
Popularity: unranked [?]
Grading the AFC West
Posted by: | CommentsThe San Diego Chargers were on bye week this week and could do nothing more than sit at home and watch their division rival Denver Broncos beat their conference rivals, the New England Patriots. Yes, this is the same New England Patriots team that has ousted the Chargers from the playoffs twice during the past three years. What may be puzzling to many people is how this chain of events took place. The Chargers have completely dominated the AFC West since 2003, and have beaten the Broncos five out of the last six meetings. So why are the Broncos 5-0 and the Chargers 2-2? Are the Chargers still kings of the AFC West? What happened to the other two teams in the division? Let’s review the AFC West.
Gone are the days when LT could put the whole team on his shoulders and carry the Chargers to the playoffs. Gone are the days when LT could rush for 150 yards and two touchdowns with ease. All of a sudden, there is competition within the AFC West and the Chargers have already given the Broncos a head start. Denver’s success seems to have come out of thin air. Former head coach Mike Shanahan was viewed as the franchise, so when team owner Pat Bowlen decided to let him go following the 2008 season, many people felt this signified a rebuilding effort. Little did they know that Bowlen had other plans in mind.
When former Patriots offensive guru Josh McDaniels was hired to succeed Shanahan, many felt this could be the start of another New England-type franchise in the AFC West. Then, Kansas City brings in Scott Pioli, the Patriots’ former VP of player personnel, signifying that the AFC West was now focusing on improving teams from the top down. Now that both the Broncos and Chiefs are under new management, many expect the division will be more competitive. It’s just that nobody thought it could happen this fast. Let’s take a look at the four teams in the division, including Oakland, and give them grades for their seasons thus far.
The Broncos are 5-0. Because they’re undefeated, they are the only team that gets an A. Up until Week 4, many experts were questioning the strength of their competition. NFL aficionados agreed that their Week 5 matchup against the Patriots would be the ultimate test. Well, they passed with flying colors. Just like their Week 4 victory against Dallas, the Broncos fell behind early, trailing the Patriots 10-0. The Broncos worked themselves back into the game and ended up winning 20-17 in overtime. Who would have guessed that firing your head coach/general manager of 13 years, restructuring management, losing your pro bowl quarterback, and choking during the last five games of 2008 in order to practically give the Chargers a playoff spot, could create such a positive result for your team. I like to call it the “Patriots Management Effect.” Because of this influence, the Denver Broncos are 5-0 and are the only team in this division to receive an A.
Through four games this season, the San Diego Chargers are a disappointing 2-2. None of their wins have been impressive and I am sorry to say both of their losses were expected. Can anyone even remember the last time the Chargers beat the Steelers? I can’t. Up to this point in the season, I give the Chargers a C- and that generosity is due solely to their .500 record. Unlike their divisional counterparts, the Chargers did absolutely nothing to improve their team over the offseason. They failed to address glaring weaknesses from a year ago: an inconsistent running game and a porous defense. Last year, they were unable to get any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The absence of Shawne Merriman was a huge reason why, so they remedied the problem by using their first-round draft pick on outside linebacker Larry English. But instead of getting English acclimated to the speed of the NFL, the Chargers decided to concentrate on the rehabilitation of Merriman’s knee. As a result, English went through camp playing with the second team, and was no more ready to start in case something happened to the incumbent. After the first game against Oakland, everyone realized that Merriman was no longer the same linebacker that terrorized the league with 17 sacks in 12 games. Now, he is slow to get off the line and can be blocked by a single left or right tackle, or even a half back. His knee is not totally rehabilitated and his ineffectiveness on the field is causing the Chargers lots of problems. Yet, the Charger organization remains in denial about the demise of their former pro bowl linebacker.
As for the running game, the Chargers inability to admit to the end of LaDainian Tomlinson’s career has cost them dearly. The running back that should be in San Diego’s backfield now and for the next eight seasons, Michael Turner, is now starring for the Atlanta Falcons. Chargers’ GM A.J. Smith made the fateful decision to stay with the older, more-worn-down LT and let Turner go, rather than cutting ties with the former and ensuring the franchise of a quality pro bowl running back for the next decade. Additionally, instead of fixing their running back woes during the offseason, they decided to concentrate on restructuring LT’s deal so he’d be a Charger for the next couple of years. The Chargers’ inability to run the ball on offense and conversely stop the run on defense will eventually put all the pressure on signal-caller Philip Rivers. So, if the Chargers plan on making any sort of playoff push this year, it all rides on the arm of No. 17.
The Oakland Raiders are 1-4. The only team they’ve beaten is the 0-5 Kansas City Chiefs. These two teams are by far the worst teams in the NFL. Even though there are still some winless teams out there, they just haven’t been lucky enough to play the Raiders or Chiefs. Nevertheless, I give both of these teams a D-. The Raiders deserve this grade because they have looked abysmal in almost every game except their first (against the Chargers, no less). People need to realize that regardless of your team structure, your quarterback can either make a team look really good (i.e., Peyton Manning) or extremely bad (i.e., JaMarcus Russell). It’s impossible for me to evaluate the silver-and-black on an even keel because Russell just makes them that bad. Their defense may be pretty good, their special teams may even be tops in the league, but it’s impossible to conclude that they’re any good when their offense is only on the field for 20 minutes.
As for the Chiefs, they have far more upside than the Raiders. They made significant additions to their top-level management, which should start to pay dividends in the near future. Also, their Week 5 battle against the Cowboys went into overtime, so Chiefs’ fans definitely have something to look forward to. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Raiders’ fans.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Fantasy Football Insider: Matt Forte – Hero or Zero?
Posted by: | CommentsEntering the 2009 NFL Season, many fantasy football owners had a pretty good idea of who they were going to draft. Some people were going to attempt to draft the same exact team that won them a championship last year, while others were looking to improve on their record by stacking their team with fantasy heroes. A fantasy hero is a player who can carry your team week in and week out; the only problem is that these players change drastically from year to year. So, people end up disappointed when they successfully draft their championship team from a year ago, only to find themselves with a 0-4 record heading into Week 5. It’s not too late to salvage your season, but you must do so without your heroes of the past.
Last season, Chicago running back Matt Forte surprised the nation, and was one of the most coveted running backs by Week 4. He rushed for 1,238 yards and 8 touchdowns while hauling in an additional 63 receptions for 477 yards and four touchdowns. Forte proved valuable because he got points for both rushing AND receiving. The only other running backs who add this same type of value to your team would be LT and Brian Westbrook. Well, if you did any type of homework in the offseason, then you know about all the concerns surrounding the health of both superstars. So, you may have made the right decision in staying away from these two backs. You also may have concluded that Matt Forte would be the next-best option. This is where a lot of people went wrong.
As I mentioned earlier, fantasy heroes change from year to year. The year Forte had last year as a rookie was borderline unbelievable. But, to think that he could somehow replicate last year was simply wishful thinking. Let’s evaluate his situation and see where many people went astray.
Kyle Orton was the quarterback for the Bears last year. Ever since Orton has started at Purdue, he has been the type of quarterback who relies heavily on his running backs and tight ends. This is the reason that Matt Forte and Greg Olsen had a combined 117 receptions! With the addition of the Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, many people felt this would help Forte’s numbers. In actuality, people couldn’t be any more wrong. A running back in the same backfield as Cutler has never caught more than 17 passes since his freshman year at Vanderbilt! In essence, Cutler hurts your running backs more than he helps them.
So, if you’re holding onto Forte in your leagues with the mindset that he is going to wake up soon and once again become that fantasy hero, I wouldn’t count on it this year. I am not saying he won’t be good, but I am saying that he is nowhere near as valuable to your team as he was last year. Here’s some advice: Be the proactive one who picks up Knowshon Moreno (if he’s still available), or Correll Buckhalter, or any Denver running back for that matter, since they are in the same backfield as Orton. I can guarantee that by the end of the year, the production from Denver’s running back(s) will exceed that of Forte’s by at least 40 fantasy points.
Popularity: unranked [?]
The 3-0 Broncos, Contenders or Pretenders?
Posted by: | CommentsThe long-awaited NFL season is underway, and as of today, seven of the eight divisions are home to an undefeated team. Most of these results were expected by experts heading into the year, with a few shockers. Of the seven undefeated teams, the Giants, Vikings, Saints, Ravens, and Colts were expected to get off to fast starts- so their performance isn’t a huge surprise.
The most intriguing division so far is the AFC West. Most people would have guessed that the San Diego Chargers would be the undefeated team up to this point, but thanks to a tough game against the Ravens, that’s not the case. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos have gotten off to the same 3-0 start that they endured last year. Are they serious contenders, or simply repeat victims of the NFL schedule-making process?
To restate it: the Broncos are 3-0. Wow! I guess this would be something to talk about if they hadn’t started the same exact way last season. Let’s evaluate their wins and determine whether they are truly contenders in an AFC West division that has been dominated by the San Diego Chargers for the last five years.
The Broncos’ first game was against the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, the same Bengals that won a total of four games last season. Not to take anything away from the Bengals because they have looked really good this year, but they should never have lost to the Broncos. Denver won that game on a fluke play that featured Kyle Orton forcing the ball to a double-covered Brandon Marshall. The defender deflected the pass and Brandon Stokley happened to be in the right place at the right time, catching the ball off of a tip and taking it 86 yards for a touchdown as time expired. Even though this would make an excellent Hollywood story, every football fan knows that their first win was complete luck.
The Broncos played their second game against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are arguably one of the worst teams in the league, having scored one offensive touchdown all season. The Browns are obviously not going to the Super Bowl this year or anytime soon, so this win was sort of a gimmick. Cleveland has a new coach, essentially a rookie starting QB (who has since been benched), and a bunch of new guys on defense. If the Broncos didn’t win this game, Bronco Nation would have had to re-evaluate their own coaching decision just two games into the season!
Their third game was against the Oakland Raiders . . . that should be enough said. The Raiders have been the worst team in the NFL since their Super Bowl run in 2002. This year is no different. Their QB still looks like a rookie whom coaches say “is digressing,” they spent their first round draft pick on a wide receiver who is currently not producing, and their owner still believes that he is the Owner/GM/Coach. On top of all this, the Broncos and Raiders have been AFC West rivals since its origination. So, the Broncos could have won that game regardless of who they put on the field.
So, do these three wins make the Broncos contenders? To make the argument for them, one can say that they’ve already won three games, and apparently all you need is eight games to come out the AFC West (i.e. Chargers last season). Five more wins seems fathomable to Broncos fans. The problem is that they only see the Raiders one more time and the Chiefs twice more. Theoretically, those should be another three wins for them, which would bring their win total to six.
Unfortunately, eight of their ten other games remaining are against playoff teams from last year. If they are going to get to 8-8, they would have to beat the two non-playoff teams from last year, the Cowboys and the Redskins. Judging from the fact that they started this exact same way last year, have a new coach who ran one Pro Bowler out of town (and looks to be working on his second), a new QB who is unable to stretch the field, a plethora of running backs who all have the exact same skill set (not to mention a porous defense), I am comfortable with concluding that this year for the Broncos will end as last year’s did, in dramatic turmoil.
Popularity: unranked [?]
