My thoughts on the current world of sports from football to basketball and everything in between.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
SportsSpeak73: What is Jerry Jones doing?
SportsSpeak73: What is Jerry Jones doing?: "Jerry Jones, after the conclusion of the completely unnecessary NFL Lockout, you proceeded to clear cap space on your roster by cutting play..."
What is Jerry Jones doing?
Jerry Jones, after the conclusion of the completely unnecessary NFL Lockout, you proceeded to clear cap space on your roster by cutting players like Roy Williams & Marion Barber among others. Such action would lead a reasonable person to believe that you were planning to make several acquisitions this off-season. However, the only signings you have made thus far has been the resigning of players who spent last season in Dallas. Several of which (Alan Ball & Gerald Sensabaugh specifically) have been mentioned by analysts as significant factors for the Cowboys lackluster pass coverage last season. Yet you resign these players when upgrades (in some cases substantial upgrades) were available.
Which begs the question...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Which begs the question...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
NFL Signings
The NFL is BACK!!! Which makes me a very happy man. However, due to the lockout this years Free Agency transactions will have to be fast and furious, and thus far they have been.
The best transaction of the off-season in my opinion is the Titans acquisition of QB Matt Hasselbeck. True, Hasselbeck has been inconsistent of late to put it mildly, but having an always respected and sometimes stellar QB in the huddle means opposing defenses can no long slide nine men in the box and try to slow down CJ2K (Chris Johnson). Hasselbeck will at the least keep defenses honest and give Johnson more room to work. Also, his presence should provide a bit of a guiding hand for rookie QB Jake Locker.
The most perplexing signing thus far is the Chargers retaining of FS Eric Weddle. Make no mistake, Weddle is a good young safety with the potential to be great, but I cant see how you justify making him the league's highest paid safety while you still have the unresolved Vincent Jackson issue. GM AJ Smith seems to be making a habit of letting his ego get in the way of his job (firing Marty Schottenheimer, strong arming Jackson and LT Marcus McNeil last season). The Chargers NEED Jackson, (unless they sign another WR this offseason and with Santonio Holmes and Sidney Rice both off the market, there is no one left who could match Jacksons production) but they didn't necessarily NEED Weddle. Losing him would've hurt but not as much as losing Jackson will. The Chargers kept a good piece of their team, but I worry that they may have sacrificed a great one to do so.
The best transaction of the off-season in my opinion is the Titans acquisition of QB Matt Hasselbeck. True, Hasselbeck has been inconsistent of late to put it mildly, but having an always respected and sometimes stellar QB in the huddle means opposing defenses can no long slide nine men in the box and try to slow down CJ2K (Chris Johnson). Hasselbeck will at the least keep defenses honest and give Johnson more room to work. Also, his presence should provide a bit of a guiding hand for rookie QB Jake Locker.
The most perplexing signing thus far is the Chargers retaining of FS Eric Weddle. Make no mistake, Weddle is a good young safety with the potential to be great, but I cant see how you justify making him the league's highest paid safety while you still have the unresolved Vincent Jackson issue. GM AJ Smith seems to be making a habit of letting his ego get in the way of his job (firing Marty Schottenheimer, strong arming Jackson and LT Marcus McNeil last season). The Chargers NEED Jackson, (unless they sign another WR this offseason and with Santonio Holmes and Sidney Rice both off the market, there is no one left who could match Jacksons production) but they didn't necessarily NEED Weddle. Losing him would've hurt but not as much as losing Jackson will. The Chargers kept a good piece of their team, but I worry that they may have sacrificed a great one to do so.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
SportsSpeak73: NBA Playoffs: Round 2 Breakdown
SportsSpeak73: NBA Playoffs: Round 2 Breakdown: "First up, the Thunder vs the Grizzlies. While the Thunder suffered a surprising Game 1 loss in this Conference Semi-Final match-up, I exp..."
NBA Playoffs: Round 2 Breakdown
First up, the Thunder vs the Grizzlies.
While the Thunder suffered a surprising Game 1 loss in this Conference Semi-Final match-up, I expect the scoring ability and tenacity of starts Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook, as well as the defensive intensity of C Kendrick Perkins to be more than enough to slay the Grizzlies hopes of progressing any further in this years playoffs. SF Shane Battier may be able to contain Durant, but I doubt he's able to stop him and the Grizzlies have no one who can stay in front of Westbrook for an entire game. Expect both Westbrook and Durant to bring the Thunder at both ends of the floor and lead Oklahoma City to the Conference Finals.
Lakers vs Mavericks
This series features two teams whom on paper seem nearly the same. Both flaunt large front lines (Bynum & Gasol vs Chandler & Nowitzki), effective wings (Bryant vs Marion), and go-to guys in the clutch (Bryant vs Nowitzki). While the Mavs appear to be significantly deeper than the Lakers, the fact remains that in the aforementioned comparisons the Lakers are slightly more skilled at every aspect. As such I give the edge to the Lakers who also have Kobe's indomitable will at their disposal.
Heat vs Celtics:
The Celtics ruined any shot they had of winning another championship when they traded away Kendrick Perkins, plain and simple. However, I dont think Perkins was a necessary cog to ensure the Celtics beat the Heat in a 7 game series. The Heat have two of the games most skilled players in LeBron James and Dwayne Wade but the Celtics are almost incomprehensible in their defensive tenacity. Bosh will likely be rendered useless against defensive stalwart Kevin Garnett, and James has been known to struggle against the Celtics. On offense, the Celtics have the luxury of knowing no on on the Heat can keep Rajon Rondo from going which ever way he chooses to get into the paint where his productivity will Chill the Heats chances.
Bulls vs Hawks:
Derrick Rose vs Jamaal Crawford, Luol Deng vs Joe Johnson, Joakim Noa vs Al Horford, this series could be one of the most competitive series in recent memory. However, I expect the Bulls to trample the Hawks in Six. Rose seemingly has no equal, definitely not in this series, and will run roughshod over a suspect Atlanta defense. Look for the Bulls to employ tough, suffocating defense on the Hawks in order to slow down the Hawks easy baskets. Rookie head coach Tom Thibodeau has an excellent defensive mind and drive the Bulls right into the Conference finals.
While the Thunder suffered a surprising Game 1 loss in this Conference Semi-Final match-up, I expect the scoring ability and tenacity of starts Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook, as well as the defensive intensity of C Kendrick Perkins to be more than enough to slay the Grizzlies hopes of progressing any further in this years playoffs. SF Shane Battier may be able to contain Durant, but I doubt he's able to stop him and the Grizzlies have no one who can stay in front of Westbrook for an entire game. Expect both Westbrook and Durant to bring the Thunder at both ends of the floor and lead Oklahoma City to the Conference Finals.
Lakers vs Mavericks
This series features two teams whom on paper seem nearly the same. Both flaunt large front lines (Bynum & Gasol vs Chandler & Nowitzki), effective wings (Bryant vs Marion), and go-to guys in the clutch (Bryant vs Nowitzki). While the Mavs appear to be significantly deeper than the Lakers, the fact remains that in the aforementioned comparisons the Lakers are slightly more skilled at every aspect. As such I give the edge to the Lakers who also have Kobe's indomitable will at their disposal.
Heat vs Celtics:
The Celtics ruined any shot they had of winning another championship when they traded away Kendrick Perkins, plain and simple. However, I dont think Perkins was a necessary cog to ensure the Celtics beat the Heat in a 7 game series. The Heat have two of the games most skilled players in LeBron James and Dwayne Wade but the Celtics are almost incomprehensible in their defensive tenacity. Bosh will likely be rendered useless against defensive stalwart Kevin Garnett, and James has been known to struggle against the Celtics. On offense, the Celtics have the luxury of knowing no on on the Heat can keep Rajon Rondo from going which ever way he chooses to get into the paint where his productivity will Chill the Heats chances.
Bulls vs Hawks:
Derrick Rose vs Jamaal Crawford, Luol Deng vs Joe Johnson, Joakim Noa vs Al Horford, this series could be one of the most competitive series in recent memory. However, I expect the Bulls to trample the Hawks in Six. Rose seemingly has no equal, definitely not in this series, and will run roughshod over a suspect Atlanta defense. Look for the Bulls to employ tough, suffocating defense on the Hawks in order to slow down the Hawks easy baskets. Rookie head coach Tom Thibodeau has an excellent defensive mind and drive the Bulls right into the Conference finals.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
SportsSpeak73: The End of an Era!
SportsSpeak73: The End of an Era!: "Today is a sad day for NBA fans, for today we gather to lay to rest the San Antonio Spurs as a legitimate contender. It seems ironic that t..."
San Antonio Spurs: The End of an Era!
Today is a sad day for NBA fans, for today we gather to lay to rest the San Antonio Spurs as a legitimate contender. It seems ironic that the Spurs dominance officially began during a season affected by labor issues and appears to be ending with one.
Since the 1998-1999 NBA season, the Spurs have been the example to which other teams aspired to match. Since that season, the Spurs have 4 NBA titles with 6 Conference Finals appearances. There have been blunders of course, 1st round playoff exits to Phoenix (1999-2000) and Dallas (2008-2009)respectively, but the Spurs have never looked as woefully inept as they have against the Grizzlies in this years 1st round match up.
In years past, the thought that the consistently stellar Spurs would be decimated by a group of upstarts would have been met with intense ridicule. However, that appears to be the new order of the world following the the Grizzlies 18 point annihilation of Tim Duncan led Spurs in Game 4 of their series. Of the Spurs big three, only Ginobli is currently besting his career playoff average (18.0 ppg this series/16.3 ppg career) while Tony Parker (17.8 ppg/18.7 ppg career) and specifically Duncan (a paltry 12.8 ppg compared to a 22.8 career avg) have struggled against an average defensive team in the Grizzlies (18th in the NBA).
Once considered the consummate closers, the Spurs now seem slow, disjointed, and disinterested. Traits they have never displayed in their previous years. One can only help that this years performance is the exception, though I fear it will become the rule.
A rule, that signifies the end of an era.
Since the 1998-1999 NBA season, the Spurs have been the example to which other teams aspired to match. Since that season, the Spurs have 4 NBA titles with 6 Conference Finals appearances. There have been blunders of course, 1st round playoff exits to Phoenix (1999-2000) and Dallas (2008-2009)respectively, but the Spurs have never looked as woefully inept as they have against the Grizzlies in this years 1st round match up.
In years past, the thought that the consistently stellar Spurs would be decimated by a group of upstarts would have been met with intense ridicule. However, that appears to be the new order of the world following the the Grizzlies 18 point annihilation of Tim Duncan led Spurs in Game 4 of their series. Of the Spurs big three, only Ginobli is currently besting his career playoff average (18.0 ppg this series/16.3 ppg career) while Tony Parker (17.8 ppg/18.7 ppg career) and specifically Duncan (a paltry 12.8 ppg compared to a 22.8 career avg) have struggled against an average defensive team in the Grizzlies (18th in the NBA).
Once considered the consummate closers, the Spurs now seem slow, disjointed, and disinterested. Traits they have never displayed in their previous years. One can only help that this years performance is the exception, though I fear it will become the rule.
A rule, that signifies the end of an era.
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