The Future of NBA Point Guards is Here Now

The NBA is a point guard's league. There's no doubt about that. It's hard to win without a good floor general and a quick look down each team's roster shows that as a fact. The league is filled with great point guards right now. Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Deron Williams have been steady for years. Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose bring an explosiveness to the position that is rarely seen and Rajon Rondo drops dimes better than anybody else. Several other point guards such as Jeff Teague, Brandon Jennings, George Hill and Mike Conley have proven themselves in recent years. All that said, in three to five years who will be headlining the point guard position? None of the players above will be going anywhere, but three fresher faces will run the show in no time at all.

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
If you haven't seen Irving's game yet then you must have been under a rock for the past two years. One individual can't make Cleveland forget about LeBron, but Irving is doing the best he can. The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year was magnificent in his first year, but stepped up even more this past season. He averaged 22.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and showed a leadership that far exceeded his age. Sure, there is still some refining to be done, but we're talking about a guy in his second season who was the third-highest scoring point guard in the league. The only two ahead of him were Westbrook and Steph Curry. Irving is the nucleus of a young Cavs squad that holds the number one pick in this year's draft. They will go as far as he takes them and right now the sky is the limit.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

This year's Rookie of the Year came into the league as an unknown, but is now a household name around the league. A lottery pick from Weber State, Lillard entered the NBA and did his thing right away. It was no contest for Rookie of the Year as no one came close to the impact that he had or matched his numbers of 19 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Lillard is on a Blazers team with plenty of young talent and he gives them exactly what they were missing -- a proven point guard. And he was proven from game one. His NBA debut was against the LA Lakers and he went for 23 points while dishing out 11 assists. A month and a half later he carved up the Spurs for 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists. To cap off his stellar season he torched the Lakers once again, this time with 38 points and nine assists.

Trey Burke, soon-to-be lottery pick
Trey Burke is the best point guard in this season's NBA Draft and he will help whoever drafts him immediately. Fresh off of a dominant season at Michigan, Burke has matured into a great point guard. His decision making improved this past season and he has the intangibles that will make him an elite player. If you aren't convinced of his game or simply haven't seen him then go ahead and watch the film of Michigan's instant-classic victory in the Sweet 16 over Kansas. Burke completely took over the game and hit big shot after big shot. He's not afraid of anything and he won't be afraid of the NBA.

Almost every game puts two great point guards on the floor and the league will only improve with the entrance of Burke. It's a point guard's world and teams need one to be successful. As the league prepares for a new season the returns of Rose, Rondo and Westbrook will be highly anticipated and these three above will be watched closely. The future of the position is here now. Time to recognize.

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Monitor Reviews

It really doesn't matter what sport it is anymore. In every game it has become a fixture; the officials grouping together to discuss a call and then, because of their desire to get the call right, they head for the monitor. It's a double-edged sword. The monitor is a blessing of new technology and a curse for various other reasons. Cameras are every where these days and slow-motion replay can slow plays down to unbelievable speeds, allowing referees and fans to see exactly what happened frame-by-frame. It's a beautiful thing isn't it? Maybe not. In a year where it seems officials can do nothing right, the monitor has actually become something like the evil sidekick to the big, bad villain that is the referee.

Before anything really negative is said about monitor reviews it's worth noting that the technology is obviously a good thing for the games. Countless amounts of plays have been overturned because the officials saw the replay and realized their error. That's a good thing for the game and it's a necessary tool in today's world when the technology is easily available.

However, lately the monitor has become an annoyance. Turn back the clock to March when the NCAA Tournament was in full force. It's the best college basketball of the season, but the stoppages of play were almost unbearable in some games. In the final 10 minutes of a basketball game it's no secret that it will crawl. Between the television timeouts, the coaches calling timeouts and dozens of free throws, the game slows in pace. Add in the two or three monitor reviews that officials were using and sometimes it felt that a game would never end.

Why is this a bad thing? Well, maybe it's not. On one hand, you appreciate the fact that the officials want to get the calls right, but on the other hand the stoppages sometimes create unfair advantages. Take the Marquette-Davidson first round game as an example. Davidson led by one with 11 seconds left and proceeded to throw the ball out of bounds. Marquette had no timeouts and should have had to attempt a game-winning shot without being able to draw up a play. However, the officials went to the monitor to check the time and that allowed Buzz Williams to draw up a play for the Golden Eagles and Vander Blue nailed the game-winner out of the "monitor timeout."

In baseball, the monitor has provided the year's most upsetting error and perhaps, umpires' most arrogant mistake ever. By now, almost everyone has seen it and, if not, the video link is included above. The Oakland A's were trailing the Cleveland Indians by one run in the ninth and Adam Rosales hit what should have been a game-tying home run. The ball clearly hit the facade above the yellow line, but the umpires came out and still declared that Rosales hit a double. There is no explanation for such a horrible judgement call.

The worst part about it is that the entire A's team had to be in the clubhouse watching the television replays and fully expected for the umpires to rule it a home run. It was clear to see, but apparently not. Rosales had to stay at second and the A's ended up losing the game. Wouldn't it be a shame if they missed the playoffs by a game?

Mistakes are part of the games we play in America. Officials get paid to call it as they see it, but the problems set in when technology is utilized and they choose to ignore it. The overuse of the monitor is also something that has to be considered. The games are at excruciatingly slow paces and have allowed unfair advantages for teams. Technology is a great thing, but only if it's harnessed and used properly. As years go by this will become less of a problem, but for now it has become an issue.

Proof that too much of a good thing might not be a good thing. 

10 Worst NBA Postgame Outfits

A few years ago David Stern implemented a dress code for NBA players and the players have run away with it. Let's be real, crazy fashion, if you want to call it that, is nothing new in the NBA. Take a walk down Memory Lane and check out some of Walt Frazier's outfits or even Magic Johnson's. These crazy styles have been around for awhile, but it seems like the past few years it has really taken off. Russell Westbrook has become the poster boy for eccentric outfits, but Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and James Harden never cease to amaze with their get-ups. Here's a look at 10 fashion nightmares from the NBA's stars.

10. Russell Westbrook
Russ rocks a white polo in this picture, but it's not just any white polo. This one has fishing hooks on it. Where you purchase something like this I'm not sure and he might be the only man on the planet with one of these. Not pictured are the bright red pants and, obviously, he has the matching red glasses without any lenses. The fake glasses will be a common theme as we move down the list. Russell Westbrook will also be a common theme.

9. Nick Young
Nick Young may be unknown to just about everyone, but the hardcore NBA fans, but on this night in 2012 he turned heads with this shirt. It looks like the design was inspired from some art down in South America and Young elected to go BeeGees-style on us and leave a few of the buttons undone. To top it all off, he's rocking the sunglasses indoors. I know the lights are bright in a postgame press conference, but apparently they are bright enough to require shades.


8. Kevin Durant
KD patented the backpack in the postgame press conference, but on All-Star weekend he was in rare form. He pulled out the denim vest which is always a risky move and then for an undershirt he wore a black tee with stars on the chest. It kind of looks like the stars were Bedazzled on there and he also has buttons on his vest to spice it up a little bit. Throw in the fake specs and the fedora and it's quite the sight from the Durantula.






7. Amare Stoudemire
What's better than one denim vest? TWO denim vests! Here's Amare Stoudemire modeling one and I'm not sure when this picture was taken, but there's a lot going on here. Not only does he have the vest on, but he's wearing another sleeveless shirt underneath. It's hard to see in the photo, but he has some seriously long beads around his neck. Amare, like Young, also chose to wear sunglasses inside and I don't know if he can see the game that well with them on. The hat tops it all off, but it's not the yarmulke that he wore during the playoffs this season. He also is big on scarves and a Google search will show you those various looks.




6. Tyson Chandler
This wasn't before or after a game, but it cannot be ignored. I don't have a lot to say here except that it's just plain wrong. There's nothing here that says "good fashion" and there's nothing here that makes Chandler look classy. This is a nightmare.







5. Dwyane Wade
I'll admit that D.Wade has pulled off some pretty classy looking outfits, but not this one. This photo is just a few weeks old and it's a suit with polka dots on it. What I can't figure out is whether Wade grabbed his son's pants or if he really meant to have them that short. It's my personal opinion, but I'm not big on guys wearing capris and that's especially true if it's a suit. Wade has experimented with quite a few different fashions such as the fake glasses, suits with basketball shoes, and themed band-aids, but I think it's safe to say that this was a failed experiment right here.


4. Russell Westbrook...again
In this one Russ looks somewhat normal until you get to his pants that barely make it past his knees. And then you see his man-purse thing that he's carrying with him. After that you notice that he's wearing his shades inside and then on top of all that you notice that his shirt and pants are so tight that they might be tattooed on to his body. I have a lot of questions about this outfit, but if I ever got to ask him one I think it would be, what's in the bag??




3. Paul George
Paul George had never made headlines for anything but his play on the court until this year's Eastern Conference Finals. It all changed when he decided to go green. George is rocking the green pants with all-white kicks and the shirt is something else. It has green-paisley design all over it that kind of looks like throw up and  it doesn't quite match the green on George's pants. However, are we really going to tell the guy to stop wearing what he wants when he is putting on a show against LeBron & Company? I don't think so.




2. LeBron James
Bron keeps it pretty classy most of the time, but this sweater is too loud to ignore. The red is extra bright so that's already enough to turn heads, but then you notice the design on it and then you're puzzled. Again, not sure where he got this one, but it's wild. It's kind of got a beach-feel to it and I suppose that's appropriate since he's down in Miami, but I would hope he doesn't pull this one out of the closet again.


1. Russell Westbrook...one more time
Russ out-did himself with this outfit from earlier this season. The skin-tight capris were one thing. The fishing shirt was a little crazy. However, this outfit tops them all. Westbrook looks like a girl with this cutoff sweater on and those glasses. The chain around his neck is large and if the medallion part was any bigger then Flavor Flav would accuse him of theft. The glasses are clear and that doesn't help the feminine-look of this outfit. So in short, what did we learn from all this? Russell Westbrook has the wildest style when it comes to NBA ballers in the game today. There's not a whole lot of competition either.

BONUS: Anything worn by Craig Sager

Battle L.A.: Dodgers or Angels Bigger Disappointment?

2013 has not been kind to Los Angeles sports teams. No, not one bit. The Lakers failures this season were well-chronicled and even the Clippers took a disappointing first round exit in the playoffs. Now the future of the team is uncertain with Chris Paul potentially departing. In the college ranks, UCLA capped a less-than-stellar season by losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and then firing coach Ben Howland. And now, maybe worst of them all, the Dodgers and Angels are struggling mightily as the MLB season nears the 50-game mark. Thank God for the Los Angeles Kings. That's all L.A. has going for them right now.

They say money can't buy happiness, but that doesn't mean it can't buy a few championships. Just ask the Yankees. However, that's not the case for the Dodgers and Angels. Both clubs haven't been shy about spending big and several superstars have made the trek west. For the Angels, the signings of Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton has translated over to a 20-27 record this season. The Dodgers are 19-26 despite signing Zack Grienke and Hyun-Jin Ryu and having the services of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford for the entire season.

So what's the problem? Let's start with the Angels. Don't point the finger at Mike Trout because the young phenom has been nothing short of superhuman. Last year's AL Rookie of the Year is batting .302 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. All of those home runs have come in the month of May and Trout leads the team in batting average, RBI, on-base percentage and hits, slugging percentage and stolen bases. No, Mike Trout is not the problem at all.

Pujols, while his average is low for his standards, isn't playing poorly. His .253 batting average is uncharacteristically low, but he does have eight home runs and 29 RBI. He's also batting .317 in his last 10 games and it appears he might be turning it around. Hamilton is a different story. The big summer signing is batting just .220 with six home runs and 16 RBI. He has struck out 53 times already and even his on-base percentage is low at .279. Hamilton is not even reaching base, however he does have a hit in eight of his last 10 games.

As a team, the Angels are middle of the pack in nearly every statistical category offensively and the pitching staff isn't any better. The staff ERA of 4.57 ranks 12th in the American League and, even worse, they rank 10th in strikeouts yet third in walks. It would appear that the pitching has held this team back from reaching expectations. Offense can only cover up so much.

For the Dodgers it's a similar issue. L.A. is in the top five of the National League in batting average and on-base percentage while ranking 14th and third in strikeouts and walks, respectively. As a whole, the Dodger offense has been producing. However, that doesn't mean their biggest stars have carried the load.

Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are off to rough starts and Kemp has struck out 17 more times than the next closest teammate, who happens to be Ethier. Together the two combine for just six home runs and 32 RBI while both batting below .270. Gonzalez, usually a home run threat, has hit just four, but he does have a .309 batting average with 30 RBI. Crawford has also produced after the debacle that was his brief career in Boston. He is batting .302 with team-highs in home runs (5) and stolen bases (9).

On the pitching staff, Clayton Kershaw and Ryu have been magnificent, but the others on staff have been less than impressive. Both Kershaw and Ryu are 5-2. Kershaw's ERA is a league-low 1.35 and Ryu's is a respectable 3.30. After that things get hazy. Josh Beckett is currently on the disabled list and he couldn't be the ace of staff on the Bad News Bears. His 0-5 record and 5.19 ERA is a far cry from the guy we've seen lead teams to World Series victories. Outside of Kershaw and Ryu the Dodgers pitchers are a combined 9-19. The return of Grienke can't come soon enough.

Both clubs are missing pitching and their offense can only cover up so much. The stars also must perform to the level they are expected to. A lot of money has been spent in SoCal, but that hasn't meant wins. If the Dodgers are to compete for the playoffs they need Kemp and Ethier to start producing more and they need a healthy Grienke. For the Angels, Hamilton must get going and the pitching staff has to pick it up.

If not, the two clubs will cap off a disastrous 2013 for the city of Los Angeles. 

Technology Keeps Fans on the Couch, Rather than in the Bleachers

Bleacher Report posted this photo from last night's Game 1 in OT

It’s Sunday afternoon on a crisp, fall day, and National Football League games are being played all around the country. The fans have their seats with a great view, food in hand and favorite beverages within reach. Yet most fans aren’t in the bleachers; they’re at home. 

This is the reality of sports now. The in-home experience is arguably becoming more appealing than the in-stadium experience. Even when fans attend the games it’s not what it once was. When someone scores a touchdown, fans at the 50-yard line no longer high five each other in celebration. Instead, they immediately reach into their pocket for their smartphone so they can fire off their next tweet.  

“I believe it has taken away from some of the fun of experiencing a live professional game,” said Kyle Krueger, a college student and Chicago sports fan. “Considering the cost to attend a game, we are distracting ourselves from enjoying the full live experience of a pro game.” 

It doesn’t matter what sport you look at, the numbers clearly reflect the falling attendance. A study of NFL attendance showed that the league reached an all-time high in 2007, but since then the attendance has steadily declined. In 2011 the league reached their lowest totals since expanding to 32 teams in 2002. The in-home experience is credited for much of the decline, and teams are now trying to enhance the in-stadium experience so that fans will buy tickets instead of staying home to watch the game on a 50-inch widescreen. 

That’s a tall task considering that the NFL is heralded for some of the best television coverage in sports. Multiple games are shown on national television every week, and the NFL RedZone channel allows fans to watch any game at its most crucial points. New apps such as NFL ’12, Yahoo! Sportacular and a host of apps from ESPN have given fans a place to interact with others during the game. Add in the enormous HD televisions for consumer purchase or found at the local sports bar, and the league is in a deep hole. 

It’s not just the NFL that has had issues. The National Basketball Association has experienced the same ordeal, and league attendance is down for the third straight year. However, that doesn’t mean that interest in the sport is declining as well. The NBA recently announced that television ratings for games on ESPN and TNT were up more than 20 percent compared to last season.  

Players have expressed disdain for the matter as well, and Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill was the most vocal critic of fans preoccupied with their social media this season. After a home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in March, Hill ripped Pacers fans, saying they were quiet, outnumbered and it didn’t feel anything like a home game. 

“Energy is down,” said Hill after that game. “(We’re) not a team that’s in the bottom in the East. We’re one of the top three teams in the East. We’re winning the Central Division, and it should show. Right now it’s not, and it’s been all season long where it’s not showing, and I don’t think there’s nothing else we can do as an organization and as players. Now it’s up to the community.” 

A study done by Integrated Marketing Communications showed that 20 percent of fans say they use tablets or smartphones to access sports content while attending a sporting event. When they are at home that number rises to 78 percent; clearly, we are not always engaged in the game 100 percent. 

That 20 percent may seem like a small number, but when smaller attendance is taken into account, that means 20 percent is larger than it appears. For example, the Pacers averaged just 15,269 fans this season. If 20 percent of the crowd is on their phone, that means that on average, there are 3,053 fans multitasking during the game.  

And that’s just the number of people looking up sports content. Thousands of others are doing other things on their phones not related to sports content. 

These are the realities, though, and teams like the Pacers have realized it. Doug Morgan, Associate Director of Game Operations and Fan Development for the Pacers, is a part of a team that tries to allow fans to use technology to enhance their in-arena experience. 

“We have added in-game elements so that fans can connect with the game,” Morgan said. “We have the #PacersCheer where we put the pictures that fans take at a game up in the third quarter. We have “text to win” promotions throughout the game, and we do a Klipsch Text to hear the next song played at halftime of every game. We give the fans three choices, and they text the song they want to hear, and it is played a couple minutes later. They have all went very well.” 

Along with the interactive elements that Indiana has debuted this season, they have also unveiled a mammoth JumboTron that spans from free-throw line to free-throw line and stands 21 feet tall. A new sound system was also installed to give fans the best sound quality possible. 

“Technology is an ever changing part of the game, and we do our best to try and stay out front to make the fan experience the best it can be,” said Morgan. 

For other fans though, the technology is all just a distraction from the root of the reason they are at the game. 

“It’s not just a game anymore,” said Ryan Harter, an Anderson University student and former high school and collegiate basketball player. “I go to watch the game, but people don’t just go to watch anymore. They want to be entertained, so instead of immersing themselves in the actual game, they are very much into the JumboTron and things like that.” 

Mark Cuban, the rambunctious owner of the Dallas Mavericks, would agree more with Harter’s statement rather than the moves of the Pacers organization. In 2011, about the time that smartphones were starting to weave their way into the in-arena experience, Cuban posted a blog to speak out against the use of them at games.  

“I can’t think of a bigger mistake than trying to integrate smartphones just because you can,” said Cuban. “The last thing I want is someone looking down at their phone to see a replay. The last thing I want is someone thinking that it’s a good idea to disconnect from the unique elements of a game to look at replays or update their fantasy standings or concentrate on trying to predict what will happen next in the game.”

“There is a huge value to everyone collectively holding their breath during a replay, or responding to a great play or a missed call and then spontaneously reacting to what they see. You lose that if people are looking down at their handhelds.  The fan experience is about looking up, not looking down. If you let them look down, they might as well stay at home, the screen is always going to be better there.”  

However, there is a group of people in sports who do enjoy the change. Naturally, it’s the media. Twitter, especially, has made it easy for fans to connect with players, coaches and media members, and media personnel agree that it’s made their job more fun. 

Chuck Swirsky, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls, frequently tweets back and forth with Bulls fans before, during and after ball games. His partner, former NBA player Bill Wennington, does the same. “I think [new technology] is great,” said Swirsky. “The good outweighs the bad, and I love communicating with Bulls and NBA fans.”  

Dave Shore, an Anderson University graduate and current Operations Manager at ESPN Los Angeles, has worked with the NBA for years and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers pregame show on 710 ESPN in Los Angeles. Shore said that while he thinks the technology has affected attendance some, it really has affected the demand for more information. 

Shore has been on several social media panels and is quick to point out how much of an effect the social media has had on the sports radio business. Like Swirsky, Shore says tweeting with fans has become a large part of what he and his co-workers do during the Lakers’ season. 

Whether or not the technology is good or bad for the games depends on who you talk to. Some people are all for it, but others despise it. Despite the opposition to it, this is just the beginning. Every year we become more of a technology-driven society. 

So next time the big game is about to start, make sure you have all the essentials for good viewing: great food, a cool beverage, comfy chair and, of course, your smartphone and tablet. Because was a play really that great if you didn’t tweet about it?



This post was originally written as a story for a class at Anderson University

Urlacher Calls It Quits After 13 Seasons

Brian Urlacher went out on his own terms and he went out wearing just one jersey. Those are two things that don't happen in most retirements. So often athletes limp to the finish line, their careers spiraling into a mess and relationships with former teams disintegrating by the day. Urlacher seemed to be headed down that path after the Chicago Bears released him, but after contemplating the future, the future Hall of Famer decided that 13 years was enough and announced his retirement today over Twitter.

Urlacher's statistics, awards and accolades speak for themselves. He led the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 before falling to the Indianapolis Colts and he was the leader of one of the NFL's best defenses for years. In his rookie season in 2000 he had a career-high in sacks with eight and he also intercepted two passes. He also had a fumble recovery and 101 tackles, one of two seasons he would pass the century mark.

After 13 seasons of football Urlacher finishes with 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 1,052 tackles. Remarkably, he stayed healthy for much of his career excluding the 2009 season in which he missed basically the entire year. He also missed four games last year and seven in 2004, but he played in every game for 10 seasons. In the game of football that consistency is something to be proud of.

Urlacher won the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and then won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro four different times. At age 34 there is no doubt that he could probably give a few more decent years to a franchise, but as he said in his retirement statement, he may not be able to give the same performance and passion that he has grown accustomed to.

So with retirement comes questions about legacy. For Urlacher, his next stop is Canton, Ohio. Whether the Hall calls in five years or in 10 years, there is no doubt that he will be the next Bear to enter. He joins a decorated history of great defense in Chicago and his name will be mentioned in the same breath as players like Butkus and Singletary. That's how good he was. He came into the league and made himself a star and he left when we still thought of him as a present-day star.

Again, there's something to be said for the timing of Urlacher's announcement. In sports, we are so used to players like Brett Favre, Allen Iverson and even Michael Jordan not knowing when it's time. Every time a player retires there is a good chance of a "comeback" and that usually means altering a legacy. Not Urlacher. He leaves the game while he is still playing well and our vision of him is not skewed by declining production, injuries or age. He is the same Brian Urlacher as he was ten years ago.

For the Bears it's the start of a new era. They are without the heart and soul of their defense and that calls for guys like Lance Briggs to step up. Urlacher leaves big shoes to fill as players like him don't come around to often. Then again, stars like him don't leave like he did too often either.

3 Reasons Why the Pacers Could Beat the Heat

Could. That's the key word in that headline. Three reasons why the Pacers could beat the Heat. Let's face it: the Miami Heat are the best team in the NBA. They are the defending champions and they have marched right through the postseason, defeating the Bucks in four games and the Bulls in five. They won 27 games in a row and 45 of their last 48. Yet, Indiana went 2-1 against them in the the regular season and the Pacers did take them six games in the playoffs last season. So why not the Pacers? Indiana plays a style that the Heat don't like and they trot out an enormous lineup that Miami will find difficult to match up with. Although it may still be considered a David vs. Goliath matchup by nearly everyone outside of the state of Indiana, here's why the Pacers may move on to the Finals.

1. Physical style of play
The Pacers are a tough, grind-it-out team. They don't win flashy and they don't lose flashy. Sometimes it can be a grind just to watch them for 48 minutes, but that doesn't matter because it's translated over to wins. Indiana employs a physical style of play and that's not something that Miami enjoys. It's been well-documented that the Heat have raised complaints when teams like the Pacers and the Bulls get physical with them. However, the Bulls physicality didn't matter in the semi-finals as Miami brushed the battered and bruised Bulls aside.

Here's the difference between the Bulls and Pacers: the Pacers are healthy and the Bulls weren't. Chicago played physical, but they didn't have their best out on the floor. Indiana will play physical and they will have their best players out on the floor. Guys like Tyler Hansbrough, Lance Stephenson and David West don't mind banging and that will be something the Heat will have to adjust to. The two teams are polar opposites. Indiana is made up of big, tough players while Miami has built their team with knock down perimeter shooters.

2. Size
Miami has an interesting roster when it comes to size. They don't have a true center and, at times, have to play LeBron James at the power forward position. Chris Andersen has given the Heat a boost and Chris Bosh has rebounded well in the postseason, but the Pacers have size in four different positions. Indiana starts three players that are 6'8" or taller and Lance Stephenson is 6'5" at the shooting guard position. While some of the Heat's wings have the height, they don't bring the physical presence that the Pacers will.

Indiana also brings Ian Mahinmi off the bench and he has provided a great rebounding presence and also stands just shy of 7'0". All that said, size alone will not beat the Heat. The Pacers must use it to their advantage and that means winning the battle of the boards and making shot opportunities for Dwyane Wade and James difficult. The Pacers led the NBA with 45.9 rebounds per game while the Heat were 30th in the league at 38.6. It's a mismatch that Indiana must exploit.

Stephenson, George and West will also be matched up against James and Wade for much of the series. They must use their size to alter shots and make it difficult to get off clean looks. However, this doesn't mean bodying them up on the perimeter because James and Wade are both quick enough to drive around all three.

3. Roy Hibbert and George Hill
Hill suffered a concussion in during the semi-finals series, but he was able to start in the decisive Game 6 and had a nice game of 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and a block in 42 minutes. He will have time off to continue his recovery and the Pacers need him at full strength. Obviously it's difficult to beat the Heat, but the way to do it is by winning the point guard battle and winning in the post. You can't beat them on the wings because there is no one as good as James or Wade. Hill is better than Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole and he must play like it. If Indiana does not take advantage of the positional matchups that they are better at then they have no chance.

That is precisely why Hibbert could be a difference-maker. The 7'2" center is going to be the biggest player on the floor all series long, but will he play like a man or a mouse. There are times he is dominant and there are times where he disappears. Indiana can't afford to have him disappear, whether that be foul trouble or poor play. The Pacers need him active and aggressive and they should feed him the ball repeatedly. Miami lacks depth inside so why not let the big man go to work?

Again, beating the Heat four times is a tall task, but the Pacers have the set of tools to get the job done. They were close last season and the stage is even bigger in 2013. Miami has hardly been tested in the postseason and they have, once again, had plenty of rest heading into this series. If they are rusty at all then the Pacers must jump on them in Game 1 like the Bulls did in the semi-finals. If they steal a game in Miami then they have a legitimate shot to win the series, but if not then expect a re-run of last year.

Red Wings-Blackhawks Rivalry As We Know It Comes to a Fitting End

In professional sports there are so many rivalries that come about and fascinate fans for a few years. However, as players get traded and teams experience roster overturn, most professional rivalries die out. There are those that stand the test of time, but they are few and far between. It's hard to find two teams that can keep the passion and intensity no matter who is on the team and what the records are. In the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings have stood the test of time and, with changes afoot, are closing out the conference rivalry in perfect fashion.

Both franchises were founded before the 1926-27 season and they played their first game that season. Detroit won that first meeting at the Chicago Coliseum 1-0 87 years ago and the two teams have met more times in the regular season than any other franchises. Counting postseason games played, only the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens have taken the ice against each other more times.

Detroit owns the all-time series record at 434-356-85, but in the playoffs the Blackhawks have the advantage at 40-36. The Western Conference semi-final series this season is the 16th time the two teams have met in a postseason series and Chicago has won eight of the series so far. The Blackhawks dominated the regular season meetings this year, winning all four of their meetings, but heading into Game 3 of the semi-finals the series is tied at one.

With NHL realignment on the horizon, Detroit will move to the Eastern Conference and the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry will see changes. No longer will the teams play each other four times during the regular season, but instead will play a home-and-home series each year. For fans of both teams, it's a sigh of relief that they will still be able to preserve the rivalry at each arena. And then there's the new possibility of the two squaring off in the Stanley Cup Finals. That's something that hasn't happened since 1961 and couldn't happen because of the two being in the same conference.

Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cup titles while Chicago has captured four, but both teams have hoisted the Cup recently. The Red Wings won it all in 2008 and two years later the Blackhawks snapped a 49-year-old drought when they won it. The game of hockey is that much better when both teams are playing well and the league has been blessed to have both very successful in recent years.

With the changes coming, the playoff series is the perfect ending to the rivalry as we know it. Although Chicago won all four games in the regular season, three of the games went into a shootout. It's the rivalry at it's best and it may be the last time the two teams meet in the playoffs for quite some time. That said, we can hope it lasts the full seven games, but no matter what it should be a great series.

Hockey in America has struggled at times and the NHL's constant work stoppages have affected the league in a negative way multiple times. It's not out-of-bounds to say that these two teams have played a large role in saving hockey. Lockouts turn away fans, but it was hard to ignore the Blackhawks winning streak at the beginning of the season and it's hard to ignore the intense series that is taking place right now. It's what the game needs.

However, the meetings won't be as regular starting next season and the playoff series against each other will be rare. Yet, the most exciting part about it all is that the next time the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks meet in the playoffs they will be competing for Lord Stanley's Cup. The stakes won't get any higher and the rivalry won't be any greater than that.

Young Wave of Stars Rejuvenates MLB

It's a rare thing when a new wave of stars enter a sport and several become highly successful. Even more rare is a group of them making a big splash right away. In Major League Baseball, fans are being treated to a show every night with some of the game's brightest young stars doing what the do best. On the West Coast Mike Trout swipes another base while across the country in Baltimore Manny Machado makes another spectacular play in the field. In Chicago, Anthony Rizzo launches another homer and in the nation's capital Bryce Harper continues to live up to the unfathomable hype. Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey strike batters out with ease and that's what we've come to expect from these young players. Greatness. Is the MLB lucky or what?

There had not been a young baseball prospect as hyped as Stephen Strasburg was when he first got called up to the Nationals. The sports world shut down as he made his first career start and every pitch was broken down by every analyst imaginable. Baseball, a game that sometimes can be seen as slow-moving and boring, was all of a sudden the talk of the summer and, to make things even sweeter, Strasburg did exactly what was expected -- he dominated.

As if that wasn't enough, Bryce Harper made his debut for the Nationals last season and, despite being 19 years old, won the Rookie of the Year and was named an All-Star. Not too bad. However, he wasn't even the best rookie that season. That honor belonged to the Angels' Mike Trout. The centerfielder made spectacular plays on defense and hit towering homers on offense. There's only one way to win the MVP award over a guy who batted .326 with 30 home runs, 83 RBI and 49 stolen bases. That would be to win the Triple Crown and Miguel Cabrera somehow managed to do just that. Were it not for him then Trout would have been named the MVP along with being named Rookie of the Year.

Strasburg, Trout and Harper have garnered much of the headlines, but Machado, Rizzo and Harvey have been marvelous as well. Machado is currently leading the league in hits with 59 and he is seventh in batting average. Rizzo is a ray of hope in a rebuilding Cubs franchise and so far this season he has belted nine home runs in 40 games. Last year he hit 15 in 87. Harvey, this week's Sports Illustrated cover boy, is 4-0 for the New York Mets with a 1.44 earned run average. The 23-year-old has also struck out 62 while walking just 14.

All these young stars have come into the league at the perfect time. Players like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay and Ichiro Suzuki don't have that many years left in the tank. The game needs a new wave to keep it going and they go just that. If the young players stay out of trouble off the field and continue to dominate on it then the game won't miss a beat once. Retirement for the stars of today is imminent, but luckily, the stars of tomorrow are already here.

ESPN's Reporting Continues to Falter

As an aspiring sports journalist/broadcaster it once was my dream to work at ESPN. While I still watch the various ESPN stations and enjoy some of the programming, it is my view that the business has gone downhill. No longer is ESPN an unbiased sports news station. Instead it centers around it's favorite teams and leagues. Rather than reporting on stories and issues, the various shows that ESPN airs would rather debate about the topic in an almost-uncivilized manner. It's all too much. It's not good reporting or journalism and it has brought ESPN's credibility down. Below are my observations.

There's an ESPN favorites club
If you're in the ESPN favorites club then life is sweet. If you're not then forget about being covered. For example, if LeBron James changes his shoes at halftime of tonight's game then I'm sure even that will be covered by Sportscenter tomorrow morning. However, if Indiana's Paul George records a double-double in the series clincher against the Knicks then it will register as just a blip on the radar. Why is that? Well it's obvious. Carmelo Anthony is a member of the Knicks and a member of the ESPN favorites club. When the Pacers defeat the Knicks that is not a story. The story is that Carmelo didn't get it done for the Knicks. Same story with the Heat. Instead of asking, how did the Bulls win, they ask, how did LeBron let the Heat lose?

Brett Favre might be the president of the ESPN favorites club. Remember his multiple retirement saga? ESPN followed him around like it was some kind of reality show. If Favre was caught throwing passes at a local high school then it was the top story. Meanwhile, the quarterbacks who were actually on teams at the time were getting zero press.

ESPN has there favorite teams too. The Cowboys and the Jets are always going to be top stories when it comes to the NFL. If it's the NBA then it's the Heat or the Lakers. Never mind that LA was ousted by the Spurs almost two weeks ago; ESPN still discusses the future of the Lakers despite all the other playoff series still going on. The Yankees are always going to be covered when talking MLB and the NHL hardly exists to ESPN. They have their favorite teams and players and those are the ones that will receive the coverage.

The sports world revolves around the NFL
ESPN has plenty of different shows that air on a daily basis, but there is an obvious favorite among the major pro sports. The NFL has almost five shows that air during a week and all of them cover the same topics. In contrast, the MLB has Baseball Tonight, the NBA has Fastbreak and the NHL has nothing. It is the middle of May and there is still NFL Live, NFL 32 and NFL Insiders airing on a daily basis. Why do we need that much NFL coverage? I couldn't tell you because Sportscenter also feels the need to use much of their program to cover pro football.

It's not fair at all because the reality is that most fans' only avenue to sports news on television is ESPN. That means that all they hear about is football. But you know what ESPN can't figure out? They will be the ones to comment on how hockey seems to be lacking attention, lacking fans and lacking interest in the United States. They fail to realize that their lack of coverage on the sport is part of the problem.

Right now I should turn on ESPN and see plenty of coverage on the NBA and NHL playoffs to lead off. Following that there should be coverage of last night's MLB games and then lastly there should be news from the NFL. The NFL is irrelevant right now because it's out of season, but someone forgot to inform ESPN about that.

A story isn't worth reporting if ESPN can't argue and debate it
Here's the perfect example on this new-found phenomenon at ESPN of always debating stories. When Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay athlete in American pro sports, it was a huge day for the LGBT community. It was a monumental moment and no one can argue that fact. Whether you support gay rights or not, this was a story worth reporting because it signals a change that is imminent in our professional leagues. Sports Illustrated reported on the story and did a magnificent job of letting Collins tell his story. That's it. Just tell his story.

Smith has become the poster child for the Debate Era

ESPN couldn't merely tell his story. Instead, the found a way to twist what should have been an informative story into a raging debate. LZ Granderson, an openly gay journalist for ESPN, and Chris Broussard, a Christian reporter on the NBA for ESPN, both appeared on ESPN's Outside the Lines just hours after Collins' announcement. What happened on the show was disgraceful and should not have happened. Broussard was asked several questions and basically baited into sharing his personal views on homosexuality. I'm fine with Broussard's opinion and I'm fine with Granderson's, but I have a problem with debating whether homosexuality is okay or not on a show that shouldn't be used as a platform for that.

I used to like watching ESPN First Take, but I no longer watch it because I cannot stand to listen to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless yell at each other about every topic put in front of them. There is room for debate in sports journalism, there is no doubt about that. Pardon the Interruption has found the happy medium between debating and discussing. First Take would rather yell their way through the show and that is not enjoyable at all. Sometimes a story is just made to to be reported, not to be debated.

These are three of the biggest faults ESPN commits and it has hurt the television shows, their reporting and their entire programming in general. I sometimes wonder what direction ESPN is headed in because, in the day and age of reality television, it really seems like that's the direction that ESPN wants to go. They are not worried about giving equal coverage to all leagues and teams, but they would rather focus on the teams and leagues that they find most exciting. That's not good reporting.

ESPN is highly-regarded as the best option for sports reporting. If we really do consider them the best then it's time they be held accountable.

Should Major League Baseball Implement Protective Headgear?

Happ was taken off on a stretcher after being hit in the head

J.A. Happ became the latest pitcher to fall victim to a vicious line drive right back at him during a Major League Baseball game. Happ, pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays, took a Desmond Jennings' liner off the left side of his head during the second inning of last night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was taken off of the field on a stretcher, but fortunately he is in good condition and was released today from a Florida hospital. However, Happ's injury is becoming all too familiar in the game of baseball. It begs the question: should the MLB implement protective head gear for pitchers?

Think about it. A pitcher starts just 60 feet, six inches away from home plate. When he releases the ball he is inside 60 feet and he is throwing the ball, depending on the level of baseball, at about 80-100 miles per hour. The ball comes off of the bat even faster than that and the reaction time is so minute it's nearly impossible to get out of the way. The man must get lucky. Happ attempted to put his glove up, but it was no use. The ball hit him square and he collapsed to the Tropicana Field turf.

So far, despite the amount of injuries, Major League pitchers have not been in favor of the protective headgear. There have been talks about using padded hats or helmets, but pitchers have not liked the proposed changes. It remains to be seen what the MLB will do, but a possibility is that they could implement the headgear in the minor leagues. To have it in the Major Leagues though it would have to be passed by the MLBPA and as of now that doesn't seem likely. Also, while the padding would help, the reality is that the impact will still be absurdly forceful. Yes, some padding is better than none, but this is an issue that is difficult to fix.

Here's the other thing about pitchers that will most likely keep the protective headgear out of the game: they know the risks. Baseball is a game that has been around for a long, long time and unfortunately this is something that could very easily happen. Many pitchers have expressed that they understand the dangers of pitching and, because they do, they are able to recover and go pitch again after a horrific hit to the head.

When I was a junior in high school I had a similar thing happen to me. I took a line drive off of my rib cage and I had to go to the hospital. I was sore for quite some time and I missed a few games, but it was never really something I thought about while pitching. I think, as a pitcher, you aren't worried about those things when doing your job. With that being said, I still don't think that's an excuse to ignore the issue that is at hand.

All it will take is one man to die from a blow to the head and the game will drastically change. All sports are experiencing issues with dangerous plays. Because men are getting bigger, faster and stronger all of our games are changing. Suddenly, the games aren't what they once were. Football is more dangerous than it was 30 years ago. Baseball players can hit a ball back at a pitcher faster and harder than ever before. Hockey players are more physical than the past and the same can be said for basketball. As the science of conditioning and weight lifting continues to advance, sports will continue to get more dangerous.

The MLB should look into ways to help pitchers, but it is a very difficult problem. There is no way to fix it and it will be hard for veteran pitchers to change the gear they use after using the same stuff since they were kids. This is a change that will come the hard way or a change that will have to start at the bottom in youth baseball. It's not something that baseball can ignore, but it is something that we have to understand is part of the game.

It's Steph Curry's World and We're All Just Living In It

Steph Curry doesn't need much space to make a defender pay. Many a man has chased him all around the court, hounding him on every possession. Curry may catch the ball and the defender will play solid defense on him for the final 10 seconds of the shot clock. However, it takes the slightest of dribbling moves and Curry has the inch of space he needs. Once he has that inch it's game over. The Golden State Warriors guard has lit up the NBA Playoffs this season and has left fans breathless while leaving defenders frustrated.

Golden State was a mental lapse on defense away from stealing Game 1 from the Spurs in San Antonio last night. While they lost 129-127 in double overtime, it's not because Curry didn't produce. He finished the night with 44 points on 18-35 shooting and also had four rebounds, two steals and 11 assists. Stars come out when the lights are brightest and that's exactly what Curry has done this season. 

If you didn't notice him during the regular season when he dropped 54 at Madison Square Garden or when broke the single-season record for three point field goals made, then he has made you notice now. His numbers are up in the postseason and he has led the underdog-Warriors to the conference semifinals. Overcoming the Spurs will be a tall task, but when the Warriors have the benefit of a man who seems to always be hot then anything is possible. Twice this postseason Curry has poured in 20-plus points in a quarter.

You want an MVP for the playoffs? Look no further than Curry. The Warriors are an exciting, young team, but they were not supposed to beat the Denver Nuggets. Denver finished 57-25 in the regular season and Golden State's David Lee was injured in Game 1. However, Curry hit shot after shot and when he wasn't scoring he was dishing out assists. That's the brilliant thing about him. During his magical run with Davidson in the NCAA Tournament he was viewed as a shooter. Now, he is a scorer. The difference being that before defenders really needed to focus on the jump shot, but now he can get to the rim and create more for himself. On top of that, he has become great at creating for others. In the playoffs he is averaging 9.6 assists. 

Whether or not he is a pure point guard is a debate for another day. Right now he is the best point guard still playing basketball, but questions remain about his health. He has a history of ankle issues and he did roll his ankle in the Denver series. Playing 58 minutes last night can't help his case, but for now he seems fine and the 44-point outburst clearly illustrates that. He leads the NBA postseason in assists and is currently third in points per game and fourth in steals per game.

Steph Curry is an elite player. Every star needs a coming-out party and Curry is using the entire postseason as his platform. There's no telling how far this Warriors team could go. While they do seem like a long shot to defeat the Spurs, you simply can't count out Curry's uncanny ability to go off when his team needs it most. And remember, if you give him just an inch he will make you pay.

Rose Continues to Sit as Bulls Struggle

While his teammates struggle, Rose continues to watch at the end of the bench

The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls last night to make the series 3-3 with Game 7 due up Saturday night. The Bulls are battered and bruised, sick and hurt, but that didn't mean they went down without a fight. It was a valiant effort from a team without All-Star Luol Deng, steady guard Kirk Hinrich. On top of that, Joakim Noah, Nate Robinson and Taj Gibson were all sick yet fought through that to contribute mightily. At the end of the game, TNT's crew acknowledged the Nets won the game, but the focus was on how tough the Bulls were.

Chicago did fight to the end and it was fun to watch, however, I was more annoyed and angry after the game than I have been in awhile. As not just a Bulls fan, but a sports fan in general, Derrick Rose drew my ire as I watched him sit there in a suit and watch as his sick and hurt teammates failed to close out the series on their home court. I've gone back and forth on the Rose issue and whether or not he should be on the court. I was angry last night so I decided to sleep on it rather than spilling my emotions on this blog post. However, my feelings haven't changed about the matter.

Rose sitting on the bench at this point is a mockery. It's a joke. It's been a full calendar year almost. He's been cleared by doctors, he's practiced, he's warmed up before games, he's got his lateral movement back, he's fine. Do I personally know he's fine? No I don't, but I haven't heard one source say he's not ready to play. Yet there he is at the end of the bench acting as another coach, jumping around in celebration and distracting TNT and ESPN cameras at every dead ball.

Prior to Game 1 of the series Joakim Noah was questionable due to injury, but he still played and said in an interview that he wouldn't miss the game for anything. Last night Nate Robinson was throwing up in a trash can during timeouts, but he said that you have to do what you have to do to win the game sometimes. Both Noah and Hinrich have been playing on one leg basically, but have given the Bulls quality minutes. Robinson was good again last night despite feeling ill. But where's Rose?

Listen, I understand the severity of Rose's injury. I really do. I have friends who have suffered that injury and I know the mental struggle that comes with the rehab process. Here's what I'm saying though: this is Rose's job and this is his obligation. Sometimes you have to go to work when you aren't feeling 100 percent. That's just the way life is. If my parents didn't go to work every day they woke up and weren't quite feeling it then they would be fired.

To make it even more of a joke David Lee played last night. In case you didn't know, Lee tore his hip flexor in Game 1 of the Warriors-Nuggets series and was supposed to be done for the playoffs. He made a surprise comeback last night and helped Golden State close out the series. So let me get this straight. A guy who just tore his hip flexor went out there and played, but Rose can't get out there after almost a calendar year?

Let's stop making excuses for the guy too. The idea that he shouldn't play because this team isn't "built for a championship" is stupid. So what if it's not? It's still his job to be out there on the floor. If this team isn't built for a championship then do we just tell Noah to shut it down and rest up for next year? Should Deng just forget about it and stay in bed? I don't get it.

I know there is a chance that he could re-injure himself, but there will be a chance of that next year as well. Rose owes it to his teammates to get out there and give them 15-25 minutes. As a former athlete I'm not sure how you sit there in a suit and watch your teammate throw up in a trash can during timeouts and not feel guilty. I'm not sure how you watch Noah and Hinrich play through pain and not feel guilty. You have guys leaving it all out there on the floor and you have the star player scared to step foot in between the lines.

Rose's injury was severe and he only 24 years old. It's a risk to play, but it's always going to be a risk to play. Again, that excuse has gotten old. The doctors have cleared him, he's been practicing and his team needs him. That sounds like all the ingredients for a comeback. 

The Bulls backcourt last night was a sick Nate Robinson and rookie Marquis Teague. That sure doesn't sound like playoff material to me. Rose could have helped and he would have helped. It's time to stop talking around this subject. Is he going to play or not? Well I'll tell you what will really set me off. If Rose plays against Miami in the second round (assuming the Bulls win Game 7) I will lose it. There is no difference from last night to next week and he could have helped Chicago end the series quicker.

If I was a teammate of Rose's it would be hard for me to speak with him right now. He doesn't know the struggle and he shouldn't act like he does. At this point it looks like Rose isn't truly invested like we thought. He's never been mentally tough and he's clearly cementing that thought right now. His team needs him, but he isn't going to answer the call. He says he would die for the game and he can't wait to get back out there. Does he really? I'm not seeing it.

The playoffs are winning time. A team needs a full arsenal and the Bulls don't have that right now. Almost the entire roster is doing whatever they can to be on the floor and to help this team win. Then there is one guy who appears to be doing whatever he can to NOT be on the floor. I never thought I would question the MVP Derrick Rose, but I am now. Your team needs you D.Rose. Time to recognize that.