Dunk Contest Lacks Stars, Creativity

On a night when the only words coming out of Flo Rida’s mouth were the words “Putcho hands up!” there was never any reason to follow those instructions. The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest was, quite possibly, the worst one since the event had become a part of All-Star weekend. Chase Budinger, Jeremy Evans, Paul George, and Derrick Williams were a disappointment to an otherwise exciting event.

First off, regardless of who participates, the commentary before each dunk needs to stop. I love listening to Kenny Smith on TNT but we’re not watching a game at Rucker Park. We don’t want to hear the trash talk or hear the contestants explain what they’re about to do because that takes away from the surprise of each dunk.

Furthermore, the dunks themselves were mediocre. Now let’s get this straight, I’m a 6’3 white kid that can’t dunk, so I know I have no room to judge anyone on a personal basis. However, after watching guys like Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin the past few years, this year’s contestants brought the standard down a few notches. Jeremy Evans first dunk was, in a word, lame. Lobbing the ball up and simply putting it down two-handed is something you could see in a real game. It was even worse when he kept hanging on the rim in an attempt to make it look cooler. Later in that round, Derrick Williams did have a pretty impressive windmill over a motorcycle, but Chase Budinger kind of ruined it by repeating that same dunk except he didn’t have the motorcycle. Now I will give credit where credit is due; Jeremy Evans dunk over Gordon Hayward was absolutely nasty. It was original, the degree of difficulty was through the roof, and it was something few guys could do. That’s the kind of dunks we all wanted to see consistently.

My last complaint with the Dunk Contest is the voting. I don’t like that the fans are in charge of voting now because it becomes a popularity contest. It’s following the same lines as the All-Star voting by voting in guys that, as long as they have achieved the All-Star status, are automatically voted in. Who could forget a few years back when Yao Ming played half of the season before the All-Star break and he was voted in. I wish they would have judges or a committee because then we know that the most deserving players are rewarded.

I’m a fan of the dunk contest; I look forward to it every year. However, this year was poor. I liked the P Diddy dunk that Budinger did, the glow-in-the-dark dunk by George, and the dunk over Hayward by Evans. I hope some of the stars come back next year to participate much like Dominique and MJ did year in and year out. I’m not sure I could take another year like this one.

Storming the Court is Tradition But Safety Comes First

Florida State fans celebrate their victory over UNC
(Phil Sears/US Presswire)

Every year in college basketball there are upsets when ranked teams go on the road and that always means fans will storm the court. Inevitably, the question of whether or not storming the court should be allowed comes up every year. Roy Williams, head coach of North Carolina, recently made headlines because he sent his players to the locker room with 14.2 seconds left. However, he left the five walk-ons and bench players out on the floor which caused them to struggle through the mass of Florida State students that immediately rushed the court after their team's blowout victory over the 3rd-ranked Tar Heels. Some have frowned upon Williams' decision to send his players to the locker room early, but the reality is that it makes sense.

There are some conferences who have outlawed storming the court and schools who participate in such activity receive a fine for doing so. I disagree with this completely and I really don't like the idea of outlawing it because it is impossible to do so. Storming the court is part of the game and it has been for a long time. There have been a few times when it's been uncalled for, but to me it shows the ultimate sign of achievement in the underdog. Nobody storms the court at Kansas or Duke because winning is expected there. It doesn't matter who they play or when they play them, they are expected to win. However, a school like Florida State isn't supposed to beat the Dukes and Carolinas of the world. Leonard Hamilton has built a quality program down in Tallahassee but they will always be the underdogs when facing North Carolina. Why shouldn't the fans storm the court after a 33-point win over UNC? It's a sign of joy and celebration for accomplishing a task that many thought couldn't be done.

It doesn't make sense to outlaw something that will certainly happen no matter what. If South Carolina beats Kentucky then the fans are going to storm the court and the school will pay the fine later. That's just the way it is. Imposing a fine is silly. Let the kids have some fun. Now, I do believe that there should be announcements made about safety and a large amount of security needs to stand by in case trouble starts, but outlawing it all together takes away a fun aspect of the game.

The issue on whether or not to send players to the locker room early like Williams did is an easy one to me. Safety is the first priority and that is why I like what Williams did. With 14.2 seconds left and the game clearly over on the scoreboard, get the kids out of harm's way. It's easy to get knocked down and you never know what some idiot from the opposing school is going to say so remove the possibility of that happening. Williams did the right thing by informing Hamilton and congratulations can be given later. I do think five players need to be on the floor until the clock expires but even they can stand on the edge of the court while the other team dribbles out the clock. Once the buzzer sounds just make a beeline for the locker room and let the celebration begin.

I think Roy Williams went about this the right way and so did Leonard Hamilton and Florida State. Storming the court is one of the coolest traditions college basketball has and it's not going away any time soon. If safety is a priority then there should never be a problem. That is easy to say and harder to actually do but the Florida State-North Carolina game should be a model for other schools. Both coaches were classy about it and no injuries were reported. The scene in Tallahassee was college basketball at it's finest.

Why the Dysfunctional Jets Will Never Win

 

Rex Ryan

There are teams and players who create headlines for all the right reasons. Take Aaron Rodgers or Derrick Rose for example. The two are arguably the hottest athlete in their respective sports and they play at a high level while remaining humble and staying out of trouble. Rodgers is on his pursuit of a second straight Super Bowl victory and Rose is trying to lead his Bulls to their first NBA championship since the Jordan era. Both men are respected and that's because they win while keeping a low profile. In today's sports world everyone thinks that the loudest and the baddest win, but that is not the case. One must only look as far as the New York Jets to see why loud and out of control teams can't win.

Just when you think it can't get any worse in the Big Apple somebody else on the Jets steps up and says something dumber than the last guy. Rex Ryan is always good for a quote and he doesn't mind talking a little trash or speaking his mind. Sometimes that can be a good thing but Ryan repeatedly puts pressure on his players by voicing his honest opinions and predictions to the media. In their late season matchup against the Giants, Ryan talked a big game all week to the media before getting destroyed by their rivals 29-14. Afterwards, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said what I think many opposing players around the league think when he told reporters that Ryan was a "big bellied loudmouth and disrespectful." Rex wants to win and he has shown that but his antics aren't working. The Jets lost in the AFC Championship game two years in a row but this year they finished 8-8 and ended the season on a three game losing streak. Rex keeps talking and his opponents feed off of his chatter more than his own players, or so it seems. Looking ahead to next season, Rex Ryan has to tone it down with his bold statements and predictions or the Jets will be doomed once again.

An even larger problem than Ryan's mouth is the locker room and the players' relationship with the media. The atmosphere that Rex has created is a terrible one for a sports franchise. What he has done is made it acceptable to say what you want, when you want and to who you want. Sure, that works fine when you are a good team but when the losses start to pile up the talk quickly turns negative and, as we see with the Jets, the team is in disarray. When a guy like Greg McElroy is going to the media and calling out several teammates and accusing them of being selfish there is a major problem. McElroy is so far down on the depth chart he isn't even sniffing the field and he is no place of leadership. Why would he go to some radio station and voice his opinions like that? Everything he said might be true but there is a code that what happens in the locker room stays there and he violated that. If the Jets are smart they put McElroy on the first plane out of LaGuardia and tell him go find another team.

McElroy's comments were uncalled for and have caused
a problem in the locker room

However, at least McElroy spoke his mind and put his name to it. In the latest developments, Jets players have anonymously called out quarterback Mark Sanchez saying he is lazy and content because he knows he won't lose his spot as the starter. If you think that then that is fine but there are two things wrong with these players' actions. First, why would they go say that to the press??? That is something that should stay in the locker room and be dealt with as a team. Second, if you are going to tell the media then be man enough to put your name to it. That's one of the most cowardly acts. The media is never the place to voice opinions about the locker room and the Jets' players must realize this. It starts with Rex Ryan.

Until Rex puts his foot down and stops this, the Jets will not win a Super Bowl. He has not created an atmosphere that is healthy and it is one that breeds anger and arguing. Ryan has to shut his mouth and get his players to shut up as well. The bold, loud talk worked for awhile but no one is intimidated by Ryan anymore. Other coaches let him talk and then go kick his tail on Sunday. The New York Jets are the laughing stock of the NFL right now and it's because Rex Ryan and his players are out of control. It's like they are having a contest to see who can say the stupidest thing to the press. They can keep on talking too, because that 8-8 record isn't going to change and next year won't be much better.

Sorting Through The Colts Predicament

Has there ever been a more interesting build up to the NFL Draft than this year? The Indianapolis Colts' dismal season earned them the first overall pick and what they have now is a conflict. Peyton Manning's well-documented neck injury kept him from playing the entire 2011-12 season and the Colts suffered greatly. It is clear how much of an impact Manning had on that team and it is realistic to think that, if he was healthy, Indy would have won at least 10 games. He's that good. However, there is no way to tell if he will ever be fully healthy again and that is why the Colts have tough decisions coming up. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is widely regarded as the top quarterback in the '12 Draft Class and he is nearly a lock to be shaking Roger Goodell's hand first on draft day. But what about Peyton Manning? A few years ago it would have been ridiculous to say that Indy might cut Manning, but now it's a real possibility. In this post I will discuss what each group/player should do with the current situation, starting with Luck.

Andrew Luck, Stanford QB
If I'm Andrew Luck then I am begging the Colts to take me. Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre don't exactly have the ideal relationship but look at Rodgers now. It doesn't hurt to learn from a living legend. If Manning is still in the blue and white Luck should come in with the mindset that his time will come. If he does his work and keeps quiet then there is no reason why Manning shouldn't welcome him in with open arms. Sure, Luck could get drafted and step into the quarterback role right away, but let's look at how well that has gone for guys like Ryan Leaf, Cade McNown and Joey Harrington. Elite quarterbacks in college usually end up in bad situations and they never reach their potential. A guy like Alex Smith has finally found what he was looking for, but it took him years. Rodgers is in pursuit of his second Super Bowl and has established himself as one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL. I could see the situation in Indy being very similar to Green Bay's a few years ago.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts QB

Nobody likes to have to check over their shoulder to see what's waiting behind them. That's especially true for a future Hall of Famer. We see it all the time in sports, a legend's career is coming to a close and the future star is waiting. That is a rough time period for any veteran. However, we don't know how good Manning could be if he gets back on the field. He may come back and be his old self. That is highly unlikely though, and if the injury is as bad as it sounds, then he should retire. That's my opinion but it makes sense. Retire a Colt and go out on good terms with the organization, the fans and his teammates. Also, a neck injury isn't something to mess around with because the ramifications of reinjuring it could be costly. Now, if doctors clear him and say he can go play then by all means he should go out and play. I just want to see him in a Colts jersey and if that doesn't happen then I would like to see him retire. He is a top five quarterback in history and will be in Canton as soon as possible so there is nothing left for him to prove. Don't be a Brett Favre. That's the best advice I could give Peyton Manning.

Indianapolis Colts organization
The Colts are in the toughest spot of anybody. The easy decision is to draft Luck at number one. That's the smart thing to do and it's the right thing to do. The hard thing will be deciding what to do with Manning. Like I said above, if he can play then let him play while Luck sits and waits his turn. If the Colts think he has lost his magic then I think they should advise him to retire and offer a position on staff as a mentor to Luck. That would be the ideal situation, but the reality is it probably won't happen. I think if you are the Indy front office you just have to make sure there is good communication with Manning and make sure that the relationship isn't sullied. He has been the face of the Colts since he was drafted and it would be a shame to see him leave in anger and try to get "revenge" on the organization by signing with a division rival or another team.

In my mind the perfect situation would be that Peyton Manning gets to play two or three more years at a high level for the Indianapolis Colts while Andrew Luck sits and learns from him. Manning then retires and Luck steps in and keeps the Colts at the top of the AFC standings. The two have a good relationship, unlike Favre and Rodgers, and it becomes one of the best stories in sports. However, I'm smart enough to know that that probably won't happen. We are still a few months away from the NFL Draft but there is no doubt that this will be a story that draws much attention and will disected from every angle. Tough decisions will have to be made and we could have to say goodbye to Peyton Manning. Something that would come too soon.

Paul Lifts Illini; Team Looking for Consistency

Paul earned a spot in the U of I record books with his
43 point outburst on Tuesday night

Number five in the world of college basketball has fallen to none other than the program who has seemed to struggle with consistency. Last night, the Buckeyes of Ohio State fell to the unranked Fighting Illini of Illinois. On a night when legendary Illinois coach Lou Henson was celebrating his 80th birthday and former players such as Kenny Battle and Stephen Bardo were in attendance, Illinois did everything in its power to put on a show.

And what a show it was. Led by junior shooting guard Brandon Paul, the Illini battled…and battled…and battled, until they finally gutted out the 79-74 win. Other than the fact that the Illini took down the perennial powerhouse Buckeyes, it was a special night for Paul and one that nobody could have expected.

Coming into college, Paul was a part of a very good recruiting class and one of Bruce Weber’s best thus far. Yet Paul, along with classmate and fellow guard DJ Richardson, struggled with consistency and maturity on the court. He was very impatient at times, he settled for mediocre or poor shots early in the shot clock, and didn’t seem to have the leadership a guard should exhibit on the hardwood. However, on a night like last night, when the game was nationally televised and Player of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger was in the Assembly Hall, Brandon Paul stepped up and showed everyone that he just might be stepping into his role as a leader and go-to guy.

It was apparent right from the start that Paul and the Illini were ready to go. The shooting guard had a chase-down block that was capable of being compared to one that we’ve seen LeBron James do over and over. In past seasons, Paul might have given a half-hearted effort coming down the floor or would have stopped at half court. Yet here he was making a big time play against a big time team.
He wasn’t satisfied, though. He would end the game with forty-three points (which ranks 3rd all time in Illinois history), eight boards, four blocks, and two assists. As a part of the jaw-dropping, history-making performance, Paul was the man that, in the clutch, would hit two monumental threes and would knock down free throw after free throw to put the nail in the Buckeyes’ coffin.

As an Illinois fan, it was unreal to see a team that, despite a 14-3 record before last night’s game, lacked consistency yet put on such a performance. Games such as a nail-biter against St. Bonaventure and a mere four point victory over Cornell, presented a little skepticism as to how well this Illinois team could perform. This team is young, there’s no doubt there. Transfer student Sam Maniscalco is the only senior and is currently suffering from an injury. You can see it in Illinois’ play that they still get ahead of themselves on fast breaks and they aren’t always fluent on offense. Guys such as Tracy Abrams are still trying to fit into their new positions and sophomore big man Meyers Leonard is working on performing at a high level that will compete with other studs such as Sullinger and Michigan State forward Draymond Green.

But after the show that was put on last night on ESPN, Illinois has shown that, when all their players are on the same page and when they’re all ready to go to work, this team can be dangerous. It’s hard to tell just from last night’s game, but if this Illinois team can begin to be consistent and play to its potential rather than play to the level of their opponent, the Big Ten championship might, just might, end up in Champaign.

The Intensity of Detroit Sports



The Bad Boys were a thorn in MJ's side in the late 80's/early 90's



After beginning the NFL season better than anyone could have expected, the Detroit Lions slowly trailed off until they were eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Saints this past Saturday. But this Lions team was something significant not only because they finally brought a good football team back to the Motor City, but because they emulated exactly what Detroit sports is all about.

With the addition of Ndamukong Suh two seasons ago, the Lions acquired a player with a tenacity and attitude that few players have. He plays dirty, late hits are easy to come by, and he does whatever it takes to bring down an opposing player. A lot of people, including myself, hate Suh’s style of play. I’m not a fan of the helmet-to-helmet hits he’s had and as far as his actions on Thanksgiving Day go, I’ll never have respect for him as a player again. There’s no place for that in sports. Ever.

Yet something about Suh fits right into the city of Detroit and the city’s history of athletes. Dating back to the 1980’s, the Motor City has had its fair share of questionable characters. Who could forget the Bad Boys who were the Detroit Pistons? Bill Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas, and Dennis Rodman had a presence on the hardwood that was intimidating to say the least. There were Laimbeer’s many fights with Hall of Famers such as Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale, as well as Dennis Rodman’s constant bouts with Scottie Pippin. The Bad Boys didn’t care what you thought and weren’t bothered by their reputation. Bottom line was, they were good, and that’s all that mattered to them.

Then there was the infamous brawl in the Palace of Auburn Hills between the Pistons and Pacers in 2004. The Pistons were on the rise again with a loaded roster containing Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince. They had an attitude and a swagger that pretty much owned the Eastern Conference. Yet Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson (both members of the Pacers at the time) played a huge part in starting the brawl. It began with Artest fouling Ben Wallace extremely hard with just nineteen seconds left in the game. Wallace responded with a hard shove and after that, all hell broke loose.

The 2004 brawl wasn’t necessarily begun by the Pistons, but it speaks to the intensity and environment that Detroit presents. In no way am I saying that Detroit’s a city full of fighters and thugs, but I am saying that Detroit presents athletes that are willing to fight for victory, both literally and figuratively. The Motor City may not always enjoy perennial success, but there’s no doubt that a game against one of the city’s teams will certainly be interesting to watch.

NBA Western Conference Preview

As promised here is the NBA Western Conference Preview. Almost always the stronger conference, the West will again be dominant in 2011-12 and that's because of veteran teams like the Spurs and Lakers that are experienced in the playoffs and young teams such as the Thunder and Clippers that demand viewers' attention. Also, let us not forget that the Dallas Mavericks have assembled a team that could have the potential to repeat. I would say there is no clear cut favorite out West and as many as five or six teams have a legitimate shot to represent the conference in the Finals. Here are my picks:

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Los Angeles Lakers

4. Denver Nuggets

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Los Angeles Clippers

7. Portland Trail Blazers

8. Memphis Grizzlies

9. Utah Jazz

10. Golden State Warriors

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

12. Houston Rockets

13. Phoenix Suns

14. New Orleans Hornets
15. Sacramento Kings

Teams to Watch

Dallas Mavericks: Always keep an eye on the defending champs in any sports and the Mavs are no different. They lost some pieces to the puzzle from a season ago such as J.J. Barea, Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler but they were able to add Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West. The supporting cast is what will propel the Mavs through the playoffs. Carter, West, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood all bring experience and multiple talents to a deep roster. Dirk Nowitzki had a fabulous playoffs and if he, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry don't show their age this year, Mark Cuban and the Mavs could be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy again.

Los Angeles Clippers: This is new territory for the Clippers franchise. They are actually a hyped up team with tremendous expectations. And why not? They made the HUGE trade that brought the best point guard in the league, Chris Paul, to LA and signed two veteran role players with Finals experience in Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler. Throw in the freakishly athletic inside duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and "Lob City" might be the most exciting television this season. Still, how high can expectations be for a franchise that has never been a winner? In their preseason games the Clips looked good but they aren't deep in the post and their bench is very young. Either way the Clippers are finally relevant and that will create some exciting storylines throughout the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Maybe the T'Wolves won't receive that much press, but mark my words, they will be a contender in a few short years. Start with Kevin Love, a double-double machine. He is the star this organization needs and he is consistent. Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams (2nd overall pick) will also be in the frontcourt. If Darko Milicic and Brad Miller can just give Minnesota steady play they will be fine. Gone is Jonny Flynn and in is Ricky Rubio at point. The T'Wolves finally got their man and America will soon find out if he is all he's hyped up to be. He and Wes Johnson will team up in the backcourt and J.J. Barea and Wayne Ellington will come off the bench. This team has serious potential but won't win quite yet due to youth. However, don't sleep on them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Everyone is down on the Lake Show after the Chris Paul trade fiasco that ended up with Lamar Odom in Dallas and Paul in the wrong locker room at the Staples Center. Now, LA will have to move on with it's core group of stars led by Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol, who was nearly dealt to Houston, is back in a Lakers uniform and says he is fine, despite the trade rumors. LA needs Gasol to have a monster year with no Odom and little production expected from the bench. Maybe even more important will be the play of Andrew Bynum. His potential is great but his knees have to hold up for LA to play deep into the playoffs. I expect the Lakers to still be a good team but don't be surprised if they drop off a little bit.

Players to Watch

Paul (center) with new teammates Griffin and Billups

Chris Paul: The man who has caused the most commotion this offseason will finally be able to just play ball on Christmas Day. He should have a terrific year, benefitting from the athleticism of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan along with the veteran play of Chauncey Billups. CP3 is the best point guard in the league and continues to prove it. This year he could put up his best numbers yet and people are expecting something great from him in LA.

Kevin Durant: Here is my pick for the MVP this season. The Durantula has emerged as the best scorer in the NBA and he should lead his team to a Western Conference championship for the first time. He has talented teammates at every position which allows him to do his thing without double teams coming his way every night. He has already been a scoring champion and I expect he will be again this season. With his size and his ability to shoot he may be the hardest to guard in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant: For the first time in a long time Kobe Bryant isn't the most talked about basketball player in Los Angeles, California. People seem to have pushed the Lakers and Bryant to the side for Chris Paul and the Clippers but don't forget about Kobe. He is the best player in the league and for those who say he is too old to be the "old Kobe" why don't you check his numbers from last season. His 25, 5, 4 averages match his career numbers and indicates that we haven't seen the last of Kobe.

Western Conference Rookies to Watch
Derrick Williams, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves (2nd overall pick)

Enes Kanter, forward, Utah Jazz (3rd overall)

Jimmer Fredette, guard, Sacramento Kings (10th overall)

The West is always deep and this year is no different. I will predict the Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the Western crown but, in reality, there are six teams that have the potential to play in the Finals. It all starts tomorrow and the NBA is right in saying that we should expect BIG things.

NBA Eastern Conference Preview

There was a period of time when the Eastern Conference was an afterthought in the NBA and perhaps that period isn't over quite yet. Since the Chicago Bulls dynasty ended the East has only won three of the 13 Finals and has lost the last three. However, the conference keeps getting stronger and 2011-12 will be the second year Miami's Big 3 are together, Derrick Rose and the Bulls have playoff experience and the Knicks are hoping Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can stay healthy the entire year. Questions are all around in the East though, as many are wondering if this is the last year we will see Deron Williams in a Nets uniform and everyone wants to know where Dwight Howard will be playing by the time the season ends. Los Angeles? New Jersey? Chicago? Dallas? The possibilities seem endless but for now it appears he will don a Magic jersey this season. Here is a quick look around the East with teams and players to watch along with predicted order of finish:



Rip Hamilton and Derrick Rose



Predicted Order of Finish

1. Miami Heat  

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. New York Knicks

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Indiana Pacers

8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Charlotte Bobcats
11. Washington Wizards
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. New Jersey Nets

Teams to Watch


The Big 3 in South Beach



Miami Heat: Everyone knows of the Big 3 and last year they certainly needed time to adjust to each other. Their slow start along with their inability to defeat Chicago prevented them from finishing first in the regular season. However, Miami looked unbeatable in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls yet couldn't figure out how to win against Dallas in the Finals. LeBron's fourth quarter woes have been talked about over and over, but some of the blame rests on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Going into Year Two of this experiment, Miami has to figure out whose team this is. Who gets the ball in late game situations? In the Finals Wade and James passed the ball back and forth like a hot potato, neither of them taking the big shot. Once that problem is solved, watch out. Chris Bosh should be more comfortable in his role this season and the Heat also added a defensive stopper/3-point threat in Shane Battier. He and a healthy Mike Miller will stretch opposing defenses.

Chicago Bulls: Last year's 62-20 record may have been a surprise to some, especially when we look at how much Derrick Rose had to do for the team to succeed. This year the Bulls could be even better due to the signing of Richard Hamilton. Although Rip is older, he is still a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball. He will attract a defender on every play, sometimes two. That will give Rose more freedom with another scorer on the floor. So, while Rose's scoring may dip, expect his assists to be on the rise. Ronnie Brewer is another Bull whose production should increase. Brewer's mid-range jumper looked solid in two preseason games and coaches have lauded his play in the shortened training camp. Essential to Chicago's success will be a healthy Carlos Boozer. The big-name signing from a year ago will have to give the Bulls more over the course of the season.



Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony



New York Knicks: The Knickerbockers are an interesting team from the standpoint that they have two superstars but not a great supporting cast. The signing of Tyson Chandler was huge because he will run the floor and play defense, but doesn't need to score to be happy. Amare Stoudemire will handle most of the post scoring and Carmelo Anthony will complete a frontline that is one of the better ones in the league. If Stoudemire and Melo stay healthy then the Knicks can make some noise, but as we saw in the playoffs last season, when one goes down the Knicks are going no where. The backcourt is a question mark for New York. The signings of Baron Davis and Mike Bibby would have been great if this was 2002 but it's 2011 and those two are old and their stars don't shine as bright anymore.

Indiana Pacers: This is my number one team to keep an eye on. The young Pacers finished 8th in the East last season and were highly-competitive with the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. They had a great offseason, signing David West and trading for George Hill and they have a big lineup with West, Danny Granger, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert. For the Pacers to become successful they need Granger to become their go-to-guy. He has to become and all-around player and be the star this team needs. Indiana has the point guards in Darren Collison and Hill to get him the ball. Inside, the Pacers depth is key and this young team may be ready to reestablish itself as a perennail playoff team like they were in the 1990's.

Players to Watch
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Obviously all eyes will be on Rose after his magnificent MVP season last year. As stated above, Rose's scoring may not be as high this year, but hopefully that's because it doesn't need to be. The addition of Rip Hamilton and a healthy Carlos Boozer will mean DRose can be more of a point guard and facilitate for his teammates. Defenses will be aimed at stopping Rose, but so far not many have been successful.

Dwight Howard

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: The forgotten man of Miami's Big 3, Chris Bosh should have a great year in South Beach. Last year was an adjustment for him as he wasn't the featured player any more and he didn't know what his role was on the team. All of that is figured out now and Bosh can go back to being the 20 and 10 guy that he is. While LeBron and DWade steal all the spotlight, it's hard to deny that Bosh's performance is the key to a Miami title run.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: With so many distractions how will Dwight Howard play this season? They can say they aren't going to talk about where he will end up playing, but the reality is that it will come up everyday. Fans of other teams will try to woo Howard to their team and the media will constantly be debating whether he will wind up in LA or stay in Orlando. This could have an effect on his play, as well as his team's.

Eastern Conference Rookies to Watch
Kyrie Irving, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (1st pick)
Tristan Thompson, power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers (4th pick)
Kemba Walker, point guard, Charlotte Bobcats (9th pick)

The East is very top heavy with the top four teams head and shoulders above the rest. However, many teams are trying to become contenders and in a shortened season like this, depth on the roster will help a lot. Expect the Bulls and the Heat to square off for the Eastern Conference title again and don't be surprised if the Boston Celtics go through a rough stretch due to age. Their championship window is closing and this may be one of the last years they have a legitimate shot with this group of players. Please comment with your opinions! Western Conference Preview coming soon!

Gonzaga's Success Brings High Expectations

Every Monday when I log onto ESPN.com I check the updated college basketball polls to see what changes occured the past week. Normally I don't look over it too hard, just a quick glance to see where my favorite team is and where other interesting teams are ranked. This past Monday something caught my eye though. As I looked up and down the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and the AP Top 25 poll I noticed that Gonzaga was not ranked in either. How could this be?? Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs have been a perennial Top 25 team since they burst onto the scene with Casey Calvary way back in 1999 with an Elite 8 appearance. Since then they have qualified for the Big Dance every year and made a Sweet 16 appearance four of those years. Because of that, America has come to expect big things from the Zags and to see them out of the Top 25 is almost unthinkable.

Here's the odd thing about Gonzaga: despite their successes they have recently been overlooked when it comes to mid-majors. Sure, they qualify for the NCAAs every year and have been to the Sweet 16 four times but they haven't made the Final Four. I say that like it's unbelievable that they haven't, but again, the expectations for Gonzaga are quite different from other so-called "mid-major" programs. George Mason sent shockwaves through the college basketball land in 2006 when they upset several powerhouse teams to make the Final Four, a first for the program. Butler has been the Cinderella the past two seasons, finishing as national runner-up and VCU appeared in the Final Four last year as well. That's three quality programs who have qualified for the Final Four, but none of them stack up with Gonzaga. When will we see the Zags in a Final Four? It seems long overdue.

How good has Gonzaga been since the 1998-99 season? Consider these numbers: 13 NCAA appearances, 4 Sweet 16's, 1 Elite 8, 12 Honorable Mention All-Americans or higher, 1 National Player of the Year, 3 NBA first-round picks. Under Mark Few the Zags are 314-82 and they simply don't lose at home. Since the McCarthey Athletic Center opened in 2004, Gonzaga is 93-7. What that number doesn't tell you is all the teams that won't come to "The Kennel" to play the Bulldogs. Big name programs would rather Gonzaga came to them or, instead of playing them on campus, would opt to play them at Key Arena in Seattle. Tom Izzo and Mike Brey took their teams into Spokane this year and, while Izzo and Michigan State escaped with a seven point victory, Brey's Notre Dame team was dominated by 20. The Zags demand respect and they are willing to travel all over the globe to get it.

Since 98-99 Gonzaga is 21-40 against Top 25 teams and they have defeated the third-ranked team three times and the second-ranked team once. Also, expect it to be a hard-fought game when they match up with a top team. Only five of those 40 losses have been by 20 points or more. There's not many teams in America who can say they have played 61 ranked opponents in that span and there are none of Gonzaga's size that can say that. Forget Butler when it comes to determining who is the best mid-major program. Gonzaga is the top dog.

The expectations for the program are always going to be high. That's a nice problem to have if you are Mark Few, but the question I have constantly been asking myself is, "When will Gonzaga appear in a Final Four?" Perhaps that isn't fair but they routinely show they are competitive on the national scene and that they have players capable of playing at the next level. It doesn't appear that this year will be the year, but how much longer will it be before Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are playing in early April?