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Pro Sports Wrap - by Sam Ruesler

Pro Sports Wrap - March 2011

Where Does Locker Fit?

March 31st 2011 14:47
Jake Locker is one of my favorite draft prospects from a personal standpoint. He's a great kid that is the best leader in this class. He seems a little bit like Tim Tebow with his intangibles and athleticism. Locker has the same kind of work ethic, and it showed in his latest workout. Like Tebow, Locker has accuracy questions. However, those questions about his accuracy should be diminished to some extent because Locker's receivers were terrible in college. To add some wood to the fire, Locker's offensive line was also poor.

Jake Locker is worth a late first round or early second round pick. Locker would probably fit well with a team like the Redskins. If he drops to them in the second round, I could see Shanahan taking him. Locker has some similarities for former Broncos' quarterback Jake Plummer. Locker would be a fit in Shanahan's West Coast offense that is modified to fit in athletic skill position players (like Locker).


Locker is still raw, and he needs more time to develop his mechanics behind a decent veteran starter. Donovan McNabb fits that bill, and Locker would be an even better fit with the Skins if they retained McNabb and started him while grooming Locker. With another year of polishing, Locker can be at least an average starting quarterback. He's got the work ethic to do it and the physical tools. All he needs to do is change his mechanics to increase his accuracy.

Teams that want players with good physical tools would also be interested in locker. The Cardinals could snatch him up in the early second round (37). They are a team that has a need at quarterback. If they can't or won't get Gabbert, Locker could be a player that the Cards would be interested in.

My main pro-Locker argument is that we can't suddenly punish him after one more year of experience. Sure he had a down year, but there were no questions about his accuracy after his freshman year. Draft experts were prepared to say that he was worthy of the number one overall pick over stud draft prospect Sam Bradford. The tables can't suddenly turn on a draft prospect like that, and I think Locker is the guy. I would much rather have him than Cam Newton. It isn't even close.

Good Fit w/Skins
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3/2011 Team Scope: Boston Red Sox

March 30th 2011 14:52
The Red Sox made huge acquisitions in this off-season. They two of the best hitters in the game in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. The Sox also added former star closer Bobby Jenks as well as solid reliever Dan Wheeler from their division rivals in Tampa. It's going to be a big year and another division win for the Red Sox. I just can't see how any team in the AL will keep up with this juggernaut.

Gonzalez is primed for a huge year after having several great ones in one of the heaviest pitchers' parks in baseball. Gonzo is ready for an MVP year on his new team, and he's going to be well acquainted with Fenway. Dustin Pedroia is solid as ever at second, and Marco Scutaro can score runs at short. The Youk moves over to the hot corner, and he's one of the most consistent hitters in the MLB.

The big question for this offense comes at catcher. Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are two terrible catchers. Salty is the better hitter- even though he is pitiful against lefties- but he can't even throw it at the pitcher accurately. And forget about him catching people attempting to steal bases. Varitek is one of the worst hitters out there, he's so old that his slow reaction times are a gift to base runners, but he does have good chemistry with the pitching staff. The Red Sox should start Salty because he at least brings something to the table offensively.

Jed Lowrie is an interesting backup middle-infielder. People are saying that he is swinging the bat well, but I never believe what they say about Lowrie. He's an average player that is playing in his rightful role; backup. Carl Crawford is a beast. What more is there to say? He has insane speed, he can hit for average, and he is solid in every other part of his game. He's the other new acquisition that has vaulted himself into the MVP discussion.

Jacoby Ellsbury is coming off of a bad, lingering injury. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back from it. Ellsbury's speed on the basepaths is unquestioned, he scores runs like crazy when healthy, and he is a very athletic fielder. J.D. Drew has some pop, but he's definitely not going to be anything more than an above average role player with how he played last year.

Darnell McDonald showed that he can be a capable backup last season. Mike Cameron is old and overpaid, but he is a good backup that can still field. David Ortiz is the best clutch-hitter on this team, and he can still lug the wood. The abundant power will always be there, but he won't contribute in any other way. He's still very valuable to this team, and he will be one of the main power sources on a loaded team. That's saying something about Papi's strength.

Jon Lester is the only pitcher in this rotation that doesn't carry any questions about his ability to produce at a high level in 2011. He's one of the best pitchers in baseball, and last season was the year where everyone finally saw that he is an elite player. John Lackey is on the downside of his career, and Red Sox fans can only hope that he plays okay and doesn't implode like he did last year.

Josh Beckett is an interesting player. He'll either do great, or he'll get blown. I don't know if we're going to see the 09 Beckett or the 10 Beckett, but Boston fans hope it's the former, not the latter. When Beckett is on the top of his game, he's unhittable. When he's not, well, it's a reenactment of a play called "Barry Bonds in Coors Field" that features Jeff Suppan.

Clay Buchholz was great last year. Buchholz will put together another nice year, but I don't know if it's going to match last year's great campaign. I really hope that Daisuke Matsuzaka turns back the clock and pitches like it's 2008. After the tsunami in Japan, it would be great to see Dice-K get healthy again and get a 2.90 ERA. Matsuzaka is like Beckett in that we don't know which side of him we'll see in a game or season. Let's hope he has a terrific year.

Jonathan Papelbon is one of the best closers in baseball, but he'll likely be traded because of young set-up man Daniel Bard. He's the heir to the throne, and he looks nearly as good as Paps. Bobby Jenks was once a great closer, and he'll continue his greatness as one of the best set-up men in baseball. Dan Wheeler is another new acquisition that will make an impact in the pen. Dennys Reyes is decent at the back, and Matt Albers and Tim Wakefield are two decent options in the pen that will be injury replacements at starter.
Which Side Will We See?
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3/2011 Draft Talk: Gabbert vs. Newton and Panthers Options

March 29th 2011 14:29
For those of you that know this blog well, you know my stances on Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. Newton has poor character, no footwork, terrible accuracy, and he isn't a good enough pure passer. Add that up together, and I see a bust. Gabbert is decent accuracy- don't trust the stats- and he has great arm strength. Gabbert is a leader that doesn't have any "baggage" with him. Gabbert is worth drafting with a high first round pick, and I think Newton is only worth a 2nd rounder.

I am not naive enough to think that a team won't reach and try to take Newton. Somebody's going to fall in love with his Heisman and his title. All I can say is, your reaching far too much to take this kid in the 1st round. I'm not saying that he can't be a good QB in the NFL, I'm just saying that it's wise to go a different route when using your 1st rounder.

The Panthers should trade down to somewhere around the 5th-7th pick, and then pick from there. They can scoop up someone that has taken an all too familiar draft day fall. From there, they will be able to pick a quarterback with that second pick. Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder are interesting middle-tier quarterbacks.

If the Panthers want to take someone at QB with the first pick, I would definitely take Gabbert. He is the most pro-ready player, he is mobile, and he will contribute right away. If they want to trade down, I would not recommend drafting a defensive player. The Panthers defense is very underrated. They have a great linebackers, Charles Johnson, two solid safeties, and quality corners. If they were to trade down, I would take either AJ Green or Julio Jones. Carolina could use another receiver opposite Steve Smith. Brandon LaFell and David Gettis showed potential but getting a game-changing No. 2 would be immense. It would greatly help the development of the incoming QB.
Shouldn't Be Picked in Round 1
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2011 Final Four Previews

March 28th 2011 14:51
This is it my readers. It's the games we have been waiting for since the start of the college basketball season. Before the season started, who would have guessed that Butler would return to the Final Four, and VCU and UCONN would join them? Before the tournament began, who thought a First Four team that most people thought didn't deserve a bid would make it all the way to this point? Who though a team that barely made it past the Horizon League would put themselves into the Final Four? The answer to all of those above questions are "almost nobody". But that's what makes the tourney so exciting. You never know.

8 Butler and 11 VCU

The only game I had VCU winning in this entire tourney was that Purdue game. Anyway, since nobody wants to hear about my horrendous predicting skills, VCU really only won that Kansas game because Kansas had an uncharacteristically bad shooting game. VCU shot the ball really well, and that always equates to a win. What worries me about this VCU team is that Kansas still stuck around in that game to some extent.

Against Butler, that brand of basketball doesn't work at all. See, Butler wins tight games and wins without having to shoot the ball really well. While they aren't the juggernaut that Kansas is, they have a better defense and are the better tournament team. Nothing against Shaka Smart, but Brad Stevens is the better coach. Smart is good, but Stevens is one of the best in the business.

Matt Howard vs. Jamie Skeen should be a fun matchup to watch, and Joey Rodriguez is always a huge factor in games. Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored will have to be on their bests. I think they will be, and Butler gets back into the Final Four. This time, they aren't a Cinderella.

3 Connecticut and 4 Kentucky

Sorry Butler and VCU, but this is the game I am tuning in to watch. It features Jim Calhoun, Kemba Walker, Coach Calipari, and Brandon Knight. In my last game preview, I said that two keys for Kentucky were big games from DeAndre Liggins and Brandon Knight. I said that Knight would actually have to play well for the entire game. The star freshman showed up.

The truth is, it's impossible to stop Kemba Walker. It took his former AAU coach's gameplan in the Zona game to even slow him down. Liggins has the tough task of being among those that have to stop the best player in college basketball. Kentucky needs to slow down Walker, but they also need to put up some offense of their own.

Connecticut is tough, but Kentucky has shown that they are tougher. They need to show it, and they need to clamp down on Jeremy Lamb on the inside. Lamb is growing in confidence with every shot he takes, and he is becoming an underrated force down low. Josh Harrellson, this is your job. I have Kentucky winning this game by the slimmest of margins. This is such a difficult game to predict, which means it will be such a terrific game to watch.
Best Player in NCAAB
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3/2011 Elite Eight Game Previews

March 27th 2011 13:39
1 Kansas and 11 VCU

It's up to Shaka Smart to find a way to make sure that his team doesn't become the second team from Richmond to get trounced by Kansas. Standing in his way are the Morris twins, Tyshawn Taylor, Josh Shelby, Thomas Robinson, and Brady Morningstar. Together, they have obliterated teams all season and have finally proven that they are the best


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2012 Euro Qualifying Group G Match Preview: Bulgaria and Switzerland

March 26th 2011 14:24
Let's talk about soccer now with the 2012 Euro Qualifying games in full throat. Let's preview a game that features a team that went to the World Cup. Switzerland is one of the best defensive teams in the world, but they have been disappointing in the qualifying stages with only 3 points under their belts. They are currently tied with the team they are facing today- Bulgaria- for 3rd place in Group G. They are definitely looking for a win here.

First, let us analyze Bulgaria's team. Goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov is a mediocre 22 year old that is prone to rash decisions. Left back Chavdar Yankov is another subpar player, and right back Petr Zanev is a terrible player. They won't get forward to a good degree, and things will look a little bit bleak on the supporting areas of the flanks. Switzerland can easily get by them on that front. Stanislav Manolev is an average center back that is the only worthy player on Bulgaria's defense. Fellow center back Ivan Ivanov is a horrible player that can be easily exploited


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3/2011 Team Scope: Pittsburgh Steelers

March 25th 2011 15:54
The Steelers are obviously in good shape with another Super Bowl appearance under their belts. However, there are still some weaknesses on this roster that need to be patched up.

We all know how great Ben Roethlisberger is, and they are deep at quarterback. Dennis Dixon is a decent player, Byron Leftwich is startable, and Charlie Batch is a good veteran backup. The Steelers have arguably the best group of QBs in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles are close with Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, and Mike Kafka. The Packers are also in contention with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Graham Harrell


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3/2011 Scouting Reports: Justin Tuck and Matt Light

March 24th 2011 16:01
Justin Tuck DE New York Giants

Tuck has the full package as far as pass rushers go. Tuck is incredibly strong and is also explosive. He is mainly a player that bullies offensive lineman all day, instead of guys like Dwight Freeney that use an arsenal of spin moves to get around their blockers. Tuck dictates the point of attack extremely well, and his teammates really do feed off of him


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3/2011 Top 20 Players on the Cincinnati Bengals

March 23rd 2011 15:55
1. CB Johnathan Joseph
2. LB Keith Rivers
3. LT Andrew Whitworth


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2011 Sweet 16 Preview

March 22nd 2011 15:48
1 Ohio State and 4 Kentucky

Brandon Knight and Terence Jones are the two best players, but DeAndre Liggins is the guy to watch out for. Can he help close of the perimeter? The answer is no. Liggins is great, but OSU have too many shooters. Jared Sullinger will destroy UK down low. Kentucky will put up a fight- Cal is too good to go down without one- but OSU is just so darn good


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3/2011 NFL Mock Draft 11-15

March 21st 2011 15:37
11. Houston Texans DT Marcell Dareus

Dareus is an absolute steal here, and he won't slip any more due to my forgetfulness. He has risen to become the best defensive tackle in the class, just barely above Fairley, and the Texans could use him on their D-Line in place of subpar rookie Shaun Cody and even the decent Amobi Okoye. Dareus has too much value to pass up on after the first five picks. He's 11 here because of mistakes in the top ten. A reset mock draft comes in April, as well as a full pre-draft mock draft


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3/2011 NFL Mock Draft: 6-10

March 20th 2011 15:49
Note: each mock draft is reset monthly.

6. Cleveland Browns LB Von Miller


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2011 Scouting Reports: Barry Cofield and Hakeem Nicks

March 19th 2011 13:21
New York Giants DT Barry Cofield

Barry Cofield is one of the numerous defensive tackles that never get credit for doing a good job week in and week out. Tuck and Osi can't do what Cofield does on run defense. Cofield is a block in the middle. He is also one of the biggest leaders in the NFL that says the right things and was one of the main representatives for the NFL Union. QBs aren't the only players that have important leadership qualities


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2011 March Madness First Round: Villanova and George Mason

March 18th 2011 15:36
George Mason had what was probably the biggest Cinderella team in history. Villanova are a team that people make fun of because of their perennial collapses. Both teams will square off with one number between eachother (9 Nova, 8 George Mason). Villanova made it alive- albeit with some wounds- out of the ravenous Big East. George Mason had a less treacherous road to the NCAA Tourney as they are in the much less competitive- but still decent- CAA.

George Mason have been led by guard Cam Long, who is a solid shooter and the team's main source of buckets. He is also a good rebounder that plays tough defense. The latter will be much needed against a rugged Villanova team. After all, the guys from Philly hail from the bloody Big East. Big man Ryan Pearson is a steady source of points in the paint, and he is probably their best player. He also racks up the boards. Mike Morrison is George Mason's inside presence. Small forward Luke Hancock moves the ball around and shoots pretty well too. He can also get boards, and that's a testament to his versatility


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3/17 NCAAB News: Bruce Pearl's Job Now In Question

March 17th 2011 17:46
You know, it was only about a month ago when Tennessee's AD maintained that school icon Bruce Pearl was sticking around even amid allegations against him. Pearl is a great coach that has turned this program around over the years, and it seemed like Hamilton was definitely going to keep him as coach. The creamsicle jacket-wielding coach was a fan favorite, but the allegations are just stacking to the point where Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton just won't have a choice. However, he isn't going to fire him. Hamilton just isn't sure about Pearl's future with the team. In my opinion, they need to keep Pearl. Even though he made some pretty bad mistakes, he's still a great coach and means everything to this basketball team.

Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie is being interviewed by Texas Tech for the job. I would be surprised if Gillespie took their offer, considering he could get an offer from a better program given his pedigree. TT is a poor basketball program and is one of the many schools that have football as their chief concern. Gillespie is a solid coach that has great recruiting experience. Pat Knight was their former coach. If Texas Tech can snag Gillespie, this would be a huge win for their program. They might actually become competitive with Gillespie. I bet a deal is going to happen though. Even though Gillespie can get a better job, he fits Tech well. Besides, he might be able to recruit his way into the tournament. We'll see


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3/2011 NFL Mock Draft: 1-5

March 16th 2011 15:23
This Mock Draft assumes that there are no trades involved.

1. Carolina Panthers CB Patrick Peterson


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2011 Scouting Reports on Eli Manning and Steve Smith

March 15th 2011 15:58
QB New York Giants Eli Manning

He has the arm, the attitude, the ring, the X-Factor, and the pedigree. Imagine how great Eli Manning would be if he cut down on those reckless throws? His decision making is rash, and that obviously translates to the 20 INTs he throws in a season. But let's not forget that he throws it deep a lot, and that his receivers are young and poor runners for the most part- except for Steve Smith. His throws are inexcusable at times, but Manning has his brother's physical skill set. What kills Eli is that he doesn't have his brother's decision making


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2011 Bracket Preview Round of 64

March 14th 2011 16:08
One Game Playoffs

University of Texas-San Antonio over Alabama State


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Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: NCAAB, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pitt, St. John's, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M;, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida, USC, Washington, Arizona, UCLA, San Diego State, UNLV, BYU, Xavier, Temple, Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth, George Mason, Old Dominion, Gonzaga, UAB, Memphis, St. Peter's, Princeton, Utah State, Butler, University of Texas-San Antonio, Alabama State, Arkansas Little-Rock, UNC-Asheville, Indiana State, Long Island, Hampton, Oakland, Bucknell, Northern Colorado, Boston U, Morehead State, Akron, Belmont, Wofford, UCSB
   


3/13 Hoop Talk: East Still Far Behind West

March 13th 2011 14:37
Take a look at your standings. A .415 team, whether it be the Pacers or Bobcats, could actually make the playoffs. Yes, a team with no defensive effort and a team in rebuilding mode might actually get there. The disparity between good and bad in the Eastern Conference is so great that the Bulls have already clinched their division- which has the Pacers in it. Three teams have clinched the playoffs in the East, compared to just one- San Antonio- in the West. The Memphis Grizzlies have the 8th seed in the West, and they are a pretty good basketball team. The East is definitely playing better basketball than it has in the past couple of years collectively, but I still think that they are far behind the West. Depth Matters.

I love how Matt Bonner has the highest 3 point percentage this season. Yes, a power forward is the best three point shooter in the NBA this year. Who knew? Well, Bonner is like Nowtizki in that he is great at spreading the floor- Channing Frye is another one of those guys. They are becoming a little more used in the NBA these days, and that's a good thing for offenses. Best free throw percentage? Yeah, that's Stephen Curry. He's going to be great one day. I love that guy. He should have been rookie of the year last year. All the box score idiots looked at the stats and didn't watch how great Curry was when he played. Curry is a natural shooter- his father is Del- and he plays D, passes, attacks the rim, and can lead already at this age


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3/2011 Team Scope: Tampa Bay Bucs

March 12th 2011 14:35
I realize that there is a lockout, and it obviously both angers and disappoints me that both sides were more concerned in their own pride instead of trying to actually bargain. I know that there were a few people that kept their integrity in all of this, but I also know that there were those that didn't. Regardless, after much deliberation I have decided to continue to write about football. This is another team scope that thoroughly reviews a team's roster and their strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy.

Davin Joseph and Jeff Faine are mainstays in the interior, and I really like Donald Penn at left tackle. The problem with this team is the right side of the offensive line. Their right guard isn't so good, and they desperately need a right tackle. The combination of Jeremy Trueblood and James Lee doesn't cut it. LaGarrette Blount is a good running back that really breaks out of the hole extremely well. He is a physical runner that is extremely explosive. Cadillac Williams has almost the same kind of skill-set, so the Bucs are set with their running game


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3/11: NCAAB Team Talk

March 11th 2011 16:04
Kemba Walker put up a crazy and amazing shot, as he has done all year, to win it for UConn. They beat my favorite team, Pittsburgh, but the Big East Player of the Year's team's victory doesn't make Pittsburgh any worse. Buzzer beaters are really unlucky for the opposing team, and I thought Pitt outplayed Connecticut during that game. Ashton Gibbs had 27, and he is an incredible scorer especially when you factor in his team's style and his conference's style.

Pittsburgh is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, and they are the toughest. If people start to sleep on Pitt just because of this loss and the Louisville loss- and St. John's too, although that was due to more horrible officiating- they must be reminded that those teams are extremely difficult conference teams that barely survived right at the wire. Pitt isn't going to lose those kinds of games all the time, and they will definitely step it up in the tournament. Nasir Robinson is solid, Brad Wanamaker is the team's heart, Gary McGhee can defend, Gilbert Brown is a nice scoring option, and Dante Taylor is solid too. This is a deep team that is the third best team behind OSU and KU respectively


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3/2011: NFL Safety Rankings

March 10th 2011 15:58
1. Troy Polamalu- Do I even have to explain his impact?
2. Quintin Mikell- He is one of the most underrated players in the league. Mikell doesn't get appreciated much, and he is the best coverage safety in the league who also plays some nice run support D. Reed gets the picks, but Mikell is the true star in coverage.
3. Ed Reed- A pick machine


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3/9 Hoop Talk: Coaching Extensions and The Big Games

March 9th 2011 16:05
Yeah, Hoop Talk is a new thing where I'll just start talking about basketball. I'll start with some topics and work my way through the news of the day- sort of. Anyway, George Karl got a three year extension, no surprise because Karl is an icon in Denver. Nate McMillan got a two year extension. He is a great coach that manages players well, he has great strategies, and he deserved like a five year extension. McMillan is one of the best coaches in basketball, and his team plays very efficient basketball.

Kobe Bryant just topped Moses Malone for sixth on the all-time scoring list with his 26 points against the Atlanta Hawks. I called the winner- easy- but I also called the MVP- Andrew Bynum. He of the 16 points and 16 boards with 3 blocks on 8-10 shooting had a boom-roasted kind of day against Atlanta. Bynum was easily the most efficient player on the court in that game. Only Zaza Pachuila could even think about challenging him on the boards. Bynum was easily the most dominating defensive player in the game. He was impressive- as usual- in the paint


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3/8 Game Preview: Lakers and Hawks

March 8th 2011 14:19
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of a remarkable 99-82 shredding of the San Antonio Spurs, while the Hawks are coming off of a 92-79 loss against the Knicks. They were horrible offensively in that game, and they cannot afford to do that poorly against a far better Lakers team. The Lakers won the last meeting between these two teams, and they are the favorites heading into this game- for good reason. So let's kick back and preview the biggest matchup of tonight in the NBA.

Kirk Hinrich really gives this team a point guard that isn't a liability in defense. He is much quicker than Mike Bibby, and thus doesn't get burned by the quicker point guards out there. Derek Fisher isn't a quick PG at all, so I think Hinrich matches up pretty well against him. Hinrich is a great passer that is average in everything else. Defensively, I think Fisher doesn't really do much against him. He can hit some shots if he gets open, but that's the furthest impact I think he can have offensively in this one. Maybe Steve Blake is the man that shows up today at the point for LA. Hinrich is better than all the point guards that Los Angeles has


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Van Gaal To Leave Bayern

March 7th 2011 15:53
Ah, let's get some soccer talk flowing back onto the blog. I have always thought Bayern Munich manager Louis Van Gaal is completely overrated, and now many more people are starting to realize the truth about the once esteemed manager. Bayern Munich are set to fire him in the summer after he has made several questionable transfer and tactical moves. This is breaking news, and Bayern have released a statement saying that Van Gaal will be fired on June 30. Everything happens that day in sports. Van Gaal will be fired, and it will also be the day the NBA's CBA expires- which is the day before NBA free agency.

Sticking to soccer, Bayern have had a poor season, and their loss to Hannover put an exclamation mark on their under-achievement this season. While it is true that their defense is horrible, it is still not much of an excuse when you look at the funds they have available and the incredible talent they possess in the midfield. The Bavarians also have a nice stable of strikers


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3/2011 Scouting Report: Gary Neal

March 6th 2011 17:11
I recently talked about why the San Antonio Spurs are so successful, and that's because they have many players that embrace their roles on the team and do a good job of fulfilling their roles. Gary Neal is one of those guys. The undrafted rookie has proven to be a solid player on the team that is a good shooter and performs well offensively. Although he doesn't create his own shots, he isn't called upon to do so in the Spurs' offensive scheme. Creating shots for himself is not his role. He is supposed to camp out near the perimeter and hit shots from kickouts- for the most part.

Neal is average in the other facets of his game, and he isn't exactly "good" at any one thing in particular. However, Neal is a decent player that is really good on the perimeter. A knock on him is that he focuses too much on playing around the arc. When Neal is on a hot streak- like he is now- his shot is nearly unstoppable. He is shooting 41.9 from downtown as well as 44.1 from the field in general, and Neal doesn't attempt many close shots so the stats aren't skewed


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3/5 NFL News: Discussions and Mike McCarthy Extended

March 5th 2011 15:30
Well, we all know that the discussions for a new CBA have been extended for seven days. Free agency is still frozen and teams cannot re-sign their own players. They can only talk to the agents of their own players, but no deals can be done. However, at least both sides are willing to talk and want to come to an agreement. The extension of talks actually happened because the owners were scared and didn't want the Players' Association to decertify, so they caved into the demands of at least extending talks.

Mike McCarthy was given an extended deal, which comes as no surprise after he led his team to Super Bowl victory in the midst of injuries to several key players. McCarthy did a nice job this year, and he was a better coach in 2010 than Bill Belichick. The AP can say whatever they want. Zach Miller and Michael Bush were tendered by Oakland. Miller is a mainstay for the Raiders, and he is pretty much their entire passing game. Although it wouldn't be big news if Reggae Bush wasn't retained, he still is important if Darren McFadden- who has an injury history- was to be injured. Bush is a capable backup


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3/2011 Team Scope: Cleveland Cavaliers

March 4th 2011 15:23
We went from the best NBA team to the worst NBA team in team scopes. I wrote about the Cavs when they broke the all-time losing streak record. They were the first to win 50 games last year, but they are one game away from being the first team this year to lose 50 games with an 11-49 record. Wow. It's no surprise when you look at a roster that only has one player that actually tries- Anderson Vaerjao. He isn't even the team's best player skill-wise- Antawn Jamison just barely over Baron Davis- but he does the gritty work. Varejao's out for the season, so yeah. That sucks.

Anyway, Baron Davis has talent, but he never tries. The Cavaliers are filled with a bunch of JAGs. Daniel Gibson is a good shooter, but he really isn't much. There are a bunch of shooters that are only average players on a whole on this team to go with those JAGs. The roster situation isn't completely their fault because there will still be overhaul. This roster was the supporting cast for LeBron, but the roster will definitely change with him gone. Right now, this roster reflects the guys that you build around LeBron. The Cavs will bring in some change. It's the transition phase of the rebuilding process right now


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3/3 NBA News: Corey Brewer to Sign

March 3rd 2011 15:26
It comes as no surprise that defensive specialist Corey Brewer will sign with the Dallas Mavericks. They had the most money of the three main suitors for Brewer, and they also had their mid-level exception left. It all equated to Brewer going to Dallas. He was traded to the Knicks in a Knicks-T'Wolves swap that was supposed to be a nice one for the Knicks. Instead, they bought out Brewer's contract in what was a pretty stupid move. Brewer is 25 and now has a multi-year contract with the Mavs. I see him being a really nice addition for this team. It was a great move, and he will be a quality contributer.

Utah Jazz head coach Ty Corbin received a two year deal with a team option for the third year. The front office was impressed with how Corbin led his team through the turbulent time in which their best player was traded, and their legendary coach was fired. The players have fed off from him, but Corbin still needs to bring home some tangible results. I don't need anything big from him, but I want to see Corbin actually win some games


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3/2011 Defenseman Rankings

March 2nd 2011 16:17
It is time to rank the best defensemen in hockey. To my hockey readers, I hope this list isn't too terrible as I am just starting to get into hockey. My hockey knowledge is pretty low, but I will try my best to put together a decent looking list.

1. Nicklas Lidstrom


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3/2011 Team Scope: San Antonio Spurs

March 1st 2011 15:42
Let's open up March with a team scope. But unlike yesterday, this scope will be of an NBA team that is on pace for a record season. The Spurs have depth and star power along with coaching to become the best team in the league this season. First off, I would like to give a shoutout to Forest Bennett, a PSU fan just like me! How you doing man? Hope you enjoy this one Forest, and all you other great readers of this blog!

The Spurs just received that their star point guard is out for two to four weeks with a sore calf muscle. For most teams in the NBA, this would be crushing news. It is terrible news but having George Hill as your backup point guard softens the blow. Tony Parker is one of the three best point guards in the league at driving. He brings so much to the table for the Spurs, and his leadership is invaluable to the team. However, Hill is a good scorer in his own right that really stepped up last year when Parker was injured


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