The team that may have fared the best after the NBA trade deadline may have been the Los Angeles Lakers, who did not make a move. They had the best team in place and sometimes standing pat is the best way to go. They just need to be concerned for the health of their players.
The Lakers' eastern conference counterparts, the first place Cleveland Cavaliers, made a big splash by picking up Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards. Clearly Jamison is the best player that was dealt just before the deadline. But so far he has not been as good as he was in Washington. With the Wizards, Jamison was one of the league's most consistent players and one of the hardest workers. He is still a hard worker, but he has had off nights in two games already for the Cavs. It will be interesting to see how he works with LeBron James. I've always been a fan of Jamison. I'm sure he will be a team player and go with whatever role Coach Mike Brown has planned. His main objective is winning a title, and he has a good chance in Cleveland.
Tracy McGrady's career was summed up trade week. First he was dealt to the Knicks. In his first game in NY, he had a monster game but the team lost. In his second game, he got injured. That seems to be the Tracy McGrady story everytime.
The Bulls did some nice things at the deadline, getting rid of Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons. They did not get a real good player in return but it seems like they are going after one of the top free agents this year, possibly adding a Chris Bosh from Toronto.
Right now the Bulls are the sixth seeded team in the East. With the separation between teams 1-4 and 5-8 being so vast, it's likely the Bulls' seed won't matter in a first round defeat against Cleveland, Orlando, Boston or Atlanta.
Now that the NFL is gone, I can't wait for the NBA playoffs. It's the next best thing and only a month and a half away. The Lakers and Cleveland seem to be on a collision course for the Finals. That would be a dream match-up, but don't count out some of the other contenders.
The Magic and Celtics have experience and could give Cleveland a rn for their money. The Hawks are young and talented and could be the sleeper out east.
In the west, the Jazz are on a roll and the Denver Nuggets will play inpired for two reasons: 1. George Karl battling throat cancer and 2. Chauncey Billups always plays inspired.
It will probably be LA-Cleveland, but it will be a fun couple of months finding out.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Super Bowl XLIV thoughts
So I'm finally getting around to discussing the Super Bowl. Being a huge Colts fan, it's important to realize what a great season it was.
A great season filled with record breakers, thrilling come from behind wins and a pursuit of perfection, came to a bitter end on February 7 when the Colts fell to the New Orleads Saints 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
I was confident about the Colts chances heading into the big game. The media was hopping on the Saints bandwagon, but the Colts had dealt with that before when everyone backed the Jets in the AFC title game. Plus Manning was going to eat up that 26th ranked Saints defense.
When the Colts took a 10-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter, I was all but sure they were going to win. The Defense was playing well and always relishes playing with a two score lead.
But the unit never faced anyone as good as Drew Brees in 2009. Brees would go on to be the MVP of the game, moving the ball up and down the field as if he were Peyton Manning. The short passes killed the Colts.
The momentum of the game changed with the onside kick Saints coach Sean Payton called to open up the second half. The Colts had a four point lead and thought they were getting a chance to add to it with the ball in Peyton's hands.
But New Orleans recovered (maybe, no way to know for sure under the pile, but the refs called it that way) and the Saints took their first lead on a Pierre Thomas touchdown run.
But the Colts responded with a Joseph Addai touchdown and it looked as if they weathered the storm. They just needed to close them out.
The Saints dominated from then on out, scoring the game's final 15 points, incuding a Tracy Porter pick six that all but put it out of reach for Indy.
It still would have been nice if the Colts could have scored a touchdown at the end and at least forced an onside kick attempt.
New Orleans deserved it, no doubt. But I still think that if these teams were to play ten games, the Colts would win seven. Remember that Dwight Freeney was hobbled all night and Reggie Wayne was clearly not himself after tweaking a knee injury in Friday's practice.
It was the toughest loss a Colts fan could take. To come so close, only to be disappointed in the end. Colts fans aren't even used to losing regular season games, let alone a Super Bowl defeat.
As disappointing as the ending was, 2009 was a memorable year. In no year (not even 2006), was it so fun to be a Colts fan from week to week. Every week you knew they would be met with a tough challenge, and every week you knew they were going to find a way to win.
November 15's triumph over New England will always be one of my favorite sports memories since I was at Lucas Oil Stadium when it happened.
The team proved the critics wrong by winning two playoff games after a long layoff. Jim Caldwel did a phenomenal job.
Before the year began, experts forcasted the Patriots, Steelers and Chargers to be stronger than the Colts. After all, Indy lost a Hall of Fame coach and receiver.
But coming out of the AFC, it was the Colts, the good old reliables. The model of consistency.
2009 was great, but in 2010, they need to take it just one step furthur.
A great season filled with record breakers, thrilling come from behind wins and a pursuit of perfection, came to a bitter end on February 7 when the Colts fell to the New Orleads Saints 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
I was confident about the Colts chances heading into the big game. The media was hopping on the Saints bandwagon, but the Colts had dealt with that before when everyone backed the Jets in the AFC title game. Plus Manning was going to eat up that 26th ranked Saints defense.
When the Colts took a 10-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter, I was all but sure they were going to win. The Defense was playing well and always relishes playing with a two score lead.
But the unit never faced anyone as good as Drew Brees in 2009. Brees would go on to be the MVP of the game, moving the ball up and down the field as if he were Peyton Manning. The short passes killed the Colts.
The momentum of the game changed with the onside kick Saints coach Sean Payton called to open up the second half. The Colts had a four point lead and thought they were getting a chance to add to it with the ball in Peyton's hands.
But New Orleans recovered (maybe, no way to know for sure under the pile, but the refs called it that way) and the Saints took their first lead on a Pierre Thomas touchdown run.
But the Colts responded with a Joseph Addai touchdown and it looked as if they weathered the storm. They just needed to close them out.
The Saints dominated from then on out, scoring the game's final 15 points, incuding a Tracy Porter pick six that all but put it out of reach for Indy.
It still would have been nice if the Colts could have scored a touchdown at the end and at least forced an onside kick attempt.
New Orleans deserved it, no doubt. But I still think that if these teams were to play ten games, the Colts would win seven. Remember that Dwight Freeney was hobbled all night and Reggie Wayne was clearly not himself after tweaking a knee injury in Friday's practice.
It was the toughest loss a Colts fan could take. To come so close, only to be disappointed in the end. Colts fans aren't even used to losing regular season games, let alone a Super Bowl defeat.
As disappointing as the ending was, 2009 was a memorable year. In no year (not even 2006), was it so fun to be a Colts fan from week to week. Every week you knew they would be met with a tough challenge, and every week you knew they were going to find a way to win.
November 15's triumph over New England will always be one of my favorite sports memories since I was at Lucas Oil Stadium when it happened.
The team proved the critics wrong by winning two playoff games after a long layoff. Jim Caldwel did a phenomenal job.
Before the year began, experts forcasted the Patriots, Steelers and Chargers to be stronger than the Colts. After all, Indy lost a Hall of Fame coach and receiver.
But coming out of the AFC, it was the Colts, the good old reliables. The model of consistency.
2009 was great, but in 2010, they need to take it just one step furthur.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Pro Bowl not likely a success
There is a problem with the NFL Pro Bowl. Even though Commissioner Roger Goodell called the new format, in which the game is played the week prior to the Super Bowl, a success, the game really seemed like a waste of time.
The decision to play the game a week before the Super Bowl ensured that some of the games biggest stars like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees would not get to play since they have the Super Bowl this week. What kind of All-Star game does not include players from the best teams? Either play the game after the season (anti-climactic) or not at all.
The game was also played at the same stadium as the Super Bowl a week later. This was done clearly to generate more media coverage for the event since they would only have to arrive a few days earlier to cover the game. But why not preserve the field for the biggest game of the year? Instead, they roughed it up with a meaningless contest. Not to mention that media day was held inside partly to the field being worked on.
I like the idea of having the AFC and NFC name players as Pro Bowlers, but the actual game has little meaning. Does anyone really have a strong attachment to the NFC or AFC? Is anyone in the country seriously cheering for either of the teams? The players themselves do not even care.
Growing up I loved the idea of the Pro Bowl. The best players playing the best sport. Having the game in Hawaii after the Super Bowl became somewhat a tradition. It is the only logical way, regardless of how little attention it gets after the big game. It always signaled the end of football.
The NFL also forced the Saints and Colts to send their pro bowlers to Miami for the game even though their teams weren't leaving until Monday. Why take away the thrill of going to the Super Bowl with your team away? Just to put on a better dog and pony show?
The game is going to be a joke either way, let's not mess with the Super Bowl teams' preparations. If they do keep it the way it is, do not force the AFC or NFC champion to participate. The Super Bowl is more important and there is nothing that is going to change that.
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