1/15: A Disaster of Epic Proportions

Greetings! Let's get to the lead story, and get it over with ASAP...

• A 5-point quarter. A 20-point half. The NBA record for futility due to a 37-point display in the first 36 minutes. 58 points for the game. 29% shooting. A rebounding disadvantage of 20 for the night. A 39-point loss. All of these things happened in the Hawks game in Chicago last night. I could write 1,000 words on this here, but that's all you need to know. Completely and utterly indefensible, and really an atrocity.

Moving on...

• More (and lighter) NBA talk! Break up the Wizards! Three straight wins capped by a 120-91 domination of the Magic last night. Nene led the way with 19 and 11 for Washington, but they got 18 each from Kevin Seraphin and AJ Price plus another encouraging game from John Wall. Nice work. Rajon Rondo posted a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in an impressive performance. He's certainly on the short list of triple-double candidates, but it's a big game nonetheless. The Clippers went on the road to Memphis (a very tough spot) and absolutely annihilated the Grizzlies 99-73... without Chris Paul! The Clips D held Memphis to a laughable 30% shooting, and if not for the Hawks embarrassment, Memphis would be getting front-page news. Dallas has won 3 straight games after a 113-98 win over Minnesota. Darren Collison led the way with 23 points and 9 assists for the Mavs, and things may be turning the corner for Dallas a bit. In an upset, Utah toppled Miami 104-97 despite a 32/4/6/3/2 from Lebron James. The Jazz crushed the Heat on the glass (40-23) and got a big-time 23/11 from Al Jefferson in the win. Miami actually shot a blistering 54% from the field, but with the rebounding disadvantage coupled with 14 turnovers, they couldn't generate enough possessions. Finally, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 77 points as the Thunder won 102-90 in Phoenix. Durant's 41 points came on 15-30 shooting while Westbrook shot an impressive 14-24 in the game. Total domination from those two. 
• On the college hardwood, the two top-5 teams in action both won easily on Monday night. Louisville went on the road and beat UConn by 15 points. They were led by 23 points from Russ Smith, and the Cardinals shot 50% as a team. In the late game, Kansas used their defense to beat Baylor by 17. Ben McLemore (17 points, 8 rebounds) was the best player on the court, but KU managed to win despite shooting just 37% from the field because they held Baylor to 23% from the field. The Bears shot just 13 of 56 on the night. Yikes!
• Rob Gronkowski is out for the year for New England. This isn't shocking after he exited the divisional playoff win over Houston early, but Gronk is on the shelf until next year. New England has proven they can win without him, but you have to take their Super Bowl odds down a peg with this news. He's one of the elite players in football, and that can't be ignored.

What to watch for on Tuesday (in chronological order)...

• 7:00 - NCAAB - #20 Notre Dame @ St. John's (ESPN2) - The Johnnies have taken a step back this year after the loss of a million seniors, but they'll still have MSG rocking here with the Irish in town.
• 9:00 - NBA - Blazers @ Nuggets (NBATV) - Denver is finally getting some home games and they are dangerous (14-2) in that building. Ty Lawson and Dame Lillard match-up in a battle of young, scary point guards.
• 9:00 - NCAAB - Wisconsin @ #2 Indiana (ESPN2) - I'm in the tank for Bo Ryan, but in Bloomington, they're probably in trouble. The talent disparity is pretty large here.

Enjoy!

1/14: A Wild NFL Divisional Weekend, etc.

Greetings! A ton to get to so let's go, starting with the NFL...

• Falcons 30, Seahawks 28 - This game gave the entire city a heart attack. The Falcons led 20-0 at the half after two botched red zone possessions by Seattle, and a great offensive half by the Falcons. Then, Russell Wilson took over. The rookie (who I love openly) threw for 385 yards and ran for 60, leading Seattle to 28 second-half points, and the Seahawks took the lead with under a minute to go. Then, Matt Ryan took the Falcons from their own 28-yard line with approx. 30 seconds to go, marched them down the field, and set-up a 49-yarder from Matt Bryant that he ice-colded after a botched "icing" of the kicker. It was an absolutely wild outcome.  Props to Michael Turner (14 for 98) and Jacquizz Rodgers (10 for 64) for giving the Atlanta offense a dimension that they lacked for most of the year, and Ryan was strong in this game despite 2 interceptions. On to the title game!
• The other Sunday game was less exciting. New England controlled the game from the outset in defeating Houston 41-28. Brady threw for 344 yards and 3 TDs (zero INTs) and Shane Vereen came out of nowhere to score 3 touchdowns for the Pats. Houston put up a fight in the second half and actually gained 425 yards including 343 from Matt Schaub but the Pats offense was too much. All hail Brady and Belichick.
• On Saturday, Baltimore and Denver played a classic, as well. The Ravens pulled the dramatic upset on the back of a last-second 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones to force OT, and then got a 47-yarder from Justin Tucker to win the game in double-OT. The touchdown to Jones was the story of the day for me, as it was inexplicable to let him get behind the Denver secondary, and that DB will see images of that forever. I thought Flacco was pretty good in this one, outplaying Manning due to the fact that he didn't turn the ball over, and Baltimore actually gave Ray Rice 30 touches. It's amazing what that does! It's funny to me that people are SHOCKED about Peyton Manning coming up small in a big spot... This is Peyton Manning! Of course he threw the game-ending pick! 
• And finally, on Saturday night, Colin Kaepernick had his break-out game on the national stage. The 49ers QB ran for 181 yards on 16 carries, threw for 263 yards, and totaled 4 touchdowns to lead the Niners to a 45-31 win over Green Bay. He was utterly terrifying all day, and the speed he showed when he hit the corner on a 56-yard TD run in the second half was the stuff of legend. Not even Aaron Rodgers could match him, and if the SF offense plays like that, they aren't losing to anyone. It's going to be a fun one on Sunday.

Elsewhere...

• #1 and #2 went down in a heap in College Hoops over the weekend. Duke lost an 84-76 road decision to NC State on Saturday for their first loss of the season. NC State had 6 guys in double-figures led by 25 points from All-American CJ Leslie. No shock here, as the Blue Devils were bound to lose a road game somewhere, but it came early. On Sunday, #2 Michigan fell at the hands of hated rival Ohio State. I don't really want to talk about it yet, but the 28-8 early deficit did in the Wolverines before they fought back to lose by only three. There was no chance they were going undefeated in the gauntlet of the Big 10, but I would've preferred a loss to someone else. 
• One NBA note... Dwight Howard returned unexpectedly for LA last night, and scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and generally dominated against Cleveland. There's no recipe for playing without the best center alive, and LA needs him to win games. Big coup for LA to get him back this quickly.

What to watch for on Monday...

• 7:00 - NCAAB - #3 Louisville @ UConn (ESPN) - This isn't the usual gauntlet UConn team, but playing at home, they'll give Louisville a competitive game here. 
• 8:00 - NBA - Hawks @ Bulls (NBATV) - The local and national game tonight. Atlanta is in a tailspin all of the sudden, and Chicago's defense on the road probably won't be the cure.
• 9:00 - NCAAB - Baylor @ #6 Kansas (ESPN) - Ben McLemore is worth watching. That's all I need to say.

Enjoy!

The 2013 NBA All-Star Rosters - Rowland Edition

Greetings! Every year, the NBA All-Star rosters appear in mid-to-late January, and every year, I have a bone or two to pick with them. This year, the criteria changed as the positions have now changed to 2 backcourt and 3 frontcourt players instead of the traditional G-G-F-F-C format, and I'm going to follow the rules (including 5 total backcourt and 7 total frontcourt players on each team) when providing my picks. Please note that the "actual" rosters will be announced on January 17th (TNT) and these are simply my personal selections about what the rosters should look like. Let's get to it!

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Starters

• Backcourt - Kyrie Irving, Cleveland - Until recently, I had this as a dead-heat between Irving and Rondo. Kyrie had missed time and his Cavs were floundering in the standings. Then, he started going crazy, and now the debate is non-existent. There's a real debate for Irving as the best overall guard in the East, and he's averaging 24 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds a game for the season. I'm not someone who can fully discount a player's performance just because his team is bad (have you seen that roster?!), and Irving's resume is too good. Throw in a #7 overall PER in the East, and 5.1 EWA (estimated wins added) in just 26 games played, and it's a slam dunk.
• Backcourt - Dwyane Wade, Miami - Let me get this out of the way. This isn't your older brother's Dwyane Wade. Gone are the days where he was a top-5 overall player, and his 22.9 PER, while still very good, is the lowest of his non-rookie career. With all of that said, the guy is averaging 21/4/5 as the #2 option (and the #3 on some nights) and in a conference that has a serious shooting guard issue, he shines above the rest. Easy choice. 
• Frontcourt - Lebron James, Miami - The biggest no-brainer in the history of Earth. He's the best player in the world, and while Durant may have closed the gap (albeit slightly), I still believe it's a clear distinction. Leads the East (and the entire league) is PER at 29.81, has an absurd 12.2 EWA, averages 26/8/7 with a ludicrous 54% shooting and plays absolutely elite defense every single night. I could write 1,000 words on why he's the easiest choice in the entire league, but why? No questions asked.
• Frontcourt - Carmelo Anthony, New York - Though he's been in the news for his spat with Kevin Garnett recently, Carmelo's play has been tremendous this year. He's second in the East, behind Lebron, in PER and EWA, is posting easily his best statistical season of his career, and has the Knicks as a virtual lock for home-court in the Eastern Conference first round. His shooting percentages, scoring rate, and turnover rate are at 5-year bests, and this is the Carmelo that we always hoped for after he came out of Syracuse. 
• Frontcourt - Chris Bosh, Miami - At first, I didn't want to include Bosh based on the "three Miami players in the starting five" corollary, but then I looked around, and asked myself, "why?!". Bosh has been tremendous this season, averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game as the #3 option on the best team in the league, and he's playing out-of-position every single night. Also, he's been extremely durable, playing in 32 games, and has a top-10 PER in the conference (even when including guys like Andray Blatche and Andre Drummond). He gets the nod, albeit slightly over the guys coming off the bench. 

Reserves

• Backcourt - Rajon Rondo, Boston - Rondo is such an interesting case. Coming into the season, it was billed as "Rondo's Team!" and there were rumors that he'd jack up his scoring load this season. That hasn't happened, but it hasn't stopped Rondo from being an All-Star player. He's the league-leader in assists (11.2 per game), and he's dominating the category to the point where Jrue Holiday is 2nd at just 8.8 dimes per night. His scoring rate and shooting percentages are up from the last couple of years, resulting in his highest PER since 2009-10, and he's still an above-average defender. There's not really an argument against him as an All-Star, even in a down year for the Celts. 
• Backcourt - Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia - Speaking of Holiday, he's made the mini-leap this year. The Philly guard is averaging nearly 19 points a game to go along with his 8.8 assists, and is clearly that team's best player in the absence of Andrew Bynum. He has better numbers than Deron or guys like Jennings and Ellis, and to go along with that, he's the best defender of that group. It's time for people to learn his name, and an All-Star nod should help with that.
• Backcourt - Deron Williams, Brooklyn - Okay, you're thinking at least two things here. #1) Are there no available shooting guards that could make this team? and #2) Hasn't Deron Williams been terrible this year? In order, the answers are #1) there is a real argument (statistically) for Lou Williams as the 2nd-best shooting guard in the East so far this year behind Dwyane Wade. That's not a misprint. Do you think he's an all-star!? And #2) Deron Williams has been terrible for him this year. That's an important distinction because, well, he's still been better than everyone else available. He's averaging 17 points (17th in the East, 10th among guards) and 8 assists (4th in the east) per game, and his PER of 18.14 (at time of print) ranks him ahead of a lot of his competition including Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, and Paul George. Lastly, he's been much better in January, and I firmly believe he's a better basketball player than anyone else he was competing with... even if I hate how he has played.
• Frontcourt - Kevin Garnett, Boston - Top-15 in the East in PER. One of the best defenders in the entire league. The Boston defense (and really the whole team) falls apart when he's off the court. Still averaging 15 points, 7 boards, and a block a game in under 30 minutes of court time, and he deserves to be there, even at his advanced age. It isn't a clear-cut as it used to be, but he's one of the best 7 front-court players in the East.
• Frontcourt - Al Horford, Atlanta - The lone Hawk! I'm sure there will be a groundswell for Josh Smith getting this spot, but I don't see it. Horford has the better PER (18.5 to 18.3), the better EWA (4.8 to 4.4), is the better defender (shot-blocking aside), and the better overall player. Couple that with the fact that Smith has taken a significant step back in production across the board this year, and that's not an argument. Horford's numbers (16 points, 10 boards, 1 block per game) don't blow you away, but he's as steady as it gets, and he slips in over David West in a photo finish.
• Frontcourt - Tyson Chandler, New York - Tyson Chandler is an absolutely elite defender who happens to be having his best offensive season of his entire career. He's leading the East in field goal percentage by 15% (FIFTEEN!!!) and is averaging 13 and 11 to go along with his rim protection. Throw in a top-10 PER and the fact that he's 3rd in the East (behind only Carmelo and LBJ) in EWA and this is a no-brainer inclusion. Don't overlook his defensive value.
• Frontcourt - Brook Lopez, Brooklyn - I really didn't want to do this, but he's been too good. Did you know that Brook Lopez has PER of over 25?! For all of the vitriol over his rebounding difficulty, his rebound rate has climbed from an abominable 5.3 per 40 minutes last year to 9.9 this year, and since that was his only real weakness, his play has shined in 2012-2013. He has undoubtedly been effective on the block (averaging 19 points and shooting 53%), and really has been the best player on the Nets this year. He's not the dominating presence that he could be, but there's no denying his efficiency and high-level play this season. 

Honorable Mention - Anderson Varejao (injury), David West (this one hurt), Paul George, Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Paul Pierce

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters

• Backcourt - Chris Paul, LA Clippers - The title of "best point guard" never left Chris Paul in my mind, but now, anyone who left his camp has returned. He's leading the West in assists with 9.5 per game (2nd in the NBA behind Rondo), is shooting a crazy 48/35/90 slash line, and his 26.64 PER is second only to Kevin Durant in the conference. I'm absolutely in the tank for Paul and I won't deny that, but I can also back up my love for him with stats, and with his Clippers in the #1 spot in the standings, it's even easier than normal to praise CP3.
• Backcourt - Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers - In the midst of the Lakers destruction, Kobe has been tremendous offensively. His shooting percentages are up across the board, his usage rate is down, his turnover rate is down, and he's posting his best PER since 2008-09. There's no question that his defense has slipped considerably, but he's not terrible on that end (although he's best against the dribble now), and when you score 30 a game while grabbing 5 boards and dishing out 5 assists, you can be average defensively. 
• Frontcourt - Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City - As noted above, Durant is the clear #2 player in the league at this point (as Dwight has declined via health and whatever else), and the best pure scorer alive. His true shooting percentage is ludicrous at over 65%, his 52/42/90 slash line is Larry Bird-like, and he has OKC in the upper-echelon of the league again. Durant has also improved defensively, and while he'll probably never be Lebron on that end, he's now above-average, and uses his length very effectively to alter shots and stay in passing lanes. I absolutely love Durant, and he's the #1 player in the conference.
• Frontcourt - Tim Duncan, San Antonio - The old man returns! Top-5 in the West in PER, one of the best defenders in the league (still), 3rd in the West in blocks per game, averaging 17 and 10 in only 29 minutes... Do I need to keep going? This is the best Duncan has played in 3 years, and he is still the best power forward in the league (unless you count Lebron, and I don't). It's unfathomable that he could play this well at age 36, but he's doing it, and I love it.
• Frontcourt - Blake Griffin, LA Clippers - I was going with Dwight Howard... until the injury. Blake has been outstanding this year as he's finally improved his post game and his defense to the point where I can't crap on either one. He only trails Durant and Duncan among front-court players in PER, and his 18 points and 9 rebounds per game are outstanding when you consider that his minutes are down to a career-low 31.9 per game. I'm not the biggest Griffin fan, but in a year where Dwight is injured and not DWIGHT), he deserves the nod, and he'll get it. 

Reserves

• Backcourt - James Harden, Houston - Harden shouldn't win "most improved player", but if there was a "breakout player" award, he'd win it. He hasn't quite maintained his ludicrous 66% true shooting from last year, but any concerns about an increased workload have proved to be misguided. Harden's efficiency numbers are actually up this year, and he's now the clear winner of the "2nd best shooting guard alive" award after Kobe, with a charge on the #1 spot coming. He's carried Houston to a competitive mark this year, and it's impossible to argue with 26 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and a 45/36/86 shooting line. Tremendous player.
• Backcourt - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City - Westbrook is scary good. He's come up huge in the absence of Harden, and while his efficiency has taken a hit, his raw numbers are very good. 22 points and 8 assists per game is enough right there, but when you consider that his usage rate is actually trending down, and that he's taken the pressure of handling the ball in crunch-time, it's a nice year from Russ. We all wish he would take care of the ball and improve his shooting percentage (and shot selection), but he's still a great player and a no-doubt choice.
• Backcourt - Tony Parker, San Antonio - This was a photo finish between Parker and Steph Curry. Parker gets the nod based on his advantage in PER (22.68 to 18.86), EWA (6.8 to 5.0), shooting percentage (52% to 44%), and assists (7.1 to 6.4). Curry is the better pure shooter, but Parker's ability to penetrate and do Parker-like things pushes him over the top, and he's been utterly tremendous again for San Antonio. It feels wrong to leave Curry off, and I wish he was in the Eastern Conference, but Parker is still the better player, and he's my choice. 
• Frontcourt - LaMarcus Aldridge - The best player on the surprising 19-15 Blazers. LMA is averaging 20.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game with a PER in the 20 neighborhood, and his defense has taken a step forward this year. I've always thought he was underrated, and if this record continues, he'll start to get noticed more for what he's done with a pretty questionable roster. One of the best power forwards in the game for a few years now. 
• Frontcourt - David Lee, Golden State - The Dubs get a representative! For as much as I've crapped on Lee for his defense, he has been awesome to watch this year. 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and a PER north of 20 is enough to get you an All-star bid, but he's also shooting 53% from the field and over 80% from the line, and that's like stealing from a power forward. His defense is still very questionable, but there have been moments where I've seen flashes of solid play, and he's certainly not the catastrophe that he used to be. Very deserving of a nod, and the Warriors wouldn't be 22-12 without his stellar play. 
• Frontcourt - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City - Serge has made the leap. He is averaging career-highs in points (14.5 up from 9.1), rebounds (8.4 up from 7.5), field goal percentage (57% up from 53%), and PER (20 up from under 19). Granted, his usage his gone up significantly, but he's responded with positive play and he's an absolute game-changer on the defensive end. He gets the nod over Zach Randolph because of defense. 
• Frontcourt - Dwight Howard *(injured) - I've noted Dwight here just because he won't play in the game, but he'd be there if he could. For all of the talk about how "down" he is, Howard has a PER of 20, he's 2nd in the league in blocks, leading the league in rebounding, and shooting 57% from the field while providing great defense. There's no question that he isn't the same player with his back injury that he was in Orlando, but he's still awesome despite all of the nonsense. 
• Frontcourt - Marc Gasol, Memphis - This may surprise some people, but I think Gasol is better than Zach Randolph and more deserving of the final spot. Their PER numbers are virtually identical (Randolph with a slight edge), as are their EWA numbers (Gasol with a slight edge), so this comes down to one thing. Defense. Marc Gasol is one of the 10 best defensive players in the entire league, and Zach Randolph is below-average defensively. It's as simple as that. Yes, Randolph is the much scarier offensive player, averaging 16.9 points a game to just 13.7 for Gasol, but Gasol has the higher true shooting percentage, and is an elite passer from the center position. There's certainly an argument that this is a "preference" pick, but I'll take Gasol and his defense over Z-Bo. 

Honorable Mention - Nicolas Batum, Stephen Curry (see West, David), Al Jefferson, Zach Randolph, Paul Millsap, Kevin Love

There you have it! Let the debate begin...

1/10: Wall-to-Wall Hoops, etc.

Greetings! Last night was jam-packed with basketball, so that's the focus today, but there's at least some other news sprinkled in...

• Let's start with the Association! The Atlanta Hawks are really scuffling at this point, after dropping a 99-83 decision in Cleveland to the Varejao-less Cavs last night. Kyrie Irving was the best player in the arena with 33 points, but the real story was the woeful Atlanta offense. Bah. Elsewhere, in a battle of two teams that you wouldn't expect to play in the 70s/80s, New Orleans beat Houston 88-79. Both teams have bad defenses, but it didn't matter on this night, with both teams shooting 40% and guys like Eric Gordon (2-12) and Ryan Anderson (0-7!) shooting the ball badly. By the way, New Orleans won the game with those two efforts, eesh. San Antonio topped the Lakers 108-105 behind 24 and 6 from Tony Parker, and 19 points and 8 boards from Manu Ginobili. Kobe was Kobe, but the real reason that LA hung around in this one was a surprise flourish from Earl Clark, who had 22 points and 13 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Could be something to watch going forward. The Clippers overcame a 4th-quarter deficit to knock off Dallas 99-93 thanks to 19 points and 16 assists (good lord) from Chris Paul and 5 triples from Matt Barnes. The hits keep coming for Dallas. And finally, Memphis got an impressive road win in Oakland over Golden State 94-87. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Grizz, and they also won the rebounding (43-38) and turnover (15-10) battles in this one. 
• In another NBA note, Kevin Love had surgery yesterday and will miss a reported 8-10 weeks with that fractured hand. Huge blow to Minnesota, and the focus is now directly on former #2 overall pick Derrick Williams. It's time.
• The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted... no one. This actually didn't surprise me, but the fact that the Hall of Fame exists without Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens is pretty funny/ridiculous. In the "non-steroid" group, I also think that Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, and Mike Piazza are hall-of-famers who were unjustly left out based upon some absurd voting trends. Alas, nothing will anger me about the Hall-of-Fame as long as the Braves duo of Maddux/Glavine comfortably get in next year on the first ballot. Oh, while we're here, Jack Morris should never be in the Hall of Fame. Just clarifying.
• College Hoops! - Kansas escaped an in-conference upset with a 97-89 overtime win over Iowa State. This one was hotly contested throughout, and KU was lucky to steal it. Ben McLemore led the way with 33 points for the #6 Jayhawks. Michigan remained unbeaten at 16-0 after a 62-47 win over Nebraska in the Crisler Center. #8 Minnesota went on the road and pummeled #12 Illinois 84-67 last night. They got 29 points from Joe Coleman, 22/8/6 from Andre Hollins, and a 19/11 from Trevor Mbakwe to spark their impressive win. That's a scary team with Tubby Smith at the helm. And finally, New Mexico edged UNLV in a West-coast battle 65-60. The Lobos were able to hold All-American Anthony Bennett to just 12 points and 6 rebounds, and they got 23 and 9 from 7-footer Alex Kirk. Impressive win.
• Also in college hoops, Duke lost one of their core players in Senior forward Ryan Kelly who exited Tuesday's game with Clemson with a foot injury. That would be a huge loss for Duke if it is for the season, as Kelly anchors their defense, and gives them a "stretch" presence from a front-court position. Keep an eye on how Coach K attempts to replace him. 

What to watch for on Thursday (in chronological order)...

• 7:00 - NCAAB - #22 Michigan State @ Iowa (ESPN2) - First of a college hoops triple-header on ESPN2. Iowa got housed by Michigan, but they are better than they showed there, and at home, I actually think they beat Sparty.
• 8:00 - NBA - Knicks @ Pacers (TNT) - Indiana is coming off a huge win over Miami and with Paul George on fire and Carmelo Anthony suspended, this could be a match-up that tilts in Indy's favor. Still worth a look.
• 9:00 - NCAAB - #4 Arizona @ Oregon (ESPN2) - Really, really nice game here. Arizona is the class of the Pac-12, but Oregon has impressed early and they're hosting here. 
• 10:30 - NBA - Heat @ Blazers (TNT) - Portland has surprised in a good way this year, starting 19-15 behind Lillard and Aldridge. They at least have Batum and Matthews to throw at the big two, and the Rose Garden will be raucous. 
• 11:00 - NCAAB - St. Mary's @ #9 Gonzaga (ESPN2) - The rivalry is back! The WCC crown has gone through this game in recent years and this is the first match-up of 2013. I can't imagine the atmosphere at the Kennel for this one. 

Enjoy!

1/9: RGIII, Hoops, etc.

Greetings! Let's get going...

• Robert Griffin III has a torn LCL and ACL... at least according to reports. We covered this briefly yesterday, but the new reports have surfaced and I thought I'd reference them. Still nothing confirmed, but it looks like he may miss some serious time.
• NBA! Minnesota blitzed Atlanta by a score of 108-103 in the Target Center last night. The Wolves built a 16-point halftime lead and hung on for dear life in the final minutes before an errant inbounds pass by Josh Smith (shocking!) clinched the game for Minny. Nikola Pekovic was the story, scoring 25 and grabbing 18 rebounds for the T-Wolves. Miami went down in a heap at the hands of the Pacers by an 87-77 tally. Dwyane Wade had 30 points and Lebron had 22/10, but Paul George's 29 points and the fact that Indy held Miami to just 41% shooting were the bigger factors. Nice win for the Pacers. The Bucks opened their Skiles-free era with a 108-99 win over Phoenix led by Brandon Jennings' 29 points and 9 assists. And finally, Houston blew out LA 125-112 led by a 66-point second half. The Lakers just had no answer inside with Pau and Dwight, and the Houston offense ran rough-shot. 
• College Hoops was pretty ho-hum last night with four of the top-25 teams in action winning comfortable decisions... and then there was the Pitt/Georgetown game. Pitt went on the road to Georgetown as an unranked team, and beat them 73-45. The Panthers shot 55% from the field to 35% for Georgetown, dominated the glass 27-20, had 16 assists to 5 for GT, and won the turnover battle 16-10. Basically, a domination in every way. Trouble for JTIII and company.

What to watch for on Wednesday (in chronological order)...

• 7:00 - NBA - Hawks @ Cavs (SportSouth) - Very winnable game for the Hawks and a chance to see the best super-young guard in the game in Kyrie Irving.
• 7:00 - NCAAB - Nebraska @ #2 Michigan (BTN) - My Wolverines look like a gauntlet right now, and I don't want to jinx it.
• 7:00 - NCAAB - #3 Louisville @ Seton Hall (ESPN2) - Seton Hall is 12-3 but without any real quality wins, and this is a big test for them.
• 8:00 - NBA - Lakers @ Spurs (ESPN) - Exactly what the Pau-less, Dwight-less Lakers needed. A visit to San Antonio!
• 9:00 - NCAAB - #8 Minnesota @ #12 Illinois (BTN) - Randomly, the game of the night belongs on the Big Ten Network as two top-12 teams square off. Illinois has going with Brandon Paul, and I'd pick them at home.
• 10:00 - NCAAB - #24 UNLV @ #25 New Mexico (CBS College Sports) - I'm fully aware that most people don't have this channel, but if you do, you're treated to a really nice match-up. 
• 10:30 - NBA - Mavs @ Clippers (ESPN) - It's been a nightmare season for Dallas fans (sorry, David), but at least with Dirk back there is some reason for optimism. Just maybe not in LA tonight.

Enjoy!

1/8: BCS Title Game Wrap-up, etc.

Greetings! A lot to get to this morning...

• Alabama is your BCS National Champion. In case you missed it, you can find my live (and detailed) thoughts here, but suffice it to say that Bama cruised during the 42-14 victory. It was utter domination from the beginning, and ND really was never in the game. Manti Te'o vanished into thin air, the ND offense couldn't generate anything until garbage time in the second half, and Alabama had the best player on the field in Eddie Lacy. I could opine forever on this game, but Alabama was outstanding and they deserve the title. Cue the insufferable SEC fans and their claims on a title that exactly one team was responsible for.
• Robert Griffin III has a full-blown injury controversy! One report had him missing 14+ months with a complete tear of multiple ligaments, now it is "reported" that he just tore his LCL. At any rate, we can agree that as long as he has a tear of anything, he shouldn't have been out there. Alas, this is a story worth following.
• In an extremely random NBA moment, Milwaukee fired head coach Scott Skiles after midnight last night. The weird part about it is that Milwaukee didn't play last night. Why the midnight firing? Who knows, but Skiles had Milwaukee in the playoffs at 16-16, and I'm confused by this one. That said, Skiles has a reputation for wearing out his welcome, and I never understood the Ellis/Jennings backcourt with regards to how it would mesh with Skiles. The search begins.
• There is trouble in Laker land. Pau Gasol (concussion) and Dwight Howard (torn labrum) are both out indefinitely, and Howard could miss months depending on the severity. It's been a full-scale nightmare since the opening tip of the season for LA, but this is the low point. Without Howard, they are going to be a disaster on the interior, and there are even whispers of Metta World Peace playing some center. That's not a joke.
• NBA Check - Washington shocked the OKC Thunder by a 101-99 final last night in DC. Bradley Beal led the Wiz with 22 points, but the key to the W was their defense holding OKC to 43% FG and just 6-25 from 3-point distance. There's not a lot to take from this one, but it's certainly surprising. Could Boston be turning the corner? Just two days after a crazy, comeback win over Atlanta, the C's went into New York and defeated the Knicks without Rajon Rondo. Boston got 23 and 6 from Paul Pierce, and held Carmelo Anthony to a woeful 6-26 from the field in the win. In another upset, New Orleans topped San Antonio 95-88 thanks to a 4th quarter surge. Eric Gordon seems to be rounding into form with 24 points for the Hornets. Finally, Portland and Orlando played a barnburner in the Rose Garden that saw the Blazers eek out a 125-119 OT win. LaMarcus Aldridge (27/10/5), JJ Hickson (20 and 15), Wes Matthews (24 points), and Damian Lillard (18 points, 10 assists) all had big games for Portland in the win. 

What to watch for on Tuesday (in chronological order)...

• 7:00 - NCAAB - Alabama @ #10 Missouri (ESPN) - Pressey and company are worth watching.
• 8:00 - NBA - Lakers @ Rockets (NBATV) - Metta World Peace at Center! No, really!
• 8:00 - NBA - Hawks @ T-Wolves (SportSouth) - Minnesota is battling big-time injury issues, but they're still 15-15 in the loaded West, and this is a tough spot.
• 9:00 - NCAAB - #15 Ohio State @ Purdue (ESPN) - Every road game in the Big 10 is a tough one and this is no different.
• 9:00 - NCAAB - Pittsburgh @ #19 Georgetown (ESPNU) - In a normal year, this game would never be on ESPNU, but that's where the Big East is at the moment.

Enjoy!

2013 BCS Championship Game Liveblog!

Greetings! It's been a while since I've trotted out a liveblog, but since this is expected to be the #1 rated program in the history of ESPN (not a misprint) and I have no rooting interest in the game (I hate Notre Dame and the SEC equally), it is time! Stay with me throughout the game for whatever "insights" I may have and may the best team win!
Note: You will need to "refresh" at the top of the page in order to see real-time updates, or simply come and go as you please.

• 5:37 pm - The countdown is on! Just under three hours to game-time and though I haven't felt this kind of fan experience since I was very young (the 1997 Michigan Wolverines to be exact), it must be driving folks from Irish and "Roll Tide" nation crazy. Stay tuned for pregame and kick-off closer to 8:30 pm. 
• 8:21 - The TV is fired up and Brent Musberger is on the mic. Has there ever been a more perfect voice for college football? He always makes it feel like a big game, and along with the now-retired Keith Jackson, he's the voice of the college gridiron for me. 
• 8:24 - Cut to a live shot of Notre Dame slapping the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign... how did it make it here from Miami? Oh, here comes Alabama out of the tunnel followed closely by the Irish and a fired-up Manti Te'o. This is fantastic. Two legendary programs, two insane fanbases, and all eyes on Miami.
• 8:26 - Kirk Herbstreit isn't calling an Ohio State game! This is great for me! Where is Chris Spielman?
• 8:28 - Notre Dame wins the toss and defers. Their only win of the night?! Okay, too soon. I can't help but be more inspired by confidence when I see Nick Saban than when I see Brian Kelly. That's not a shot at Kelly, but Saban is the best in the business. 
• 8:31 - The ball is in the air! This is about as loud of a crowd as you'll ever hear at a neutral site in this big of a game. Think about Super Bowl crowds that you've heard... are they ever rowdy? This one is.
• 8:33 - AJ McCarron with a perfect strike for a 30-yard gain to Norwood. That should slow the ND defense a bit as they were really flying forward on the first two snaps. 
• 8:34 - Eddie Lacy is an absolute monster. 10 yards, about 4 broken tackles, and his helmet comes flying off. Suddenly Alabama is on the ND 27-yard line. How did that happen!?
• 8:36 - Did I mention that Lacy was a monster? 20 yards to the house for the opening touchdown. That's an absolute march by the Tide. And, on cue, Musberger points out that it was the longest drive allowed by the Irish defense all season. Not quite an "uh oh" from South Bend, but certainly not a positive start.
• 8:39 - Is this drive going to be huge as huge for ND as I think it is? If they go 3-and-out, Saban and company will start smelling blood, I think. 
• 8:40 - X-factor of the night for ND's offense? Tight End Tyler Eifert. He's the Mackey Award winning weapon on the outside that could pose some match-up issues, even against a lightning-fast Bama defense. 
• 8:42 - I know I just said that Eifert is the X-factor, but that doesn't mean I'd be iso-ing him on Dee Milliner. He's one of the top-5 corners in the country and has good size despite Eifert towering over him. 
• 8:44 - Most under-covered story of this game is Everett Golson playing in his 12th career game. Yes, 12 career games, with the fact that he wasn't even the full-time starter all year. Somehow, with all of the coverage on the Irish defense, it's been overlooked that he's going into the Lion's Den against Saban and that speed. Enjoy that, Everett. 
• 8:46 - Fumble!!? Alabama puts it on the carpet on the ensuing punt return, but the recovery is waived off due to a kick-catch interference call. Crisis averted, although that would've been a huge momentum swing and that fair catch signal was verrryyyyyy late. 
• 8:47 - On second look, that's an absolutely awful call and Brian Kelly is losing his mind (rightfully so). They blew that one. 
• 8:49 - Eddie Lacy is doing his best Trent Richardson impression. Ran through Te'o twice already. 
• 8:51 - If AJ McCarron is this accurate, good luck to Notre Dame's defense. Multi-faceted offense from Bama = doom. 
• 8:53 - Absolutely incredible run by Lacy down inside the 5-yard line. Two jump cuts, insane patience and great vision to get to second level.
• 8:54 - 14-0, Alabama. The Irish defense is on its heels in a big way. Couldn't be a worse scenario for Notre Dame through the opening half-quarter.
• 8:56 - I can't help but dread tomorrow's "SEC Rules!" response by the entire Southern United States. Have fun taking full credit for one team's performance! Can you tell I grew up in Atlanta as a Michigan fan? 
• 8:58 - Remember when I said that opening drive was huge for Golson? Multiply that by about 10 on his second drive. At the very least, ND needs a couple first downs to let their defense regroup.
• 8:59 - Oh. My. Goodness. Tyler Eifert just put the ball on the ground at the Irish 30-yard line. If that holds up, that literally could be the dagger for Notre Dame, and yes, I'm aware that there is 6 minutes left in the 1st quarter. 
• 9:01 - Currently during the commercial break, but I think Eifert's knee was down. Second life for ND if they overturn it.
• 9:02 - Irish ball. 
• 9:05 - Zero separation from the ND receivers/tight ends so far in the game. Another punt coming from ND. Time for Te'o and company to get a stop before things get out of control. 
• 9:06 - The first shot of AJ McCarron's girlfriend! Who had 9:06 in the pool? Wait, she's an Auburn student?
• 9:08 - I won't tell you that he's made any highly difficult plays, but AJ McCarron has been flawless so far. Tide on the march again. 
• 9:09 - A negative play for the Bama offense/Irish defense! Nicks absolutely blew up Barrett Jones and took away any chance for Yeldon to use his speed.
• 9:15 - Touchdown, Alabama. At 21-0, this game isn't over, but it is the tallest of tall orders for Notre Dame. Consider this, the Irish offense only threw for about 2600 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, and they're going to ask Golson to heave it around a lot if they want to come back. The downside? It's tee-off time for the Bama defensive line.
• 9:16 - Important for ND to not abandon the run entirely. They must keep the ND defense off of the field for a decent amount of time on this drive. They looked gassed and overmatched. 
• 9:20 - Some life from Golson and company until they cross midfield... and then he makes the inexplicable decision to throw a deep jumpball on 4th and 5. Turnover on downs.
• 9:21 - Nothing I hate more than that play call. When did it become an epidemic to be "cute" and throw deep on 4th-and-short? What's the percentage on that play's success? 15%? 
• 9:23 - In all seriousness, if Alabama scores a touchdown here, this game is academic. Please don't give me the "Auburn did it with Cam!" argument for a comeback, because Everett Golson is certainly not Cam Newton. 
• 9:27 - Alabama forced to punt! The dream lives!
• 9:27 - Of course ND muffs the punt. That would've been comical if Bama recovered. That said, the Irish take over inside their own 10-yard line in desperate need of points. 
• 9:32 - Yikes. An explosive safety blitz from Alabama shuts down ND for a loss of 5 yards right after ND finally had a positive running play. Golson follows with a short completion and a scramble, but Kelly sends the punting unit on for a 4th-and-1.
• 9:33 - Musberger brings up a great point. How long before we see Tommy Rees for Notre Dame? Isn't he the better passer?
• 9:36 - I think Eddie Lacy looks fantastic. I know I keep referencing him, but every run is patient and powerful. 
• 9:39 - McCarron misses Cooper about about this much on the cut-your-throat deep ball there, and Bama will punt. Seems like Notre Dame's defense has awakened a bit, but they're still in need of rest and the Irish offense has let them down in a big way. 
• 9:40 - Another special teams miscue? Notre Dame has now muffed a punt AND fielded one inside their own 5-yard line. I feel like young punt returners have literally forgotten about the "plant your feet on the 10-yard line" rule this season. 
• 9:42 - I'm not crapping on him, but has anyone heard the name "Manti Te'o" tonight? It's not his fault that the secondary is getting torched, but he's been a non-factor in run support, too.
• 9:44 - If you're an ND fan, aren't you dreaming of a 12-play touchdown drive here? If they can get 7 and milk the rest of the half, they're suddenly back in the game... right?
• 9:47 - Almost on cue, Golson takes a soul-crushing sack. I don't even know what to say. Rudy was offsides, too. 
• 9:48 - If you're Saban, I think you just ride the two running backs at this point. I don't think ND has shown you that they can score 21 points without any big swings/turnovers, and if you couple that with a monster offensive line and two gifted backs, it's a pretty solid recipe. 
• 9:50 - Great point by Herbstreit. ND never misses this many tackles, and it's not like they haven't played against some serious runners this year (Denard, Le'veon Bell, etc.). Either Yeldon and Lacy are just incredible, or the Irish are folding. 
• 9:51 - On cue, Te'o misses a tackle in the backfield. If that wasn't a microcosm of the night's events, I don't know what is. 
• 9:56 - Eddie Lacy is a certified ballplayer. He spins into the endzone and the lead is now 28-0 with :31 left in the 2nd quarter. Over 100 total yards and 2 TDs for Lacy in the half. Wow. For all intensive purposes, this one is over, and we could be witnessing one of the most dominant title game performances of all-time. 
• 9:57 - This is when being a "journalist" is difficult. I probably shouldn't flat-out call this game "over", but I'm having serious trouble conjuring up a scenario where ND gets back into this game. Punt return TD? Pick-six? Both? 
• 9:59 - Halftime. 28-0, Alabama. We'll be back for the second half after a short recess. Stay tuned.
• 10:16 - We're back! It's pretty indicative of the way things have gone that Desmond Howard and Urban Meyer are virtually cackling on the halftime set. Have to imagine that millions of TV sets have been turned to the "off" position after the 1st half.
• 10:22 - Serious question, would you throw a single pass in the 3rd quarter if you were Nick Saban? I literally don't think I would. With their running backs and ND's refusal to play 8 in the box, they're going to move the chains enough to sustain without risking the ball through the air. It should look like an early 1970's Big Ten game in the second half. 
• 10:27 - INT from Golson on the 1st drive. That's incredibly brutal for ND. I'm out of ideas.
• 10:28 - I said this on the first drive of the game, but Herbstreit just banged the point home. Why on Earth is ND attacking Dee Milliner? He's an All-American! He's literally made every play he's been asked to make all night, and if they thought they saw something on tape, they didn't. 
• 10:30 - 14 carries for 116 yards from Eddie Lacy. Scroll up to read me fawning over him endlessly.
• 10:34 - I feel bad for Brent and Herbie. They're going to be in full-scale BS mode by the start of the 4th quarter. Anyone have a good TJ Yeldon story!?
• 10:36 - On a positive note for Notre Dame, Nix is out there absolutely giving it up on one leg. That's the kind of stuff that makes sports special. They're getting absolutely housed, and he has no business out there, but refused to be left on the sidelines.
• 10:37 - And in the same breath... Touchdown, Alabama. 35-0. I'll be wrapping this up soon if this continues. You've been warned. 
• 10:40 - I would lay at least 20-to-1 that Brent Musberger will make a veiled Vegas reference if and when this game goes over the 40-point over/under total. He's in Cooperstown with regard to veiled references and by that point, it'll be the only thing left to talk about.
• 10:44 - Openly rooting for ND to scratch. The SEC conglomerate will be at least 15% more insufferable if they get shut out. 
• 10:48 - Touchdown, Irish! And the over hits! It's a celebration! I can't stop using exclamation points! Somebody stop me! 
• 10:52 - I'm actually interested to see how Saban handles this now. Go for jugular with some play-action from McCarron or just grind with the running backs. To be honest, I don't think it even matters.
• 10:56 - I've actually enjoyed Herbstreit tonight... until he starts talking about how Notre Dame "hasn't seen this speed all year." Come on, Kirk. You're better than that. 
• 11:04 - $200,000 for Saban after the win tonight.... and he's worth every, single penny.
• 11:06 - Kinda surprised that Bama is still throwing, but it's about as safe as it gets in the passing game for the most part. Dump-off city and they've been coached to stay in bounds it seems. Clock is rolling.
• 11:07 - Eddie Lacy is the best player on the field tonight, and that's really saying something with the talent that is assembled.
• 11:09 - Touchdown, Alabama. 42-7. And with that, I am signing off until tomorrow... 

Congratulations to the Crimson Tide on a dominant, national title-winning performance.