Everything Sports With Mark & Jordan
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
NBA
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tournament and Bubble Time
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Personal Big East Rankings
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Superbowl
My pick: Pittsburg 27 - Green Bay 31
-There are so many story lines going on here, each one would be a full post: the redemption of Big Ben, the ascending of Aaron Rodgers to elite QB status, the amazing young phenom Clay Matthews (and BJ Raji), Troy Polamalu's return/battle with overcoming injuries, who has the better hair haha, a team that played their first four games without their starting QB, a team that has won five straight elimination games, and obviously AFC bs NFC...just to name a few. What I want to focus on is who is going to actually win!
For the Steelers, everyone knows what has earned Big Ben his reputation as a great QB: his superb ability to scramble, break tackles, find impossible seems in a defense at the last second, just do whatever it takes to keep the play alive and do what needs to get done, whether that's a TD, get in FG range or just get a 1st Down. He had something like 30 for a QB rating against the Jets, meaning he did just enough to get the job done (win). The problem: Roethlisberger must be one of Rodger's idols because Aaron is very good at doing all the same things. Green Bay's offense is also more capable of making big plays (Santonio Holmes isn't on Pitt anymore); the Packers are five solid receivers deep.
For run games, the Steelers clearly have the advantage with Rashard Mendenhall, who, although he is no Jerome Bettis, is a hard-nose old fashioned back that knows how to get a few yards after the tackle on a consistent basis. With Ryan Grant going down to injury, Packers first-year RB James Starks stepped up big and got hot at just the right time: the playoffs (rookies Bradford and Sub will be watching from home). While I don't think Starks will have a big game with it being such a big game and the Steelers being so good at stopping the run, I think he will establish the run enough to open up the passing game for Rodgers and company.
Finally, defenses. I think the old adage will hold true in this one that "Offense scores points but defense wins championships." I honestly believe the defense will make the difference in this one and it's not even necessarily about forcing the big flashy turnover (see James Harrison in 2009 and Tracy Porter last year) but more about stopping the other high-powered offense when it matters most. I hate to say it but this is Bill Belichick's forte: the "bend don't break" philosophy; you know the other team is going to get their yards but you make them settle for a tough field goal or when they're in the red zone then you force the big turnover and when you let up a TD then you play even harder the next couple series and give you offense a chance to get the points back. So here's how I see each team: the Iron Curtain can still stop the run like no other (I'd rather get checked by Ovechkin than take a hit from James Harrison) but Palamalu is a better blitzer than cover man and the Steelers pass defense can, and will, be picked apart by Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. While the Packers' defense is not as well known, they have solid CB's in the veteran Charles Woodson and the speedy Sam Shields, who match up well with Hines Ward and Mike Wallace respectively. Except Green Bay to play a lot of Nickle package to (1) counter the run and (2) get in their Pro-Bowl CB Tramon Williams as well. If you think a very good offense with a big-game QB, IN THE PLAYOFFS, will be too much for this defense, ask Matty "Ice" and the #1 seed in the NFC Atlanta Falcons how that went
Expect the Lombardi Trophy to return to Lombardi Ave, Green Bay, Wisconsin (address of Lambeau Field)!
NBA all stars
Guard | Kobe Bryant | Lakers |
Guard | Chris Paul | Hornets |
Forward | Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets |
Forward | Kevin Durant | Thunder |
Center | Yao Ming | Rockets |
G--Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
F--Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
F--Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
G--Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
F--Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
C--Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The level of criticism I have with this list of all stars is ridiculous. As I have stated above, I believe that Deron WIlliams and Russel Westbrook were both highly deserving. I already talked a lot about Williams but Westbrook is having his best season yet, the Thunder are a top 10 team in the NBA and being the second option on the Thunder he is averaging 22.5 points, 8.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds. The only other player that can put up these kind of numbers in the league is LeBron. Highly impressive, and he even deserved thought as a starter. Also I talked about Dirk, and how he is having an incredible season. If not for injury problems, he would be the starter over Melo in my opinion. The last out of these that I have no problem with is Manu Ginobli. Manu is on the best team in the league, and has becoming the leader on the court. Averaging 18.5 points and 5 assists, might not be flashy but he has been playing clutch for the best team in the NBA. Have to say this was a great call. That is hard to say while taking out Steve Nash, Eric Gordon and Monta Ellis. However Manu is on the best team in the NBA, they aren't which really is a huge factor. The only one i wouldn't have a problem making it over Manu would be Nash because of the 11 assists a game. Though Ellis is a star with 25.3 points a game, how long has it been since the warriors were relevant? And sure Gordon is playing great basketball in L.A, but its hard to be undershadowed by Blake. I could go on for days about how much I disagree with Tim Duncan making the game. But I am just going to say this. Duncan is having his worst statistical season ever, and he made it over the NBA's leading rebounder in Kevin Love. I have the same issue with Blake Griffin. Though averaging 22 points and 11 boards as a rookie, he only made the all star game because of the jaw dropping dunks. But I have to sit back and ask myself, if he couldn't dunk like that, would he make the game? Probably not, Love would make it over him. Just a little food for thought. The last person is Pau Gasol. Not needed to say, Love should have made it over him as well. Averaging 18.7 points and 10.5 rebounds he has good numbers. However, Love should have made it over him, and it was a toss up between Pau, Aldridge and Odom. However, what is done is done. This should be a good all star game. Oh wait, they don't have those anymore.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
College Basketball Games of the Week.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Weekend in College Basketball
In my mind those were the major upsets of the weekend. Other upsets include: