Adam’s NFL All-Pro Team: Defense and Special Teams

For the Defensive All-Pro team, I’m just going to give you my selection and my rationale as opposed to listing the candidates like I did for the offensive team.  There are just too many defensive candidates to talk about all of them, and I don’t want my lovely readers to spend all day reading my article here, as much as you probably want to.

Defensive Lineman: Jared Allen (Vikings)
 

I begrudgingly put a man in purple on my team, but he earned the spot.  On an otherwise bad defense, Allen has been outstanding.  He has 18.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, an interception, and 61 tackles.  He’s a one-man wrecking crew that is impossible for one man to block. 
 

Defensive Lineman: Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants)
 

Eric has rightly accused me of having a man-crush on JPP.  The guy is unreal.  His arms nearly reach the ground, he has incredible burst, and surprising strength for a man with his long build.  With 15 sacks on the year, countless pressures, and a key blocked field goal against the Cowboys, Pierre-Paul has established himself as one of the surest playmakers in football. 
 

Defensive Lineman: Justin Smith (49ers)
 

The incredible thing about Smith is that his main role is to occupy blockers and let his linebackers clean up the quarterback and flow to the ball.  While he does that job as well as anyone, he’s also added 6.5 sacks and forced three fumbles.  He made the winning play for the 49ers twice this year: when he stripped Jeremy Maclin late in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia, effectively sealing the victory, and knocking down an Eli Manning potential game-tying touchdown pass on fourth down with about a minute left in 49ers-Giants contest.  Peter King had him as his Defensive MVP runner-up at mid-season, incredible for a 3-4 end to receive that kind of recognition.
 

Defensive Lineman: Haloti Ngata (Ravens)
 

Ngata is impossible to block.  At 6’4” and 350 pounds, he moves like a quick defensive end.  With 5 sacks and 60 total tackles, Ngata has nice stats, but his true value lies in the amount of attention opponents must pay to him.  He always demands a double team, which makes the entire defense around him better. 
 

Linebacker: Navorro Bowman (49ers)
 

Clearly Bowman has been taking notes from the man he plays next to, Patrick Willis.  If Willis and Bowman switched uniforms, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, and that is a huge compliment to the third-year man from Penn State.  Bowman has been a tackling machine (133 total tackles), he’s excellent in coverage, and plays sideline-to-sideline as well as any player in the game.  His signature play on the season was a takedown of Michael Vick when he was one-on-one with the speedster in the open field and dropped him easily.
 

Linebacker: Patrick Willis (49ers)
 

Yes, he’s missed three games this year, but in 12 starts he notched 93 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 sacks.  Ask yourself, is there any other player you would want manning the middle of your linebacking group?
 

Linebacker: Terrell Suggs (Ravens)
 

It seems ludicrous at first glance to keep DeMarcus Ware off of this list in favor of Suggs, but T-Sizzle belongs on the All-Pro team for a reason.  First, unlike Ware, Suggs plays on a top-tier.  Ware is certainly deserving of a spot, tallying 18 sacks this year, but Suggs is no slouch at 13.  Ware has notched no interceptions to Suggs’ 2 picks, and while Ware has forced two fumbles, Suggs has forced 6.  When Suggs is going right, he may be the toughest pass rusher to block in the league. 
 

Defensive Back: Darelle Revis (Jets)
 

Revis Island is once again a frightening place to be, after it became a little more of a cushy vacation spot last year.  Revis is second in the league in passes defended and has also picked off the opponent 4 times despite being tested less than any other man in the league. 
 

Defensive Back: Brandon Browner (Seahawks)
 

“Who?”  I would have said the same thing to start this year, but Browner has been tremendous.  He’s tied for the league lead in passes defended with 20, is second in the league in interceptions with 6, and also has 52 tackles.  Not to mention at 6’4” and 221 pounds Browner matches up well with even the biggest and strongest receivers in the game. 
 

Defensive Back: Dashon Goldson (49ers)
 

After a strong 2009, Goldson fell off in the Niners’ lost 2010 but has been a stud in 2011.  He has 52 tackles, is tied for second in the league with 6 interceptions, and hits as hard as any safety.  He almost never makes a big mistake in coverage and covers a tremendous amount of ground at the back end of a great defense. 
 

Defensive Back: Charles Woodson (Packers)
 

I know that technically he’s a cornerback, but the guy lines up as a linebacker, safety, and corner.  He’s one of the most versatile players in the game, and even at the age of 35 is a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.  74 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 2 sacks prove that Woodson is an incredible addition to any defense.
 

Kicker: David Akers (49ers)

Akers broke Jerry Rice’ record for most points in a season by in 49ers history.  That’s not necessarily a record 49er fans wanted, but it takes nothing away from Akers’ great play.  Akers has ten more made field goals than anyone else in the league, has consistently made 50+ yard kicks (7-9 from that range) and is hitting 86% of his overall attempts.  That’s not the best mark in the league, but considering he’s attempted 10 more field goals than any other player, it’s pretty damn good.
 

Punter: Andy Lee (49ers)

Lee is on pace to break the all-time record for net punting average at just over 44 yards per punt.  He’s a prime reason the 49ers consistently pin their opponents deep and lead the league in starting field position.  He’s a veritable weapon to go along with the great 49er defense.
 

Kick Returner: Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)

Peterson is starting to remind many of another #21 who once played the corner position and haunted special teams units with his return ability.  While Peterson has a ways to go to become the cover man Deion Sanders was, he’s already just as dangerous in the return game.  Peterson has 4 punt returns for scores and averages 16 yards per return, second only to Devin Hester.

--from @AdamHocking

Adam’s NFL All-Pro Team: Offense

It’s all in the title folks, we’re looking to name the very best at their respective positions on the year, so let’s not waste any time.  Let’s get straight to the analysis.

Quarterback Candidates: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers

There have been plenty of great quarterbacking performances this year, but no one maintains consistently elite play like Brady, Brees, and Rodgers. For his part, Brees broke Dan Marino’s single season passing yardage mark in last night’s blowout of the Falcons.  Tom Brady has had another monster season, carrying a team whose defense is on pace to allow the most passing yards in NFL history.  In the final analysis however, Rodgers has to be the choice. Rodgers has more touchdown passes (42) than either Brees (41) or Brady (36) with about half as many interceptions (6) as his elite passing brethren (Brees has 13 and 11 for Brady).  His yardage per attempt is nearly a full yard higher than Brady or Brees.  Rodgers’ completion percentage ranks only behind Brees, and his quarterback rating of 122.5 easily tops the league.  Beyond all the numbers, one figure is most important: 14-1.  That’s the record that Rodgers has led his Green Bay Packers to, and while the Saints and Patriots stand at 12-3, Rodgers has established the defending Super Bowl Champions as the team at the top of the heap once again.

Choice: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

 

Running Back Candidates: Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy

Jones-Drew and McCoy have both been fantastic this season but ultimately round out the bottom of this group because their teams are nowhere near playoff contention.  No doubt Jones-Drew’s performance has been impressive as teams have stacked the box against a weak Jacksonville passing game, but it’s hard to get overexcited about any player on a 4-win team. LeSean McCoy has vaulted into superstar status, but with all the talent around him, there’s no excuse for the Eagles' abject failure of a season.  Arian Foster has been great, and perhaps had he not missed time with a hamstring injury he would win this award, but he also splits a lot of carries with Ben Tate, which means the choice goes to Frank Gore.  The spearhead to an offense that struggles to move the ball through the air, the 49ers rely heavily on Gore to keep the chains moving, the clock ticking, and the opponent exhausted.  Gore wins this award because he plays on the best team out of the group, carries as heavy a burden as any man on this list, and he is consistently the focus of the opponent’s defensive gameplan.

Choice: Frank Gore (49ers)

Wide Receiver Candidates: Victor Cruz, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Wes Welker

 

I wish I could put all of these guys on my list because they all deserve it, but I limit myself three spots.  Steve Smith has experienced a career renaissance with the arrival of Cam Newton, to the tune of 1,308 receiving yards and a staggering 18 yards per catch.  Nobody knew Victor Cruz before the season, and he is now one of the preeminent threats in football.  Larry Fitzgerald just continues to produce despite inconsistent quarterback play and being the lone threat on his offense.  Ultimately though, the incredible consistency of Wes Welker (116 catches for 1,518 yards) make him a lock for one spot.  Another has to go to Calvin Johnson because of his sheer size, strength, grace, and because he is probably the hardest receiver to matchup with in the league.  At 6’5” and 235 pounds with 4.3 speed, soft hands, the biggest vertical in the game, and tremendous strength, it’s no wonder Megatron has over 1,400 receiving yards and 15 scores.  Finally, for his sure hands, run after the catch ability, and tremendous production, Victor Cruz gets my final spot.

Choices: Victor Cruz (Giants), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Wes Welker (Patriots)

Tight End Candidates: Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski

Both of these men have been amazing this year, going well over 1,000 yards at the tight end position.  That in itself is an awesome feat.  The versatility both players show—splitting out wide, blocking, running after the catch, soft hands—is all the more impressive.  Ultimately though, Gronkowski is a weapon like we may not have seen before at the tight end position.  He has the speed to run with cornerbacks and the strength to carry linebackers and defensive ends on his back.  He has unbelievable balance and an ability to absorb hits and keep his momentum like few players I have ever seen.  Gronk has tremendous hands, the size to go up and get the ball, and set the record for touchdowns by a tight end thus far notching 15 receiving scores.  That ties him for most in the league with Calvin Johnson.  Gronkowski is also on pace to go over 1,300 receiving yards on the season.

Choice: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

Offensive Line: There aren’t a whole lot of stats to throw at you here for linemen, nor do you want to hear my technical breakdown of what each guy is doing at the point of attack, so I’ll make my selections short and sweet.

Left Tackle: Jason Peters (Eagles)

Left Guard: Jahri Evans (Saints)

Center: Scott Wells (Packers)

Right Guards: Carl Nicks (Saints)

Right Tackle: Eric Winston (Texans)

--from @AdamHocking

Adam’s NFL All-Pro Team: Full Lineup

QB: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

RB: Frank Gore (49ers)

WR: Victor Cruz (Giants)

WR: Calvin Johnson (Lions)

WR: Wes Welker (Patriots)

TE: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

LT: Jason Peters (Eagles)

LG: Jahri Evans (Saints)

C: Scott Wells (Packers)

RG: Carl Nicks (Saints)

RT: Eric Winston (Texans)

DL: Jared Allen (Vikings)

DL: Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants)

DL: Justin Smith (49ers)

DL: Haloti Hgata (Ravens)

LB: Navorro Bowman (49ers)

LB: Patrick Willis (49ers)

LB: Terrell Suggs (Ravens)

DB: Darelle Revis (Jets)

DB: Brandon Browner (Seahawks)

DB: Dashon Goldson (49ers)

DB: Charles Woodson (Packers)

K: David Akers (49ers)

P: Andy Lee (49ers)

KR: Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)

The Envelope Please: 2010-2011 NBA Awards

Most Valuable Player

1. Dwight Howard (Magic): To me this really was a tossup between Howard and Derrick Rose.  In the end, the word “valuable” is what made me pick Howard.  If you took him off the Magic, they’d win 20-25 games; with him they’re a 50-win team.  I think the Bulls without Rose would still be a fringe playoff contender.  Howard’s season averages of 23 points, 14 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 60% field goal shooting are just too good to ignore.  Watching Rose play might be more riveting, but aesthetic enjoyment is not the basis for this award.  Howard’s impact on the defensive end also helps close the case in my opinion.  No other player has as much of an impact on the boards or in the paint as Superman.
2. Derrick Rose (Bulls)
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
4. LeBron James (Heat)
5. Kevin Durant (Thunder)

Rookie of the Year

1. Blake Griffin (Clippers): An absolute no brainer, it’s a near certainty that Griffin will win this award unanimously.  Griffin is having one of the best rookie campaigns we’ve seen in years, maybe since Tim Duncan hit the scene in 1997.  Griffin averages 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 50% from the field.  Those numbers aren’t just great for a rookie; they're damn near MVP-worthy.
2. John Wall (Wizards)
3. DeMarcus Cousins (Kings)
4. Landry Fields (Knicks)
5. Jordan Crawford (Wizards)

6th Man of the Year

1. Lamar Odom (Lakers): His versatility and value to the Lakers cannot be overstated.  Odom starts when Andrew Bynum gets hurt; other times he moves seamlessly to his role on the bench.  Whatever is asked of Odom, he does it.  He rebounds, scores inside and out, plays point guard, runs the fast break, defends multiple positions, and is an excellent passer.  On the season he averaged 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 53% from the field and 39% from three.
2. Jason Terry (Mavericks)
3. Wesley Matthews (Trail Blazers)
4. Jamal Crawford (Hawks)
5. Thaddeus Young (76ers)

Most Improved Player

1. Kevin Love (Timberwolves): His meteoric improvement didn’t lead to more success for the downtrodden Timberwolves, but still, Love’s development was remarkable.  Last year he averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds, and shot 33% from three.  This year Love averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, shot 42% from long range, and had a 53-game double-double streak.  He went from an above average player to a superstar in one year.
2. Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
3. Raymond Felton (Nuggets)
4. Eric Gordon (Clippers)
5. Wesley Matthews (Trail Blazers)

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard (Magic): Not much more needs to be said that hasn’t already.  Howard simply impacts the game on defense more than any other player.  He makes the lane off-limits.
2. Andrew Bogut (Bucks)
3. Rajon Rondo (Celtics)
4. LeBron James (Heat)
5. Chris Paul (Hornets)

Coach of the Year

1. Tom Thibodeau (Bulls): Sure, he’s lucky to have Derrick Rose and an overall nice roster, but this is not the most talented team in the Eastern Conference, and yet they’ve locked up the one seed with room to spare.  The Bulls won 41 games last year, and now will win at least 60 and could win as many as 62.  That’s not just the addition of Carlos Boozer.  The quantum leap in this team’s play is a direct result of Thibodeau’s defensive game plan.  The Bulls were a solid defensive group last year; this year they’re the best in the NBA.  More than just stats, if you simply watch Chicago play, you’ll see Thibodeau’s fingerprints everywhere.  They play harder than any other team in the league, they rebound, they get loose balls, and they share the ball.  Really, they play like a college team.  It’s refreshing to watch, and Thibodeau might just be cooking up a championship recipe in the Windy City.
2. Gregg Popovich (Spurs)
3. Nate McMillan (Trail Blazers)
4. Phil Jackson (Lakers)
5. Doug Collins (76ers)

All-NBA First Team: Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard

All-NBA Second Team: Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol

All-NBA Third Team: Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Blake Griffin

All-NBA Fourth Team: Steve Nash, Monta Ellis, Luol Deng, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love

(Note: These All-NBA Teams are mostly regardless of position.  I wanted to pick the twenty best players.  I didn’t want to be in the position of throwing Andrew Bogut on my All-NBA Third Team just because he’s a center.  Center and shooting guard are relatively weak positions in the league, while point guard and the forward positions are stacked, so that’s why my list might have two point guards or power forwards on the same team.)

There you have it, the definitive list of awards for the 2011 NBA season.  If any of you fine readers have a beef with my picks, feel free to let me know just how wrong I was in our spacious and comfortable comment section.

--from Adam

Handing out the Hardware: NFL Final Awards

Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers

I’m going to include the postseason in my award considerations because it is the whole reason for the regular season, the whole reason the game is played, and it's where the most important performances take place.  So taking the playoffs into account, there's no other way to look than Rodgers.  Sure, Tom Brady had a ludicrous touchdown-to-interception ratio and Michael Vick was electrifying all year long, but what did they do when it mattered most?  Rodgers beat Vick’s Eagles with a tremendous performance, and then broke the awesome meter against the Falcons, bested the hated Bears, and won the Super Bowl MVP against the vaunted Steelers.  If he’s not the MVP then answer me this question: Would you rather have any other player in the league than Aaron Rodgers?  I didn’t think so.

Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews

This really isn’t even biased on my part as Matthews finished second in the AP voting for this award anyway.  He finished behind Troy Polamalu who had a great year, but he missed a fair amount of time.  The Steelers' defense could survive without him.  Without Matthews, the Packers defense basically loses its entire pass rush element, plus its flying wild haired mad man chasing down Vick and making him fumble element.  He was the key to the Green Bay defense because in order to neutralize him, you have to commit to him two blockers.  Matthews is as talented as they come, but just as important to his success is limitless stamina and a relentless desire to reach the football.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford

Call it a chalk pick, but how can you argue?  The Rams had won six games in their last three seasons.  Combined!  Think about that.  That means they were essentially the worst or second worst team in football for three straight years.  Then with a ton of pressure on his shoulders–many thought Suh should have been the Rams' number one overall pick–Bradford shows up and does nothing but deliver.  Also consider Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton, the Rams' two best receivers by far, sustained season-ending injuries early in the year.  So with maybe even less offensive talent than the previous years, which as mentioned were awful seasons, Bradford still put up amazing numbers and nearly led his team to the playoffs.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh

This is the most impressive defensive rookie I’ve ever seen.  Period.  In case the period at the end of my first sentence wasn’t emphatic enough.  Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has said that he rated Suh higher than any prospect he’d ever scouted by far.  Coming from a guy that's been an NFL head coach or top-level coordinator for over fifteen years, that's high praise.  Cunningham also said that he’s never seen a man Suh’s size so incredibly athletic.  Suh had 10 sacks on the year, made the All Pro team, meaning that he was voted the best player, not just rookie, at his position, and helped make the Lions' defense respectable.

Most Improved Player: Brandon Lloyd

This award could go in a lot of different directions and could have many interpretations, but Lloyd was spectacular all year on a team without a great quarterback play or any talent elsewhere on the offense.  I saw this guy up close as 49er and I never saw him having this type of year.

Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris

Even after I ranted about the playoffs being the most important part of the season, it wasn’t Morris’ fault that the Bucs didn’t dance in the tournament.  The Buccaneers won ten games this year, and if not for some bad luck, easily could have made the playoffs.  After winning just four games in 2009, most people had them pegged for a similar season this year.  He single-handedly morphed this defense into a promising unit, got the most out of Josh Freeman, and stabilized an incredibly young team that sustained a brutal amount of injuries.

Worst Football Commentator: Tie between Phil Simms and Keyshawn Johnson

Is Phil Simms trying to destroy the English language or does he simply not know that a string of unrelated phrases does not constitute a sentence, much less a complete thought?  "The Patriots…turnovers…ball control…championship football."  The fact that he complements his bastardization of language with an "aw shucks" (read, idiotic) southern twang makes it all the more unbearable.

Johnson is annoying in the complete opposite way that Simms is.  If Simms is the  old school, country boy type, Johnson is the new school, look-at-me type.  Johnson constantly runs to the defense of today’s moronic players and their equally stupid hijinks.  He defends Chad Ochocinco, waves the flag for Brandon Marshall, and probably thinks Vick was innocent.  Today’s athlete can be a detestable figure, but Keyshawn doesn’t see it that way, and that’s what makes him so aggravating.

 

Also Keyshawn wins votes as most irritating commentator for constantly bringing attention to his career accomplishments, or even worse, talking about how good his game picks are.  When he picked Seattle over the Saints I thought ESPN was going to have to give him an hour-long special just so he could rehash what a brilliant analyst he is.

And one more thing, the reason Johnson gave this season for not having a better career was that he played with so many bad quarterbacks.  He said, and I’m paraphrasing slightly, "I played with fifteen quarterbacks and only four of them were smart."  What a teammate, what a guy.  Ladies and gentleman, Keyshawn Johnson.  Just give him the damn ball.

Best Football Commentator: Tom Jackson

Jackson gets double points for being a classy, no-nonsense analyst in the midst of clowns like Cris Carter and Keyshawn, attempting to keep the Chris Berman train on the tracks, and for providing good insight to the game.  He keeps things simple and doesn’t read much into the off-the-field minutia that so many get caught up in.  He had a long career with the Broncos, but he doesn’t tell you about it at every turn, or hardly ever.  And, unlike Johnson, he never tells you that the position he played is the most important on the field.  Damn, I never realized just how annoying Keyshawn is until I starting writing this piece.

Game of the Year: Seahawks vs. Saints – Wild Card Round

There really is no correct answer for this category, but I loved watching this game for a few reasons.  It was the start of playoff football, it was a David vs Goliath matchup (and David won), and Marshawn Lynch made maybe the best run I’ve ever seen in a live game.  Also, there were 77 points scored in front of a frenzied Seattle crowd.

Best Single Game Performance: Aaron Rodgers – Divisional Round at Atlanta

Huge stakes, on the road, 31-36 passing, 366 yards, 3 touchdowns, no picks, and some guys even dropped balls.   Vick’s Week 10 performance against the Redskins (20/28, 333 yards, 4 TD’s, no picks, 80 rushing yards, 2 rushing scores) comes close but it wasn’t in the playoffs or even against a good team so Rodgers gets the nod.

Best Celebration: BJ Raji Spoon-Feeding Himself

Rodgers' title belt and Matthews’ predator howl came close, but in the end, there’s something truly hysterical about a 340 pound man pretending to daintily spoon feed himself after ripping through an offensive line and spiking a quarterback to the ground.

Best Moment that Almost Happened: Phil Simms vs. Desmond Howard

Allegedly Simms threatened to punch Howard in the face because Howard called Simms’ son the worst quarterback in the SEC.  Can you imagine how badly Simms would have gotten his ass kicked?

Other Things I Liked This Year

1. The emergence of new stars like Bradford, Suh, Freeman, Arian Foster, Mike Wallace, Cameron Wake, Peyton Hillis, LeSean McCoy, Dez Bryant, Hakeem Nicks, Darren McFadden, Joe Haden, Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, and many more
2. The restructured NFL Draft schedule:  So it’s not really part of the season per se, but everybody loves the draft, and to stretch it over three days including the first round in prime time scratches me right where I itch.  I’m pathetic.  I know.
3. New blood in the postseason: The Chiefs, Seahawks, Bears, and Falcons all missed the party last year but made it this time around.  It’s always fun to have some turnover, and the NFL usually obliges.
4. Good championship games:  The AFC Championship, NFC Championship, and Super Bowl were decided by a combined eighteen points, nothing wrong with that.
5. Going to Lambeau Field: This has nothing to do with you, but it was great for me.  Any time I travel to the mecca of professional football, I get chills, literally and figuratively.
6. Favre crashing and burning: "You get what you deserve" has never had a more appropriate target than this year’s Brett Favre.  As a philandering, sexting, self-absorbed, turnover machine, whose Green Bay protégé is now on top of the NFL world is how we will remember Favre in 2010.

Other Things I Didn’t Like This Year

1. The resurgence of Vick and Ben Roethlisberger: I don’t buy any of this crap about these being reformed men.  They are jerks at best and felons at worst.  I don’t like seeing them being showered with compliments and contracts, which are sure to come.
2. The struggles of the Colts:  Call me boring, but I just kind of like it when Peyton Manning is a machine shredding through the rest of the league.  This year reminded me that he’s getting old and doesn’t have too many years left.   That’s sad for all of us because he is wonderful to watch.
3. Twitter:  Just because some athlete writes something on Twitter does not make it an actual news story.
4. The Bungles: Even though it was short-lived, it was nice to see Carson Palmer and Marvin Lewis make the postseason last year.  This franchise needed to build on that success but simply could not.
5. Bad Super Bowl commercials:  Yes I was in the bathroom for many of them, and was perhaps too inebriated to understand them all, but from what I can remember, they sucked.
6. The 49ers: Seriously, when in the hell are we going to be good again?

Teams on the Rise

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: young quarterback, young defense, young coach
2. St. Louis Rams: Bradford can be great if management finds him someone to throw to.
3. Detroit Lions: Suh, Matthew Stafford, and Megatron are some nice young players to have.
4. Green Bay Packers: You can't really get any higher than winning the Super Bowl, but they will be back and even better next year.
5. Dallas Cowboys: I promise not to pick them to go to the Super Bowl again.

Teams on the Decline

1. Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Anquan Boldin are all getting older.  Also I wonder if Joe Flacco hasn't leveled off in his progression.
2. New York Jets: Darrelle Revis had the best year of his career two years ago, they have tons of key free agents, and the defense is not as good as people think.  Kris Jenkins is always inured, Bart Scott and Jason Taylor are old, and LaDanian Tomlinson is on his last legs.
3. Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler is not a franchise quarterback, the coaching staff is perpetually on the hot seat, and they don’t have enough good young players.
4. New York Giants: I’m not sure if Eli Manning will ever have a great year.  Neither front line, offense or defense, can seem to recapture its Super Bowl-winning form.
5. Indianapolis Colts: This whole team is getting older and the depth of talent just isn’t what it used to be.  Peyton is still great and the Colts have pledged to spend more money, but this team’s window is closing.

So there you have it, a season full of great performances, terrible commentators, new superstars, and old stars fading into oblivion.  I can’t wait for next season, assuming that it actually happens.

--from Adam

NBA Midseason Report: The Halfees

If you've fallen victim to the lethargy that is the NBA season, perhaps you need a little pick-me-up.  To help you coast into the second half of the season with some pep in your step, enter The Halfees, where I dole out some meaningless awards and talk about whatever else enters my mind.

Best Team: San Antonio Spurs

No team has really touched the Spurs in terms of consistency this season.  The Spurs are ready to play each and every night.  A big part of their success is that none of their big three–Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobli–is playing more than 33 minutes per game.  In fact, Duncan is playing a career low 29 minutes, keeping him fresh for the grindingly long season.  Five guys average in double figures, and nine guys score at least 7 points per game.  If they can keep up this same level of play in the second half of the year, they could have a shot at 70 wins.

Worst Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Think they're chanting "first to worst" at Cavalier games?  They don't have much else to shout about with the King holding court in Miami.  This team has pretty much nothing left on its roster.  But you know what?  They may get the first pick in next year's draft.  Then they can draft him, almost win a title, and watch him walk to a bigger market in seven years time.  And also, don't think I forgot about you, Washington Wizards.  The runner-up for this category goes 0-19 on the road: great toughness fellas, really terrific effort.

Best Player: LeBron James

I hate it, but I think my credibility would be shot if I argued this point.  James has a very talented team rolling, and there’s no question that his skill set has broader horizons than any other player in the game.  He’s a wonderful passer, a prolific driver, a decent shooter, and the best athlete in the world.  Surrounded by Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James has the tools to be transcendent, but it won’t matter until he wins in the playoffs.

Most Important Players: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard

Neither of these players' respective teams is anywhere but the lottery without the services of its superstar.

Most Improved Player: Raymond Felton

There are plenty of other ways I could go here: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook, and so on.  Felton's progress though has surprised me the most, and he's been the most impactful.  He’s become the second best player on a good Knicks team that is jockeying for 4-6 seeds out East.  Felton has always had talent, and now in an offense-friendly system, he’s averaging 19 points per game, up from 14 on his career.  His assists are up from his career average of 7 per game to personal best 9.

Best Rookie: Blake Griffin

It’s not only his averages of 22 points and 13 rebounds that make him the best rookie and one of the best players in the League.  It’s his astounding, "My God, did you see that!?" athleticism and surprisingly developed offensive game.  He blocks shots, handles the ball, is an excellent passer, and has a deft touch around the rim.  He’s not your typical raw second-year player.  He has the full toolbox right now, and he’s going to dominate for a long time.

Best Player on a Bad Team: Kevin Love

Griffin would win this award, but since I gave him the Best Rookie title, I'm feeling the love here.  Bad pun.  Love is averaging 21 points and 16 rebounds for a woeful scrappy T'Wolves squad.  They're somewhere near 20 games under .500, but nobody's really counting anymore.  You certainly can't blame Love for his team's lack of success.

Best Analyst: Charles Barkley

How a man who was caught soliciting a prostitute no less than a year ago is comfortable indiscriminately spewing criticism at refs, players, and any and everybody else is a true mystery.  It also makes Barkley the funniest and most entertaining talking head in the sports universe.

Most Repulsive Miami Heat Moment: LeBron's "What Should I Do?" Nike ad

What should you do, LeBron?  You should shut up and let us forget what an ass you are.

Best Zen Master Moments: Phil Jackson says Kobe Bryant is screwing up the Lakers, Phil Jackson says Erik Spoelstra may get fired

Jackson accusses Bryant of breaking up the Lakers' rhythm by shooting too much, then denies it the next day.  Jackson also hints that Pat Riley may have to take over the Heat, then glosses over that in a later interview and praises Spoelstra as a great young coach.  I don't know what he's trying to do, but I gotta trust the Master.

--from Adam

2010 NBA Season Preview: Playoffs and Awards

Red Carpet Section

MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Rookie of the Year: John Wall, Washington Wizards

Sixth Man of the Year: JR Smith, Denver Nuggets

Most Improved Player: Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers

Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks


The Playoffs Baby!

Where I make entirely pre-mature on predictions that are based games which exist only in my mind, let's do it!!

Finals Remix Edition - Lakers vs. Celtics

There is greater depth in the West, so each round will be a battle for the Lakers.  The Lakers will be a visible notch better than any other Western team, but they tend to let teams hang around and they will be tested.

While the Celtics should have an easy first round, the sledding will get real tough facing the Magic and Heat in consecutive rounds.  The salty veteran Celtics will ultimately relish being underdogs to the self-indulgent Heat.  Depth, defense, and chemistry will get Boston past Miami.

The matchup of Lakers versus Celtics is entirely reliant on health, as both teams are aging, and have key players that have had injury issues.  For the sake of fun, and having a control in this experiment I will assume that both teams are at relative full strength, which means a healthy Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant for LA, and a healthy Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett for Boston.

The layers to this matchup are so many and so juicy that I can hardly wait to see it happen.  Shaq vs Kobe in a Finals matchup between some of the deepest teams the league has seen in the past ten years, the Lakers will be looking to tie Boston with 17 titles for most all time, and Boston is still chirping that LA has never beaten them with their full complement of healthy players (Boston seems to overlook that LA hasn't had a healthy Bynum either time the two have met in the finals).  Bryant will still be the best player in the series, and Pau Gasol will be the second best.  Rajon Rondo though, could reach a new stratosphere this year, and has all the skill to make this Boston team the best in the league.

Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Theo Ratliff replace Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Josh Powell as position substitutes, and represent a huge upgrade in skill, reliability, defense, ball handling, and veteran stability.  Ratliff won't play much if the Gasol-Bynum-Lamar Odom triumvirate is healthy, but he can come in and rebound and challenge shots against any team.  Blake and Barnes are huge additions that could start for a lot of teams, and both understand exactly what their role will be.

Ultimately, I like the Lakers talent more than Boston's by just a pinch.  LA's offseason acquisitions close the defense and toughness edge Boston previously held.  The Lakers will three-peat, and Phil will get his twelfth championship.

Lakers in 7.

NBA Crystal Ball

With busy personal lives and a preseason football overload, we had to take a little break, but now we're back.  Here's Adam's take on what to expect in the 2010-2011 NBA season.

Awards Section: OK, let's dive into the insanely premature awards section where I somehow determine who will have the best NBA Seasons, and then bullheadedly defend my predictions in the face of logic, reason, and other bullheaded people.

MVP: 

1. Kobe Bryant (Winner)- Call me a homer if you will, and you will, but there is a very good rationale for this.  Often the MVP goes to the best player on the best team as long as he is clearly alpha dog for his team, but since in South Beach LeBron James will no longer be "the man," he will not three-peat as MVP.  Kevin Durant will be right there, but his team will likely finish 5-10 wins behind a reloaded Lakers team featuring the healthiest Kobe in years.  In addition, Bryant is finally taking a summer to rest and rehab rather than play international ball.  I see the Laker's as a 60-win team this season; the only other team that may win as many games are the Heat because of their three MVPs.  Also, Kobe may get some votes as a type of lifetime achievement nod.
2. Dwight Howard- I think that the Magic are going to struggle a bit after the emotional damage they endured being ousted easily the last two years by the Lakers and Celtics.  They won't be as good of a team as the past couple years with a declining Vince Carter and an inconsistent Rashard Lewis.  That however, will allow Howard to step into an even larger offensive role, and given what he already does on the boards and defensively, this will be Howard's best ever season.  Aided by the emerging Jameer Nelson, look for Howard to average 24 points, 12 boards, and 3 blocks per game.  Those numbers are MVP worthy, but he will ultimately be held back by his team's lack of success relative to the Lakers and Miami.
3. Kevin Durant- Logic might have this rising superstar earning an MVP next year, but his team will still ultimately hold him back.  They are very talented, but they have holes, especially in the low post.  Though they gave the Lakers problems with their speed, LA has reloaded and gotten healthy.  I think Durant will put up similar numbers to last year, but ultimately will finish behind Kobe and Superman because his team won't take a huge leap.  Russell Westbrook's meteoric rise may also detract from the attention on Durant.
4. Rajon Rondo- The kid controls the pace of the game as well as any point guard and his confidence just broke the meter after this postseason.  He believes he is the best player in basketball and the FIBA experience will help his leadership skills and his jump shot.  If he can start to knock down a consistent 15-20 foot jumper, he will be unstoppable.  Although Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce are declining, they still form a very good supporting cast that will allow Rondo to play ring leader.
5. Derrick Rose- Though he still has some refining to do (ahem, jump shot) he is getting better every second and is absolutely impossible to keep out of the lane.  The addition of Carlos Boozer will make this team leagues better in the half court.  Other Jazz imports Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer will provide the penetrating Rose with great kickout options, and Brewer will be an excellent open-court athlete for Rose to play with.  Taj Gibson is an emerging talent at forward, and although people are expecting way too much from Joakim Noah, both are very nice fits for this team.

Honorable Mention:

Lebron James- It's called Most Valuable Player.  LeBron may be the best talent in the league, but if he was injured for the year, Wade and Bosh would still have this team in the top-5 of the East.

Deron Williams- I love his game and his efficiency, but I am not sure Al Jefferson is enough to replace the production of Boozer, Korver, Wesley Matthews, and Brewer.  This leaves Williams a bit short in the win column to really challenge for this award.

Amare Stoudemire- While the Knicks will not be title threats, Amare will be the focal point of an offensive system that always scores points, and finally has some personnel (Ray Felton, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph, Danilo Gallinari) that can instill fear into opponents.

Carmelo Anthony- He will score close to 30 a game, as usual, but his performance in this race depends on how well his up-and-down team performs.

Dwyane Wade- Read "LeBron James."

Title Contenders:

LA Lakers- Hell, they have won the West three consecutive years and the NBA Championship the last two.  Their weaknesses last year were a lack of health and a shaky bench.  Every Laker besides Lamar Odom is recuperating this summer and should be at full strength to start the season.  Also, this team will likely take the approach of coasting through the regular season to make sure guys are rested and healthy for the postseason.  Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and the re-signed Shannon Brown will join Lamar Odom to create an experienced, talented, versatile, and solid bench crew.  All these players could start for other teams, and they all have postseason—some even Championship—experience.  Look for Kobe, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and Derek Fisher to receive a few less minutes per game to keep them extra fresh.  LA is now the deepest team in hoops, and along with Miami, is also the most talented. 

Miami Heat- Everyone is curious about how this is going to work.  Fortunately, this team will be able to coast through the regular season on talent while they are still figuring out roles and establishing chemistry.  In terms of top level talent, no team beats the Heat, but questions remain about how strong they will be on the boards and how well their supporting cast will perform over the course of a full season and a long playoff run.  They may rack up 60-65 regular season wins overwhelming teams with their offensive firepower, but in the playoffs, teams like the Celtics, Magic, and Bulls will challenge the Heat's weaknesses: inside strength, depth, and chemistry.  I really hope we get to see Boston vs. the Heat in the Easter Conference Final; that would be a wonderful matchup. 

Boston- It's funny that the minute the Lakers won the title people were claiming the Celtics' window had closed.  I don't believe that for one second.  Rondo is going to be a superstar and the big three now plays a complementary role to him.  Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal (no relation) will provide production in the paint as they split time at center and wait for Kendrick Perkins to return from injury.  My worry is that once Perkins does come back, how do the C's split time between Big Baby, KG, Jermaine O'Neal, Shaq, and Perkins?  The latter three are essentially variations of the same player, so somebody is going to be the odd man out, and there is a huge amount of ego on this team.  Still, Boston has Doc Rivers, a great system, and lots of talent.  This team will be right there again. 

Dallas Mavericks- Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler give the Mavs power, length, and athleticism like they have never had at center during the Dirk Nowitzki era.  They will need those erasers at the basket as Jason Kidd and Dirk are another year older.  Nowitski and Caron Butler form a very good 1-2 scoring punch assisted by a host of very nice complementary scorers in Shawn Marion, Roddy Beaubois, and Jason Terry.  The issues with Dallas again will be mental toughness, defense, and if their whole can be greater than the sum of their impressive parts. 

Oklahoma City/Orlando Magic:  I know I'm hedging, but these teams seem so close to me.

The Thunder have two guys in Westbrook and Durant that can both be top-10 players in the league within a year (Durant already is).  Jeff Green is a very good, steady player in a Lamar Odom mold, and James Harden is going to be a very good all-around player who can score twenty when he needs to.  Cole Aldrich helps their size problem, but they still don't have a go-to pivot option, and they are still undersized overall.

The Magic are only this high because Dwight Howard is such a difficult matchup for anybody in the league.  He is bigger, stronger, and more athletic than any other center and commands unusual attention.  Nelson is not a star but he is a good player.  Lewis is making far too much money but does shoot the three well.  Carter will score the ball but is a defensive liability.  Marcin Gortat should get more time playing alongside Howard.  All in all, the Magic have done nothing to make me think they are ready to take the next step, but Howard will keep them an elite team.  If they can deal for Chris Paul though, I will have to seriously reassess.