Thursday, May 23, 2013
Information
Just to let everyone know I will be out of the country for a few weeks so I will not be making a post for a while. My apologies for not getting a post out this week. Also comments are now open to everyone! Thank you everyone who has been reading.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Why did the Thunder lose the series?
I watched the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the Memphis Grizzlies in game five of the Western Conference semi-finals. And coming into the playoffs I thought for sure it would be the Thunder vs. the Miami Heat again. However things did no play out well for the Thunder in this series, and there were multiple things that played into there loss.
One Major reason for the loss was obviously not being able to have Russell Westbrook. Most of the flack that Westbrook revives should never be brought up. Westbrook is one of the leagues leading scorers, this season his assists were higher then ever before, and he is one of the leagues best rebounding point guards. Not to mention that the team had not played a game without Westbrook in 5 seasons because he has never been hurt!!! To lose a offensive facilitator like that in a team can be crushing. You can compare it to the Bulls and Rose situation. The team had some really rough games without him for a while but still competed fairly well it took the whole team about half a season though to get the good rhythm going to win consistently without Rose. The Thunder had to learn to deal with it during the playoffs, instantly! Having to rely on second year man Reggie Jackson to play starters minutes, who had only played in the playoffs at all in the previous series was just to much of a down grade. Another thing about Westbrook is he could have an explosive night if needed to if Durant had a slow night getting going.
The second big thing I think was no James Harden. The OKC team is not the same team at all without James Harden. James Harden was an instant scorer, great passer, foul drawer, and a huge energy builder for the Thunder. James Harden was that third player that could be hot any night and could play however the Thunder needed them that night. Kevin Martin is a good scorer, not as good a passer, poor defender, and does not bring the fire into an arena like James Harden did. James Hardens presence made a team better even I he wasn't playing great, Kevin Martin isn't like that at all.
The last major reason for the Thunders loss of the series and especially Game 5 was how the Thunder and Kevin Durant approached the game. The team was so worried about the loss of a star player in Westbrook that they put ALL of the pressure on Kevin Durant. Durant played rushed and a forceful game style and didn't let the plays come to him as they should. If the team would have played a similar play style as if they had Westbrook and play up tempo, fast, and hard, then I think Kevin Durant plays tremendously better and he doesn't end up shooting
5-21 in his last game of the season. Also if Kevin Durant did not just hold the ball and take tough shots, then the ball would be moving and getting everyone into a groove so that if Durant does have an off night some other players would be able to step up.
All in all though even with the Thunder not having Westbrook, not having another go to guy off the bench, and some slow play from Durant and the whole team for that matter, they were close in every single game. This showed the caliber of the team and if they had one of the three big issues the series could have been so much different! Excited to see the future of this franchise.
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One Major reason for the loss was obviously not being able to have Russell Westbrook. Most of the flack that Westbrook revives should never be brought up. Westbrook is one of the leagues leading scorers, this season his assists were higher then ever before, and he is one of the leagues best rebounding point guards. Not to mention that the team had not played a game without Westbrook in 5 seasons because he has never been hurt!!! To lose a offensive facilitator like that in a team can be crushing. You can compare it to the Bulls and Rose situation. The team had some really rough games without him for a while but still competed fairly well it took the whole team about half a season though to get the good rhythm going to win consistently without Rose. The Thunder had to learn to deal with it during the playoffs, instantly! Having to rely on second year man Reggie Jackson to play starters minutes, who had only played in the playoffs at all in the previous series was just to much of a down grade. Another thing about Westbrook is he could have an explosive night if needed to if Durant had a slow night getting going.
The second big thing I think was no James Harden. The OKC team is not the same team at all without James Harden. James Harden was an instant scorer, great passer, foul drawer, and a huge energy builder for the Thunder. James Harden was that third player that could be hot any night and could play however the Thunder needed them that night. Kevin Martin is a good scorer, not as good a passer, poor defender, and does not bring the fire into an arena like James Harden did. James Hardens presence made a team better even I he wasn't playing great, Kevin Martin isn't like that at all.
The last major reason for the Thunders loss of the series and especially Game 5 was how the Thunder and Kevin Durant approached the game. The team was so worried about the loss of a star player in Westbrook that they put ALL of the pressure on Kevin Durant. Durant played rushed and a forceful game style and didn't let the plays come to him as they should. If the team would have played a similar play style as if they had Westbrook and play up tempo, fast, and hard, then I think Kevin Durant plays tremendously better and he doesn't end up shooting
5-21 in his last game of the season. Also if Kevin Durant did not just hold the ball and take tough shots, then the ball would be moving and getting everyone into a groove so that if Durant does have an off night some other players would be able to step up.
All in all though even with the Thunder not having Westbrook, not having another go to guy off the bench, and some slow play from Durant and the whole team for that matter, they were close in every single game. This showed the caliber of the team and if they had one of the three big issues the series could have been so much different! Excited to see the future of this franchise.
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Monday, May 6, 2013
The top free agents still available in the NFL.
The best free agents are an extremely interesting group, all of these players were starters in their last season and did tremendous jobs for the most part. They are almost on the older side of the NFL, but there are teams that could use the consistent play and leadership abilities of these players
Dwight Freeney DE
A pass rusher, a consistent pass rusher. Yes his numbers have dipped in the last two years just a little with 8 sacks in 2011 and 5 sacks in 2012 but he went through the same thing when he had 5 in 2006 and 3.5 in 2007 but then came back with 3 seasons in a row with at least 10 sacks in a season. He is a good player and a leader and should be on a team in 2013.
John Abraham DE
The best Defensive Lineman that was even in the free agency! He is so consistent and is one of the best tackling lineman in he league. Always high in the sacks and is an amazing leader on the line. He also is very healthy for his age. He has only missed 2 games in the last 6 seasons. He is amazing at putting up the numbers and should be on a team in 2013 leading a team in pass rushing and stopping the run.
Kyle Vanden Bosch DE
A very good run defensive end grabbing a lot of tackles. He is not as good a pass rusher but he never really had to be. For all of the teams that could use a boost on the run defense could use Vanden Bosch for a good pick up.
Michael Turner RB
He is a running back that gets bashed for no reason at all. He had two seasons with over 1000 yards in 2010 and 2011 and had 800 in a season with almost 100 less caries ten the previous two years. He is a great running back that gets undo flack. All in all I think that he can be someone's running back that shred carries and gets the job done, not to mention that he still has had double digit touchdowns in the last 5 seasons.
Ahmad Bradshaw RB
Bradshaw is a funny player to deal with because he is a good running back back but he has been injured in the last two seasons. He is a running back that wants to he the touchdowns and he is a strong guy with a great running back mentality. He is a great guy to add to a duel running back system so he doesn't have to carry the whole load, which makes me wonder why the giants didn't keep him to carry the load with David Wilson.
Brandon Lloyd WR
Lloyd is the best unrestricted wide receiver left available. He is they type of guy that you can make your #1 or #2 guy and he would be ok with it. He plays wherever you want him to play and he just wants to make a team improve and play good football.
Dallas Clark TE
The tight end is becoming one of the most useful positions in football and Clark could be an upgrade on a lot of teams and help pull in some more offense for a team. He hasn't put up monster numbers but he is consistent and could have a Heath Miller type of season and just have a tremendous year, if he gets the right quarterback and they get a Rhythm going.
Brian Urlacher MLB
Urlacher should be picked up by a team purely on the fact of his leadership abilities. He would be an amazing player to have on the team to help guide a younger MLB into how to read the game and make plays. Not to mention he still puts up top tier stats for a MLB. Not to mention other names like Ray Lewis and London Fletcher both older middle linebackers who have/are great in there "older" age.
Takeo Spikes MLB
Spikes is a pure ball of energy! He is not as over all talented as other players but he is a passionate player. Spikes should be on a team that runs a 3-4 defense so he can be the #2 MLB and be on the field when the team needs him to be.
Ronde Barber S
Such a sad scene here because Ronde does not belong in a jersey that does not say Tampa Bay on it. But saying that I think he is one of those safeties that is just a smart player. He still puts up great numbers, improving his overall tackle numbers then the past years and still grabbing 4 interceptions. He is a playmaker through and through. No doubt in my mind that he can help bring improvement to a defensive backfield.
Charles Woodson DB
My favorite player in all of free agency. He such an amazing defensive back. He is the king of passes defended, because he is so good at making plays on the ball. And he grabs his fair share of interceptions. All in all this guy is just what you want in a Cornerback or Safety to just get to the ball as it is in the air. If he is not on a team in this next year the NFL has fallen to an outlandish unspoken rule that age ends production and it will be a very sad time for the league.
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Dwight Freeney DE
A pass rusher, a consistent pass rusher. Yes his numbers have dipped in the last two years just a little with 8 sacks in 2011 and 5 sacks in 2012 but he went through the same thing when he had 5 in 2006 and 3.5 in 2007 but then came back with 3 seasons in a row with at least 10 sacks in a season. He is a good player and a leader and should be on a team in 2013.
John Abraham DE
The best Defensive Lineman that was even in the free agency! He is so consistent and is one of the best tackling lineman in he league. Always high in the sacks and is an amazing leader on the line. He also is very healthy for his age. He has only missed 2 games in the last 6 seasons. He is amazing at putting up the numbers and should be on a team in 2013 leading a team in pass rushing and stopping the run.
Kyle Vanden Bosch DE
A very good run defensive end grabbing a lot of tackles. He is not as good a pass rusher but he never really had to be. For all of the teams that could use a boost on the run defense could use Vanden Bosch for a good pick up.
Michael Turner RB
He is a running back that gets bashed for no reason at all. He had two seasons with over 1000 yards in 2010 and 2011 and had 800 in a season with almost 100 less caries ten the previous two years. He is a great running back that gets undo flack. All in all I think that he can be someone's running back that shred carries and gets the job done, not to mention that he still has had double digit touchdowns in the last 5 seasons.
Ahmad Bradshaw RB
Bradshaw is a funny player to deal with because he is a good running back back but he has been injured in the last two seasons. He is a running back that wants to he the touchdowns and he is a strong guy with a great running back mentality. He is a great guy to add to a duel running back system so he doesn't have to carry the whole load, which makes me wonder why the giants didn't keep him to carry the load with David Wilson.
Brandon Lloyd WR
Lloyd is the best unrestricted wide receiver left available. He is they type of guy that you can make your #1 or #2 guy and he would be ok with it. He plays wherever you want him to play and he just wants to make a team improve and play good football.
Dallas Clark TE
The tight end is becoming one of the most useful positions in football and Clark could be an upgrade on a lot of teams and help pull in some more offense for a team. He hasn't put up monster numbers but he is consistent and could have a Heath Miller type of season and just have a tremendous year, if he gets the right quarterback and they get a Rhythm going.
Brian Urlacher MLB
Urlacher should be picked up by a team purely on the fact of his leadership abilities. He would be an amazing player to have on the team to help guide a younger MLB into how to read the game and make plays. Not to mention he still puts up top tier stats for a MLB. Not to mention other names like Ray Lewis and London Fletcher both older middle linebackers who have/are great in there "older" age.
Takeo Spikes MLB
Spikes is a pure ball of energy! He is not as over all talented as other players but he is a passionate player. Spikes should be on a team that runs a 3-4 defense so he can be the #2 MLB and be on the field when the team needs him to be.
Ronde Barber S
Such a sad scene here because Ronde does not belong in a jersey that does not say Tampa Bay on it. But saying that I think he is one of those safeties that is just a smart player. He still puts up great numbers, improving his overall tackle numbers then the past years and still grabbing 4 interceptions. He is a playmaker through and through. No doubt in my mind that he can help bring improvement to a defensive backfield.
Charles Woodson DB
My favorite player in all of free agency. He such an amazing defensive back. He is the king of passes defended, because he is so good at making plays on the ball. And he grabs his fair share of interceptions. All in all this guy is just what you want in a Cornerback or Safety to just get to the ball as it is in the air. If he is not on a team in this next year the NFL has fallen to an outlandish unspoken rule that age ends production and it will be a very sad time for the league.
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