Week 5 of the NFL season is now a wrap, and that means that every team has played at least four games, and that means that the season is technically and officially a fourth of the way completed. Let's see how things have shaken out as we round the quarter mile marker, shall we?
This isn't even debatable. Donovan McNabb is playing the best football out of anyone in the NFL right now. Expectations weren't exactly soaring for the Eagles or McNabb heading into the season, and yet you could make the case that there isn't a team in the NFL playing better than the Eagles. Throw out one quarter in the Meadowlands, and the Eagles are 5-0 and right there in discussions with the Bears as the best team in football.
McNabb is the reason the Eagles are playing the way they are: He's played virtually mistake free football in the Eagle's pass happy offense - no small feat, considering defenses know the Eagles are going to pass the majority of the time and no one on the Eagle's receiving corps is going to a Pro Bowl anytime soon. He's been accurate from the pocket, and scrambled only when he's really needed to - really, his decision making in regards to tucking the ball and running has really been flawless. And his stoic, unshakable, borderline too-cool leadership skills have the Eagles as confident as any team in the NFL right now. Statistically, he's been absolutely dominant - his 1602 pass yards are nearly 300 more than anyone else in the NFL and his 11 pass TDs and 14 total TDs are tops in the NFL. Plus his fantasy numbers are ridiculous; if he's not leading your league in total points, well...find a new league. Throw in the fact that he torched Dallas and by extension the man who successfully destroyed his team a year ago, and there isn't too much Donnie Mac hasn't done through five weeks.
McNabb still has to shake that "chokes in the clutch" moniker, but his 3 TD, 350+ pass yards performance against Dallas in a game as highly promoted as at least a playoff game should help to silence the critics - for now. Think of this way: Tom Brady excluded, is there a QB you'd rather have under center for your team? Palmer is a turnover machine, Manning is a notorious choke artist, Grossman is still too young and unpredictable. No, Donnie Mac is your man. He's the MVP in a landslide.
Least Valuable Player
Ahmad Carroll. When you are let go by the Packers because you can't cover anyone, that's it. There's really no worse fate, is there? Maybe an o-lineman cut by the Texans. When the group who is the absolute worst in its profession says "you aren't good enough, not even as a backup," well, then...you really aren't good enough. The Packers don't even think highly enough of him to use him as a backup! That's just mind-boggling.
What's the real life equivalent of this? The Sports Reporters kicking you out? Getting bumped off your local sports station for the "Boom Goes the Dynamite" Guy?
Most Sickening Injury
Depends on your perspective: as a fantasy owner, hearing the news that Shaun Alexander had succumbed to the Madden Curse had to feel like a roller coaster bottoming out - only for going on six weeks now. In real life, though, Chris Simms getting his spleen destroyed would qualify as your winner in pretty much any year in which Joe Theisman didn't have his career ended.
Rookie of the Year
Tough one. Real tough. In a close decision, I'm going to have to give it to Mario Williams. He's really played extremely...sike! Ah, that'll never get old. You really thought I was going to try to make a case for him, didn't you?
Through five weeks, I'll give the nod to Bush. His presence alone makes the Saints offense completely different. He has to be accounted for at all times. I have no first hand knowledge of this (somewhat surprisingly, not too may NFL teams have left their scouting reports laying on my couch), but I would imagine defenses are changed and geared around him much the same way team's handle Ron Mexico. When you can change a game just by being on the field, that's saying something. By simply lining up - either in the backfield, the slot, or a wideout - he's made the passing game easier on Drew Brees (not to mention Marques Colston, who we will get to later).
Bush has a Saints team no one expected much out of at 4-1; Maroney has helped lead the Pats to a 4-1 record as well. But c'mon, its the Pats. He has to be good, doesn't he? In a close one, Reggie gets the hardware.
Getting benched for Joey Harrington. Yea, sure, Culpepper is hurt or whatever, but I'm not sold that that is the sole reason he's watching from the sideline. His play has been atrocious, especially considering the weapons he has around him. I'm curious if he is really hurt or if he is just suffering from David Carr Syndrome (crappy lines regularly gets you killed; shatters any remaining confidence to take more than a three-step drop). But the fact remains, the spastic Joey Harrington took his job. And that's exactly what Harrington is, a giant spaz. He's like a five year old who just sucked down a case of pixie sticks. Calm down, Joey. That's neat you got a uniform and everything; we see you. Sheesh.
Coach of the Year
Art Shell. Ah man, that one will never get old either.
Through five weeks, this award belongs to Sean Payton, although I'm willing to listen to arguments for a handful of other coaches. Payton inherited a team that was in complete disarray after last season. Granted, they got rid of Aaron Brooks and the Katrina tragedy is now somehow benefiting them (which is insane in its own right), but Peyton has the newly thrown together Saints off to a 4-1 start.
Think about it: his two best players are rookies: Bush and Colston. They signed a quarterback that they weren't even sure was going to be able to throw on opening day. He's managed the potential cat-fight between Deuce and Bush immaculately (haven't heard a peep out of either one of them). And can you name one player on their defense? I'm serious, off the top of your head, name one. The only one I can think of is Scott Fujita, and that's only because Joe Theisman called him Scott Fajita on national television (I really, really wish I was making that up). Oh, and Mike McKenzie, but really only because of his hair.
Now, they haven't exactly knocked off the NFL's elite, but they did shut down Atlanta, which no one else has been able to do this year. The fact that the entire nation is cheering for them may help, but it also puts a level of attention on the Saints that no other team has to deal with. All told, I'd say Payton has handled an unprecedented situation with aplomb (I really like that word, and I hope to use it again someday).
Tom Coughlin. When two of your best three players, in a nine-month span, say the other team straight up outcoached you, something isn't right there. Shockey's comments were especially alarming, because he said the Seahawks were in defenses the Gaints had never seen before. NFL coaches tend to pride themselves on staying in the office until 4 in the morning, pouring meticulously over game tape, so that they know exactly what is coming every week? Having zero social life and working 25-hour days are sort of a badge of honor for people in this line of work, correct? So not only did Shockey say the other coach did a much better job, he made Coughlin look like an absolute jackass to all of his peers and called out his work ethic as well. This can't end well. Man I'm pumped.
His old-school disciplinarian shtick seems to be wearing thin, too. I have no problem with discipline, but it seems like Coughlin is a jerk just because he's in charge; there doesn't seem to be a well thought out reason behind his actions. The Giants just don't seem motivated to play for him; the Giants don't even start to try until the second half. If Coughlin is coaching the Giants at this time next year, I'll be quite stunned.
On a personal note, Coughlin has this annoying habit, after every questionable call or poor decision by one of his players, to throw his hands up in the air and make a face like Jeremy Shockey just farted in his face. Plus, he's usually screaming something to the effect of "Ahhh, what the hell do ya mean?!?! C'mon...No! No way! Ahhh!" That's annoying as hell to watch, I can't even imagine seeing it everyday in practice and film sessions. Maybe Shannon Sharpe had it right last year when he said "I'd rather die in an abandoned building and not have my family know what happened to me than play for this guy."
(On a random note that has nothing to do with Tom Coughlin, Mark Schlereth just said that if the Steelers lose this week, they are done and you can "put a stamp on them." Why would we do that? So we can mail them somewhere? Don't you mean "put a fork in them," Mark?)
Several worthy candidates here: Greg Jennings from the Pack, Jericho Cotchery of the Jets, Mike Furrey with the Lions, but I'm giving this to Saints rookie Marques Colston. The seventh-round pick out of Hofstra is 6th in the league in total recieving yards and his three touchdowns are just one off the league lead. He seems to be Drew Brees' favorite target, and the main reason the Saints felt comfortable trading away Dante Stallworth. Also, I didn't think the Saints had won enough awards yet.
My question is this: how do guys this good fall this far in the draft? Colston came in and producred right away. No one in the NFL saw this potential? Not even a hint? I think the NFL needs to reevaluate its evaluation process.
Honorable mention to Bernard Berrian. Five plays of 40+ yards. As Kenny Maybe would say, "But not all in one game, that would be a record or something." But at least I'd heard of Berrian before. Colston, I mean, Where they hell did he come from? A little place I like to call The Hof.
The Jumping in the Pool and Getting Wet Award.
Terrell Owens blowing up in the sideline against the Eagles. Well, it wasn't really a blowup, but he did scream "Why am I even here?!" and "Are you fucking kidding me?!" Mild, for T.O.'s standards for sure, but I mean...we all know what's coming here, don't we? I, for one, am so excited for it I can barely sit still. I feel like its Christmas, except I'm not sure when its coming.
Nothing will top last year - that is like the Citizen Kane of destroying a team - but T.O. is gonna lose it at some point this year. But with Owens casually throwing Bledsoe under the bus, it's going to happen soon. Plus, the Eagles showed how to completely dismantle Bledsoe - not that it was the world's biggest secret, but still - when they pressured the hell out of him up the middle. Not everyone has the talent to do that, but if you can, Dallas is screwed. Except more warbling passes in TO's direction that are easily picked off. And if they switch over to Romo, even better. Throw in Bill Parcels and Jerry Jones, and this is the perfect storm.
Comeback Player of the Year
See Hernia, Sports and/or McNabb, Donovan and/or Player, Most Valuable.
Biggest Home Field Advantage
I was reading somewhere, I forget where now, that Seattle - with all the claims that they pump in fan noise - is the only team in the NFL with a distinct homefield advantage. How ridiculous is that? Have you seen a single game played in New Orleans? The energy in that place is ridiculous. The Saints are basically up a touchdown before the game even starts, and they may as well have Katrina herself playing defense for them. I would go as far as to say that no team in the history of the NFL has had a bigger homefield advantage than the Saints. Now, can the fans keep that up all year? Maybe not, but I wouldn't bet against them.
(Before writing this, I had no idea how much I loved the Saints. I don't even think I like them this much, really...but I have no way to account for me basically turning this into a Saints love-fest. I would apologize, but I think all those Saints really should win those awards. Trust me, I'm at a loss as much as you.)
Teams with athletic QBs running the option from the shotgun. Namely, Atlanta and Tennessee. It might be working right now (for Tennessee, I am using "work" fairly loosely), but sooner or later, both Vick and Vince Young are going to take some vicious shots that are going to knock them out for a game - or possibly longer.
If you are going to run the option in the NFL, you have to do it with a glorified running back playing QB. You can't put your franchise QB in harms way that often and that regularly. Everyone knows this, even the league office. (Why do you think quarterbacks are protected the way they are? I mean, those alleged roughing the passer calls are shameless.) Vick is already a walking emergency room waiting to happen. VY's been doing it since college, but not with these lighting quick maniacs coming out of nowhere. If either of these teams keep this up, its going to end badly.
Sure, its fun as hell seeing Vick and VY in open space. And neither of them can really throw the ball, so watching them in the pocket is like slamming your head against a wall...you know what? Run the option.
Trend That Needs to Continue
The Bears and/or the Colts need to keep winning. Preferably the Bears, but I'll take the Colts if it comes down to it. One of those two needs - needs - to go undefeated this season and then win the Super Bowl, if only so that those jackasses from the '72 Dolphins can't get together and pop their champagne bottles. That tradition gets under my skin like you few other things.
They are basically the equivalent of those losers who were good in high school and spend the next 40 years sitting on the same bar stool reliving the glory days with the same group of losers and anyone unlucky enough to accidentally sit next to them. Shut up; we are aware you used to be good, and we really respect and admire the accomplishment. Now go away. Please.
It is fairly improbable that either team runs their record to 16-0, but I can hope, can't I? The Colts, although they seem to be barely hanging on this year, are regular season Adonises, but they'll probably blow it in the playoffs. Damnit. The Bears, with that D, the new explosive offense...they at least have the capabilities to make it interesting.
You'd be hard pressed to find a team with a more favorable schedule. Since they still have their bye upcoming, the Bears need to win 11 straight games. Nine of those games, the Bears could probably win without scoring an offensive touchdown: @ Arizona, San Fran, Miami, @ NYJ, Minny, @ St. Louis, Tampa Bay, @ Detroit, Green Bay. That's nine teams that almost certainly aren't making the playoffs. Only the Vikings and the Rams even have a winning record at this point.
Two games stick out as possible pitfalls: at the Giants in Week 10 and at New England in Week 12. As long as they come to play early against the Giants, I don't see a problem there. That New England game is scary, though. Both teams are accustomed to playing in cold climates, though, so NE loses that advantage. It'll be a good game, that's for sure.
Could this be the season one team goes winless (the Raiiiiiidas) and one team goes undefeated? We shall see, we shall see...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The NFL is One-Fourth Over. Let's Hand Out Some Hardware.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The 'Rasheed Wallace' Rule is Now in Effect
I'm pretty sure the NBA would prefer suit-wearing robots to actual real-life players.
First the L hits the players with The Dress Code - which they had every right to do, but still. Then their over-the-top suspension in last year's playoffs left more than a few people scratching their heads (I still don't get how Reggie Evans can grab some one's cookies and not get suspended). Now they are threatening the players with technicals if, after a questionable call, they "curse, throw their hands up, or make other gestures that show disgust."
Here's a suggestion for the NBA, if they are sick of player's reactions after "questionable" calls: hire some refs who don't suck. Hire some refs who don't want to dominate the games, and let the player's play. And do something to dispel the increasingly strong belief that the NBA wants certain teams to do well at the expense of others (also known as "the NBA rigs its games"). While you're at it, quit giving stars all the calls - if its a foul, call it. If it isn't, don't. Eliminate the star treatment.
You wonder why players flip out all the time. They're playing in a system that is in a large part rigged against them. If you aren't a "star," you aren't getting the call. So basically 99% of the league walks into a game knowing they are already getting the short end of the stick. The league creates an unfair environment, and is now going to punish the players for reacting to that environment. Seems logical.
Imagine guarding Dwyane Wade, for example? Even if you are getting a fair shake, its a damn near impossible task. Throw in the fact that if you so much as sneeze in his direction, you are getting rung up and it becomes an exercise in futility. I'd say throwing your hands in the air once or twice a game is more than acceptable.
You know what this rule is going to do? Its going to turn the NBA into the biggest group of smartasses ever. Now that they can't flip out, they're going to go in the complete opposite direction. Rasheed Wallace - who thinks this rule is aimed directly at him (not so, probably, but he's certainly a catalyst) - is going to plaster a huge fake smile on his face and obnoxiously clap 'til his hands bleed. How many times do you think he'll slap a ref on the ass and give him the old "good job, ref, keep it up" routine? I'm setting the over under at 164.5 for the season.
That said, even in a perfect system, players are going to bitch and whine. But you know what? Its really just part of the game and its something that could never, ever be stopped. These are spur of the moment, unplanned, spontaneous reactions. You really can't help it. Its the same on every level of basketball - pros, international, college, high school - hell, watch some of the over 40 guys in summer league games. You'd think the Larry O'Brien trophy was on the line.
There's really nothing you can do about it. So why not do this: make the technical worth something. Right now, it's possession and a free throw. So if you're playing defense, foul someone, and then flip out, basically your opponent gets to shoot a free throw and then keep playing. Yea, a point's a point, but c'mon...it doesn't even count as a personal. Why not give the team two free throws - or at least a one-and-one (that would be fun, wouldn't it?) - and count it as a personal?
This would have an effect on the bigger stuff, I think. The major meltdowns, the relentless bickering, the cursing, the pushing. Stuff that really can be helped - premeditated stuff. Throwing your hands up in the air is about as planned as actually committing the foul you were just whistled for. Stalking a ref up and down the sideline while cursing out his (or her - sorry, Violet) mother is planned - T 'em up.
I really, really think the NBA is getting to uptight about things. I understand it wants to eliminate stuff "that has no place in basketball," but I really think they are going to far - almost, maybe even tampering with the competitve edge you need to play with at the highest level. I'm not saying you can't compete without reacting after a call - you can, obviously - but if a player has to think about how he's going to react to every foul call, now he's not concentating on the task at hand. And if you're guarding Dwyane Wade, that's hard enough as it is.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Who to Cheer For
Unless "your" team is the Tigers, A's, Mets or Cardinals, you really don't care who wins the World Series. So I would imagine that after Tommy Lasorda coaxes you out of your kitchen cabinets, you're going to have to pick a team to root for.
(How dumb are those commercials by the way? You are either gonna watch the playoffs or you aren't - if you pay attention to baseball at all, you know when they are on. All those commercials do is piss off every fan who's team isn't in the playoffs. Especially the Red Sox one where the girl says "I'm a Yankee fan." If anything, those spots are making less people watch playoff baseball, if only because they smashed their TV the first time they saw them. Let's just let whoever does the commercials for Nextel handle all the commercials from now on and be done with it, alright?)
You can really use anything you want to decide what team to cheer for: who has the prettiest colors, your favorite player plays for them, who's mascot would win in a fight - but if you aren't emotionally attached to any team, you should really just go by this: How cool would it be if Team X won the World Series?
Here, then, is a little breakdown of just how cool it would be. Without further ado...
The Tony LaRussa factor alone relegates them to fourth place on the list. LaRussa might be a hell of a guy - he probably is, actually. But he just looks like that idiot in the bar with four buttons undone on his shirt and three skinny gold chains around his neck that unabashedly hits on all the 25 year olds in sight. He ends up giving the whole place a weird vibe - he's just frustrating to have around. Same with him on TV: the sooner I don't have to see close ups off his greasy black hair, the better.
Besides LaRussa, I'm not seeing anyone all that compelling to cheer for. Eckstein looks like he's 12, so I guess you could cheer for the team with a Little Leaguer playing shortstop. Edmonds is a cool dude to watch play - gives up his body making some sick catches. And if you want the opportunity to say "Poo Holes" for as long as possible, well then...this is the team for you. Oh, and they have one of the Molina Brothers, but at this point, who doesn't?
Its not that anyone should cheer against them, I just don't see why you would cheer for them if you didn't have to. I really don't see anyone you can attach yourself to and or story line worth getting wrapped up in. Moving on.
3. The New York Mets
If Pedro doesn't get hurt for the playoffs, then the Mets might be a little higher on this list. Pedro is always good for some snippy, brutally honest quotes that make only kinda make sense and an above average chance we'll get to see him carrying around a midget. Honestly, can you ask for more than that? No, no you can not.
(By the way: DOB - 8/23/58...so he's like 46 years old. And I'm not even buying that. He's at least 55. Why wouldn't he just tell us the truth? It's not like he's some guy defecting from Cuba or something, trying to get a better contract. At this point, I would be even more impressed, wouldn't you?)
And I don't know why, but David Wright and Carlos Beltran just seem like fun guys to cheer for. 'Member when Beltran went like 34 for 35 with 25 home runs for the Stros two years ago? I wouldn't mind seeing him go on a tear like that again.
The Mets lose points for spending alotta money to put this team together, even if they don't have any real pricks on it. Its never any fun when the team with the highest payroll in the playoffs ends up winning it all. They get bonus points for being from New York for the sole reason that it probably pisses off Yankee fans that they aren't even the best team in their own city. (Is that how that works? Do the Yankees hate the Mets? Or are they just another team? Or are they kinda like, "OK well, at least a team from NY won"? Some one explain this to me.)
When a team goes out of its way not to spend money in basbeall - baseball! - you have to cheer for them, right? The whole "Moneyball" thing alone is worth it, I think. Yea, it is. I just decided.
Can you imagine if they actually won the whole thing? I think everyone likes the whole Moneyball theory, but they kind of dismiss it as a cute gimmick that can keep you competitive, but isn't going to win you a World Series. Like, "OK, Oakland, that's adorable how you win games on a budget, but its the playoffs now, so either don't come at all or just do us a favor and lose in the first round, and we'll see you next year. You can pick up your checks at the front desk. Thanks for your time."
If they won, it would really make teams think twice about throwing cash at aging superstars. I really thought Oakland was idiotic for letting Miggy go a few years ago, but now Oakland is in the ALCS, and Baltimore fans are staging "Free the Birds" Nights and walking out en masse on their team. This prove two things, I think: I'm an idiot and Billy Beane is a smarty pants.
All of their guys seem like the kind of player who would go flying after a pop-up, slam into a wall, fall into the dirt - make the catch - and then not even bother to brush the dirt from their uniforms. Hard to cheer against those kind of players. But if the A's won it all, it still wouldn't be as cool as if the Series was won by...
1. The Detroit Tigers
Two things have me convinced the Tigers need to win the World Series: their on-field celebration after winning the ALCS and Jim Leyland.
I didn't see the Tigers celebrate knocking The Biggest Payroll in Sports out of the playoffs live, but I caught some of the highlights later on, and let me be the first to tell you...there aren't too many cooler celebrations in the history of sports. Running out onto the field and spraying champagne on your fans? That's top of the line right there. I was split on whether it would be cooler if Detroit won or Oakland won, but after that celebration, it's not even close.
Say what you will about Detroit, but they sure do get their fans involved. First Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, and now this. Going to a game in Detroit - any game - has potential no other place really has.
Reason No. 2 is Jim Leyland. Is there a more bad ass manager in the majors right now? Remember that tirade he had at the beginning of the year? Remember how the media drilled him for it? Lookin' pretty smart now, isn't it? And I think this pretty much ends the "Are Managers Actually Important" debate once and for all.
Leyland just seems like the guy who knows exactly he right way to do everything and is pissed off that he has to explain it to everyone. He must be some kind of motivator, too. I'd love to play for him.
And Detroit absolutely cleans up in the cool players to cheer for department. Pudge - who doesn't win with him on their team? He's baseball's answer to Robert Horry. Verlander - if you don't think I'm tuning in just to see him hit triple figures on the radar gun, you're nuts. Carlos Guillen, Joel Zumaya, Brandon Inge (yes, I had to look these names up)...these guys just seem fun to watch and cheer for. That closer with the crazy 'stache.
Its one thing to cheer for an underdog in basketball or football, where at least there is a salary cap and some semblance of an even playing field. But in baseball, where the salary structure is so out of whack, its an entirely different thing. Teams in baseball are doormats because they just can't afford to compete - more so in football and hoops, anyways. So its absolutely enjoyable - at least for me - to see someone spend under $100 million and win the World Series.
As long as someone from the AL wins it all this year, that's cool with me.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Week Five Picks
For the rest of the season, there will be four NFL "experts" making their picks in this space. Zero - my college teammate, Pick 'em Page - my high school teammate, and Kilcs, who I've known since high school and he beat me one-on-one once and I didn't talk to him for a week. Anyways, here's their picks with mine. We'll keep a running tally and everything. Whoever has the most wins at the end of the season gets a prize. Which is probably nothing.
Onto the picks...
Buffalo at Chicago (-10.0)
Point23: Chicago. That defense at home won't give up a touchdown, and you won't find anymore more entrenched on the Sexy Rexy Grossman bandwagon than me. Except maybe Zero.
Pick 'em Page: Buffalo's defense is going to surprise people in this game. Could be a let down for the Bears, but they still cover 20-9.
Kilcs: Buffalo. Buffalo went into New England where everyone expected them to get hammered and only lost by two. The defense (starting fo the Psychos this week) is too good to get blown out and Chicago has to comeback to earth eventually?
Cleveland at Carolina (-8.0)
Point23: Carolina. I wish I had more hard-hitting analysis than "Cleveland is bad" and "Carolina is good," but that's about it.
Zero: Cleveland. Browns are young, ‘Thers are old. Tha Soulja makes his daddy proud and one of the Panthers RBs is out for the year. Just a guess.
Pick 'em Page: I just can't take a team that was down 21-3 to the Raiders. Panthers 26-10.
Kilcs: Carolina. I think Carolina's really really good. The pass rush will get to Charlie Frye, who is very turnover prone and Steve Smith will continue his domination of the league.
Detroit at Minnesota (-7.0)
Point23: Detroit. I'm telling you: Minnesoata is not good. Not that Detroit is exactly setting the world on fire, but Roy Williams' 40 points are coming sometime this season. If not, I'll go through a drive through naked.
Zero:Vikings. Simmons says always bet against Martz, no wait, I hate him. Lions in a romp.
Pick 'em Page: Detroit will give the Vikings all they can handle..Vikings run game will wear Lions out in the 2nd half. Vikings 27-24.
Miami at New England (-10.0)
Point23: New England. Last week, New England annihilated a QB coming off knee surgery who is actually having a good year. Now they play one who is single-handedly derailing his franchise. Gulp.
Zero: The Pats. C’mon Coach Saban, give it to Ronnie 35 times, your not gonna win anyway. Do they play the Raydas at all this year?
Pick 'em Page: Late touchdown will be enough for Miami to cover. Patriots 30-22.
Kilcs: Patriots. Speaking of teams that suck, Miami can't beat Houston at home. Now they go to the Patriots who are still pissed that everyone said Miami would win the division instead of them. Joey Harrington get ready.
St. Louis (-3.0) at Green Bay
Point23: Green Bay. Anyone wanna give Favre a little love around here? Anyone? No? Alright, I will. Favre only does bad against teams that force turnovers. STL does not fall into that category. It says here Favre and Greg Jennings recreate Marino and Duper for a night and "upset" the Rams.
Zero: Rams. Lambo field, Shambo field
Pick 'em Page: Shoot out...Packers secondary won't be able to hold up. Rams 31-24.
Kilcs: St. Louis. The offense started to click last week for the Rams and the defense has played well with the exception of last week. I think the Rams are a playoff team and I think Green Bay wins maybe 3-4 games all year.
Point23: You are out of your mind if you pick against NO in that Dome. As Reggie Bush would say, "That was dumb." By the way: Reggie gets his first TD. Mark it down.
Zero: New Orleans. Bruce who? My newest addition Colston goes off on an old Bucs secondary.
Pick 'em Page: Don't bet against the Saints at home this year. Saints 24-14.
Kilcs: New Orleans. CAN YOU CALL THE PLAY!? Gradkowski is starting for the Bucs who have had no semblence of a running game and will have no semblence of a passing game either. Not a good combination and the Saints will still be pumped about playing in the Dome.
Tennessee at Indianapolis (-19.0)
Point23: Indianapolis. Prove me wrong, Vince Young.
Zero: Indy. Or you can root for Peyton Manning's team.
Pick 'em Page: Vinatieri will outscore the Titans offense. Colts 41-10.
Kilcs: Tennessee. Tennessee lost by 31 last week. I don't ever remember seeing an NFL line this big and the Titans are starting VY and the Colts have Manning, but I just can't feel good about laying 19 points. The Colts will by up by 19 @ some point in the game but garbage points will get the cover for the Tits.
Washington at N.Y. Giants (-5.0)
Point23:Washington. The Giants shouldn't even have a win. I'm openly rooting for Jeremey Shockey to throw Tom Coughlin like the little bean bag things refs throw when someone fumbles.
Zero: ‘Skins. If you think I’m picking against Dolomite Jones and the boys, your out of your bufu mind. (No the ghey.) Vote for Santana.
Pick 'em Page: I hate taking the racists to cover in this one, but the Giants will win 23-19.
Kilcs: The Giants are ready to implode. Coughlin's antics have been wearing on the team for years and they just don't like to play for the guy and Washington's catching on to the 700 page play book.
Point23: Kansas City. With Edge useless, the KC D has a field day with Party Boy (Jackas Two is unreal, by the way). Damon Huard's confidence level is through the roof, too. And How crazy is it that Larry Johnson isn't even my main concern?
Zero: Kansas City. Let’s see, they beat the Niners 41-0. It doesn’t look like Matt Leinart is gonna have a good homecoming. On the other hand, Denny Green tightens the noose around his neck a little more.
Pick 'em Page: KC ranks 2nd in the NFL in pass defense. Long day for Leinhart, but they still keep it close. KC 16-14.
Kilcs: I think Arizona has too much talent to be 3.5 point dogs @ home to the Chiefs who are starting one of the Huard brothers. I think Leinhart plays solid and Fitz has a huge day.
N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville (-7.0)
Point23: New York. When Leftwhich learns how to bend his elbow when he throws, maybe I'll pick Jacksonville. I'd pay money to see him throw a fade.
Zero: Jags. I really don’t have anything fun to say about this game other than the fact that both teams wear some shade of green.
Pick 'em Page: Jets offense won't ever get off the ground...Leftwich will throw for 2 scores. Jags 24-13.
Kilcs: Jacksonville is a nasty, physical team. Going up against the yougn Jets O-line, even without Stroud or Wiley, the Jags will be all over Pennington all day and Kevan Barlow, who sucked in SF still sucks.
Oakland at San Francisco (-3.5)
Point23: San Francisco. Here's how bad Oakland is: The Niners just got beat 41-0 by Damon Huard and they are favored by 3.5.
Zero: 49ers. You thought I would pick the Raiders didn’t you? You did. Sucks to be you.
Pick 'em Page: I'd rather watch the Athletics and Giants play two hand touch. A's win 3-2.
Kilcs: Randy joined Jerry's party and doesn't care. Neither does the rest of the team. San Francisco has a bunch of young guys that do care.
Point23: Philly. in a route, too. Donnie Mac has had it up to here with all this TO bullshit, and he's gonna go off. I'm thinkin 4, maybe 5 TDs...easily 300 yards through the air - maybe 400.
Zero: As much as I hate to do this. Cowboys. I have a bad feeling about this. The Eagles are gonna be so geeked to just lay a lick on The Player and get caught up in all the hoopla they they are gonna forget about Terry “Fifth Member of Bone Thugs” Glenn and Drew “Not Ryan Leaf” Bledsoe. I could see Roy Williams decapitating Greg Lewis though.
Pick 'em Page: Eagles will double team Owens, which will open things up for Glenn. Dallas wins on a late field goal, 20-17.
Kilcs: I hate Donovan McNabb (4 tds monday, nobody could tackle him or pussy-footing Greg Lewis?) They haven't beaten anybody all year that's any good and TO and JJ will have good games and Terry, she'll have a good game too. But mainly I just hate Philly.
Pittsburgh at San Diego (-3.5)
Point23: Pittsburgh. The Stees will cover, but they won't win outright. Big Ben and Phil Rivers will keep this one close with TO's against two phenomenal defenses. Time to hit the panic button, Pittsburgh. Sidenote: who has a more embarrassing sack celebration: Merriman's light switch or Larry Foote putting out the cigarette?
Zero: This is even harder for me though. Big Ted likes to play against all those teams that passed over him. Well, this week Phillip Rivers shows why he went to an ACC school and Big Ted did not. The Bolts by a touch. Plus, you know all the Chargers are on that leannnnnnnn.
Pick 'em Page: The champs are coming off a bye and looking at this as a must win. Rivers will be confused early and often with their blitz packages. Steelers 23-16.
Kilcs: SuperBowl champs need a win. Roethlisberger will play better and Cowher's like .750 in primetime games or something pretty crazy. Everybody's counting the Steelers out, but with the strength of their division they know that they have to win and will.I hate Philly.
Baltimore at Denver (-4.0)
Point23: Denver. I hope that was fun last week, Mr. McNair. That Denver D locked up Tom Brady; I'm sure they can concoct some scheme to slow down Steve McNair. Not a blowout, but never really interesting either.
Zero: Ravens stay undefeated on a very, very boring Monday Night game. Can we get one compelling game on Monday night this year. Like a crazy ass shootout or something, which this one obviously won’t be. I hate Ray Lewis, but not as much as Jake Plummer.
Pick 'em Page: Denver has the most underrated defense in the league, only allowing 10.3 ppg. Broncos win this one in a low scoring affair at Mile High, 17-12.
Kilcs: I think MileHigh or Comquest or whatever the hell it's called is a huge home field advantage. Everybody's talking about Ray Lewis (who runs around with murderers, but hated Playmakers) and co. in Baltimore but the best defense in this game is Denver's and Mcnair is out of miracles.
In Praise of the Stiff Arm
You know what move I never understood? The stiff arm.
I always wondered why the defender just didn't grab the arm that was being thrown in his face and swing the ball carrier to the ground. I mean, the point is to get as far away from the defenders as possible, right? So why give the guy trying to tackle you something else to grab onto? It just never seemed like the most well-thought out thing in the world. To me, at least.
I think I failed to take a few things into consideration: First, its pretty damn difficult to tackle someone just by the arm. Dudes in the NFL are kinda strong. And it’s not like the arm is just flailing there, like a towel or Troy Polamalu's hair. It’s stiff, remember? Players using the stiff arm positively crush it against thier would-be tackler's facemask. The where-the-hell-did-that-come-from? jolt alone is worth another five yards. Throw in the fact that no one in the NFL can tackle anyways (Seriously. They can't. Everyone either goes for the big hit and misses entirely or just grabs someone and tries to fall over with them. Wrap up!) and its a pretty effective weapon.
I don't know if I wasn't really paying attention before or no one really used it that much or what, but I thought it was about the second dumbest thing to do in football, right behind throwing a fade from the two-yard line. (That play never, ever, ever works, unless you throw it to Randy Moss, Plaxico Burress, Larry Fitzgerald, Chris Chambers...and that's pretty much it. Maybe a few other guys or if you are playing the Giants. Why just throw it up? If your running game can't get it in from the 2 with 4 chances, you're gonna lose anyways, so I guess it really doesn't matter.)
So, Stiff Arm, I'd just like to say welcome back, or welcome to prominence, or just wutup with a man hug, because after week four, its pretty clear you're gonna be around for a while. I can think of three from the last couple of weeks alone that were just absolutely devastating.
Here's the three I could think of, in order of embarrassment for the defender.
That Colts defender wasn't going to stop that TD anyways, but he still got planted. He just got put flat on his back. If Cotchery (out of no where fantasy star, by the way) stiff arms him at the 10, I think he still gets in the end zone. Cotchery didn't even really have to do it. It was kind of a "I'm going to score and watch this!" thing. Ouch.
Getting up after getting stiff armed...there can't be that many more embarrassing things in football, can there? Maybe Plaxico spiking the ball for the Steelers his rookie season when no one touched him. But not much else. I do not envy No. 41 in the film room Tuesday afternoon. You know it's coming, you know everyone is waiting for it, and you just have to sit there in silence waiting for it, while everyone pretends not to laugh. Hurts Sunday, hurts Tuesday.
Still, I don't feel as bad for him as I do for...
...Michael Adams. This hurts on a few levels. First of all, he got stiff armed by Brian Westbrook, who isn't exactly known for his bruising running style. Second, Westbrook didn't even knock him down. He just kept him at arm's length, like
If you’re Adam, why not dive at his legs or something? He didn't even have to tackle him! Westbrook was tiptoeing the sideline - just give him a little shove and it's all over. That was just a pathetic effort. I think I'm more stunned at Adam's sorry attempt than I am impressed with Westbrook's stiff arm. No wonder the Niners gave up 41 points to Damon Huard.
On a personal note: its not like the Niners really had a chance of winning, but whenever someone on your team gets humiliated like that, it still stings. Throw in the fact that my fantasy opponent had Westbrook that week, and I had McNabb, and I ended up losing a nailbiter...that's a dagger. You know if
Fast forward to 5:40. Its worth it. Trust me.
This...this is just absurd. Maroney absolutely annihilates that guy for the Bengals. (I think Chris Henry found himself a drinking buddy for that night.) Not that I've seen that many, but this is the most devestating stiff arm I've ever witnessed (if you've got better ones - or just other ones - I'd love to see them.) He went down like Maroney ducked his shoulder, Earl Campbell style, and run his ass over.
Maroney stiff armed his so hard, the guy does a complete flip. How do explain that one on the sidelines? What's Marvin Lewis even going to say to him? He just has to walk to the sideline, unbuckle his chin strap in disgust and stand there with his hands on his hips in disbelief, like it was some fluke and he can't begin to comprehend how it happened in the first place.
But he's really thinking to himself, "If Maroney becomes a star (which he will), people are going to be watching that highlight 20 years from now, like that time Barry Sanders turned that poor sap from the Patriots around three times. I am really, really screwed for a really, really long time."
That cornerback for the Packers got cut for getting torched; explain to me why this guy shouldn't be cut for getting truck-sticked like he was on a video game? And if you get cut from the Packers' secondary, that's pretty much it, right? I mean, maybe the Patriots will call for some spot duty in late-December when Troy Brown gets fed up, but the career is pretty much in the tank when the Packers tell you that you can't cover someone.
I'm just geeked for the stiff arm moving up the charts on the Random Sports Moments That No One is Expecting But Are Exciting as Hell List. Its right up there with a an outfielder robbing a home run or an alley-oop from half court. As far as I'm concerned, the more stiff arms, the better.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
WEEK 4 PICKS
Hey, look whats back after a two-week hiatus. Some picks!
Winners in bold.
Indianapolis (-8.5) at NY Jets
If JP Losman and can team up with Roscoe Parrish and Lee Evans to torch the Jets secondary, something is telling me Peyton and Marvin will figure out a way to get it done. The Bills figured out the blue print, the Colts will execute it!
On a side note: can Joseph Addai get it going please? Your fast, aren't you? Teams are freaking back peddling even before the snap. There's no threat of a run at all. You can't crack of 75 yards? And if you think I'm complaining because Shaun Alexander just trashed my fantasy backfield and my lack of foresight as Addai as my No. 3 back, well...you're right.
San Diego (-2.5) at Baltimore
Merriman vs. Lewis? The current GOAT vs. the future GOAT? Could be, could be. Hopefully Merriman can beat a murder rap as well as his mentor, too. Judging by San Diego's recent off the field antics, sounds like that's whats on tap. The Bengals might have the Bolts in quantity, but when it comes to quality, the Bolts are the team to beat. Getting shot four times by an off duty cop - and not haulting? Getting busted for shipping massive quantities of cough syrup to make lean? C'mon! They didn't even do that shit on Playmakers!
Minnesota at Buffalo (pick 'em)
This is the week the wheels come off in Lake Minatonka. I'm just not buying into Minny as a good team. And I think the Bills are on the semi-rise. You know, kinda like the calm before the storm.
Dallas (-10) at Tennessee
Vince Young makes his pro starting debut. The Dallas defense has a collective boner.
San Francisco (+7) at Kansas City
Who the hell would have guessed the Niners would ever be a touchdown favorite at any point during this season? On the road, none the less. This says more about how much KC sucks than how good San Fran is going to be. The offense has a chance to be downright frisky - Alex Smith starting to mature, The Biggest Head in the NFL emerging as a threat in the backfield, Antonio Bryant and Vernon Davis making plays in the passing game. Its not exactly the greatest show on turf, but those are some legitimate weapons, kinda.
New Orleans (+7) at Carolina
Is New Orleans for real? Or did they play two crappy teams and then win on pure emotion last week? I say a little of both. Take NO and the points.
Arizona (+7.5) at Atlanta
Its tough to say which QB played worse last week. Mike Vicked one-hopped more passes than Chuck Knoblock, but Kurt Warner fumbled the game away. Tough call, we'll give the nod to Kurt though. With Warner playing for his starting job, and the NL catching onto Atlanta's little option read play - idn't work so well last week vs. the NO, did it? - it says here The Buzzsaw keeps it close, but the ATL pulls out a close one off the foot of Morten Anderson. Morten then says something like "I remember kicking when the ball was actually made out of pigskin!" and the whole room pretends to laugh. Good times, good times.
Miami (-3.5) at Houston
How the hell is Miami getting over 3 points against anyone? I know Houston sucks, but are they worse than Tennesse? Miami only beat them by 3 - they barely escaped.
Duant Culpepper has been sacked more than anyone in the NFL; Mario Williams hasn't gotten a sack yet. Is this the week Super Mario pops his cherry? I say yes; Houston not only covers, but wins the game outright - big day from David Carr - and the game leads off Sports Center because Culpepper snaps and throws his helmet at Joey Harrington.
Detroit (-5.5) at St Louis
I think the Detroit offense is starting to get it. They aren't going to scre Roy Williams' desired 40 points, but they'll score enough to at least cover. Seems like the type of game where both teams do as much as they can to lose, and whoever messes up last loses. Those games are usually close. I'm taking the points.
New England (-5.5) at Cincinnati
New England either wins a close game, or Cincinnati absolutely blows them out of the water. There's no in between. This is either a Hey, We're Still Really Good Game for the Pats, or a Hey, We're Freakin' Monsters Game for the Bengals. As much as I'd like to see the Pats pull it off, I don't think its happening. Jake Plummer played well against them for God's sake. That's not a good sign. Cincinnati by 2+ touchdowns.
Jacksonville (-3) at Washington
This might be the lowest scoring game of the year. Both of these teams have frustratingly bad offenses. Frustrating because both sides have playmakers: Portis and Santana for the Naturally Indiginious People, Matt Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew for the Jags. For whatever reasons, they can't seem to put points on the board (and by "whatever reasons" I mean their respective QB's. Have you seen Leftwhich throw? He looks like Dontrelle Willis.)
The Jags D will make a couple plays and Mark Brunell will have to actually throw the ball more than four yards down field, which won't be beneficial for the Skins.
Cleveland (-3) at Oakland
Battle of the winless goes to Cleveland. Oakland is so atrocious. I'm just excited to see what stunt Joey Porter pulls. I've never cheered more passionately for a team to fail that I had no vested interest in more than the Raiders. I want them to go 0-16 so, s0 badly. I would be ecstatic. God make this happen.
Seattle (+3.5) at Chicago
With Shaun Alexander, the threat of the run is gone, and I think that's what allowed The Hasslebeck to pass so effectively. That, and Tom Coughlin being having Jeremey Shockey and the Giants completely unprepared. When the Bears face a one-demensional offense - no matter how good that demension is - I think that favors them. Even with all four of those B-list WRs running around.
Sexy Rext will do enough to get the Bears a solid win.
Green Bay (-11) at Philadelphia
If the Philly secondary was healthy, I'd take the Iggles in a heart beat. But they have four guys with nagging injuries; their entire secondary is in tatters. Favre 2.0 seems rejuvenated enough that he can sling it around enough to keep it close.
You know what? Scrap that. The Eagles are going to score on their first 5 possessions. Trailing, the Pack is gonna be forced to throw, and the Philly D line will be living in Green Bay's backfield. That means Favre forcing throws. That means good things for Philly.
Favre can't keep this up all season, can he? Monday Night seems like an appropriate time for the train to come flying off the tracks. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to hearing John Madden defend Favre's 5th pick of the night.
Happy Sunday.
Friday, September 29, 2006
The Ten Best Players in the NBA.
Did you know NBA training camp starts in, like, a week? Totally does. I had no idea. In honor of me not knowing that, here are Point 23's Top 10 Best Players in the League.
Full disclosure: ranking the best ten players in the NBA isn't exactly an original idea, but the inspiration came from Dime Mag's Top 10, via True Hoop. Oh, and Jones on the NBA ranked his, too. And um, Bench Renaldo had one. Whew.
Come on, I'm gonna read all those and not throw my two cents in?
So how are we defining best? Best one-on-one player? Best team player? "If You Were Starting a Team Today...?" Most unstoppable? Best scorer? Best all around player? Most valuable? How 'bout we define it like this: "best." There, that was easy, wasn't it? One thing we won't be doing is using stats, I can tell you that much. You aren't better because you average 29.4 and I average 27.3.
Toughest Omissions: AI, 'Melo, KG, Agent 0, Paul Pierce, CP3, Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Kirk Hinrich (I know, I know...leave me alone). I'm really, really sorry fellas. I still got your backs though (pounds chest twice, points). You know who wasn't tough to leave off? Shaq. If we were making a "Top 10 Greatest Complimentary Players in the NBA," he'd be a lock for No. 1. Onto the list...
The Kings went from an after ran to nearly knocking off the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in the playoffs just by adding him. He's felt all over the court - literally.
For an opponent, there can't be a more frustrating person to play against. He would completely get in your head on defense, that's a given. But on offense, he looks so goofy. He pats the ball rather than dribbling it; he doesn't craddle the ball, he just kind of smacks at it. He's so unorthodox. He's the kind of guy you'd hate giving up 20 points to, more so than a "normal" looking player, if that makes any sense.
The fact that he's a headcase who has a very real chance of doing something that may get him permanently banned is a mild concern yes (and by mild I mean huge), but I think he's worth it.
9. Yao. Silently, the best center in the L. And silently is the key word here, because his lack of a killer instinct is kind if disheartening. There's really no reason he shouldn't score 30 every night. Yea, 30. That said, his skill set is pretty impressive - short jumpers, some over-the-shoulder moves, deft passer (I love deft passers, but why are only passers are deft? Why aren't there any deft shooters? Or deft ballhandlers?) and shot changer around the basket. Besides Shaq, I think he's the only center even worth while.
8. T. Mac. Mr. Sad Guy is the complete package. We're talking ideal circumstances here: his back doesn't go out and he stays happy all season long.
If God was going to design a basketball player, T. Mac is it. Long as hell, athletic as hell, range he doesn't even need. How easy does he make basketball look? Does he even sweat? Remember how Artest seems like the kind of guy you'd be furious to let score 20 on you? T. Mac seems like the kind of guy who could drop 35 on you and you wouldn't even be that mad.
He gets knocked for taking a lot of off balance jumpers, and the fact that he hasn't really won anything yet (that "its nice to be in the second round" comment will forever haunt him), but he is a winner: remember those four 3's in under a minute against San Antionio? Unreal. But still...maybe the reason him and Yao haven't really won anything is because both of them lack that killer instinct. This seems like a big season for the both of them, though. I'll be excited to see big things out of them.
7. Amare. Hey look, its Stevie's teammate. Amare's skills are still pretty raw, I think (all things being relative), but he's so uber-ridiculously-freaky athletic that he could have the coordination of Shawn Bradley and it wouldn't matter. You literally just give him the ball on the elbow, he fakes one way, goes the other, takes one dribble and two steps, and just crushes it. He's absolutely unguardable, and he doesn't even really have any moves. (OK, that's kind of unfair. He has some moves, but I don't think you'll see him do the Dream Shake or bust out Kevin McHale's up-and-under any time soon.) And its not like people are even playing his jumper - how thrilled do you think everyone would be if he shot 20 15-footers every game? They know what he's doing and they are still helpless.
Sitting out the majority of last season hurts his cause though. Once he gets back to 100%, he'll likely move up the list. I'm sure he's very concerned with that.
5. Steve Nash. The two-time MVP is far and away the best point guard in the league. He's really playing differently than any other point guard; he sees and reacts to things differtly. Whether he makes the system or the system makes him is really irrelevant at this point: the production can't be ignored. He got criticized as not being MVP-worthy (um, not by me or anything...) because he wasn't a pure scorer but more a distributor.
Nash can dominate a game in two ways, though: in the open court and transition, where there isn't anyone better, not even Jason Kidd. And in the half-court, he dominates the ball and directs traffic flawlessly. He'll literally hold the ball for the entire shot clock, and then at the last second find someone for a layup or open 3. Its uncanny.
Look how far he took a shallow Suns team in the playoffs - his second best player is the wildly over rated Shawn Marion and after that its a couple of foreign guys nobody quite wanted. Kinda remarkable, no? And yea, those guys are perfect for that system. But Nash is the reason why.
5. Dirk Nowitzki.You know what I like? When a player gets criticized for a weakness in their game and then goes out and shuts everyone up. Dirk got hammered for being a soft jump shooter, so he made it his personal mission to crash the boards - especially on offense - and put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, especially in the playoffs. Throw in his clutch shooting and his little temper tantrums (they are so adorable, Dirk), and we may have a monster on our hands for years to come. As long as he doesn't take his contract money and pull a Shaun Alexander, that is.
Now, those last six players are highly, highly debatable. There's a ton of players you could throw in there and it wouldn't be absurd: see Omissions, Toughest. (I can't believe I left Iverson off this list. I really can't.), probably some more. These next four though, I think, have to be considered the best four players in the League. Some Nash apologist will claim the two-time MVP should be here, but I don't think so. These are the top four, and that's pretty indisputable. Shuffle them around in any order - that's cool - but these have to be the top four. Have to be.
Think of it this way: of the six guys we mentioned above - or anyone else for that matter - could you make a convincing argument that they are the best player - bar none No. 1 - in the entire NBA? Absolutely not. Could you me that same argument for the next four guys? Most certainly. That seems like a good dividing line to me.
4. Tim Duncan. He's really good. Fundamental as hell. Moves and counter moves galore. Automatic double team, and he's patient and successful out of it.Pretty much an automatic deuce every time he touches it. I don't feel like talking about him though. Let's get to the Big Three.
Farther out than that though, and things get a little dicey. His range is suspect, although he did flash some distance in the playoffs. Which is why I don't understand why more teams don't go under the ball screens the Heat set for him; wouldn't you rather he launched a three or long J rather than slicing to the basket? And is there anyone in the league better at splitting the double-teams off the ball screen? Answer: No, there isn't.
Wade's height and help keeps him locked at the No. 3 spot, though. The two players ahead of him just out-tall him, which just makes them tougher to handle. Plus the next two guys both play on clearly inferior teams, which changes how they are guarded. They are without a doubt the focal points of their offenses. Playing with Shaq, Wade enjoys a benefit and a luxury that the next two guys don't get to enjoy. Not really Wade's fault, but still. He can fall down seven times and stand up eight. No one else can do that. (Know why? Cuz its impossible. D Wade can literally do the impossible.)
2. LeBron. There is no bigger LeBron apologist than me, and I really don't enjoy Kobe all that much, so this hurts a little. That said, he's still just the second best player in the L. Not that that's the worst thing in the world.
LeBron is the basketball equivalent of a five-tool player in baseball. He can shoot, get to the rim, pass with the best of them, post-up, and excel in transition. He's clearly superior at some of these aspects than others; no one is tougher one-on-one in transition and his ability to get to the rim is on par with the best in the league, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better, more creative passer in the league (its considerably easier to find open people when four guys are guarding you, but when you're teammates can't catch, it kind of evens things out). Yea, he can shoot, but it isn't really a reliable weapon - yet. And his post up game is raw, consisting mainly of him banging a few times and then elevating over his defender - and there isn't anyone he can't elevate over. His athleticism and his natural build really give him a weapon that not many people can fall back on. And for right now at least, that's more than anyone in the L can handle.
Still, his effort on the defensive end is questionable at best. Its not that he can't lock up - he just doesn't sometimes. And he's been knocked for being to passive (I'm not buying it, but still). You can't really knock his effort as a teammate, he defers almost - almost - to a fault. In a few years, he could be a player the likes of which they L has never seen (was that dramatic enough for you?). He's not quite there yet - he's close - but not quite there yet.
The Mamba really has no weaknesses. Pressure him on the perimeter and he's getting to the rim before you are even in your stance. Back off, and its buckets - from, like, really far away, too. He handles double-teams better than anyone in the league - which I guess makes sense, since he sees more of them than anyone in the league. His post up game is ridiculous, just an endless series of pivots and headfakes. And we haven't even gotten to his best move yet: his fadeaway, which he can get off over either shoulder, and either swish or bank it. When he misses, you're absolutely stunned, and when he does make it, the ball positively rips through the net - wap! He's clutch as hell, too. With the game on the line, there is no one else you'd rather have taking the shot - and frankly, its not even close. Dude is an cold-blooded assassin with ice water in his veins. (That's why he's cold-blooded, because of the ice in his veins, get it? He might be the first cold-blooded snake though. I'ma have to look into that.) Plus he can shoot left handed and is a beast on the defensive end of the court.
Here's what impresses me most about Kobe, and he's the only player in the NBA - at least that I've seen - that can consistently do it: Kobe will catch the ball on the wing, a step behind the three point line, with his defender draped all over him. He'll jab, headfake, ballfake, fake the drive, whatever - and get off a J. Here's the thing: He doesn't use a dribble, and gets wide open. I mean, the defender is staggering while Kobe is rising up, completely alone. How many other players can absolutely free themselves without even dribbling?
Kobe's passing gets knocked, but he's a more than able passer who would just rather take a tough shot than pass - and honestly, can you blame him? He actually had a solid number of assists for a 2-guard last season. His effort to be a good teammate is almost comically forced, like he read a manual on how to be a good teammate, tried to act it out, but is just convincing no one. His past seems to influence this more than anything - hey, at least he's trying to be a good teammate now, eh?
So while he may not be the NBA's best teammate, he's clearly its best player. And if you disagree, well...you don't really now what you're talking about. That's how good he is.
(At least until Bronny get himself a J.)
