Klein For Heisman

Let me start this by saying I have zero allegiance in this year’s race for the most coveted individual award of college football. I am from Kansas, but I do not have a horse in the race; I grew up cheering for the Jayhawks. So looking at the three choices with no bias, I am dumbfounded with how Collin Klein has now become a distant third behind Johnny Manziel and Manti Te’o. The reason is simple that the month of November is outweighing the first two months of college football. I am not saying Klein is your clear cut choice but I think it is unwise to not take a closer look.

I am going to move Manti Te’o and his case to the side for this. Notre Dame’s star linebacker is an absolutely tremendous story, especially the tragedy he overcame this year. Teo is extremely deserving, too. He is the leader of the undefeated team that sits #1 going into the national championship. He is the leader of a defense that has won many games for a team with an average offense.

I want to move forward to the “Johnny Football” and “Optimus Klein” comparisons. All of a sudden, a span of two weeks altered the course for these two men. First, Texas A&M’s redshirt freshman quarterback did what no one had been able to do for nearly a full year: beat Alabama. The 19 year old went from a great story propelling the Aggies to a competitive level in the SEC to the country’s number one player. Manziel did have a great day. He went into Tuscaloosa and completed 77% of his passes, passed for two touchdowns, and added 92 yards on the ground. Pretty incredible.
It was all capped off one week later by Collin Klein and Kansas State’s demise in Waco, Texas at the hands of a Baylor defense that many thought was the worst of any major conference. Klein, still dealing with a lingering injury from the Oklahoma State game, was off all night. He was errant with his passing, leading to three interceptions, and only rushed for 32 yards. In just three short hours, the Wildcats went from national championship front-runner to a great story that will wind up in a BCS bowl. Their star quarterback went from having the Heisman Trophy and having it be his to lose to a story we will remember from the beginning of the 2012 season. It took all of seven days…

Granted, the picture I have painted, makes it seem pretty clear that Johnny Football is the better candidate that Klein. However, it is no home run. Colin Klein matched up against NINE schools from BCS conferences who qualified for a bowl game (i.e. finished with at least a .500 record). Johnny Manziel played just five teams who qualified for the postseason. Before you start yelling at your computer that you cannot compare the SEC to the Big 12, can we at least take a second to look at something here? K-State played Baylor, the second worst defense in the country statistically, while Manziel had his second best passing day verse by far the worst defense in the country, Louisiana Tech. Now, there is no shortage of Big 12 teams that gave up huge amounts of yardage this year. However, I am willing to say that Auburn, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Missouri (all ranked below the top 50 in defense) was not that much better than what the Big 12 had to offer.
Furthermore, Collin Klein may have seen a few more transparent defenses during conference games, but he did not miss out on big games. Against the nine, BCS school teams Klein faced with at least.500 record he threw a total of six interceptions. Manziel accumulated five interceptions in his five games. In Manziel’s bad game he had no touchdowns and three interceptions with just an 82.5 QB rating against LSU.

If you look at a pure statistic standpoint, Manziel has Klein beat by quite a bit. Texas A&M ran everything through Manziel who put up 4600 total yards of offense. Klein had 118 less plays and amassed 3,390 total yards. When you look at the attempts difference, Manziel averaged 7.88 yards to Klein’s 7.27. The numbers are a lot closer. Johnny Football padded his stats verse the lesser competition and in their two losses, both at home, accounted for just one touchdown.

The difference between the two is not the large margin that seems to persist throughout the country’s media. Collin Klein led Kansas State to the Fiesta Bowl and a Big 12 Championship during an 11-1 campaign. Manziel is headed to the Cotton Bowl with his 10-2 record. This argument is not saying Collin Klein is head and shoulders above Johnny Manziel, it is me urging everyone to not forget about Collin Klein’s case before it is too late. Unfortunately, it seems too late. Johnny Manziel and his story is hot. He is the freshman that is transforming how football is played in the SEC. He is a little wild and seems to transform the idea of a “model” quarterback. Collin Klein’s story was done already. Tim Tebow already did the power running, devout Christian story in 2007. Klein became old news the second the clock hit zero on November 17th in Waco, Texas. Can we at least bring that story back up?

NBA Podcast 2: NBA Draft

I am joined again by Nick Schwerdt, as well as Spencer Anagnost to discuss the top ten picks of the NBA draft. Check it out at https://www.box.com/s/vqhcjyrpnje6ilf0svz0

NBA Podcast 1: NBA Finals

My colleague Nick Schwerdt and I discuss LeBron James' brilliance in the finals and how it has affected his legacy and what it will mean for next season. Check it out at https://www.box.com/s/4jbokbvxyatl9vubmgdb.

How the West Can Be Won (part 5)

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is who I believe to be the best team in the Western Conference.

1.) The Memphis Grizzlies:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
If you look at the Grizzlies, what are they’re major weaknesses? The only thing they really lack is a consistent spot up shooter. We saw glimpses of Wayne Ellington taking that role, but since his explosion he has returned to being who we thought he was. Look for the Grizzlies to trade for a J.J. Reddick/Kyle Korver type to sure up their rotation. Those kind of guys are usually not that difficult to find and or trade for.

If they do pull off a trade like that, I have no reason to think they would not be the favorite this season. They can pound you inside offensively and defensively with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. They have a weird situation to deal with when both big men can interchange from the low post to the high post and be effective. Pau’s younger brother is looking like the better brother and Z-Bo is becoming a household name is NBA circles. The duo is averaging 32.2 points, 19.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. While the Grizzlies have arguably the best big man combination in the league, they are no slouches on the perimeter either.

Rudy Gay has the ability to score in a variety of ways and can go off for twenty any given night if he has the right match-up. At the point guard position they have Mike Conely that is averaging 15 and 6 assists this season and is a very above average personal defender. He can shut the water off of players that can seem unstoppable at times.

But if you want to talk about someone who can shut someones water off, look no further than Tony Allen who is a major reason I believe Memphis can be an amazing team.Look at how guard oriented the Western Conference is. Tony Allen has the ability to guard dynamic point guards like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook as well as dynamic wing players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Manu Ginobli. They have a solid bench in Jerryd Bayless, Mo Speights, and Darrell Arthur – but if they could bring in a shooter this team’s limit is an NBA Championship.

How They Can Be Beaten: 
At the moment, the Grizzlies do not have a true spot up three-point shooter, which can sometimes lead to lack of ball movement on the offensive end. When the ball goes into the post, they get a little stagnant because the defense can suck in without the fear of getting drilled on from deep. Rudy Gay has shown much promise in his still young career, but he hasn’t shown to be the big game-changer that has been asked from him the last few post seasons. They seem to come up short, and a lot of that has to do with the late game shortcomings of Rudy Gay. If Conely isn’t on and Rudy Gay is shrinking under pressure, they cannot expect Tony Allen to be their offensive weapon on the perimeter.

Possible In-Season Trade:
The Grizzlies bring in J.J. Reddick and Kyle O’Quinn and trade away Mo Speights and Wayne Ellington and either a draft pick or cash considerations. They get a sharp shooter to add to the rotation and a fifth big that could possibly fill in if an injury occurred to Arthur, Gasol, Randolph, or Haddidi.
Barring injury, all five of these teams have an equal chance of making it to the NBA Finals to probably face the Miami Heat. It could all come down to seeding, because with how close these teams are and how some teams match-up well with some teams and badly for others – who plays who could be a big indicator of who escapes to the Finals.

How the West Can Be Won (part 4)

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is my second best team in the Western Conference.

2.) The Oklahoma City Thunder:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and honestly it is as simple as that. These two players can punk you in so many ways offensively and defensively; on the drive, on the catch, in transition, in the half court, getting in passing lanes, closing out hard, you name it. Yes, Serge Ibaka (shot blocking) , Kevin Martin (spot up threes), and Thabo Sefalosha (stingy defense) are great role player when they maintain their lane, but this team is scary because of their two stars.

Westbrook is still evolving as a player and right now is looking better than ever, especially in regards to his assist rate. Last season Westbrook averaged just 5.5 assists per game last season. To be fair James Harden split time as the primary ball handler when they shared the court. Now with Harden being replaced with sharp shooter Kevin Martin, Westbrook not only has the ball more often, he has a better spot-up shooter to kick it to after he penetrates and draws the defense. That’s the Thunder’s second best player.

Kevin Durant is hands down the best player in the Western Conference. I don’t want to hear any argument about it because there is no argument to be made. There has never been a seven footer, which he is, that has the coordination, athleticism, and basketball savvy that Durant has. He has expanded his game so much the last few seasons, he has practically become unstoppable. He can hit from anywhere on the court, he can drive past any player in the league, and he can defend an assortment of positions because of his dimensions and affinity for good positioning. Not only can he hit open shots from anywhere, but he has become a much better driver and finisher. Not only that, but when he doesn’t finish, most of the time you are hearing a whistle. He is currently second in the league in free throws attempted, trailing only Dwight Howard who teams put on the line for comedy sake.

How They Can Be Beaten:
The biggest problem with the Thunder is that the problems from last season still exist. They are still too jump-shot oriented, there is not enough scoring power in the post,  and Scott Brooks’ unimaginative late game play calling has hampered them before. It is going to take a certain type of team to finish off the Thunder in a seven game series. They need to be a team that can score on the inside against even the stout opposition in Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins.

They need to be a team that can throw many different defensive looks at Durant and Westbrook. They need to be a team that has a decently consistent perimeter punch to match with their inside game. There are not many teams in the league that match that description, but there is one in the West and that is why the Thunder currently sit second in my standings.

Possible In-Season Trade:
With the contracts that this team inhibits, it would be very tough for them to trade for someone in the five million dollar range and keep the majority of their current rotation. They could trade DeAndre Liggins or Daniel Orton to Atlanta for Anthony Tolliver. While Tolliver wouldn’t get much play in the rotation, he could fit into the fourth post spot and give them a stretch-big that can open up the lane for Durant and Westbrook in limited minutes.

How the West Can Be Won (part 3)

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is my third best team in the Western Conference.

3.) The San Antonio Spurs:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
The Spurs are a boring team to talk about, which is a major reason they are so difficult to beat. They aren’t flashy, they aren’t overpowering but under the guidance of Gregg Popovich this team just plays good basketball. They have a ton of pieces they can move around to match-up with different teams and different styles of play.

Tim Duncan has had a renaissance of sorts the last couple of seasons and has shown to have maintained when many thought he would be digressing. He is currently posting almost 19 points a night while averaging over 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Obviously Duncan will still be flanked by Ginobili and Parker, but with Kawai Leonard, Danny Green, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, and Gary Neal – this supporting cast allows for the original big 3 to do what they do best and not have to over extend themselves.Every team has ebbs and flows in their game, but the Spurs are the best team in the league at keeping those to a minimum. They are hoping their consistent game comes every night and can force their opponents to play below average which has almost become a Spur staple.

How They Can be Beaten:
You have to take a page out of the Oklahoma City playbook and beat the Spurs with your athleticism. The Thunder were the perfect match up for the Spurs and just blitzed past them in the conference finals a year ago. Tony Parker disappeared in too many games during last years playoffs and if history repeats itself this team might be out a lot earlier than expected. They don’t play with speed, they play with positioning so if they come across a team with multiple player who can cause havoc by beating the initial defense, they might get thrashed at the rim and on inside-out threes.

Possible In-Season Trade:
They could send Steven Jackson’s 10 million dollar expiring contract along with Dejuan Blair and a draft pick to the Pistons for Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye. This would give them a player that could be a solid back-up small forward or power forward who can play solid defense and stretch out defenses with his three-point capabilities.

How the West Can Be Won (part 2)

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is my fourth best team in the Western Conference.

4.) The Los Angeles Lakers:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
On paper this Lakers’ team is one of the most formidable teams in the history of the NBA. It hasn’t helped that the only time we saw Steve Nash was during the Mike Brown era. Compounding that, Steve Blake also went down so what we have seen from the D’Antoni Lakers thus far is a team run by Darius Morris. Once Nash is back, there is somebody who can distribute the ball to Dwight, Pau, and Kobe as well as a stabilizing player to add to the lineup.

The biggest problem thus far is the porous defense from the Lakers who were supposed to be anchored by the best defensive center in the league who is currently not playing like the best defensive center in the league. Don’t forget though, Dwight had back surgery in the summer and hustled back to be ready for opening night and still is probably not at 100%. Kobe is still Kobe and has the ability to take over games without much help from anyone else if it comes down to it. Once this team gets completely healthy, they should look so much better than they look right now.

How They Can Be Beaten:
Unfortunately the game is not played on paper and so far there isn’t much good to take out of the Lakers’ season. Pau and Dwight’s defensive rotations under the basket are atrocious. Everyone knew going into this season that the Lakers were defensively slow on the perimeter  with Kobe, Nash, and World Peace (it still feels weird writing that) getting up their in age.

What they didn’t know was that Pau and Dwight would be unable to protect the rim when the perimeter guys got beaten off the dribble. Orlando just put up 40 points in the fourth quarter in the Forum while Jameer Nelson, Aaron Affalo, and Big Baby combined for 72 points. They let George Hill beat them at the buzzer with a weak one-handed scoop shot that Dwight Howard would normally swat to the parking lot like that stupid insurance commercial.

Not only is their defense struggling, giving up almost 103 points a game, but their bench has been invisible. Antwan Jamison has shown shades of being a great 6th man, but other than Jodie Meeks one explosion, the bench has done nothing for this team. If they meet a quick team that can get to the rim with their perimeter players – the Lakers might be in trouble once summer rolls around.

Possible In-Season Trade:
The Lakers need to find a power forward that meshes better with Dwight Howard’s game as well as a friend who could help keep Dwight in LA after his contract is up this off-season. The best looking trade they could make is adding Josh Smith who is more of a high post player who is a much better defensive player and rebounder than Pau. To make the salaries add up, they also would get sharp shooter Kyle Korver to add some depth on the wing and a little more punch on the second team. They would give up Pau and Earl Clark which would also help Atlanta because Pau could play a true center which would finally allow them to move Al Horford to his true position at Power Forward.

How the West Can Be Won (part 1)

This NBA season seems primed to be the greatest one of all time for many reasons. There has never collectively been this much talent in the NBA and I will argue that will any old coot who wants to talk about the “glory days” of the NBA. The abysmal Orlando Magic just beat the Lakers in L.A. Do you think the ’83-’84 Washington Bullets, whose five leading scorers were Jeff Ruland, Ricky Sobers, Greg Ballard, Jeff Malone,  and Frank Johnson, could walk into the Forum and beat this Lakers team? Zero percent chance. Wouldn’t happen. The Lakers would go 100-0 and not have a game in single digits.
Lets be honest, and it may be borderline blasphemous, but from Russell and Wilt to Bird and Magic and to a certain extent Jordan, these greats played in extremely diluted leagues that never fostered more than three or four true title contenders each season. Not only are there only a few contenders, they usually come from the same crop of teams. Did you know that since 1984 there have only been seven franchises that have won the NBA championship? From my calculations, there are five teams in the Western Conference that have a legitimate shot of representing their conference in the NBA Finals this year, and three of them are not apart of that list of champions.

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is my fifth best team in the Western Conference.

5.) The Los Angeles Clippers:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
The Clippers have a tremendous upside when they have everyone playing at full potential. Obviously CP3 is the floor general and the majority of the offense is based upon his play making abilities, but there has been other players that have stepped up this season at various times. DeAndre Jordan actually looks to have some semblance of a post game. He’s hitting baseline hook-shots now? How the hell did that happen? Is this the same guy who got a huge contract but his offensive disabilities allowed Reggie Evans (who isn’t exactly McHale in the post) to play almost all the crunch time minutes at Center last postseason?
With the acquisition of Jamal Crawford, there is now someone other than Paul to create his own shot in the crunch time, which can win this team games or lose this team games. At the moment it is winning a lot of games as Crawford is leading the Clippers in scoring at 17.5 points. Blake Griffin has been in a bit of a slump thus far and hasn’t seem to add much to his arsenal in the off-season. He is adding a very good 17-9-3 but has disappeared down the stretch in some of the games facing quality opponents. If Paul, Crawford, Griffin, Jordan, and either Bledsoe, Billups, or Butler have it going simultaneously, they can be quite a stingy defensive team as well as having the offensive firepower to take down any team in the league, which showed in their early season win over Miami.
How They Can Be Beaten:
This team can be very streaky. Whether it be shooting, help defense, or overall tenacity – The Clippers are prone to lulls throughout spurts of games which will get you beat in the playoffs. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan seem afraid to attack the basket or even touch the ball late in the game due to their fear of shooting free throws.
We already mentioned the hot-and-cold nature of Jamal Crawford and if he doesn’t have it, the Clips have nobody on the wing that can score off the bounce without going very small at the off-guard with either Bledsoe or Billups.
Their back-up bigs are pretty horrible and if Griffin and Jordan get in foul trouble, you don’t want to be finishing games with Ryan Hollins and Lamar “looks like he had to eat Khloe to get a divorce” Odom.
Possible In-Season Trade:
(Could not occur until January 15th) The Clips could add toughness, size, and shooting on the wing, as well as a banger inside by bringing in Wesley Matthews and Joel Freeland from the Trailblazers. The Clippers would send back a first round pick, Odom’s expiring contract and Grant Hill – a well-respected veteran who could add precious leadership to the young team from the Rose City.

NBA Chat: The Rarely Seen Double Interview (part 2)

Josh: Last time we were speaking of contenders in the west, so let's talk about San Antonio. What did you think about Pop resting his guys on a nationally televised game against the Heat and what did you think about the leagues reaction to it?

Dillon: First, I will start with my opinion of Coach Popovich's move to sit players. I hate it for the fans who wanted to see the Spurs big 3 match-up with Miami's stars. These teams do not play much and it was a nationally televised game as you mentioned. However, in terms of basketball sense, it makes sense. Spurs were in the midst of an absolutely brutal stretch of their schedule. The team was playing four games in five nights and the match-up with Memphis on Saturday was much bigger in the grand scheme of things. There is no question that an 82 game regular season is too much for Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, and Tim Duncan at this stage in their career. Coach Popovich doesn't care about TV ratings; he cares about pursuing another ring. The decision was not cool as a fan, but it was understandable as a fan of smart coaching moves.

Now, the move by David Stern to fine the Spurs a hefty sum is much more dicey. What kind of precedent does this set? The move was made with winning in mind. Teams with losing in mind do not play their best players all the time because they would prefer a high draft pick. It bothers me that a league commissioner feels he should be involved in coaching decisions for the team. Honestly, do you think Miami fans that attended the game really cared that much about watching Tim Duncan bank in a few shots over Bosh?

My final question for the day and it is a two parter: Can/when will the Lakers fix whatever the hell their problem is? With their struggles, is it now once again Western Conference goes through Oklahoma City?

Josh: I think it is difficult to say if the Lakers can turn this around at the moment. We saw a short sampling of how Steve Nash would be utilized in the Mike Brown offense, and it was not pretty. Will that change now with Mike D'Antoni leading the Lake Show? Probably. There is no arguement to be made that this team will be worse off when Darius Morris' minutes go to a two-time MVP. Pau and Dwight are not meshing at all on either end of the court, especially defensively. What happened to Dwight Howard? This never used to happen with Dwight anchoring the paint in Orlando and Gasol is a below average in regards to foot speed and rim protection. They just gave up 40 fourth quarter points to the Magic and allowed Jameer Nelson, Aaron Affalo, and Big Baby to combine for 72-22-20. That cannot happen. I think they need to move Pau for a better fitting four man, preferably a stretch four like D'Antoni had with Shawn Marion for all those years in Phoenix, and some depth because they're bench, other than Antawn Jamison, has been practically invisible.

Do I think Oklahoma City is the team to go through in the west? You have to say they are seeing as they got there last season. The teams problems from last season remain the same though; too jump shot oriented, not enough scoring power in the post, unimaginative late game play calling. Westbrook has looked great for the most part, especially in regards to distribution which has seen his assist rate raise to a career high clip. This is a weird year in the west because of how top heavy it is. There are five teams that have a legitimate shot at representing the west in the NBA finals between OKC, Memphis, San Antonio and both Los Angeles teams. The Lakers are struggling, but definitely have the players to compete once summer rolls back around. It could all come down to seeding, because with how close these teams are and how some teams match-up well with some teams and badly for others - who plays who could be a big indicator of who escapes to the Finals.

Last Question: Dunk of the Year? My nomination.

Dillon: Dirty.

Josh Jackson & Dillon Besser

@JoshJackson_TID & @DillonBesser65

NBA Chat: The Rarely Seen Double Interview (part 1)

In this two part column, I got together with my good friend and writing partner Dillon Besser to discuss what has already been a very exciting NBA season.

Dillon: We are starting to approach 25% through the regular season. New acquisitions should be comfortable with their new teams now and making a difference. Josh, who has had the biggest impact for their new squad?

Josh: It seems the obvious choice would be James Harden who is currently sitting as the number five scorer in the entire league. Not only has he been productive on the court, but he has brought relevancy to a team that had toiled in the middle since the Yao/T-Mac era. His work has not correlated into the wins, but it is hard to put that against a team going through so much turmoil after the loss of coach Kevin McHale's daughter. Another person to bring up would be the addition of Jamal Crawford for the Clippers. Their biggest problem last season was the inconsistency on the wing especially their lack of someone other than Chris Paul being able to manufacture their own shot down the stretch of games. He has come out of the gates blazing and is a major part of the Clippers looking like they could be for real this season.
Harden and Crawford have been great signings for their respective teams, but is there anyone that comes to mind who has been a disappointment to expectations or seem to have just stolen money?

Dillon: I agree Harden has completely changed the atmosphere around Houston. However, they still need plenty more to be taken serious. I am very intrigued by OJ Mayo in Dallas once Dirk Nowitzki is back as well.

Disappointments are harder to judge so soon. Dwight Howard's attitude hasn't been meshing with the Lakers so far but I am not going to rule that team out this quickly. Another piece to that trade has not seen the court yet and who know when he will. Andrew Bynum has acted about as immature as possible. Whether it is with his new look or his overall attitude of not showing much concern for when he is coming back. Philly gave up a leader and their defensive stud for a chance at an impact player that could propel the franchise. Instead, they have gotten nothing.

Moving on, which team is better equipped to sustain their hot start for the whole season: the New York Knicks or Memphis Grizzlies?

Josh: I would say Memphis because they have a very solid core put into place, and I have a feeling they will be making a splash in the free agent market before it is all said and done. The Knicks are a great story, but you cannot help but wonder what is going to happen once Amare comes back into the fold. Will he be satisfied coming off the bench because it has become clear that even though Carmelo would rather play the three than the four, he has been absolutely killing it in his time in the front court. They have a nice mix of offensive/defensive players but you have to question if J.R. Smith can continue playing as he has and if Tyson Chandler can continue scoring at such an efficient rate. Although they are looking good, I still think they couldn't keep up with Miami in seven games.
If you look at the Grizzlies, what are they're major weaknesses? The only thing they really lack is a consistent spot up shooter. We saw glimpses of Wayne Ellington taking that role, but since his explosion he has returned to being who we thought he was. Look for the Grizzlies to trade for a J.J. Reddick/Kyle Korver type to sure up their rotation. Those kind of guys are usually not that difficult to find and or trade for. They can pound you inside offensively and defensively with Marc Gasol and T-Dog, get after you on the wing with Mike Conley and Tony Allen and Rudy Gay is a player that can get you twenty a night with the right match-up. There is no team in the west like Miami which makes me think they have a better shot at reaching the Finals.

Joshua Jackson & Dillon Besser

@JoshJackson_TID & @DillonBesser65

Five Observations From an Early NBA Season

(This was supposed to be published 11/7, but somehow got stuck in the drafts)

5.) Andrei Kirilenko is playing like AK47.

• Kirilenko is off to a great start in his return to the NBA. Kirilenko, if you remember signed a contract with CSKA Moscow and was named the Euroleague MVP for the '11-'12 season. In his three games with the Timberwolves, AK47 is averaging 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.7 blocks a game all while guarding the opponents best wing player. Not only is he filling the stat sheet, he's doing those Kirilenko things that made you never want him in 2k but made the Jazz fans adore him for 10 seasons; getting past his initial defender and creating for others, playing in the passing lanes and deflecting balls, and being pretty steady from deep even with a shot that says he shouldn't (currently hitting 2/3 of his threes for the season). He and Nikola Pekovic are going to have to be catalysts for this T-Wolves team as they try to stay afloat with Love and Rubio out. That is especially true with the vast struggles of Derrick Williams and Brandon Roy early in the season.

4.) The Lakers look robotic.

• How do you begin talking about how stiff the Lakers have looked thus far? The offense has been solid, scoring 100 ppg (7th in the league), but if you just watch this team - they seem very rigid. The institution of the Eddie Jordon Princeton offense that they aren't calling the Princeton offense has been a nightmare to watch thus far. It is focused around cuts and screens while one person holds the ball for more time than necessary. This roster is made up of one-on-one ball stoppers who haven't made a living from scoring off cuts their entire career. The talent level is just so high on that side of the ball, even when they look bad they are still scoring at a high rate. What's been predictably putrid is their defense. Their help is inconsistent; their rotations are slow on the perimeter allowing for any team with good ball movement to get an open three in the corner and they over-help in the post which has allowed for many scores on drive and kicks and post to post passes. Not only are their starters struggling, their bench has been so punch-less that Mike Brown has decided to make Meta World-Peace the back-up two guard for his scoring abilities.

3.) The Knicks might be for real.

• Everyone looks at Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks' terrific start, but the credit should be spread throughout the entire roster. This team is currently the number two offensive rated team, a fact most people wouldn't be too surprised about. What is crazy is that the Knicks are also the number two defensive rated team. Just think back to last year when Mike D'Antoni was leading the team, they were less than good on the defensive side of the ball. With Mike Woodson inserted as the head coach, this team has bought in and played with a new defensive intensity. When Iman Shumpert comes back from injury, this team now has four above-average defensive players (Shumpert, Kidd, Brewer, and Chandler). Melo does deserve the biggest share of credit - he's playing like bulky George Gervin on the offensive end. If you get him isolated on the baseline - you can't guard him, you just have to hope he misses the shot himself. He can post you up 17 feet from the basket and can get by you by spinning either way and scoring at the rim or from pulling up. He can score facing up just by breaking you down or by jabbing or pump faking to get some space and bury a jumper in the defenders' face. If Amare comes back and fits in as he's supposed to, this team has the offensive punch and defensive grit to give Miami a fun little run in the playoffs.

2.) Kyle Lowry might be the most dynamic point guard in the league.

• The NBA has never had this many high quality point guards at one time, and to my surprise the most impressive one thus far has been Kyle Lowry. The first thing you notice when watching Lowry is the confidence he carries himself with - the same kind that CP3 carries. He thinks he's the best player on the court at all times, and he's going to use that talent to get his teammates buckets while picking good spots to attack and score. He is currently averaging 23.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 3.7 steals in games he did not get injured in the first quarter of. He's a Rondoesque™ rebounder with the ability to use his bowling ball body to bounce around the paint and either score and the rim or dish to a teammate for an open score. He may only be a 6'0", but he can get to anywhere on the court he wants on both offense and defense. He plays in passing lanes and has very quick hands which has led to his high steals total. He may play for above the border on a bad team but that shouldn't stop NBA fans from learning to love the way this guy plays.

1.) The Heat have the potential to enter the conversation of best team of all-time.

• Yes, they lost at New York in the Knicks season opener while playing for a city in tragedy. Ask the New Orleans Saints. What is terrifying for me is that finally, it seems Miami has figured it out. LeBron figured out he had to be the Alpha to Wade's beta and Spo's figured out that he needs to treat this team like the video game roster they have. They have the ability to play two shooting guards, two small forwards, and one power forward at one time and be almost unguardable on offense and menacing on defense (Wade, Allen, James, Lewis, Bosh). Did you see that game against Detroit? I know it was against Detroit, but did you see this team passing the ball around like the '87 Celtics. They were making five straight passes with the defense scrambling each time and ending up with uncontested dunks and three pointers. They have so many weapons that you have to keep their role-players in check which causes teams to play one-on-one defense with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. There has never been a team in NBA history that had the pick your poison feeling this Heat team has. If LeBron continues to push his ceiling as he has from last years playoffs, through the summer, and to start this season - there might be something special here.

Joshua Jackson
@JoshJackson_TID

Washburn Men's Basketball Preview

This years Washburn Men’s Basketball team will be in a position to do something Coach Bob Chipman has been unable to accomplish in his illustrious career at Washburn – win a national title at the division II level. The 29th most winning coach in NCAA history does have a NAIA title under his belt from 1987 and a trip to the DII title game in 2000-2001, but this team may be Chip’s best shot as he nears the age most coaches begin contemplating retirement. And what a team it is to give him such a shot.

The preseason No. 2 ranked Ichabods return everyone but sharpshooter Jeff Reid from a team that won the MIAA season and postseason championships and reach the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament just a season ago. An upper-class latent team will start four seniors in Martin Mitchell, Will McNeill, Zack Riggins, and Bobby Chipman.

Mitchell, a Junior College transfer from Memphis will start at point guard and will apply pressure on opposing guards both offensively and defensively. Mitchell is a multifaceted player who will heat teams up full court and also beat teams down with his quick and elusive pull-up. Martin can light it up from deep on the reg while also having the ability to get past the initial defense and create for himself and others in the lane.

Alexandria product Will McNeill, an All-American and MIAA Tournament MVP from a season ago, will flank Mitchell in the Ichabod backcourt. McNeill already has the Washburn career record for steals and will only add to that total due to his tremendous on-ball pressure and affinity for disrupting passing lanes. His offensive game is nothing to scoff about due to his above the rim play during fast breaks and on the offensive glass. He uses his quickness and top speed to his advantage in the full court and on many occasions will lead successful one man breaks. McNeill also has a reliable mid-range jumper than he can drain off the catch as well as off the dribble.

Leavenworth product Zack Riggins may be the unsung hero of this team because he is a great player in the eyes of basketball fans and an average player in the eyes of statisticians. He may only average eight points, five boards, and two assists a game, but he is responsible for much more than that. If you see Will get a wide open look on a drive, look to see if Rigs sealed the help to allow it. If you see Bobby grab a board with no traffic, look to see if Rigs blocked out multiple guys to allow it. If you see the ball go inside out and swung for a three, look to see if it was Rigs with the hockey assist. It’s really simple, Big Rigs does the little things that win big games.

Topeka product Bobby Chipman will be a starter for the fourth consecutive season. The anchor of this impressive defense has the ability to bang around with the bruisers of the MIAA but also has the foot speed to step out and challenge the finesse bigs who are all the rage nowadays. He can play inside/outside on offense as well showing good touch around the rim off of post ups and offensive rebounds. He can also spot up from deep which draws most teams best rebounder and best rim defender away from the basket which opens up driving and rebounding opportunities.

Junior Alex North, from Topeka, will fill out the starting five as the small forward. North is an overall crafty player who is a very sneaky rebounder on both ends of the court. Watch him wiggle on the baseline and step in front of people at the last second to get the board. He can get very hot from deep and has shown consistency at scoring off the dribble from 18 feet and in.

The Ichabod starters rightfully get the most pub, but when healthy, their bench has shown the affinity to be one of the best in the league. After adding some necessary poundage in the offseason, 45 year old looking senior Joe Smith, also from Memphis,  is poised to get plenty of burn in the Ichabod big man rotation. He has had success going over both shoulders, good touch around the rim, and the ability to create spacing by stepping out 15 foot and hitting. He is a very capable defender and rebounder who uses his above average wingspan to his advantage. Sophomore Kyle Wiggins, also from Leavenworth, might be the most athletic player in the MIAA if not the entire nation. He possesses a slick crossover and an explosive first step which can lead to him finishing at the rim or pulling up from 12 feet. His athleticism allows him to heat players up like the starters in front of him so there is not a tremendous defensive drop-off when Wiggins enters the game. Junior Jared Henry from Olathe will get the majority minutes as the backup point guard. Henry flourishes on the defensive end specifically creating havoc in passing lanes and turning them into easy points on the other end. He has a decent stroke from deep but has the ability to light it up if his fingers start burning. Henry is also good at distributing the ball, especially in penetrate and kick situations. Sophomore Christian Ulsaker (McPherson) and Redshirt Junior Leon Flowers (Wichita) will fight each other for minutes as possible small forwards who can also play a stretch four against the correct opponents. They both are good rebounders for being undersized. Flowers does most of his offensive damage from the outside while Ulsaker does his from 15 feet and in. Both are capable offensive rebounders who can be exposed against quicker guards outside but overall can guard at either the three or the four positions. Redshirt Junior Bryce Simons, also from Topeka,  is looking to rebound from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined all season and will continue to keep him sidelined. Once he is healthy he will give the team even more firepower on the defensive end of the court. He is a good on-ball defender who uses his leaping ability to secure rebounds on both ends. On offense he can get to the rim and finish and has shown the ability throughout his career to hit open shots. The roster is rounded out with Redshirt Freshman Dalton Abel, a product of Carbondale. Although he has been the primary candidate for G-Love minutes, he always plays his ass off when he gets the opportunity.

This team’s identity is centered around their up-in-your-ass defense that causes teams to play defensive on offense and causes many points off of turnovers. They have threats to score on the inside and threats to score from the outside, but what makes them special is the amount of players who can not only do both, but have a game that connects the two together. They might not be the favorite to win it all, but you should believe that they will be a force to be reckoned with once we reach March. This might be the team Coach Chipman has been waiting 34 seasons for.

Joshua Jackson

@JoshJackson_TID