Los Angeles Lakers: Is It Time To Rebuild?

Underwhelming. This was the sad sentiment of the Lakers regular season that was plagued with debilitating injuries to key players along with a controversial coaching change that seemed to cause more internal strife than it did unity.  Arguably, the two best centers in the league, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol were never fully utilized under Mike D’antoni’s system and seemed to get in each other’s way rather than providing the Lakers with a reliable and consistent defense.

A Laker team that seemed to be rejuvenated with newly acquired superstars at the beginning of the season (Dwight Howard, Steve Nash), quickly succumbed to a life of mediocrity that was completely foreign to a city which prided itself on fostering one of the best NBA franchises of all time.

Now, after a possible career ending injury to the Lakers leading man Kobe Bryant, this team is faced with the difficult reality that they may no longer be the dominant franchise to beat in the west.  Even if Bryant were to make a triumphant return sometime next season, it would only delay the inevitable retirement of the future hall of famer for only a year or two.  With that looming prospect in mind, the Lakers have a grim but necessary decision to make; Do they rebuild their franchise back from the ground up or do they take the ultimate risk by signing Dwight Howard to a max contract (making him the face of the franchise after Bryant’s departure) and hope that the atrocities of this season were simply a one time fluke in the Lakers illustrious and treasured basketball existence?

Initially, it would seem fairly clear that the Lakers will be forced to deal with at least one ultimatum; Either keep Pau Gasol, who was been Bryant’s right hand man since his initiation into the Lakers organization resulting in two national championships. Or, if Dwight Howard decides he wants to stay with the Lakers, reciprocate his loyalty with a maximum contract in hopes he’ll be the crux to your team in the upcoming years.  It is possible that the Lakers could opt to rekindle a previous deal with the Clippers to trade Gasol for their star point guard Chris Paul.  Given their premature elimination in this years playoffs against the Grizzlies, Paul could be seeking an organization that is predicated on being not only competitive but also on building a championship caliber team that is usually a contender for being a national champion.  While this may seem like the ideal situation for the Lakers going forward in terms of having a younger and more athletic roster, simply dismissing Pau who is a proven dominant center is easier said than done.

However, the Lakers have a more pressing predicament at hand when it comes to essential personnel; Kobe Bryant’s status going into next season.  It’s hard to imagine Kobe not coming back for at least one more season given his unwavering tenacity and unrivaled toughness, which is difficult to find especially in players who have participated in the NBA for over 17 years and continue to post elite numbers nearly every game.  While Jodie Meeks has proven to be a fairly sufficient back up, he isn’t a scoring juggernaut and still has yet to prove that he can step up as a supremely confident leader for the long haul.  In this case, the Lakers may decide to look to the draft to discover a talented prospect that can fill their lofty needs at the position.  While top prospects such as Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo are clear favorites, the likelihood of them being available by the time Los Angeles gets to pick is slim to none.  Given this disappointment, the Lakers have a shot at grabbing the younger sibling to one of the best shooters who is currently playing for the Golden State Warriors: Seth Curry. 

According to CBS Sports Jeff Goodman, Seth Curry (Duke Blue Devils) is ranked 17^th out of the top shooting guard prospects going into the 2013 NBA draft.  Assuming these rankings hold true, Curry could be a steal for the Lakers if he falls to them.  Not only does Curry follow in his eldest brothers footsteps by being extremely accurate from beyond the perimeter (43.8%, 2012-2013 season), he also has a beautiful mid- range shot that is hard to contest (46.5 FG% 2012-2013 season).  If Curry can carry these impressive accomplishments over to the NBA he could prove to be not only a prolific shooter in his own right, but also an adequate replacement for Bryant somewhere down the line.

Even if the Lakers make all the right decisions, it’s hard to fathom that they’ll be immediately competitive right out of the gate.  However, if this franchise is patient and weighs its decisions properly there is little doubt that this team won’t be back to their dominant selves in the years to come.   

St. Louis Rams: Underappreciated Competitors or Sadly Irrelevant?

The NFC West; This is the division that went from being the sideshow of the NFL to one of the most competitive and talented divisions since the days of Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.  Between the innovations of the 49ers who effectively utilized the pistol offense to baffle defenses and the reinvigorated Seattle Seahawks who possess one of the most hard nosed and consistent defenses in the teams history, this division is stacked with championship caliber opponents.  Even the Arizona Cardinals, who despite their lackluster offense, have acquired a brilliant offensive mind in Bruce Arians.

When all is said and done it appears that these teams have found a way to personify the intimidating juggernauts they were of yesteryear.  This is true for all of these franchises, except for the one team that is trapped in football limbo between being an underappreciated sleeper and a team that is forced to clean house and rebuild its franchise once again; the St. Louis Rams.

Ever since the Rams lost Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001 to the underrated New England Patriots, this team has lacked both a sufficient quarterback as well as a competent head coach to lead this once iconic franchise to supreme victory once again.  While Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were able to keep the rams relevant in the 2003-2004 regular seasons, their majestic perseverance and unwavering abilities seemed to slowly dissipate as they lost two consecutive divisional playoffs.  Once these demoralizing loses occurred, the St. Louis Rams were devoid of any tenacity or talent as they only managed a single .500 season between 2005 and 2011.

As dominant as this team once was, they quickly became a franchise that all opponents circled on their calendars as an easy victory to boost their playoff chances and nothing more.

However, the Rams transgressions over the last several years have not appeared to debilitate them permanently or hamper their spirit.  In fact, as of last season the Rams have proven that not only are they refusing to capitulate themselves to an existence of chronic disgracefulness, but that they are also revamping their roster to make themselves an unexpected force to be reckoned with.

The acquisition of Jeff Fisher, a brilliant defensive mind who had a long and successful tenure at Tennessee, was the beginning of the Rams ultimatum to themselves to be a great team rather than one that exuded mediocrity.

While it could be argued that the Rams first overall selection of QB Sam Bradford in the first round was the inaugural start of their return to relevancy, they still lacked a strategically adept coach who could properly utilize Bradford’s talents to their fullest extent.  Under the tutelage of Fisher, Bradford was able to boost his quarterback rating from an average 70.5 to a respectable 82.6 within one year.  On top of that, Bradford’s inexcusable turnover antics were also minimized from 7 lost fumbles in 2011 to 0 in 2012.Even with these impressive improvements from the Rams starting quarterback, the team still needed to reload offensively after the devastating loses of RB Steve Jackson and WR Danny Amendola to free agency.

St. Louis not only addressed this problem in the 2013 NFL Draft, they also expanded their horizons by selecting top defensive prospects to establish consistency on both sides of the ball.  Between the Rams acquisition of Tavon Austin, arguably the best offensive player in the draft, and selecting a dynamic safety in T.J. McDonald, the Rams strategically found a way to procure the players that would cater properly to their playing style and needs.

Seeing how the Rams were able to boast a surprising 7-8-1 regular season without these young and athletic prospects, the addition of these collegiate wunderkinds will only build upon the new and improved teams philosophy of constant improvement over taking a backseat and biding their time for next season.

Granted, while the Rams have a plethora of potential going forward into next season, the fact of the matter is that all of these positive trends won’t be fully realized until they can prove it can work on the football field and not just in theory.

However, based on what they valiantly accomplished last season and the gargantuan steps they have taken to elevate themselves to an elite level in terms of roster capabilities, the St. Louis Rams look to make a splash in their division which is up for grabs for the team that not only wants it the most but for the franchise that is seeking to be an up and coming Super Bowl contender.

The Chicago Bulls: Down But Not Out

The Chicago Bulls, a team that has been systematically decimated by untimely injuries, is nearly at the end of their tumultuous playoff run.  Although they have fought valiantly to get to this point despite the momentous adversity they have faced, the Bulls are running off the last remaining emotional fumes that they have left.

While the story of 2012-2013 Chicago Bulls may be in the process of reaching its inevitable resolution, the potential this team has within its ranks has yet to be fully unveiled.  Chicago Bulls fans and LeBron shunners will get their just desserts next year when a depleted Bulls franchise transforms into not only potentially the best team in the Eastern Conference but also into the Achilles heel of the now dominate Miami Heat team.

Throughout the regular season the Bulls proved unquestionably that they can play inspired basketball without an unprecedented offense.  Even without their superstar point guard Derrick Rose, this team has proven time and time again that they can play at a high level by having both veteran leadership in Joakim Noah and a highly respected coach in Tom Thibodeau.

While the Bulls had their fair share of inexcusable loses down the stretch (lost to Toronto, Detroit and Washington in April) , they made up for these athletic lapses by unleashing their defensive prowess against imposing opponents who underestimated not only their athleticism but also their undeniable will to win (see victory over Miami Heat to snap their 27-game winning streak).

While it appears that the Heat will get their revenge against the Bulls for the events that transpired during the regular season, this underwhelming series will only strengthen this team as whole and prepare them for the upcoming regular season.

If Derrick Rose had played this season then the underappreciated depth the Bulls have within their ranks never would have been fully realized. Nate Robinson, now a household name and one of the toughest point guards in the playoffs, got his chance to be in the limelight as the next in line to be a dynamic playmaker.  While not quite the prolific shooter that Derrick Rose is, Robinson has stepped up to the plate in other ways by stepping up in critical game time situations (see game four against Brooklyn Nets).  Seeing the tenacity and gusto that this man plays with, it becomes that much harder to believe that he stands at a mere 5’8”.

Of course, it’s impossible to discuss this resurgent Bulls team without bringing up the admirable leadership of their dynamic center Joakim Noah.  His intimidating on the court presence coupled with his tangible ability to consistently and effectively rebound the ball, regardless of the opponent, has made him the face of this debilitated franchise in the absence of Rose.  He seemingly has no fear and lacks a worrisome bone in his body as he continues to play inspired basketball despite a chronic injury of his own (missed 15 regular season games due to plantar Fasciitis).

It would be easy to go on through the rest the Bulls roster and reiterate their individual contributions and how each one was necessary to the Bulls unexpected success.  Between Luol Deng’s physical presence and his ability to be an effective clutch shooter to Jimmy Butler having a stand out performance as a young strong forward (12.8 PPG, 41.9 3P% in the post season), the Bulls have a plethora of up and coming stars who could easily rival those of the Miami Heat when at full strength.

If you have watched any of the playoffs and observed how this Bulls team has been triumphant in more ways than anyone thought was possible, it becomes a near impossibility not to be intrigued by what this teams potential could be when all of the cylinders are firing.  While this year may be disappointment to some fans, to many others it is a reason to not only rejoice with a sense of deserved pride but also to be hopeful and anxious for the seasons that are to come.

While the anticipation and excitement for what is to come may be difficult to suppress for fans this season, one aspect remains absolutely concrete: the Chicago Bulls, come hell or high water, will be legitimate contenders for the national championship when their notorious superstar Derrick Rose comes back to the Windy City to rejuvenate a franchise that deserves to be feared by opponents and loved by die hard fans that have waited patiently for this moment to come to fruition.  

Geno Smith: An Overrated Liability

Being disappointed is one thing.

Leaving the NFL draft because you weren’t selected in the first round is not only a display of conceded immaturity; it is an egregious act that shows the true colors of a future NFL quarterback.

While it is understandable that Smith would feel slighted due to the fact that several mock drafts had him as a top ten draft pick, it is simply unacceptable to succumb to your emotions, particularly when your position of choice designates you as a confident leader.

Rather than displaying professional dignity, Smith chose to capitulate himself to his own heightened ego which inevitably damaged his reputation as an up and coming professional athlete.  However, Smith’s ill-advised antics didn’t stop there.  His chronic frustrations with being supposedly black balled elevated his corrupted mind set to the point where those who helped him were also caught in the crossfire.

Less than a week after the New York Jett selected Smith in the second round, the young and naïve athlete took the liberty of firing his agents without remorse.  While Smith stated that the firing of his agents wasn’t due to his disappointing drop in the draft, he was extremely vague on the circumstances that led to their termination; “I don’t want to shed too much light on it,” Smith said in an interview on SiriusXM Radio.  “The thing that I can tell you is that it’s not because of the whole draft experience.  As of right now, I don’t feel comfortable talking about all the details of it.”

What seems disingenuous about this statement is that it lacks any type of directness or culpability.  Rather than confidently conveying a pertinent answer to the situation, Smith decided to dodge the question all together.  This not only points to a sign of desperate deception, it also displays that this young athlete is way in over his head in terms of making these types of drastic decisions.

However, even with these emotional disputes, Smith is at least worthy of being a highly touted draft pick right?  While Smith completed an impressive 71.8% of his passes during the 2012 regular season, 34% of his thrown passes were at or behind the line of scrimmage.  Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that in West Virginia’s six losses, Smith completed less than a quarter of his 15-yard throws and was typically off target on more than half of his passing attempts.  Finally, Smith averaged only 7.7 pass yards per attempt, the fewest of any top quarterback prospect.

What this means is that not only was Geno Smith lucky to be selected even in the second round, but the notion that he deserved to be a top ten overall pick in the draft is simply preposterous.  This is why mock drafts should only be considered as professional speculation rather than justifiable gospel (that’s another story for another time).

Given all this information, is it safe to say that Smith is on the path to being a total bust for a team that is on the precipice of being not only the worst team in the league, but also as a broken franchise that fans and analyst talk about in jest?  Can the incongruous actions on Smith’s part be attributed to a nervous youngster trying to alleviate the tension he feels with the media, or is Smith simply trying to ingratiate himself because he believes he didn’t garner the respect he deserved?

While the answers to these lofty and detrimental inquires still have yet to be fully decided one notion remains absolutely certain; if Geno Smith fails to live up to his glorified expectations that have been bestowed upon him (fairly or unfairly), he will not be one of the biggest let downs of all time, but ultimately the most disgraceful prospect in NFL history.

Which Team Has A Better Outlook Going Forward? Boston Or Los Angeles

Greatness doesn’t last forever.

If you were to convey this sentiment to diehard Laker or Celtics fans a year ago, they would give you a look of disgusted bewilderment at the fact that anyone could say such a thing about two teams that have garnered a combined 35 world championships.

Sadly though, this incomprehensible pessimism has become an inevitable reality for both of these teams who have had to deal with devastating loses in Rajon Rondo and, more recently, that of the legendary Kobe Bryant. While these are crippling blows in and of themselves it is really only just one depressing facet that has caused both of these teams to succumb to mediocrity.

Looking at these organizations now, both are on the verge of being swept by their respective   However, the question isn’t so much if these teams will bounce back into relevancy, the more important inquiry is who will get there first?

playoff opponents. As a result, it has become undeniably clear that a drastic reformation needs to occur in order to restore these teams back to their expected prominence.

Initially, it would appear that the Boston Celtics would have the edge because they suffered only one major loss in their elite point guard Rajon Rondo.  On top of that, they still have the ever-reliable Doc Rivers as their head coach who was able to motivate his team to fight for a playoff berth despite all of the mounting adversity they had to overcome.

However, the main problem the Celtics are facing is not who they don’t have court, it’s what is currently there that is cause for concern.  Future hall of famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the two iconic superstars of this franchise, have become former shells of themselves.  While they are by no means irrelevant and useless on the court, the tenacity and ferocity that made this duo an intimidating force, seems to be slowly withering away.  Even before the Celtics faced the red-hot Knicks in the playoffs, their overall performance in the last ten games of the regular season was lackluster at best, winning only 4 out of their last 10.  Out of those four wins, only one was against a reputable playoff opponent (Atlanta Hawks).

The Los Angeles Lakers on the other hand, have been systematically demolished because of injuries.  At one point or another, all of the Lakers elite players were ousted during the regular season with some form of debilitating injury or another.  Dwight Howard, torn labrum.  Pau Gasol, torn planar fascia.  Kobe Bryant ruptured Achilles.  The list goes on and on.  Rarely, if ever, did you see these superstars ever play in tandem because when one seemed to be completely rejuvenated; another would succumb to another physical ailment to take his place on the bench.

However, as detrimental as these injuries were to the Lakers, it allowed the bench players to get more playing time to not only hone their own skills, but to get acclimated with each other as a team to prove that they could fight admirably in the places of their fallen comrades.  Steve Blake showed us his talents at perimeter shooting and Antawn Jamison became a reliable rebounder and a clutch shooter when called upon.  This is what will give the Lakers the edge when all is said and done.  While they may lack the consistency to put up monumental numbers game in and game out, it at least gives them a blue print and even some inspiration for how they can improve in the offseason.

In the end however, both of these franchises have a lot of rebuilding and crucial decisions to make regarding both their upcoming rosters and their off the court personnel (I’m looking at you Mike D’antoni). This doesn’t mean that Celtics and Lakers fans alike should cast their woeful heads down in utter despair as these growing pains occur.  Rather, they should take solace in the fact that their teams will return to greatness again because it’s not a question of if these teams will be champions again; it is simply a matter of when.

Top 5 Worst Draft Picks Of The First Round

5. Alec Ogeltree   Inside Linebacker     Georgia    Drafted by St. Louis Rams

            While Ogeltree proved he is a forced to be reckoned with on the field (111 tackles in 2012), his off the field antics could prove to be the deciding factor that makes him the biggest bust of the draft.  He was suspended for four games due to violating a drug policy during college.  Most recently, Ogeltree was charged with a DUI in Arizona just days before the NFL 2013 Combine.  These repetitive issues could be the downfall of this athletically gifted wunderkind if he doesn’t find himself in a locker room that is properly able to mentor and motivate him to focus on football rather than getting into legal trouble

4. Travis Frederick    Center    Wisconsin   Drafted by Dallas Cowboys

            This has less to do with Frederick’s skill set and more with Dallas’ drafting inefficiencies.  While a reliable center is essential to any offensive line, the Cowboys had more prominent lingering issues in other facets of the game.  A defensive end would have been an acceptable pick, but what would have been even more rejuvenating for this franchise would have been a prominent running back after their ground game was all but non existent last season (31^st in the league). 

3. Justin Pugh   Guard    Syracuse     Drafted by New York Giants

            The Giants selection of Pugh was underwhelming in and of itself.  The loss of Osi Umenyiora to the Falcons seemed to indicate that the Giants either needed to refurbish their secondary with a defensive end or stack up their defensive line with a proficient tackler who specialized in stopping the run.  On top of that, Pugh missed four games with an upper body injury that could make him an offensive liability rather than a dignified protector. 

2.  Kyle Long    Guard   Oregon        Drafted by Chicago Bears

            While this pick may seem advantageous   The most obvious of which was clearly a replacement for Brian Urlacher at the linebacker position.  Last season, the Bears lived and died by their defensive abilities by finishing in the top 10 in both stopping the pass and rush respectively.  However, the final nail in the coffin for this self destructive pick was the fact that Long had only just switched to guard in 2011 after previously being a defensive end.  This recent transition could result in Long being too inexperienced to be able to combat the defensive veterans which he will have to stop on a regular basis.

considering the lingering issues the Bears have dealt with at the offensive line position for the last couple of years, Chicago has more immediate needs that should have been taken into consideration.

1. Dion Jordan   Outside Linebacker     Oregon    Drafted by Miami Dolphins

This is a nonsensical pick for numerous reasons.  First off, the Dolphins didn’t struggle at stopping the rush (13^th in the league).  Secondly, the back end of the Miami defense was unimposing and could have used some strengthening to balance out their defense to make them more resilient and effective at getting the ball back to their offense.  Finally, Jordan only played 418 snaps (42.5 Percent of the time) in college, making him one of if not the most overrated player to be drafted in the first round.  It’s a shame that after acquiring a the third overall pick from the Raiders, that Dolphins couldn’t find a player that was not only more suitable for their specific needs, but also someone that had more prominent accolades in his collegiate career.

Top 5 Draft Picks Of The First Round 2013

5. Jarvis Jones    Outside Linebacker     Georgia     Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers

            After the loss of the intimidating force that was James Harrison, the Pittsburgh Steelers desperately needed to revitalize a defense that lacked consistency.  In his last season at Georgia, Jarvis Jones accumulated an impressive 14.5 sacks combined with 24.5 tackles that resulted in negative yardage for opposing offenses.  If the Steelers can find a dynamic running back comparable to the elite Rashard Mendenhall, they will once again be in contention for the AFC North alongside the Baltimore Ravens.

4. Matt Elam    Safety     Florida      Drafted by Baltimore Ravens

            Ever since the Ravens defense was systematically depleted due to free agency, it  What Matt Elam lacks in size he more than compensates for by his proficient ability to quickly engage and cut off offensive players, along with his ability to make crucial open field tackles (4 Interceptions in 2012).  While he may not be able to fill Ed Reed’s hefty shoes right out of the gate, he will more than make up for it with his exuberant ability to break up big time plays.

seemed unlikely that Baltimore would foster an empowering defense for the first time since their inception into the NFL in 1996.

3. Tavon Austin    Wide Receiver   West Virginia    Drafted by St. Louis Rams

            This is easily one of the best offensive draft picks simply because the Rams strategically placed themselves in a position to obtain a reliable wide out.  Despite the loss of their dominate yet injury prone wide receiver Danny Amendola, the Rams found the perfect candidate to be his eventual successor.  Not only is Austin a prolific receiver (1,289 receiving yards in 2012), he also proved he could be reliable running back by garnering 643 yards on the ground in 2012 alone.  If Austin’s versatility and innate athleticism can carry over to the NFL, then St. Louis may have a chance at competing in what appears to be a highly dominant NFC West.

2.  Lane Johnson    Offensive Tackle    Oklahoma    Drafted by Philadelphia Eagles

            While there were a plethora of supremely dominant offensive tackles that were taken in the draft, none exhibited the versatility or instinctual swiftness that Johnson brings to the table.  He has been positioned at quarterback, tight end and even defensive end.  This eclectic experience gives him an advantage not only as a naturally gifted athlete, but also as an individual player that can diagnose defensive plays on the fly, which is a major intangible. Combine that with the fact that the Eagles desperately needed to replenish their seemingly non-existent offensive line that allowed Michael Vick to be pummeled on nearly every play, and you have a team that is trying to reload rather than rebuild their roster.

1. EJ Manuel   Quarterback    Florida State     Drafted by Buffalo Bills

            Even though quarterbacks were not necessarily among the most highly touted prospects in the draft, for a team like the Bills, this pick up could be the key to their inconsistent offense becoming a competitive force to be reckoned with for the first time in several years.  Manuel was without a doubt one of the most underrated quarterbacks to be a part of the draft because he was overshadowed by better-known passers such as Matt Barkley and Geno Smith (both of whom have lacked substance over style).  Not only can Manuel demoralize a defense with his pinpoint accuracy (68% completion percentage in 2012), but he also has immense size at 6’5 and weighing in at over 240 pounds, which would make it difficult for defenses to sack him without completely wrapping him up.  If Manuel can get his minor ball security discrepancies in check, than he will be the best thing that has happened for the Bills offensively in a long time.