Three Teams Up/Three Teams Down After Three Weeks

Three Up

Atlanta Falcons: Now, if only they could stay off the police blotter. The Falcons are putting up dominating numbers through three games this season (including two wins on the road). Head Coach Mike Smith has abandoned his more conservative approach in prior years to take advantage of perhaps the best offensive trio of pass catchers in the league (Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez). Quarterback Matt Ryan is finally realizing his vast potential, throwing eight touchdowns to one interception thus far. The fourth ranked defense also leads the league with seven interceptions. Normally considered a team only successful inside the Georgia Dome, Atlanta’s 27-3 win over San Diego was conducted in a dominant manner.

Arizona Cardinals: The unequivocal choice for biggest surprise thus far, the Cardinals defense is suffocating opponents to the tune of 13 points per game. After shocking the world and going into New England and dominating the Patriots for most of that game, the Cardinals kept the ball rolling, physically pounding an overmatched Eagles team. Kevin Kolb continued his conservative yet effective play (four TDs and 0 INTs in 59 pass attempts), and Arizona was able to force Philly into three likely turnovers. Arizona is one of those teams that plays great when ahead. They can lock down opposing receivers without having to blitz, and can control the time of possession on offense.

Chicago Bears: Perhaps the most maddeningly inconsistent team in football, perhaps taking on the stigma attached to their star quarterback. The Bears defense throttled Sam Bradford for six total sacks and two interceptions (including one pick-six). The division is there’s for the taking, as the Vikings aren’t for real and the Packers can’t run the ball. For the Bears to succeed, Jay Cutler needs to play within himself and not turn the ball over. Chicago’s defense certainly has the linebackers (Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers), and Tim Jennings is turning into a ball hawk with four interceptions. 

Three Down

New York Jets: If not for two Dan Carpenter missed field goals, the Jets would be 1-2. Either way, the team’s best player is out for the year with a torn ACL. Not only is Darrelle Revis the heart and soul of the team, his shutdown coverage of half of the field allows Rex Ryan to blitz at will. The Jets don’t have depth either, so don’t expect Kyle Wilson to come in and fill in a similar fashion as Revis. They also can’t do anything of significance on offense, and the Tim Tebow mess is only going to get worse.

New Orleans Saints: How bad do they miss Sean Payton right now? They sure wouldn’t be in a position to be potentially 0-4 (next week they travel to equally desperate Green Bay). After going up 24-6 against the winless Kansas City Chiefs at the Superdome, the Saints simply imploded. The defense allowed more than 500 yards and the Saints couldn’t run the ball. Drew Brees doesn’t look right and the team could soon be headed for an implosion.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Not only did they drop a game to a poor Oakland squad, the injuries to Troy Polamalu and James Harrison have to be disconcerting. The defense isn’t getting any younger, and without those two in the lineup, Darren McFadden was able to carve up the Steelers defense. They have failed to run the ball effectively in the absence of Rashard Mendenhall, however, Ben Roethlisberger is playing at a high level. The Ravens are the class of the AFC North right now, but there is still time for Pittsburgh to turn things around. 

Week Two: Where the Broncos and Falcons are Still Playing

Week Two ramblings while trying not to expound on the replacement refs and the fact that they let last night’s Broncos-Falcons game drag on for 3 1/2 hours. It was 10:30 EST by the time halftime mercifully rolled around.

- Speaking of last night’s game, Peyton Manning really took the sails out of his own team. The three interceptions he threw in the first eight minutes against Atlanta set his team back 20-0 on the road. Despite the fact that the Broncos rallied back to lose by six, no team can expect to turn the ball over that frequently and come out victorious.

- What an awful week for the class of elite quarterbacks – Brady, Brees, Manning, and Rodgers. They combined for one win and five touchdowns between the four of them. Fantasy owners everywhere weep.

- Sundays like these make me yearn for the Direct TV package. Not only were the Patriots saddled with being on Fox, there was no other one o’clock game to mirror them; it’s not like Baltimore and Philly were slugging it out on CBS or anything.

- New England played one of its worst games in recent memory, and despite the Cardinals best efforts in trying to hand the game over by running a toss sweep on third down with a rookie running back, the Patriots did not deserve to escape victorious. The Cardinals lived in the Patriots backfield all day, sacking Brady four times, and making the cement-footed quarterback fear for his life. The Patriots biggest concern – offensive line – reared its ugly head, with the right guard position being the main culprit. The best defense against Brady is to get to him, and Arizona did a great job of blowing up the offensive line and collapsing the pocket.  

- If Kevin Kolb can be a competent quarterback this season, the Arizona defense could lead this team to 10 wins. They’re scary on the line with Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett, Daryl Washington brings pain when he hits someone, Adrian Wilson is still underappreciated, and Patrick Peterson is already one of the league’s top cornerbacks in his second season. 

- If there is one positive in this loss for the Patriots, it’s the defense. They limited the Cardinals to 245 total yards. The linebacker core of Hightower, Mayo, and Spikes is already punishing anyone that gets in their way. Spikes pulled off an impressive spin move, nearly sacking Kolb, and his hit on Ryan Williams caused the fumble that nearly brought the team to victory. Devin McCourty also did a great job limiting Larry Fitzgerald to one catch for four yards. Every year the team experiences one of those required humbling losses that young players need. Two years ago it was Cleveland and last year it was Buffalo. Rarely do those losses come at Gillette Stadium.

- The tea and crumpets must not have been up to standard Sunday afternoon, because the Gillette crowd was just plain embarrassing. Not only were they quiet the whole game, besides the booing that could be heard after the first quarter, throngs of “pink-hatters” were spotted leaving early when the Patriots still had a shot to get the ball back. Anyone who leaves early in a situation like that is not a true fan.

- Don’t understand why the Jets didn’t at least insert Tebow in at the end of the game. Jets receivers did little to help out Mark Sanchez, but he just looked plain awful out there, sailing throws and hitting receivers in the back. The Jets mustered 219 total yards of offense, and while Tebow’s style may not be pretty, he has shown signs of being able move a team down the field in some capacity. Good sign for the Steelers being without Polamalu and Harrison, and still reducing the Jets offense to such futility.

- The Saints have a breather next week when they travel home to face the other 0-2 team in the Kansas City Chiefs, but I don’t see their situation improving much this season. Not only are they without their head coach until after Week Six, the defense is like swiss cheese (full of holes), they’re relying on Brees’ arm too much (he’s thrown more than 100 times in two games), and the schedule is daunting (at Green Bay, home versus the 49ers to name a few). Bounty gate has cast a season long shadow over a franchise that won the Super Bowl three seasons ago.

- The 2-0 Eagles could easily be 0-2 after another one-point victory, this time against an elite Baltimore squad. Mike Vick turned the ball over three times, and it could have been more. His offensive line is still a sore spot, and Vick is taking a beating physically. If Vick can stay healthy and the Eagles can limit turnovers they can be a dangerous team. Those two “ifs” remain quite large.

- The Idiot of the Week Award goes to Josh Morgan who legitimately cost his team a chance to win the game after committing a ghastly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of Washington’s 31-28 loss against St. Louis. It doesn’t matter that Cortland Finnegan is known as an instigator (his shove was minimal), Morgan’s actions after the play were just plain childish. The Redskins were forced to attempt a 62-yard field goal that predictably sailed wide. Jay Cutler deserves honorable mention for his quotes inciting the Packers defense.

NFL Week One Thoughts

- Can Roger Goodell and the NFL please pay the real referees to come back? Just like the difference between the speed of a Division III Liberty League game and a Giants-Cowboys tilt is evident, the difference in the quality of NFL refs and replacement refs is too. The NFL is worth billions upon billions of dollars. If they truly cared about player safety, the better referees would be working games at this point.

- No games were cost at this point by a referees decision, but there were a few close calls in Week One, namely between the Seahawks and Cardinals when Seattle was wrongly awarded a fourth timeout. The outcry will be loud and clear the next time a replacement ref makes a game costing decision.

- Despite the referee conundrum, the NFL remains a winner every year. The primetime game between Denver and Pittsburgh set new regular season records, and the league somehow seems to keep getting more popular. The Sunday for the first regular season games should be a national holiday.

- The Giants looked like, well, the Giants. They sleepwalked through Wednesday’s opener against Dallas like they did much of last season. The secondary needs to heal up fast and the running back tandem of Ahmad Bradshaw and David Wilson can’t cough up the football. Turnovers are a death sentence in the NFL.

- The Eagles-Browns game was one of the worst games in a long time. Brandon Weeden had a QB Rating of 5.1, and the Browns somehow should have won the game still. Cleveland dropped a game ending interception, and new coach Pat Shurmur inexplicably had his team kick an extra point when going for two was the obvious choice. Andy Reid tried giving this game away, phasing out LeSean McCoy and having Mike Vick throw 56 times.

- Out of the five rookie quarterbacks starting last Sunday, only Robert Griffin III was victorious. With an impressive 73 Percent completion percentage, 320 passing yards, and two touchdown passes, Griffin III looked poised in what is normally hostile territory (New Orleans’ Superdome). Redskins fans have reason for hope, while the absence of Head Coach Sean Payton may be a doomsday for Saints fans.

- The Patriots using Wes Welker for 64 Percent of its offensive snaps is not surprising (at least as a Patriots fan). The reason Welker has been relied on so heavily since coming to New England is because he has often been one of the only reliable receivers (particularly last season). With Josh McDaniels heavy tight end approach and x-receiver Brandon Lloyd (x-receivers line up on the line of scrimmage and are generally more physical outside receivers) being deployed liberally, Welker’s usage is bound to decline a bit. The Patriots are also trying to become more balanced, evidenced in the success of Stevan Ridley during the team’s 34-13 win in Tennessee. Julian Edelman has also earned more playing time. The team becomes that much scarier offensively using the approach seen on Sunday. The balanced attack also helps the defense out, not being on the field as often.

- Speaking of defenses that needed help on Sunday, I think Buffalo fans were collectively given a cold shower after witnessing the New York Jets drop 48 points, this after failing to score an offensive touchdown the entire preseason. Mario Williams is an incredibly talented player, but his success comes in accumulating sacks. As a defensive end Williams is not an interior player. Meaning he can be taken out of games; not something that a franchise player should have happen to him. Do you think Bills ownership is kicking themselves on Ryan Fitzpatrick? He’s clearly not a franchise quarterback, and should never have been given a big contract after putting up good numbers for all of a half of a season.

- I may have overestimated the Colts this season. There is a real lack of talent there, and Andrew Luck may have a hard time staying on his feet with such a porous offensive line. Perhaps the two most talented members of its defense (Dwight Freeney and Vontae Davis) each suffered setbacks Sunday. Freeney suffered an ankle injury and did not return, while Davis was physically abused by Bears wideout Brandon Marshall (the two were teammates last season in Miami, in which it is safe to say they did not get along).

- The 49ers may have been the biggest winners Sunday, dismantling the Packers in Lambeau Field, 30-22 (the game wasn’t actually that close). Randy Moss made his triumphant return to the NFL, hauling in an easy red zone touchdown, and the San Francisco defense looked like the most physically imposing unit in the league. The Packers reliance on Aaron Rodgers will ultimately be its downfall if they can’t establish some sort of running attack. Other than Cedric Benson’s nine carries for 18 yards, Rodgers was the team’s only other rusher. There is a stark difference between the Patriots and Packers, whereas the Packers have yet to change from the previous season, the Patriots are offering more balance to make Tom Brady that much better.

- It was good to see Peyton Manning make his triumphant return to football (albeit a little weird that it was in Bronco’s orange). While he certainly looked great, the Steelers defense barely laid a finger on him. Denver’s success Sunday night came when running the no-huddle offense that Manning ran in Indy.

- If Baltimore continues to run the vertical game that we saw Monday night against Cincinnati, the team will be very dangerous. Flacco is difficult to game plan against when he is airing it out instead of trying to run some sort of West Coast offense. Torey Smith is turning into a legitimate No. 1 option, and the tight end duo of Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta is surprisingly dangerous. The defense will always be stout, but it will be noteworthy to monitor the health of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis this season; their combined age is 71.      

Like Fans Everywhere, Pats Ready for Upcoming Season

It would be a repetitive action to say that the New England Patriots enter the 2012 NFL Season with the highest of aspirations, considering that that has been the case in Foxboro for the past decade. Anyone with a pair of eye balls could have spotted that the defense was the main weakness of the team, more specifically a secondary that gave up huge chunks of yards at a continued rate.

With the dynamic duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick back again for year No.13, and new addition Brandon Lloyd in the mix, New England expects to be amongst the leaders in offensive efficiency yet again.

With Friday August 31 the final deadline for teams around the NFL to make the annual brain hemorrhaging decision of trimming rosters down from 80 to 53, general managers around the league will have to decide what is best for their squads going forward.

The Patriots have already made a number of significant cuts, including two free agents – Jonathan Fanene and Jabar Gaffney – who were thought to be contributors this season.

Here are three players making their way up the depth chart:

QB Ryan Mallett: A first round talent with late round baggage, Mallett was nabbed by the Patriots in last year’s draft as a value pick, and as someone who could potentially become a starter down the road. Mallett has looked increasingly better this preseason than previous, and is capable of making cannon sized throws on par with other starting quarterbacks in the league. Mallett looked good against Tampa Bay August 24, firing two touchdowns on seven completions. More importantly for the former Razorback, it appears Mallett may have unseated incumbent Brady backup, Brian Hoyer, as the team’s new No.2 signal caller.

OL Dan Connolly: With injuries (Mankins, Vollmer), inconsistent play (Koppen, Solder), and one looming absence (Waters), Connolly has stepped in as one of the Patriots most important offensive lineman. His ability to play both center and guard allows for some flexibility once Brian Waters hopefully returns from his hiatus. Additionally, Dan Koppen has struggled to regain his form as a pro bowl caliber center after being sidelined nearly all of last season. Koppen lacks the flexibility to switch from his natural center position to guard.

DE Chandler Jones: To say that Jones has given the defense a jolt would be a mass understatement. The pass rushing freak out of Syracuse has immediately affirmed his position as the top defensive end, alongside Rob Ninkovich, in the Patriots new 4-3 base scheme. Already drawing unfair comparisons to the Giants Jason Pierre-Paul, Jones has looked impressive this preseason harassing opposing quarterbacks. Jones is certainly far from a finished product (this season and in his career), but his strength and tenacity will help usher in a new era and aid the loss of last year’s sack leader, Andre Carter.  

Here are three players trending down the depth chart:

Brandon Lloyd: OK, Lloyd isn’t exactly sliding down officially from his No.2 position at receiver, but his play with Brady also hasn’t left us in awe the way Randy Moss did back in 2007. The new No.85 has unfortunately played a bit like last year’s No.85, not in his ability to understand the playbook, but rather with his lack of rapport with Brady. Lloyd has only produced one catch in two preseason games, and appears a step or two off with Brady. Lloyd’s position on this team as someone who can stretch the field and make difficult plays in traffic is ultra-important for the Patriots success. With Rob Gronkowski hurt in last season’s super bowl the Giants decided to give supposed deep threat, Chad Ocho Cinco, single coverage. Brady didn’t even glance in Ocho’s direction. That trust between Lloyd and Brady has to be present this year.    

2^nd Cornerback: It’s hard to decipher preseason statistics in any sort of manner, but it has become clear that the second cornerback spot alongside the underrated Kyle Arrington, may yet again become a sore spot for this team. Ras-I Dowling, a second round pick last year with high potential and an injury case waiting to happen, missed most of last season and is struggling somewhat to stay on the field thus far. In contrast,  Devin McCourty is still trying to regain the form he had two seasons ago, in which he distinguished himself as one of the premier young corners. Last season, however, McCourty gladly escorted opposing receivers down the field, letting up huge play after huge play. Belichick hopes McCourty will take the reins beside Arrington (the team briefly flirted with the idea of McCourty at safety last season) and show Patriots fans what they saw during his rookie campaign.

OL Marcus Cannon: A bit of a surprise last season dressing in seven games, the TCU product was inserted into the preseason lineup at right tackle, as a replacement for the injured Sebastian Vollmer. Cannon’s lack of athleticism has been exposed at tackle, going up against more quick and agile defensive ends, as opposed to the beefier defensive tackles. Cannon has also been overpowered at times, a surprising occurrence considering that was supposed to be one of his strengths coming out of college. New England has to hope that Vollmer and his tender back come back to full strength and solidify the right tackle position. Cannon’s spot on the 53 man roster should be safe, providing some depth on the offensive line.   

Fantasy Stars of 2012

Top Five Fantasy Players of 2012

Tom Brady: ‘The rich get richer’.  After throwing 39 touchdowns (17 to uber-stud/meathead Rob Gronkowski), Bill Belichick brought back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.  McDaniels was the coordinator behind 2007’s record setting offense.  To go along with McDaniels, Brandon Lloyd enters the fray as someone who can stretch the field and provide another option to go with Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and Gronkowski.  Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth will compete with Brady favorite - Deion Branch - for the final wide receiver spots. 

New England should be fine going with a running back committee of Ridley/Vereen/Woodhead, throwing in Olympic sprinter/Florida Gator Jeff Demps to spice things up.  While some of Brady’s options – namely, Welker and Gronkowski – may see a dip in production, expect Brady to be the fantasy leader by season’s end.

Aaron Rodgers: 2011’s fantasy point’s leader, Rodgers returns to the Gold and Green healthy and with the same cast as last season.  For leagues that take away points for interceptions, Rodgers six picks to 45 touchdowns last season, was pure gravy.  Cedric Benson should be a healthy upgrade over Ryan Grant, but it’s the trio of Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley that continue to terrorize defensive coordinators in their sleep.

The Packers 35 points per game led the NFL, and with a relatively easy schedule (they match up with the NFC West and AFC South), expect Rodgers’ ascension into the hearts of Cheese Heads to continue.

Drew Brees: A testament to the level of play and the way the game has changed, Brees slides in as the No.3 ranked player, but could easily be chosen first.  Often overlooked after Brady and Rodgers, as well as the turmoil that has surrounded the Saints, Brees’ 5,476 passing yards last season was an NFL record.  New Orleans remains a balanced attack, however.

The Saints ranked sixth in rush yards per game (133), behind teams like the Broncos, Panthers, and Eagles, which sported running quarterbacks.  Robert Meachem’s departure allows Brees favorite, Lance Moore, to step into a more consistent role.  The diminutive thunder bug, Darren Sproles, returns as the all around threat that accumulated a league leading 2,696 all-purpose yards last season.  Athletic freak Jimmy Graham enters just his third season.

Arian Foster: When Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson both went down last season, Houston switched identities, going from a pass happy offense to a ground and pound defensive team.  Leading the way rushing, despite missing three games, were Foster and his 1,841 combined rushing and receiving yards.  Some may point to the emergence of Ben Tate as a red-flag. 

Keep in mind that outside of Johnson (who hasn’t played in a full season since 2009) the Texans lack skilled receivers.  Schaub also hasn’t been a staple of good health, and has consistently looked average as a starting quarterback.  Entering his fourth year in the league (third as a starter), Foster is in line for an elite-level year as the premier running back.

Matthew Stafford: Stafford somehow fell under the radar in 2011 despite throwing for 41 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards.  Detroit failed to produce much of a running attack last year, and with Jahvid Best likely on the PUP list, and oft-injured Kevin Smith penciled in as the starter, expect Stafford to air the pigskin out a lot.  Stafford’s 663 pass attempts last season are third on the all-time single season record list.  With all of those attempts coming, someone has to catch them for Detroit to succeed.

Enter “Megatron”.  Finishing first among receivers and 11^th overall in fantasy points, Calvin Johnson’s 6’5 frame provides the ultimate security blanket.  Detroit also plays inside comfy confines of a dome. 

Sleeper

Matt Ryan: The 10^th ranked fantasy player from 2011 remains under the radar this season, and it’s somewhat easy to recognize why.  The Falcons, expected to take a step forward, went 10-6.  Ryan, anticipated to compete as a top tier quarterback, produced similar numbers to the previous season. 

With Roddy White and Julio Jones poised to become one of the top receiving tandem in the league, Tony Gonzalez still as one of the top tight ends in the league, and Harry Douglas and Jacquizz Rodgers expected to take on bigger roles this season, the Falcons may have one of the leagues sneaky best offenses.  Perhaps Ryan’s performance in Atlanta’s playoff game against the Giants has him ranked as the 11^th best fantasy quarterback.  Consider “Matty Ice” to be a great value pick.

Fearless Predictions for a Frightening Season

The 2012 Boston Red Sox season has been tumultuous to say the least, and according to numerous baseball sources, the clubhouse could erupt into disarray at any moment.  If we haven’t witnessed “disarray” yet during one of the most agonizing seasons in recent memory, one has to wonder how these next few months will play out. 

A mishap between Manager Bobby Valentine and third baseman Will Middlebrooks recently surfaced to the media.  Valentine made a comment to Middlebrooks earlier in the season after the rookie committed a couple of errors; essentially teasing Middlebrooks in a playful manner.  Someone or someone’s went behind Valentine’s back to upper management, voicing their displeasure about the much maligned manager. 

To say that Valentine has zero control over the team is like saying ESPN Analyst Buster Olney and Valentine have a rocky relationship; it’s extremely evident.  From comments about Mike Aviles, to Kevin Youkilis, to Carl Crawford, Valentine has routinely set himself apart from his players this season.  No wonder the team is treading water at 53-53, and despite being just four games back from a wild card spot, the team’s collective malaise offers little hope for postseason play at Fenway this season.

Here are a few fearless predictions going forward:

- Bobby Valentine fails to last the rest of the season

This season reminds a bit of the disastrous 2001 season and a roster filled with overpaid stiffs (Jose Offerman, Mike Lansing, Bret Saberhagen), and a middling manager (Jimy Williams).  The difference being that the 2012 team is far and away more talented than that squad, and there is clear disdain between everyone and Valentine, whereas the main turmoil involving Williams was solely between him and ownership.

Valentine has done his best job of getting fired, showing an outright arrogance during press conferences, and recently shouting, “I’m not trying to get fired”, behind Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy as he was doing pregame television work.  The comments uttered seemed to extract opposite feelings.  What manager of a major league baseball team says that to the national media (in Boston, nonetheless) without the thought, ‘Heck, I may be out the door soon; Might as well make this fun’.  There’s no chance Valentine makes it to next season, so what’s stopping Red Sox ownership from pulling the plug on the Bobby V. experiment?

- Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford get put on waivers; neither gets picked up

To say that Josh Beckett has turned into public enemy No.1 in Boston this season is highly remarkable considering who is manager is.  Beckett has accomplished this feat, distancing himself from the fans and media, all the while growing a third and fourth chin.  At 32, owed more than $30 million over the next two years, and showing awful durability issues, no other team is going to pick up his contract.

The Crawford case is one of the more frustrating one’s for the Red Sox.  He spent the previous decade terrorizing the Red Sox as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Now, he’s doing the same as a member of the Red Sox.  Count me as one of the few remaining members of the Carl Crawford Fan Club.  I was ecstatic over the prospects that he could bring to this team and pairing his skills with Jacoby Ellsbury’s.  His speed, defense, and high contact rate with Tampa should have translated into success in Boston.  Instead, his speed has gone to little use, his defense has been above average at best (his elbow will probably need Tommy John Surgery), and his on-base percentage continues to hover below .300.  One team I could see making the plunge and obtaining Crawford’s services would be the Miami Marlins.  They already overpaid for a trio of free agents this offseason, and is a team continually looking to make a splash (no pun intended).  Their production out of left field has been minimal, and the new stadium caters more to Crawford’s gap-hitting game.

- Ryan Lavarnway steals starts at catcher

Whether Lavarnway takes time away from Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Kelly Shoppach remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Red Sox think something of the 24 year old prospect.  “Salty” is arbitration eligible for next season, and can become a free agent in 2014.  At 27, he should be hitting the peak of his catching career.  While twenty homeruns through 83 games thus far is a good sign, his strikeout to walk ratio is atrocious, as well as his on base percentage.  Shoppach remains an insurance policy, and a solid back up for any team.  One has to wonder why the Red Sox didn’t part with him at the trade deadline.  Lavarnway at least presents the team with some flexibility going forward as a catcher/DH.

- Adrian Gonzalez and Jon Lester make some fans forget about their disappointing seasons

Let me preface this by saying that Lester and Gonzalez are upper echelon players when healthy and right.  This season, however, they have not.  Lester, still just 28 and left-handed, has shown decreased velocity and less control this season than in years past.  He still has the ability to be an even better pitcher than he was before this season.  He’s only thrown more than 200 innings three times in his career, and while his velocity is down a bit, his game should not be predicated on how fast he throws.  Even when his fastball topped out at 95MPH, it was his location and willingness to use a full arsenal and both sides of the plate that helped him succeed.  Final Pitching Line Prediction: 11-11 4.50ERA.

If you look at Gonzalez’s numbers as a whole this season, they don’t look too bad: .302BA 10HR 62RBI through 104 games.  The alarming statistic – 10 homeruns – indicates that even though he’s playing in a ballpark catered to his swing, his power numbers are his worst since he became a full time player in 2006.  What’s even more astounding is that he used to do his work in cavernous Petco Park in San Diego.  Fearless prediction the rest of the way: .310BA 20HR 102RBI.

Rotation for Sox Needs Upgrade

To say that the 2012 Boston Red Sox season has been a tumultuous roller coaster thus far would be a disservice to everyone involved with the team.  Although they somehow sit a mere 6.5 games behind in the AL East, the team has shown no signs of making any serious runs this season.  It was just one year ago that this “super” team was the toast of Major League Baseball, destined to manhandle any opponent that would come its way. 

The epic September collapse has come and gone.  The pitching staff, which floundered profusely down the stretch last season, has been a disappointment thus far to say the least.  While the offense has struggled, largely due to the absence of the starting outfield, the starting pitching continues to trend downhill.

Since they won the World Series in 2007, the pitching staff has progressively gotten worse.  After allowing 657 runs in 2007, the number went up to 737 last season.  The team is already at 290 runs allowed this season, ranked just above the Twins for second to last in the AL. 

Instead of progressing with a young core of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz  since its championship 2007 campaign, the staff has bottomed out this season.  Here are all of the culprits.

Josh Beckett: Often cited as the main offender of the “Chicken & Beer Gate” from last season, Beckett has distanced himself from the media and fans effectively by telling fans he earned all of the days off (this was after he was spotted golfing after being scratched from a start).  Not only has Beckett become one of the most highly unlikeable “star” Boston athletes in recent memory, his play has become rather average.  Average play would be fine for a third a fourth starter, not for a former World Series MVP who just signed an extension through 2014.  He’s also prone to a half dozen injuries a year, is on the wrong side of 30, and has had his physical condition questioned numerous times.  His fake tough guy routine has always seemed like a complete façade, and now that he has treated the fans (who help pay his salary with high ticket prices) with complete disdain, a 4.14 ERA from a supposed ace this season makes him all the more intolerable.  After getting swept at home and dropping its record to 14-19 at Fenway Park, the Red Sox were looking for an “ace-like” effort from Beckett against his old team, the Miami Marlins.  Facing the Marlins stud of the future, Josh Johnson, the other Josh submitted a pedestrian line of four earned runs in seven innings pitched.

Jon Lester: Expected to be the team’s top pitcher and go-to performer in recent seasons, Lester has faltered in poor fashion this season.  After falling from grace last September, Lester has failed to pick up his play this season, seeing his ERA rise to 4.57 this season.  Last season, despite his September struggles, it was at 3.47.  His hardened demeanor has always resonated well with fans, but has often seemed to sidetrack him at times.  After getting squeezed by umpires, instead of narrowing in on hitters, Lester has let it get to him.  He tends to lose his focus, and by the end of a poor inning, can usually be seen glaring back at the home plate umpire.  If he wants to fully realize his potential as one of the games dominant pitchers, Lester has to mature beyond the missed the calls.  His decreased velocity is also a major concern.

Clay Buchholz: Somehow has six wins on the season, in spite of 13 homeruns allowed and a 5.77 ERA.  Buchholz went from phenom in 2007 (tossing a no-hitter as a 22 year old), to a bust in 2008 (posting a god awful 6.75 ERA in 15 starts.  Baseball experts decried his 17-win campaign in 2010 due to his low strikeout to walk ratio.  A former first round pick, Buchholz has been dreadful this season, although he has shown significant improvement of late.  He has allowed four earned runs in his last 24 innings pitched, including a complete game shutout in his last start against Baltimore.

Felix Doubront: Perhaps biggest bright spot of the rotation thus far, the 24 year old southpaw from Venezuela has taken hold of the No. 4 spot with some solid pitching performances.  Although he has rarely been overly spectacular this season, it would be hard for the Red Sox to ask more from a pitcher who had only started two games in his career at the major league level before this season.  While he may have some control issues, Doubront’s 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings is surely impressive.  The Red Sox may have a future No. 3 starter in Doubront.

Daniel Bard: What has been said about Doubront unfortunately can’t be said about Bard.  Mysteriously converted from a setup man to a starter this season – even after Jonathan Papelbon left for Philadelphia – Bard was recently sent down to AAA Pawtucket after submitting one of the worst pitching lines in recent memory: 1.2 innings pitched; 5 earned runs; six walks; two hit batters.  The one positive; one hit allowed.  One of the best bullpen pitchers in all of baseball just two years ago (and one of the games young stars in the making), Bard has fallen fast from grace.  His mechanics look like a mess, and he doesn’t seem to throw the ball with as much force as he once did.  Couple that with the fact that he has been deemed relatively fragile mentally, one has to hope that Bard can regain the same filthy stuff he once had, whether it be as a starter or reliever.

Daisuke Matsuzaka: Even though he just completed his first start of the season (a not-so-bad showing against Washington), Daisuke deserves to be raked over the coals just as much as the other members of the staff.  If not for the John Lackey experiment, Daisuke may have been considered Theo Epstein’s worst mistake (also see: Lugo, Julio; Drew, J.D.; Jenks, Bobby; Crawford, Carl).  After the Red Sox posted a ridiculous posting fee just to speak with him, Daisuke has stolen a large majority of his $52 million salary.  Daisuke has gone from 61 games started in 2007-08, to 45 in his last four years of service.  A nibbler to say the least when it comes to throwing strikes, Daisuke has allowed a whopping 302 walks in 627 innings, good for a career 4.3 walks per nine inning ratio.  Perhaps Manager Bobby Valentine’s stint as a successful Japanese manager can help Daisuke become half the starter the Red Sox envisioned when they signed him.             

Spurs - Thunder Game Six Log (2nd Half)

The Spurs and Thunder battled for Western Conference supremacy Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. I picked up the game less than five minutes into the second half with the Spurs leading 65-59.

- Spurs call timeout. OKC crowd is like a rowdy Division I college crowd - loud, drunk, and always standing.  

- Thunder are on 11-2 run to start third quarter. It's clear that Spurs interior defense is non-existent outside of Duncan.

- Speaking of Duncan, he just threw one down like it was 2003; temporarily stopping the bleeding.

- Westbrook offensive foul off of the ensuing TV timeout. It's clear that this team is at its best when Durant is moving with the ball, as well without it. Westbrook still hasn't found the right balance between being aggressive and setting up Durant. Scary to think about since this team is just getting started together.   

- Perk leads a fast break. Repeat: Perk leads a fast break. Spurs lead 71-64 with five minutes left in third.  Danny Ainge's trade of Perk doesn't look as bad as it once did. Perk is allergic to scoring and can't defend the pick and roll. He doesn't have a heart problem, though.   

- Stephen Jackson doing "Stephen Jackson" things. Hits corner three to silence crowd for the moment, stares at the Thunder bench while jogging back, and is subsequently hit with a technical foul for...staring? Reggie Miller, the color commentator for the game, even said that he did that all the time. "Miller Time" would've been thrown out every time he stepped foot inside Madison Square Garden. Will chest bumping be outlawed next?

- Durant slices through the D like a hot blade through butter; too easy. 

- Jackson answers back with gigantic three; 77-74 Spurs, three minutes to go in third. It should be a mandatory rule that Jackson be placed on a contender every spring, preferably in San Antonio. The guy was meant to hit big shots.

- Parker goes from playing like an MVP in the first half, to playing too tight in the second half. After a 21 point, ten assist first half, Parker goes for eight and two in the second half. Four of those second half points came as end of the game desperation layups. For as much as Boston fans purge over Rondo's inconsistencies (not that bad), Parker is much worse for Spurs fans. In his defense, Westbrook is a killer physical match up for any point guard.

- Durant hits a killer cold blooded crossover three, and OKC take the lead. It would be shocking if the Spurs win this game. That's how good the Thunder are playing, and the confidence you see on the court. From a basketball fan's perspective, this game is gold.

- Parker hits first field goal of second half off of pretty spin move and finger roll. Like Rondo, Parker is at his best when sneaking through the paint.

- Durant three puts Thunder back on top 81-80. Durant is transforming from ultra-gifted scorer/great teammate to a bona fide game changer/killer playoff performer. His movement without the basketball makes him that much more dangerous. Props to Scott Brooks for doing something more than iso's.  

- Popovich = Not angry at Craig Sager and his suit.

- Thunder have all of the momentum going into the final period. Spurs look surprisingly jittery and nervous, Manu in particular.

- Popovich decides to go ultra small with Gary Neal, Manu, Kawhi Leonard, Jackson, and Boris Diaw down 84-82 and ten minutes left. 

- Too small. Durant and Thunder have no deterrents going to hoop. Duncan is brought back into the game a minute later.

- Can't believe I'm saying this, but Spurs body language looks defeated and tired, while Thunder are playing like a game of NBA Jam.

- Tiago Splitter enters game; Tiago Splitter fouls Durant; Tiago Splitter gets an earful from Pop and leaves game. Thank you, come again.

- Durant takes an offensive foul with eight minutes left in the game. If you're a Spurs fan that is a death sentence, as that was Durant's - count it - first charge taken this season.

- 88-84 Thunder.

- Westbrook is fouled on a phantom call. For some reason, the Thunder are already getting beneficial/favorable calls from the officials. This has me fearing the potential Celtics-Thunder match up. 

- Spurs put on a clinic in the first quarter, played an even second quarter, and were out-gunned, out-jumped, and out-hustled in the second half.

- The Thunder are deadly when put in the bonus. Ibaka is worst crunch time free throw shooter this postseason at 76 Percent.

- Duncan pulls off a vintage spin and hook off the glass over his left shoulder, but Derek Fisher hits a corner three; 96-93 Thunder with 3:30 left. No one could have predicted that Fisher would be playing crunch time minutes for the Thunder at the beginning of the season, and still be hitting annoyingly big shots. Fisher is one of the most overrated/underrated players from the past decade, a Robert Horry lite if you will.

- "Big-Game James" hits huge three; 99-93 Thunder. Spurs are like a grizzled boxing legend getting pummeled in the 15th round (reacting instead of acting); basically just hoping to land a haymaker or two.

- Westbrook grabs own rebound off of own missed free throw. Has to be disappointing for Pop to see that.

- Parker splits two defenders and puts in a difficult reverse layup; Spurs down 101-97 with two minutes left. 

- Fisher hits a tough bank shot (still hard to believe that he's playing crunch time minutes), and Parker misses a baseline jumper that has Thunder ready to win...until Perk misses an open ten-foot jump shot.

- Perk, however, makes up for his miss with a dunk from a slip of a pick and roll. Game. Set. Match. 107-99 final.

- Tough to see Duncan lose like this. Hope he doesn't ride off into the sunset just yet.

- Spurs role players failed to step up after Game Two (minus Jackson). Duncan also was teams only interior presence against a physically imposing Thunder front court.

- Thunder played possessed in the second half, shooting 50 Percent from the field for the game. Brooks has found a nice rotation, and is finally getting more from his players outside of Durant iso's. They will be considerable favorites against whichever team comes out of the East.

- In related news, Sonics fans misery continues vigorously.

MLB Season Littered with Surprise

                                                                                                                                                   

More than one-quarter of a way through the 2012 Major League Baseball season, there have been an ample amount of surprises. The four teams with the highest payroll this season – Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels, in that order – own a combined record of 98-94. Baseball’s prized free agent acquisition and the Angels $240 million dollar man, Albert Pujols, is currently on pace for his worst statistical season of all time. Boston’s big free agent pickup last season (take a guess, it’s not Carl Crawford), Adrian Gonzalez, has an OPS of .749, his worst since 2005 when he was a part time player with Texas.

Mariano Rivera, the game’s all-time greatest closer (and someone who is not a human being), went on the season-ending disabled list after tearing his ACL shagging fly balls in the outfield of Kansas City’s Kaufmann Stadium. This was supposed to be Rivera’s swan song; instead, he will attempt to battle back at the ripe age of 42 to take the mound next season at Yankee Stadium.

Speaking of injuries, the Philadelphia Phillies look like a battered and bruised bunch. Jimmy Rollins is batting .225 on the season, Ty Wigginton and Freddy Galvis have replaced the Ryan Howard/Chase Utley combo (Utley may never be the same, no matter when he comes back), and Roy Halladay exited his previous start with shoulder soreness after two innings.

On the other side of the diamond, the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers – two teams who had minimal expectations entering the season – are restoring some luster and excitement for two baseball hungry cities. The Orioles have succeeded due to their young stars – Matt Weiters, J.J. Hardy, and Adam Jones – emerging as big time players, as well as a bullpen full of scrap heaps help bring down a team ERA of 3.54.

Led by all-stud Matt Kemp, the Dodgers have stunned the city of angels with the best record in the major leagues thus far. Andre Ethier has had a resurgence of sorts just in time for his free agency turn, and the promotion of 31 year old A.J. Ellis to full time catcher has proved dividends. Los Angeles may have the best position player-pitcher combo in the game in ace Clayton Kershaw and the aforementioned Kemp.

Perhaps we are seeing a fundamental shift in how teams will operate in the future, more specifically, valuing the development of younger players and not overpaying for aging talent.

The Nationals and Rays have taken that approach (minus the Nats’ ridiculous deal to Jayson Werth). The Rays have placed a premium on young pitching, cheap free agent options, and building around a few position players. Meanwhile, the Nationals lucked out by nabbing superstars in the making, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in the draft, and building one of the best starting rotations in the majors through the acquisitions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson, and the continued emergence of Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.

Even the managers – Joe Maddon and Davey Johnson – have brought a stability and easy going style that has translated into success for both ball clubs.

There may be more to building a successful team than simply throwing dollars at the next “big” free agent, particularly if that free agent is on the wrong side of 30. We’ve seen it with the highest paid clubs; Adrian Gonzalez with the Red Sox, Mark Teixeira with the Yankees, Albert Pujols with the Angels, and Ryan Howard with the Phillies.

Let’s see if the Orioles, Dodgers, Rays, and Nationals can hold their ground this season.

Five Up/Five Down: Here my five biggest surprises and five biggest disappointments thus far this season.

Surprises
Josh Hamilton – Far and away the league leader in homeruns with 20, and sporting an absurd OPS of 1.175, Hamilton is having the best possible start to a contract year that someone can possibly have. One has  to worry about his health (he’s only played in more than 133 games once in five years) and the toll that playing center field in the sweltering summer heat of Texas will do to his body. In the meantime, sit back and marvel at the leading MVP candidate.



Brandon Beachy – The Braves sure do know how to find good pitching, don’t they? While the rest of the rotation has been up and down a bit this season, Beachy is sporting a nice 1.77 ERA as a starter. The Braves signed the undrafted free agent from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008, and thrust him into the starting rotation last year, where he started 25 games and posted a respectable 3.68 ERA. In a difficult NL East, the Braves will need everything that the young Beachy has this season.

Paul Konerko – Not that anything resembling 30 homeruns, 100 RBIs, and a .300 batting average is ever a shock at the end of the season, it’s the amazing anonymity that Konerko operates under. Konerko is hitting .395 on the season, repeat .395; this coming from a 36 year old often overlooked by bigger names at first base. The White Sox have played above expectations this season, thanks in due part to Konerko.

Gio Gonzalez – I certainly thought Gonzalez was good, but perhaps not this good. Currently leading the majors in strikeouts with 79, Gonzalez is leading the surprise first place Nationals with a 2.04 ERA. Also leading the league in H/9 (hits per nine innings), Gonzalez has put to rest any concerns the Nationals had about his control issues, as well as transitioning from Oakland to Washington.

Melky Cabrera – An incredible steal in the offseason for the Giants (Jonathan Sanchez’s injuries and inconsistencies were maddening), the overlooked outfielder is leading the league in hits, thus far. With an OBP over .400, and somehow still just 27 years old, Cabrera should command the outfield in San Francisco for the foreseeable future.

Disappointments
Albert Pujols – As mentioned above, Pujols is experiencing the worst start to any of his 12 seasons. Not only is he hitting .232, he’s not getting on base (13 walks in 212 plate appearances), and his usual power has been absent (just seven homeruns through 49 games). Pujols has another 10 years in Los Angeles, so Angels fans should get used to seeing Albert in the lineup, regardless of how he is performing.

Rickie Weeks – With Prince Fielder gone from Milwaukee, Weeks was supposed to help pickup a lot of the production that Fielder took with him to Detroit. Instead, Weeks has arguably been one of the worst players in the league this season. Second in the league with 62 whiffs, Weeks has hit a putrid .156 this season. With a mere 26 hits through 48 games, Weeks has not helped a Brewers team expected to contend this season.

Tim Lincecum – Perhaps the innings and aggressive throwing have caught up to Lincecum and his diminutive frame, but he is experiencing a year no one could have expected. Sporting a hideous 6.41 ERA and a walk rate that keeps on climbing, it has been noted that his velocity has been down this year to a fastball that reaches 90 miles per hour. The Giants need Lincecum to be better if they want to even contend for a wild card spot.

Geovany Soto – It was just a few years ago that the catcher from Puerto Rico earned an all-star bid and a rookie of the year award. Since his breakout campaign in 2008, Soto’s stock has consistently worsened. After hitting .228 in 125 games last season, Soto has hit .161 in a mere 28 games played, and is currently on the disabled list. One has to wonder whether the young Cubs will feature the 29 year old Soto as its catcher of the future.

Heath Bell – Buyer beware; never overpay for a closer, especially one who found success in San Diego’s pitching haven, and one who has battled weight issues his career. After the Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle signings, Bell was the closer that would complete the Miami Marlins massive overhaul. Instead, Bell has floundered to the point that Ozzie Guillen has removed him from save situations (although Bell remains the closer, according to Guillen). Nearly allowing a run per inning (16 in 18 innings pitched), Bell’s $27 million dollar deal is looking uglier than the Marlins uniforms right now.

Garnett's Play an Inspiration

For an outside observer viewing a Boston Celtics game for the first time, it will take little to no time to get acquainted with employee No. 5. He’s tall (7-feet) with a freakishly long build, sports a shiny dome that glistens even more under arena lights, and is generously listed at 253 lbs. by Celtics management. He swears like a sailor and enjoys intimidating opponents through the art of trash talk. He’s also one of the biggest reasons the Celtics have a legitimate shot at raising banner No. 18.

Aside from glancing at Garnett’s gaudy postseason averages – 20.3 points and 11 rebounds per game on 55 Percent shooting – there has been a telling statistic thus far in the series against Philadelphia. With Garnett on the floor, the Celtics have been a staggeringly +47. When he’s needed a breather, the team has dropped to -31.

The team’s leading rebounder, and quite frankly, one of the only rebounders in Celtic green, it is easy to see why the Celtics get beat on the boards when Garnett is out (+15 when in; -15 when out). His presence, however, is far more reaching. The Celtics points per 48 minutes and field goal percentage go down remarkably when the big man is on the bench. Boston has also shot three pointers at 41 Percent (14-34) when he’s on the court and a putrid 8 Percent (1-13) when he’s not.

Garnett’s play on defense goes without saying, but it has been his offense that has been just as pivotal to the team’s success. Going against a tandem of Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes, Garnett has punished both down low, as well as with his patented 18-foot range. The effects of Garnett’s success have a trickle down effect with the team.

When he’s on the block Philadelphia has really had no match for him. When they leave Brand or Hawes one-on-one to defend Garnett, he just goes over the top of them with his unblock-able and high arching shot. When the 76ers send someone over to double-team, Garnett, who is one of the best passing big men of all-time, finds the open man. Him getting the ball down low creates more space for the perimeter players to move in, and allows players like Mikael Pietrus (who had been struggling prior to Game Two) to

knock down three’s.

Conversely, when Garnett is roaming the perimeter, it creates other offensive avenues for the Celtics to score. As evidenced by his 13 first quarter points and his ability to get to the basket seemingly anytime he wants to, Rajon Rondo’s efforts in Game Three produced 23 points on 16 shots to go along with 14 assists. When Garnett is out on the perimeter, Rondo can take his man one-on-one and expect not to be met by a big man in the paint. If a big man does step up, the vision-gifted Rondo has shooters all around him to distribute to. Rondo found his way into the paint on Wednesday with relative ease. Garnett can also run the pick and pop with anyone, and if the defender sags, can make nine out of ten jumpers on a normal day.

When KG’s out on the floor hooting, hollering, and dropping “F-bombs” on himself and to anyone who will listen, Celtics fans should feel positive about their chances. Fans and teammates alike should be more worried when Garnett is not being heard from. He provides the team with undeniable swagger and a physical force (even if the Celtics are a small team). While Rondo is the quarterback and Pierce is the “professional scorer” as Doc Rivers referred to him as, Garnett is the heartbeat of the team. The Celtics know that they will need it pumping if they want to celebrate in June.

Voting Process Needs Overhaul

Every four years, voters and non-voters alike, are subjected to the same trivial mudslinging that occurs when a democrat and a republican battle it out to become president of the United States. This year, with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney going at it, the rancor, boorishness, and utter dullness between the two centrist wannabes (but too afraid to rankle their own party’s constituents) should be at an all time high.

Voter turnout, more specifically the youth turnout, is an often coveted yet maligned prospect of every major election. Obama’s grass-roots campaign of 2008 was catered to the younger generation (largely through social media and a general openness about him), yet the young vote was still relatively weak when compared to any other group.

Voting is a choice to some; an obligation to others. The people of the United States would be better served if we were universally more informed. There is no simple solution to cure voter apathy, however, I do have a mix of ingredients that may help fix a reparable situation.

- Despite the jobless rate being too high, many people do in fact hold steady jobs. Most of those jobs require employees to work on Tuesday’s, which is also the day elections are always held. Often times, the voter finds the experience more burdensome than rewarding. Perhaps the process would be easier if voting took place on a weekend or over the course of two-to-three days, putting less stress on working parents, single moms, and the disabled.

- Make ballots easier to complete and comprehend, and in a federal election, the layout and design of a ballot in Maine should look very similar to one in Oregon. Perhaps the fiasco in Florida during the 2000 Presidential Elections would never have taken place if the ballot was easier to solve than a rubik’s cube. From a personal voting experience, I have found ballots to be rather confusing, and more specifically, the way the questions were phrased.

- Even though registration makes it easier and more possible to count up votes, registration should be more accessible in general, in addition to being available up until and through the voting process. Registering with one party should also not be allowed. Especially when looking at young voters, why should we box ourselves in to the agendas of one party?

- Lastly, the voting age should be reduced from 18 to 16. High schools would be required to hold a weekly class informing kids about what was going on in the news (there would still be a political science class). The class would also help students discern the differences between the two parties and the two candidates. Although many of the students will have no doubt been influenced by their parents, they are still at an age
where their mind is impressionable. Starting two years earlier would make a younger
generation that much more informed, perhaps even a bit more receptive than their elders.

The Enigma of Rondo

He was supposed to be through with this stage of his career. The immaturity Rajon Rondo displayed at the end of the Celtics game one loss to the Hawks could go in one of two ways. It may just be a hiccup in the road to a championship run, or it could be a precursor to the demise of the “Big-Three” era Boston Celtics.

To begin the season, reports surfaced that Rondo had to be locked out of the team’s practice facility during last seasons failed attempt against the Miami Heat in the playoffs after throwing a glass bottle of iced tea at the TV monitor used to watch game film. Rondo apologized but the damage had been done. This is Rondo’s second suspension of the season; he was suspended for two games earlier for throwing the ball at a referee.

Could you really fault Team President Danny Ainge for trying to trade Rondo for a-then-available Chris Paul? Paul is on an entirely different level as a point guard in this league, a calibrated maestro if you will. This is someone who players sacrifice paychecks and playing time to come play with. You can see it clearly when watching the Los Angeles Clippers play this season. Paul elevates everyone else around him, while taking over scoring-wise (if needed) at the end of games. While CP3 was busy rallying and leading his team from 27-point fourth quarter comeback in his Game One against Memphis, Rondo was making his teammates jobs for Game Two that much more difficult.

This is not to overshadow Rondo’s on court accomplishments at all. From a personal standpoint, Rondo is one of my favorite players to watch, and not just because he plays for the Celtics.

There may not be a more exciting player in the league with the ball than Rondo. Considering that this is a league with an abundance of riches with young talented point guards, that is saying a lot about the Kentucky alum. His outside jumper and free throw percentage may still be problematic from time to time, but at least for this season, it has not hindered his game much at all.

I have never watched a player as unique as Rondo, and that may be why many experts have a hard time dissecting his game. He’s already sixth among active players in career triple doubles, and tied for sixth all time in postseason triple doubles. He’s also just in his fifth season.

Part of the fire that propels Rondo to succeed and silence the critics who thought he was nothing more than a skinny point guard without a polished offensive game, is also what can land him in hot water.



In just his second season in the NBA, Rondo was tasked with playing the point for a legendary franchise with championship expectations. New additions Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett on top of Celtic mainstay Paul Pierce, were not just established stars in a star-driven league, they were sure-fire hall of famers who were not shy about asking for the ball or getting on their younger teammate when he failed to execute.

Rondo handled the pressure in stride. The Allen-Garnett-Pierce trio, dubbed the “Big Three”, received the majority of the accolades that championship season (deservedly so). Rondo played second fiddle as well as any second-year point guard not named Magic could play.

Even in subsequent years when it was clear Rondo deserved to be mentioned with his more celebrated teammates, he did not let it boil over incessantly. At least not publicly.

Fast forward four years after that 2008 Championship run, and while the “Big-Three” moniker is still used somewhat sparingly to describe the Allen, Garnett, and Pierce outfit, it is false in every way when describing the new (or old) Boston Celtics.

It is clear that Rondo is the straw that stirs the drink, or as KG likes to call him, “the head that forms Voltron”. Boston may be a team that relies on every small part of its game – from Pierce’s rebounding and point-forward skills and Ray Allen’s spacing, to Greg Stiemsma’s shot blocking ability and Mickael Pietrus’ unbridled enthusiasm – but Rondo is the team’s most important player.

I don’t want to dive into the officiating because I like my blood pressure where it is. In short, the officiating in Game One was an embarrassment to an already scrutinized league.

Rondo is 26 years old. With the reins of the Celtics seemingly being turned over to him in the near future, it’s time Rondo started showing leadership qualities in every capacity.

Boston witnessed Pierce’s growing up first-hand, from the disgraced Indiana series in 2004 to the MVP of the NBA Finals in 2008. Allen and George Karl clashed in Milwaukee, with Karl ultimately trading the beloved Allen for a just-about washed up Gary Payton. Garnett had to deal with a multitude of issues during his long stay in Minnesota, including an overly inept team of management.

Great players have to overcome some sort of adversity to achieve ultimate success in the league, just ask LeBron James. Does Rajon Rondo have the ability? One thing is for sure, we won’t find out Tuesday night.