LeBron James- Are We Witnessing Greatness?

LeBron James-Are We Witnessing Greatness? 

If you haven't heard, LeBron James claimed his 4th MVP in the last 5 years officially Sunday afternoon. James averaged 27 ppg, 8 rebounds a game, and topped that off with 7 assists per contest. LeBron led Miami to the number 1 overall seed in the East, was obviously the key component of their 27 game win streak, and guided the Heat to a 1st round sweep over the Milwaukee Bucks. That's just a short statistical recap of James' unbelievable MVP season which is far from over.

James received 122 of the 123 1st place votes. Not really sure who had anyone else in the top spot...
Anyways, with James winning his 4th Most Valuable Player trophy in the past half-decade, the question must be asked is he the greatest or will he be the greatest?

Me personally, have never cared for LeBron after his shenanigans in leaving Cleveland but as a sports fan I would be doing a disservice to not at least respect him. LeBron James does not belong in the sport of Basketball. He is a physical specimen that the game has never seen before and quite possibly might never see again. He can guard your Point Guard one possession, than battle down low with your 7 footer the next. He can take the inbounds and run your offense one possession, than take you down into the post the next. He's a 6 foot 8, 250 pound machine which is why as sports fans we must appreciate what we have.

James in Cleveland had no supporting cast which is why he had to score 40 points a night for them to compete. Now that he has the talent around him like Jordan had we can see that he can truly do it all. He's the most powerful dunker in the league but can also hit the deep 3. The reason I'm writing this post tonight is to understand what we truly have in LeBron James. In your lifetime, you will never see another player like this which is why I think it's important to appreciate his greatness.

Now the most ridiculous part about LeBron James. How high is his ceiling? As I predict, the Heat will cruise, yes cruise, to their 2nd straight title with Bron Bron casually leading the way. But the crazy thing is, will he get better. Like most players in their prime, they gradually get better and it's a scary thought to think that Mr. James could be a more dominating force than he already is.

With all this being said, and we much more could be, I think their are still many but very possible goals for LeBron to reach before he is declared the Greatest of All Time.

Win a Title without another Star player (Dwyane Wade)- I understand that MJ won it with Pippen and Shaq with Kobe, but because of the way he left, the critics will never let that go until he does it himself.

Compete in the Dunk Contest- One of Jordan's most iconic moments is his Free Throw line dunk in the Dunk Contest. All LeBron has to do is show up and he'll win.

Hit the Big Shot in the Big Game- This final task would seal the deal for me. Michael Jordan's most famous moment is sinking a game winner in Game 6 of his last Finals with the Bulls. LeBron's whole career has been down played because he has been missing the "clutch factor". While James seems to be finding his confidence late in games, he still needs that Iconic Moment to be the best to ever play the game.

Who Impressed and Who did not Impress this March Madness Weekend

Today, Sportacular Sports looks at who left the Round of 32 with a positive impression versus the others who left not looking so hot. 

Impressive
1. Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 

Sherwood Brown-The Eagle's lovable Senior

This is the obvious pick for who impressed this weekend. The Eagles from Florida became the first 15 seed to ever advance to the Sweet 16 in their impressive 81-71 win over San Diego State. If you have been in a cave, FGCU also defeated Otto Porter and the #2 seeded Georgetown Hoyas on Friday. Their's not much to say about the Eagles except their so easy to love. Who doesn't love the Cinderella story and to augment to their amiable story is the fact that they are having so much fan. You constantly see the players soaking up the experience whether it be shaking hands with the Broadcast teams or dancing around in the locker room. If you aren't rooting for the Eagles, you're probably a SDSU or Georgetown fan but even in that case you've got to respect this truly unbelievable story.

Trey Burke-Sophomore Guard-Naismith Award Finalist

2. Michigan Wolverines
After I put Michigan on upset alert a few days ago, the Wolverines now find themselves on my impressed list. Michigan had a solid performance against South Dakota State on Thursday but came away as major impressers after the game against VCU. The Rams turned teams over the most in the nation at 20 times per game, while the Wolverines turned the ball over the least amount of times at 9.0. When you see this matchup, you know something's got to give. Unfortunately for Rams fans, it was their defense. The Wolverines dominated in a 78-53 win in which they only turned the ball over 12 times and were never in grave danger of losing. Even more impressive than their win, is the importance of this game. A Blue-collar Freshmen named Mitch McGary may have had his official coming out party. McGary went 10-11 for 21 points and added 14 rebounds in an excellent performance. The reason Michigan has had so many doubters is their lack of an inside presence. While this was only 1 game, if McGary plays with consistent efficiency the Wolverines have an excellent chance of knocking off the top seeded Jayhawks in the Sweet 16.

3. Close calls 

Aaron Craft's Game Winner to send the Buckeyes to the Sweet 16

While Indiana barely escaped Temple, Ohio State needed a bogus call, Miami some clutch free throw shooting, and Marquette yet another escape, what impressed me about all these teams were their ability to win tight games. In every championship run, a team must win a game they had no business in winning and I believe all of these teams may have just done that. Indiana closed out Temple on a 10-0 run in a game they could have easily lost. While people may think teams like Indiana should crush a team like this, it's the tournament and their are no easy games come the weekend. For Ohio State, even though it took a questionable call (see Bad impressions), Ohio State found away and that's what it's all about come March. While Miami got a great battle from Illinois, they showed that the pressures of the NCAA Tournament won't be getting to them down the stretch. While Illinois fell victim to a bad call as well, Miami never gave the Illini a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute nailing all 6 of their FT attempts. Finally, my Final Four pick, Marquette, once again got my heart beating in my favorite game of the weekend. The Butler and Marquette game was just a great game that Marquette found a way to win for the second straight game. Marquette won't be able to win 6 games by less than 3 points but they've shown their ability to win in tight situations.

Considered- Louisville (Blowout performance, playing like the Number 1 overall seed) La Salle (Game winner against a feisty Ole Miss team- 13th seed to the Sweet 16)

Not Impressive 

Missed Call on Aaron Craft-But really, they're supposed to get this call?

1. I do not want to take away from both the great Ohio State-Iowa State and Miami-Illinois game but for a moment I want to talk about the refereeing. In both games, the call ultimately cost ISU and Illinois the game but to your surprise I'm more upset about the Illinois call. If you were still in your cave, Aaron Craft from Ohio State took a charge with under a minute to play which should have been an And-1 pushing the Cyclone lead to 4 or possibly 5. I am not upset at the refs for this call. The play is happening so fast and Craft is literally 2 inches over the restricted area. While the NCAA has admitted the wrong call was made, that's the toughest call of the weekend and I'd say 9 refs out of 10 call that a charge. Now for the Illinois game. This points towards the NCAA Rules Comittee. With under 30 seconds to play, Illinois trailed by 2 and missed a shot but on the rebound, a Hurricane player (Kenny Kadji) clearly knocked the ball out of bounds. While it was another bang-bang play, it was seen clearly on replay. With that being said, why can't the officials go to the monitors with under 2 minutes to play. While we all know one play doesn't determine a game, why can't we get that call right and not knock Illinois out of the tournament. Unfortunate for both teams, but I honestly believe one of these issues could be fixed. 

2. Ben McLemore-Kansas 
A projected NBA lottery pick (top 5), Big 12 player of the year, and top Freshman in the nation, Ben McLemore did not show up against North Carolina on Sunday. McLemore shot 0-9 from the field and his 2 points came from the Free Throw strike not to mention his mere 2 assists. While the Jayhawks advanced, is it possible that the Freshman superstar is afraid of the spotlights. In a poor team performance against 16th seeded Western Kentucky, McLemore shot 2-5 from the field and got most of his points from the FT line. He scored only 11, 5 points below his season average. If McLemore is the superstar that all the NBA scouts believe he is, he better put on a strong showing against an undersized Michigan size.

Considerations- MWC (only 1 of 5 teams made it to the Sweet 16), VCU (got clobbered by Michigan)

NBA Hot News-LeBron, Rose, and Parker injury updates

NBA Hot News-Injury updates

In the past few days there have been many interesting stories to cover and Sportacular Sports will now break them down.

Miami Wins 15 in a row but how's LeBron?
The Miami Heat are absolutely on fire right now. After their 97-81 defeat over the Timberwolves tonight, the Heat have extended their franchise record winning streak to 15 games. While this is quite a feat, the bigger story is how LeBron James knee is holding up after the scare Sunday against the Knicks. On an attempted alley oop, James landed extremely awkwardly on his knee but did not leave the game to much surprise.

 He actually performed better from that point on totaling 15 more points and leading a come from behind victory over New York at MSG. LeBron's knee appeared fine in tonights game against Minnesota as he scored 20 points while adding 10 boards. His partner in crime, Dwyane Wade, picked up the "slack" with 32 points himself as the Heat cruised to a victory. With question before the game, answers were given and LeBron appears to be perfectly fine.






Derrick Rose-The Return?

Could we possibly see a return from Chicago Bulls all-star Derrick Rose in the coming days? While Rose appeared on the Chicago bench for the first time this season, my guess would be no but I believe it is very possible we could see the 2011 MVP back this season. Two questions need to be answered during Rose's recovery process. Does DRose trust the surgery and everything that has gone into it. With a knee injury, more than half the battle of coming back, especially for a quick player like Rose, is trusting that the knee will hold up. This leads up to the next question, is it worth the risk for Rose to come back in a season where Miami is unstoppable? While Rose could make the Bulls a Championship Contender, will he even be the same player coming off a torn ACL. Rose relies on his quick cuts and extreme athletic ability to be the dynamic player he is. I believe Derrick Rose will return this year but when is the question Check Rose's progress in him dunking in a pre game warmup. This is a great sign for the Bulls and all basketball fans as DRose is one of the best players in the league to watch.

Tony Parker sidelined up to 4 weeks-What does this mean for San Antonio?



Tony Parker is the most underrated player in the NBA not only at the Point Guard position but in the entire league. What he means to the Spurs is incalculable. Parker went down with a broken ankle against the Sacramento Kings leaving him on the bench for about 4 weeks. The Spurs lead the West and it would not surprise me one bit if San Antonio relinquishes their 3 game lead over the Thunder in the coming weeks. With that being said, the Spurs aren't going to care what seed they are, they are the classy vets who are just going to win games. When it comes playoff time, Parker will be ready to go and Ginobli and Duncan will be rested. While the Spurs might lose their lead in the West, this could be a blessing in disguise as backup Point Guard 2nd year vet, Corey Joesph could get some useful experience for the postseason. I think the Spurs will be just find come playoff time. 

NFL Draft Combine-Who Impressed?

Today, Sportacular Sports will be looking at who impressed at this weekend's NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis.

1. Tavon Austin- West Virginia- Wide Receiver
The speedster ran an official 4.34 40 yard dash after unofficially being clocked in the 4.2 range. While the official high of the day (4.27) came from track star Marquise Goodwin out of Texas, Austin impressed the scouts with his hands. While Austin isn't projected to go in either of Mel Kiper's or Todd McShay's first round, chatter has begun about Austin. What was supposed to hold Austin back is his small frame. 5 feet 8 inches and only 173. While I think he'll fit perfectly in the slot, Tavon had many doubters. That all changed Sunday. Austin caught the ball beautiful only to augment to the already great speed. Scouts instantly moved him up their draft boards, including John Clayton from ESPN who claims Austin might slip into the first round. Possible suitors for Austin could be New England or his hometown Baltimore Ravens. New England could be satisfied to replace pending free agent Wes Welker with some newer legs while Baltimore could look to sign defensive players over Jacoby Jones. Austin works well in the return game as well which is only a plus. Austin impressed and that is why he ranks number 1 on today's list.

2. Geno Smith-West Virginia- Quarterback
You might think I'm a West Virginia fan at this point but I am not. I'm just impressed by both guys out of this University. As he declined from Heisman Front Runner to just about no one during the College Football Season, Geno Smith gained a ton of doubters. Then, to much surprise, rumors this weekend began to swirl that Geno could be taken first overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. While I don't believe this, the question must be asked-Why did Geno impress today-Simply because of his speed. While it was known Smith had valuable speed, he clocked in at an unexpected 4.59 highest in the draft class. In today's evolving quarterback class, speed is almost a necessary element. Cam Newton, RGIII, Russell Wilson are all revolutionizing the game and the Quarterback needs speed more than ever these days. Smith may have boosted his draft stock but will it be enough to get to the top?

3. Matt Barkley-USC- Quarterback
You might be thinking-Matt Barkley? He didn't he attend this weekends combine. While this is true, multiple reports have come out stating that Barkley will make it nowhere past the 7th spot in the draft owned by the Arizona Cardinals. While Barkley is still recovering from injury, this is major news. Pre-season the Trojans were Number 1 and Barkley was supposed to be the #1 pick after receiving the Heisman. Everything went wrong, yet Barkley might be lucking out. In a draft filled with needs at Quarterback, a weaker Quarterback class might be doing better than expected. While Barkley has time to impress at the USC Pro-day, apparently he's done enough to be a top 10 pick.

Others:
Terron Armstead-ran a 4.71 as an Offensive Lineman
Cordarrelle Patterson- Rated as the top wide receiver only impressed with his great frame and blazing speed

Report:
Top 5 projected pick- Star Lotulelei- out of Hawaii has been removed from the Combine list for Monday. The defensive tackle has been diagnosed with poor deficiency in one of his ventricles. The condition is not life threatening but he is in no shape to participate. Lotulelei's draft stock shouldn't fall much unless worse reports come out.

Which team has the best chance of being upset this Rivalry Saturday?

This college basketball season has been filled with crazy upsets and one would think the same would follow this weekend. This entire week is filled with games matching up hated rivals. All the action finishes today. When a rival comes to town, especially with a number 1-25 next to their name, a team seems to play inspired basketball which leaves those aforementioned ranked squads in serious danger if they don't come to play. So as I said before, one would think we would see many upsets this weekend yet I feel otherwise.










As I scanned the matchups for today, I really couldn't put my finger on any that caught my eye. But when I analyzed it deeply I figured the Number 2 team in the land could be in grave danger.

#2 Duke Blue Devils vs. Maryland Terrapins
The Duke squad has already won their major rivalry game this week handling a feisty UNC team which leaves me to believe they won't be as motivated come 6pm Saturday. Maryland on the other hand as been reeling losing 3 out of their last 5 and falling from the tournament contenders. UMD really needs a statement win and there is no greater opportunity than today. The Terps have the team that can match up with this Duke team.

Key matchup: Mason Plumlee vs. Alex Len
The last time these two teams played, the show was stolen by freshman Rasheed Sulaimon who dropped 25 points at Cameron Indoor Stadium. But when the game got close, the Blue Devils went to Senior Mason Plumlee to finish the game. He did rightly so and Duke took care of business on their home court. Today though could be a much different result. The Terps will obviously be ready to play in front of their home crowd and Len performs better at the Comcast Center. If Alex Len can dominate inside, Maryland will be able to defend the deadly shooters out on the perimeter and exploit the loss of Ryan Kelly.

                      Prediction:

Do I think Maryland will be able to get the job done? Unfortunately, no. Mason Plumlee has been the best player in the entire nation the past two weeks and Len simply won't be able to stop him. Len might play well but not well enough to stop the Blue Devils. Seth Curry is too much for Maryland at the point. The living chance that Maryland has is Sophomore standout Dez Wells who can put up 30 points in the blink of an eye. If he wants to have a serious coming out party, there would be no greater moment than tonight.

Final Score: Duke-72 Maryland-66

Down Goes Number 1 (again)

For the 5th consecutive week, the number 1 team in our great nation has been defeated. Most recently (last night) Illinois pulled off a comeback in the second half to once again defeat a top ranked Big 10 squad.

Illinois had been reeling in BIG 10 play owning a record of 3-7 in the conference. They had a convincing win over Ohio State but that was all they had to show for. In John Groce's first season as head coach, the Illini needed some statement wins to make a resume for March and there was no better place to start than last night in Champaign.

Trailing by 12 at the half, the Illini began to get rolling and a step back jumper followed by two Brandon Paul free throws tied the game at 72 apiece. Paul's first free throw, feeling the pressure, banked in after hitting every part of the rim and backboard. He then calmly swished the ensuing free throw as number 1 was on the ropes again.

Player of the week, Victor Oladipo, brought the ball up the court with only a 2 second difference between play and shot clock. The Hoosiers were planning on taking the last shot and began their offense with 10 ticks remaining. As Oladipo drove right he attempted to crossover behind his back but was stripped by D.J. Richardson who went coast to coast only to get blocked from behind with 0.9 seconds remaining. With no timeouts, Illinois had the ball under Indiana's basket and attempted to set screens for a shot in he corner but then mayhem broke loose. Indiana big man Cody Zeller flanked to the corner to cover a shot but left his man. And then greatness happened. Illinois big man Tyler Griffey cut to the basket and flicked the ball up right before the red light lit. Good!! Illinois wins the game on a back cut as time expired. The student section rushed the court and there will be a new number 1 come Monday.

What this means for Indiana? Nothing really, they will be fine. Either a 1 or 2 seed depending on their finish in the BIG 10. But for Illinois they suddenly have a sign of a life. Potentially they could finish only 2 games below 500 in the BIG 10. If the Illini do damage in the conference tournament I could definitely see this team sneaking into the March tournament. What a game!

Final score: 74-72 Illinois

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College Basketball- Who's Hot, Who's Not?

Hot
Syracuse Orange (18-1) #3

The Orange are rolling right now. They've not only won 35 in a row at the Carrier Dome but have been successful on the road. Last Saturday, Cuse beat then #1 Louisville on their home court in a thriller. Syracuse's primary defense is a 2-3 zone which allows open shots for long range shooters. This always leaves me with doubt come tournament time. A hot shooting night and Cuse is done but for now Syracuse has stud Point Guard Michael Carter-Williams who leads the nation in assists. MCW led the team with 16 points including the go ahead steal and thunderous slam with under 20 seconds to play. Syracuse also won on MLK Day over ranked Cincinnati. Syracuse is atop the Big East standings and shows no signs of slowing down.

Kansas Jayhawks (17-1) #3
This may seem unusual but both Syracuse and Kansas are ranked in the polls at #3. Definitely the first time I've ever seen that. Anyways, great teams are ones that can play poorly and escape with wins. This weekend the Jayhawks traveled to Austin and fell behind by 10+ points in the second half. The Longhorns couldn't hold on as freshman sensation Ben McLemore led the comeback. McLemore is the best player in college basketball right now and could take Kansas back to the Final Four come March. Kansas continued the nation's longest win streak of 16 last night defeating rival Kansas State in Manhattan.

Not
Louisville Cardinals (16-3) #5
Louisville has dropped 2 in a row with their loss to unranked Villanova last night. The Cards are still my National Championship pick but are struggling in the midst of their Big East play. The Cardinals lost to a respectable aforementioned Syracuse team but fell on the road to a down Villanova squad. Is it the curse of the #1 that is sent Louisville in the wrong direction, possibly but they need to get back on track. They simply have been turning the ball over too much in critical stretches of the game. Can Peyton Siva and Russ Smith turn this bad stretch around, certainly. They only face 1 ranked team in their next 9 and need to win at least 7 of those to have a shot at the Big East crown. If Louisville wants to make a deep run into April, they need to put themselves in position for a top seed.

Kentucky Wildcats (12-6) Unranked

The defending champions are nothing near what they were last season. Freshman Nerlens Noel has shown no resemblence of Anthony Davis and this Wildcat team lacks the Senior leadership that Darius Miller brought to the team last year. Kentucky ranks 5th in the weak SEC which is being led by Ole Miss. Let me say that again, Ole Miss. The Cats are only 2-2 in their last 4. Do I think this team has any chance to contend? Probably not. But is there a chance to turn this season around and build for next season? Definitely. Kentucky has the talent to make a run through their SEC schedule and possibly make it to a Sweet 16 finishing this season as a stepping stone for next.

Other Notable Hots: Butler #9, Oregon #16, Miami #25
Other Notable Nots: UCLA Unranked, Illinois Unranked

NFC Championship Game Preview

Headline:
Colin Kaepernick and the Niners travel to the Georgia Dome to face Matty ice and the Falcons for a ticket to the Super Bowl

San Francisco 49ers:
Just like the Patriots, everyone is picking the Niners. Is it because of their over powering physicality compared to the Falcons? Or is it because Colin Kaepernick ran like a wild man last week? Whether its either of those things, the 49ers do have a lot going for them. Last year when they had Alex Smith at the helm, they made it to the same NFC Championship game. Obviously, that is a credit to their defense who clearly remains as the top unit in the playoffs. Now imagine the possibilities. Instead of a very good game manager, San Fran can win the game offensively which was never an option before. The Atlanta Falcon defense is a bit underrated but on the "fast track" Kaepernick will show his explosive speed. Finally, I want to point out two things that could hold the Niners back in this game. A report this weekend came about that WR Michael Crabtree was being investigated for sexual assault. While no one has been arrested or prosecuted, something like this so close to game day will always be at least a minor distraction. My last point comes by way of coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh went against all popular decision in the regular season when he decided to go with Kaepernick. Up to this point it has been an excellent decision. But what if this game comes down to the last drive, I know for sure Matt Ryan leads his team down the field but I don't know about Kaepernick.
Atlanta Falcons:
As a Falcon player, coach, or fan I would feel humiliated that my team is a huge underdog (by Championship game standards) in my own building. But then again, isn't this the story of Atlanta's season? Once again, the Falcons will have to prove that they belong and I feel like they've been playing with a chip on their shoulder. If this game was at Candlestick (SF home stadium) their is no doubt in my mind San Fran wins but Matt Ryan simply doesn't lose at home. I think the key to this game will be Julio Jones stretching the defense while Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez survey the open area underneath. I believe Atlanta has an excellent chance of protecting their home turf.

Prediction:
I will again go against the grain and pick the Falcons. They proved me right last week and I expect the same today. This game, as they all do, will come down to 2 drives at the end of the game. First it will be Matt Ryan leading the Falcons to take the lead and then Kaepernick's inability to get the job done. Falcons in a tight one.

Final Score:
Atlanta-27 San Francisco-23

Line:
San Fran -4.5

Over/Under:
49.0

Is Joe Flacco Elite?

Is Joe Flacco Elite?

As we approach Sunday, some food for thought has come up about Raven's Quarterback, Joe Flacco. Flacco assumes the role of facing Tom Brady this weekend for a chance to play in Super Bowl 47. In facing a great like Brady, the question surfaces, is Joe Flacco elite?

Before we dive in, I would like to state that I believe their are about 4 classes of Quarterbacks which rapidly change based on performance over the season. For instance the bad, consisting of Blaine Gabbert and John Skeleton for example. The next class are the good/more than game managing Quarterbacks. For instance, Matt Stafford and Philip Rivers headline this class. The class that sits right below the Elites, consists of names like Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan. The gun-slingers in the final class are the best of the best. In no particular order, Brady, Manning, Brees, and Rodgers. I throw Eli in there because of his 2 rings and clutch moments. I'm satisfied with him in either class. Now to answer the question, does Joe belong in that category.

Plain and simple, No. Unfortunately he doesn't match up with the ranks of the Elites. These MVP candidates throw for 35+ touchdowns a season and are usually below the 10 interception mark. Fu-manchu and all, Joe only managed to pass for only 22 TDs. He definitely does not put up the numbers of an Elite quarterback but a legitimate rebuttal would be, like Tim Tebow, all he does is win.

In his 5 years in the league, Flacco has been to the playoffs every year including a victory each and every time. The one thing that holds him back in this category is his inability to advance to the Big game. Don't get me wrong, he outplayed Tom Brady in his own house last season but still has not won under the bright lights. Right now, it is essential for an Elite Quarterback to have a ring. While in the past, this wasn't the case (see Dan Marino), nowadays you simply can't be talked about in that class without some hardware.

So my final answer, No, Joe Flacco is not elite...BUT... talk to me in 3 weeks and if Joe has lifted the Lombardi Trophy, I'll be the first one to introduce him to his new buddies. 

NCAA Men's Basketball-Louisville Cardinals-New #1

Louisville Cardinals (16-1 Overall, 4-0 Big East) #1

Recent:
Their is a new Number 1 in College Basketball and it comes by way of the Louisville Cardinals. After the curse of the undefeated and Number 1 occurred over the past week, Louisville was the first team to win their game and therefore remain atop the standings. After a tough first half, because of star Point Guard Peyton Siva's foul trouble, Louisville came out with fire in the second half and ended up crushing the Huskies. Louisville has yet to defeat a very tough opponent as they have a loss to Duke. They have beaten Missouri but the Cardinals will be tested soon in their matchup against #6 Syracuse on Saturday.

Future:
Now the question can be asked, are the Cardinals a legitimate title contender? Many people would laugh at this question but it is my job to analyze this question. First, I will start with my answer, Yes. Why though? Louisville contains the best backcourt in the nation. Speed, scoring, and facilitation comes by way of Peyton Siva and Russ Smith (23 points last night). The great thing about my pre-season pick is that the Cardinals have the ability to defend the basket as well. Shot-blocker, Gorgui Dieng, and inside presences Wayne Blackshear/Chane Behanan, possess the ability to keep Louisville in games when Siva struggles. His erratic playing style forces him to cough up turnovers but teammate Russ Smith can carry the team when needed. I believe Louisville will lose 2 or 3 games in the Big East Conference play but will obtain a Number 1 seed on their road to the Title in March.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons Prediciton

Headline: The #5 seed, Seattle Seahawks travel to the Georgia Dome to face the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons.

Seattle Seahawks:
The surprise of the year is Russell Wilson, and even though I don't think he will win Rookie of the Year because voting occurred before the playoffs, he has a chance to advance to the NFC Championship game Sunday. The Seahawks will be without team sack leader, Chris Clemons but will have top corners Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. These players will be part of the best matchup of the Divisional Round. Browner and Sherman will be lined up against stud Wide Receivers, Roddy White and Julio Jones. The winner of this matchup will win this game and even though I'm leaning towards the corners, I think the home field advantage will mightily help the Falcons.

Atlanta Falcons:
Now for the top seed. If Atlanta does not win this game, Matt Ryan will fall into the category of choker or "can't get it done". Matt Ryan has been excellent making the playoffs 4 out of his first 5 years in the league but he has yet to win a playoff game. Matty "Ice" will have to shut up all the critics and win this game. I am a fan of Matt Ryan and I think the key to their victory will be Mike Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers' success against the front 7 of Seattle. If they can run the ball successfully, that will open up space for the Julio and Roddy against the pro-bowl corners.

Prediction:
I think this game will be tight throughout and it will take a Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzalez connection to push Atlanta to a matchup with San Francisco next weekend.
Final Score:
Atlanta-31
Seattle-27

Line:
Atlanta -3

Over/Under: 
47.5

Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos Recap

+Baltimore Ravens -38
Denver Broncos-35
2OT


If you didn't see this game, you missed out on an instant classic. It's going to be tough to put into words the excitement of these plays but ill try. Lets begin with the first Raven's possession in which Anquan Boldin's drop forced a Sam Koch punt. The result of this, the longest punt return in postseason history. Trindon Holiday took the punt up the right side and wasn't touched for 90 yards. Holliday would later take back the opening kickoff of the second half for 104 yards, another postseason record. Holiday has the longest punt/kick returns in NFL postseason history and is the only player ever to return both kicks in a playoff game.
With the return, Peyton Manning did not take the field until after the score was knotted 7 apiece. Just three plays later, a tipped pass intended for Eric Decked resulted in Corey Graham's hands as he waltzed into the endzone. In about 8 minutes, their had been a 90 yard punt return, 59 yard bomb to Torrey Smith and an INT return by Graham.

Peyton responded easily by marching down the field and finding Brandon Stokley on a beautiful touch pass in the corner of the end zone. Each team then added a score before half. In the first half, it is important to note that 12 time pro bowler, Champ Bailey, was being eaten alive by Torrey Smith.
As I mentioned before, the 2nd half began with the kick return at which point you though the Broncos had grabbed all momentum. After a great defensive quarter, Ray Rice found the end zone from 1 yard out with 23 seconds remaining in the quarter.

A Demaryius Thomas touchdown mid way through the 4th pushed the Broncos ahead. Joe Flacco and company then had 3 minutes around the Denver 30. They faced a 4th and 5, in which, the Denver defender made an excellent play that broke up a pass intended for Dennis Pitta.

The Broncos took over on downs and this is when it hit me. Could Ray Lewis really be taking the field for the last time ever? Denver runs for a first down, is it all over. With limited timeouts and the two-minute warning, Baltimore did stop the Broncos and got the ball back. This is it Joe you have one minute to take your ravens down the field to tie the game. First down-nothing, second down-7 yards, clock running, 30 seconds remaining, stop the clock. No, Joe steps up in the pocket launches it 55 yards down the field. Safety Raheem Moore for the Broncos completely whiffs the ball as the ball travels and lands perfectly into Jacoby Jones hands as he runs 15 more yards to tie the game at 35 a piece.

Unbelievable, play of the year, instant classic! And we still have overtime. 

Overtime began with a Raven's possession but after drives stalled for both teams, OT became a field position battle. Finally, on his own 30 yard line, Peyton Manning makes an ill advised pass as Corey Graham gets his second interception of the day. Baltimore runs Ray Rice for the 28th, 29th, and 30th time of the day as they scamper inside the 30. And here comes rookie Justin Tucker. All Baltimore fans quickly flashback to last years AFC Championship game. Billy Cundiff no more as JT knocks through the 47 yarder and Ray Lewis' career continues. What a game!!

Sportacular Sports January 9th Morning Recap

Wednesday, January 9th Headlines
(Recapping the headlines from Tuesday, January 8th)


RGIII to have knee surgery Wednesday
-Many rumors have circulated about the degree of Griffin's injury and the length of time he would be sitting out. ESPN's Chris Mortensen has reported that RG3 has indeed torn his ACL in addition to his LCL. The Redskins had confirmed a tear of the LCL but the MRI Tuesday confirmed the second. I do not completely understand the doctor behind everything but apparently Griffin is now in better shape. The professionals were saying Griffin could be done for up to 18 months. Now, he is rumored to be out 6-8 months barring any set backs. A little known fact is that RGIII actually had a similar injury in his career at Baylor. The knee that had been reconstructed through a patella like structure had been torn through and that will need to be repaired as well. When we are in this category, nothing seems like good news but for the Redskins (and Mike Shanahan), they are satisfied knowing they'll have their Quarterback for next season.

Rob Ryan fired as Defensive Coordinator in Dallas
-After spending only 2 seasons in Big D, Rob Ryan has been fired by the Cowboys. Ryan's defense allowed the most yards in Cowboy's history this year and ranked in the bottom 5 last year. Ryan believes that his defense struggled nightly because of injuries which may be true. Also, Ryan is not scared and is outspoken like his brother Rex, "I'll be out of work for like 5 minutes". Rob Ryan said this in response to his firing and does not fear he will be jobless for much longer.

Duke destroys Clemson 68-40
-Quinn Cook after shooting 0-11 Saturday against Wake Forest rebounded by scoring 27 points Tuesday night. The Tigers managed to only score 10 first half points. Ryan Kelly, who outscored Clemson 12-10 in the first half, sat in the 2nd with a right foot injury. Duke will remain Number 1 for now but plays 9 of its last 16 games on the road.

All ranked teams win, except for Georgetown.
-Teams like Missouri and Ohio State took care of business last night but it was the low scoring Hoyas who got crushed on Tuesday. Pittsburgh, on the road, won 73-45. The Hoyas dropped their second in a row in addition to only scoring 45 points. If you follow College Basketball you know the Hoyas don't score very often and unless it gets fixed, they will go no where in the Tournament.

Heat and Lakers both fall on the road
-The Heat have not been playing well as of late but more importantly what is wrong with the Lakers. I understand Dwight and Pau were both out last night but this team is going in the wrong direction. The Heat simply couldn't hit shots last night, falling 87-77. LeBron continued his 20+ point streak and is 85 points away from 20,000 career points. The Heat are fine, but for the Lake show who fell 125-112, I see trouble. Mike D'Antoni has been no help and allowing 125 points in a night is not getting the job done. The lakers struggle the most in two area, transition and production from the bench. The Lakers keep getting beat down the court for easy buckets. This makes them tired but their is no bench production when Kobe and Steve Nash take a seat. They need to find production from within because all the Laker's money is with KB and Dwight Howard. I'm scared for the Lakers.

Sportacular Sports Morning Recap

Tuesday, January 8th Morning headlines
(Recapping the Sports headlines from Monday, January 7th)

Alabama Crimson Tide-42
Notre Dame Fighting Irish-14
Obviously the big news comes from the National Championship blowout last night. Alabama destroyed Notre Dame 42-14. Under appreciated quarterback, AJ McCarron threw for 4 touchdowns and improved to 25-2 as a starter. He now has 2 National Championships under his belt and looked extremely poised in his untouched pocket last night. The kids awesome and his girlfriend is beautiful as well. I feel bad for Senior Linebacker Manti Te'o who's unbelievable defense got lit up on National Television. Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon were superb and Nick Saban captured his 3rd title in 4 years. It's hard to imagine any top recruit looking for a ring won't be headed to Tuscaloosa. The best way to recruit would be to keep winning National Championships. Nick Saban is not going to leave this dynasty for the Cleveland Browns, so recruits definitely have some security. Roll Tide!

Washington Wizards-101
Oklahoma City Thunder-99

I didn't get a chance to watch this game but just from my readings I know the Wiz played a great game. Durant dropped 29 being himself but the Wizards captured another magical victory Monday Night. This all comes without star Point Guard John Wall. With wins over Miami and now OKC, the Wizards could have some positives going forward.

Rookie of the Year Debate-Sportacular Sports

Rookie of the Year Debate
Andrew Luck    Robert Griffin III   Russell Wilson

Honorable Mentions:Alfred Morris, Doug Martin, Matt Kalil

Point System
I will grade the rookies by their statistical categories with each category maxing out at 3 points. Each player will be graded on statistical categories in addition to what I feel makes a ROY.

The Rookie of the Year is similar to MVP and is usually graded upon the same guidelines but it is not the Most Valuable Player yet it is the best Rookie in the league regardless of team performance. Although not one of the 3 rookie's teams made the playoffs last season, Indianapolis posted a 2-14 record. Therefore, if this award was based off of value to a team, the award would go to Luck for turning them into a playoff team. But, the distinction leaves the chance for RGIII and Wilson to still win the award. Now lets look at the candidates.

Andrew Luck-Indianapolis Colts
11-5
5th seed in the AFC
Broke Cam Newton's rookie record for passing yards with 4,374 yards.
Colts 2011 (2-14) --->Colts 2012 (11-5)

Robert Griffin III- Washington Redskins
10-6
4th seed in the NFC
Won NFC East
Selected to the Pro Bowl
Redskins 2011  (6-10)--->Redskins 2011 (10-6)
Redskins first division title in 9 years.

Russels Wilson-Seattle Seahawks
11-5
3rd round draft pick
5th seed in the NFC
Seattle 2011 (7-9)--->Seattle 2012 (11-5)


Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Month in December ending the season on a hot streak. Wilson along with Golden Tate, will infamously be known for their Hail-Mary pass against Green Bay that forced the NFL to get rid of the replacement officials.

Passer Rating

The most important statistic to look at when comparing these 3 quarterbacks is passer rating. Passer rating is "a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers". As you can see above, Griffin led with his mark of 102.4 with Wilson trailing at an even mark of 100. Because passer rating is "calculated using each quarterback's completion percentage, passing yardage, touchdowns and interceptions", Luck's large deficit of 76.5 is a crucial number to pay attention to.

Griffin-3

Wilson-2

Luck-1

Total Yards (Passing and Rushing)

Next we will look at the offensive yardage output that the candidates produced. Andrew Luck threw for more than a 1,000 yards than both Griffin and Wilson but they are known for their dual threat capabilities. Griffin rushed for 815 yards, 326 more yards than Wilson and 560 more yards than Luck. Griffin clearly wins the rushing dual as Wilson does not gain much ground on Luck. A Quarterback's ability to move the ball down the field is what these guys are payed for. Wilson had the aid with an experienced Marshawn Lynch. While RG3 did have Alfred Morris, it was more Griffin's abilities that opened up things for Morris than Lynch's abilities that gave space and time for Wilson. 

Luck-2
Griffin-2
Wilson-1

Total Touchdowns

Another obvious number to analyze would be Touchdowns. This is the number that might surprise you. Not Luck nor Griffin but Russell Wilson tied Peyton Manning's rookie record for passing touchdowns. Luck trailed by only 3 and RGIII had 20 himself. A tough decision in this process is weighing Griffin and Wilson's legs against just Luck's arm. I believe a passing touchdown and rushing touchdown count for the same amount of points, therefore, I will weigh them evenly. Griffin led all runners with 7 touchdowns while Andrew Luck actually beat Wilson with 5 compared to his 4.

Total Touchdowns
Wilson-30
Luck-28
Griffin-27

Wilson-3
Luck-2
Griffin-2

We now have two remaining statistics to look at. First we will begin with completion percentage. I believe this does measure the quarterback's performance but not on as large a scale as the other numbers. The candidates will only receive half the point value they gain.

Completion Percentage

RgIII and Wilson both completed about 65% of their passes while Luck completed only 54%. The 65% numbers are good enough but a 54% number is not high enough. This stat won't create a large gap but I don't like this number for Luck.

Wilson-3/2=1.5

Griffin-3/2=1.5

Luck-1/2=.5

Total Turnovers (Interceptions and Fumbles)
The final numbers statistic that we will look at is the amount of turnovers that each candidates committed. Andrew Luck led all 3 rookies with 18 interceptions and not to mention 9 lost fumbles. That is a loss of 27 possessions for Indianapolis. Russell Wilson only totaled 14 turnovers including 10 picks. One of the main problems with rookies in the league is decision making. The reason Griffin owns this category is his ability to take care of the football. Griffin only threw 5 interceptions. Which not only was lowest by rookies but also by the top NFL starters. Including his 5 lost fumbles, Griffin totaled only 10 lost possessions.

Griffin-3
Wilson-1
Luck-0

After pure statistics, the count is.
Griffin-11.5
Wilson-8.5
Luck-5.5

The Rookie of the Year will be decided 90% on statistics and from my experience, the other 10% comes from a popularity standpoint. I definitely do not want to take credit away from Johnny Manziel but, for example, popularity aided Johnny "Football"'s Heisman run. In this case, popularity belongs to RG3, who took the world by surprise and became the most known QB on the planet. ESPN's phase of Tim Tebow shortly became Robert Griffin 3rd. I'm convinced RGIII's popularity will push him to the top, but will he win?

Before I crown "my" Offensive Rookie of the Year, I would like to point out Cam Newton's stats from last season.

If you can just focus in on the 2011 statistics, the year Newton won the award, Luck's numbers besides the rushing would beat Newton's, Wilson's would almost match his, and Griffin's would surpass Newton. This was the best draft class of the decade and unfortunately for two men, they will not win the award they would have received in any other year.

If you have been following my words, you can guess who I have as Sportacular Sport's Rookie of the Year. This has been an excellent season and I cannot wait for the 3 rooks to play in the playoffs. I'll honor Russell Wilson as the best steal of the draft. In addition, if this was an MVP race, Luck would win. Unfortunately it is not, and Sportacular Sport's Rookie of the Year is....

Robert Griffin III