2012 - Page 43 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

Game Of The Week: #8 Michigan Wolverines vs. #2 Alabama Crimson Tide

Posted on August 30, 2012November 5, 2021 by Lindsay Higgins

It’s here! It’s here! College football is here! WOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!

Ahem. Opening weekend often means more lopsided matchups than not, and this year is no exception. Among the skipable games on the docket this weekend are Georgia-Buffalo, LSU-North Texas, and Oregon-Arkansas State. However, the College Football Gods have smiled and bestowed upon us the gift of Michigan-Alabama, played in Dallas. The game will be on ABC Saturday night at 8 EST.

Michigan’s Running Game: 1,000-yard rusher Fitz Toussaint’s status for Saturday is still uncertain. He pled guilty to drunk driving on Tuesday and will be sentenced in October. Coach Brady Hoke suspended Toussaint after his arrest last month. Should Toussaint remain sidelined, senior Vincent Smith will start, assisted by sophomore Thomas Rawls. The Wolverines ranked 13th in the country last year with an average of 221.8 rushing yards per game. Much of that came not from Toussaint or Smith, but from QB Denard Robinson, the team’s leading rusher with 1,176 yards. At times, Alabama will likely use some type of spy or robber package on Robinson, who is not only nimble but ridiculously fast. The best bet for the Tide will be to keep Robinson in the pocket. One thing that could work in their favor is Keep in mind that Alabama is only returning four defensive starters; Michigan will be looking for ways to exploit that inexperience.

Michigan’s Passing Game: The Wolverines averaged 182.8 yards per game in 2011, just 93rd-best in the nation. To add insult to injury, leading receiver Junior Hemingway (699 yards, 4 TDs), WR Martavious Odoms (7 receptions for 131 yards and 3 TDs), and TE Kevin Koger (23 receptions, 244 yards, 4 TDs) have all departed Ann Arbor. Senior Roy Roundtree and junior Jeremy Gallon will likely be Robinson’s favorite targets. It remains to be seen how Robinson’s mechanics and accuracy have improved. His completion percentage last year was a paltry 55%, and his ratio of 20 TDs to 15 INTs was less than stellar as well. Should Robinson continue to make poor decisions and throw off his back foot, Alabama’s secondary will take advantage.

Michigan’s Defense: DT Mike Martin, a 3rd-round draft pick, will be missed from a front four lacking experience. (All three starting linebackers and three of the four starting DBs return). In 2011, Michigan ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense, and may be able to exploit a fairly inexperienced receiving core on the part of Alabama. Watch for sophomore CB Blake Countess, who emerged as a more than capable starter late last season as a true freshman.

Michigan’s Special Teams: Kicker Brendan Gibbons went an acceptable 13-of-17 on field goals last season. It’s safe to assume the Wolverines would like that success rate to be a bit higher. Matt Wile appears to have beaten out Will Hagerup as the punter. Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo were above-average last season as the primary kick and punt returners.

Alabama’s Runing Game: Trent Richardson may have taken his 1,679 rushing yards to the NFL, but his former backup Eddie Lacy should be ready to take over. Lacy rushed for 674 yards and 7 TDs last season. He’ll be spelled by freshman T.J. Yeldon, who reportedly had a big spring game, and bruiser Jalston Fowler. The Tide return four offensive line starters from last season, so the holes should be there, particularly against Michigan’s inexperienced front four.

Alabama’s Passing Game: Junior QB A.J. McCarron returns to build his gaudy number from 2011, which include a completion percentage of 66.8%, a TD-INT ratio of 16-5, and 2,634 passing yards. Favorite target Marquis Maze is gone, but the Tide have four capable wideouts from whom at least one star should emerge. However, if history is a guide, the Tide will lean heavily on the run in this game. Last year, they averaged about 50 rushing yards more per game on the road as opposed to at home, and nearly 75 more rushing yards than passing yards in road games.

Alabama’s Defense: Just one of last year’s starters remains in the secondary. If Denard Robinson’s accuracy has improved the way his coaches claim, that inexperience is something the Wolverines could try to exploit. Senior MLB Nico Johnson, who led the Tide in tackles last year with 47, is surrounded by sophomores at the other linebacker positions. Senior DE Damion Square and senior NG Jesse Williams return to anchor the defensive line. Note that no Alabama player had more than 2 sacks last year.

Alabama’s Special Teams: Punter Cody Mandell averaged 39.3 yards per punt last year, a number that the coaches would no doubt like to see improve. Kicker Jeremy Shelley is better from short range, so the Tide use a another kicker, Cade Foster, for long kicks. However, Foster was just 2-of-9 last year on kicks from 40 or more. A high school kicker was signed to provide competition but isn’t currently listed on the depth chart. Talented return man Marquis Maze is gone and will need to be replaced.

Overview: This will be a far closer game than it would have been a year ago. I think Alabama will struggle to contain Robinson, but ultimately the Alabama offense will prevail over the Michigan defense. Alabama 31, Michigan 27

Pete Carroll's Gamble Might Just Pay Off!

Posted on August 30, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

On Sunday evening, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll named Russell Wilson the winner of the starting quarterback competition. The announcement is only slightly more surprising than his admission prior to the start of training camp that the Seahawks quarterback race would in fact be a three-way competition between Wilson, newly signed free agent Matt Flynn and incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson. The decision to anoint Wilson means he will be one of five rookies to earn the starting QB job for his team this season. But unlike the other four whose teams mostly carry low expectations into the 2012 season, Wilson will take over a squad that is primed to make a run at the division crown if they can get solid quarterback play.

This will put Wilson and Carroll under pressure to produce results almost immediately. Such a shocking move needs to be dissected from the beginning to see if it is really the right move for the Seahawks.Back in January, Russell Wilson declared for the NFL Draft and every team in the NFL was certainly well aware of the fact. Despite this knowledge the Seahawks choose to pursue free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, formerly of the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks made no small commitment to Flynn guaranteeing $10 million of his $26 million total contract. This type of commitment is not given to a player expected to sit on the bench.

By the time Flynn signed his contract in March of 2012 the draft hype for all prospects had already begun and the quarterback picture was beginning to become clearer. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III had become the unanimous top choices, Ryan Tannehill was receiving increasing hype and it was speculated some team would move to draft him early in the first round. Beyond those three, only Brandon Weeden was projected to have a chance of getting drafted on day one. Unless something completely unexpected happened, Russell Wilson was going to fall until at least the second day of the draft.

With the Seahawks still owning each of their first three round picks if they really desired to have Wilson they must have known they would be able to select him, yet they still choose to make a large financial commitment to Matt Flynn. When draft day finally came the Seahawks passed on Wilson until the 3rd round. Some might say this is simply getting good value by not reaching to draft a player, and to a certain extent this is true. But Seattle already proved in the first round that they were willing to go “off the board” by selecting undersized defensive end Bruce Irvin, who very few had going in the first round at all. If Seattle had thought that Wilson had what it takes to take over their starting quarterback position than they would have drafted him earlier, as highlighted with Irvin. If there is a franchise QB available you don’t let him slip into the 3rd round and risk someone else scooping him up. It is like what Bill Belichick has said about Brady; if the Patriots knew he was as good as he was, they wouldn’t have waited until the 6th round to draft him.

My point is that if the Seahawks were aware of the skills that Wilson was bringing to the table from the beginning then they would have taken a different approach to the offseason and certainly would have pursued Wilson more actively in the draft. Certainly we can’t know all that went on during Seahawks training camp, but some emphasis for this decision must have been placed on each player’s preseason performance. That said, placing too much emphasis on the preseason can be dangerous. As Micheal Lombardi at NFL.com has pointed out, the best looking young quarterback in last year’s preseason was Colt McCoy, while Cam Newton looked absolutely terrible – we know how that ended. The preseason results were part of what fueled the speculating that Newton would be a huge bust. When the season started Newton was a star and McCoy no longer has his starting job.

Can we overlook Wilson’s low pre-draft grade and trust Pete Carrol’s evaluation in this case? Based on Carrol’s recent track record I am not entirely sure we can. When Carrol first arrived in Seattle in 2010 one of his first moves was to trade a third-round pick to San Diego to acquire Charlie Whitehurst. Whitehurst was brought in to be the starter of the future in Seattle despite never starting a single game in San Diego. Whitehurst failed to impress during the 2010 season and the Seahawks were left searching for another option.

This led them to sign Tarvaris Jackson away from the Minnesota Vikings. Despite playing with superior talent in Minnesota, Jackson was inadequate in five seasons with the team. Tarvaris started 15 games for the Seahawks in 2011 which was enough to prove to the folks in Seattle what everyone outside the organization already knew; Tarvaris Jackson is not starting QB material.

These two failed quarterback projects, which Carroll was quick to give up on, will cast doubt on his latest maneuver.
If we can’t completely trust Carrol’s judgment maybe we can find some answers in the tape?

In digging for answers I watched Seattle’s week two and three preseason contests against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs respectively. When watching the tape the thing that jumped out at me right away is not the quarterbacks at all but the Seahawks wide receivers (see: Footnote). They simply do not get any separation at all. Whether it was Sidney Rice (limited action), Braylon Edwards, or Golden Tate no one was able to pull away from coverage when locked up man to man, this made evaluating the quarterbacks extremely difficult. Actually, in my Seahawks analysis from last month I noted the weakness at wide receiver, and the preseason has failed to sway my opinion.

I watched every snap for Flynn and Wilson, the only real contenders for the starting gig. Flynn only saw action in the first half of the Broncos game and nothing against KC. He ended the half with a mere 31 passing yards but when watching him play I never felt he was doing especially poorly. There were many times when he would patiently scan the field before finally delivering the ball to a covered receiver only to have his pass broken up – the receivers were certainly not helping the situation. I don’t want to judge Flynn on two quarters of preseason play, but he did fail to consistently do anything that would stand out in a positive way.

When Wilson took over at QB the same issues of separation continued but Wilson seemed to show more of a willingness to try to fit the balls into tight spots, especially down the field. Wilson’s arm strength is something that is immediately apparent when watching him. His release is effortless, and the ball gets down the field in a hurry. Because of his arm strength he does not need to take a big step into his throws like some QB’s to get power on them, this gives him a quick release, and it makes him especially effective on deep play action passes where he can quickly turn and deliver the ball. When throwing the dreaded out route he displayed no lack of power and was able to connect with his receivers several times on these plays in the KC game. When there were no receivers to throw to Wilson possesses an elite ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet. On one such instance the Chiefs brought a 6-man pressure, but all the rushers came from the edge and nothing up the middle so Russell calmly ran in behind his center and was able to pick up an easy 30-yard gain. He used his head as much as his feet. Beyond his tangible qualities nothing about Wilson reminded me of a rookie. His reads were always quick, and plenty of times he would deliver the ball down field immediately after the snap, having already diagnosed the coverage. He also trusts his arm and trusts his instincts so he doesn’t get caught holding onto the ball too long in the pocket.

After reviewing all 5 quarters Wilson played the biggest thing that jumped out to me was that he didn’t make a single glaring mistake in all his throws. Not once did he appear to misread a coverage, or throw into double coverage, or make the rookie mistake of throwing the ball downfield to avoid a sack. I thought this was truly remarkable for a rookie quarterback. Now comes the big one – he is deadly accurate on all levels. This is the quality that really separates college QB’s from those who make it in the Pros. I only counted five inaccurate throws in both games combined. One was a badly thrown ball behind his receiver on a down field “in” route that went incomplete, while the other four were all deep shots which sailed too long, grazing off his receivers finger tips. The latter four were not terrible throws because in each case his receiver was behind the defense and the ball was put in a spot where only his guy could make a play. That is what you want a quarterback to do – if you miss, make sure only your guy has a play.

In comparison with Flynn, Wilson appeared to be just as poised and adept a cycling through his receiving progressions. His arm was easily stronger the Flynn’s and he showed more of a willingness to cut it loose, and Wilson’s superior athleticism was clearly evident. The proof was in the results. Russel led six scoring drives on seven tries against the Chiefs, with the lone failure coming on a missed field goal. A week earlier against the Broncos, Wilson engineered three TD drives in the second half after Flynn failed to move the offense at all in the first.

I caution reading too much into those statistics though, especially in the KC game, as they make Wilson look a lot more impressive than he was. The fact they scored on six of Wilson’s seven drives doesn’t tell the whole story. The Seahawks had more rushing yards than passing yards against the Chiefs and the running game was a big part of the success Wilson and the offense has. KC also extended a drive when called for a tacky foul by the replacement refs. And that stat also doesn’t highlight one struggle Wilson did have. On 3rd and 5 or more, Wilson and the offense only converted one out of seven tries (I’m not counting the flag that eliminated one failure). Each of the first three drives for Wilson ended when Seattle faced a 3^rd and long and the Chiefs brought pressure. In each case Wilson was either forced to get rid of the ball early or take a sack. Their lone success on 3rd and long came on a dump off that turned into a big gain after a missed tackle. The whole offense deserves blame for these plays; the line blocked poorly when facing overload pressure and the receivers getting no separation does not make it easy on the QB either. Either way it was clear when KC knew the Seahawks had to pass they had an answer for it. This is an area that is tough for a rookie QB and one that Seattle will have to execute much better in during the season.

Two of the three scoring drives Wilson lead were aided by a long TD run and a busted coverage leaving a wide receiver open in the endzone, too. But I am picking nits here. Overall Wilson played extremely well and was the leader of the offense. He wasn’t perfect, but we really can’t expect that anytime soon (or ever). His 50 college starts have clearly prepared him well for the NFL and he has all the tools required to succeed. It is easy to see what the Seahawks have fallen in love with.

After watching the tape I believe that Wilson was given the starting position because the Seahawks’ feel he has truly earned it, not because of any injury Flynn has sustained (he did not play in the 3rd preseason game because of elbow soreness). I think that Carroll and the Seahawks simply did not totally understand the caliber of talent they were getting when they drafted Wilson.

The decision to start Wilson is a bold move. The NFC west is not a powerhouse division. With Seattle’s strong defense and run first offense they have what it takes to compete with San Francisco at the top of the division. Last season they were competitive with Tarvaris Jackson, but this season they need to receive superior quarterback play in order to take the next step. Credit Carroll for having the courage to make this decision even though he knows he will be widely criticized if it fails.
Our preseason sneak peek suggests that it won’t.

Footnote – Actually the first thing that stands out when watching Seattle is Earl Thomas. The guy is a machine. He seems to always be around the football no matter what the play is, which conjures up images of Troy Polamalu. Thomas is legit. I know quality safety play is often considered a luxury in the NFL but the hallmark of defenses that go beyond being merely good and achieve consistent greatness is usually great safety play. With Seattle’s very stout front seven and Thomas on the backend we could be looking an emerging defense ready to take the NFL by storm, starting right now.

Feel free to add your comments below.

NCAA Football Preview – Boise State, Notre Dame, and BYU

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Lindsay Higgins

*Editor’s note: Previous Conference previews on the ACC, Big East,Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, and SEC are available by clicking the name of each conference.

Unlike the big conferences I have already discussed, there are some notable programs which are either independent or stuck in relative obscurity in weak conferences. Notre Dame has long been independent, while BYU has only recently claimed that status, leaving the Mountain West Conference in 2011 due to poor television ratings. And then there is Boise State, who will leave the same Mountain West Conference next season in favour of the Big East. Either way, it is certainly worth a look at these three programs.

BOISE STATE BONCOS

2011-12 Record: 12-1 (6-1 Mountain West)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 1 on defense

Key Losses: QB Kellen Moore, RB Doug Martin, All-America OT Nate Potter

Player To Watch: Junior QB Joe Southwick has big shoes to fill in replacing Moore, to whom he was the backup in 2010 and 2011.

Of Note: The kicking game needs to be more consistent. Coaches have not yet named a starter between senior Michael Frisina and sophomore Dan Goodall (also the backup punter), but the Idaho Statesman reports that coach Chris Petersen wants to pick a starter rather than go with the hot hand- er, foot.

Can’t-Miss Game: The opener at Michigan State August 31 will likely be the most entertaining game on the Broncos schedule.

BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS

2011-12 Record: 10-3

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: Despite just 11 returning starters, no one loss really stands out as no one position was particularly hard-hit.

Player To Watch: Kicker Justin Sorenson needs to improve his consistency after going 15-of-25 on field goals last season.

Of Note: The Cougars have won at least 10 games in five of the last six seasons. With road games at Utah, Notre Dame, Boise State, and Georgia Tech, it will be difficult but not impossible to make it six of the last seven. BYU opens at Washington State, whose new head coach Mike Leach is a BYU alum.

Can’t-Miss Game: The Holy War at Utah September 15

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

2011-12 Record: 8-5

Returning Starters: 8 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: WR Michael Floyd, Ss Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton (NFL); DE Aaron Lynch (transferred to South Florida); RB Cierre Woods (suspended for first two games for violating team rules).

Key Addition: Top QB recruit Gunner Kiel (#20 overall at Rivals.com) who finally settled on Notre Dame after committing to and decommitting from Indiana and LSU.

Player To Watch: Redshirt freshman Everett Golson, who won a four-way battle for the starting QB position.

Of Note: The Irish have road games at USC, Oklahoma, and Michigan State, as well as visits from Michigan and Stanford. One place the team needs to improve is on punt returns, where they totalled just 48 yards in 13 games in 2011.

Can’t-Miss Game: Grab yourself a pint o’ Guinness and catch Notre Dame vs. Navy in Dublin on September 1.

The Immortals: Which Laker Should Be The Next To Stand Outside Staples Forever?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Kaine Elmy

There’s no denying it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will go down as one of, if not the greatest, Laker of all time. A six time MVP and NBA Champion, Abdul-Jabbar was the most dominant center of his era; one that included the likes of Wilt Chamberlain (SP), Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon (SP). The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will, at some time during the 2012-13 season, be erected as a statue outside the Staples Center. It’s about time the organization honours not only the greatest Laker to ever throw on a jersey, but arguably, one of the greatest players of all time. But who’s next? Many players whose names are mentioned among ‘the greatest’ have worn purple and gold, so who should be next to be established in stone, to be forever immortalized outside the Lakers arena?

Kobe Bryant:

While I won’t dispute that fact that I have a huge bias toward Kobe Bryant, I certainly think he needs a statue outside the arena. Just not yet. The Black Mamba has five rings, with (hopefully) more to come, two finals MVPs, one regular season MVP and fourteen All Star appearances. Even the king himself, Michael Jordan, can only compare one person to himself, and that’s Bryant. Kobe is almost capable of anything on the court, but is it time for a statue? No, not yet; there are Lakers who deserve it more right now.

Wilt Chamberlain:
‘The 100-Point Man’ definitely deserves a statue, but just not at the Staples Center. Chamberlain played in Los Angeles from 1968-1973 and joined a squad featuring Elgin Baylor and Hall of Fame guard, Jerry West. During Chamberlain’s first season, he was benched several times and the phenomenal scorer only averaged 20.5 points per game; not to mention the two games he scored six and two. During the ’69 playoffs, Chamberlain was accused of choking as his mediocre performances arguably cost the Lakers a championship to the Celtics. In the following season, a knee injury caused him to miss all but three games. After making it to the Finals once again, the Lakers suffered another Game Seven loss to the Knicks after he could not shut down the injured Willis Reed. In ’72, the Lakers hard luck ran out, and Chamberlain, Finals MVP, led his team to their first championship over the New York Knicks. Wilt later retired as a Laker, and left a sensational legacy behind him. Worthy of a statue? Sure, but there are players more deserving before him.

Shaquille O’Neal:
Shaq Daddy. The Big Baryshnikov. Shaq-Fu. Diesel. O’Neal had many names to match his many rings, and will go down in history as one of the most dominant NBA players of all time. Following the acquisition of Phil Jackson as Head Coach in 1999, the Lakers managed three consecutive titles, after the implementation of ‘triangle offense’ allowed Bryant and Shaq to excel. Let’s not forget, Shaq was named Finals MVP on all three occasions. In the ’99-2000 season, O’Neal also earned the MVP trophy for the regular season, one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in history. Should Shaq be immortalized in stone? Yes, no doubt. But I can think of one person who deserves it more.

Phil Jackson:
Yes, I know Phil Jackson never actually played in the Laker’s uniform, but he is responsible for orchestrating the franchise’s several dominant seasons. Jackson won a championship in the first year as head-coach following an incredible table topping season. The 2000, 2001 and 2002 season’s belonged to the Phil Jackson and his superstar team, topping Indiana, Philadelphia and New Jersey in Finals series. The implementation of the ‘Triangle Offense’ that was used most efficiently due to the talented combination of Shaquille and Kobe, caused the Lakers to be the most dominant team in the NBA for many years to come. In January 2007, Jackson won his nine hundredth game which then placed him ninth on the all-time win list for head coaches. After dropping the 2008 Finals series to Boston, Jackson led Kobe and the Lakers to two more consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010. Jackson retired in 2011 tied with John Kundla’s record for most championships won by a head coach in a single franchise. Jackson will forever go down as the Laker’s best head coach to ever grace the side of the court. So should Jackson be the next statue outside Staples Center? No doubt about it.

Do you believe there are others who should be etched in stone outside the Staples Center that are not on my list? Who do you believe, if any, warrant a statue thereby immortalizing them in the hearts and minds of Lakers fans?

Feel free to post comments below.

Hammer Radio: UFC 151 Cancelled and The Return of GSP

Posted on August 29, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Its Wednesday Night, so the Hammer Radio show is back, and available in Hamilton on 93.3 CMFU FM, and archived on the internet at http://thehammar.libsyn.com

The Boys at the Hammer feature weekly coverage of all things MMA. This week they are back with another new episode and you can listen to the archived podcast by clicking here. Hammer Radio 108.

” UFC 151 was supposed to happen this Saturday night but it’s been cancelled. Or murdered, depending on who you ask. Instead of skipping Episode 108 of our show entirely, we decided to show up and recap the entire sequence of events, and uses his math skills to assign blame to everyone who deserves it.

We also find some time to discuss GSP’s return, last weeks Bellator, Score Fighting Series and Titan FC shows, as well as the dangers of champions taking fights outside of their home promotion.”

The Hammer features lastwordonsports’ own writer Greg Persson, long time internet superstar Steve Jeffrey, and is hosted by MMA aficionado Dave Abraham.

The Hammer has had interviews with some of the biggest names in MMA over the years, including BJ Penn, Dan Henderson, Sean Sherk, Mark Coleman, and others. They continue to bring unparallelled, independent coverage of all things MMA to fans of the sport.

They’ll give you the straight goods and the Last Word.

Boom or Bust NBA – Houston Rockets

Posted on August 29, 2012November 5, 2021 by Jordan Leung

Welcome back to Boom or Bust. We are at Part Two of this 30-part series, where we scour the NBA team-by-team, examining the best and worst young talent that each has to offer. For a full explanation of the goals and methodology of this column, please click here to read the introduction.

Today we look at one of the more interesting teams in the NBA for this coming season, and a team that I believe can surprise a lot of people.

Houston Rockets

2011-2012 Record – 34-32

Ever since the Yao Ming era came to an end, the Rockets have finished three consecutive years in NBA hell—just outside the playoffs, and just inside the lottery. For the past year, general manager Daryl Morey has been active in the pursuit of Dwight Howard, only to have those hopes crushed by the recent Lakers trade.

With no obvious targets on the horizon, the Rockets will have to make do with what they have. Based on their summer league performances, the Rockets seem to have a strong rookie class, but with a lack of professional experience, it will be the existing NBA guys that lead the charge to start the season.

Omer Asik

Age – 26, Previous Season Stats – 3.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Pale as a ghost, Asik is often praised for his defensive prowess, and was a key component of the Bulls’ depth and stifling team defense. Omer is set to make 25.1 million dollars over the next three years, but considering the Warriors once paid 6.75 million to Kwame Brown for a backup role, there have been worse contracts given to 7-footers in the NBA. In limited minutes, Asik is one of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the NBA. Last season, advanced statistics show Asik has the highest defensive rating out of qualified players.

Asik should start on the Rockets this coming season. He is mobile, and is a strong finisher when given a good look. Lin will utilize him offensively in a similar way as Tyson Chandler. Asik could benefit from being coached by Kevin McHale, and if he can learn to improve his positioning on the low block and expand his offensive arsenal a little, his signing could be a real bargain.

Prospect Score – 6/10

Jon Brockman

Age – 25, Previous Season Stats – 1.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 33.3 FT%

NBA scouts often say that rebounding is the skill that translates best from college to the pros. An undersized power forward with good rebounding skills is not unheard of, ranging from the legends (Charles Barkley, Wes Unseld, Dennis Rodman) to the great role players (Chuck Hayes and Reggie Evans).

Unfortunately for Jon, while his rebounding (offensive rebounding in particular) is good, he has no redeeming skill outside of grabbing boards. Chuck Hayes is undersized, a great rebounder, an elite defender, an above average passer, and plays with relentless hustle. Reggie Evans is a godly rebounder who plays with great energy and toughness.

Jon Brockman is a good rebounder, plays hard, but not hard enough to make a big difference. His size is a disadvantage, and it is doubtful that he will make the final Rockets roster.

Prospect Score – 2/10

Toney Douglas

Age – 26, Previous Season Stats – 6.2 PPG, 2.0 APG, 32.4 FG%

Lin took Toney’s job in New York, and looks like he’ll be taking it again here in Houston. Douglas’ game is to shoot first, but his shooting numbers have regressed since his rookie year. He has a quick release, can get shots off easily, and can nail shots with ease spotting-up or off the dribble.

The problem with Douglas is that he is not an exceptional shooter, and his style of play (pulling up on jumpshots) is not sustainable. If his shot isn’t falling, he just looks like a chucker. Last season saw his true shooting percentage at 39.3%, versus the 57.1% and 53.4% he had in his rookie and sophomore seasons.

Douglas should see back-up minutes at both guard positions, and should work on attacking and breaking down defenses, instead of trying to will shots in from outside the arc. If Toney can bounce back from last season, he could become a valuable player in the NBA.

Prospect Score – 4/10

Gary Forbes

Age – 27, Previous Season Stats – 6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 41.3 FG%

Forbes went undrafted when he declared in 2008, but has made his way into the league. He was a solid offensive option off the bench in last year’s train wreck of the Toronto Raptors. He was forced to play point guard at times, and for a slashing shooting guard, and he could have done a lot worse.

There is an admirable quality about a guy like Forbes though. To work your way back into the league after getting ignored by virtually every single team in the NBA twice shows extreme work ethic and dedication. And wouldn’t want to surround his team with that?

Forbes played for the Rockets’ summer league team in 2010, so Morey and the front office have some idea of what Forbes brings to the table. The Rockets have a great record in recognizing talent, and many successful undrafted NBA players have made pit stops at Houston early in their career (John Lucas III, Ish Smith, Jeremy Lin, Kelenna Azubuike, and Chuck Hayes, to name a few).

With so many question marks on the Rockets next year, don’t be surprised if Gary Forbes ends up playing significant minutes.

Prospect Score – 6/10

Courtney Fortson

Age – 24, Previous Season Stats – 3.5 PPG, 1.0 APG

Tell me cool hair does not get you a spot in the league. Courtney Fortson had a solid season in the D-League and became a viable option as a third string point guard. At 5’11, he is not the tallest player on the floor, but he plays with great energy and is fun to watch. If he did not look like Lil Wayne, he would not be as fun to watch.

Career third string point guard if he even makes it. I wish the best of luck to this little guy.

Prospect Score – 2/10 (1/10 + 1 for the hair = 2/10)

JaJuan Johnson

Age – 23, Previous Season Stats – 3.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 44.6 FG%

As a casual fan of Boilermaker basketball, I like JaJuan Johnson. 6’10, athletic, good jump shot and skilled, Johnson will hang around this league for a few more years, just in case he develops into something special. JaJuan played exclusively in garbage time during his first season, and sadly, with the Rockets frontcourt depth, he would be lucky to make the roster, let alone play in garbage time.

As a side note, Johnson did not look this skinny in college. I guess there’s a reason why some college guys wear t-shirts under their jerseys. On the topic of being skinny, with the exception of Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh, there are virtually no successful power forwards that are thin, so JaJuan Johnson has some work to do if he wants to carry his basketball success to a professional level.

There’s always Europe.

Prospect Score – 2.5/10

Jeremy Lin

Age – 24, Previous Season Stats – 14.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG

‘Linsanity’ Stats – 18.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.0 SPG

I could write a book about this guy if I wanted to. Often described as the most polarizing player in the NBA, Jeremy Lin will be one of the most watched players to begin the season.

The truth about Lin is that during the peak of Linsanity, he was one of the top point guards in the league. After that stretch, he still played well above average, and showed that he could lead an NBA team. One thing to consider—teams (as witnessed by the Heat) became focused on shutting down Lin because they were determined to end the hype. It’s a similar effect that Team USA has in the Olympics. Team Tunisia plays harder against the US than they would against Nigeria for that chance of an upset.

Should he continue to play at an 18-8 level, $8 million a year is great value for that type of production. If he plays like he did during the height of Linsanity, the Rockets would have made the signing of a century. Failure is also an option, but I just can’t see it.

As a huge Jeremy Lin fan that gets teary-eyed every time he watches Linsanity highlights, I’ll knock a point off the prospect score I would have given him.

Adjusted Prospect Score – 8/10

That Raptors game winner gets me every time. :’)

Marcus Morris

Age – 22, Previous Season Stats – 2.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 29.6 FG%

The older Morris twin never had a chance in his first season, so it’s hard to give him a fair evaluation. A versatile and efficient scorer in college, Morris compared himself to Carmelo Anthony in his rookie press conference, and went as far as saying he would “not take after [Carmelo] on the defensive side.” For a rookie that averaged 2.4 a game, that’s a lot of words.

Even if he has been working as hard as he can to prepare for training camp, it will be tough for Marcus to break the rotation. Parsons and Patterson should be starters, and newcomers Royce White, Terrence Jones, and Donatas Motiejunas are all strong contenders for frontcourt minutes. Morris was a good scorer in college, and even if his scoring can translate to the NBA, his lack of a true position may hurt his chances of earning playing time.

Prospect Score – 2/10

Chandler Parsons

Age – 23, Previous Season Stats – 9.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 45.2 FG%

Some of you may remember this game winner from two years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wrrcnxFw10

I re-watched it recently and was kind of surprised that it was Chandler Parsons who made that shot.

Chandler Parsons was an absolute steal in the second round and had a successful rookie season. Chandler received high praise from Kobe Bryant for his defense, which is never a bad thing.

Parsons is long, athletic, a good passer, and more importantly, drop dead gorgeous. He has all the tools to become an incredible role player and at his best, could be a handsome and white Luol Deng. Chandler is a guy that Houston should be keeping for the foreseeable future, and should be starting unless the Rockets land a top small forward.

One thing he does have to work on though is his free throw shooting. Although he only averages 1.2 attempts a game (his poor percentages may cause him to be reluctant to draw fouls), Chandler shot an abysmal 55.1% from the foul line. In his best year of college ball, Parsons shot 66.2% from the foul line. It is hard to pinpoint a reason for poor free throw shooting, but I am willing to bet that the hot women in the crowd giving him naughty looks and bedroom eyes might have something to do with it.

And even if Chandler regresses and drops out the NBA… with that face, he should never have to worry about anything.

Prospect Score – 8/10

Greg Smith

Age – 21, Previous Season Stats – 1.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.6 BPG

It is hard to write an analysis on a player who played 69 minutes total in a season on a team you don’t follow religiously. Greg Smith does pass the D-League test so we know he is not a complete bum. If you watch this video, you’ll get an idea of what I mean.

You realize that Greg Smith may challenge Monta Ellis as one of the hardest people to understand in the NBA. Looking back to some scouting reports, it seems that Greg is just another physically gifted, but incredibly raw and unpolished big man. It will be hard to see Greg succeed in the league, but at least he has a true position.

Prospect Score – 1.5/10

Sean Williams

Age – 25, Previous Season Stats – 3.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.9 BPG

As a rookie, Sean Williams was a blast to watch and was an absolute highlight machine. Williams is a prolific shot blocker, but might suffer from being too obsessed with blocking shots. His rebounding is nothing to write home about, and because of his eagerness to swat balls in mid-air, he can sometimes forget about playing proper defense… the type that involves feet on the ground.

Williams found his way back in the NBA after a one-year hiatus, and started the season with the Mavericks on a Nets reunion tour with Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. As soon as Brandan Wright proved that he was worth a damn in this league, Sean Williams became expendable, and he finished the season in Boston. In limited minutes, he has shown that he hasn’t made significant improvements to his game.

As with many other forwards on the Rockets roster, it is doubtful that Williams will make the final roster. He does however, have the best shot blocking ability out of any of the forwards on the team, so that might make him worth a second look.

Prospect Score – 1.5/10

There you have it – a look at the younger talent on the Houston Rockets. Feel free to leave comments below, and check back soon as I continue making my way around the NBA looking for the league’s best (and worst) young talent in this 30-part special, “Boom or Bust”.

NCAA Football Preview: Pac-12

Posted on August 29, 2012November 5, 2021 by Lindsay Higgins

*Editor’s note: Previous Conference previews on the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, and SEC are available by clicking the name of each conference.

There are many excited for Pac-12 football this season. The conference features pre-season number 1 the USC Trojans, led by the favorite to go first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, Quarterback Matt Barkley. However don’t expect USC to run away and hide and a late season game with perennial contender Oregon will likely decide who wins the conference. There is also intrigue at Stanford where the Cardinal try to replace Andrew Luck. In addition, will one of the lesser lights in the conference emerge as a contender? With just days until football starts, we’ll soon have less questions and more answers in the Pac-12.

USC TROJANS

2011-12 Record: 10-2 (7-2 Pac-12, no bowl game due to NCAA sanctions)

Returning Staters: 8 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Loss: Offensive tackle Matt Kalil (NFL)

Key Addition: RB Silas Redd, a transfer from Penn State. In a classic case of the rich getting richer, he’ll accompany 1,000-yard rusher Curtis McNeal in the backfield.

Of Note: USC is still limited by the NCAA to 75 scholarships; however, they return to bowl eligibility this season.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 3 vs. Oregon should be the most exciting game on the Trojans’ schedule.

CAL GOLDEN BEARS

2011-12 Record: 7-6 (4-5 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense

Key Loss: Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year DE Mychal Kendricks, All-Conference LT Mitchell Schwartz, two-time Ray Guy Award finalist P Bryan Anger (NFL)

Key Addition: 5-Star WR recruit Bryce Treggs could make an impact this season. His father is former Cal WR Brian Treggs.

Of Note: QB Zach Maynard and WR Keenan Allen are half-brothers.

Can’t-Miss Game: The Bears make a rare trip east to take on Ohio State September 8.

UCLA BRUINS

2011-12 Record: 6-8 (5-4 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Loss: Coach Rick Neuheisel was fired after going 21-29 during his tenure.

Key Addition: A young offensive line should be helped by Xavier Su’a-Filo, who returns from his Mormon mission.

Note: Redshirt freshman Brett Hundley beat out Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince, both seniors, for the starting QB position.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 24 vs. Stanford

STANFORD CARDINAL

2011-12 Record: 11-2 (8-1 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: QB Andrew Luck, OG David DeCastro (NFL)

Key Addition: OL Andrus Peat, a five-star recruit ranked #32 overall by Rivals.com

Of Note: Junior QB Josh Nunes beat out sophomore Brett Nottingham as the starter. The Cardinal have road games at Oregon and Notre Dame, with USC at home.

Can’t-Miss Game: October 20 at Cal

OREGON DUCKS

2011-12 Record: 12-2 (8-1 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Losses: QB Darron Thomas, RB LaMichael James (NFL)

Player To Watch: Redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota was named the starting QB last week

Of Note: Head Coach Chip Kelly turned down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job over the winter.

Can’t-Miss Game: October 6 vs. an improving Washington team

OREGON STATE BEAVERS

2011-12 Record: 3-9 (2-6 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Loss: A big chunk of last year’s offensive line

Key Addition: OL Isaac Seumalo, ranked #52 overall by Rivals.com; could start right away

Of Note: OSU has road games at Washington and Stanford, with Oregon at home; they escape USC this season.

Can’t-Miss Game: The Civil War, as Oregon rolls into town November 24.

ARIZONA WILDCATS

2011-12 Record: 4-8 (2-7 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 4 on defense

Key Losses: QB Nick Foles, QR Juron Criner (NFL)

Key Addition: New coach Rich Rodriguez, whose offense should be more successful in the Pac-12 than it was in the Big Ten.

Of Note: The indefinite suspension of junior DL Justin Washington for a violation of team rules will hurt an already-inexperienced defense.

Can’t-Miss Game: October 27 vs. USC will provide a test for both the offense and defense

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS

2011-12 Record: 6-7 (4-5 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 4 on defense

Key Losses: Starting QB Brock Osweiler, the top 3 WRs, 3 offensive linemen, 2 safeties, and 3 linebackers.

Key Addition: New coach Todd Graham

Of Note: Given the number of departing players from a team that was average last season, a 6-6 record and bottom-tier bowl game would have to be considered a good year for the Sun Devils.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 23 at Arizona will definitely be the best game of the night, seeing that it’s a Friday

WASHINGTON HUSKIES

2011-12 Record: 7-6 (5-4 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Losses: RB Chris Polk (NFL). OL Colin Porter was diagnosed with a degenerative shoulder condition in the spring and had to quit football.

Key Addition: DE Hau’oli Jamora returns from a knee injury; 5-star DB recruit Shaq Thompson, #4 overall at rivals.com, could play or even start in the backfield.

Of Note: The Huskies are replacing their entire kicking/punting unit.

Can’t-Miss Game: September 8, as the Huskies travel to the Bayou to take on the LSU Tigers.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

2011-12 Record: 4-8 (2-7 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Addition: LB Darryl Monroe returns from an Achilles injury.

Player To Watch: Kicker Andrew Furney was 14-of-16 on field goals last season.

Of Note: The Cougars’ last bowl game was in 2003.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 23 vs. Washington

UTAH UTES

2011-12 Record: 8-5 (4-5 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 8 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: Both starting offensive tackles; DTs Chaz Walker and Matt Martinez, their leading tacklers in 2011.

Key Addition: QB recruit Travis Wilson has worked his way up to second on the depth chart.

Of Note: The Utes’ road schedule is relatively soft; they travel to Arizona State, UCLA, Oregon State, and Washington

Can’t-Miss Game: The Holy War vs. BYU, September 15

COLORADO BUFFALOES

2011-12 Record: 3-10 (2-7 Pac-12)

Returning Starters: 3 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Losses: WR Toney Clemons (NFL) and WR Paul Richardson (spring knee injury) leave the Buffs extremely short on experienced pass-catchers.

Player To Watch: Kansas transfer Jordan Webb has been named starting QB just a month after arriving in Boulder. (He graduated from Kansas, making him eligible to play for Colorado this season).

Of Note: Three of the last four games on the Buffs’ schedule include road trips to USC, Oregon, and Arizona

Can’t-Miss Game: October 11 vs. Arizona State should at least be competitive

PAC-12 OVERVIEW

Conference Champion: USC

Best Bet to Contend: Oregon

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Matt Barkley, USC

Defensive Player of the Year: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

Coach On The Hot Seat: I really don’t see one in the Pac-12, where seven of the twelve coaches have been in their current position for no more than three seasons, and the remaining five are all well over .500.

The Story Behind the Jon Jones Drama

Posted on August 29, 2012November 5, 2021 by Mark Modeski

Since entering the UFC in 2008, Jon “Bones” Jones has been nothing less than explosive in the Octagon. He has has been virtually unstoppable in the UFC, going 9-1 (the sole loss was a DQ in a fight he was dominating against Matt Hamil) and recorded a finish in all but one of those fights. He’s come off as Superman both in and outside of the ring; young and personable, the light heavyweight champ was exactly what UFC kingpin Dana White needed in a champion prior to bringing the UFC to the mainstream. All has been going well, uninterrupted. Well until recently, that is…

Chinks in Jones’ superhuman armour have begun to appear recently, most notably outside of the cage. On May 19th, 2012, he woke up with a different feeling; It wasn’t that of a young man surrounded by piles of money and beautiful women, but that of his Bentley Continental wrapped around a pole in Binghamton, New York. Jones was charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) and released on bail. He would later plead “guilty” to the charge, showing that Superman isn’t perfect after all.

A little damage to his reputation by a DWI was all but erased when Nike announced that it would be signing Jones to an international sponsorship deal – the first of its kind for any UFC fighter. It’s funny how quickly people forgive and forget an athlete’s wrongdoings when a major company throws its weight behind them. However, this was only a veil covering what would explode in the media as a major dent in the young champion’s reputation.

In what many considered to be the last major challenge for Jones at 205lbs, Dan Henderson was set to take on the young champ in a headlong match at UFC 151. Everything was set, and press was building – that is until Henderson had to pull out with an MCL injury. One thing the UFC has always done quite admirably is finding last minute replacements for fights. This being a rather large fight, the wheels were turning, and names were being tossed around to replace Henderson.

The first to through his name into the octagon was newly minted 205lb-er, Chael Sonnen, who was eager to fill the void on the card. Much to the chagrin of many fight fans who would have been satisfied with a Sonnen-Jones fight, Jones quickly dismissed the notion.

After officially announcing the that UFC 151 will go down in history as the first UFC to ever be cancelled, Dana White announces that Jones will face Machida (next in line for a shot) at UFC 152. White placed the blame squarely on Jones and coach Greg Jackson for the demise of UFC 151. With little to no notice it is then revealed that Jones will be fighting Vitor Belfort for the title at UFC 152, and not Machida. It later turns out that Machida turned down the fight against Jones, allegedly because he wanted to fight in his home country of Brazil.

Just to spin things even further sideways it turns out that Jones was also offered Shogun for a title fight, but refused. Why did Jones refuse the fight against Shogun? Allegedly because his first fight against the former Brazillian champion was his lowest grossing pay-per-view to-date.

There are two sides to every coin. Before passing judgement it’s important to look at everything from not only the point-of-view of the fan, but also that of the fighter himself.

From Jones’ point-of-view, everything he has done through this ordeal makes complete sense. For Jones to fight Sonnen would have been a circus more than a legitimate title fight. Sonnen has no place fighting for the championship at 205lbs, after recently losing a title bout at 185lbs. Sonnen can chirp all he likes. The fact is he needs to build some credibility at light heavyweight before being granted a title bout.

Rumour has it that Jones turned down Shogun because of previously low pay-per-view numbers. Perhaps this was the case, but can you blame the kid? He wants to put on the best fight possible, perhaps he feels that his fight against Shogun was not as big of a draw. Also, why risk the title against a guy who really hasn’t done much to prove that he truly deserves a shot after you’ve just signed a lucrative sponsorship deal?

Which bring us to Belfort. Vitor’s one-dimensional (albeit deadly) style of fighting is enough to prep for within the scope of a month, especially considering Jones had also already been preparing for a striking onslaught to be laid down by Henderson.

From the perspective of the fan, we don’t care about the politics or the preparation – we just want to see the best fight, and in most cases we really aren’t that particular as to the opponent. Seeing Jones turn down multiple opponents sours the fans’ opinion of the champ, and rightfully so. When you constantly hear testosterone-filled statements from Dana White saying that he just wants guys to fight, and he doesn’t like hearing excuses, it’s hard for the regular fan not to get their claws out against Jones.

In my opinion Jones made the right decision. He picked an interesting opponent, and only delayed his original fight date by a few weeks. We’re still going to get to see a prepared Jon Jones, who has no excuses if he loses (which he probably won’t).

What will strike me the most about this whole ordeal is that Dana White did not stand behind his fighter. Regardless of Jones, or Machida, or whoever’s reason for not wanting to fight you should never put down your own talent. Imagine Bud Selig or Gary Bettman putting down one of their players – no one would stand for it. As much as I enjoy Dana White’s candor, it’s things like this that make me wonder whether or not he is good for the sport.

… and that is the last word.

Follow me on Twitter – @LastWordMark

NHL Yearbooks: Comparing Last Year’s Predictions to Actual Results (Final Results!)

Posted on August 28, 2012November 5, 2021 by Maksim Vasilyev

Welcome to Part Three, the final episode in this three part series that compares the pre-season predictions of three very well respected hockey publications – The Official NHL Yearbook, The Hockey News Yearbook, and McKeen’s Hockey Pool Yearbook. Before continuing on to part three, you may want to check out Part One and Part Two before resuming with Part Three.

OTTAWA SENATORS

I wish our politics would be as united as the experts on the place Ottawa was destined for. After the dismal 2010-11 season the Senators appeared to many to be destined for a long-term rebuild. They had the prospects pool that showed a bright future and everyone was expecting them to spend a few years in the Eastern Conference basement. THN said, “The Senators have stars in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but beyond them is a team at the start of a slow, painful rebuild.” While that was true two years ago, last year we saw a supporting cast emerge to stardom level. Erik Karlsson blew the lid of the defensive point race. McKeen’s dropped a liner on the young kid – “On the road to NHL stardom”, and NHL guys asked us “Though vastly different in style and physical appearance, could Karlsson and Rundblad be the new Chara and Redden?” Well Karlsson is writing his own name in the history books and everyone really undervalued this team.

THN – 15ht NHL – 15^th McKeen’s – 15^th Actual – 8^th

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

“Well, that was interesting, wasn’t it?” is the opening line in the NHL Yearbook. Both NHL Yearbook and McKeen’s thought Bryzgalov could be an answer for the Flyers in net. “In Bryzgalov the Flyers may have finally solved a perpetual area of weakness,” said McKeen’s, and NHL Yearbook followed with “Signing Bryzgalov…could end the perpetual problems in goal the club has since, well, Ron Hextall retired.” But no one loved the moves that Flyers GM Paul Holmgren performed than The Hockey News guys. While all three thought the team was playoff worthy, THN gets the nod on this one as they expected the Flyers to be dominant in the East – and they were.

THN – 4^th NHL – 7^th McKeen’s – 8^th Actual – 5^th

PHOENIX COYOTES

The Coyotes tend to do this every year, right? Small market team with hardly any superstars, yet always manages to make the playoffs. So would they be doubted again? Yes, and yes. If I was a betting man, I am not one but if I was, I would never bet against Dave Tippet. This man can probably win with a team equipped with toilet plungers and watermelons for helmets. NHL Yearbook thought the odds will catch up to this desert squad – “After two years of getting more for less and making the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, the Phoenix Coyotes could find 11-12 to be the biggest challenge yet.” Oh, and my favorite quote comes from The Hockey News experts – “Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov made up for the Coyotes’ mild offense. Now he’s in Philly and the team he left behind will be much worse for it.” That will be a miss and another miss. Just like the Florida Panthers, the Coyotes manage to win a tough division title beating out the heavyweights like LA Kings, SJ Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks. The thousands (or hundreds :P) of fans in Phoenix could be heard unanimously yelling “suck it” and rightfully so.

THN – 14^th NHL – 11^th McKeen’s – 15^th Actual – 3^rd

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

There were few question marks for this team heading into the regular season, none as important as “Will Sidney Crosby Play?” A rumor-filled summer told us that we might not see Sid play for a while. Malkin, the team’s second highest profile player, had his own knee issues that were under question as well. All of these doubts would not stop from most pundits declaring the Penguins to be the heavy favorites. Most experts even had them going to the Cup finals, again. McKeen’s picked James Neal as the player to watch and rightfully so as he finished with career high 40 goals and 81 points. NHL Yearbook had great concerns for the health of the teams stars and while The Hockey News guys said that “Penguins flying dangerously under the radar,” both magazines did not dare to assume the worst and ranked them to finish very high.

THN – 2^nd NHL – 1^St McKeen’s – 3^rd Actual 4^th

SAN JOSE SHARKS

“The stages that some teams must go through to become and remain an elite NHL club are interesting and unpredictable,” said NHL Yearbook. Interesting indeed. Ever since I can remember San Jose has always been good and in the playoffs, but has yet to claim the big boys’ trophy. Sharks were always the runner-up, but never the grand slam winner. With few changes in the offseason they turned some of the skeptics back into believers – “Havlat and Burns give the Sharks a different look. They’ll still dominate the west and wait for another shot to win an elusive Cup,” said THN. Everyone was back in love and “smelling blood”, but well we know it did not go as peachy as it all seemed. The Sharks struggled to win on the road going 17-17-7 and lost the division title to the Coyotes, who, I guess, ended up having a bigger bite.

THN – 2^nd NHL – 4^th McKeen’s – 4^th Actual 7^th

ST. LOUIS BLUES

While no one expected the Blues to be terrible, no one expected them to be that good, not even you…Blues fans. The 6 wins and 7 loses start to the season was enough to get Davis Payne fired and Ken Hitchcock hired. Whether it was Hitchcock (it was) or just the move in general, either way it sparked the team and the goalies to go on an incredible run. They doubled the wins total in that month alone and continued on to grab a Central Division title away from Chicago, Detroit, and the Predators. While most experts knew good things were coming for this club, no one expected them to come this quick and this good. The Hockey News said, “Adding veterans Arnott and Langenbrunner gives the Blues needed depth and experience. They’ve got speed to spare and will improve.” The NHL Yearbook said, “This might be the year for the St. Louis Blues,” while McKeen’s was singing a similar tune as well – “Look for St. Louis to be a possible bubble team to make the playoffs at worst – and make a possible leap up the standings.”

THN – 7^th NHL – 9^th McKeen’s – 7^th Actual – 2^nd

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Lightning were a bit of a shock in the playoffs in 2010-11 forcing a game seven with the eventual Stanley Cup winners – Boston Bruins. The jolt of energy stayed long with the experts and they expected lots of good for the “supposedly” better of the two Florida-based clubs. In an almost ironic fashion, THN said, “Some sneered to think Tampa Bay could be a playoff team last season, but nobody’s sneering anymore. The Lightning are for real.” Most of the experts praised the offensive talent the team could ice every night, but few warned of the doom to come in net. McKeen’s had a feeling, however – “Should be better in goal but Roloson’s health and age are the main potential worries.” Even with the highly defensive style Tampa Bay scored more goals than half the league, but they gave up the most too – by a lot. With a goals for / goals against differential of -46 it was too rough to sneak into the playoffs.

THN – 6^th NHL – 5^th McKeen’s – 6^th Actual 10^th

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

While the butt-end of jokes lately in the hockey community (well, for a few decades anyway), this franchise has a long and proud history. Right now, every Leaf fan would love to reach back into the glory days for a taste of some sweet, sweet playoff hockey. “…GM Brian Burke’s…steady drip of progression seen in recent months likely means that the Toronto Maple leafs can finally look forward to playing playoff hockey in the near future,” said NHL Yearbook. While that seems promising, not everyone agreed. The Hockey News gurus had a slightly different opinion – “Toronto’s bumpy rebuild has gotten it close to the playoffs without actually making it. Expect that pattern to continue this year.” McKeen’s was also not so optimistic – “A sophomore slump by Reimer and Toronto’s playoff drought probably hits a seventh season.” Truth be told, truth be told. While not everyone agreed that Reimer was the answer, everyone did agree that goaltending would be the – break it or make it – for the struggling original-six club.

THN – 10^th NHL – 8^th McKeen’s – 9^th Actual – 13^th

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Vancuver Conucks are starting to turn into the San Jose Sharks. Their President trophy collection builds, but the Stanley Cup rings are nowhere to be found. There is zero chance anyone would predict anything else but a division title and a playoff spot for this team. The trick here is to find out if they can win it all. “Killer instinct? Regular season is no issue. It’s the playoffs that worry.” A rather fitting quote from The Hockey News. NHL Yearbook asks a simple question, “What could have been?” That question probably ran through Canuck players’ minds all summer. Maybe a dip or a dive in the standings? Not really. The Canucks captured another Presidents Trophy and saw another playoff exit without the big hardware. McKeen’s was exact on one thing though – “Cody Hodgson: A prime trade commodity likely to be dealt at some point as he doesn’t seem a proper fit here.” So Cody did eventually get traded to the Buffalo Sabres for depth pieces that did squat to prevent an early exit against the LA Kings.

THN – 1^st NHL – 1^st McKeen’s – 2^nd Actual 1^st.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

“There are times in the growth of a franchise when a team has almost everything required to be considered an outstanding hockey club: great talent, respected coach-management team, supportive ownership and an array of prospects coming through the system. And, in the case of the Capitals, the most explosive player in the world and a rejuvenated, rabid fan base,” opened NHL Yearbook. Ah, the dream team, right? The goaltending problem was solved with Vokoun, on what everyone thought to be a steal of the century. Healthy Mike Green was going to have a Mike Green year, and Semin should be good for 40 goals since it is his contract year. A highly motivated Ovechkin, and now you can even buy a sausage on a stick wrapped in a chocolate chip pancake. Not everything is as good as it looks on paper. It might have been the perfect storm, really, and most had them pegged to be a Cup favorite. McKeen’s expected better – “Making the postseason is basically a given at this point,” and The Hockey News picked the Capitals to win it all. “The old saying goes something like this: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Or, if you are George W. Bush, something like this: Fool me once, shame on…shame on you…you fool me, can’t get fooled again! This brings us, quite fittingly, to the Washington Capitals. Even though they’ve fooled us three times, we are picking them to win the Stanley Cup. Ice cream for everybody. You may call the regular season a struggle for the Capitals but they did show some good hockey in the playoffs. It will be very interesting what the experts have to say about the Capitals this year. NHL Yearbook gets the nod, barely.

THN – 1^st NHL – 2^nd McKeen’s – 1^st Actual – 7^th

WINNIPEG JETS

While it is good to see the Jets move back to Winnipeg, it would have been that much sweeter to have them make the playoffs. This of course did not happen and no one really expected this young team to do anyway. While the Jets did not perform as poorly as most experts thought, the playoffs are still a few seasons away. The Hockey News said, “The Jets will benefit from playing before an energized full house, but that wont be enough to make up for the serious roster holes.” The energy thing it must have been something because the Jets were abysmal on the road (14-22-5) and an elite playoff squad at home (23-13-5). Now if only Winnipeg could fly all of their fans to a few away games. Obviously the young talent is slowly churning into W’s, but what is more important is that the team is finding solid franchise pieces to build around. Evander Kane, Tobias Enstrom, Ron Hainsey, and Ondrej Pavelec all are solid players that can help create a solid core to build around. With additions of Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd for strong leadership, we could have had a possible playoff team. Although, few injuries and poor road record spoiled the playoff dreams, but did not stop from the MTS Centre from rocking every home game. Keep it up!

THN – 13^th NHL – 13^th McKeen’s – 14^th actual – 11th

That’s that. We have looked at all 30 teams and all 30 predictions (Part One and Part Two). The results?

McKeen’s got one prediction dead on and almost crowned the Kings as Cup winners 9 months before the Kings won the cup. The other predictions were not as good, but they did have a few near misses. Overall, the magazine was closest on the final standings with 13 predictions that were the same or better than the other two magazines. McKeen’s quality goes well beyond their standings prediction though, which is only a small part of their magazine. Their scouting reports for the major players and prospects of every NHL team are excellent, and the magazine offers tons of insight on individual teams. The 3rd place finish might be a disappointment for the fans of the magazine, but we all know that the predictions game is a fickle one at best, and it really doesn’t reflect the quality of their work, which fellow writer Ben Kerr personally recommends as his favorite.

The Hockey News finishes with 16 predictions that were as good or better as the other two magazines. With two predictions that hit the nail on the head this magazine was batting above .500. If it was not for the few teams that had what appear to be completely unpredicatable collapses and the few that emerged as sweetheart surprises this magazine could have had 17 or even 19 predictions under its belt. The big prediction of Washington Capitals winning the cup did not come true, but the overall insight into the players and teams was great. The Hockey News remains one of my favorites.

The NHL Yearbook comes out as the most accurate yearbook from last year. With 17 predictions that were the same or better than the other two and having predicted two exact finishes. However the overall performance and quality of the magazine can’t be measured with numbers. The reviews offer a lot more than just the standings predictions, but these guys did a better job of seeding the teams and estimating their performance. The Official NHL Yearbook staff clearly did their homework well and as always with predictions got a bit of luck along the way as well. Overall an excellent job and I will be buying one again this year.

Overall these three magazines offer tons of insight and knowledge that we hockey fans crave. We need it and we buy it. By no means is this the be all and end all of which magazine is the best buy. The fact is that while they did not get all 30 teams predicted correctly, this would be impossible task due to how tough NHL seasons are, and how much parity there is in the league. Comparing their predictions was a fun exercise but it has little standing on the value of the magazines. Predictions are a fun game that we all play and these magazines offer so much more than that. We do hope that all of the magazines will attempt to do a better job next year, now that we are counting!

I am looking forward to making our own predictions for the upcoming season and hope to reflect on them next year.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter – @LastWordOnNHL, and feel free to leave your comments below.

Which magazine do you buy, and how much stock do you put into their prediction?

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012