Realistic Possibilities for the January Transfer Window

Why this guy won't be leaving anytime soon

With the January transfer window just a few days away, it seems almost natural to hear media speculation of the leagues biggest superstars changing clubs until said superstar signs a new contract with the club as if nothing ever happened (ex. Luis Suarez). While it was very possible for Suarez to make a move from Anfield, he even wanted to move himself. Now that Liverpool is within a fighting chance with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, there is no reason he would leave unless a super club like Bayern Munich came calling and even then you might have to pay Cavani money if you want to get him.

Diego Costa is also another superstar who is being pegged to move to (insert your favorite club here) and what is crazy about it is he has not said a word about leaving Atletico Madrid. Although there is every reason for a soccer fan to want Costa on their team, the recently declared Spanish international has scored 23 goals in as many games this season and has clearly replaced Radamel Falcao who transferred to Monaco in the summer. The difference between Costa's situation and Falcao's is his predecessor was not tied with Barcelona for first place in La Liga. Why would Costa want to leave to a team who's 7th place (Manchester United) or to other teams in the Premier League which he has to face major competition at striker. Only realistic option in my opinion is Chelsea with their problems at striker but if there is any chance of Diego Costa leaving it will be in the summer.

Now let's get to the players who have a chance of leaving in the transfer window starting with this guy down here:

Angel Di Maria, Midfielder - Real Madrid / Argentina

Playing for Real Madrid might be one of the toughest things to do in sports. No matter how good you are, you always have a chance of getting replaced, ask Iker Casillas. Angel Di Maria has saw his playing time reduce with the record breaking arrival of Welshman Gareth Bale and in a World Cup year might have to take drastic measures in finding a new club just like Mesut Ozil, Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon before him. Di Maria is an good dribbler and excellent crosser of the ball, he is extremely versatile; can play on both wings as well as centrally which he does for Argentina. Real Madrid would love to keep him and although Di Maria denied rumors of moving to different clubs, a transfer for him would make a lot more sense.

Julio Cesar, Goalkeeper - Queens Park Rangers / Brazil
Moving to QPR might have been the worst career move in Julio Cesar's life. After getting relegated to the Championship, Julio Cesar's only appearances this season have been for Brazil. His club manager Harry Redknapp has given Julio Cesar permission to leave QPR with rumors of him heading back home in Brazil. I can be 99 percent certain that Julio Cesar is leaving January and he has to for Brazil manager Felipao to pick him in the World Cup squad.

Kevin De Bruyne, Midfielder- Chelsea / Belgium
After having a nice early season run for Chelsea, Kevin De Bruyne has been in the doghouse at Stamford Bridge and has been frustrated with his lack of first team appearances and might be on the move January to secure a World Cup place for Belgium. After having a successful loan at Werder Bremen last season, De Bryune might see a move back to the Bundesliga, permanently this time.

Jackson Martinez, Forward - FC Porto / Colombia
Since joining Porto, Jackson Martinez has scored 38 goals in 40 appearances for the Portuguese club. With Porto's elimination for the Champions League and a couple of teams needing strikers, Martinez has a chance to cash in and move to a bigger club. This Colombian is Falcao's strike partner in International play and boasts similar traits, he knows how to sniff out chances and turn them into goals and also is a threat in the air. Borussia Dortmund might be an option here trying to adjust to a future without Robert Lewandowski as well as clubs; Arsenal, Chelsea and Inter among others.

Marc Andre ter Stergen, Goalkeeper - Gladbach / Germany
Some of you might know Marc Andre ter Stergen from this, others might know him as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at just 21 years old. He has been linked to Barcelona forever now, but with Victor Valdes set to leave Barcelona in the summer, the young German international looks certain to head to Camp Nou and be their first choice goalkeeper. Barcelona has also been linked to Thibaut Courtois but there is no chance Jose Mourinho is letting him leave. Barcelona might go for Marc Andre te Stergen in the summer but could land him as early as January.

Ivan Rakitic, Midfielder - Sevilla / Croatia
His name has been circulating through nearly every team in the Premier League and rightfully so as he has been excellent this season for Sevilla creating 7 goals and 6 assists in 15 appearances for the Spanish side. However Sevilla is dealing with a financial crisis and may have to offload players to get out of debt. Sevilla is also sixth in the La Liga a way off from the top four, in order to further progress his career, Rakitic has to move to a bigger club. Because of these reasons, this might be another likely transfer and will provide mutual benefit for both parties. Sevilla sold Alvaro Negredo to Manchester City in the summer, Ivan Rakitic may be on the move as well.

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Christmas Day NBA Preview

Before I get started on this, what is up with the short sleeve shirts? NBA Jerseys suppose to be JERSEYS not v-neck colored T-Shirts with a team logo on them being sold for 109.95. I don't know but that is just me, so while we have this T-shirt festive NBA Christmas there are a load of games to get underway some games are probably not gonna be good as advertised due to injuries(Bulls vs Nets) while others are a showcase of the top western teams (sans Portland) that will most likely be challenging the Heat or Pacers in the NBA Finals. Notice I didn't mention any other Eastern Conference team, notice that. Nonetheless this NBA Christmas T-Shirt Fashion showcase will give you a progress report on how these ten teams are faring. Oh and Merry Christmas.

Chicago Bulls(10-16) vs. Brooklyn Nets(9-18) 12:00 PM EST Barclays Center

This season is not going as advertised for both teams.

Probable Lineups

Bulls

PG: D.J. Augustin SG: Mike Dunleavy SF: Jimmy Butler PF: Carlos Boozer C: Joakim Noah

Key Backups: Kirk Hinrich, Taj Gibson, Tony Snell

Notable Injuries: Derrick Rose (Torn Meniscus), Luol Deng (Achilles)

Nets

PG: Deron Williams SG: Joe Johnson SF: Paul Pierce PF: Kevin Garnett C: Andray Blatche

Key Backups: Jason Terry, Mirza Teletovic, Shaun Livingston, Reggie Evans, Alan Anderson

Notable Injuries: Brook Lopez (Broken Foot)

This playoff rematch was suppose to be better than advertised, unfortunately with a few key injuries it is only fitting this happens to be the first game of the holiday. Chicago will be lucky to have back both Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich as they practiced Tuesday after battling injuries of their own.
The Nets despite losing their leading scorer Brook Lopez for the season is surprisingly in better health than usual with Deron Williams' ankle injuries hopefully behind him as well as Paul Pierce and KG back to a full bill of health. The problem still is the huge decline of Kevin Garnett as he is really looking like a shell of his former self even compared to last year and life would not be made easier going against his former assistant coach Tom Thibodeau and his stifling defense. Paul Pierce had some much needed rest coming off an ejection for a clothesline on Pacers guard George Hill. He will also face a tough task as Jimmy Butler is one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA. 

Although D.J. Augustin has been solid for the Bulls during the last two games, but at 6'0 183, he is too small to handle the 6'3 210 pound Deron Williams who might be too much to ask Kirk Hinrich to guard coming back from injury. Add to that more depth and home-court advantage, I don't think Jason Kidd wants to be embarrassed in the Barclays Center

Key Matchup: D.J Augustin vs. Deron Williams

Prediction: Nets

Oklahoma City Thunder(22-5) vs. New York Knicks(9-18) 2:30 PM EST Madison Square Garden

This guy will have to step up if New York is to stand a chance.

Probable Lineups

Thunder

PG: Russell Westbrook SG: Thabo Sefolosha SF: Kevin Durant PF: Serge Ibaka C: Kendrick Perkins

Key Backups: Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Nick Collison

Notable Injuries: Steven Adams (ankle)

Knicks

PG: Beno Udrih SG: Iman Shumpert SF: Carmelo Anthony* PF:Andrea Bargnani C: Tyson Chandler

Key Backups: J.R. Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cole Aldrich

Notable Injuries: Raymond Felton (Groin), Kenyon Martin (Abdomen), Metta World Peace (Knee), Pablo Prigioni (Broken Toe)

*Game Time Decision (Ankle, may not play)

When Cole Aldrich is labeled as a "key backup" you know you are in trouble. The Knicks injury list is as long as the yellow pages and star player Carmelo Anthony may not play due to popping his ankle against the Orlando Magic on Monday. 

After watching Melo play with a torn labrum in last season's NBA Playoffs I expect him to toughen up and play against OKC, but even a hundred percent Melo won't be enough to stop the 2nd best team in the Western Conference. 

Kevin Durant just keeps getting better as that gap between him and LeBron is getting tighter, Russell Westbrook will cause huge problems for New York's depleted backcourt and Mike Woodson would be crazy if he were to let Beno Udrih get the duties to guard him, but he might not have a choice. Andrea Bargnani hopefully will not make any more mistakes as the Knicks will have to rely on him as he can take Ibaka out of his comfort zone with his shooting range. 

Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb are young athletic guards coming off the bench that would cause more problems for that Knicks defense. This will be an easy win for Oklahoma City in Madison Square Garden.

Key Matchup: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Prediction: Thunder

Miami Heat (21-6) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (13-15) 5:00 PM EST Staples Center

Kobe Bryant will miss Christmas Day for the first time since 1997.

Probable Lineups

Heat

PG: Mario Chalmers SG: Dwayne Wade SF: LeBron James PF: Shane Battier C: Chris Bosh

Key Backups: Michael Beasley, Norris Cole, Ray Allen, Chris "Birdman" Andersen

Notable Injuries: None

Lakers:

PG: Jordan Farmar SG: Jodie Meeks SF: Wesley Johnson PF: Shawne Williams C: Pau Gasol

Key Backups: Xavier Henry, Nick Young, Chris Kaman, Jordan Hill

Notable Injuries: Kobe Bryant (Knee), Steve Blake (Elbow), Steve Nash (back)

If only Kobe decided to make his comeback for Christmas.Some can argue that the Lakers have been better off without Kobe with coach Mike D'Antoni seemingly to finally have this Los Angeles team to play the way he wants to. 

For any non-Kobe obsesser, you have to love this team, its full of former NBA rejects and underachievers forming a squad that is just only three games away from playoff contention (over .500 before Kobe came back). Jodie Meeks, Xavier Henry and Nick Young can flat out score and if Lakers are to keep this game close they will have to provide most of the perimeter scoring. While declining Pau Gasol is still the best player on this team and needs to play that way. Jordan Farmar comes back for Christmas after nursing a torn hamstring but will be used in limited minutes. 

Wesley Johnson should be starting solely for the purpose of guarding LeBron, Dwayne Wade rested against the Atlanta Hawks and should be fully fit for Christmas. Chris Bosh will of course be a big factor as well. Heat will win this one although I have the Lakers making this game closer than we think.

Key Matchup: Chris Bosh vs. Pau Gasol

Prediction: Heat

Houston Rockets (18-11) vs. San Antonio Spurs (22-6) 8:00 PM EST AT&T Center

Is The Beard going to play?

Probable Lineups

Rockets

PG: Jeremy Lin SG: James Harden* SF: Chandler Parsons PF: Terrance Jones C: Dwight Howard

Key Backups: Aaron Brooks, Francisco Garcia, Omri Casspi

Notable Injuries: Omer Asik (thigh), Patrick Beverley (hand), Greg Smith (knee)

*Game Time Decision (ankle)

Spurs

PG: Tony Parker SG: Danny Green SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Boris Diaw C: Tim Duncan

Key Backups: Manu Ginobili, Tiago Splitter, Marco Belinelli, Patty Mills

Notable Injuries: None

The state of Texas is not big enough for the two of them and this can be a possible Western Conference Final preview. Ankle injuries are spreading around like a disease and James Harden is hoping to play battling with one. James Harden would make a huge difference but his ankle will limit one of his biggest strengths and that is his dribble penetration.

 Have no fear Houston Jeremy Lin can provide that coming off a 20 point game against Dallas. All eyes will be on Dwight Howard if James Harden is limited and how would he perform against the NBA Finals runner ups with everyone watching? 

A clean bill of health for San Antonio and a plethora of three point shooters would be too much for Houston to handle. The key match-up will come down to utility men Chandler Parsons and Kawhi Leonard and what extra work would these two up and coming players will provide for their respective teams.

Key Match-up Chandler Parsons vs. Kawhi Leonard

Prediction: Spurs

Los Angeles Clippers (20-9) vs. Golden State Warriors (16-13) 10:30 PM EST ORACLE Arena

Who will win this brawl?

Probable Lineups

Clippers

PG: Chris Paul SG: Jamal Crawford SF: Jared Dudley PF: Blake Griffin C: DeAndre Jordan

Key Backups: Darren Collison, Matt Barnes, Willie Green

Notable Injuries: J.J. Redick (wrist)

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry SG: Klay Thompson SF: Andre Igoudala PF: David Lee C: Andrew Bogut

Key Backups: Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Marresse Speights, Toney Douglas

Notable Injuries: Jermaine O'Neal (wrist)

Last time these two teams fought, Chris Paul put the team on his back and scored 42 points while also dishing 15 assists in a 126-115 win. 

Now these two teams meet in Oakland at the ORACLE Arena and the crazed Golden State crowd will not allow the Clips to steal one on the road. Oh and let me introduce you if you have not met them already, meet the Splash Brothers; Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both of whom combined for 175 threes so far and is possibly the best shooting backcourt in NBA history. 

Clippers will be missing their hit-man J.J Redick for this three point shooting party and with Jamal Crawford starting at the two guard makes them thinner in the second team. 

The match-up of David Lee and Blake Griffin is interesting and don't be surprised if a flagrant foul or two is called. How much will defensive anchors DeAndre Jordan and Andrew Bogut affect this game. 

So many intriguing match-ups in this game but ultimately it comes down to Chris Paul and Steph Curry. The Warriors are one of the strongest home teams at 9-4 and will have a chip on their shoulder for what I feel would be the game of Christmas. 

Key Match-up Chris Paul vs. Steph Curry

Prediction: Warriors

NBA Season Preview 2013-2014: New York Knicks

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 54-28

Key Additions: G Tim Hardaway Jr.(Rd 1, Pick 24), F/C Andrea Bargnani F Metta World Peace(2 yrs 3.2 million, 1.59 guaranteed), G Beno Udrih(1 yr, 1.27 million, 884,293 guaranteed), G J.R. Smith (Contract Extension: 3 yrs, 17 million, 11.54 million guaranteed)

Key Losses: G Jason Kidd (Retirement, Coaching Brooklyn Nets), Rasheed Wallace (Retirement), F Chris Copeland,  F Steve Novak, C Marcus Camby

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Raymond Felton, SG: Iman Shumpert SF: Carmelo Anthony PF: Andrea Bargnani C: Tyson Chandler

Key Backups: G/F J.R. Smith, F Metta World Peace , F Amare Stoudemire, G Beno Udrih, G Pablo Prigioni, F/C Kenyon Martin. G Tim Hardaway Jr., 

The block that ended the Knicks' season.

They were the oldest team in the history NBA. One of the most exciting teams to watch with their free flowing style of play. Last year was suppose to be their year, after signing a future hall of famer Jason Kidd, a long time veteran Marcus Camby, former Knick Raymond Felton and an Argentine icon in Pablo Prigioni. The Knicks not only wanted to be the best team in New York, they wanted to be the team that can challenge the Miami Heat. Carmelo Anthony led the NBA in scoring with 28.7 points per game, J.R. Smith won the Sixth Man of the Year, the Knicks broke the record for most threes in a season. The Knicks shown they were a team to be reckoned with in the regular season, but things changed during the NBA playoffs.

It took 6 games for the Knicks to defeat the Rajon Rondo-less Celtics, often settling for complacency allowing a 20 point unanswered run from Boston. The glaring weaknesses became bigger against the Pacers with their lack of size being exploited by David West and Roy Hibbert. The Knicks were not allowed to play small ball with Melo at the 4 and Tyson Chandler was being overpowered by the mammoth Roy Hibbert. Paul George's size and versatility nullified New York's top offensive threats and the hot streak of Lance Stephenson during the series proved too much for New York's guards to handle.

In the off-season the Knicks decided to address their lack of ruggedness with the signing of Ron...Metta World Peace, a 7 foot in marksman in Andrea Bargnani and an efficient combo guard in Beno Udrih. Despite the new additions, if the Knicks are to get anywhere, it is dependent on the play of Carmelo Anthony.

Player Spotlight

How many "threes to the domes" will it take for Melo to win a championship?

Carmelo Anthony had one of the better seasons of his career in 2012-2013. The former Syracuse forward was the focal point of the Mike Woodson isolation offense creating mismatches at the small forward and power forward position. The change to the 4 allowed Carmelo to do what he does best; play in the post and operate from mid range. His quickness off the dribble and strength also allowed mismatches as he is too strong to be covered by an average small forward and he is too quick to be guarded by a power forward. But when the small forward who is covering you is 6'10 and more athletic added to a shoulder injury, Carmelo could not bring forth the performance to put the Knicks over the Pacers.

Carmelo Anthony throughout his career earned the reputation of being a "ball-stopper" often resorting to breaking down his opponent rather than playing with the team. This is all not to blame on Melo, head coach Mike Woodson has been notorious for using an "Iso-Joe" offense in Atlanta and racked up a NBA high 16 percent in isolations last season. Whether it is Carmelo Anthony or J.R. Smith, the ball often does not leave their hands when their eyes are on the bucket which often left to broken offensive plays and bad turnovers. 

Carmelo is expected to play his natural position at the small forward spot this season with the inclusion of Andrea Bargnani. The feeling should be mutual as Bargnani can park out at the edge of the three while Carmelo can play inside the key. For defense, Metta World Peace may not be his former self but is still one of the most feared players in the NBA, just ask Tyler Hansbrough. At 260 pounds, Metta World Peace can handle the David Wests as well as the Paul Georges while Melo does not have to take as much responsibility defensively (something he won't complain about).

The Others

J.R. Smith and Tyson Chandler will be just as important to the Knicks' success as Carmelo Anthony

When it looked like guard J.R. Smith will miss part of the season with knee surgery, Smith is back in action and is ready for New York's final preseason game. At 28 years old, J.R is entering his ninth season in the prime of his career. Last season Smith averaged 18.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Smith played more disciplined and controlled, and was a nice compliment to Carmelo Anthony. While we saw more consistency, the bad J.R. Smith was back in full effect shooting 33 percent throughout the playoffs. The problem with J.R. if he is in bad form is he does not know when to stop shooting, a mentality that Denver fans knew all too well and that New York fans came to experience against Boston and Indiana. J.R. Smith is almost just as important as Melo because somebody else needs to score as they were not many other scoring options outside of them last season.

Despite winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, Tyson Chandler does not get the credit he deserves on the defensive end. Chandler was an integral part in Dallas' championship run and transformed the New York Knicks defense from being horrible to being one of the better defenses in the league. Chandler uses every bit of his 7'1 frame and his nimble feet to be a menace at the defensive end making life hard for opposing players to drive to the basket. On offense Tyson is pretty serviceable too, finishing a high amount of his close range shots with dunks, put-backs and easy layups. As I mentioned before, he had major problems dealing with Roy Hibbert as he was too strong for the skinny Tyson Chandler to handle. The Knicks still have not addressed that issue as Cole Aldrich and Josh Powell are his backups.

Iman Shumpert will take Jason Kidd's place in the lineup as the starting shooting guard and came on strong towards the end of the season as he was readjusting to his knee and shown flashes of his athleticism. Known for his lockdown defense, Iman Shumpert is expected to improve his consistency on the offensive end of the ball and give the Knicks another outlet for scoring.

Raymond Felton is a solid if unspectacular point guard capable of running an offense and can provide points when needed. Last season, Felton averaged just 5.5 assists last season due to other options on the offensive end. Felton is best in a full court style of offense where he is dominating the ball and running the pick and roll as he was doing during his first stint with the Knicks. Bargnani can give the former North Carolina point guard some nice pick and pop potential.

Part of Felton's early success was the dominance of Amare Stoudemire who has been slowed down by knee problems and punching fire extinguishers. It could be stretching it to think that Amare Stoudemire would ever get back to his old self that made him one of the top power forwards in the NBA but then again he averaged 14.2 points per game and 5 rebounds in only 23.5 minutes during his short comeback last regular season.

Beno Udrih is one of the more underrated point guards in the NBA, this will be the fifth team in the Yugoslavian guard's career and is a solid backup for either guard position. Pablo Prigioni might of came to the NBA too late in his basketball career as he is past his prime but is still an important player on the bench thanks to his basketball IQ. Kenyon Martin made an immediate impact after getting signed late into the last season, will provide backup minutes at the 4 and 5 slot.Tim Hardaway Jr. has an NBA pedigree in his genes and a great pickup for the Knicks at 24, knows how to score but could be brought along the rotation slowly.

Overview

Will there be changes to the Mike Woodson offense?

In the 2012-2013 season, the Knicks were last in the NBA in assists per game, and 26th in rebounds. The Knicks at times were one-dimensional offensively as they lived and die by the three or at the hands of Melo and J.R.. New signing Andrea Bargnani does not deviate from the team formula and should become more of an replacement for Steve Novak. Metta World Peace is back in his hometown and he will definitely get behind the fans and bring the toughness for this Knicks team. While these group of players are younger and more versatile than last season's squad, the Knicks have not made enough off-season acquisitions to offset their intercity rivals the Brooklyn Nets. With Carmelo Anthony having recently declared for the open market, this could be the year of judgement for the New York Knicks.

Projected All Stars: Carmelo Anthony

Season Projection: Playoff Contention(5th place, 2nd in Atlantic Division)



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NBA Season Preview 2013-14: Phoenix Suns

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 25-57

Key Additions: G: Eric Bledsoe (from Clippers via trade),  C: Alex Len (Rd 1, Pick 5), G/F: Gerald Green (from Pacers via trade), G: Archie Goodwin (Rd 1, pick 29), Jeff Hornacek (Head Coach)

Key Losses: F Luis Scola, F Michael Beasley, G/F Jared Dudley, C Jermaine O'Neal

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Goran Dragic, SG: Eric Bledsoe SF: Gerald Green PF: Markeiff Morris, C: Marcin Gortat

Key Backups: G Shannon Brown, F Marcus Morris, C Alex Len, G Kendall Marshall, F Channing Frye

New Suns GM, Ryan McDonough starting off with a clean slate

Ever since taking over for the Phoenix Suns, former Boston Celtics executive Ryan McDonough nearly rebuilt the whole rosters with younger players with lots of potential. McDonough has done a good job ridding the older players with heavy contracts, waiving the knuckleheads (*cough* Beasley *cough*) and getting a first round draft pick in the process. The problem during the Suns' disappointing 25-57 season was a lack of team chemistry, disgruntled players and a switch of coaches mid season, and with a permanent signing of former Suns player Jeff Hornacek as the new head coach, Ryan McDonough sent a message that there are spots up for grabs.

Player Spotlight

After being in John Wall and Chris Paul's shadow, in Phoenix, the lights are on Eric Bledsoe.

Ever since his days in Kentucky, I was a huge fan of Eric Bledsoe. Built like a football player and can jump out of the building, I rated him as nearly as talented of a prospect as his former teammate John Wall and during his time in Los Angeles, he became one of top backup point guards in the NBA.

The possibilities are endless on how this former Kentucky guard will perform for Phoenix with the chains unleashed. To get a sample of what you are going to see from this 23 year old, let's take a look at his stats. Eric Bledsoe in 20.4 minutes, averaged 8.5 points per game, 3.1 assists, 3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. If we average those stats over 36 minutes, you get 14.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 2.5 steals per game!

If the combo guard played 36 minutes per game the whole season, Bledsoe would be tied with Russell Westbrook for rebounds(although Westbrook played 34.9 minutes), would beat out former teammate Chris Paul as the top steal leader and would be far and away the number one block leader.As for scoring, that average can be exceeded as he has full freedom and the green light in the Suns offense unlike in LA where he had Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul.

Dragic and Bledsoe, the ideal combo?

With Goran Dragic playing alongside him, that gives Phoenix a nice 2 guard combination. Eric Bledsoe's 6'8 wingspan allows him to cover shooting guards, if the opposing point guard is too athletic and strong for Dragic, Bledsoe can slide over and guard the Westbrooks, Roses of the world as he packs just as much strength and speed with the best of him.

As for the offensive potential of the two combo guards, both players compliment each other with Dragic's technical style of play and Bledsoe's explosive style of basketball. Both guards masks each others' weaknesses, Bledsoe can have problems slowing the tempo down in the offense, his high octane energy can lead to turnovers from bad decision making. Bledsoe also needs to improve his mid range game as he was 29 percent from 16-23 feet. Dragic is a better passer at this stage of his career than the 23 year old averaging 7.4 assists on the season, Dragic also has a more developed mid range game shooting 42 percent from that area.

The Others

Will 5th pick Alex Len make an impact this season?

Eric Bledsoe is not the only player in the starting lineup that has something to prove, Gerald Green has had an up and down career in the NBA so far and has not lived to the immense expectations he has had coming out of high school. The Suns will give him another chance in that small forward spot which has to be the position of weakness in Phoenix.

Another weakness is the power forward spot and while the Morris twins have proven to be good role players this past season, do they have what it takes to bring their respective games to the next level? Making a comeback is Channing Frye who missed all of last season with a tragic enlarged heart. Fortunately, Frye is clear and should add the veteran presence in the locker room as he is currently the longest tenured Sun.

Marcin Gortat has been frustrated with Suns life last season, still posting solid numbers as he is one of the better centers in the NBA. Hopefully Jeff Hornacek gave Gortat new found hope although it is yet to be seen if the Polish international is in Phoenix's plans or not. Rookie center Alex Len will have a say in that, a mobile 7'1 big man with a soft touch. Len has excellent pick and roll potential, a nice shot blocker averaging 2.1 per game in Maryland and a decent jumper. He has an obvious lack of strength as with most big men coming from college. May not be ready yet on day one, but could be the player to watch in the future if he can get over his ankle problems.

When it looked like Kendall Marshall would be the successor to Steve Nash, the Suns went out and signed back Goran Dragic and Marshall was limited to backup playing time. The former Tar Heel did not have a good season in his allotted  time and this season might be the determining factor whether Marshall is NBA caliber. There is some debate if former Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin left the Wildcats a year or two early, but the 19 year old had a encouraging summer league and could be the sleeper of the draft. Shannon Brown returns as the Suns possible sixth man and has the versatility to play the one, two and three if the Suns go small.

Overview
Jeff Hornacek has spent his first six seasons in Phoenix and enjoyed his time as a prolific scorer. This decision as the Suns head coach is a great move as he has the immediate backing from fans of Arizona. The Phoenix ownership will give him plenty of time and patience as this young squad is not ready to compete during this season of rebuilding. Nonetheless, I expect them to eclipse their last season's mark of 25 wins as they start their second season post-Nash era.

Projected All-Stars: None

Season Projection: Bottom of the Western Conference



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NBA Season Preview 2013-14: Charlotte Bobcats

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 21-61

Key Additions:  F/C Cody Zeller (Rd 1, Pick 4), C Al Jefferson (3 years , 41 mil, 27.2 guaranteed), Gerald Henderson ( 4 yrs, 24 mil, 12 mil guaranteed), Steve Clifford (Head Coach)

Key Losses: F: Tyrus Thomas, Mike Dunlap (Head Coach)

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Kemba Walker, SG: Gerald Henderson SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist PF: Cody Zeller, C: Al Jefferson

Key Backups: G Ramon Sessions, F/C Bismack Biyombo, G Ben Gordon, F Josh McRoberts

With a high profile signing and another top 5 pick, Can MJ and the Bobcats get back to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history?

Despite improving on their atrocious seven win record by 14, the Charlotte Bobcats were still among the worst in the NBA, lacking in talent and coaching. They weren't arguably the worst team in NBA history like they were in the 2011-2012 season but still is the laughing stock of the NBA and is it possible to rebuild with this team?

First, the Charlotte Bobcats did not have many players signed over the previous years that panned out, one being Tyrus Thomas. The athletic forward has had problems with injuries and confidence throughout his career and probably had his last stint of his NBA career. Mike Dunlap also got let go after his first year with the team after having problems with team chemistry and lineup rotations. Another clean slate(and another new jersey) the Charlotte Bobcats are looking to fly under the radar and sneak up the Eastern Conference.

Player Spotlight

If the Bobcats are gonna get anywhere from rock bottom, Kemba Walker will have to be the answer.

While basketball fans were paying attention to other teams, Kemba Walker silently put up a very solid season, averaging 17.7 points per game, 5.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on 42 percent shooting. The Bronx-born 23 year old has made excellent strides from his struggling rookie season in which he shot near 37 percent. Kemba Walker has shown flashes in what made him the NCAA player of the year in Connecticut, but the problems still lies in his ability to finish in the paint given his 6'1 frame. Kemba manages to suppress that weakness with an excellent mid range game in which he can pull up off the bounce with his quickness and anticipation. In this era of the point guards, it might not be realistic in Kemba Walker's career(and Bobcats' expectations) for him to ever be a possible all star in future, but can make improvements next season for the Cats' to take the next step.

Although not Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker is able to get by regardless of his physical limitations, his amazing ball handling skills combined with his speed allows him to get anywhere on the court, his energy is infectious, he's durable(played all 82 games last season) and also has a decent three point shot at 32 percent. Areas the former UConn guard needs to improve is his passing, granted Kemba does not have much help and constantly plays with another point guard, but needs to balance being a passer and being a scorer in a more effective way. Given his size, he probably will never be a good defender but can be a terror picking off steals averaging 2 of them last season.

The Others

Is Big Al looking for a challenge or is he just in it for the money?

Al Jefferson enjoyed a fine couple of seasons for the Utah Jazz before cashing in on the Charlotte Bobcats averaging 17.8 and 9.2 rebounds in his final season. He has battled injuries throughout his career and is not the same player that got traded to the Timberwolves as part of the Kevin Garnett trade but is still one of the better centers of the NBA. Big Al can be what the Bobcats are missing in the post, but there is a little skepticism in the former high school draftee going to a bottom feeder team for a generous amount of money over a contender, does he have the ambition to win?

The fourth pick of the draft Cody Zeller enjoyed a fine two seasons at Indiana and is projected to fight with Bismack Biyombo to be the starting power forward. At 7'0 240, Zeller can run like a deer across the court and spread the floor out with his mid range game, extremely technical for a 21 year old, does he have the strength to hang and defend against the NBA big men?

Speaking of Biyombo, his defense is promising and his offense is offensive, with another coach, this might be his make or break year if we do not see any improvements.

Michael Kidd Gilchrist might be the worst shooting small forward in the NBA, but can pretty much do everything else that can impact the game. Has a lot of potential, can he improve his jumper?

Before we know it, Gerald Henderson might be a Bobcat/Hornet for life. Has found his role on the team utilizing his athleticism developed a jumpshot and has been producing well averaging 15 points per game over the last 2 seasons. But then again, who else is going to score?

As for the rest of the team, Ramon Sessions is a solid point guard who plays best in a sixth man role and has worked well with Kemba, Ben Gordon is no longer the player from Chicago but still can catch on fire in any second, McBob has one of the best nicknames in the business and can provide a good cover for Zeller/Biyombo/Jefferson.

Overview
Steve Clifford has a tough job ahead of him, and Jordan and the rest ownership have proven before they are not scared of firing a coach after the first year. Steve Clifford has a interesting background being a former protege of the Gundy brothers and serving as a Lakers assistant last season, it will be difficult to coach a young basketball team that had its third coach in three years. While the future Hornets should further improve on their 21-61 record, expect another losing season under the Bobcats name.

Projected All-Stars: None

Season Projection: Bottom of the Eastern Conference

NBA Top 5 SGs for the 13-14 Season

With an Achilles injury to Kobe Bryant, the shooting guard is in need of a young upstart ready to take the league by storm. James Harden has certainly benefited from getting out of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook's shadow, will Monta Ellis and OJ Mayo benefit from a change of scenery as well?

1. Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat

Many critics speculate whether Dwayne Wade still has what it takes to be a top player in the NBA. At times the Miami Heat did look like the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dwayne Wade (as well as Chris Bosh) had much to blame, but how much of his discerning play was from injury or just simply age? Dwayne Wade is not known to make excuses, he never really let off how much his knee was bothering him. With a full off-season of rest, the three time NBA champ should come back to form. In terms of efficiency, DWade had his best season to date shooting 52 percent, this is the result of the three time NBA champion getting adjusted to his Robin role to LeBron's batman. Not exactly a sharpshooter, Dwayne excels with his still tremendous athletic ability, basketball IQ and heart to sacrifice his body for the benefit of the team. Expect Flash to be back into his old self this season.

2. James Harden - Houston Rockets

The Western Conference will fear the beard this season as he could become an All-Star starter as a result of the Kobe Bryant injury. I would be lying if I told you James Harden was going to perform as well as he did last season. The former Arizona State guard averaged 25.9 points per game, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds while getting 1.8 steals per game. Harden is a versatile two guard, with the ability to operate an offense as well as being the main option and is also an underrated perimeter defender. The burden he had to carry for his team was heavier than his facial hair, Harden did not have much help on the offensive end which lead to a bittersweet exit at the hands of his former team Oklahoma City Thunder. Dwight Howard will provide the help offensive end giving Harden an option on fast breaks as well as pick and rolls and should take some ease off of him on the defensive end knowing he has a player who can consistently man the paint. The Rockets have not had this good of a shooting guard since Tracy McGrady, now the mission is to do something T-Mac has never done and that is to bring Houston past the first round.

3. Monta Ellis - Dallas Mavericks

Say what you want about Monta Ellis, this former Lanier high school graduate can put the ball in the basket. Monta Ellis recently signed with the Dallas Mavericks and should have more success with the Mavs then his tenure with the Bucks. During his last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ellis averaged 19.2 points per game and 6 assists along with a guard that has a similar style of play in Brandon Jennings. Ellis should have more success with Dallas with a pass first point guard in Jose Calderon and is expected to be the Mavs leading scorer.

4.  Manu Ginobili - San Antonio Spurs

Just like Dwayne Wade, Manu Ginobili looked like a shell of his former self in the NBA Finals. Battling with a bevy of injuries as well, it was a tough time for the Argentine producing 11.5 points per game on just short of 40 percent shooting in 26 minutes of play. However, Manu did show glimpses of the old such as his 24 point explosion in the Spurs winning effort against the Miami Heat in game 5 as well as a 18 point outing before falling to the Heat in game 7. With Marco Belinelli coming on board, Man Ginobili should have a lesser workload which means more time to rest and better efficiency. His game is not heavily reliant on his athleticism rather than his craftiness and technique so with injuries aside, look for the Spurs to become the big three once again.

5. Tyreke Evans - New Orleans Pelicans

The second major transaction after the trade for Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans is eager to prove that he is still the same player that was highly regarded during his rookie year. The former Memphis combo guard had a solid year during his last season with the Sacramento Kings. The 24 year old contributed 15.2 points per game on a career high 48 percent field goal percentage. What is also to note about Tyreke Evans is his versatility, Evans can pay three positions on the court, contribute in rebounding and assists.  The Pelicans has recently stated that Evans will come off the bench, which will provide the second team with somebody, who can take the ball to the basket, play off guard or run the point if need be and will bring much added depth into the second unit. A bold prediction yes, but Tyreke Evans is in a perfect position to win sixth man of the year and regain that swagger that made him rookie of the year.

The Big Question Mark - Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers

While creating this list, the most difficult decision I had to make is where do I put Kobe Bryant on this list? If not for the torn Achilles, Kobe Bryant would have been 2nd on the list behind Dwayne Wade (argue all you want). With the torn Achilles, I had him after James Harden. With recent developments of another knee procedure in Germany,  I decided to keep him here as a glorified honorable mention until we are sure he can be healthy for the first half of the season. We all know what happened to Andrew Bynum.

Other Honorable Mentions

Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans
Has not been the same player since coming back from a right knee injury that got him sidelined for 57 games during his first year with New Orleans in the 2011-2012 season. Gordon has also been dealing with chronic ankle injuries that he had arthroscopic surgery on in May. Can the former Hoosier guard put these injuries behind him and return to the player he was during the 2010-11 season with the Clippers?

Jamal Crawford - Los Angeles Clippers
Known for his killer ball handle and knack for scoring, the Seattle born combo guard has come a long way in the league since being drafted by the Chicago Bulls 8th overall in 2000.  Jamal Crawford has become one of the top sixth men in the NBA but at that age of 33, can he maintain that level of production?

J.R. Smith - New York Knicks
During the off-season, J.R. Smith underwent patella tendon surgery that will keep him sidelined for 12-16 weeks. The defending NBA Sixth Man of the Year would of been my number five on my list, but unfortunately Knicks fans should only expect him to be back in action during the second half of the season.

OJ Mayo - Milwaukee Bucks
Mayo was really Jeykll and Hyde last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Before the All-Star break, OJ Mayo was averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown. After the break, the former USC guard averaged a meager 10.9 with his field goal percentage dipping just under 42 percent. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle even questioned his ambition playing against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies. With Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings gone, OJ Mayo has a chance to be the man in Milwaukee, will he take that opportunity?

Joe Johnson - Brooklyn Nets
Despite breaking ankles and hitting clutch shots, Joe Johnson has been largely disappointing during his first year with the Brooklyn Nets. Most of the disappointing play was in part due to the lack of chemistry between him and Deron Williams. During his time with the Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson morphed from a spot up shooter in Phoenix to an isolation scorer in Atlanta, with Deron Williams dominating the ball and running the offense,it was hard for the 32 year old to get in rhythm. Add to that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, where will the six time All-Star fit in?

NBA Top 5 PGs for the 13-14 Season

Barclays Premier League Week 2 Review

Week 2 of the Premier League season followed up on the debut with possibly the biggest upset in recent Premier League history. This second week shows you that money can not buy you everything and how evenly matched two English titans are.

Wednesday, August 21

Eden Hazard gives the Blues the early lead

Chelsea  2-1 Aston Villa (Luna OG 6, Ivanovic 73, / Benteke 45)

The first time these two squads met since the 8-0 demolishing by Rafa Benitez's former side. Aston Villa looked much better this time, and were very unlucky to not gain a penalty after a John Terry handball.  At the start, an Oscar excellent pass led Eden Hazard to put the Blues ahead, the shot was credited as an Antonio Luna own goal after the ball ricocheted off the Spanish fullback. Christian Benteke leveled up just before halftime to make the score 1-1. There was earlier controversy in the 73rd minute as Brainislav Ivanovic elbowed Villa forward Christian Benteke before converting the eventual match winner after a Frank Lampard cross. Aston Villa having benefited from the referees against Arsenal, faced the wrath of them against Chelsea and is rather unfortunate to lose after playing really well against a bigger side.

Saturday, August 24

Last year's signings; Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski(left to right) proving why Arsenal does not need another striker.

Fulham 1-3 Arsenal (Giroud 14, Podolski 41,68)

Following a disappointing loss against Aston Villa in which the fans backlashed against Arsene Wenger urging him to buy more players, Arsenal responded pulling off two straight wins against Fenerbache and Fulham. The game could have got called off as it was pouring in Craven Cottage but it did not stop Olivier Giroud  from continuing his goal scoring run after the ball fell right inyo his feet before he gained the composure to give Arsenal the 14th minute goal.The inclusion of German Lukas Podolski worked wonders as the German responded in a magnificent way scoring in the 41st and 68th minute. Darren Bent who came off the bench and erased a clean sheet for Szczesny in what proved to be only consolation for Fulham. Despite the win for Arsenal, there is a cause for concern if the Gunners have enough depth at center-back with Sagna playing out of position in the backline with Vermaelen and Koscielny injured.

Robbie Brady clinches the only goal for Hull as they manage to hang on with only 10 men

Hull City 1-0 Norwich City (Brady pen 22)

Hull manages to gain their first win in the Premier League season and it is vital for the Tigers to make their home a fortress if they want to stay in the first division. A foul by Michael Turner in the box gave the former Manchester United striker Robbie Brady the opportunity to score a nice left footed finish to erupt the Hull crowd. Center forward Yannick Sagbo was given red card for an attempted headbutt but did not affect The Tigers frpm acquiring the victory over Norwich City.

The 5'6 Giaccherini scores his first Premier League goal off a corner.

Southhampton 1-1 Sunderland (Giaccherini 3 / Fonte 88)

Two mid tier Premier League clubs faced off head to head in a match that would prove to be a stalemate. Many wondered how Sunderland was able to get Emanuele Giaccherini from Italian superteam Juventus and the diminutive Italian was able to score in a big way off a corner over the tall walls to give Sunderland the early lead. The young Southhampton side dominated possession and dominated the match and would of been frustrated if they lost this one and better late than never for center-back Jose Fonte scoring an 88th minute header to equalize. It was a pinpoint cross from 18 year old James Ward Prowse as the future is bright for this Southampton squad.

A defensive display for Coloccini(left) and Newcastle

Newcastle 0-0 West Ham

These two clubs might be fighting from relegation this season and there was nothing to decide between the two.  Newcastle's defense played excellently but was largely disappointing in the attacking side of the field as Papiss Cisse had a game to forget. Same can be said for West Ham although they should be the happier of two sides avoiding defeat at St. Goodison Park. Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye again did not make an appearance and his future with the Magpies seems questionable. With the transfer window ticking down, Newcastle needs to make a late signing if they ever want to regain their European level form from two years ago.

A better showing for Stoke as Ryan Shawcross seals the winning goal.

Stoke City 2-1 Crystal Palace (Adam 58, Ryan Shawcross 62 / Chamakh 31)

Both teams were win-less and scoreless before this match and it was Stoke City to come back from behind to grab the home win. Former Arsenal man Marouane Chamakh looked lively and enjoyed his finish in the 31st minute and it is interesting to see where this new lifeline at Crystal Palace will bring him. Stoke City fans were not amused and let the players hear it just before halftime. Charlie Adam responded to the fans call, scoring in the 58th minute and Ryan Shawcross completed the rout in the 62nd. Stoke manager Mark Hughes has to be credited for the team's second half improvement and it will be interesting to see if Stoke can finish in the mid-table this season.

Marouane Fellaini and Youssouf Mulumbu(right to left) battle it out in a goal-less draw.

Everton 0-0 West Brom

Everton will be upset not the win this one with various clear cut chances from Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas alike and West Brom could consider themselves fortunate. Their goalkeeper Ben Foster was partly to blame with Everton's struggles to find the net. However, Foster had picked up an injury in the 78th minute still Luke Daniels managed to pick up the slack and hold off the Toffees to get an away draw. Youngster Ross Barkley has been rewarded for his nice start with a chance at the England international level with a World Cup qualifier.

Suarez who? Daniel Sturridge is the name on every Liverpool fan's lips.

Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool (Sturridge 21)

After fearing the wrath of the referees, Aston Villa now felt the wrath of the schedule falling to hands of a Daniel Sturridge goal with the third game in two weeks. The English international scored the goal in terrific fashion out dribbling goalkeeper Brad Guzan before blasting the ball through the back of the net. Liverpool had quite a few chances to deepen the scoreline but was parried by American goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Christian Benteke in the face of the tough schedule was determined to not let the Villains lose with a scorching shot towards the end of the match that was blocked well by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet who followed up on his impressive debut. Villa fans still have the last laugh, at least they can keep their star striker from being unhappy. 

Sunday August 25

What do you do when you host your first Premier League game in half a century?
Beat Manchester City, it's that simple.

Cardiff City 3-2 Manchester City (Gunnarson 60, Campbell 79, 87 / Dzeko 50, Negredo 90)

Somewhere in Wales, Cardiff is still celebrating their earth shattering upset against money bags Manchester City, proving that money can not buy you the willpower that the whole Cardiff town possessed. Few outside of Cardiff predicted this marvelous upset especially with Edin Dzeko scoring a powerful effort outside of the box to give Man City the first dent in the scoreline. Cardiff fans were still cheering strong and the team was feeding off of it, ten minutes later, South Korean international Kim Bo-Kyung drilled a deadly cross into the box that was parried by Joe Hart in the first effort but was equalized by Icelander Aron Gunnarson as the Cardiff fans lifted off their seats to commend the team's determination.  It was not over yet and Cardiff's no. ten Frasier Campbell was not to be denied in the air to score two headers from corners that gave the severe underdogs a two goal lead. Man City newcomer Alvaro Negredo scored his first Premier League goal for City in what was only consolation for the Citizens and a dream for Cardiff City.

Spurs again win by a result of a penalty and Soldado is the man to take it again.

Tottenham 1-0 Swansea (Soldado Pen 58)

More of the same for Tottenham as they win again through a penalty although the wrong penalty from referee Neil Swarbrick. Earlier in the match, former Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey took out Tottenham's Andros Townsend's legs just inside the box. The fans let Neil Swarbrick hear it as he waved it off for a free kick just outside of the penalty area.. After halftime, Neil Swarbrick decided to make amends to Spurs fans giving Tottenham the penalty at the result of the same two players. In this case, Andros Townsend committed an obvious dive and Shelvey was just trying to get out of the way. Nothing that Swansea can do and Spanish international Roberto Soldado scored his fourth goal in three games and Tottenham fans must be delighted by his outstanding debut so far. Fans must also be delighted by Andros Townsend who won man of the match playing in Gareth Bale's presumed right wing position and earning a call up in England's World Cup qualifiers.

Monday, August 26

Jose Mourinho could not find his pen and the English giants could not find the back of the net in this goal-less draw.

Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea

A night of emotions for Manchester manager David Moyes making his first Premier League appearance at Old Trafford since the legend Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down. An interesting pre-match highlight was the lineups of both squads; Manchester United featured Wayne Rooney in the lineup against the team that made two bids for him and Chelsea playing without a true striker as Andre Schurrle took the role and Juan Mata left out for the third straight game. This comes as no surprise with the self proclaimed "Special One"  not afraid of benching star keeper like he did with Iker Casillas during his time at Real Madrid. This match was a nice audition from Wayne Rooney who was a problem in both offense and defense playing behind Van Persie and gaining the love and support of the fans in Old Trafford. Manchester United dominated possession but failed to convert any chances due to Mourinho's trademark defensive style and Welbeck missing a clear chance from a Rooney pass. Also controversy with a Frank Lampard handball that was denied by Martin Atkinson. Jose Mourinho must be the happier of the two managers avoiding defeat in the Theater of Dreams and gaining the top spot in the standings with a game ahead.

Barclays Premier League

Standings

#	Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
1	Chelsea	3	2	1	0	4	1	7
2	Liverpool	2	2	0	0	2	0	6
3	Tottenham	2	2	0	0	2	0	6
4	Man United	2	1	1	0	4	1	4
5	West Ham	2	1	1	0	2	0	4
6	Southampton	2	1	1	0	2	1	4
7	Man City	2	1	0	1	6	3	3
8	Arsenal	2	1	0	1	4	4	3
9	Aston Villa	3	1	0	2	4	4	3
10	Stoke City	2	1	0	1	2	2	3
11	Cardiff City	2	1	0	1	3	4	3
12	Fulham	2	1	0	1	2	3	3
13	Hull City Tigers	2	1	0	1	1	2	3
14	Everton	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
15	Norwich City	2	0	1	1	2	3	1
16	Sunderland	2	0	1	1	1	2	1
17	West Brom	2	0	1	1	0	1	1
18	Newcastle	2	0	1	1	0	4	1
19	Crystal Palace	2	0	0	2	1	3	0
20	Swansea City	2	0	0	2	1	5	0

Best Player: Frasier Campbell - Cardiff City

Best 21 and Under: James Ward-Prowse - Southampton

If you missed last week's offering check out the Barclays Premier League Week 1 Review.