Wildcats Fall To No.2 Ohio State

Just another Big Ten match up we have here; well, not really. The Northwestern Wildcats walk into Columbus (10-2) trying to make a statement showing they are for real and that they belong in the NCAA Tournament come March. 

That'll have to wait for another time as Northwestern falls to, perhaps, the best team in the nation 87-54 in the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Wildcats have now lost an egregious 22 of 23 to the Buckeyes.

Northwestern had all sorts of problems containing the Buckeyes Big Two: Jared Sullinger and William Buford. Buford posted a career high 28 points, 9 rebounds, while going 5-7 from three. "Sully" finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, although if Buford wasn't given the green light, Sullinger could've gotten 30. He was just able to maintain position in the post whenever he wanted to. Northwestern's Big Two, John Shurna and Drew Crawford, struggled. Shurna scored 11 points on 5-18 shooting. Crawford scored 13 points on 4-12 shooting.

As I watched from my couch, three factors I noticed that troubled Northwestern: Ball Movement, Offensive Rebounding, and Three-point shooting. Of course, I could pinpoint more, but these were the three that stood out most.

Ball Movement

Throughout the course of the game, Ohio State effortlessly spreaded the ball. Ohio State finished with a +5 advantage in assists, and honestly, I felt like there was more. Northwestern's inability to move the ball led to some questionable shot selections. I understand when a player is in a shooting slump, they must continue to shoot to shake it off - especially if it's one of your primary scorers - but no need to go stretches of shooting and missing. Drew Crawford did too much of this. He missed his first six field goals before making one, and in the midst of his struggles, Ohio State built a size-able lead. 

Offensive Rebounding

Rebounding is a key stat in why teams usually win games. Offensive Rebounding demonstrates that teams are getting second chance points. Not only did Northwestern get out-rebounded 48-28, the Wildcats were dominated in offensive rebounding, as well, 14-5. It's rare for a team to get dominated on the glass like the Wildcats did and expect to consistently win games. 

Three-point shooting

A strength of the Wildcats. In fact, they may be the varsity version of the Orlando Magic. But the three ball failed for them tonight. What's ironic is that a team not known for its 3PT shooting, used the very same component that propelled these Buckeyes to victory. Three point shooting helped the Buckeyes build the lead they had. That became painfully obvious as Ohio State knocked down seven three-point field goals at the half while the Wildcats hit one. Keep in mind, Ohio State was up by 15 going to the halftime. William Buford and Jordan Sibert combined to hit 9 of the 10 three pointers. Lights out, I say. While Shurna and Crawford, who are both shooting above 40% from three, went a combined 2 for 8 from three.

All and All, Northwestern is still on pace to finally make the NCAA Tournament. They've faced three ranked teams and lost to them all: Baylor, Creighton, and now, Ohio State. There's still is room for improvement against the ranked from now to March. Northwestern is good, but they're not ready to beat the Elite...yet.

2011-12 NBA Regular Season And Playoff Predictions

After being near two months over do, the 2011-12 season will finally (in The Rock's voice) begin tomorrow on Christmas Day! Games slated start with Celtics at Knicks at 12 p.m. ET on TNT, followed by doubleheaders on ABC, beginning with the NBA Finals Rematch between the Heat at Mavericks, which will lead up to the Bulls at Lakers afterwards. To end the night, ESPN will air doubleheaders of the Magic at Thunder and the new-look Clippers, who face the Warriors. But with any season in any sport, predictions are going to be forefront before season's start. 

Eastern Conference Final Standings                 

1. Miami Heat 55-11                               
2. Chicago Bulls 53-13
3. New York Knicks 46-20
4. Boston Celtics 43-23
5. Orlando Magic 39-27
6. Atlanta Hawks 37-29
7. Philadelphia 76ers 35-31
8. Indiana Pacers 32-34
9. Milwaukee Bucks 30-36
10. Detroit Pistons  27-39
11. New Jersey Nets 24-42
12. Charlotte Bobcats 20-46
13. Washington Wizards 17-49
14. Cleveland Cavaliers  16-50
15. Toronto Raptors      10-56

Western Conference Final Standings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 52-14
2. San Antonio Spurs 49-17
3. Los Angeles Lakers 47-19
4. Dallas Mavericks     44-22
5. Los Angeles Clippers 40-26
6. Portland TrailBlazers  38-28
7. Memphis Grizzlies     37-29
8. Denver Nuggets       35-31
9. New Orleans Hornets 33-33
10. Utah Jazz                    31-35
11. Golden State Warriors 29-37                 
12. Houston Rockets        27-39
13. Phoenix Suns            25-41
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-51
15. Sacramento Kings          12-54

Regular Season Awards

MVP: Kevin Durant

DPOY: Serge Ibaka

Most Improved: Gerald Henderson/Greg Monroe

Rookie of the Year: Kemba Walker

NBA Stat Leaders

Scoring: Kobe Bryant

Rebounding: Kevin Love

Assists: Chris Paul

Blocks: Serge Ibaka

Steals: Rajon Rondo

Playoff Predictions

East 1st Round                     Conference Semifinals        Conference Finals     

1Heat vs 8Pacers 4-0          1Heat vs 5Magic  4-2         1Heat vs 2Bulls 4-2

2Bulls vs 7Sixers 4-1           2Bulls vs 3Knicks  4-3

3Knicks vs 6Hawks 4-1

4Celtics vs 5Magic 4-2

West 1st Round                    Conference Semifinals           Conference Finals

1Thunder vs 8Nuggets 4-1    1Thunder vs 5Clippers 4-3    1Thunder vs 3Lakers 4-1

2Spurs vs 7Grizzlies  4-2       7Grizzlies vs 3Lakers  4-3

3Lakers vs 6Blazers 4-3

4Mavs vs 5Clippers 4-2

NBA Finals

Miami Heat vs Oklahoma City Thunder 

Heat Wins Series 4-2

I know, obvious pick to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy, but I always had the Heat winning in their second season. I originally had a conviction that the Lakers would be in the finals, but they've lost what little they have with their bench. As I aforementioned in the beginning, the season finally gets underway tomorrow. And in the words of Bart Scott, "Can't Wait!"

Note: I do NOT take credit for this photo.

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How Can The Nets Form Their Own Big Three?

Let's get this straight, the Celtics started this trend after their acquisition of Ray Allen from Seattle. Then, about a month later, Boston acquires Kevin Garnett. Their success immediately led them to a championship in Year One. And after watching such success take place, players have began to form the mindset that this is the way to win a title nowadays. Long Story Short, a new era of basketball has formed. 

With teams like the Celtics, Heat, Knicks, Clippers, Bulls, etc, stacking up, other franchises are on the outside looking in. It's going to get to the extent that teams can't win without one. Heck, that's what the NBA is trying to avoid. This was proving even more so when reports rumored Cavs Owner, Dan Gilbert, pressured David Stern to veto the CP3 trade to the Lakers. According to said reports, Gilbert felt if this trade processed, 25 of the 30 teams should change their names to the "Washington Generals." Pretty much suggesting a lack of competitive balance, which is what the league was against. But there is one team that might be able to enter the elite fray of having their own Big Three: The Nets.

Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov has been pursuing the top free agents, only to come up short. Up to date, his best moves have been acquiring PG Deron Williams from Utah, as well as, Center Mehnet Okur. The Nets have now shifted their attention on Orlando Magic Big Man, Dwight Howard. Howard has said to request a trade to specific teams, with the Nets being one of them. But see, if they land Howard in a trade, or through free agency, they still won't have enough the contend. It'll be Howard, Williams, and everyone else. So who else should they add? Well, how about Kevin Love?

Kevin Love came off a breakout year by leading the league in rebounding (15.2), as well as averaging 20.2 ppg. You telling me the Nets couldn't use his services? While the T'Wolves are adding some nice pieces, one has to know they won't be contending anytime soon. Love can help out a contending team immediately. And technically, the Lakers could use him too. The catch is that both teams must have Dwight Howard first. Love and Howard on one team equals the number one leading rebounding team in the NBA. And we know how important that is in the game of basketball. 

            Kevin Love boxing out David Lee for position. Credit: soraspy.com

How to acquire him? Well, Brook Lopez must be the key component for this. And you know how the Mavericks pretty much relinquished next to nothing for Odom? I don't see New Jersey having to do much either. I say throw in Lopez, Okur, and a 1st round-pick. And this is assuming Howard leaves Orlando, via free agency, and they sign him. The starting lineup could look as such:

SF Kris Humphries

PF Kevin Love

C Dwight Howard

SG Anthony Morrow

PG Deron Williams

Boom! There's the Nets version of their Big Three. But everything has to fall correctly like other trades. Of course, this is just one man's opinion.

Chicago Bulls: Could This Be The Year?

So a new season will shortly began in a matter of days, and on Christmas Day to be exact. The steadfast Chicago Bulls are coming off an impressive league's best 62-20 record, with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat. Now although the Bulls came up short of their eventual goal, it was still a season full of overachieving. 

But things are different now. Teams have now been put on notice that the Chicago Bulls are the real deal. But are Derrick Rose and Co. good enough to bring home the O'Brien Trophy?

Last season on my talk show, Sports Talk With Lamar and Ced, I continued to reiterate to my Co-Host, Cedric, the Chicago Bulls would not make it to the NBA Finals. Why? Simple. The team's offense.

Despite the Bulls making a key free agent acquisition signing in Carlos Boozer, he always struck me as a player who is as good as the point guard is. Not to mention, he is very injury-prone. So I didn't believe he would be the guy to propel the Bulls over the top. Over the course of the regular season, it became very obvious to me that it was Derrick Rose or bust. If he struggles, so does the team. They feed off him. Now because the Bulls play excellent defense under "Thibs," one would figure that the offense takes care of itself. Not so fast though. I feel it's completely different when the PG has to be the primary scorer. And I figured this would be the conflict for the Bulls moving forward. 

It is a rare feat for a team to win a championship under a PG being the primary option. Looking back on history, I realized the players who tried and failed: CP3, DWill, Iverson, etc. LeBron James would even count as when he was in Cleveland, he was basically a SF playing the role of PG. The big issue is that the role of a PG is being the distributor and allowing the offense to be in rhythm while avoiding players being stationary. Therefore, if he has the be the primary, the offense will have its moments of being stagnant -especially if Rose has to take over in the fourth quarter. That is what wound up happening in the ECF. He went up against the one team that can compete with the Bulls defensively, in the Miami Heat, and he struggled.  

So the Bulls tried to address that need and fill in the void. They picked up Richard Hamilton, SG who formerly played for the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards; the guy they hope to be the missing piece to an NBA Championship. Well, after watching last night's preseason game, there may be reason for optimism. In his Bulls debut, Hamilton scored 13 points and dished out six assists. While Rose focused...there's the word again...distribution. He had nine assists. But the telling stat is that the Chicago Bulls, as a team, recorded 30 assists. That's what you call excellent ball movement, which is what I feel the Bulls needed more of last season. 

If this is the Bulls team we see this season, they just might be able to oust every team that gets in their way en route to an NBA Finals Championship. But the one question that still lingers is Richard Hamilton. Despite his impressive performance last night, there needs to be an establishment that Hamilton can be the Robin to Batman consistently, or in some nights, Batman. If Hamilton can still give the Bulls 15 to 17 ppg this season, the Bulls will find themselves in the NBA Finals. Because not only does Chicago play excellent defense and maintain a deep bench, we may now allow DRose do to what a PG mainly does. And only then will we have a balanced offensive attack.