Are the OKC Thunder a Stepping Stone to Brighter Opportunities?

                                                   Written by Taylor Odenat

The Oklahoma City Thunder are excellent at drafting, training players, and assisting in the progression of their skills and talents. Kevin Durant was drafted second by OKC in the 2007 NBA Draft, and is arguably a top-three player in this league. Russell Westbrook was drafted fourth in 2008 NBA Draft, and is a top-five player at his position. However, it’s the careers and improved numbers that certain players have been able to put together after their departure from Oklahoma City that has surprised the masses. 

           James Harden, Reggie Jackson, and now Jeremy Lamb, all share a common similarity. Beside the fact that they are all shooting guards that previously played for the Thunder, the comparisons go beyond that.

           Harden was traded from the Thunder to the Houston Rockets in the offseason leading up to the 2012-2013 season for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and a few draft picks. Since then, James Harden has been the undoubted star of the Rockets and has taken the squad to heights as far as the Western Conference Finals. Back in Oklahoma City, Harden was a mere sixth man. Although he was rather successful in that role, winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011, he was being underused in Oklahoma City.

           During his tenure, the team elected to start the defensive-minded guard Thabo Sefolosha in lieu of starting Harden; deciding to bring offensive energy off the bench. In retrospect, the lineup was rather rewarding as the Thunder battled to the promise land and reached the 2012 NBA Finals. Be that as it may, Harden had the potential to be much more than just a sixth man playing behind an aging Sefolosha. His trade from OKC was the best case scenario for his career, the Rockets were a team who needed a star and Harden was a player who needed to head his own team. With the addition of Dwight Howard a season later, the Rockets now are a significantly better team that they once were because of Harden.

           Next up in line to receive the good fortune of leaving the Thunder was Boston College attendee; Reggie Jackson. Similar to Harden, Jackson served as an offensive punch off the bench. Once Harden was traded away, he needed to be that strong presence behind Westbrook at the point. Jackson did thrive in that role, but desired much more from his basketball career. Tensions would eventually brew in the OKC locker room as Jackson saw himself to be a starter in this league. Westbrook started ahead of him, and although Reggie is a superb player; he was not starting ahead of the league’s most athletic point guard. Jackson eventually requested a trade, believing that his talents weren’t being used to the fullest. Players in the Thunder locker room didn’t take kindly to his attitude and leaders such as Kevin Durant made it known verbally through statements such as “We felt like everybody wanted to be here except for one guy."

           Jackson inevitably got his wish and was soon traded in a three-team deal to the Detroit Pistons, who were in dire need of a point guard following the season-ending injury to Brandon Jennings.  From that point onward, Reggie Jackson proved that he actually was worth more than the role OKC gave him, identical to Harden a season prior. He finished the 2014-2015 season averaging career numbers in points, minutes, rebounds, and assists. While he may not be able to maintain any friendship or even business relationships with the men on OKC’s roster, his trade was the best thing that could have happened for him and Detroit. Jackson left a situation where he was unable to climb a ladder or progress to instead lead a up-and-coming Pistons team with hope for the future.

           The most recent sixth man to leave the Thunder to experience greener pastures is Jeremy Lamb of the Charlotte Hornets. Lamb was traded to the Hornets for Luke RIdnour and a second round pick leading up to this season in an effort to clear cap space. He never really complained about his role, but he is in a more advancing situation with Charlotte. Nicholas Batum, who starts over Lamb, isn’t a superstar so there is possibility of earning a starting spot down the road over the aging forward. Additionally, the Hornets seem to have immense faith in Lamb seeing as they granted him a three-year, $21 million contract extension. In 22 games, The Hornets are already utilizing Lamb more than OKC did giving him 24 mpg as opposed to the 14 mpg that he averaged playing for the Thunder. Jeremy Lamb may not make as much consistent noise for his team as Harden and Jackson do, but leaving Oklahoma City is definitely putting his career in an uphill direction.

           Now, the big question entering this offseason for the Thunder is; will Kevin Durant be the next to leave Oklahoma City? Granted, his reason for leaving or getting traded wouldn’t be for lack of minutes or insignificant role. His reasons would lean towards Oklahoma City not going beyond the Western Conference Finals since the 2013-2014 season or him having to share the spotlight with guard Russell Westbrook. Keeping in mind the examples of Harden, Jackson, and Lamb, Durant will have to decide if he will sign an extension and continue to attempt to bring the Thunder a championship or if he will leave a gain new opportunities in a new city.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html, http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--thunder-trade-jeremy-lamb-to-hornets-164852904.html, http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6603/jeremy-lamb, http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/2/19/8073009/kevin-durant-seems-pretty-happy-reggie-jackson-got-traded, http://www.hngn.com/articles/48643/20141107/nba-rumors-oklahoma-city-thunder-locker-room-controversy-between-reggie-jackson-and-kendrick-perkins.html

The End of an Era: Kobe Begins His Retirement Tour

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

19 seasons, 5 championships, 1 MVP, 2 Finals MVPs, 17 All Star Selections and 3 Gold Medals all add up to one legendary career. On November 11th, 2015, Kobe Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA. He did so through an open letter to the game of basketball sharing his love for the game, but accepting that it's time to say goodbye. While it was not totally unexpected, Kobe’s retirement is a huge shock to the basketball world. Since he was drafted out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, Kobe has amazed fans and players everywhere with his fierce competitive spirit, graceful skills, astounding athletic ability, and his unmatched devotion to the game. Although the past few years of his career have been riddled with injury and the downfall of his beloved Lakers, the Black Mamba will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.

The mark that Kobe has made on the history of the NBA is matched by few. The Black Mamba ranks as the NBA’s 3rd highest scorer of all time with 32,703 points after surpassing Michael Jordan in December of 2014. Kobe also ranks second in all time All Star selections with 17. This is a true testament to Kobe’s reputation as a player and as a person, as his popularity has remained consistent through the ups and downs of his career. Through thick and thin, Kobe has persevered and worked his way to a successful career. Whether it be because of his 36 game winners or 5 Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010, Kobe has become one of the most marketable and recognizable basketball players of all time.

Through the first 17 games of the 2015-2016 season, Bryant’s Lakers hold a dreadful 2-15 record and the second worst record in the league. While this may not be the ideal ending to Kobe’s career, fans everywhere are celebrating the legend’s career. The crowd roared with appreciation and admiration on December 1st for Kobe’s final visit to Philly to face the Sixers. It was a great night for Philadelphia sports fans who watched their team earn their first win and witnessed the hometown hero’s final showdown against the team he grew up with. Kobe’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant,  was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent the first 4 years of his career with the Sixers. Although he spent some time growing up in Italy, Philly was Kobe’s first home.

Over the past 19 seasons, fans have witnessed a high school kid from Philly develop into our generation’s Michael Jordan. Basketball enthusiasts everywhere will be focused on the final season of one of the greatest basketball players of all time as he finishes out an amazing career. On the behalf of basketball fans everywhere, thank you Kobe Bryant for the memories and excellence you’ve given us over the past 19 seasons.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0618/nba_g_kbryant_sy_576.jpg

The Next Big Thing? The Ben Simmons Story

Written by Taylor Odenat 

Phenom prospects who display the extraordinary skill and talent to drastically alter the fate of a franchise don’t come around often. Over the last few years we’ve seen players drafted who exhibit the potential to drastically influence the future of an NBA team. In the last few NBA Drafts, players such as Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and Andrew Wiggins have all been lottery selections. Anthony Davis is a once in a generation player at his position, Damian Lillard is an All Star and clutch playoff performer, and Andrew Wiggins heads a young Minnesota squad with loads of potential moving forward. In June of 2016, LSU forward Ben Simmons potentially could be an addition to this list if he continues dazzling the eyes of basketball fans, announcers, and coaches everywhere.

Ben Simmons was born out of Melbourne, Australia and has been publicized for years as the No.1 overall prospect out of the 2015 recruiting class. Scouts foresee stardom in this young forward, as he delivers to the court several skills that not many players are adept in. His basketball IQ and court awareness are high on the list of abilities that he possesses that make basketball fans drool at the sight of him play. Many have gone as a far as to compare the Aussie to that of Lebron James, where both contain elite vision and superb knowledge of the game; Mike Greenberg of Mike and Mike being one them. He stated on the radio and television show that he believes “this kid is going to be the Next Lebron.” While some may believe this to be somewhat of a stretch, the remark was not outrageously far-fetched.

Lebron James is obviously a player of great stature so it’s not to say Simmons is directly comparable to James. However, in play style the two do share similarities in their abilities to be cognizant of the players around them as well as their uber athleticism. Both players defend efficiently, rebound effortlessly, and run the fast break with ease and at their own pace. Neither has a set position, because regardless of where they play on the court they’ll be productive. Their passing, shooting, and defending capabilities all allow them to lineup from the point guard to center position. Once he is drafted, Simmons will eventually make his own name for himself, but until that day arrives the Lebron comparisons will be relentless.

Journalists with widespread clout, and online publications with credibility around the world are comparing this forward to the likes of greats such as Lebron James, as previously mentioned, and Lamar Odom.  With such evident notoriety so early in his career, Simmons seems destined for long term production. Granted, Simmons has only played 4 games for LSU thus far. However, in those few games Simmons has averaged 19.3 points to go along with 14.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists topped off by a super efficient 57 % from the field. Recently, Simmons was even able to hold his own against another top ranked freshman, 6’10 post-player Henry Ellenson, in a loss to Marquette where he dropped a near triple double finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists.

Along with his on court superstar potential, Simmons may possibly revise the landscape of the college picking process for a high school senior. Simmons chose LSU, a college not known for pushing out All Stars and NBA Champions. He bypassed the powerhouses of Kentucky, Duke, and UNC, to join forces with a university that hasn’t seen one of their players drafted in the lottery since Anthony Randolph was selected in the 2008 NBA Draft; who then produced rather lackluster tenures around the league. By electing to attend LSU, he showed future aspiring athletes that going to a lesser known school or a school not known for NCAA postseason success might be a better situation for them. Attending a school such as LSU puts the spotlight on the high ranked individual; in this case Ben Simmons. Whereas attending a college with the championship pedigree of Kentucky, there are a ton of players with hordes of potential all trying to get minutes. He may set a precedent that if you want to shine individually to NBA scouts and fans, then go to the college who hasn’t seen the NCAA tournament in a few years, rather than the program whose there year after year, with players struggling for consistent minutes.

Simmons has superstar potential with the metaphorical strength to cause a franchise to tank their season in the hopes of selecting him. Ben is an elite athlete with extreme versatility and quickness, controlled pace, exceptional defense, high rebounding and passing IQ, and a consistent lefty stroke; when he actually decides to take a jump shot. He is the next best thing and the talk of this Australian is guaranteed to be nonstop until he puts pen to paper on his first rookie contract.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikemike, http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Ben-Simmons/Summary/41364, http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400827731, http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=lsu

Iverson, Jordan, Kobe, Dirk, and Curry? Steph's Influence on Basketball Today

                                                      Written by Taylor Odenat

Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and now Stephen Curry are all individually completely different players on the basketball court. They play opposing positions, possess different playstyles and project various personalities in their locker rooms. However, with all these differences they all share one common characteristic; their ability to monumentally change the game of basketball. 

During the time of each of these players prime popularity they each brought something unique to the table. Allen Iverson was “The Answer”, rocked unparalleled cornrows, and carried himself with a street-style, “me against the world” persona that everyone noticed and adored. Michael Jordan is arguably the most marketable person on the planet and the most noticeable face and name in the sports industry. He owns a billion dollar shoe company ,Air Jordan, and majority control of the Charlotte Hornets, causing his name to remain in the public eye more than a decade after he retired. Kobe Bryant is debatably the only player that can be compared to Michael Jordan in playstyle, so of course his influence is worldwide and has reached European countries where he is practically a legend in China. Lastly, Dirk may not be as marketable as the others with his laid back, non expressive attitude; but he has altered the way basketball is played for a man of his stature. Young 7-footers no longer find themselves in the paint grabbing boards, trying to perfect their left and right hooks. They watch Nowitzki shooting from beyond the three-point arc and want to emulate the actions of the German native.

All these players have already made their mark in NBA history and in the hearts and minds of the millions that play basketball around the world. They have all made strong impressions on their fans and influenced the game greatly, and after winning his first NBA Championship in 2015, Stephen Curry is swiftly on his way to having that same influence.

Miami started a trend back in the 2012-2013 season of small ball where Chris Bosh, originally a power forward, played the five and excelled at it. However, Golden State took small ball to a whole new level and dawned a lineup with no player taller than 6-foot-8. Their strategy worked wonders, leading to their eventual championship win against the Lebron-led Cleveland Cavaliers. However, his team’s influence of super small-ball on the game of basketball is only the beginning.

Stephen Curry accomplished an extremely impressive feat of winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the 2014-2015 season as a guard. Guards winning the award is highly uncommon and hasn’t been done since Derrick Rose in 2010. His achievement displayed to young guards that is possible to be a smaller player and reach greatness without being super fast or uber-athletic. Curry isn’t the biggest guard at 6’3 and isn’t the strongest at 190, nonetheless with his limitations he is able to break countless records. He set the record for most made three-pointers in a regular season in the 2012-2013 season, then to top his own performance he broke it again in the 2014-2015 season.  He also owns the record for most made three-point field goals in the playoffs at 59; topping former Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller’s record. Additionally, he isn’t among the elite yet in career three-pointers made sitting at No.45 with 1,235; but he is creeping up on his father Dell Curry’s spot of No.42 with 1,245 made threes. By the end of Steph Curry’s career he is bound to be in the top-3 of this category with the 10 three-pointers he attempts per game.

In an era of basketball where mid-range jumpers are discouraged, Steph Curry is leading the charge of taking his shots behind the arc. Last season he excelled with a mindset of “if a play breaks down, I’ll just pull it back out for three”, and this season he came with the same mindset. For the second season it’s leading to results, as the Warriors stand as the lone undefeated team in the NBA at 9-0.

Curry’s name is reaching heights similar to Kobe’s and the branding similar to “Like Mike”, his electrifying shooting and crowd appeasing highlights remodel the way future guards  play basketball. He is showing in an age where guards are getting bigger and longer, see Michael Carter-Williams and Emmanuel Mudiay, that one can still excel at the position with less height than others. Curry is the face of the combo guard position currently and will maintain this honor as long as his jumper keeps falling and his handle is equally as amazing. With both of those aspects of his game still in tact, every ball player at parks and gyms will continue to scream “Curry!” when they rise up for a shot behind the three-point line.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html, http://khqtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-02-06-at-2.31.47-PM.png

Living Up to The Name: Royals vs Mets Recap

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

After a long 30 year drought, the Kansas City Royals have finally won another World Series title. The Royals beats the Mets 7-2 in 12 innings to take the title in the 5th game of the World Series. A major run in the 12th inning by Christian Colon saved the Royals from a Game 6. Although the Mets had a fantastic season and a great playoff run, the Royals were the more well prepared team and overcame the fastballs of Mets pitchers Matt Harvey and Jacob DeGrom. Following a stellar season, dominating the AL Central division with a 95-67 record, the Royals fought hard for their title.

The Mets were most certainly underdogs in this matchup against the Royals, but they put up a great fight and exceeded all expectations prior to this season. The Amazin’s won the NL East Division with a 90-72 record led by team captain and all-time Mets legend, David Wright. Despite his season-long struggle with lower back and spinal injury, Wright fought through the pain and led his beloved Mets to win the American League. Wright has been a Met during his entire professional career since he entered the MLB in 2004 and now leads the Mets in many all time stats including runs, hits, and RBI. Wright had 10 hits and 7 runs in the postseason.

            

Second Baseman Daniel Murphy led the Mets batting during the postseason with 19 hits, 13 runs, and 7 home runs. Murphy clearly proved himself as a great hitter, especially after setting an all time MLB record of 6 consecutive postseason games with a home run. The concern with Murphy is his tendency to allow fielding errors. An important fielding error in the eighth inning of Game 5 led to the surge which eventually led to a World Series Victory for the Royals. Murphy is now a free agent and his future with the Mets is unclear, but a return to the Mets is imminent as his great batting stats are too good for the Mets to let go of, especially since the core hitters of the team are aging.

The most important aspect of the Royals which led to their victory is the immense depth. In the playoffs, Kansas City had a combined 146 hits, 17 home runs, and 83 RBI with different leaders in each category. Eric Hosmer led the team in RBI with 17, Alcides Escobar led in hits with 24, and Salvador Perez and Kendrys Morales tied with 4 home runs each. With such incredible team play and skill throughout their roster, it's no surprise that they won the World Series. Royals GM Dayton Moore carefully crafted this roster to be able to play off of the skillsets and faults of other players on the roster. The Royals have shown a level camaraderie and elite play that is unmatched in the MLB.

Both the Mets and the Royals are capable of returning to the World Series next year, especially with their new playoff experience, but now they prepare for an offseason full of contract extensions, new players, trades, drafts, and big decisions. We’ll see what the next few months have in store.

http://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/wp-content/uploads/security94.jpg

The Unexpectedly Undefeated

 

Written by Taylor Odenat

Going into Week 7 of the 2015-2016 NFL season, there are currently five teams with undefeated records. Those teams are The Packers, The Panthers, The Patriots, The Broncos, and unexpectedly to many, The Bengals. For each team you can make a case for why their undefeated record isn’t much of a surprise. The Packers are yearly a threat in the NFC North as they possess arguably the most astute quarterback in the NFL, The Panthers have always boasted a dominant defense and continue to do so, and the Patriots and Broncos still enjoy on their roster two of the greatest regular season quarterbacks of all time. Then there’s the Bengals.

From prior seasons, the Bengals have not been a team known to produce undefeated seasons. The last occurrence of the Cincinnati Bengals heading their division was back in 2013 where they lost in the Wild Card round. The Bengals have gotten accustomed to Wild Card Playoff losses over the past few seasons with their quarterback Andy Dalton under center. Granted, Dalton did improve Cincinnati to an above .500 team, but his limitations in the postseason would always inevitably lead to constant Wild Card defeats.

Andy Dalton would scan the field and see perfectly adept receivers over the years such as A.J Green, Andrew Hawkins, and Jerome Simpson; but he would be incapable of completing passes to them. He would finish the season with over 60% completions on passes, but come postseason that percentage dramatically dips around the 40-50 percent marks. Dalton has yet to prove he is adequate enough to lead a franchise past the preliminary round of the playoffs and he’s had a couple chances to do so.

However, this season the Bengals look like a rejuvenated team. On the field they are a cohesive unit on offense and defense. Dalton’s been the man for the Bengals on offense and has been producing game after game. He’s among the top of the 10 in passing yards at 1,761 in conjunction with a 67.4 completion and leads the top 20 quarterbacks in interceptions thrown, passer rating, and yards per pass attempt. The Red Rifle has kept the offense flourishing along with receivers and running backs Tyler Eifert, A.J. Green, Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill.

Along with the offense clicking, ranking fourth amidst all 32 teams in the NFL at 30.4, their defense have also been playing at high levels. They rank top 20 in opposing points per game (19.2), opposing yards per game (364.8), and opposing rushing yards per game (85.8). The Bengals arrive to every game with a balanced offensive and defensive system, where they have excellent ball movement and impressively stifling defense.

The Bengals have been previously predicted to have breakout seasons, but now they seem to be putting it all together and finally using their extraordinary talents to their advantage.

If the Bengals can keep up their uniform attack on the other teams of the NFL for the rest of the season, they’ll be a lock for the playoffs and won’t have to go through the Wild Card round to advance. 

At this rate Andy Dalton is resembling a younger Peyton Manning in the regular season. However, Manning he is a poor performer in the postseason; so Dalton should continue to parallel the Manning of the first 16 games and not the Manning of the playoffs. For the future of Dalton’s job security, he should strive to assist his team in maintaining their undefeated streak without the repetitive early playoff exits that the Bengals fan know all too well.

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/9/2/9244235/Bengals-preseason-record-no-indication-of-regular-season-results, http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYards/year/2015/seasontype/2, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2011.htm, http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/19719/bengals-steelers-ben-roethlisberger-sooner-later-why-not-now, http://www.sbnation.com/2015/10/8/9471815/2015-nfl-standings-patriots-bengals-packers-broncos-falcons-panthers-undefeated

The Passing of the Torch

Written by Taylor Odenat

As of October 26, 2015, former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves Flip Saunders has past due to a losing battle with cancer. He had an illustrious career collecting two NBA All Star coaching appearances and leading the Pistons and Timberwolves to separate franchise-record victories. Players loved Saunders and are shocked of his passing after dealing with Hodgkin’s lymphoma for a large portion of the 2014-2015 season. He was a prominent and substantial figure in the lives of the athletes he coached. Stephon Marbury went as far as to refer to Saunders as a ‘father figure’ because of his knowledge of life and the game of basketball along with his ability to combine the two.

As a result of his death, Minnesota is now in void of a head coach for the future. The Timberwolves will eventually elect a temporary head coach, reasonably being former NBA Coach of Year Sam Mitchell, and go through the motions until stability is regained. However, for the long term future, who better to replace Saunders than 21-year veteran and 13-year player for the Timberwolves: former NBA MVP Kevin Garnett.

Flip Saunders was a mentor, friend, and bound to be future colleague of Garnett’s. After Garnett plays out his inevitable last season as a NBA player, Saunders was destined to bring Kevin on his assistant coaching staff or grant him a spot in the front office. According to Garnett, he bleeds “green” referring to his tenure with the Boston Celtics, but he will always have love for Minnesota and would presumably be honored to coach the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft.

Garnett’s image in the NBA has been one of excessive animation, relentless competitiveness, and an uninterrupted motor. If he can translate that to coaching and instill into his players a similar mindset of a determined desire for victory, then Garnett will be a very successful head coach. Additionally, recently drafted big man Karl Towns Jr. can learn under the tutelage of his esteemed coach and acquire information on how to properly play defense, when to slide over and help after a guard gets beat and so on. Garnett was also once very young, coming into the NBA as a 19-year old out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. He understands the challenges of being a youth in the NBA, so he would be highly capable of conveying to the players the same fatherly advice similar to what Stephon Marbury received from Saunders when he was young and naive.

What better gift could Garnett give to the Timberwolves and deceased Flip Saunders than filling the vacant head coaching spot guiding the Wolves players through what Flip taught him and his own extensive knowledge of the game of basketball.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/garneke01.html, http://nypost.com/2015/10/25/devastated-kevin-garnetts-powerful-tribute-to-flip-saunders/, http://www.si.com/nba/2015/10/25/minnesota-timberwolves-flip-saunders-dead-player-coach-reactions, http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/10/26/9614860/stephon-marbury-flip-saunders-tribute

Dismay in Kansas City

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

The Kansas City Chiefs, on paper, should be a playoff team. Their offense is stacked on all fronts. Alex Smith is a precise and accurate quarterback who has done well for the Chiefs over the past 3 years. Jeremy Maclin is a multitalented receiver for Smith to target repeatedly at any distance, Travis Kelce is a powerful force to be reckoned with who can be troublesome for any defense, and Jamaal Charles is arguably the best running back in the league. On the defensive end, Justin Houston is one of the most efficient linebackers in the league and the likes of Sean Smith and Eric Berry tend to lock down their match ups with ease. Unfortunately, the pieces never quite seem to come together for the Chiefs. Their last playoff win came in 1993 and have only made their way into playoffs 7 times since then, all without a victory. Although the future may have seemed bright prior to the season, a 1-4 start and a massive ACL injury to Jamaal Charles leaves the Chiefs back to the bottom of the AFC West.

Jamaal Charles started off the 2015-2016 season with 5 touchdowns in his first 4 games on 304 rushing yards and 151 passing yards. He was on pace to have a career defining year, until a non-contact knee injury took him down in Game 5 against the Bears on Sunday. The injury was later diagnosed as an ACL Tear that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the NFL Season. With the focal point of the Chiefs’ offense gone and a terrible record through the first 5 games, the Chiefs seem destined for failure this year. Although backup running backs Charcandrick West and Knile Davis are quality players, the chemistry between Smith and Charles is not replaceable. Smith will most likely be looking at an increased workload and an increased passing game for the struggling Chiefs.

Head Coach Andy Reid and Offensive Coordinator Doug Pederson will need to extend out of their comfort zones with Charles gone for the season, as the lack of Charles’ presence will immediately impact their short pass and run games for the worse. Alex Smith will need to look more in the direction of one-time Pro Bowler Jeremy Maclin. Although Maclin has been a consistent help to the team, he hasn't been targeted enough to this point. Up to this point, most of the team’s plays have been drawn up for Charles, and rookie running back Charcandrick West does not have the same skill set necessary to follow through with Kansas City’s offensive scheme. Tight End Travis Kelce should also be seeing an increase in targets over the next few weeks. Kelce has been targeted 34 times so far this season and he has converted 2 Touchdowns and a 2-Point Conversion. With the run game slowed, Smith’s range and accuracy will be tested and the combo of Maclin and Kelce should be ready for a plethora of targets in the coming weeks.

Even without Jamaal Charles, Kansas City’s offense is still solid on all fronts. In order to win games, the defense needs to increase their productivity. In their first 5 games, the Chiefs have allowed a ridiculous 17 Touchdowns. The dreadful Red Zone defense of the Chiefs has turned an optimistic season into a terrible uphill battle. Unless a miraculous comeback takes place, it's safe to say that the Chiefs can be counted out of playoff contention this season. Chiefs fans may need to brace themselves for a difficult few weeks, as they face Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Denver in their next 4 games. Although this season has been unfortunate, the Chiefs should be expected to come back with a vengeance next year.

http://images.sportsworldreport.com/data/images/full/46625/kansas-city-chiefs-quarterback-alex-smith-running-back-jamaal-charles-wide-receiver-jeremy-maclin.jpg?w=640

The Next Generation of Elite NFL Quarterbacks

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

It's no secret that the elite quarterbacks of the NFL are ageing. Tom Brady is now 38, Peyton Manning is 39, Ben Roethlisberger is 33, and Drew Brees is 36. Within the next few years, this incredible group of quarterbacks will retire and a new generation of Quarterbacks will join Aaron Rodgers as the top elite quarterbacks in the league. Many young quarterbacks will rise to the occasion, but who will fully develop into top tier players?

Marcus Mariota: Mariota still has a lot to prove, but has exceeded all expectations in his first 3 games for the Tennessee Titans. After a fantastic 3 year career as an Oregon Duck and a Heisman Trophy in 2014, Mariota was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2015 Draft and has adjusted very well to the NFL’s competition. Over the course of 3 games, Mariota has thrown 833 yards for 8 touchdowns with a 62.9% completion rate. Although his team stands at a dismal 1-2 record, Mariota made sure to put up great fights for Tennessee against Tampa Bay, San Diego, and Cleveland. Mariota will truly be tested in his Week 5 matchup against Buffalo’s strong defense, but he’s expected to continue proving himself as NFL ready.

Tyrod Taylor: After 4 years as a backup in Baltimore, Tyrod Taylor is ready to prove himself as a starting caliber quarterback in Buffalo. In 4 games, Taylor has thrown for 988 yards and 8 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. Taylor has far exceeded his expectations and has made a great impact in the Nickel City. Taylor has also proven himself as a skilled rushing QB with 111 yards and a touchdown. Taylor is only 26 years old and has only just began to grow. Taylor is locked into a 3 year contract and will most likely create a lasting impact in Buffalo.

Andrew Luck: The  Indianapolis Colts have had a difficult start to their season. Andre Johnson has greatly disappointed his fans thus far in the season and Frank Gore has seen better days. The team has lots of talent and tons of potential, but they can’t seem to put the pieces together. These factors have greatly impacted the play of QB Andrew Luck. The 26 year old Stanford alumn has had a very successful career up to this point. Luck has thrown 13,750 yards in his 4 year career for 91 touchdowns. Although his 7 interceptions have outnumbered his 5 touchdowns thrown to this point, Luck is very likely to make a great turnaround soon.

Cam Newton: Although many people question the professionalism of Cam Newton, there’s no denying his incredible ability as a quarterback. Standing at 6’5 and 245 lbs, Newton is a great quarterback with a diverse skill set. The combination of his size, speed, strength, and accuracy give him one of the highest ceilings of today’s young quarterbacks. Newton is only 26 years old and he continues to develop with each passing year. Through 4 games, Newton has 809 yards and 7 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. On top of his great statistics his team has won all 4 of their first matchups. Although their schedule is starting to increase in difficulty, Newton is definitely producing quality numbers and he can lead them into the playoffs.

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.9771075.1420815064!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.JPG

(NSFKF) Not Safe for Knicks Fans: Carmelo Anthony is a Plague on the New York Knicks Organization

                                                     Written by Taylor Odenat

When the Knicks of the 2010-2011 NBA season pulled the plug on the blockbuster trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to New York, it seemed like an exceptional deal. New York acquires a superstar, while the Nuggets cut one that didn't want to be there anymore while still receiving draft picks in return. In the moment, it seemed like both parties would walk anyway content with their decisions. However, years later that's definitely not the case for the New York Knicks who have been cursed to yearly mediocrity due to the acquisition of this same superstar.

Even though the Nuggets lost their franchise forward, the draft picks they received would assist in their rebuilding and the players they obtained in Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler would also aid in the rebuilding process. The Knicks, on the other hand, lost a ton of draft picks and young players with potential for scorer Carmelo Anthony. At the time, Anthony was joining an aging but still productive guard in Chauncey Billups and a healthy Amare Stoudemire. With this big three the Knicks organization and all of its fans thought they were a lock for the playoffs and perhaps could reach the Eastern Conference Finals if they were lucky.

In the end, that 2010-11 Knicks team did make the playoffs and finish with the sixth seed; but with two superstars in Stoudemire and Anthony their seeding shouldn’t have been that low. They were only one game ahead of the seventh seed Philadelphia 76ers and five games ahead of the eighth seeded Indiana Pacers. Amare would begin to struggle heavily with injuries, something that he continues to deal with, while Billups was also in and out of the lineup. In an instant this seemingly stacked starting lineup was falling apart at the seem.

On the other hand, in Denver their rebuilding process was going better than expected. Their post-Melo era started off on the right foot as their defense improved and they discovered a word that is nowhere in Carmelo’s arsenal of vocabulary: teamwork. Without iso-Melo coming down the court and dominating possessions, the Nuggets prevailed and finished the season with 50-wins and, surprisingly to NBA fans everywhere, a higher record in the Western Conference at the fifth seed.

So while the Denver Nuggets relinquished themselves of the ball stopping curse that is Carmelo, the Knicks were just realizing the error of their ways. Granted the next season the Knicks did make the playoffs again, however it was a seed lower than the season prior. Excluding their lone season in the 2012-13 season atop the Eastern Conference standings, Carmelo and the Knicks have not been a cohesive unit since he arrived and they never will be as long as the ball is constantly in his hands.

Until the Knicks trade for another superstar to take the ball out of his hands, making him a second option or somehow unload his contract on another poor team; the Knicks will maintain their average status of a franchise that doesn't see the light of the playoffs for another decade. In spite of this though, Knicks fans will remain in their confused misconceptions that their team will make it past the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks and their fans have long been delusional, but comments like these by their captain show how inadequate this team actually is.
----"We're competing, people might not believe that, but we're definitely competing for a [a title]," said Anthony.

It’s preposterous statements such as this that push the Knicks even further back as a team and an organization. Carmelo Anthony wasn’t healthy or playing games for the Knicks after the All Star game in February of 2015 but is making comments to the media. He required surgery during the All Star Break, but instead opted to play in a trivial game; that shows where Anthony's head is. Anthony expressed to reporters at training camp practice that he believes the Knicks will compete for a championship this upcoming season when he doesn't even know if he'll be fully healthy by season's start.

Unfortunately for the small forward, not only will the Knicks not reach anywhere close to tasting the victory of winning a championship, they won’t even be able to sample the menu of playoff contention. Due to trading for Carmelo Anthony in 2010, the Knicks have lost their draft picks for the top heavy 2016 NBA Draft. Subsequently, the Knicks will have to witness Philadelphia reel off three draft picks from the lottery, all possibly in the top 5. Carmelo is an internal plague for the New York Knicks, a plague that they can never rid themselves of as a result of signing him to a five-year extension last summer. An extension that Anthony himself must regret signing with his other option being to unite with returning Derrick Rose and a rising Jimmy Butler on the deep Chicago Bulls roster.

In conclusion, the New York Knicks have had a storied past with exciting moments and memorable games. But their future will yearly consist of finishing 3rd in their division and far out of the playoff race if they don’t cut their franchise player loose and start anew. New basketball phenoms arise everyday, the Knicks need to go and search for the next one.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/draft.html, http://nypost.com/2015/10/01/carmelo-anthony-and-derek-fisher-revise-expectations-for-knicks/