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Bulls Do More Than Just Lose Their Cool by Timothy Watson III-May 9, 2013

Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat photo

May 8, 2013, South Beach Miami, Florida-Heat MVP (#6) SF, Lebron James had to be separated by Bulls (#21) SF, Jimmy Butler during a skirmish in the 115-78 blowout win for Miami over Chicago.

Last night, a good old fashioned beat down took place.  But not on the streets of South Beach rather this shellacking occurred on the home court of the Miami Heat, American Airlines Arena.  And the suspects were the usual ones, as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade provided a tag team effort with 34 points combined against Chicago in leading Miami to a 115-78 win over the Bulls in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Bye the way, it was the Bulls worst loss in playoff history. Embarrassing!

But the real laugh came from watching the frustrating and punishing hard fouls the Bulls employed, which took me back to the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons’ days versus the Bulls of playoffs past.  A time when something called “The Jordan Rules” was in effect.

Call me sick!  But this tough brand of B-ball the Bulls exercised really amused me.  It just showed how so much the Bulls are not intimidated of the Heat, even though, they are the defending world champs.

Go figure…

And that very attitude manifested in a game that featured nine technical fouls (six of them called against Chicago), even one of the flagrant variety, to go along with two ejections to boot (Bulls’ Noah and Gibson).

But all of it did not work on this particular night…

“We came in with a mindset of let’s forget about everything else and just play the game,” as said by Heat, shooting guard, Dwayne Wade at the post-game press conference.

Despite Wade being tested, himself, from the very outset, (when he received a technical foul for tossing the basketball at Bulls, guard, Marco Bellineli after a rough push propelled him into the basketball stanchion) he and his team did not lose focus while the opposition did.

“It’s frustrating. I should not have lost my cool but it’s playoff basketball,” a remorseful, Bulls, forward, Taj Gibson said in the locker room, afterwards, as he was speaking of what got him tossed late in the game.

But the game had been long decided way even before Gibson drew a second technical foul early in the fourth quarter, after making his complaint to the ref that included a couple of expletives. A few short minutes later fellow Bulls big man, center, Joakim Noah, from the bench, followed his teammate for an early shower, too, when he vehemently protested Gibson’s ejection.

The real turning point in the game occurred with eight minutes left in the second quarter, when following a Gibson flush on Heat, power forward, Chris “Birdman” Anderson to cut the deficit to 32-28, inexplicably, fellow hot-headed team mate, point guard, Nate Robinson was hit with a technical foul for cussing at a Heat opponent, as the two teams walked to their respective huddles after a Miami timeout.

Momentum killer…

From that point on the wheels fell off for Chicago, punctuated, by Miami outscoring the Bulls 30-15 in the third quarter.  The fourth stanza merely served as extensive garbage time for the benchwarmers on both teams, respectively.  Heat, shooting guard, Ray Allen led all scorers, by himself, contributing a whopping 21 out of the 55 points overall the Miami subs produced alone  for the best team in the league.

Although Miami was in full control of the outcome (their biggest lead of the game was 46 points), this ain’t the Tour De France.  It still just counts as one win. Now the series is even at a game apiece.  The Bulls can go back home still smiling. They did what they set out to do: steal one in Miami.  As explained by Miami Heat, head coach, Erik Spoelstra:

“We were able to save this one, but we are still in the hole. They (the Bulls) got what they needed. They got one. It doesn’t matter about the score tonight. We need to move on now and get ready to go into the lion’s den on Friday.”

With home-court advantage now, as the scene shifts to The Mad House on Madison on Friday, all Chicago has to do is re-establish their toughness, and continue to grind it out to victory in the same manner as their once old-time nemesis, the “Bad Boys” of Detroit Pistons did, back in the day, to get a couple of championships out of it then, even at the Bulls expense.  Lol.

“The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NIV).

Go Bulls!

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Posted by  |  May 10, 2013 | Categories: 2013 Eastern Conference SemiFinals, 2013 NBA Articles, NBA Playoffs, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Forget Final Four, Now Its All About Final Weekend by Timothy Watson III-March 7, 2013

Duke Blue Devils Logo

As we head into the final weekend of the conference-schedule for the 2012-13 men’s basketball regular season, titles are still up for grabs. And just as this season has been playing out thus far, no team is safe, even as displayed Wednesday night, with #6 Miami Hurricanes losing at the buzzer on a tip-in, 71-69, at home against unranked Georgia Tech to blow a chance at clinching the ACC. Or by #5 Georgetown Hoyas losing, 67-57, at unranked Villanova and now finding them in a 3-way tie for the Big East crown. This gives you an idea of what’s at stake for these nationally ranked teams involved.

And that’s not all.

In the Round-Robin circuit that is the Big-10, #2 Indiana Hoosiers now have to win at #7 Michigan Wolverines to clinch the title. But if they lose, it may allow for potentially, a 4-way split with perhaps any combination of #10 Michigan State Spartans, #14 Ohio State Buckeyes and #22 Wisconsin Badgers.

In the Big-12, #4 Kansas Jayhawks and in-state rival #9 Kansas State Wildcats are in a neck-and-neck tie for bragging rights that come along with the title.

In the Pac-10, #19 Oregon Ducks must win its final two games to clinch the conference title outright or face a log-jam reshuffling between #18 Arizona Wildcats, #23 UCLA Bruins and California Golden Bears.

In the Atlantic-10, #16 Saint Louis Billikens are in a 1st place tie with #21 Virginia Commonwealth University Rams.

Sounds pretty exciting, huh?

You bet!

And that’s not to mention just a couple of college basketball’s all-time favorite rivalries being renewed when  #17 Syracuse Orange pays a visit to (the aforementioned) #5 Georgetown Hoyas; My #3 Duke Blue Devils at North Carolina Tar Heels.

“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect” (James 2:22, NJKV)?

Do you believe! I do. Now let’s play to win.

Posted by  |  March 7, 2013 | Categories: 2012-13 Men's NCAA Basketball | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Ray Lewis Retirement Party Continues on to New Orleans for Super Bowl XVLII After Win by Timothy Watson III-January 21, 2013

Ray Lewis Retirement Billboard

January 20, 2013, Boston, MA-Yep, there is egg on the faces of Patriots fans (as depicted here) after the hometown team lost 28-13 to Ray Lewis’ Ravens in the AFC Championship game.

“The Ray Lewis Ride” will continue on happily. Despite a “Countdown to Ray Lewis Retirement Party” billboard in Boston, it will be the fans of Patriots, whose great season has come to a bitterly disappointing finish in the 28-13 loss to the Ravens in the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. In the immediate moments following the win, Lewis was interviewed on the field, by ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. While he made references to his faith and the aforementioned sign, one couldn’t help but notice, with jersey and pads removed from his body completely, the t-shirt that read “Psalm 91.”

And this is how it reads from the Bible in the NIV:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because heloves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Amen. God bless you Ray. God bless the Ravens too. Now go win a Super Bowl. And ride off into the sunset as who you’ve always been. A CHAMPION!

Posted by  |  January 22, 2013 | Categories: NFL 2012 AFC Championship | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Real Reason Why the Bulls Beat the Heat: An Inside Job by Timothy Watson III-January 5, 2013

Nate Robinson Pic

January 4, 2013, Miami, Florida-PG Nate Robinson (#2) exclaims in celebration after Chicago Bulls beat Miami Heat 96-89!

The most indelible sequence of events for the night was the Bulls’ pint-sized dynamo, point guard, Nate Robinson drawing a charge on one end of the court, then jacking a 3 pointer up that went through the net on the other end, as he sprinted to his awaiting teammates in celebration, after the Heat called a timeout midway through the fourth quarter. Bulls went ahead by 10. They never looked back either. They won 96-89 at Miami.

Heat DETHRONED!

Chicago had to sit and watch like the rest of us during last season’s Eastern Conference Finals with disappointment wishing ‘what if?’ Because of the Derrick Rose injury, NBA fans never got to see, what ‘til then really had been the NBA’s most competitive rivalry over the last two seasons, meet again in the playoffs. Miami caught a break. They later went on to capture the title.

Well on Friday night, even still without D. Rose, Chicago reminded the defending world champions of what they missed out on.

The Bulls improved to (8-1) on the road against Eastern Conference foes this season. And didn’t care about the fact that the Heat was nearly unbeatable at home, and rudely handed the host their third loss of the season at home.

“It always feels good to beat the Heat,” an excited Joakim Noah said afterwards courtside.

Coach Tom Thibodeau employed an effective strategy which was to guard the corner 3 hard. And it worked beautifully down the stretch of the game as Heat 3-point specialists, forward Shane Battier, was pushed out to the wing defensively (which is not his sweet spot) while his team mate, guard Ray Allen, never got a touch in that area either.

But the biggest difference was the Bulls dominance on the glass. Bulls big man frontline of Noah, Boozer and Gibson all combined for 33 rebounds! Chicago made their money on this night from the many second chance opportunities. As for the game, the Bulls had out rebound the Heat 48-28.

“Everybody in both locker rooms understands what the overwhelming key to the game was,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They were throwing it up there and playing volleyball against us.”

Yeah, they surely were with F Carlos Boozer making the kill shot on a wide open, flip-in, layup with 46 seconds remaining to put Chicago ahead by seven after yet another offensive rebound. That discrepancy was at 19-4.

But much more than a defensive game plan or a decisive rebounding margin, the Bulls won this game because of strong team confidence. They played with a chip on their collective shoulders Friday night, because of what they might have been perceived before the game as Miami, perhaps, overlooking them. After all, the Heat is known to typically not get up for the competition.

The Bulls figured this and went hard in the paint on LeBron James and company which even included a Joakim Noah takedown on No. 6 in the fourth quarter. That resulted in a disputed Flagrant 1 foul. But it also re-enforced the message that Chicago was sending all night to Miami: WE’RE TAKIN’ IT TO YOU!

This Bulls win was very special for the entire city of Chicago. It made us proud. But it also confirmed to us that we can beat any team without D. Rose while, too, it made us fantasize about these two rivals matching up once again in the playoffs later this year.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8, NIV).”

 

Posted by  |  January 6, 2013 | Categories: 2013 NBA Articles | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

New Year Brings New Cheer for Bears Fans by Timothy Watson III-January 1, 2013

Lovie Smith Photo

Chicago, Illinois- Here is a photo of former Bears head coach, Lovie Smith, during press conference introducing him back in 2004. He was later fired on Dec. 31, 2012 after 9 seasons.

As the world turns the calendar from 2012 to 2013, our country, our world is full of uncertainty from the economy to political leadership to even our own individual future.  But one thing is for certain: Sports bring us together and never tears us apart.

Professional athletes gain our attention, our money, our affections, our passions, our love and even our anger. They are paid to perform for our pleasure. But they also derive pleasure from our faithfulness to them and their respective teams.

As a Chicagoan, 2012 was a very, very disappointing sports year. At the start of the it, the Bears went into early hibernation, and missed the playoffs, after QB Jay Cutler went down for the rest of season. The Bulls suffered the pain of Derrick Rose’s torn ACL, and went from title contender to first-round loser in the snap of his ligament. The Cubs never stood a chance even after a new baseball manager and CEO. The White Sox went from gaining expectations to losing them in one fall of  a September swoon. And now, the Bears have gone into another early hibernation to end this season, by missing the playoffs, even with a better roster, due to a 3-5 second half.

So with news on Dec. 31 of the firing of former head coach, Lovie Smith, after nine seasons at the helm of the NFL’s oldest team, it was time for change.

Gone are the ways of steady disappointment. Now is the time of meeting and even exceeding all expectations.

This is not a slight at Lovie. As a man, Coach Smith will be deeply missed around the locker room, in the media gallery as well as on and off the field. He is a great man of faith; true to his namesake. A real father-figure to many of those men on the team (both young and old) who he motivated, encouraged, befriended, taught, corrected and most importantly loved. He was not just their boss but also confidant, mentor, etc. So no matter what, even at a time like this, he has friends forever.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17, NIV).

But business can be a cruel world. And the profession of sport is no different either. I know Coach Smith will be forever grateful for the McCaskey ownership giving him his first shot as a head coach back in 2004 with the Bears. And as a strong branch of the Tony Dungy coaching tree, he is its most successful protégée with 3 playoff appearances in 9 seasons, that also included 2 NFC championship games, with even a Super Bowl XVLI lost to his mentor. The recipient of NFL Coach of the Year Award in 2005 looks great on his resume. A career (81-63) record holds great weight too. But an (18-14) record over these past two seasons, combined, was just a blemish that made an indelible mark. It serves as the evidence of two second-half-of-the-season collapses, respectively.

Time is of the essence. Our Chicago Bears, who most casual fans don’t know, actually has the second most NFL titles in history with 9 of them! But it has been a very long time since we’ve hoisted that Lombardi Trophy, 27 years ago.

I heard the most telling thing on the night the season ended. New Chairman, George McCaskey, said that he’d like to see his mother, the great Virginia McCaskey, see her team win the championship one more time. I do too. She’s 89-years-old. So despite what the players say, if they were really honest to themselves, they already know in their heart-of-hearts, they let Coach Smith down.

Coaches don’t win games. Players do.

I send my blessings to Smith. I know he will get a new gig pretty soon. His reputation as a man in the NFL is good. No one can ever take that away from him.

But whomever the Bears’ brass decides to bring in, to succeed Smith, will have to be one who can do more than endear his players to him. But whom will also hold these players accountable to our fans!  After all, we have a vested interest that’s greater than anybody else’s: We pay everybody’s salary. AND WE DESERVE A WINNER!!

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1Corinthians 4:2, NIV).

Posted by  |  January 1, 2013 | Categories: NFL 2012 Black Monday, NFL 2012 Coaches Firings | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Blue Devils Get their Man by Timothy Watson III-December 21, 2012

December 20, 2012, Chicago, Illinois-Simeon Career Academy basketball player, PF, Jabari Parker, shows off his Duke Blue Devils T-shirt to the press as he announced his decision to play for Coach K.

December 20, 2012, Chicago, Illinois-Simeon Career Academy basketball player, senior PF, Jabari Parker, shows off his Duke Blue Devils T-shirt to the press as he announced his decision to play for Coach K.

He had the world waiting! In a decision that was filled with much anticipation, college basketball’s next great player (and for that matter, the NBA’s too, in the near future) has verbally committed to join Coach K and the current #1 team, in all the land, Duke Blue Devils!

Best choice the kid could’ve ever made!

The team from Durham, North Carolina, that has arguably the richest history of any NCAA basketball program, ever, (I know the folks in Lexington, Los Angeles and Chappell Hill can stake a claim, too. But I’m biased as a long time Blue Devils basketball fan since the 1988-89 season, okay please???) just got richer. Duke University beat out other schools BYU, Florida, Stanford and Michigan State. My fellow hometown brethren from Chicago will enjoy the serenity and strong community ties that are a part of Krzyzewskiville. Plus, he will get a world class education, as he said himself:

“I feel, if I go there, I could get a good degree.”

Yes my brother! And you could compete every year for an ACC title, Final Four appearance and perhaps even a couple of shots at a national title, as Duke has regained its usual perch atop the national polls.

The 6’8”, 220 pound, small forward, has been compared to former Duke great and alum, Grant Hill, although Parker is a better shooter. But comparisons notwithstanding, Parker is truly the most polished, all-around-player in the recruiting Class of 2013. He is considered the best at his position and #2 overall according to ESPN 100.

Already a big-time winner, (as his Simeon Career Academy Wolverines are 3-time Class 4A State Champions) Parker will fit right in with the winning mentality as well as the family togetherness that Coach K fosters. And Parker has already been receiving mentorship.

“He’s really played a key hand into my development, [uh] even throughout high school,” referring to the legendary coach.

Parker is the third commitment to Duke for next season. He will join shooting guard, Matt Jones, who is ranked 36 in the country, and small forward Semi Ojeleye, who is ranked 41 in the country. Parker’s status pushes the Blue Devils recruiting class to #4 overall, which is the programs highest in 2 years since the one which featured Austin Rivers in 2011.

And Parker will follow along the stellar list of Simeon Career Academy recruits of the past such as  Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose (who was the nation’s #5 prospect in 2007), Nick Anderson, Bobby Simmons and Ben Wilson.

Chicago has definitely been a recruiting gold mine for Coach K, as he has landed Jon Scheyer from Glenbrook North, Sean Dockery from Julian, Michael Thompson from Providence and Corey Maggette  from Fenwick in previous years.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski received the call earlier before the press conference.

“He said congratulations,” according to a cheerful Parker.

I say congratulations too!

“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (Proverbs 18:16, NIV).

See what all the excitement is about, below:

Posted by  |  December 21, 2012 | Categories: NCAA Basketball Recruits | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

And The Winner Is…by Timothy Watson III-December 12, 2012

Johnny Manziel Pic

December 8, 2012, Manhattan, New York-Texas A&M, freshman, quarterback, Johnny Manziel stands at podium while speaking to media, after becoming the winner of the 78th Heisman Trophy presentation.

Well look-a-here! A freshman has won the Heisman now! In a decision, that really surprised nobody, the national media and Heisman fraternity of the Downtown Athletic Center in Manhattan officially declared this year’s latest recipient of college football’s most prestigious trophy and honor.

“Johnny Football” is officially no longer just a household name but a true inspirational story.

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has gone from a redshirt last season to a starter this one, from a no-name to a famous one, from having the coach for whom he was recruited by to playing for an entirely new staff that he didn’t anticipate, from anonymity to legendary status. And this was just year one!

By not only taking a page from the Cam Newton story, but eventually renaming it as his own, Johnny Manziel has shattered the former SEC single-season all purpose yardage mark at 4,600.

Manziel has joined a very short list of QBs that have rushed for at least 1,000 yards and have passed for at 3,000 yards in a single season.

He threw 24 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions to go along with 19 ran on the ground.  And his biggest touchdown pass of the season came in the 29-24 victory at then No. 1 Alabama. That was the signature win of this college football season entirely. And it stamped his name on the list of Heisman winners!

 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NIV)

Congratulations to the first ever freshman to win the Heisman Trophy! And may he run to victory in the Cotton Bowl too!

 Watch the celebration here:

Posted by  |  December 12, 2012 | Categories: 2012 Heisman Trophy, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Mike Who??? Mike Brown Gets Fired by Lakers by Timothy Watson III-November 9. 2012

"Mike Brown Pic"

November 9, 2012 – L.A. Lakers elite, SG, Kobe Bryant (left) just didn’t have patience for coach Mike Brown’s (right) teaching and was unsurprisingly fired today after (1-4) start.

Remember that catchy rap song where the artist shouts out the answer, using his signature refrain, to the rhetorical question used as the album’s title: Who is Mike Jones? It was a hit back then. Well, just like the career of that aforementioned artist, it appears that even in “Tinsel town” this particular novelty act, too, has wearied thin on the patience of fans, and ultimately that of owner Jim Buss. The gig is up! Lakers coach Mike Brown got fired today.

Honestly, in this new day and age of sports, the industry does not allow for time to “play through it,” especially, when management made all the right moves to bring the most storied franchise in the NBA back to prominence, in the 2nd largest market in the country. You see ownership has fans to please. They represent the bottom line.

The Writing Was on The Wall.

The Lakers had already threatened Mike Brown before. Remember the rumors that swirled around going into Game 7 of last year’s Western Conference First Round series at home against the Nuggets? Coach Brown had to either win or go home FOR REAL! Fortunately for Brown’s sake, the Lakers won 96-87. He saw another day.

Fast forward to this season and just look to what happened in the waning moments of Wednesday’s 95-86 loss at Utah; and see an angry Kobe Bryant on the bench staring down coach during a timeout.

That was a clear message: Get him out of here!

Afterwards in the locker room, though, I liked the way Lakers big man Dwight Howard put a positive spin on the team’s apparent frustration with Mike Brown and his new offense when he said:

“A lot of the guys look at me and Kobe and they feed off us, so we have to do a better job of keeping our frustrations on the inside and just playing through it so our teammates won’t get down on themselves.”

True. But who is going to stand up to Kobe? Nobody is, not even the boss himself. Lol.

So once again Kobe gets what he wants (just ask Shaq) and why? Because he is the breadwinner! The Lakers would not even have a playoff caliber team without Kobe Bryant? And owners pocket the “real money” during the playoffs. With the Lakers at (1-4), although it’s too early in the season at this point, this team wouldn’t make the playoffs out West. The Clippers are laughing. Speaking of whom just whooped up on the Lakers with a 105-95 win, that was never close, a week ago in front of their own fans.

Now that Mike Brown has “hit the road jack” to “never come back,” what does Kobe have to say, courtesy of his Facebook account:

Tough day. I’ve seen coaches as well as friends come and go. No matter how many years I’ve been playing, it’s still hard to deal with. I had a good relationship with Mike and I will continue to have one. I wish him and his family nothing but the best. I spoke with him today and thanked him for all of his hard work and sacrifice.As a team, we must focus our energy on tonight’s game. We must block out the weight of today’s news and simply do our jobs to the best of our ability.I’m not sure what direction we are heading in next. All I can do is focus on the here and now.
Mamba out

At the end of the day, I feel this is isn’t the end of the L.A. drama. There will be more casualties to follow. Mike Brown did make some pivotal mistakes like instituting a Princeton offense that does not play to the strengths of its talented roster; and not speaking up for himself when criticized unfairly; and even appeasing to Kobe Bryant. But honestly, he got a bad rep with the press as being a pushover. The media only instigated what has been already a very embarrassing start to the season. But take hope!

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:3, NIV).

Let me say this! Phil Jackson is not walking through that door! He’s at peace in Montana. So who are you going call? Mike Jones?? But watch and see down the line. Coach Brown will later say too:

“Back then they didn’t want me! Now I’m hot they’re all on me!”  in the words of Mike Jones. Lol.

Posted by  |  November 10, 2012 | Categories: Basketball | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Team Rundown: Thunder at Bulls Matchup by Timothy Watson III-November 8, 2012

"OKC pic"

November 8, 2012 – OKC Thunder stars F Kevin Durant (upper) and PG Russell Westbrook (lower) here pictured during past season’s NBA Finals are no longer with fellow teammate, SG James Harden (traded), but look to carry the load as they visit Chicago Bulls tonight.

Imagine if Derrick Rose and James Harden were both playing tonight?… Well their not, so  tonight’s matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-2) at Chicago Bulls (3-1) is not as glamorous as it could be but none-the-less it still is a very good one. The Bulls is currently in first place in the Central Division. The Thunder is currently in second place in the Northwest Division.

Now everybody knew Bulls elite, PG, D. Rose, would not be available as he is rehabbing from ACL surgery since becoming injured in the waning minute of the last season’s NBA playoff opener. But nobody banked on former Thunder, SG, James Harden (reigning Sixth Man of the Year) not playing either. He was surprisingly traded days before the season began to the Houston Rockets. While the makeups of both teams have changed, what has not are the core value of these teams: Teamwork and Togetherness.

Without Rose, the Bulls have benefited from good chemistry. PG Nate Robinson has become an extra catalyst alongside C Joakim Noah in the hustle and positivity departments. PG/SG Kirk Hinrich has been virtually impossible to score upon with his tenacious defense, that he’s been known for, since his career first began as a Bull in ’03.

Bulls coach Thibodeau still preaches defense and his team still not only listens but applies it well. Chicago allows just (88.7) points-per-game that ranks 3rd in the NBA.

Now scoring is a problem as expected with the loss of Rose. Chicago scores only (97.2) points-per-game so the differential is only roughly +9. But on the bright side, C Joakim Noah leads the team in scoring (16.0) with F Luol Deng’s (15.8) along with F Carlos Boozer’s improved (13.3) points-per-game averages. Matter-of-fact, there are five Bulls who average scoring in double-figures. So there are actually more options.

As for their opponents, Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending Western Conference Champions came into this season with huge expectations until they traded away backcourt team mate and reigning Sixth Man of the Year James Harden to the Houston Rockets. Now, although they did receive a scorer in SG Kevin Martin to replace him, his loss really broke up that team’s chemistry.

The  Thunder are truly sharing the wealth offensively though as SF Durant (20.8), PG Westbrook (20.8) and SG Martin (19.3) points-per-game scoring are all evenly distributed amongst themselves. Now add PF Ibaka’s (10.5) points-per-game and OKC has four players who average scoring in double-figures.

OKC averages (98.2) points-per-game, offensively, which is a slight drop-off from last season’s but were just two weeks into this season folks. The positive is they’ve actually gotten a little more scoring from Martin than they did from Harden, up to this point, which is a surprise.

Defense has been good for Thunder but needs to improve playing in the Western Conference. OKC allows (92.5) points-per-game and that’s not enough to become an elite team in the high-powered West. OKC has a differential of only +6.

The Thunder won handedly over Bulls (92-78) in their only meeting last season so Chicago will be just salivating at a chance for revenge. This should be a very good game and a test for both teams. And with a national audience watching on TNT, bring the drama!

Posted by  |  November 9, 2012 | Categories: Baseball, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Pro Athletes Celebrate President Obama’s Victory by Timothy Watson III-November 7, 2012

"Obama vs Romney Pic"

November 6, 2012 – As the Presidential Election came to an end, the country let their collective voices be heard loud and clear. And the winner is?…President Obama!

In the spirit of jubilation, I am so proud to know that in the words of our 45th President, Barack Obama, the country will have “4 more years!” Hallelujah! So as I look “FORWARD!” to a new day in this nation, this world, where unity is a REALITY, I am, indeed, hopeful and I take it by faith!

I’d like to give a special shout-out to my fellow Chicagoan, our hometown hero, Mr. President Obama, the #1 Chicago sports fan! Congratulations!

Politics affects everything and everybody, from the least to the greatest of all. So when something like the 2012 Presidential Election takes place, all of us not only cast our votes, but let our voices be heard too!

Let’s take a look at what our professional athletes had to say. Here are some of their tweets:

Oddly enough, I couldn’t find too many congratulation tweets about President Obama’s re-election. I guess many aren’t into politics. But at least these sports stars let their voices be heard in a good way!  Listen! Whomever you are, whether jock or student, or common-person, let’s all support in service and prayer for our leader! It’s a tough job!
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders…” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

Posted by  |  November 8, 2012 | Categories: Politics and Sports, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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