NBA Report Cards: Grading the West's Benches

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Earlier this week I posted report cards for the Eastern Conference benches, so now it's time to focus on the far-superior West. At the end I will list my overall bench power rankings, from 30 down to #1. 

Dallas Mavericks (Grade: B):  PG Devin Harris looks like the effective player he was back in his days with the then-New Jersey Nets, and C Brandan Wright and SF Jae Crowder are both returning from last season. PG Raymond Felton will be one of the better third-string point guards when he returns from injury, and forwards Al-Farouq Aminu and Richard Jefferson are both useful. Rick Carlisle will handle his bench beautifully as usual.

Denver Nuggets (Grade: B):  There's a lot of talent here, I'm just not sure how the minutes will be distributed. Guards Nate Robinson and Randy Foye are two of the premier bench scorers when hot, but Nate is on a minutes restriction as he recovers from a major operation. SG Gary Harris could be a useful rookie, and forwards Wilson Chandler and Alonzo Gee have been starters elsewhere. JaVale McGee is an explosive option for the back-up center spot. PF/C JJ Hickson should also provide a lift, if and when he returns from injury. 

Golden State Warriors (Grade: A-):  You'd be hard pressed to find a better two-way bench duo than G/F Andre Iguodala and F/C Draymond Green.

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They are helpful offensively and exceptional defensively; new head coach Steve Kerr is going to be particularly thankful for the defense. PG Shaun Livingston was arguably the Nets' MVP last season, and G Leandro Barbosa and PF/C Marreese Speights are positive offensive contributors. This is a strong group.

Houston Rockets (Grade: F):  I am shocked at Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Widely regarded as one of the better decision-makers in the league, I can't believe he thinks his bench is sufficient for a championship run. He has to know how bad it is. Donatas Motiejunas, Kostas Papanikolaou, Isaiah Canaan and Tarik Black -- need I say more? Jason Terry is the only borderline professional in this group. 

Los Angeles Clippers (Grade: A-):  I've said this many times before, but Jamal Crawford is my favorite bench player in the NBA. He's the most entertaining ballhandler in the game, and his volume scoring is jaw-dropping at times. Can't say anything bad about the Clippers' additions of PG Jordan Farmar and C Spencer Hawes. Veteran forwards Hedo Turkoglu and Glen "Big Baby" Davis will play similar roles to last season. This unit was decent last year, and it has definitely since-improved. 

Los Angeles Lakers (Grade: D-):  Byron Scott's bench is only avoiding an "F" because of the eventual presence of Nick Young, one of the premier microwaves in the league. However, the Lakers may be so desperate for offense at the time of his return that he may be inserted directly into the starting lineup. Time will tell. 

Memphis Grizzlies (Grade: B-):  Vince Carter's professional career arc is pretty fascinating: From world-renowned dunker and top-tier superstar to grounded, effective, team-oriented veteran reserve. He deserves a ton of credit for his ability to adapt, and will certainly be a welcome addition to the Grizz. PG Beno Udrih, F Jon Leuer and C Kosta Koufos are all back from last year, and SF Quincy Pondexter will make his return from a nearly season-long injury hiatus. These guys aren't bad. 

Minnesota Timberwolves (Grade: C+):  It was thought that either Andrew Wiggins or Corey Brewer would come off the bench, but both were in Flip Saunders' starting lineup on opening night. That shortens the Wolves' bench. This group will be led by PG Mo Williams and C Gorgui Dieng. They will hope for breakout years from forwards Anthony Bennett and Shabazz Muhammad. There's some upside here. 

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New Orleans Pelicans (Grade: C-):  F Ryan Anderson is right up there in the #1 overall bench player discussion with Taj Gibson, Greg Monroe, Jamal Crawford, Isaiah Thomas and Manu Ginobili. The rest of the Pelicans' bench is quite underwhelming. 

Oklahoma City Thunder (Grade: B-):  Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, Nick Collison and Kendrick Perkins looks good at full strength; the problem is that the Thunder have a plethora of injuries at the moment, a frustrating development that has blurred the lines between the starters and reserves. At 100% health this could be a B+/A- unit. 

Phoenix Suns (Grade: A-):  I'm still shocked the Lakers didn't sign Isaiah Thomas to be their starting point guard; maybe he didn't want to play for a horrendous team going nowhere fast. "The Pizza Guy" will easily be one of the best reserves in the league, and G/F Gerald Green and either SF Marcus Morris or PJ Tucker (depending on who gets the starting job when Tucker returns) will serve as his primary assistants. G Archie Goodwin and C Alex Len also have upside. 

Portland Trail Blazers (Grade: C-):  Guards Steve Blake and CJ McCollum both stink. I wonder how long it will take people in Portland to realize that. C Chris Kaman is the only bright spot in this below-average group. PF Thomas Robinson has just a bit of upside. 

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San Antonio Spurs (Grade: A):  Here's the best bench in the NBA. G Manu Ginobili and F/C Boris Diaw are confident and dangerous all-around veterans, and SG Marco Belinelli is an excellent 8th man. PG Cory Joseph and C Aron Baynes are both improving, and F/C Matt Bonner will always make his open looks. This group gets an "A" even with G Patty Mills on the shelf. I should also mention that they're being handled by the best coach in professional sports, Sir Gregg Popovich. 

Sacramento Kings (Grade: D+):  I know it's only one game, but I watched these guys play against the Warriors last night and it was bordering on unbearable. It's gonna be a long season for this group. PG Ramon Sessions is overrated and PF Carl Landry is the only guy I like here.

Utah Jazz (Grade: F):  When Trevor Booker is far and away your best reserve, your team is in serious trouble. 'Nuff said. 

Johnny Fro's NBA Bench Power Rankings

30. Utah Jazz (F)

29. Philadelphia 76ers (F)

28. Orlando Magic (F)

27. Houston Rockets (F)

26. Los Angeles Lakers (D-)

25. Sacramento Kings (D+)

24. Portland Trail Blazers (C-)

23. New Orleans Pelicans (C-)

22. Indiana Pacers (C-)

21. Washington Wizards (C)

20. Miami Heat (C)

19. Charlotte Hornets (C)

18. Cleveland Cavaliers (C)

17. Atlanta Hawks (C)

16. Milwaukee Bucks (C+)

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (C+)

14. Brooklyn Nets (C+)

13. New York Knicks (B-)

12. Memphis Grizzlies (B-)

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (B-)

10. Denver Nuggets (B)

9. Dallas Mavericks (B)

8. Boston Celtics (B+)

7. Phoenix Suns (A-)

6. Los Angeles Clippers (A-)

5. Chicago Bulls (A-)

4. Golden State Warriors (A-)

3. Toronto Raptors (A-)

2. Detroit Pistons (A-)

1. San Antonio Spurs (A)

NBA Report Cards: Grading the East's Benches

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With the 2014-15 NBA season getting under way last night, I decided to do some last-minute research to assess my Nets and Knicks' chances in the Eastern Conference. My research has led me to believe that the success (or lack there of) of many of the East's teams will be determined by their bench production. 

That being said, I've decided to write report cards for all of the teams' reserves (in alphabetical order). We'll see where my Nets and Knicks stand. 

Atlanta Hawks (Grade: C):  Off hand this looks like a very average unit. I love the Hawks' starting core of Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Al Horford, but their bench leaves much to be desired.

PG Dennis Schroder looked over-matched for much of his rookie campaign and the early reports are that rookie PF Adreian Payne isn't ready to contribute. G Shelvin Mack, G Kent Bazemore, F Mike Scott and C Pero Antic are all decent, but nothing to write home about. I think SG/SF Thabo Sefolosha was a waste of a signing. One-dimensional defenders are a rightfully dying art in the NBA. They overpaid for a virtually useless player. 

Brooklyn Nets (Grade: C+):  PG Jarrett Jack looked out of place (and out of shape) with the Cavs last season, but this year he looks trimmer and closer to his old self. When he's right, he's one of the premier reserves in the game. F Mirza Teletovic should be the key player off Brooklyn's pine, finishing in the top 5 or 10 in bench ppg. C Mason Plumlee can rebound and block shots, but I think he's become a bit overrated league wide. He can't create anything for himself. SG/SF Alan Anderson will again be asked to be a solid contributor.

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Boston Celtics (Grade: B+):  This looks to be one of the better benches in the conference. PG Marcus Smart is a rookie, but he plays with control and understanding. I think up-and-coming head coach Brad Stevens has already had a positive impact on him. SG Marcus Thornton brings energy and instant offense, and is always one of the leaders in reserve scoring. SF Evan Turner's versatility makes him very useful on both sides of the ball. PF Brandon Bass could be a starter on a lot of teams. He's simply a solid professional big. Rookie SG/SF James Young will be an interesting player to monitor once healthy. 

Charlotte Hornets (Grade: C):  The fate of this bench is in the hands of SG/SF Gerald Henderson and SG Gary Neal. If they are shooting well this can be a productive unit; if they are off, the Hornets have nowhere else to turn. PG Brian Roberts is decent but not a game changer, and their frontcourt of PF Cody Zeller and C Bismack Biyombo has been a disappointment, though both players are still very young. Biyombo is a good shotblocker but brings absolutely nothing else.

Chicago Bulls (Grade: A-):  Not only is this unit talented, but it also features superior chemistry between its top two performers. PF Taj Gibson and G Kirk Hinrich (pick-and-roll partners) are the seasoned leaders of this group, and SF Doug McDermott, PG Aaron Brooks, SF Tony Snell and F Nikola Mirotic should supplement them quite well. Head coach Tom Thibodeau extracts the maximum from his reserves. Gibson is probably the best all-around bench player in the NBA. 

Cleveland Cavaliers (Grade: C):  This sub-par grade isn't necessarily reflective of the talent of the group; it's more about the usage. New head coach Dave Blatt has decided to start Dion Waiters at SG, and I think that's a mistake. Waiters is an excellent one-on-one scorer who likes to get his touches, and I'm not sure he'll get what he wants playing with LeBron, Kyrie and K-Love. The bench will suffer without Waiters. PF/C Tristan Thomspon will have to be the leading scorer for this unit. I think Blatt would be better off starting F Shawn Marion and letting Waiters carry the bench. SG/SF Mike Miller would also be a better option to start. 

Detroit Pistons (Grade: A-):  Stan Van Gundy's bench may have the best 1-2 punch in the conference featuring PF/C Greg Monroe and PG DJ Augustin. Definite similarities to Gibson and Hinrich. The Pistons should also expect solid contributions from veteran SF Caron Butler, underrated swingman Cartier Martin and eventually either SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jodie Meeks, depending on who starts when Meeks returns from injury. Lot of talent here. 

Indiana Pacers (Grade: C-):  In terms of talent this is probably closer to a D+ bench, but the reserve experience that PF Luis Scola and G CJ Watson bring is definitely valuable. SF Chris Copeland will have to shoot the lights out for this team to compete. C Ian Mahinmi never seems to improve his game. 

Miami Heat (Grade: C):  I don't know why teams keep giving SF Danny Granger a chance. He's finished. Everyone needs to let go. G Mario Chalmers will be asked to lead this group, and the Heat's brass hopes rookie PG Shabazz Napier will be right there with him. Birdman and F Shawne Williams will continue to do their thing defensively. This is an average group. 

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Milwaukee Bucks (Grade: C+):  Since we don't really know Jason Kidd's starters, this is kind of a guessing game. I will assume Jabari Parker and Brandon Knight are the most likely starters. If he plays it safe the rest of the starting lineup will consist of Ersan Ilyasova, Larry Sanders and Giannas Antetokounmpo. That leaves SG OJ Mayo as the top gun for a bench that will also rely upon F Khris Middleton, C John Henson, PG Kendall Marshall and G Jerryd Bayless. There's talent here, I'm just not sure how it's going to be utilized. This team is similar to the Celtics and Pistons, in that their starters and reserves are mostly interchangeable. 

New York Knicks (Grade: B-):  Led by the big-name duo of Amare Stoudemire and JR Smith, this unit might actually be the strength of Derek Fisher's team. G Tim Hardaway Jr.'s game is perfect for a reserve scoring role, and PG Shane Larkin seems to be popular within the organization. Like the Celtics, Pistons and Bucks, the Knicks have a number of interchangeable starters and reserves (with the exception of Melo). Only time will tell if that's a good thing.

Orlando Magic (Grade: F):  Orlando was the only team from the East to play on opening night, and boy, it wasn't pretty. Simply put, their bench is terrible. Especially with both Victor Oladipo and Channing Frye out with injuries. This group will be leaning heavily on veterans Ben Gordon and Luke Ridnour, and that isn't really a good thing. The rest of this unit isn't even worth mentioning. Definitely the worst thus far.

Philadelphia 76ers (Grade: F):  Tony Wroten and a bunch of scrubs. Not even worth talking about. This organization should be ashamed. 

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Toronto Raptors (Grade: A-):  This unit, led by G Greivis Vasquez and F Patrick Patterson, was very solid last season. The savvy additions of G "Sweet" Lou Williams and F James Johnson have only strengthened this group. I like what the Raptors organization is building. They should be a top team in the East again this year.

Washington Wizards (Grade: C):  I really like the addition of PF Kris Humphries, but I'm not particularly enthralled with the rest of this group. I think PG Andre Miller is finished -- he creates tension and trouble more than anything else. PF Drew Gooden is a solid vet. SF Otto Porter and SG Glen Rice, Jr. will have to break out in order for this bench to be above-average. 

Official Bench Power Rankings (East)

15. Philadelphia 76ers (F)

14. Orlando Magic (F)

13. Indiana Pacers (C-)

12. Washington Wizards (C)

11. Miami Heat (C)

10. Charlotte Hornets (C)

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (C)

8. Atlanta Hawks (C)

7. Milwaukee Bucks (C+)

6. Brooklyn Nets (C+)

5. New York Knicks (B-)

4. Boston Celtics (B+)

3. Chicago Bulls (A-)

2. Toronto Raptors (A-)

1. Detroit Pistons (A-)

My 200 Favorite Movies: David Fincher's "Gone Girl" Subverts Expectations

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David Fincher's twisty mystery drama Gone Girl, based on Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel and starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne, had a $61 million budget. In just two weeks at the box office, it has grossed $78.3 million and is on the way to becoming Fincher's most successful film to date. 

No small feat for a director whose resume boasts popular titles including Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which grossed a career-best $127.5 million), The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 

So why all the hype?

For starters, Gone Girl leaves you with an awful lot to digest. What begins as a mystery centered on the disappearance of Amy Dunne -- Nick's witty, intellectual and strikingly beautiful wife -- swiftly and steadily develops into much more than that. By the time the ending credits rolled, I was thinking less about what happened to Nick and Amy and more about the message Fincher and Flynn were trying to convey. 

Is Gone Girl a scathing allegory about the deflating or perhaps strangulating nature of modern marriages? Is it an extreme example of Only Child Syndrome gone terribly, terribly wrong? Is it a subliminal experiment meant to divide audiences between those who are willing to think for themselves and those who simply accept everything at face value? Is it a feminist piece that ultimately comes to a decidedly un-feminist conclusion?

I suppose that is for you to decide. Maybe it's just a movie about a guy who may or may not have murdered his wife and disposed of her body. Could be. 

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As for the performances, Affleck and Pike are steady forces throughout. I wasn't particularly fond of Flynn's dialogue during their "meet-cute" scenes in the early going -- much of their initial flirting came off contrived and unnatural -- but Affleck and Pike did their best with what they were given. The same could be said of Carrie Coon's (who plays Nick's loyal twin sister, Margo) dialogue in the first act. I would say the first 15 minutes of the film are the weakest, but it's all uphill from there. 

Once the plot thickens and one twist leads to the next, the key characters begin to flesh out and the performances escalate to a whole new level. In the first half of the film, Coon is intended to serve as the obligatory comic relief, but she actually becomes more likable and believable as the heavy dramatic aspects of the story begin to effect her directly. She opened as the most annoying character and closed as quite possibly my favorite. I was really empathizing with her during some difficult moments in the final act. 

Kim Dickens (Detective Rhonda Boney) and Tyler Perry (Tanner Bolt, Esq.) also deserve special mention for their impressive turns. Often times in a mystery the perpetrators seem to be one step ahead of the ill-prepared and stubborn cop characters throughout the proceedings, but that isn't the case here. Detective Boney is sharp, efficient, meticulous and most importantly, she does her best to reserve judgment in the absence of all of the facts. Dickens had my full attention every time she appeared on screen. 

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Perry, despite being in a small role, is a revelation. Known for the more obvious and mainstream humor he relies upon in the films he writes and directs, the laughs he generates here couldn't be any more to the contrary. As attorney Tanner Bolt, Perry entertains with his confident and assured delivery of well-timed quips. I had no idea that Perry had a character like this in his repertoire. 

Going back to the stars, Affleck seems to have revitalized his acting career by selecting roles that don't require much acting. Once viewed as a cocky, outspoken performer, the veteran Affleck now seeks calm, reserved and at times catatonic characters. The range he has to display as Nick Dunne is very subtle. The same could be said for his central role in Argo. 

As for Pike, she is sufficiently unsettling by film's end. To say much more about her character wouldn't be prudent of me. 

All things considered, Gone Girl is certainly worth the price of admission. Perhaps its greatest gift is the conversation its ending is bound to start. 

** JOHNNY FRO'S RATING: 9 out of 10 **

My New York Jets: Taking "Laughingstock" to a Whole New Level

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As I watched the New York Jets get absolutely dismantled by the San Diego Chargers on their way to a dismal 1-4 record, I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Are Woody Johnson, John Idzik and Rex Ryan surprised by what they are seeing on the field?"

In order to seriously answer that question, you have to address each party individually. 

1. Woody Johnson shouldn't be surprised by the Jets' horrific start to the season because he supported (and perhaps facilitated) the decision to remain roughly $21 million below the salary cap. Sometimes he seems more like a businessman than a sports owner who cares about winning. 

2. John Idzik is probably shocked because he's clueless in terms of talent evaluation and roster moves. If he believed in the moves he made this offseason, he probably thought the team would be better than it actually is. Put simply, I don't think there's any doubt that he's one of the worst GMs in professional sports. I will get to his specific decisions shortly. 

3. Rex Ryan is probably surprised because he only cares about defense, and the Jets do have one of the better front-sevens in the league. If he knew anything about offense he would have known this team was doomed from the get-go. 

Idzik's Offseason Moves

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Signing RB Chris Johnson to a two-year, $8 million contract:  This signing was completely asinine on so many different levels. I will gladly discuss each one:

1. In my opinion, the most important aspect of a GM's job is evaluating the talent on his current roster. If he cannot evaluate his own talent pool, he will not be able to address team needs and fill the holes that need to be filled. Johnson's two-year deal clearly displays that Idzik was unable to evaluate the talent on his own roster. 

Heading into the offseason, the Jets' best offensive weapon was RB Chris Ivory. I would argue that their second-best offensive weapon was RB Bilal Powell, who was versatile and effective in 2013. That leads us to the obvious question...WHY WOULD IDZIK SIGN A WASHED-UP RUNNING BACK FOR $8 MILLION WHEN HIS TOP TWO OFFENSIVE PLAYERS WERE RUNNING BACKS???

Please excuse the capital letters, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm willing to play devil's advocate to my own question. Here's a possible response: "Maybe he wanted to add depth to the position."

Yes, this would be a logical response if he added cheap running backs to back up Ivory and Powell. Idzik actually did this when he added RBs Daryl Richardson (former Rams starter) and Alex Green (started a handful of games for the Packers). Those signings I could live with; every team needs depth at the running back position. However, he didn't sign Johnson for depth. You don't dump $8 million on a reserve. He signed Johnson to be the starter, which means he thought he was better than both Ivory and Powell. Which leads me to my second point:

2. Chris Johnson is finished. How could Idzik possibly think he's better than Ivory or Powell? Let's start with what the naked eye tells us: Ivory is strong, aggressive, explosive and in his prime. Powell is shifty, smart, versatile and a great third-down player. Johnson is small, frail, old and un-explosive. 

Okay, so it couldn't have been the naked eye. Let's go to the statistics:

-In 2012, Johnson averaged 4.5 yards per carry. In his prime he averaged 4.9 (2008) and 5.6 (2009). In 2013, he dropped all the way down to 3.9 yards per carry. On film he looked beat up and slow. This is a guy who has been absorbing hits for a long time. The decline in his game has been blatantly obvious (to everyone except Idzik). 

-In 2012, Ivory averaged 5.4 yards per carry, followed by 4.6 in '13. He looked hungry and explosive on film. This is also a player who hasn't sustained much damage because he played behind Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram in New Orleans. "Fresh legs," as they say. At this point in their respective careers, IVORY IS FAR SUPERIOR TO JOHNSON IN BOTH ABILITY AND PURE STATISTICS. 

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Let's not forget the fact that Johnson's mere presence on the roster takes snaps and touches away from both Ivory and Powell. Apparently the Jets play in an offensive system where the most dangerous players get less touches than the worthless players. This is an interesting strategy. I'll have to do some research on this. 

3. Signing a big-name free agent who is past his prime is never a good idea. It seems like the Jets have been obsessed with adding big names over the past few years, whether it's Johnson, Tim Tebow or the next man on my list...

Signing QB Michael Vick to a one-year, $4 million contract:  The first thing that comes to mind is jersey sales, which brings me back to my point about Woody Johnson being a businessman and not a football guy. 

I mean, why else would Idzik dump $4 million on a has-been quarterback who can never stay healthy? The move makes even less sense when you consider Idzik's obsession with Geno Smith. WHY BRING IN AN OVER-THE-HILL, BIG-NAME QUARTERBACK TO BACK UP YOUR YOUNG "FRANCHISE" QUARTERBACK WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO PUT A TON OF PRESSURE ON HIM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE NEW YORK MEDIA AND FANBASE???

There's only one logical answer to that question...that Idzik didn't know. He didn't realize what kind of pressure Vick's presence puts upon Smith's shoulders. He didn't realize the New York media would be all over the Vick signing. He didn't realize the New York fans would be chanting for Vick the second Smith faltered. 

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Wait a minute, how could he not realize any of that? The only possible answer is that John Idzik is completely and utterly clueless. And why are we committing $12 million to two old bums? Why isn't the money going to fresh legs?

Signing WR Eric Decker to a five-year, $36.25 million contract:  Compared to Johnson and Vick, this was a good signing. Decker has had an excellent career and definitely has some prime left. However, another part of a GM's job is evaluating a player's production relative to where he played. 

For example, Decker put together back-to-back outstanding seasons while playing with Peyton Manning in Denver. On paper, his numbers suggest that he is a No. 1 receiver, but the circumstances of his success have to be considered. 1. Peyton Manning is one of the top two quarterbacks in the world (the other being Aaron Rodgers). 2. Demaryius Thomas is one of the premier wide receivers in the game. 3. Wes Welker is one of the premier slot receivers in the game. 4. Julius Thomas is one of the premier tight ends in the game. 

The repetition was intentional. What's the point? As long as you have decent skills, it's relatively easy to be a successful receiver in that system. Just because Decker had No. 1 receiver-type numbers, doesn't mean he's a No. 1 receiver. On a level playing field, I view Decker as a WR2. Nevertheless, this was still a decent signing meant to give Geno Smith a legitimate threat. Which brings us to more capital letters:

WHY DID IDZIK GIVE $12 MILLION TO SHITTY, NON-NECESSITIES LIKE JOHNSON AND VICK INSTEAD OF SIGNING ANOTHER QUALITY OUTSIDE RECEIVER LIKE EMMANUEL SANDERS OR STEVE SMITH? WHY DOES IDZIK THINK IT'S OKAY TO HAVE DAVID NELSON AND GREG SALAD DRESSING AS YOUR SECOND AND THIRD RECEIVERS???

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Let's explore this point a little more. David Nelson has been in the NFL since 2010 and his career high in receptions is 61. His career high in receiving yardage is 658. He averages 478 yards per season. This is our No. 2 receiver. Need I say more?

Greg Salas has been in the NFL since 2011 and his career high in receptions is 27. His career high in receiving yardage is 264. He averages 159 yards per season. This is our No. 3 receiver. Need I say more?

OUR NO. 2 AND 3 OUTSIDE RECEIVERS AVERAGE 478 AND 159 YARDS PER SEASON! IDZIK DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS AN ISSUE HEADING INTO THE YEAR? HE THOUGHT THESE REJECTS WOULD AID IN GENO SMITH'S DEVELOPMENT?? HE GOES ALL-IN ON GENO IN THE DRAFT THEN DECIDES HE DOESN'T NEED ANY HELP TO SUCCEED??? WHY AM I JETS FAN????!!!!

Okay, now that I've calmed down, let's do a side-by-side comparison of what the offense is versus what it could (and should) have been:

QB:  Geno Smith/Geno Smith

WR1:  Eric Decker/Eric Decker or DeSean Jackson

WR2:  David Nelson/Steve Smith or Emmanuel Sanders

WR3:  Greg Salas/Devin Hester

Slot:  Jeremy Kerley/Jeremy Kerley

TE:  Jace Amaro/Owen Daniels

I don't know about you, but I like Emmanuel Sanders, Devin Hester and Owen Daniels better than David Nelson, Greg Salad Dressing and Jace "I knock the ball down more often than I catch it" Amaro. 

All of this would have been possible had the money been allocated properly. 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, for someone who has risked his job on Geno Smith, Jets GM John Idzik hasn't given his prized pick a legitimate chance to succeed. Do I think Smith has a future as a Super Bowl caliber quarterback? No, absolutely not. But could the Jets be better than 1-4 right now?

The answer is an unequivocal, "Yes."

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Smith's overall decision-making is questionable at best, but he has the ability to make tough throws if given protection and the proper offensive weapons. The Jets could have easily defeated the Packers, Bears and Lions (all tight losses) if they weren't relying so heavily upon Nelson and Salas in the absence of Decker. This was especially evident when the Jets' offense went completely stagnant after Decker left the Packers game with an injury. I think it's safe to say Smith would have been in much better hands with Emmanuel Sanders, Devin Hester and Owen Daniels. 

If John Frascella were the GM of the New York Jets, they would be 4-1 right now. But I'm not, and they're 1-4. 

This is the world I live in. 

2014 MLB Playoffs: Mind-Boggling Decisions Plague Williams, Mattingly & Yost

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After a long, boring, offense-starved MLB regular season, it has been a pleasure to see some clutch professional hitting in the postseason so far. Whether it's the exciting and explosive Orioles, always-reliable Cardinals or scrappy situational-hitting Royals, offensive sparks have been flying throughout the opening week of the 2014 playoffs. 

On the other hand, we've seen three of the worst managerial decisions in the history of playoff baseball. Read on to see Ned Yost, Matt Williams and Don Mattingly bashed to pieces. 

Baltimore Orioles leading the Detroit Tigers 2-0:  The best offensive team in baseball is off to an ideal start in their ALDS match-up against the experienced Tigers. When Detroit traded CF Austin Jackson for superstar SP David Price, its all-star laden starting rotation became a popular topic of discussion around the league. However, it has been Nelson Cruz, Delmon Young, Nick Markakis and the rest of the Orioles' big bats who have stolen the early spotlight.

The Tigers held a 6-4 lead late in Game 2 but Young, the oft-overlooked outfielder, gave the Orioles a one-run lead with a dramatic, bases-clearing double down the left field line off veteran reliever Joakim Soria. Young has always been an outstanding playoff performer, yet seemingly every offseason he has a difficult time finding his way on to a major league roster. There are likely two explanations for this: 1. His background as a "problem guy" -- a reputation that spawned from an incident in which he intentionally threw his bat at a minor league umpire and 2. His below-average defense, which stems from little-to-no range in the outfield. 

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Here's my issue with that: Delmon Young can hit. He hits the ball where it's pitched (uses all fields) and has raw, pure power. As ML front offices have over-emphasized individual defensive metrics and peripheral pitching statistics, bats like Young have continued to fall through the cracks. Young fell into the Orioles' lap, in addition to Cruz who is a legitimate AL MVP candidate, despite similar defensive shortcomings. 

As for the Price trade...there's no question that Price is a better player than Austin Jackson -- the former probably ranks somewhere between 15-20 overall, including position players -- but he may not be the better fit for the Tigers' roster. Given that they already had strong starting pitching featuring Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello, I actually think Jackson's bat was more valuable to them than Price's arm. This is the very same mistake that Oakland's famous GM Billy Beane made when he traded LF Yoenis Cespedes -- arguably his best power bat -- for playoff-tested SP Jon Lester. The A's offense collapsed when Cespedes' presence was removed from the middle of their lineup (and the trade looked even worse when Lester couldn't hold two nice leads in the Wild Card game). In the Tigers' case, they really don't get much offensive production outside of Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and JD Martinez. 

Also, shame on top-tier GM Dave Dombrowski for thinking he could get by with Soria, Joba Chamberlain and Joe Nathan at the end of high-leverage postseason games. That's a trio of relievers whose primes are long gone. Their stuff lacks electricity. The Orioles should have little problem closing out this series and looking ahead Buck Showalter's boys have to be considered the favorite to win it all. 

P.S. I think Showalter is the best manager in the game. 

Kansas City Royals leading the Los Angels Angels 2-0:  Ned Yost may be the worst manager in the postseason, but the resilient and tenacious Royals aren't going to let him blow it for them. After giving up a devastating home run to Oakland's Brandon Moss in the AL Wild Card game, young fireballer Yordano Ventura bounced back with a dominant performance in Game 2 of the ALDS against Mike Scioscia's stumbling Angels. 

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Ventura was consistently 97-100 throughout his start, and his tight breaking ball was nastier than ever. On the flip side, the Angels' highly-touted offense has been non-existent through two games. Megastar Mike Trout has been invisible (.000 BA), playoff veterans Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar have struggled and Howie Kendrick has hit into some tough luck. The result? After trailing 7-3 late in the Wild Card game against the A's, the upstart Royals are now one victory away from the American League Championship Series. 

They've done it with clutch hitting -- i.e. Salvador Perez's game-winning single in the WC game, Mike Moustakas' late homer in Game 1 against the Angels and Eric Hosmer's dramatic two-run blast in Friday's extra-inning win -- and strong pitching from Jason Vargas, rookie left-hander Brandon Finnegan, Wade Davis, Greg Holland and Ventura (with the exception of his brief relief appearance that never should have occurred). 

If the Royals want to pose a legitimate threat to the Orioles in the ALCS, they will need to continue to pitch well and hit late in games with runners in scoring position. Easier said than done.

San Francisco Giants leading the Washington Nationals 2-0:  I thought Ned Yost's decision to go to Ventura over Shields, Finnegan, Danny Duffy or Kelvin Herrera vs. Brandon Moss was going to be the worst managerial decision of the entire postseason, but Nationals' skipper Matt Williams may have one-upped Yost tonight by making one of the worst decisions in the history of baseball. 

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Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann, who threw a no-hitter in his final start of the regular season, was cruising along through one of the more dominant playoff performances of the past decade (8.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 0 ER) when Williams hustled out of the dugout to take the ball from him after a two-out walk on back-to-back fastballs that missed by a couple inches. The home crowd was completely behind Zimmermann and his stuff looked just as sharp as it did in the early innings, and yet Williams took him out as if he had nothing left in the tank. It was almost as if Williams was watching an entirely different ballgame. Immediately I tweeted, "Don't agree with this decision at all from Matt Williams. Jordan Zimmermann's stuff still looks sharp, no need for this."

And I was proven right just minutes later when Nats closer Drew Storen entered the game and immediately surrendered a single to Buster Posey, followed by a back-breaking, game-tying RBI double to Pablo Sandoval. What happened to the days when the manager went to the mound with confidence in his starter and said, "I'm not taking you out. This is your game to win or lose."? Bruce Bochy, the best manager in the NL, does that with his guys. Apparently this isn't a policy Williams subscribes to. He didn't even ask Zimmermann how he was feeling; he signaled to the bullpen before he was even half way to the mound. Not to mention the fact that Storen has always been a bit shaky. 

Down 2-0 with Madison Bumgarner on the horizon? The Nationals' season is over. Nice work, Matt Williams.

Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals tied 1-1:  We're less than a week into the postseason and we've already seen three of the most mind-boggling managerial decisions made in a long, long time. Zack Greinke was absolutely dominating the Cardinals' usually-clutch bats last night, with a line of 0 ER, 7 K's and only 2 H through seven innings. His four-seam fastball was as explosive as I've ever seen it (hitting 94-95 far more often than usual), his slider off the outside corner was virtually unhittable, his two-seamer inside to righties was working and he even mixed in a few of his lollipop curves. Simply put, the Cardinals had no shot. The game was in the bag. 

So Greinke heads out to the mound for the 8th and shockingly, Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly calls him back to the dugout so he can replace him with...JP Howell. 

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Yup. JP Howell. A soft-tossing, journeyman lefty who throws 86-88 MPH with a hanging breaking ball. Just think about what a move like that does for the collective psyche of the Cardinals' hitters -- one minute you're facing a superstar starting pitcher at his very best and the next, inexplicably, you're facing a weak lefty reliever who would likely have a difficult time succeeding in AA ball. Of course the Cardinals were salivating. Howell was greeted by a rocket single from Oscar Taveras, a crushing, game-tying bomb from Matt Carpenter (who has been the best hitter in the playoffs thus far) and another single from Jon Jay. A solid appearance for Howell. 

But it's not his fault! It's Mattingly's fault! How can you take a superstar out when he's cruising along, and replace him with a scrub? Like my buddy Sam Ytuarte said, it shows a clear lack of logic and a disconnection from reality. I honestly believe both Williams and Mattingly should be fired after this season. That is not hyperbole. 

Who knows what we'll see next...