Super Bowl XLVIII: Johnny Fro Predicts the Winner of The Big Game

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The premier offensive team in the NFL, the Denver Broncos, will clash with the premier defensive team, the Seattle Seahawks, in America's most-watched and scrutinized yearly sporting event.

This is almost too good to be true for NFL marketing executives, right? David Stern got Heat/Spurs in last season's NBA Finals, another dream match-up...I'm starting to doubt the validity of these perfect storms. Anyway, lemme break down the Big Game for ya...

Section 1: "Comparative Shellshock"

Wait, you've never heard of Comparative Shellshock?

That's probably because I recently made it up. Comparative Shellshock is a sports/competition theory I've been mulling over throughout the season, which basically postulates the following: 

When an offense plays against two (or three or four, etc.) weak defensive teams in a row, it's extremely difficult to prepare for the speed, strength and skill of a top-tier defensive unit like the Seahawks, 49ers or Panthers. 

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The same goes for a defense. When a defense has to stop the Jaguars and Jets for a couple weeks, it becomes awfully difficult to simulate the advanced offensive play of the Broncos, Patriots or Packers (with Aaron Rodgers, of course). 

That being said, the Broncos are going to suffer through more severe Comparative Shellshock than the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

Here's why: in the postseason, the Broncos offense has faced the Chargers and Patriots, arguably the worst two defensive teams in the playoffs. Now they have to face the Seahawks, the best defense in the game? It's impossible to simulate that game speed in practice. Peyton Manning and the boys are going to have to make some serious adjustments relative to the competition. 

Offensively, the Seahawks had to play against the 49ers in the NFC Championship, the second-best defensive team in the NFL. Now they'll face the Broncos defense sans Von Miller and Chris Harris, their best overall defensive player and best corner? No Comparative Shellshock there. It will be much easier for the Seahawks offense to move the ball against the Broncos than it was against the 49ers (unless the weather conditions are THAT bad. Then anything is possible). 

So, Section 1 goes to the Seahawks. 

Section 2: Vegas Knows.

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I know many people who simply refuse to believe this, but...Vegas knows. Trust me. They do. Just accept it and your sports-viewing life will be easier. 

With that in mind, the very first line for the Super Bowl was Seahawks -2. That means Vegas thinks the Seahawks are going to win the game straight up. But, as the legendary Alonzo Harris of "Training Day" said, "Shit gets deeper."

After opening at Seahawks -2, the line quickly moved to Broncos -2.5 (in less than 48 hours). So what does this rapid line movement tell us?

Not surprisingly, The Public likes the Broncos in the Super Bowl. The Public always likes big names (Peyton Manning) and high-octane offenses. But remember, Vegas still likes the Seahawks. How do we know? Because Seattle's line stopped at +2.5 and didn't go all the way to +3. Vegas knows they can split the action at +3, but they are staying at +2.5 to entice The Public to pound the Broncos. If you are loading up on the Broncos, this is what Vegas wants you to do. Don't fall for the Broncos at -2.5. Fun fact: The Public has lost in 21 out of the last 23 Super Bowls. See? Vegas knows. 

So clearly, Section 2 also goes to the Seahawks. 

Section 3: Which Team Is Actually Better?

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So clearly I'm buying half a point and taking the Seahawks at +3 because of Vegas and Comparative Shellshock. 

However, I do believe the Broncos are the best team in football. I don't think any of us have ever seen a passing attack as precise, consistent and explosive as this. Peyton Manning at the helm, the greatest statistical quarterback in the history of the game, with weapons like Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas. How the hell do you match up with this team?

The answer is...you don't. Luckily for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks D, the Super Bowl weather conditions are expected to be conducive to "ground-and-pound," grind-it-out football. The Broncos will be effective with their quick, short passing game and Peyton's uncanny knowledge at the line, but the Seahawks will certainly run the ball better with Marshawn Lynch in full Beast Mode. 

This is going to be a close game. Don't ask me why, but I'm pretty confident the Seahawks will score a defensive touchdown in this one. 

All things considered (especially Vegas)...I'm going 27-24, Seattle Seahawks over the Denver Broncos. 

Good luck, everyone. 

NBA Top 10: The Most Undervalued Players In the Game

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In my opinion, the most important aspect of an NBA head coach's job is managing his rotation. That said, my following list identifies the most valuable players who are being underutilized by their coaches and/or under-appreciated by analysts and fans.

Let's get right to it...

10. Kris Humphries, PF, Boston Celtics:  Prior to his days as a Net, Humphries was often referred to as an underutilized frontcourt player with strong rebound-per-minute numbers. Then he came to the Nets, played well, got paid and the Kim Kardashian controversy began. Amidst the hoopla, he lost his passion for the game and subsequently lost his effectiveness. 

However, in his limited opportunities within Brad Stevens' rotation, "Hump" has showcased the energy, hustle, strength and rebounding ability that got him paid by the Nets. This year's Celtics aren't a particularly talented group, so they could use more of Hump's positive two-way contributions. 

9. Wes Johnson, SF, Los Angeles Lakers:  With half of Mike D'Antoni's team listed on the injury report, Wes has been able to lock down consistent playing time with the Lakers. What do I like about his game? He's the type of athletic, rangy small forward who would get a lot more attention on a contending team. 

Here's an obscure example: Remember Tariq Abdul-Wahad, the starting shooting guard who played in the Kings lineup with Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac? At the time he was consistently referred to as, "The best on-ball perimeter defender in the league." That's because the Kings were an elite team at the time, and many of their games were nationally televised. 

Well, that's the kind of player Johnson is, but better. If he played for the Heat, Thunder or Spurs, you'd be hearing more about him. He's long, super athletic, versatile and explosive. Only negative is his perimeter shooting ability has actually declined since college. 

8. Dante Cunningham, F, Minnesota Timberwolves:  Dante is basically Wes Johnson, just physically stronger and a little better overall. I could definitely see him as a useful starting small forward on a number of other teams. He's stuck in a small forward logjam in Minnesota. 

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7. Tim Hardaway, Jr., G, New York Knicks:  Mike Woodson has to be one of the worst five head coaches in the NBA. Backcourt production has been a source of frustration for him throughout the season between Raymond Felton's injuries, JR Smith's brutally horrible play, Iman Shumpert's maddening inconsistency, Beno Udrih's limitations and Pablo Prigioni's mediocrity (at best). 

That being said, Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a bright spot whenever the opportunity has been presented to him. He's passionate and confident on the court, driving and shooting with conviction and decisiveness. Hardaway's treatment is yet another example of why the Knicks have the worst management in the league, possibly in all of professional sports. 

As a team going nowhere fast, why wouldn't you wanna start this kid and play him 28-38 minutes a night? Why wouldn't you want to develop one of your only decent, homegrown players? Why is it necessary to give minutes to washed up vets like Udrih and Prigioni?

The basketball logic simply isn't there. Woodson should be starting Hardaway, Shumpert, Carmelo Anthony, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler on a nightly basis. You have your two franchise players, Melo and Chandler (if Melo decides to hang around), two homegrown guys in Shump and Hardaway and one wild card in Bargnani. Anyway, Hardaway has been one of the only bright spots for New York's laughingstock of a basketball team. 

6. Anthony Morrow, SG, New Orleans Pelicans:  If you look at the numbers, this guy is one of the greatest three-point shooters in the history of the NBA. 

And yet, as the Pelicans continue to grind near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, head coach Monty Williams cannot seem to find minutes for this consistent sharpshooter. I used to like Monty Williams as a coach, but I've been very underwhelmed by him this season. He's failing to realize that without Ryan Anderson (severe injury), the Pelicans need floor spacing for Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis. They also need the threat of the three-point line. 

Right now the Pelicans' offense is too one-dimensional. Morrow could be the answer to their scoring troubles. 

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5. Reggie Evans, PF, Brooklyn Nets:  Jason Kidd's Nets have been stinking up the joint for the vast majority of the season, and this guy can't seem to find any minutes? What the hell is going on here? Evans was a key contributor for the Nets last season when they were actually a playoff-caliber team. 

Simply put, Reggie Evans is one of the best rebounders of the last decade. Always in the right position, always boxing out and playing with maximum effort on both ends of the floor. When the Nets are stagnant (which unfortunately, has been quite often), Evans is the perfect player to call upon to create second-chance points and spark the sometimes-apathetic home crowd in Brooklyn. I think Kidd should start Evans and veteran swingman Andrei Kirilenko.

4. Gerald Green, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns:  What a bizarre career this explosive dunker has had. Drafted in the first round by the Boston Celtics, he never seemed to find his niche and eventually ended up in the NBDL for an extended stint. How a guy with this kind of athleticism and scoring ability could end up in the D-League, is beyond me. 

Gerald was rescued by my Nets a few seasons ago, and he responded in the second half of the season by becoming our second-best player after Deron Williams (Brook Lopez was out for the season). The Indiana Pacers took notice and signed him to a nice free agent deal, but once again he couldn't seem to find a role. But this season, in the same score-first bench role he played for the Nets, Green is thriving for Jeff Hornacek's Suns, who are one of the league's most pleasant surprises. 

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Gerald's a good kid who just wants the opportunity to show what he can do. I'm glad he's getting that opportunity once again in Phoenix. 

3. Ed Davis, PF, Memphis Grizzlies:  When this long, athletic power forward gets 25+ minutes a night, he's a legitimate double-double machine. I thought he'd explode in the absence of Marc Gasol, but he's still losing a lot of playing time to guys like Kosta Koufos and Jon Leuer. I think rookie head coach Dave Joerger should commit to starting Davis alongside Zach Randolph, particularly against the more athletic teams. In today's NBA, that includes almost every team. With the proper playing time we're talking about 16 points and 11 rebounds per game, in my opinion.

2. Nate Robinson, G, Denver Nuggets

1. Timofey Mozgov, C, Denver Nuggets

Notice any similarities here? The overarching problem is Brian Shaw.

Shaw has been viewed as a head coaching prospect for quite some time now, but he's severely mishandled his rotation during his rookie season as the commander of the Denver Nuggets. I've watched double-digit Nuggets games on NBA League Pass this year, and until their recent blowout of the Lakers (when he cut down on the rotation and played Robinson and Mozgov more), I noticed Shaw's team running into the same roadblock every, single game -- they couldn't close effectively because he had the wrong players on the floor. 

Every game had the same script...the Nuggets would be right in it for three quarters, then the fourth would roll around and everyone would stand around expecting Ty Lawson to create everything. There are two problems with that strategy: (1) That's too much responsibility for Lawson, and he doesn't always want it, and (2) Denver's offense was so stagnant, predictable and easy to stop. So where do Nate-Rob and Mozgov come in?

Well, throughout his career, Robinson has consistently been one of the most undervalued players in the NBA. He is a good ballhandler, excellent playmaker and shot creator, and he has the unshakable confidence that I've only seen in the likes of megastars like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. You will never have to worry about Nate-Rob losing faith in his own ability. The kid is a warrior and he's always made big shots when given the opportunity (just ask the Nets about their playoff series against the Bulls last year). Brian Shaw is just starting to realize that he needs Robinson's explosiveness and playmaking ability. 

But people know about Nate Robinson, that's why he's #2 on my list. 

Timofey Mozgov, on the other hand, is a little known player. You probably won't believe me when I tell you that he's one of the most skilled big men in the world. I'm really not kidding. 

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Mozgov has raw size (7-1, 250 lbs) but he's incredibly athletic considering his stature. He runs the floor extremely well and is highly effective at both ends. He has the most underrated and overlooked low post footwork in the game, with the ability to finish beautifully with both hands. He's also shooting 72.5% from the free throw line, while other young bigs like DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond are bricking freebies in the 40% range. 

Mozgov could be a low post superstar if he played in an era where the guards stayed committed to getting the ball into the paint. He's that good. I think Shaw's beginning to realize what he has in Mozgov as well. He and Robinson should both be starting for the Nuggets. Maybe then, they'd get back in contention.

HONORABLE MENTION

Terrence Jones, F, Houston Rockets:  Starting to get some love; I don't think he's as undervalued as he was earlier in the season.

Will Bynum, G, Detroit Pistons:  Always puts up nice numbers when given the opportunity; never gets a consistent opportunity unless teammates are injured. 

Marreese Speights, PF/C, Golden State Warriors:  Started off undervalued by Mark Jackson, but has since earned the minutes he deserves. May have something to do with the Jermaine O'Neal injury. 

Tony Wroten, G, Philadelphia 76ers:  One of the quickest guards in the league. Needs to play alongside MCW consistently. 

Andrei Kirilenko, SF, Brooklyn Nets:  Since his return the Nets have played with better energy, continuity and success. 

Quarterback Power Rankings: Brady, Rodgers or Manning? An Impossible Question

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Earlier this season I ranked all of the relevant NFL quarterbacks and wondered if Tom Brady's skills were finally eroding. I suggested that perhaps the absence of playmakers like Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and Shane Vereen was to blame for his erratic play, and that hypothesis was proven correct by Brady's tremendous second half. I had him ranked seventh in the first edition, but I'm sure he'll move up this time around.

I should probably wait until after the Super Bowl to write this article, but I'll lose the inspiration once the season ends. Numbers 30 down to 11 will be listed, while 10 down to #1 will have paragraph explanations. That being said here...we...go.

TIER 5

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30. Geno Smith, New York Jets

29. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tennessee Titans

28. EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills

27. Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars

26. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

25. Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Bucs

TIER 4

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24. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

23. Eli Manning, New York Giants

22. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

21. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

20. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

19. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

TIER 3

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18. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

17. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

16. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

15. Josh McCown, Chicago Bears

14. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

13. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

TIER 2

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12. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

11. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

10. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (Was #5):  Didn't have a spectacular season (87.0 QB Rating, only 13th in passing yards) but he's difficult to evaluate without Reggie Wayne. Luck has great mobility and all-around playmaking ability. He's also a tough, gritty kid. 

9. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (Was #4):  All he needed to do was hold on to a huge lead against Matt Flynn. But hey, it's Tony Romo. Of course he blew it. Two late picks resulting in total devastation, then the inability to play in the finale due to injury. Had another solid statistical year but he can't be any higher than this. 

8. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (Was #11):  Kap's a fearless competitor who is already developing a reputation as a postseason star. We'll see if Michael Crabtree's return to health will allow the 49ers to squeak by the Seahawks in the NFC Championship. 

7. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (Was #3):  This guy looks like a combination of Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers at home, and a combination of Kellen Clemens and Matt Cassel on the road. I cannot believe how poorly he is playing on the road. His pathetic play is bordering on appalling. However, he still finished with a strong overall quarterback rating of 104.7. 

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Was #12):  Once Le'Veon Bell took the field for Todd Haley's offense, Big Ben settled in to a very comfortable groove. He's a warrior and one of the elite crunch time players in the NFL. I'd take him as my quarterback and teammate any day of the week. 

5. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (Was #10):  Comeback Player of the Year? After two shaky seasons that indicated a downward career spiral, Philip "The Best" Rivers (ridiculous nickname courtesy of Pete Kirby aka "The Bulldog") bounced back with a tremendous 2013 campaign. He cut down on the turnovers and looked like a more skilled version of Alex Smith, who also had an excellent season. 

4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (Was #6):  Peyton Manning is going to run away with the MVP award, but this guy's my runner-up (slightly ahead of Jamaal Charles). Few people seem to realize how thin Seattle's receiving corps is -- Percy Harvin never got healthy, Sidney Rice is out for the season and the Golden Tate/Doug Baldwin 1-2 punch is hardly elite-level. Wilson does it all. Elusive inside the pocket, phenomenal outside of the pocket, great all-around instincts and a versatile pure passer. What a pleasure to watch. 

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TIER 1

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Was #7):  Welcome back to the top three, Tom. You moved back up here when you shocked, stunned and dismayed the Broncos in the second half of that classic comeback. 

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (Was #2):  In any other era, he'd be the best quarterback in the league. Ridiculous stats, cannon arm, great mobility, good awareness and a propensity for the big play -- just ask the Chicago Bears about their crushed postseason hopes. 

1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (Was #1):  What really needs to be said here? No. 18 probably put together the greatest statistical season of all time. He knows how to spread the ball around and utilize Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno efficiently and effectively. Give one of the premier quarterbacks of all time talent like that, and this is what he does with it. Just an incredible individual year. 

Johnny Fro's Favorite Movies of All Time

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I know this is John Frascella Sports, but I've decided to expand to movies. In this installment, I'll be listing my favorite movies of all time, by category. Please note that "favorite" doesn't mean "best." A film can be truly great (9/10 or even 10/10) but have low replay value. For many of us, our favorite movies are those we can watch over and over and over again. 

Often these films with low replay value are either (A) too long or (B) too heavy. One viewing is sufficient in some instances. Feel free to comment or debate as you read along. So, without further ado...

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DRAMAS

1. GoodFellas

2. Training Day

3. The Shawshank Redemption

4. Inglourious Basterds

5. Crash

6. Mr. Holland's Opus

7. All the President's Men

8. Good Will Hunting

9. A Few Good Men

10. Forrest Gump

Honorable Mention:  American Beauty, Glory, The Godfather, City of God, Braveheart, Sideways, A Bronx Tale, Gone Baby Gone, 25th Hour and Mystic River.

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COMEDIES

In this category, it's difficult to differentiate between comedies, romantic comedies and romances. I believe the following list of "Comedies" were written more for the laughs than the inherent romances. My top choice really walks the line...

1. Knocked Up

2. The 40-Year Old Virgin

3. The Hangover

4. Happy Gilmore

5. Meet the Parents

6. Wedding Crashers

7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
8. Wanderlust

9. Men In Black

10. Tommy Boy

Honorable Mention:  My Cousin Vinny, Analyze This, Office Space, Anchorman, The Grand, The Other Guys, Step Brothers, 21 Jump Street, The Hangover Part II and Vegas Vacation.

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ROMANTIC COMEDIES

1. Almost Famous...this was a tough one to categorize. I almost placed it under Dramas, but I don't think that's quite right.

2. [500] Days of Summer

3. Shakespeare in Love

4. Definitely, Maybe

5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

6. Midnight in Paris

7. Juno

8. Hitch

9. Clueless

10. Love, Actually

Honorable Mention:  Pretty Woman, Crazy Stupid Love, 50 First Dates, The Holiday and When Harry Met Sally.

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SPORTS

1. Moneyball

2. Cinderella Man

3. Jerry Maguire

4. Bull Durham

5. 61

6. Major League
7. He Got Game

8. Hoop Dreams (documentary)

9. Remember the Titans

10. All In: The Poker Movie (documentary)

Honorable Mention:  Harvard Beats Yale 19-19 (documentary), Any Given Sunday, Cool Runnings, White Men Can't Jump and Blue Chips.

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CHILDHOOD

1. The Wizard of Oz

2. Home Alone

3. Aladdin

4. Little Giants

5. Toy Story

6. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

7. The Parent Trap

8. Rookie of the Year

9. The Adventures of Robin Hood

10. The Sandlot

Honorable Mention:  Beauty and the Beast, Angels in the Outfield, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze, Dunston Checks In and Peter Pan.

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ACTION

1. Independence Day

2. Sin City

3. I, Robot

4. Tombstone (since I will not have a "Western" category)

5. Face/Off

6. Die Hard: With a Vengeance

7. Jurassic Park

8. The Matrix

9. The Fugitive

10. 300

Honorable Mention:  The Negotiator, Spider-Man 2, Enemy of the State, The Dark Knight and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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SUSPENSE/HORROR

1. Rear Window (the original, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Jimmy Stewart)

2. Se7en

3. Cloverfield

4. Shutter Island

5. World War Z

Honorable Mention: Poltergeist, Signs, Arlington Road, The Birds and Strangers on a Train.

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"CREW"

These are the films I've watched most often with my best friends. It began as a list of five with two honorable mentions, but Jimmy Kelly suggested I expand it to 10. Shout to Jelly!

1. Rounders

2. Major League 2

3. Blue Streak

4. Boiler Room

5. Fight Club
6. The Social Network
7. The Fast and the Furious
8. The Boondock Saints
9. 3 Ninjas
10. Dumb and Dumber

Honorable Mention:  Black Sheep, Finding Forrester, Air Force One, The Last Samurai and Snatch. 

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SLEEPERS

Enjoyable films that haven't received enough credit. 

1. Game Change

2. Lucky Number Slevin

3. 50/50

4. The Terminal

5. Thank You For Smoking

6. Stranger Than Fiction

7. Stay (starring Ryan Gosling)

8. Before Sunset (also Before Sunrise and Before Midnight)

9. Insomnia

10. The Sessions

Honorable Mention:  The Ox-Bow Incident, The New World, Running Scared (starring Paul Walker), Shattered Glass, Promised Land, Everybody's Fine, Find Me Guilty, Just Looking, Defending Your Life, Going the Distance, Adventureland, Away We Go, Little Manhattan and Dan In Real Life.

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COPS AND ROBBERS

This category was a late request by Donald J. Toby aka "Captain Live." This one's for you, Donny J. Please note that the following cop films have already been ranked in other categories, therefore they will not be included a second time:  Training Day, I Robot, Die Hard With a Vengeance, The Fugitive, The Negotiator, Se7en, Blue Streak and Insomnia. 

Here's my favorites of the leftovers:

1. The Town

2. The Departed

3. The Usual Suspects

4. Catch Me If You Can

5. L.A. Confidential

6. Inside Man

7. The Untouchables

8. American Gangster

9. Rush Hour

10. Die Hard (the original)

Honorable Mention:  In the Line of Fire, Naked Gun, Out of Sight, Bad Boys and Out of Time.

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SCIENCE FICTION

This category was a late request by Mr. Tim Ehrens (aka "T-Bone"), a former colleague of mine at The Daily Campus, UConn's favorite newspaper. I'm hardly a Sci-Fi expert, so please forgive me if I'm stretching with some of the following selections:

1. Donnie Darko

2. The Prestige

3. Minority Report

4. E.T. 

5. Knowing

6. K-Pax

7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

8. Back to the Future

9. Inception

10. Star Wars

Honorable Mention:  The Matrix Reloaded, Batteries Not Included, Armageddon, War of the Worlds and Twelve Monkeys. 

And that's that. Feel free to continue commenting and debating!

NBA's Newest Superstars: John Wall and Anthony Davis

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Earlier this week I watched the Portland Trail Blazers (25-7, one of the premier teams in the NBA) lose a tight one to the New Orleans Pelicans (14-15, but on the rise), and one thing jumped out at me during that victory: Anthony Davis is already one of the top-10 players in the game. 

I watched Davis completely outplay LaMarcus Aldridge, who is one of my favorite players and a legitimate MVP candidate for the Blazers. Aldridge is the most well-rounded post player in the league right now, and yet Davis was able to smother him down the stretch in one-on-one situations. 

While the basic stats may have suggested an even battle -- Davis went for 27 points and 12 rebounds, Aldridge for 28 and eight -- the reality was that Davis blocked Aldridge on four different possessions, while also forcing a number of ugly misses in the second half. Head coach Terry Stotts likes to isolate Aldridge when the going gets tough, but that strategy simply didn't work against Davis' length, athleticism, timing and pure defensive skill. 

Davis had five total blocks to Aldridge's two. In addition, Aldridge needed 25 shot attempts to create his 28 points, while Davis needed only 19 attempts for his 27. Both players posted efficient stat lines, but Davis was the best of the best in this case. 

Davis is likely the top defensive big in the NBA right now; he's leading the league with 3.2 blocks per game and is second only to DeMarcus Cousins in PF/C steals per game (1.5 per game). He's the best on-ball post defender I've seen in quite some time, and he's already an intelligent help defender. 

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Offensively, he's a tremendous finisher with a very soft touch. His short-to-mid-range jumper is already excellent, but he does need to improve his back-to-the-basket repertoire. That's really the only weakness in his game right now. Sky's the limit for this kid, an incredibly impressive young player. 

Moving on to John Wall, an explosive point guard who has always been known for his fastbreak and slashing ability. I've always viewed Wall as a solid player, but never considered him a superstar because of his perimeter shooting issues. 

However, having watched many Washington Wizards games on NBA League Pass this season, I must say that Wall has turned the corner. I have seen drastic improvement in his mid-range, three-point and even free throw shooting. His stroke is smoother and less clunky, and the positive results of his mechanical adjustments are undeniable. 

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In addition, Wall's halfcourt decision-making has improved, making him one of the premier all-around guards in the game. With Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Nene, Marcin Gortat and Martell Webster all playing well, I think the Wizards may be the third-best team in the Eastern Conference (obviously behind the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers). 

So where does this put Davis and Wall in the grand scheme? Well, here's my latest NBA player rankings (Russell Westbrook excluded due to injury):

1. LeBron James

2. Kevin Durant

3. Kevin Love

4. Chris Paul

5. James Harden

6. LaMarcus Aldridge

7. Carmelo Anthony

8. Paul George

9. Stephen Curry

10. Anthony Davis

11. John Wall

12. Dwight Howard

13. Tony Parker

14. Kyrie Irving

15. DeMarcus Cousins

16. Damian Lillard

17. Blake Griffin

18. Tim Duncan

19. Ty Lawson

20. Monta Ellis

Honorable mention:  Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley, Andre Drummond, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Nikola Pekovic, Dirk Nowitzki, Klay Thompson and Kemba Walker. 

So, as you can see, I have Davis and Wall in the top 11 and climbing. We'll see where they end up by the end of the season. They've been a pleasure to watch thus far. 

Why Injuries Are EVERYTHING In the NBA

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So I bought the NBA League Pass last week (already one of the smartest things I've ever done) and I was watching a Golden State Warriors game with their local broadcasters, when one of their comments just jolted me. 

At various junctures throughout the game, they mentioned the absence of G/F Andre Iguodala (hamstring) and how it was affecting the overall flow of the Warriors. Then Bob Fitzgerald (play-by-play man) said:

"I know Iggy is extremely important to the team, but at some point, other guys have to step up and show some accountability."

Of course that's a very generic and mostly fair statement, but the problem is that "step up and show some accountability" is never going to become "step up and contribute as much as Iggy did before the injury." 

And that's because injuries to star players derail seasons. Plain and simple. Some players are so important to a team that they cannot be replaced, therefore the team's hopes are crushed. In this post I'd like to take a look at some of the key injured players (current or recently returned) around the league, and how their absence has/had their respective teams spiraling out of control.

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Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder:  This one's easy, isn't it? When Westbrook went down in the postseason (knee), the Thunder went from a legitimate championship contender to getting bounced by the Grizzlies, who could barely generate any offense at all. The Grizzlies couldn't contain Kevin Durant even without Westbrook's presence, which leads me to believe that OKC would have run away with that series had Russell been out there.

That logic follows through to this season, where the Thunder looked average without Westbrook in the early going and now, with him, they're 20-4 and dominating the league. I think Westbrook is the third best player in the NBA, behind LeBron James and Durant.

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Deron Williams, PG, Brooklyn Nets:  I can't really describe how frustrated I was when people kept asking me, "What's wrong with the Nets? What's wrong with the Nets?" when they were struggling mightily a few weeks back.

Well, let's see...maybe the problem was that D-Will, their versatile point guard who controls the pace and tempo of the entire team and holds the Nets' long-term fate in his hands, was injured (ankle) and replaced in the lineup by Shaun Livingston, the worst perimeter-shooting point guard in the NBA. 

And that seemed to be it, as the Nets have played extremely well since D-Will's return to the lineup, including quality victories over the Clippers and Celtics, and an absolute blow out of the stumbling 76ers. I fully expect the Nets to finish third in the Eastern Conference, provided D-Will and Brook Lopez remain healthy. 

D-Will has Joe Johnson (10 threes last outing), Andray Blatche, Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson in a nice collective rhythm right now, with Paul Pierce controlling the offense during Williams' breaks. It's safe to say that Jason Kidd is officially off the hot seat.

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Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics:  Led by outstanding rookie head coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics have been a nice story in the early going. Jeff Green is probably Boston's de facto top dog right now, but the Celtics' surprising competitiveness is largely a team effort. Avery Bradley, Brandon Bass, Jordan Crawford, Jared Sullinger, Vito Faverani, Kelly Olynyk, Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace have all chipped in in different capacities.

However, the Celtics cannot reach their full potential without their star player and franchise point guard, Rajon Rondo, who has been out the entire season (ACL surgery). Bradley has been an admirable fill-in for Rajon, but he's not really a point guard. Bradley is a tenacious defender, but offensively he's more of a catch-and-shoot player than off-the-dribble playmaker for his teammates. Boston needs Rondo's facilitation if they want to contend for a middle seed in the East.

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Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls:  We all know the story at this point -- Derrick Rose is out for the season...again. Rather than re-hash the demoralizing injury situation, I'll just state the obvious:

The Bulls' offense is a joke without him. They are screwed. I knew they should have retained Nate Robinson (just in case) and well, here we are. The Bulls simply cannot contend without Rose. It's another lost season. And I predicted Bulls over Thunder in the Finals...I suck.

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Danilo Gallinari, SF, Denver Nuggets:  Under rookie head coach Brian Shaw, the Nuggets have done a decent job fighting for position in the loaded Western Conference. For the most part, they have protected their home court and won the games they should have (with the exception of that ugly home loss to the lowly Jazz). 

But it's overtly clear that this isn't the explosive offense we've seen in recent years, due in large part to the absence of Gallo (knee) at small forward. Ty Lawson facilitates for Denver and Wilson Chandler, JJ Hickson, Randy Foye, Nate Robinson and Jordan Hamilton pitch in offensively, but there's no consistency to Shaw's offense. The Nuggets need Gallo's consistent 16-22 points per game on the fastbreak and in the halfcourt. They cannot hang with the Thunder, Blazers, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers or Warriors without him.

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JJ Redick, SG, Los Angeles Clippers:  After a rough opening night against the city-rival Lakers, Doc Rivers' Clippers settled into a nice early season groove. Doc was adamant about having Redick in Los Angeles with him, and JJ was definitely paying dividends until he tore ligaments in his shooting hand. As a result, the Clippers offense has been choppy -- showing up on some evenings and disappearing on others. CP3 needs JJ's floor spacing, cutting and shooting off screens. The Clippers are not a top five team in the West without Redick.

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Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies:  So I'm watching NBA TV last night and Ernie Johnson and Chris Webber keep saying things like, "What's wrong with Memphis this season? Why are they struggling so much?" Hmm...well...here we go again. 

Memphis was competing in the West until Gasol, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, went down (knee). Alongside excellent point guard Mike Conley, Gasol is the most valuable two-way player on the Grizzlies. He controls the paint defensively and is an all-around contributor to Memphis' offense. They stink right now because Kosta Koufos is starting in his place. Not exactly the same caliber of player. You can't lose a guy like Marc Gasol in the West, and expect to compete at a high level.

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Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans:  One of the most dynamic young players in the NBA, Davis had the Pelicans looking like a formidable team before going down (broken hand). With Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson playing good ball, the Pelicans could be a 5 or 6 seed if completely healthy. However, the Davis injury has likely placed them in too deep a hole. They will probably miss the playoffs this season, unless they somehow scratch and claw for the 8-seed. If Davis can stay healthy in the future, this could be a very solid all-around team.

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Tyson Chandler, C, New York Knicks:  Yes, Mike Woodson is one of the worst head coaches in the NBA. Yes, Carmelo Anthony needs some assistance on the offensive side of the floor. Yes, JR Smith has been an absolute disaster since last postseason. 

All of these things are true. Nevertheless, the MAIN reason for the Knicks' struggles is the absence of their best leader, defender and rebounder, Mr. Chandler. Case in point...did you see the end of their last loss to the Wizards? Bradley Beal blew by Beno Udrih and who was there to help save the game defensively?

No one. 

Critics were complaining about Melo, saying he should have rotated over to the baseline -- and that's not entirely untrue -- but Melo is not a center! That shouldn't be his responsibility. Woodson should have had a true center on the floor, but that's a different story for a different day. Point is, the Knicks can't make noise in the East without Chandler -- they aren't that good! Critics should tone down the complaining. This isn't a championship-caliber team, even at full strength. 

HONORABLE MENTION

Michael Carter-Williams, G, Philadelphia 76ers:  Without this phenom, Philly has gone from one of the East's pleasant surprises to one of the absolute worst teams in the NBA. 

Larry Sanders, C, Milwaukee Bucks:  The Bucks are a joke without his athleticism, shotblocking and general defensive impact. They aren't really that good with him, either. 

That about wraps it up. Feel free to e-mail or comment. 

Looking Ahead to the 2014 Mets: Is Curtis Granderson Really the Solution?

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Curtis Granderson is a good guy. Probably one of the nicest guys in baseball, and perhaps in all of professional sports. So what's the bad news about Sandy Alderson signing him to a four-year, $60 million contract?

Well, he's just not that great of a ballplayer. 

"Grandy" is currently 32 years old, and past his prime as a baserunner. In the last four seasons, he's stolen over 20 bases only once (25 in 2011 with the Yankees) and has just 18 in his last 221 games. Defensively, his range is obviously not what it used to be in his days as a Detroit Tiger, and his arm strength has always been well below average. 

But the Mets didn't sign him for his baserunning or defense, you say?

I suppose there is some merit to that, but it's not like Granderson is an exceptional offensive performer. Here are his strikeout totals from 2006-2012: 174 (most in the AL), 141, 111, 141, 116, 169 and 195. Notice the alarming jump from 2010 to 2012. He also struck out 16 times in 30 at bats in the 2012 postseason. 

Sixteen strikeouts in 30 at bats. Sure it's a small sample size, but if that doesn't concern you as a Mets fan, I don't know what will. I'm a Mets fan, and it sure as hell concerns me. So what's the good news, if any?

Well, he's definitely better than what we had in the outfield. Grandy's home run production has increased during the second half of his major league career, crushing 30, 24, 41 and 43 from 2009 to 2012. Hopefully his offensive production with the Mets will be assisted by the presence of David Wright and...um...I don't really know who else. 

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Let's take a look at our projected lineup as of December 7, 2013:

1. Eric Young-LF

2. Daniel Murphy-2B

3. David Wright-3B

4. Curtis Granderson-RF

5. Lucas Duda-1B

6. Chris Young-CF

7. Travis d'Arnaud-C

8. Ruben Tejada-SS

I mean, it's not the worst thing I've ever seen, but it doesn't exactly get me excited about our offensive possibilities for the 2014 season. There are also other factors to consider:

*Eric Young may end up playing second base because Alderson is open to trading Murphy. 

*Alderson says Chris Young is competing with Juan Lagares for the starting job in center field.

*Ike Davis isn't gone yet. I suppose, if he doesn't get traded, that he will have the opportunity to beat out Duda. Then there's also Josh Satin, who is a better pure hitter than both Duda and Ike. I don't really know where he fits in. 

*Just my opinion...I think we'd be better off with EY at second and Murphy at first. I don't like Duda or Ike. Then we could play Grandy, Young and Lagares in the outfield or sign one more major league ready outfielder to play alongside Chris Young and Grandy. 

*3B Wilmer Flores and OF Matt den Dekker are highly-regarded organizational pieces. We'll have to wait and see what their roles will be, provided they make the big league club out of spring training. 

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On to the pitching staff...

SP1-Jon Niese

SP2-Dillon Gee

SP3-Zack Wheeler

SP4-Jenrry Mejia

SP5-Carlos Torres

Mejia should squeak in there if healthy, but I hope Torres ends up in the bullpen by the time the regular season starts. There are still a number of intriguing starting pitchers available via free agency, including Bartolo Colon, Matt Garza, Bronson Arroyo, Ervin Santana, A.J. Burnett (considering retirement), Erik Bedard, Chris Capuano, Gavin Floyd, Roy Halladay, Jason Hammel, Paul Maholm and Clayton Richard. 

I would take any one of those guys over Torres as a starting pitcher. Hopefully Alderson pulls the trigger on someone in that group. Bullpen:

Closer-Bobby Parnell

RP-Scott Rice (L)

RP-Vic Black

RP-Gonzalez Germen

RP-Josh Edgin (L)

RP-Jeurys Familia

RP-TBD (frontrunner is likely Jeff Walters, former AA closer)

I mean, you look at that list and you know there are multiple question marks. I guess we have to cross our fingers and hope for the best with that group. 

Remaining interesting free agents:  Luis Ayala, Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Betancourt, Joba Chamberlain, Jesse Crain, Octavio Dotel, Kyle Farnsworth, Jason Frasor, Mike Gonzalez, Kevin Gregg, Joel Hanrahan, Carlos Marmol, Peter Moylan, Fernando Rodney and Jose Veras. 

Same idea here; I'd pretty much take any one of those guys over Familia and/or our mystery 7th man. Anyway, I'm heading out to dinner. Feel free to comment.