Saturday, May 31, 2014

This year's Finals winner? The NBA

The NBA just breathed a collective sigh of relief, and it's not because the Los Angeles Clippers appear to have a new owner. The annual championship playoff series known as the Finals are set to get underway this Thursday, and the one thing the league couldn't afford to happen didn't.

The Miami Heat were not eliminated.

The Finals are broadcast on ABC...not TNT...not ESPN. And that's for one reason, to bring in the non / casual fan. In a star driven league like the NBA, it needs it's box office players center stage in order to do that.

The Indiana Pacers are young and talented, but far from box office. And nothing will make a channel surfer reach for his or her remote like a defensive mined team with no recognizable faces. Paul George is a great player, but will only be recognized by a handful of people at the Walmart down the street from my house.

That just won't cut it.

The NBA must have been holding their breath as the Pacers made good on an off season promise to secure the number 1 seed in the east this year. They looked mostly dominate throughout the season, and Miami looked anything but playoff ready as the regular season came to a close.

With the Heat closing out the Pacers in six games on Friday night, the league was left with the best of two possible scenarios.

San Antonio and Oklahoma City are the last two standing in the west. And regardless of who ends up hosting the Heat on Thursday night, the NBA will have a series filled with huge names and huge story lines.

If the Spurs advance, it's a rematch of an epic 7 game thriller from a year ago. If the Thunder advance, it's a rematch from two years ago...and a head to head match up between the two best players on the planet. Either way, the league can promote the faces that promote the league. The casual viewer is more inclined to tune in, and the sponsors are more inclined to see a return on their investment.

A win for everyone..but the Pacers I guess.    follow @plcolter









Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Introducing...the new look Titans...finally

I remember being a Nashvillian in 1999. Our brand new stadium was complete, and we eagerly awaited the fall so we could root on our brand new Tennessee Titans. The city embraced them with open arms, and the Titans were admittedly shocked by the raucous sellout crowds that jam packed LP Field each home game. In turn, the team rewarded us with a magical season.

A true match made in heaven.

I remember sitting in the stands with my mom, brother, and sister for the Music City Miracle. It literally felt like the ground was shaking beneath my feet as Kevin Dyson sprinted toward the end zone with the closing seconds ticking away. I will never forget that moment.

Fast forward to the start of the 2013 season...and it felt like nothing had changed. And not just the team, but the franchise as a whole....in all those years.

And I don't mean that as a compliment. 

The inaugural Tennessee Titans team was coached by Jeff Fisher, who had already been at the helm since 1994. His philosophy was to run run run...then run some more, play good defense, and kick a field goal at the end to win it. While that worked when Eddie George was in his prime, the team started to slide as he did. But there was no change in philosophy.

Even when Tennessee drafted Vince Young with the third pick of the 2006 draft (you do realize how bad you have to be to get the third overall pick right?) Fisher was still unwilling to change his offensive approach. And this is now 2006 folks. 

That's 12 years and counting for Fisher by the way.

No, of course I am not calling Vince Young Warren Moon. But I am saying that VY had a particular skill set (read option) that Fisher was down right unwilling to adapt to....in any capacity. Coincidentally, San Francisco and Seattle adjusted to their qb (Kaepernick, Wilson), and are flourishing on offense today.

Fisher compiled 56 wins his first 5 years in Nashville, and only 54 wins his last seven years. Even with the obvious decline, no change in philosophy...coach...nada.

In 2011 Tennessee finally pulled the trigger, letting Fisher go and hiring Mike Munchak....who just so happened to be the offensive line coach (not offensive coordinator) for Fisher since 1997. And he's a first time head coach.

Really? 

In a shocking turn of events, the Titans continued to struggle with the same ole run run run, play good defense, and kick a field goal in the end approach. And could you blame him? You only know what you know. But Munchak took it one step further...he filled out his coaching staff almost exclusively in house. You know...the same staff that wasn't getting it done previously? I mean...you were there too Munchak right?

Let me digress.

Meanwhile, it was hard to fault Titans fans for feeling a little bored, and dare I say...salty at Tennessee. After all, they watched their rival Pittsburgh Steelers get with the times and start throwing the ball. Two more Super Bowl victories were the result.

But in 2014....

Tennessee finally did it....they did something different. Mike Munchak was let go after 3 forgettable seasons, and in comes Ken Whisenhunt. And get this...Whisenhunt is bringing in an entirely new staff! New schemes, new concepts, new outlook, new optimism.

And let's rejoice in the fact that we finally have an offensive minded coach with some skins on the wall. He won a Super Bowl as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was seconds away from a Super Bowl victory as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Whisenhunt also took a Chargers team that was 31st in total offense in 2012, to a 5th place finish as offensive coordinator for them last year. And this was with the same personnel to a large degree.

Fisher is gone, Munchack is gone, CJ is gone, that era is gone....we are officially staring anew.

So at least for this season, I'm good with that. Every win is just a bonus.   follow @plcolter










Saturday, May 24, 2014

Memphis Grizzlies: Playing Roulette with their future...again.

At game 3 of their first round playoff match up against the OKC Thunder, the Memphis Grizzlies placed rally towels in every seat that simply read..."Believe".

I guess they knew something we didn't.

We Don't Bluff City...your majority owner is at it again. Asking you to believe...because he can't seem to figure out the direction of his franchise. Being a Grizzlies fan should come with a disclaimer...

"If you have a fear of change...you need not apply".

Since Robert Pera bought the team in October of 2012, he's pulled the trigger on several controversial moves...and no one seems to be safe. Fans are wondering why...why keep messing with a good thing? It's not like Pera was inheriting the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Since it's metamorphosis in 2010, the "Grit & Grind" Grizzles have averaged 48 regular season wins (in a tough Western Conference). They've also quietly amassed 21 playoff victories in that span, reaching the post season each of the last four seasons.

But almost immediately, Pera started blowing things up. First up was leading scorer Rudy Gay...who was jettisoned to Toronto for what seemed to be a lump of coal (Tayshaun Prince, Ed Davis). The front office's message to Grizz Nation?

Believe.

We did, but little did we know that head coach Lionel Hollins was up next. Fresh off the franchise's first Western Conference Finals appearance, Hollins was "not retained" by Pera. Not only did the team improve four straight seasons under Hollins, he embodied the Grit & Grind mystique. He was a tough player in the rugged 70's, and the perfect personality fit. Pera's response to the fans outcry?

Believe

OK, so Memphis won 50 games again this season under first year head coach Dave Joerger. And he did it one of the toughest Western Conferences in the history of the league. We lost in 7 games to the league MVP, but didn't have Z-Bo. Ok...we're buying back in...we're believing.

Grizz Nation woke up this past Monday morning to hear Pera basically saying..."Um...yea...about Dave Joerger...."

Say What?

Yep, out of nowhere again, Pera decided to fire his CEO and assistant General Manager. You know...the two that were responsible for replacing coach Hollins with Joerger. A few days ago, current coach Joerger was given permission to interview for the vacant Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching job. Pera's translation...

"Don't let the doorknob hit ya...."

And did I mention Joerger was hired just last year...and won 50 games...and went to the playoffs...just like Hollins?

So...now we need a new coach. And not just any coach, but a coach that can adjust his style to the current roster in place. Not even Phil Jackson in his prime can turn this current roster into an offensive minded run and gun unit. They would have to completely blow up the team as constructed and start from scratch.

Good luck with that.

Throw in the fact that Z-Bo can opt out of his deal this summer, and Marc Gasol's contract will need to be addressed before season's end, and you have all the makings of another classic Pera quote.

Believe.

My question is...does he?      follow @plcolter



Saturday, May 17, 2014

This Final Four got it right

When you hear Final Four, you immediately think of March Madness...and the NCAA college basketball tournament. And for good reason, the men's national tournament is one of the highlights of the sports calendar each year. But for all of the fanfare surrounding the annual spring event, it rarely delivers on it base premise....a match up of the four best teams in the country. In fact, the NCAA's Final Four has featured four number 1 seeds just once...in the last 35 years! (2008).

Amid all of the talk of Donald Sterling, Johnny Football, and Michael Sam, the NBA has quietly put together one of the best post seasons in the history of any sport...at least that I can recall. And unlike their college counterpart, the NBA title will be decided by the four best teams in the league this year.

San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Miami were the four best teams in the league all season. They will duke it out to determine who's the best in the world...and that's how it should be. It also proves that the seven game playoff format is the best and only way to determine which team is truly better.

But I digress.

Aside from the four best teams, featuring the best athletes in the world, locking horns to decide this year's championship...the outcome of this Final Four could reshape the league as we know it.

There's much more at stake than a title this year.

For the two time defending champion Miami Heat, a dynasty is on the line. A Three-Peat would put LeBron and Company in rarefied air. A loss could blow the team up completely. The same could be said for the San Antonio Spurs, who came so close to getting their 5th title last year. Their Big 3 (Duncan, Parker, Ginobli) are getting long in the tooth, so another near miss could have Timmy and Company assessing some things in the off season. A fifth title though, would certainly seal the deal on their dynasty. Why not retire on top? And what could that mean for coach Gregg Popovich? Could he ride off into the sunset as well? Speculation has always been that he will.

For OKC and Indiana, a different kind of legacy is on the line. The Pacers could not only win their first NBA title, they could end the Heat's dynasty run...and ultimately break them up all together. For league MVP Kevin Durant, the only thing missing from his resume is a ring. If he comes up short again, pressure would (and should) mount to epic proportions. Talks of..."can he win in OKC?" would certainly ramp up. And LeBron's "decision" could be validated. As the Heat and Spurs have shown, you need at least three great players to win it all in today's league.

 A win? Now that's a different story. 

The city of OKC will be rewarded for their loyalty with their first NBA title, and talks of "who's best in the world" would reignite. And who knows if that could also affect LeBron's decision as well. There's nothing more competitive than a rivalry among friends.

However this plays out, we are sure to have a smorgasbord of story lines and drama as the fallout. And did I mention these were the four best teams in the league? 

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Titans rookie rb Sankey shouldn't feel pressure

The Oliers / Titans franchise have a rich tradition at the running back position. When you think of the faces of the franchise over the years, the running back position is just as prominent as the quarterback position. As the Titans transition into a new era, a new running back gets to take center stage. Luckily for rookie 2nd round draft pick Bishop Sankey, he will not have the pressure of filling the shoes of his predecessors.

And boy are those some shoes to fill.

It all started with Earl Campbell, the bruising rb that terrorized defenses in the late 70's..early 80's. In 1978, his rookie campaign, Campbell lead the league in rushing. Not only was he Offensive Rookie of the Year, he also earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year as well. Campbell went on to lead the league in rushing his first three seasons, and boasted four 200 yard games...in 1980 alone. Campbell is now a member of the Hall of Fame, and beloved fan favorite.

In 1996, The Oilers drafted rb Eddie George with their first pick. He too, went on to become the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. George earned four consecutive pro bowl appearances, numerous playoff victories, and the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance, putting on a second half show for the ages with two tds in a heartbreaking near comeback. Along with Jim Brown, George is the only other player in NFL history to amass 10,000 yards without missing a start. But he should be best known for being the face of a franchise in transition. When the Oilers officially became the Titans, Eddie was front and center. He is still a beloved Titans legend, and resides in Nashville to this day.

Shortly after George's retirement, the Titans selected a rb named Chris Johnson with their first pick. Although he wasn't rookie of the year (finished 2nd to Atl qb Matt Ryan), he put over 1,500 total yards and 10 total tds that season...all while splitting time with then starting rb LenDale White. In his second season, and first as a starter, Johnson ran for an NFL leading 2,006 yards...becoming only the 7th player in the history of the league to accomplish that feat. He also earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors that year. In six seasons, Johnson became the franchise's third leading rusher (7,965 rush yds, 9,968 total yds, 58 total tds)...behind the above mentioned Campbell and George.

Which brings us to Sankey.

Yes, CJ's last few years in Tennessee were rocky. And yes, he is the only one listed that is not beloved by the city to this day. And yes, he was the face of the franchise (even if by default) the past few years. Even with all that said, Sankey should feel no pressure to replace him...or any of those franchise legends.

Because at this point, Titans fans just want to win.

Part of the reason that fans grew tired of CJ was because he always seemed satisfied as long as he got his...(money and touches)...even if the team lost. He never seemed too concerned about making the playoffs. We don't care if it's Sankey, Greene, or McCluster carrying the ball, we just want a conversion on third and short...however and whoever gets it done.

Sankey won't be the focal point coming into training camp, the quarterback will. Sankey will also not be the focal point of defenses, at least not right away. And Titans fans would love it that way.

Under the last regime, which seemed like the last 30 years, Tennessee stuck with that ground and pound approach, even when it was clearly obvious that the NFL had transitioned into a passing league. We'd prefer to see our young talented receivers take center stage. The only thing we want Sankey to do is to hold on to the ball and to fight for yards on every attempt.

If he wants to be remembered as an all time fan favorite, then Sankey just needs to be part of the reason that we make it back to the playoffs on a regular basis again.

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Jerry Jones: Never too old to learn

There is an old saying..."the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things, and expect different results."

Dallas Cowboys Owner / General Manager Jerry Jones must have read that passage prior to Thursday night's draft.

It's no secret that Jones, as a general manager, is the primary reason that Dallas has been a .500 team for the last um-teen years. He's also the reason, as an owner, that the Cowboys have remained Americas Team with his business savvy. Gotta give it up to the man, he is a marketing genius. What continued to get the Cowboys in trouble was the fact that Jones was wearing two hats, and lines often got blurred when it came to being a general manager vs being an owner.

Jerry repeatedly drafted with his heart, acting as an owner in the war room. He would draft "splash" players that he could market, over pay "past their prime" free agents because they could sell jerseys, and set depth charts based on pay...and not performance. I guess he was looking for a return on his investment.

Again acting as an owner...and not a GM.

On Thursday night the Cowboys were on the clock, and home grown Texas legend qb Johnny "Football" Manziel was sitting in the green room. Don't lie, whether you're a Cowboys fan or not, you know you was glued to the tv to hear what came next. Well, the Cowboys selected Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin.

Say What?

Embattled starting qb Tony Romo has now become a punchline in Dallas. Plus he's coming off a season ending back injury. Why would you not take the electrifying Heisman Trophy winning qb? This is Big D, we make big moves down here! Plus, you know the increased revenue from bringing in a celebrity of Manziel's status would be through the roof.

Jones' response to that question told me a lot. His direct quote...

"There's just too much dynamic here for him [Manziel], for the franchise, for everybody. That's just too much for insurance, and it's not the usual development guy behind an accomplished quarterback. He's a celebrity. He's Elvis Presley".

As a General Manager, he hit the nail right on the head.

Romo and Manziel each have their own sizable media circus contingent on their own. Bringing those two circuses together would be too much, even for Big D. TMZ would move their headquarters here, chronicling the qbs every move.

All while keeping score.

1. Who has the better night life?
2. Who has the hotter chick?
3. Who can get the most endorsements?

And that's not even getting into the immediate qb controversy that will ensue on the field. And we all how those seasons have historically worked out for teams. It would just be too much, and financially, it would be too much to invest in one position with so many other wholes to fill.

Who knows how this will ultimately turn out? Romo could have very well seen his last days, and Manziel could turn out to be the rookie of the year. Yes, this could totally blow up in the Cowboys' face. But Jones did what he thought was best for the team, and not the business on Thursday night. He acted as a GM in the war room, and not an owner.

You can call Jerry a lot of things, but you can't call him insane anymore. He did something different this time.

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Saturday, May 3, 2014

Grizzlies, Thunder, have each other to thank

When Dallas Mavericks guard Monte Ellis' shot bounced off the rim in overtime of the regular season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies, two things happened.

1. Memphis secured the 7th seed, setting up a first round tilt with the #2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
2. The world got a chance to witness the NBA's best kept secret...the Memphis OKC rivalry.

The casual fan may see this match up as just one of many entertaining first round playoff series. But the Memphis OKC rivalry goes far beyond this year's playoff race. In fact, these two teams are directly responsible for the way we view the other today. 

And they both should thank each other for it.

In 2009, Memphis and OKC were NBA nobody's. The Grizzlies were still recovering from the Pau Gasol trade, and hadn't sniffed the playoffs in five years. Newly acquired Zach Randolph was the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season. Meanwhile...in Oklahoma City, the Thunder made their first playoff appearance in it's new location. They lost to the Lakers in six games. Kevin Durant was good, but not a star...and Russell Westbrook was just another point guard.

The next season, everything changed.

On February 8, 2011, newly acquired swing man Tony Allen was inserted into the starting lineup for the Grizzles. Starting forward and leading scorer Rudy Gay was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Allen rarely saw the floor playing behind Gay and fellow swing man O.J. Mayo. But in his debut, he posted the stat line of 27 points, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in a Memphis upset road win. Their opponent?

The OKC Thunder.

In his post game interview, when asked about his performance, Allen coined the line that reverberated around Memphis....

"I dunno man...just all heart...Grit & Grind". 

The "Grit & Grind" mantra quickly resonated with the local fan base....after all...Memphis itself is full of tough nosed, blue collar individuals. Allen remained in the starting lineup going forward, and he backed up every bit of his Grit & Grind proclamation. He was now deemed the "GrindFather", and FedEx Forum was now affectionately called the "Grind House". The Grizzlies rode that momentum, new identity, and newly found Allen led nasty defense, to an improbable first round playoff upset over the number 1 seed San Antonio Spurs. 

Which brings us back to the Thunder, who themselves had made "the leap" that year. OKC knocked off the Denver Nuggets, giving young Kevin Durant and Company their first playoff series victory as well. Their second round opponent?

The Memphis Grizzlies.

Perhaps the 2011 playoff match up was just a precursor to what we are witnessing today. It was a wild a wacky series as well, featuring consecutive overtime games. Memphis rallied from a huge deficit to force overtime and won game 3. OKC responded by rallying from their own huge deficit to snag the victory in three overtimes in game 4.

Setting the stage for a career altering game 7 for one Russell Westbrook.

Once considered an afterthought, Westbrook put on a show in game 7, posting a triple double and willing his team to victory in front of a nationally televised audience. Even though the Thunder loss the following round to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks, Westbrook was now seen as a star, and was rewarded that off season with a 5 year, 80 million dollar contract extension. OKC's perception changed from Kevin and the Durant'etts, into a legitimate contender in the Western Conference after that Grizzlies series.

In the 2013 playoffs, the rivalry was renewed. This time, the Grizzlies advanced, knocking off OKC in 5 games. Even though Memphis advanced to their first ever Western Conference Finals that season, all anyone could talk about (nationally) was the fact that Westbrook being out with an injury was the reason. Memphis saw it as a sign of disrespect, further fanning their flames of  Thunder discontent. Russell Westbrook's camp saw it as the ultimate compliment. Prior to his injury, Westbrook had come under fire for becoming a shoot first point guard, often at the expense of (now superstar) Kevin Durant. Russel was now vindicated, and once again...he had the Memphis Grizzlies to thank.

And let's not forget the bizarre encounter between OKC's Kendrick Perkins and Memphis' Zach Randolph in a regular season game last year. Both were ejected for an on court scuffle, then proceeded to run to the locker room to continue the fight off camera.

Huh? Stop playin.

The following day, Z-Bo was on a Memphis radio station and was asked about the altercation. He chuckled, paused for a second, then coined the second line that reverberated around Memphis.

"Well you know...we in the Bluff City...but we don't bluff".

Needless to say, word spread quickly. #wedontbluff hash tags, t shirts, and rally towels popped up everywhere immediately afterward. The fans loved it, and still love it today. And they have Kendrick Perkins, of the OKC Thunder, to thank for it.

Even as recently as this week, a franchise's perception was altered as a result of this rivalry. OKC's own newspaper deemed Kevin Durant "unreliable". This outraged casual and die hard Thunder fans alike. And who knows what the ultimate fallout from this could be? Especially if OKC were to somehow lose game 7 to the Grizzlies. We know that Durant is a free agent in two years, so feeling unappreciated is not the message you want to send. Thunder fans are saying...

"Thanks a lot Memphis defense...you see what you caused?"

Well...that must have fired Durant up, because he had his best game of the series that night and avoided elimination in the process. Dejected Grizzlies fans were saying....

"Thanks a lot Oklahoma City newspaper....see what you caused?"

And I won't even get into Memphis' "Whoop dat Trick" chant, which must have scared the living daylights out of OKC in last year's playoffs. If you have not seen it, please do yourself the favor. I promise you will not see this in another arena in the world.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J-3xeP993w.

Since becoming the Grizzlies and Thunder, they have met 40 times (regular season and playoffs to date). OCK holds a 21-19 advantage. Memphis and OKC have always been evenly matched, but could't be more different on the court. The Thunder play an up tempo, high scoring transition game. The Grizzlies prefer the old school, defensive minded, "Grit & Grind" approach. Both have been successful at carving out their own identities as small market teams in a big market league.

And both can thank each other, and their rivalry for it.  

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