Last Season: 42-40, 2nd in Division, 6th overall in East, Lost to Boston in 1st Round
Key Losses: Chauncey Billups, Derrick Brown, Anthony Carter, Roger Mason JR, Shawne Williams, Sheldon Williams, Andy Rautins, Ronny Turiaf
Key Additions: Tyson Chandler, Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, Jared Jeffries (resigned), Iman Shumpert (draft), Josh Harrelson (draft), Jerome Jordan (draft)
Main Rotation:Starters – Baron Davis, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler; Key Reserves – Tony Douglas, Mike Bibby, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman, Jerome Jordan
With the addition of Chandler to the mix, the Knicks now have the best frontcourt in the NBA without a doubt. Without Chandler, this team is pathetic on defense. Carmelo and Amare are nowhere near defensive stoppers so it was important for the Knicks to bring in a defensive presence. Although, the Knick’s backcourt, especially at point, is fairly weak. If only they were able to keep Billups while adding Chandler, the Knicks would have the best starting five in the league.
As the year 2011 comes to a close, fight fans can’t help but be pleased with everything that took place over the last 12 months. We saw the rise of many new MMA stars such as Jon Jones, and Junior Dos Santos, and saw incredible upsets like JDS knocking out Cain Valasquez in the first minute of their highly anticipated title bout. While reflecting on this year in mixed martial arts, I felt that it was necessary to hand out some awards, to some very deserving individuals. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to GOdzark’s 2011 MMA award show…..
The first award that will be handed out tonight is the (drum roll please).…
“WTF” – Comeback Win of the Year
And the winner is……Cheick Kongo knocking out Pat Barry
Ok so let’s face it, on any Pay-Per- View card, Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry is easily going to be the guilt free piss break fight of the night. This is a fight that featured two fighters who are more than likely never going to even fight in a number one contender bout ever again. However, it was free and I had nothing else going on that night so I figured what the Hell?
I sat down to watch this fight and within the first 15 seconds of the promo remembered why I hate Pat Barry so much. He is that cocky, arrogant, loud mouth who was never good enough to back up anything that he said, so instantly I’m hoping he gets knocked out and knocked out fast. Within the first few minutes of the fight, Pat Barry lands a huge right hand and drops Kongo. As Kongo stumbles over his feet barely conscious, Barry lands another shot that drops Kongo, and this time it looks like for good. But wait, Kongo half asleep, fights to his feet, and two quick shots later, Knocks Pat Barry the F out.
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Congratulations Kongo on winning what will undoubtedly and sadly be the biggest win for the rest of your career, and congrats Pat Barry on not getting fired for being 6-4 against lackluster opponents in your MMA career.
The second award of the night is the…
“Don’t Ever Wear That Again” award.
And the winner is……Dennis Hallman!! I refuse to believe that I even need to give further explanation as to why I gave this award to him.
The third award of the night, and a more serious one is the:
On December 30th, the UFC is putting on UFC 141, whose main event will feature a heavyweight collision between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem! I felt it necessary to throw my two cents into the penny fountain that everybody else has thrown their two cents into, and give you my breakdown of this fight and my prediction for it.
Brock Lesnar is coming off over a year off from fighting, and during which he had to overcome his second serious bout with Diverticulitis. Last October, we saw Cain Valasquez pick Brock Lesnar apart in the first round with his striking, until a final TKO victory for Valasquez, stealing the title from Lesnar. I will not say that striking is Lesnar’s issue, after all who can forget the incredible right hand that sent Heath Herring in a backward cart-wheel across the cage, breaking his Orbital bone. I will say that Lesnar’s issue, is striking defense. Brock hasn’t quite found out how to get hit, and keep moving forward. This fault may present a huge problem when fighting Alistair, who will undoubtedly be the best striker that Lesnar has fought thus far in his career.
Overeem comes into this fight making his UFC debut, and there is a big question mark over how well he is going to be able to stop Brock Lesnar’s takedowns. Brock has made quite a name for himself with his explosive takedowns, over powering of opponents, and destructive ground and pound.
This has to be the darkest set of clouds to hover over the city of Portland. For over 34 years, the Portland Trailblazers have been hit with the worst luck in sports history. After making the playoffs for the first time in the 1976-77 season with a 49-33 record, the Blazers made a Cinderella run through the playoffs led by center Bill Walton and won the NBA championship. The following season looked like Portland was well on its way to defend its title as they jumped to a 50-10 start. However, enter the dark clouds. What happens next would be the beginning of the worst luck a team could ever have. Here is a timeline of all the bad luck the Blazers had experienced since their championship run.
Deeeeetrooooit Basektballlll! This was the Detroit Pistons era from 2003-2009 and they had one of the best backcourts of all time – Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. With the NBA lockout shortening the season as well as the offseason/training camps, teams have been rushing to wine-and-dine free agents, create interesting trade scenarios, and determining other roster movements. Part of the “other” roster movements consists of waiving, releasing, buying out, and utilizing the amnesty clause on players. This is what happened to Billups and Hamilton during the first week of player transactions in the NBA.
An analysis of strength of schedule, player injuries, home/away matchups, and performance revealed the nation’s top defensive units in college football.
Teams with impressive statistics, but lighter competition were commonly knocked down the list, while teams that fought through brutal schedules and significant injuries were not wholly penalized for their slightly lower numbers.
Separate from the pack, Big Ten and Southeastern Conference squads dominate the rankings, filling eight of the top 10 spots.
In the end, only two teams remain in the conversation for “best defense in college football”.
10) Virginia Tech Hokies
Antone Exum slows Georgia Tech QB Washington
Ranking eighth in the nation in points allowed (17.2 points/game), Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster led his rag tag bunch through an injury-plagued campaign. The Hokies lost multiple players in each level of the defense this season, but somehow managed to net a 11-2 record. Starring on defense, 2010 All-American CB Jayron Hosley registered three interceptions and 59 tackles despite suffering a hamstring injury early this season. He will consider leaping to the NFL in the upcoming draft.
Senior S Eddie Whitley helped hold the secondary together, providing leadership, stability, and 78 tackles. Redshirt sophomore safety Antone Exum filled in more than admirably in his first year as a full-time starter, leading all Hokies with 10 pass break-ups and 85 tackles.
The Hokies landed four players on the All-ACC second team- Hosley, Whitley, CB Kyle Fuller, and DE James Gayle.
9) South Carolina Gamecocks
Melvin Ingram tries to deflect a ball against Georgia
Freshman sensation Jadeveon Clowney brought a welcomed level of nastiness to the Gamecocks. The 18-year-old defensive end has already met lofty expectations with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Equally impressive, his senior adviser on the defensive line Melvin Ingram led the team in tackles for loss (13.5), sacks (8.5), and defensive touchdowns (2).He also helped secure a win against Georgia by running a fake punt 68 yards for a score.
These two monsters in the middle allowed the Gamecock defense to clamp down opposing wide receivers. South Carolina ranked second nationally in pass defense (133 yards/game), behind only Alabama. They also forced 18 interceptions, fifth in the nation.
Impressively, the Gamecocks held in-state rival and ACC champ Clemson 20 points under their season average in a 34-13 victory November 26.
Grizzly Bomb 