March 5th Update

Monster day for East PG's

• Deron Williams set an all-time New Jersey Nets record on Sunday, scoring 57 points in a surprisingly close 104-101 win over the hapless Charlotte Bobcats. Williams, who also had 6 rebounds and 7 assists to go with his scoring outburst, shot a perfect 21-21 from the free throw line, missing the all-time NBA record for free throws made without missing one by 2. (23 by Dominique Wilkins in 1992). The Nets were actually losing for a good portion of the game but when Williams realized no one else was going to win the game for them, he decided to do it himself. Charlotte is now an abysmal 4-31.
• While Williams led his team to victory by scoring, Boston Celtics PG Rajon Rondo had one of the most impressive triple doubles of all-time, putting up a mind-boggling line of 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists in a 115-111 win over the New York Knicks. The 17 rebounds were a career high and Rondo became just the third person ever to record more than 15/15/20 (PTS/REB/ASSTS) with the other two being Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain back in the 1960's.
• By comparison, Ty Lawson's near triple double (22 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists), Derrick Rose's 35 points and 8 assists and Chris Paul's 28 points and 10 assists are not even in the same neighborhood but they do deserve an honorable mention as solid performances, all in winning efforts.


Rory proving he belongs

• Rory McIlroy held off a charging Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic. Woods, who finished tied for second, shot a 62 which was the lowest final round score in his career, but it wasn’t enough. McIlroy, knowing Woods was closing in on him, was able to eek out a number of clutch shots to give himself a two stroke victory.
• McIlroy’s victory catapults him passed Luke Donald to become #1 in the world. He is the second youngest person in the world to be #1 (behind Woods). McIlroy's ascension seems like the next logical thing as the young Irishman has taken the world by storm since winning the US Open last year.


ACC’s big 2 get a new competitor

• For years UNC and Duke have passed the ACC crown between one another. This year has been partially the same, as UNC finished the regular season #1 and Duke #2, except it seems like there is a newcomer who can play. Florida State defeated UNC by a boatload at home, and then beat Duke on a last second shot a few days later. All this being said, UNC and Duke (both top 10 teams) are still the class of the ACC and represent the conference’s best chance of winning a National Championship.
• Duke (ranked #4 last week) has been playing very well this year. Lead by a trio of NBA progeny (Austin Rivers, Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins) as well as a trio of brothers (Miles, Mason and Marshal Plumlee), the Blue Devils were 26-4 and 13-3 in the ACC coming into this weekend including a last second victory over the Tar Heels in February.
• UNC, lead by Forwards Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Harrison Barnes, (ranked 7 in the country last week) came into the weekend 26-4 and 14-2 in the ACC including the last second loss to the Blue Devils and the beat down to FSU. This weekend, however, the Tar Heels went into Cameron Indoor Stadium and destroyed the Blue Devils. An 18-point beat down avenged the heart breaking loss and gave them the regular season ACC Championship.

March 2nd update

Kentucky Beast of the South East (Conference)

• The 29-1 Wildcats have torn through the competition this season and are looking to continue their domination deep into March Madness. The lone blemish on their record was an early season one-point loss to Indiana on a last second 3 pointer. Kentucky has all but wrapped up a #1 seed at the top of the NCAA tournament. Led by freshman stud Anthony Davis, (and his impressive uni-brow, pictured above) and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist (who's said he will graduate from Kentucky despite being good enough to leave after this, his freshman year) the Wildcats look to be the odds on favorites to win the NCAA championship.
• The Florida Gators and Vanderbilt Commodores are 2 and 3 in the conference respectively but they are truly playing second fiddle to the Wildcats.
• The Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers also seem to be good bets to make it to the Big Dance but after these five teams the conference quickly fades to mediocrity.


Big 10 Top Heavy with a few title contenders

• The top of the Big 10 has two powerhouse teams who are looking to cut down the nets in early April. The Michigan State Spartans, led by senior forward Draymond Green, are 24-6 and 13-4 in conference. The Ohio State Buckeyes who have been more balanced than people thought they would be, despite having superstar forward Jared Sullinger. Both have both been ranked in the top 5 this year, and are currently both ranked in the top 12.
• The Big 10 is deep with four other teams that should have no trouble making the tournament. The Michigan Wolverines, Wisconsin Badgers, Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers should all be playing in a few weeks.
• Sullinger and to a lesser extent Green should be high picks in the upcoming NBA draft, and their teams will be amongst the short list of teams that have a chance of making the Final Four. Both teams are flawed however and are not atop the list of favorites to be champions this year.


NBA Trade Deadline approaching

• With the NBA deadline only a couple weeks away (March 15) teams are looking harder to see if they should be adding pieces, cutting payroll or staying pat. Here are a few names making news:

- Steve Nash. Despite putting up numbers similar to the 2 seasons he won the NBA MVP, Steve Nash's Suns don't seem to be a playoff team and he'll be a free agent next season. So why not trade him? The issue is that Nash has been the heart and soul of the Suns for years now and has gained such a following in the Phoenix community that most fans (and seemingly the team as well) would rather forgo the value he might return in young talent and see the greatest Sun (and possibly the best PG in NBA history) retire with the team. The Suns have said they will accomodate a trade request if Nash asks, but he's said he wants to finish what he started with Phoenix as well.

- Rajon Rondo. The Celtics PG, known for his ability to get his teammates involved as well as his terrific defensive pressure is said to be at odds with coach Doc Rivers. The Celtics are said to be entertaining offers but a trade of Rondo would probably have to bring back equal or greater value for them to pull the trigger.

- Pau Gasol. Similar to Rondo, it would take a lot to deal him, and the Lakers have never publicly said they'd deal the talented 7 footer. They're starting to round into form after a slow start and Kobe Bryant has even publicly asked the team not to deal him.

- Monta Ellis. The #7 scorer in the NBA has been floundering with a mediocre Golden State team for years, wasting a ton of points. However, it's been said that the Orlando Magic would love to pick up the scoring PG/SG in an effort to give Dwight Howard a reason to re-sign with Orlando this summer. The issue is that Orlando doesn't have much else to offer.

- Raymond Felton. Now with the Trail Blazers, Felton has seen his production severely drop off as he's only putting up 10 points and 6 assists per game. A team like the Lakers or 76ers could use him but he wouldn't provide a big upgrade given his current production.