- 10,459 miles. That's a lot of miles. My car was an absolute champ. Didn't give me any problems.
- 30 states, including 20 new states, bringing my state total to 49. The only state I haven't been to is Alaska. The most beautiful part of the trip was the entire drive down the Pacific coast. Everything you've heard about how amazing that drive is is true. Really, from Mt. Rushmore to the Grand Canyon, everything was unbelievable. The whole trip was great, but that was the highlight. Mt. Rushmore was as impressive as advertised, Yellowstone was gorgeous at every single turn, I had the best salmon I've ever had in my entire life in Seattle, the Redwoods were gigantic and remarkable, San Francisco was probably my favorite city in the entire trip, I got to sit on the couch in Central Perk from my favorite show Friends in Los Angeles (highly, highly recommend the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. It was fantastic), and the Grand Canyon was spectacular.
- 49 state license plates. 49. So close... The one hold out? Not one of the states that you're expecting. No, I saw a Hawaiian license plate in Iowa of all places (on a route I almost didn't take no less) and I saw FOUR Alaskan license plates (one in North Dakota, one in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, one right after I crossed into Washington state, and the final one in Missouri). Nope, the one state's license plate I did not see during this trip: Rhode Island... Which I guess makes sense seeing as how it's the least populous state (if I say I totally passed a license plate that looked like Rhode Island's in the torrential downpour on day 31 on my way home, can we count it as all 50? I think so). The most license plates I saw came from the state of California (again, makes sense seeing as how it's the most populous state), with an unofficial top five also including Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
- 1 set-back. I accidentally locked my keys in my car at the Hoover Dam. Whoops. Thank you to the Hoover Dam Police for helping me out.
- 17,557 steps. According to my Fitbit, that's the average number of steps I took per day over the 31 days of the roadtrip. Not bad for a guy who sat in a car for an average of six hours a day. The average is buoyed by huge step days of 37,085 in Seattle, 41,652 in Los Angeles, and 44,316 in San Francisco. Since I drove to get to these places, I wanted to walk around them once I got there, so, other than Los Angeles, which is pretty much impossible to get around without public transportation, I walked everywhere once I got to my location.
- 71. That's the number of unique stops I made during the trip to monuments, landmarks, museums, forest, parks, and just about anything else that I spent some time at. These include, but are obviously not limited to, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin, the Mall of America, Mt Rushmore, Black Hills National Forest, Bighorn National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Meredith Grey's house, the International Rose Garden, Thor's Well, the Redwood Forest (including the Avenue of the Giants), the Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Ghirardelli Square, Palace of the Fine Arts, Stanford University, Malibu beach, the Hollywood sign, Warner Bros. Studio, Dominic Toretto's house, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Four Corners, a Breaking Bad tour in Albuquerque, Cadillac Ranch, Dealey Plaza, three Presidential libraries, Bourbon Street, the Gateway Arch, Louisville Slugger Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Churchill Downs, Ohio State University, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Flight 93 Memorial.
- 3.5 replica Oval Offices. If you didn't know before the trip, you certainly know now that American history is one of my favorite subjects. As such, I visited three Presidential Libraries on the trip. President Lyndon B. Johnson's in Austin, TX, President Bill Clinton's in Little Rock, AR, and President George W. Bush's in Dallas, TX. I highly recommend all three. You may be wondering where the half comes from then. During the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the desk from the Oval Office, with the backdrop behind it, was set up from another of my favorite shows, The West Wing, so I got to sit behind President Jed Bartlet's desk as well.
- $17.76. That was my dinner receipt on my July 4. America forever.
- The most important number from the trip: 85 Pokémon. Pokémon Go came out at the end of my second week, when I got to Los Angeles, so naturally, it became a large part of the second half of the trip. The 85 is the number in my Pokédex. I've literally caught Pokémon from coast to coast. It's the perfect roadtrip game.
- And finally, the number that everyone who's ever seen me drive a car has been wondering: 0 tickets / citations. That's right. I drove 10,459 over 31 days and did not receive a traffic violation for anything, including my propensity for driving a little fast. You're all very impressed.
By: Stephen C. On Sunday, I returned from my month long roadtrip around the United States. It was one of the most incredible experiences I could imagine, and, although it was a lot of driving, was 100% well worth it. Rather than go day-by-day on what I did (again, here's some shameless self-promotion, but check out my Instagram for 32 pictures over 31 days. I posted twice on day six because I saw a bison after I had already posted that day. That was well worth two posts in one day. The bison was about 50 feet from me), I figured I'd give a look at the numbers that made the trip even more fun.
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By: Stephen C. So far, I've been to 29 states in the United States. Of those 29 states, I've only been in an airport in four of them, so there's 25 states that I've actually done something other than just wait for my connecting flight. Since I decided to take some time off before I go back to school in August, I didn't want to just sit around watch Netflix or play PlayStation for three months, as much fun as that would have been. Instead, I decided to see how many of those states I can cross off. The result was an almost 10,000 mile, 30 day trip that goes around the United States and hits 30 states. It hits landmarks like Mount Rushmore, Old Faithful, Thor's Well, Death Valley, and the Grand Canyon, among others. After the trip, I will have been to 49 of the 50 states, with Alaska the lone state I will yet to have been to. I leave tomorrow and I'm incredibly excited about it. It's the trip of a lifetime, and I won't have the time to do something like this for the next 40-50 years, if ever. If you happen to be on the route path along the way, let me know. Also, shameless self-promotion, if you want to see the trip through social media, follow me on Instagram (sciarrocchi) and Snapchat (sciarrocchi). Hopefully I don't blow out a tire on the PA turnpike. Below is a picture of the route (side note, if you ever go on a roadtrip, use furkot.com. Really great to use for something like this. Definitely saved me some time). I go out west on the northern route and come back east on the southern. See you in a month.
By: Stephen C. I never thought I would ever go back to school after I graduated from Penn State in 2013. I honestly never even considered it to be an option. I thought I would be happy with my post-collegiate life, working a good, stable job with a well-respected company. I really thought that everything would just fall into place after I started the "real world." To say I was naïve would be putting it lightly. But here I am. After almost three full years working for EY, I'll be leaving the firm to go back to school.
Most people are probably assuming I'm talking about going back and getting my MBA. Given my background (I was a finance major and have nearly three years of work experience at a Big Four accounting firm), that makes sense, but I'm going in an entirely new direction. Instead, I've decided to try to get my JD. This fall, I'll be going back to school at the Temple University School of Law. These last three years have easily been the most interesting of my life. Throughout my time with EY, I've traveled to twelve different states in the United States, as well as one trip to Canada, for work. Although I've realized that the kind of work I was doing at EY was not what I wanted to do long term, I'm incredibly thankful for my time there and for the people who I have worked with. Accounting may not have been for me, but if you're interested in it, I would 100% recommend EY to start your career. Today is my last client facing day at the firm, while my last official day will be Tuesday, May 31. It's bittersweet to be leaving, because, as I said, I will miss the people that I've worked so closely with these past three years, but I truly believe this is the best next step for me. Going to law school opens up so many opportunities for me to find what I want to do with my life. I've always been interested in politics, history, and law, so honestly, it's kind of surprising I didn't choose this path sooner (another story for another time). Whether it be someday running for office (I'm eligible to run for the House right now if I wanted. Watch out), trying to run a sports team, or representing someone in a court of law, obtaining a law degree allows me to better position myself to do something that is better aligned with my interests moving forward. Coming out of college, I was so confident that I would have my life completely figured out by now, but the only thing that I’ve actually figured out at this point is that I probably won’t ever have my life completely figured out. There are so many variables, so many things that can go in any infinite number of ways, but the biggest variable, by far, is me. I’m constantly changing, constantly trying to improve myself, and constantly trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. Rather than continuing to go through the motions with my good, stable job at the well-respected company, I've decided to jump head first into uncertainty. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. The last three years have been the most interesting of my life, but they might just pale in comparison to the next three years. Here goes nothing. T for Temple U. By: Stephen C. You guys know how much I love the NFL draft. I love reading about it. I love reading up on and watching the prospects. I love writing about it. I love watching the actual draft. When you think about it, it's so pointless to watch the draft. We're watching the commissioner go to the podium (to a chorus of loud boos), read a name, and then we dissect that name with so many #hottakes about whether we think he will be a franchise savior or be a bust. It's comical really. And I still love it. I love it so much, that this year, I present to you a FULL, seven round mock draft, complete with a big board of my top 100 prospects and top ten by position. As I said, I love reading about this stuff and I've been working on this pretty much since football season started. It's fun. Before we start, a few notes on the draft:
Round 1 1. Los Angeles Rams (Via Tennessee Titans) - Jared Goff, QB, California The Rams semi-shocked everyone and pulled the trigger on a deal to move all the way up to the first pick in the draft, presumably to pick a quarterback. All signs point to the Rams picking between either Goff or North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz. Of the two, Goff seems to be the choice (Todd McShay called it the "worst kept secret in the world"). With all due respect to QB Case Keenum and QB Nick Foles (Foles will likely be traded at some point, either during the draft or before the season starts), I don't buy for a single second that head coach Jeff Fisher wants either of them starting week one, especially given their disastrous combined performance all season last year. Of the top two choices, Goff is the more likely quarterback to start week one. There are some concerns over the fact that he comes mainly from a spread style offense at Cal, but he sees the field about as well as a quarterback coming into the NFL can and can make any throw you want. He's incredibly comfortable in the pocket and consistently makes great decisions with the football. He has a quick release and nearly flawless mechanics throwing the ball (although he needs to work on the consistency of his mechanics. Too often, he'll get a little lazy with how he throws. That's a mistake that can be easily corrected though). Goff is the safer choice between him and Wentz, while still providing the upside you want from a top-tier quarterback prospect. He'd be a fantastic addition to any quarterback needy team, especially the Rams. 2. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Cleveland Browns) - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State The Eagles moved into the second spot in the draft last week, trading five total picks to move up six spots. GM Howie Roseman has said that the team will draft a quarterback in this position, so it's just a matter of taking whoever the Rams don't, which will, in all likelihood, be Wentz. Since the Eagles already have a set starter in QB Sam Bradford (although Bradford has reportedly demanded a trade in the fallout of this trade) and a set backup in QB Chase Daniel, Wentz would be put in the ideal situation to sit back, develop, and adjust to the NFL game, which is key for a guy coming straight from FCS North Dakota State. He didn't exactly play against Alabama and Ohio State each week there, so the jump in competition is a big concern surrounding him. He could use a little bit more work on going through progressions, but the positives about Wentz's game are very positive. He's a big quarterback straight out of the QB Ben Roethlisberger mold (I see a lot of Ben in his game, but I've also seen, and agree with, the QB Blake Bortles comparison). He can make every throw on the field and is more athletic than you realize (he ran the second fastest 40 yard dash of quarterbacks likely to be drafted at 4.77 and ran for almost 1,000 yards in his two years starting at North Dakota State). He ran a pro-style offense at North Dakota State and led his team to two consecutive national championships. He interviewed incredibly well at the combine, threw well at both the combine and his pro-day, and has all the tools to eventually be able to develop into a franchise quarterback. His mechanics are good, he puts the ball where it needs to go, and he's smart (he has a 4.00 grade point average during his time at North Dakota State and reportedly scored well on the Wonderlic). As an Eagles fan, I like this move a lot. I really like Wentz (I had him as the #1 player on my board before the trade, I promise. Reason being that I believe both Goff and Wentz have the upside to be true franchise quarterbacks with little to no red flags surrounding them, and given how important the quarterback position is in the NFL, they top my board), and I think he has the chance to be a top-tier starting quarterback in the league once he gets acclimated to the NFL. He does everything you want a quarterback to be able to do on the field, and he handles himself off the field in a way that you would want the face of your franchise to handle himself. Welcome to Philadelphia, Carson Wentz. I'm thrilled you'll be an Eagle. 3. San Diego Chargers - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame The Chargers are probably the team that's the happiest as a result of the trades that moved the Rams and Eagles in front of them. They most likely were not targeting a quarterback in this spot, and, as a result of the trades, can effectively take the top player on their board. In some order, the top four players are their board are most likely Stanley, Florida State CB / S Jalen Ramsey, Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil, and Oregon DL DeForest Buckner. Given the glaring hole at offensive tackle (and given the fact that the other three teams in the AFC West are incredible at getting after the quarterback), I think the Chargers go with the best pass protector in this draft, which is Stanley. With Ronnie Stanley, he just looks like a perennial All-Pro at left tackle. He's big, has long arms, and has an athletic ability that's quite rare for a player his size. He was also a really good high school basketball player, so that helps explain the fact that he is such a fluid mover for such a big guy. Reading his player profile, he sounds like Philadelphia Eagles OT Jason Peters. His size / speed combination makes him an ideal candidate to deal with both speed and power rushers in the NFL. It's really close between all four, but Stanley will most likely be the call at #3 tonight. 4. Dallas Cowboys - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State This was the pick that took the longest for me to make. With Ramsey on the board, this pick is essentially a coin-flip between him and Elliott. Ohio State DE Joey Bosa fills a big need as a pass rusher, UCLA LB Myles Jack has also been speculated in this spot, many would love to see Tunsil as an addition to an already dominate offensive line, and if either Goff or Wentz fall past the top two (quite unlikely, but still), there's a really good chance the Cowboys pull the trigger on QB Tony Romo's heir-apparent, but this seems to down to the Ramsey and Elliott. Although Ramsey would be an ideal pick for a Cowboys team that wants to pick dynamic playmakers in their secondary, I believe they're going to select Elliott. I get that some people have a major issue with selecting a running back this high, but Elliott is as complete a running back prospect as we've seen recently. A true three down back with the ability to be the focal point of just about any offense, Elliott is a tremendous runner with excellent vision to seemingly always find the correct hole. He's also great catching the ball out of the backfield and is arguably the most prepared running back to come out of college in terms of blitz pickups and pass protection in recent memory. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer described Elliott as "the best player [he's] ever coached without the ball in his hands. ... He's the best as far as blocking, pass protection, and effort down the field." He fits the Cowboys offense perfectly (really, he fits any offense) and could be a great addition to a team that will have serious Super Bowl aspirations as long as the offense stays healthy this year. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsey, CB / S, Florida State Myles Jack is the perfect fit for Jacksonville, but with the concerns over his knee, they turn to the player who may be the best one in the entire draft in Jalen Ramsey. He'll be in serious consideration by each of the top six teams in this draft if he's on the board (can't see him getting by Baltimore if he does fall that far). He can legitimately play all over the field, as he lined up at cornerback, safety, and linebacker for the Seminoles during his collegiate career. He has fantastic ball skills and has the range, speed, height, and athletic ability to cover any kind of receiver or tight end. He's a dream defensive back with the skill set of a surefire future All-Pro player. He easily improves a relatively weak Jacksonville secondary from the minute he steps on the field. 6. Baltimore Ravens - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Tunsil would have likely been the first overall pick had the Titans held on to the selection, but with the Rams trading into the first spot, Tunsil will likely slide down the order a bit, which would be just fine for the Baltimore Ravens. Tunsil is a beast of a tackle with great size and athleticism for the position who easily projects out as a franchise left tackle. Consider this: of the 224 times that Ole Miss dropped back to pass with Tunsil at left tackle last season, Tunsil allowed a total of zero sacks and five pressures. That's ridiculous. If he's on the board at #6, Tunsil seems to be the best choice for Baltimore given the concerns involving depth along the offensive line. He'll stabilize the left side of the line, and he could easily protect QB Joe Flacco's blindside for the rest of Flacco's career (important note: Flacco is currently rehabbing a torn ACL). If it's not Tunsil, it'll likely be Buckner as he seems to fit a major need as a 3-4 defensive end. 7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon The Niners probably aren't happy that the Rams moved up to #1. It looked like the draft might have fallen just right for them to grab either Goff or Wentz. Instead, it seems as though both quarterbacks will be off the board by the time they're on the clock. Then, when it looked like they could grab one of the top two offensive tackles in the draft, both Stanley and Tunsil are selected within the top six. Given how the draft has gone, this comes down to Jack or Buckner, which isn't a bad consolation prize. Given the concerns over Jack's knee, I think the Niners go with Buckner, who would be a great fit along the Niners defensive line (and he went to Oregon, and did you hear new head coach Chip Kelly used to be the coach there?!?). A monster of a man, standing at 6'7", Buckner can play all over the defensive line, but will be able to play the position that he's best at in San Fran as a 3-4 defensive end. He's a beast in the run game, using his long arms and powerful frame to swallow up ball carriers at the line of scrimmage. He's still improving as a pass rusher, but he's shown consistent improvement throughout his college career, and should get even better with NFL coaching. San Fran also needs help in the secondary and along the offensive line, making Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves and Michigan State OT Jack Conklin potential targets. One name to watch here that's cooled in recent days, however, is Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. Niners GM Trent Baalke likes big, super-athletic guys, and Lynch definitely fits the bill. We've seen quarterbacks overdrafted before, and with Goff and Wentz likely off the board after the first two selections, Lynch may hear his name in the top ten. 8. Cleveland Browns (Via Philadelphia Eagles from Miami Dolphins) - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia The hottest name in the draft this past week has easily been Leonard Floyd, as he's seen a meteoric rise up draft boards in recent weeks. An absolutely outstanding athlete, Floyd is rumored to go as high as #5 to Jacksonville. In a draft that is relatively shallow on pass rushers, Floyd stands the most to gain. Floyd is the kind of pass rusher off the edge that the Browns will love. Floyd showed off his versatility throughout his time at Georgia, lining up at both inside and outside linebacker, as well as occasionally at defensive end. His athleticism provides him with better cover skills than the typical pass rusher and he has a spin move rushing the passer that is reminiscent of Cardinals OLB Dwight Freeney. He needs to bulk up a little more, and can struggle disengaging from blocks once the blocker locks on to him, but Floyd has the kind of pass rushing upside that warrants a first round selection. The Browns have holes all over their roster, most notably at quarterback, so Lynch is again an option here (apparently new head coach Hue Jackson loves Lynch, which could be the reason the Browns traded out of the second pick. If they don't take Lynch here, look for the Browns to try to move back in to the first round, especially if Lynch is still on the board after the Jets pick at #20), and if either of the top two tackles or Conklin are still available, that could be the direction they go. Cleveland could also look to move back and get even more picks (they already have twelve, which is tied for the most in the draft, but as I said, they have holes all over the place on that roster, especially after many of their free agents left), so a move back into the mid-teens to select Lynch could make a lot of sense as well, but the pass rushing upside of Floyd fits here in Cleveland. 9. Tampa Bay Bucs - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State The Bucs defense needs a serious upgrade, especially along the defensive line and in the secondary. With Bosa falling into their lap, the Bucs would probably sprint to the podium to take him. Bosa was considered the consensus best non-quarterback player in the draft during the pre-season and has pretty much stayed among the top options at the beginning of the draft throughout the season. Easily one of the best pass rushers in college football for the last two years, Bosa is an absolutely perfect fit for a Bucs team that needs to completely revamp their pass rush. He's strong at the point of attack, and uses his natural athleticism as well as any player in the draft. Of all the defense line prospects in this year's class, Bosa probably has the best combination of rushing the passer and stopping the run. He has a ceiling of Hall of Fame DE Michael Strahan and seemingly has a relatively high floor of New England Patriots DE Chris Long. He could easily be that good. In addition to a need in the secondary (making Hargreaves a possibility if Bosa and Buckner are both off the board), the Bucs could look to upgrade their offensive line, so Conklin is an option, and this could also be a spot where they could trade down (specifically to #15 with Tennessee) to try and accumulate a few more picks, but if they stay on the board, they'll likely take the best defensive player available. 10. New York Giants - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State I can hear every Giants fan I know say the same exact thing after reading the pick: "The Giants don't take linebackers in the first round." I understand that (the Giants haven't taken a linebacker in the first round since 1984. In fact, they haven't taken a defensive player in the first round since 2011), and I fully admit that this particular pick may not be right, but it makes so much sense, I have to do it. The most glaring hole on the Giants roster is at linebacker, and Lee can step in and fly around the field and make plays from day one. He's equally adept playing the run and rushing the passer from any of the three linebacker spots that he would play for the Giants, and would easily be the most talented linebacker the team has had in years. One of the more athletic players in the entire draft class, Lee pairs his athleticism with his natural football instincts to consistently make play after play for his defense. If Floyd is on the board, he will likely be the pick here, but with him gone, the Giants would be smart to add a player with Lee's skill set to improve their struggling defense. Or don't. Whatever. I'm an Eagles fan anyway. I'd rather they traded this pick to the Eagles for a fifth and seventh rounder. Or a bag of peanuts. Either one works. When the Giants don't select Lee, they'll probably just take another defensive lineman (I'm convinced the ideal Giants defense is an eleven man front), so Clemson DE Shaq Lawson is a possibility, or they could try to add some extra protection for QB Eli Manning and take one of the top three offensive linemen if they're still on the board. Hargreaves is also a big possibility, as is Elliott if the Cowboys don't take him. The Giants could also be looking at a wide receiver in this spot. There's also rumors that the Giants are looking to trade back with Tennessee at #15. Basically, there's a lot of different directions the Giants could go, but with linebacker being such a big need, drafting Lee in this spot makes a lot of sense. 11. Chicago Bears - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Chicago will be looking to upgrade their defense all over the place, so any and all of the top available defensive prospects are in play, but this pick will basically come down to Lawson, Hargreaves, and Floyd if he makes it past the Giants. They could surprise and go offense, especially if Elliott is on the board, but I'd expect this pick to be on the defensive side of the ball. Lawson's stock has been all over the place recently, with most of the reason for his stock fluctuating involving his shoulder injury, but when Lawson is healthy, he'll be an immediate impact pass rusher, especially for a Bears team that could really use one. One of the quickest guys off the snap in all of college football, Lawson made a living consistently disrupting plays all game long, totaling a ridiculous (and NCAA high) 25.5 tackles for loss to go along with twelve sacks in what was easily a breakout year. He's excellent against both the run and the pass, can rush from either a DE spot with his hand in the ground or from OLB standing up, and can come in and provide a boost to Chicago's pass rush. 12. New Orleans Saints - Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville Rankins is the kind of player who will be able to immediately help what turned out to be a really bad Saints defense last year. With the Saints not sure whether they'll run primarily a 3-4 or a 4-3, a lineman like Rankins who can play both end in a 3-4 and tackle in a 4-3 becomes even more valuable. He's a bit undersized, which could scare some teams off, but Rankins is the kind of interior presence and pass rusher that will be able to make an immediate impact from day one for the Saints. He shows a great understanding of his role along the line and has the ability to consistently make plays against both the run and the pass. The Saints should use this pick on defense given how historically awful they were last season (if it's not Rankins along the defensive line, it could be Alabama DL A'Shawn Robinson), but they also need to improve their wide receiver group, and Lynch is again a possibility, despite the fact the Saints drafted a quarterback (QB Garrett Grayson) in the third round last year. 13. Miami Dolphins (Via Philadelphia Eagles) - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Miami has been looking to add a standout running back all off-season after letting RB Lamar Miller walk to the Texans, so Elliott falling to them here is a dream scenario for the Fins. If Zeke is off the board, the Dolphins also have needs along the offensive line and defensive back (trust me when I tell you that CB Byron $63M Maxwell is not a true number one corner. He could be fine if he's asked to do what Seattle asked him to do, but he's not the kind of guy that will be able to follow around and lock up a number one wide receiver), so Hargreaves becomes the obvious fit here given the way the board has fallen. In the aftermath of the college football season, Hargreaves was thought to be in play for a top five pick, but he'll likely go somewhere between #5 and #15. Hargreaves would be a great addition to a Miami secondary that has gone through a complete transformation at the cornerback position this offseason. He's a bit smaller than ideal size, but he's a natural cover man who can line up all over the formation and has experience shadowing the opposing team's number one option. Capable in both press and zone coverages, he moves smoothly, has ball skills better than some wide receivers, and has the speed necessary to keep up with just about anyone at the next level. His blend of athleticism, instincts, and competitiveness make him an easy first round selection and give him the potential to be a true number one corner in the NFL. If the Dolphins pass on Hargreaves, it would likely be for one of the trio of Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander, Houston CB William Jackson, and Ohio State CB Eli Apple, or they could go along the offensive line with Conklin, Ohio State OT Taylor Decker, or Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair. 14. Oakland Raiders - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA Jack is the biggest wild card in this draft. The status of his knee has thrown the entire top fifteen into turmoil. If his knee checks out, he shouldn't last past the Jags at #5, but given the concerns and conflicting reports regarding the rehab of his torn ACL, he could very easily slide. This spot seems to be his floor though, as the Raiders desperately need a playmaking linebacker, and Jack is about as good as it gets. He's a dream linebacker prospect for today's NFL as he is great against the run, but can also cover incredibly well. Jack even played a good amount of running back at UCLA and might project to be the second best running back prospect in this draft, behind Elliott. Here's a fun fact: as a running back, Myles Jack caused three times more missed tackles than he had as a linebacker. He's already being compared to Hall of Fame LB Ray Lewis and seemingly has the skill set to back it up. Simply put, there aren't many things on the football field that Jack can't do. The Raiders need a player exactly like Jack in the middle of their defense, as he could easily improve on an already promising young defense. The Raiders also need help along their offensive line and at defensive back, so Conklin, Alexander, Jackson, and Apple are all in play as well. This is also a spot that could be used to select Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche, one of the most talented players in the draft who has fallen down boards due to off-the-field concerns and concerns regarding his drive to actually try each down. He was originally thought to be a top-five pick, then was rumored to have been removed from many teams boards, and now could go back within the top 20. He's another huge wild card to watch tonight. Even so, with Jack on the board, the Raiders likely couldn't afford to pass on the overwhelming talent of Jack in this spot. 15. Tennessee Titans (Via Los Angeles Rams) - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State The Titans received this pick, as well as two second round picks, a third round pick, and a first and third round pick next year in exchange for the first pick in this year's draft. Pretty solid haul. Apparently part of the concern that the Titans had about staying at #1 was with current OT Taylor Lewan flipping over and playing right tackle. Since he didn't have that experience, the Titans were concerned with how he and likely first pick Laremy Tunsil would have fit together. So instead of trying to force the fit, they traded down, compiled a bevy of extra picks to build around franchise QB Marcus Mariota, and are in a position to draft a tackle that fits their needs a bit better. Conklin is that better fit. He's a big, powerful tackle who was a three year starter along Michigan State's offensive line. He uses his large hands, long arms, and wide frame to excel in both run blocking and pass blocking. The biggest concern is in regards to his movement as he's not overly athletic enough to handle pure speed rushers off the edge, but he handles bull rushes and power moves about as well as any prospect can. He's certainly pro-ready in that aspect and will be able to step in and start along Tennessee's offensive line from the start and help a line that consistently struggled to protect Mariota last year. He's probably better suited to start along the right side of the line to begin with, which is exactly what the Titans want, but definitely has the upside to eventually flip over to the left tackle spot eventually if needed. The Titans have also expressed interest in moving back up, likely to ensure they get either Conklin or Decker, but with a roster full of holes and now six picks in the first three rounds, if both of them are gone by #15 (Conklin definitely could be, but Decker should be on the board at this point), they should use those additional picks to continue to build a roster around their franchise quarterback. 16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State The three biggest areas of need for the Lions are at offensive line, defensive line, and wide receiver. With both Conklin off the board, they could go with either Decker, Whitehair, or Alabama C Ryan Kelly as offensive linemen, or either Alabama DL A'Shawn Robinson or Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell to fill those other needs. Given just how big the hole is at offensive tackle, I think they'll go with Decker. He's an experienced tackle from either side (42 career starts, 28 at left tackle, 14 at right tackle) and will be able to start immediately for a struggling Lions offensive line. He's one of the better moving tackles in this year's class and offers the team that drafts him the right mix of upside and pro-readiness. 17. Atlanta Falcons - Noah Spence, DE / OLB, Eastern Kentucky On talent alone, Spence is worthy of a top ten pick and may be the best pure pass rusher in this year's class. He started his college career at Ohio State before failing multiple drug tests, leading to his suspension for the 2014 season and his being banned from the Big Ten Conference. He rebounded well at Eastern Kentucky last year, compiling an impressive season without any off-field issues. If he can continue to prove that he is past the drug-related incidents that got him kicked out of Ohio State, Spence could turn into an absolute steal at the back end of the first round. Ragland and Whitehair are also in play for this pick (Darron Lee seems to be another perfect fit if he's still on the board), but Spence offers too much playmaking ability off the edge and upside here for Atlanta to pass on. Something to keep in mind is that the Falcons have only five picks in this draft, so if their ideal player isn't on the board here at #17, they could very well look to move down to try and obtain a few more draft picks. 18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama The Colts have had consistent issues along the offensive line pretty much since they drafted QB Andrew Luck, but last year took it to another level. Luck was constantly battered, and he ended up missing nine games last year. Keeping him protected should be the one of the top priorities for the Colts this offseason, and drafting a center like Kelly is a great start. As a three year starter at Alabama, Kelly became one of the most decorated offensive linemen in the country, winning the Rimington Award as the nation's top center last season, as well as being named the top lineman (not just center. Lineman) in the SEC. He's a smart player who is rarely caught out of position and was responsible for making all of the offensive line calls for the Crimson Tide. He's the kind of NFL-ready lineman that can help the Colts protect Luck immediately. The Colts defense also needs to be improved if they want to seriously compete for an AFC crown, so they could be looking to upgrade really any defensive position, but the Colts apparently love Kelly, so if he gets past the Lions, he'll likely be the pick here. 19. Buffalo Bills - Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama Reed is one of the best run defenders in the draft this year and was one of the key members of Alabama's star studded defense the past two seasons. Consistently attracting double teams to free up other members of the defense, Reed's stats don't pop off the page, but if you watch any Alabama game over the past two years, his presence in the middle of the defense is apparent from the start. A strong lower body to anchor against nearly any blocker, Reed will use a great blend of size and athleticism to step in and be the perfect nose tackle for head coach Rex Ryan's attacking defense. He has some room to improve as a pass rusher, but it's his ability against the run that will be his calling card in the NFL and make him a great fit with the Bills. The Bills have needs at wide receiver, offensive line, and quarterback (rumors that the Bills are very interested in Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg, possibly even at this spot, have picked up substantially over the last week), but I would expect Rex to attempt to fortify the defensive line with a player such as Reed. 20. New York Jets - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis After being in play for a pick as high as #7 to San Francisco, Lynch shouldn't be available past this pick. Whether it's the Jets taking him, or a team moving up past both the Jets and Bills to take him, remains to be seen. The concerns with Lynch are clearly there, but there's a lot to like about his game. He's a big, athletic quarterback with a strong arm and good pocket presence. Apparently his Wonderlic score wasn't the best (how much that will be taken into consideration varies greatly from team to team, and how much it actually matters is also up for debate. Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino got a 16 out of 50, and he turned out alright), which has caused him to potentially be looking at a draft day slide. He'll also need to work on his ability to take a snap from under center, something he was rarely asked to do at Memphis. He needs to improve his mechanics and become overall more consistent with his throwing motion and his footwork (I know it sounds like I'm being overly negative, especially for a first round pick, but hang on a second), but the tools are there for Lynch to develop into really good starting quarterback if given enough time. He's still noticeably raw, but he hasn't been playing quarterback for that long, and he's improved after every season he's actually played quarterback, so he's projecting the right way. As I said, he has the physical tools to succeed. It's just a matter of realizing that potential and continuing to work on developing those tools and improving his basic mechanics (see! Positives!). If the Jets can re-sign QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and allow Lynch to sit back and develop, it'll be even better for both Lynch and the Jets. Drafting Lynch may finally put QB Geno Smith's position with the team in doubt, especially if FitzMagic is re-signed. New York also has a big need off the edge, so Spence is an option if he's still available or Lawson if his shoulder injury causes him to slide, and they also need to upgrade their secondary and find a second corner to pair with CB Darrelle Revis after cutting CB Antonio Cromartie (Batman needs a new Robin), so Alexander, Jackson, and Apple are possibilities as well. 21. Washington Redskins - A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama Washington has needs along both lines and in the secondary (although the signing of CB Josh Norman could allow Washington to by-pass the top three corners left on the board), so Whitehair and Kelly (if he gets by the Colts) are possibilities as well, but the potential of Robinson may be too much to pass. Remember that massive dude on Alabama who literally jumped over the line against LSU to block an extra point? That was A'Shawn Robinson. People that big should not be able to do that, but Robinson can. That play is a perfect showcase for his raw potential. At Alabama, Robinson lined up all over the place in the Crimson Tide's 3-4 defense, ranging from over center as a nose tackle to outside as an outside linebacker. That kind of versatility will be among the most attractive parts of his draft stock. He's at his best against the run, and is still developing as an interior pass rusher. He has the ability to be a very solid three down lineman for a very long time in the NFL, something Washington need desperately. His every-down effort has been called into question, but he has the physical abilities to be a force in the middle of any defense, especially one in Washington that has been continually gashed the last few years. 22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor With the signing of QB Brock Osweiler, quarterback does not seem to be nearly as big a need for Houston as it did when the season ended. Giving that quarterback a few new toys to play with outside of All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins, however, is very important. Enter Corey Coleman. Coleman is the latest in a long line of Baylor wide receivers to head to the NFL. An absolute blazer, Coleman is the kind of receiver who can routinely take the top off the defense, which is exactly what the Texans need to open the field up for Hopkins and newly acquired RB Lamar Miller. He needs to continue to develop his route-tree outside of simply a go-route and screens, but Coleman has the physical abilities and athleticism that should make him a first round pick. He has the ability to line up both inside and out and simply consistently made plays for Baylor's high powered offense on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. He's an ideal complement to Hopkins and will be able to help improve what could be a very good Texans offense next season. Notre Dame WR Will Fuller is another receiver to keep in mind for this pick, since the Texans need speed out of a receiver and he's probably the fastest wide receiver in this year's class (he ran his 40 in 4.32 seconds). Important Fuller to the Texans note that could contribute to why he could be the pick here: Fuller was a Penn State recruit under then Penn State, now Texans head coach Bill O'Brien who decommitted from Penn State after the NCAA sanctions were imposed on the Nittany Lions. BOB clearly liked him then, he may still like him now, even enough to draft him at #22. That being said, Coleman is the better fit and better receiver. 23. Minnesota Vikings - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Anyone who's watched five minutes of the Vikings offense knows how badly they need a wide receiver to help pull some guys out of the box to allow RB Adrian Peterson some room to run and provide a reliable target for QB Teddy Bridgewater to throw to. WR Stefon Diggs is a solid first step, but the Vikings need someone else. Treadwell is that someone else. Despite the fact that scouts seem to be all over the place on him, Treadwell is still generally considered to be a part of the top tier of receivers this year. There are concerns over his speed and his ability to separate from defenders on his routes, which have caused some to move him down the receiver rankings in favor of Coleman, TCU WR Josh Doctson, or Ohio State WR Michael Thomas. That being said, I still believe Treadwell is the best receiver in a solid receiver class. He's a big target with long arms and large hands who makes just about every catch on any ball thrown his way. He's stronger than your average receiver, is a good blocker in the run game, and, despite his 40 yard dash time not being ideal (4.63), he plays fast. He's outstanding on 50/50 jump balls and always seems to make a play on the ball when the ball's in the air to go along with the fact that he's well above-average after the catch and uses his strength to shake off tacklers. He's exactly the kind of target that Teddy Bridgewater needs and would be a perfect fit in the Vikings offense. Offensive line, secondary, and linebacker are all other areas of need for Minnesota that they should look to address in later rounds, but, even if it isn't Treadwell, they should be able to get a quality wide receiver here in the first round with this pick. 24. Cincinnati Bengals - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU After both WRs Marvin Jones and Mohammad Sanu left Cincy in free agency, finding a number two wide receiver across from All-Pro WR A.J. Green seems to be the biggest hole on the Bengals roster. After sitting out free agency in terms of a wide receiver, the Bengals are well-positioned to add to that position via the draft here with their first pick. At least one of the top four options should be on the board here, and all of them will be able to help the Bengals from the start. In terms of Doctson, he's one of the most experienced receivers in this draft. A reliable target with great hands and excellent route running ability, Doctson is a great complement to Green and could easily step into the role left by Jones on the outside opposite Green, with the potential to be even better. He's a fantastic athlete with great ball skills and the ability to separate from defenders. It's close between Thomas and Doctson in this spot (Fuller may also be considered), and both are deserving of first round picks, but Doctson has the slight edge. Cincy also will be looking to improve their defensive line, so Baylor DL Andrew Billings or Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler are both options, but Doctson is too good a playmaker to pass on here. 25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston Jackson is a player that has flown up draft boards during the offseason, thanks in part to his height and speed. Still, Jackson is not just a workout warrior, as he also has the stats to back up his first round stock. His instincts playing the ball are among the best of any defensive back in this year's class, and he has the fluid movement that any team would want from a corner. At Houston, he has experience playing all kinds of coverages (although he seems best suited for a press-man role), so he will be able to adapt to whichever style the team that drafts him has. The Steelers biggest need is clearly at defensive back (they need help at both corner and safety), and they apparently love Jackson, so if he's still on the board here, he should definitely be the pick. Pittsburgh could also use help along both lines, but with such a deep defensive line draft, the Steelers can afford to wait until the second round to address that and take Jackson here. 26. Seattle Seahawks - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Apple would be the fourth corner off the board here in the first round (and fifth first round Buckeye), and he's well deserving of this spot. Despite the fact that the Seahawks recently re-signed CB Brandon Browner, Seattle needs some additional depth in the secondary. Their biggest need is clearly along the offensive line, so Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi, Whitehair, or Kelly are all options in this spot, but Apple seems like a typical Seahawks pick given that his player description reads like the kind of corner the Seahawks would design in a lab. He's tall, aggressive, uses his hands well to battle for position, and is an above average run defender for a cornerback. He can get flagged a bit often because of his aggressive hand use, but he has the raw natural ability that could be developed into something really special in the right hands. Pair him with CB Richard Sherman, and those would seem to be the right hands. One of the youngest players in the draft at only age 20, Apple's combination of upside and talent make him a player the Seahawks would be hard-pressed to pass on. This is also a spot that could be used to select Nkemdiche, or the Seahawks could trade down, so a team like the Browns could trade their way into this spot (especially if Lynch is on the board). Teams could want to trade back into the first round to select a quarterback (whether it be Lynch, Hack, or Michigan State QB Connor Cook) for one simple reason: due to the rookie wage scale, first round picks have a team option for a fifth year that later round picks do not. Especially given the importance of the quarterback position, having an extra year of team control could be huge when thinking about selecting someone under center, and could make a quarterback that seems like they should go in the second round a first round pick. Something to consider, especially if five quarterbacks actually do come off the board tonight. 27. Green Bay Packers - Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama The need at linebacker is incredibly obvious for the Packers. They've needed a presence in the middle of their defense for quite some time. Despite experimenting and putting OLB Clay Matthews in the middle with a good amount of success, Matthews is better suited to come off the edge. He can absolutely play in the middle, but he's more valuable getting after the quarterback. Drafting a linebacker like Ragland allows Matthews to play more off the edge and will help solidify the middle of the Packers defense. He's excellent as a run defender and a sure tackler who can also make a bone-jarring hit if necessary. He needs some work on his coverage skills, but he will be able to play first and second down without issue at the NFL level, and definitely has shown the potential to be a three-down linebacker in the near future. Some teams will point to his lack of speed as a negative, but Ragland plays with the type of instincts that can make up for any negative that his speed may be. He has the experience as a team captain and two-year starter at a top program that has produced some very productive linebackers in recent years. If Green Bay decides to go elsewhere other than linebacker, they could take one of the five top corners if they're still on the board, or look to upgrade an aging offensive line with one of the top prospects along the line that are still available. 28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DL, Louisiana Tech Butler is exactly the kind of versatile defensive lineman that Kansas City could use on their line. With the ability to play each of the three-man front positions for the Chiefs 3-4 (while also showing the ability to play off the edge if need be in a 4-3 if a team that runs that drafts him), Butler projects best as a nose tackle, but could play wherever needed. One of the biggest guys in the draft along the defensive line, tipping the scales at 323 pounds, Butler moves surprisingly well for a man his size, which confirms the notion that he can come off the edge if he has to. There are some concerns about whether he simply dominated lesser competition at Louisiana Tech, but Butler has the physical tools to eventually be a force in the middle of any defensive line. The Chiefs biggest need is at cornerback, so they could go back-to-back years with red flag corners and go with Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander, or they could go with another name to watch with Miami (FL) CB Artie Burns. He's been flying up boards due to his physical attributes, and I've seen him in a good amount of late first round positions. The Chiefs could look at Lynch if he gets by the Jets as a backup to QB Alex Smith and would probably take a long look at whichever of the top four receivers gets by the likely three team receiver run from 22 to 24, or draft an offensive lineman such as Whitehair, but Butler seems to be too good a fit for Kansas City to pass. Plus, always remember: when head coach Andy Reid is in doubt, he will draft a lineman. 29. New England Patriots - DEFLATEGATE You may have heard, but the Patriots were accused of deflating footballs in the AFC Championship Game of their Super Bowl XLIX run, so the NFL took away this pick. To rub it in, on Monday (of draft week!), the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous ruling and stated that QB Tom Brady must serve his four-game suspension that was handed down as a result of the Deflategate saga, so, as of now, Brady is suspended for the first four games of 2016. Brady can either ask for a re-hearing in the 2nd Circuit or appeal to the Supreme Court to try and overturn this decision. Deflategate is never going away. Sorry, Pats fans. At least you have five 6th round picks to make up for it. 30. Arizona Cardinals - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia The Cardinals seem to be one of the deepest teams in the league, and don't have many glaring holes, so, especially if Kelly is off the board, I'd expect them to look to add depth along their defensive backfield. Alexander / any of the above cornerbacks if they're still available all are potential options as well, as is Clemson S / CB T.J. Green, who has been one of the hottest names the last few days, but Joseph is a player well worth the Cardinals' first round pick. One of the best ball hawks in the draft, Joseph has outstanding range and fantastic ball skills. He's a hard hitter who seems to enjoy contact and looks to deliver a big hit whenever he can. He is recovering from a torn ACL that cut his senior season short, but all indications are that the knee is good to go. If he's healthy, he'd be a great addition to an already talented Cardinals secondary. If the Cards go in a direction other than the the secondary, Whitehair is a strong possibility since he also has some experience at the center position. They could also look to upgrade the pass rush, with Lawson or Dodd as the strongest options. Finally, a quarterback is also an option at this point if the Cardinals wanted to take one to sit behind starting QB Carson Palmer. Related side note: as a huge fan of Christian Hackenberg, and someone who truly, whole-heartedly believes he has the potential to be a great NFL quarterback, I would love to see him end up in Arizona somehow. I believe it's the perfect landing spot for him, and that's before you consider that his quarterback mentor to get ready for the draft is Carson Palmer's little brother, Jordan Palmer. Arizona head coach Bruce Arians' vertical passing offense is perfect for a quarterback with Hack's skill set (strong arm, moves much better than you realize, smart quarterback, experience making calls at the offensive line, great with Xs-and-Os at breaking down a defense). I went to Penn State, so I watched every single throw Hack made during his college career. I get the concerns and the red flags surrounding him (notably, his feet are too often out of position, he sometimes struggles to make basic throws, and his internal clock is simply off), but give him a year or two behind an entrenched starter like Palmer where there's no pressure to play right away so he can reset and readjust, and I truly believe Hack has the tools and the potential to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. If he doesn't end up in Arizona, other teams that would be the best fit for him include Houston (reunion with his former coach Bill O'Brien!!!), Dallas (as an Eagles fan, please don't let this happen...), Kansas City, Baltimore, San Diego, and New England. Sorry to hijack your section, Karl Joseph. You're a really good player, and I hope your knee is recovering well and you're a first round pick tonight! 31. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson Anyone who watched the Super Bowl knows that the biggest need for the Panthers is on the offensive line, specifically at the tackle spot. Offensive line has also been the Panthers' biggest need since they drafted QB Cam Newton #1 overall in 2011, but they haven't taken an offensive lineman in the first round since. Why draft one now? If they actually do draft an offensive lineman, look for Ifedi or Indiana OT Jason Spriggs. The Panthers will also be looking to upgrade their secondary (making Alexander a possible pick, or Joseph if he's still available. Two other names to watch are Clemson S / CB T.J. Green and Florida S Keanu Neal). A wide receiver is also possible, especially if one of the top four is still available, but I would expect the Panthers to try to upgrade their pass rush with this pick, especially if Dodd is available. Dodd jumped into the first round conversation thanks in large part to his incredible two game stretch in the College Football Playoff against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and Alabama in the National Championship Game. In those two games, he had ten solo tackles and four sacks and was constantly in the backfield for both of those games. He has experience rushing for either side, and uses a good combination of speed and power to get after the quarterback. The fact that he only was productive for one year (he was behind a few NFL caliber players in his first three years and didn't record a sack at Clemson until he got twelve of them this past year) may cause some teams to pass on him, but at the end of the first round, Dodd offers the right combination of potential and production to warrant him being taken in the first round. 32. Denver Broncos - Cody Whitehair, OG / C, Kansas State The biggest need for the Broncos is clearly at quarterback after QB Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler left for Houston. I've seen Cook in this spot a decent amount, as he seems to be most "NFL ready" of the bunch, but I'm not nearly as high on him as many others seem to be. The Broncos could opt to take him or Hackenberg and roll the dice with QB Mark Sanchez as their starter for now while the rookie develops. Their defense is clearly good enough to get by without a superstar quarterback, so if they're comfortable with the Sanchize, it's not a bad option. In the meantime, the defending champs should strongly consider upgrading what would be their next biggest need after quarterback: the offensive line. If they do, it comes down to Whitehair, Ifedi, or Spriggs, in which case, Whitehair really stands out for Denver. A lot of offensive linemen are speculated to be able to play multiple positions. Whitehair is one who has proven it. He started 29 games at both left and right tackle (26 left, three right) while at Kansas State, to go along with 22 starts at left guard. He also played a good amount of center at the Senior Bowl and all reports were that he did quite well. He prefers to play guard, but the versatility to play all five positions is something the Broncos will definitely be interested in. He's a high-character player who will be use his top-notch work ethic to play whichever position the team that drafts him asks him to play. He's the kind of experienced, ready to play now type of offensive lineman that the Broncos will want to draft as they set out to defend their Super Bowl title. In terms of need, after offensive line and quarterback, Denver will also be looking to fill the holes left in free agency at safety, linebacker, and along the defensive line, so Joseph, Nkemdiche, Mississippi State DL Chris Jones, or USC LB / S Su'a Cravens could all finish up the first round. Round 2 33. Cleveland Browns - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State 34. Tennessee Titans - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State 35. Dallas Cowboys - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson 36. San Diego Chargers - Chris Jones, DL, Mississippi State 37. Baltimore Ravens - Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame 38. San Francisco 49ers - Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M 39. Jacksonville Jaguars - Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss 40. Tampa Bay Bucs - Keanu Neal, S, Florida 41. New York Giants - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana 42. Chicago Bears - Su'a Cravens, LB / S, USC 43. Miami Dolphins - Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford 44. Tennessee Titans (Via Los Angeles Rams from Philadelphia Eagles) - Artie Burns, CB, Miami (FL) 45. Oakland Raiders - Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech 46. Tennessee Titans (Via Los Angeles Rams) - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State 47. Detroit Lions - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida 48. New Orleans Saints - Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh 49. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Billings, DL, Baylor 50. Buffalo Bills - Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State 51. Atlanta Falcons - Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State 52. New York Jets - Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor 53. Houston Texans - Austin Johnson, DL, Penn State 54. Washington Redskins - Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame 55. Minnesota Vikings - T.J. Green, S / CB, Clemson 56. Cincinnati Bengals - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State 57. Seattle Seahawks - Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn 58. Green Bay Packers - Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas 59. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA 60. Kansas City Chiefs - Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma 61. New England Patriots - Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State 62. New Engalnd Patriots (Via Arizona Cardinals) - Hassan Ridgeway, DL, Texas 63. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama 64. Denver Broncos - Deion Jones, LB, LSU Round 3 65. Tennessee Titans - Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State 66. Cleveland Browns - Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina 67. San Diego Chargers - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech 68. Dallas Cowboys - Maliek Collins, DL, Nebraska 69. San Francisco 49ers - Harlan Miller, CB, SE Louisiana 70. Jacksonville Jaguars - Nick Kwiatkoski, LB, West Virginia 71. Baltimore Ravens - Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State 72. New York Giants - Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech 73. Chicago Bears - Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU 74. Miami Dolphins - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State 75. Tampa Bay Bucs - Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers 76. Oakland Raiders - Devontae Booker, RB, Utah 77. Tennessee Titans (Via Los Angeles Rams) - Willie Henry, DL, Michigan 78. Cleveland Browns (Via Philadelphia Eagles from Detroit Lions) - Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri 79. New Orleans Saints - Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State 80. Philadelphia Eagles - Connor McGovern, OG, Missouri 81. Buffalo Bills - Joe Dahl, OG, Washington State 82. Atlanta Falcons - Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State 83. Indianapolis Colts - Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia 84. New York Jets - Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State 85. Washington Redskins - Yannick Ngakoue, OLB, Maryland 86. Houston Texans - Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina 87. Minnesota Vikings - Keivarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame 88. Cincinnati Bengals - Javon Hargreave, DL, South Carolina State 89. Green Bay Packers - Jalen Mills, S / CB, LSU 90. Pittsburgh Steelers - Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU 91. Seattle Seahawks - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame 92. Kansas City Chiefs - TAMPERGATE. Pick Forfeited. 93. New England Patriots - C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame 94. Arizona Cardinals - Isaac Seumalo, C, Oregon State 95. Carolina Panthers - Charone Peake, WR, Clemson 96. Denver Broncos - Jihad Ward, DL, Illinois 97. Detroit Lions (Compensatory Pick) - Jeremy Cash, S, Duke 98. New England Patriots (Compensatory Pick) - Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State 99. Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Pick) - Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA 100. Denver Broncos (Compensatory Pick) - Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Round 4 101. Cleveland Browns - Sheldon Day, DL, Notre Dame 102. Cleveland Browns (Via Philadelphia Eagles from Tennessee Titans) - Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma 103. Dallas Cowboys - Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian State 104. San Diego Chargers - Spencer Drango, OG / T, Baylor 105. Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Boehm, C, Missouri 106. Baltimore Ravens - Sean Davis, S, Maryland 107. San Francisco 49ers - Darrell Greene, OG, San Diego State 108. Chicago Bears - Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State 109. Miami Dolphins - Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas 110. Tampa Bay Bucs - Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota 111. New York Giants - Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State 112. Los Angeles Rams - Chris Moore, WR, Cincinnati 113. Detroit Lions - Joe Schobert, LB / OLB, Wisconsin 114. New Orleans Saints - Rees Odhiambo, OG, Boise State 115. Los Angeles Rams (Via Tennessee Titans from Philadelphia Eagles) - Justin Simmons, S, Boston College 116. Oakland Raiders - Adolphus Washington, DL, Ohio State 117. Atlanta Falcons - Sebastian Tretola, OG, Arkansas 118. Indianapolis Colts - Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana 119. Buffalo Bills - Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OT, TCU 120. New York Jets - Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford 121. Houston Texans - Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia 122. Washington Redskins - Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina 123. Minnesota Vikings - Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford 124. Cincinnati Bengals - B.J. Goodson, LB, Clemson 125. Pittsburgh Steelers - Joe Thuney, OG / T, North Carolina State 126. Seattle Seahawks - Max Tuerk, C, USC 127. Green Bay Packers - D.J. Reader, DL, Clemson 128. Kansas City Chiefs - Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central 129. Chicago Bears (Via New England Patriots) - Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA 130. Arizona Cardinals - Aaron Wallace, OLB, UCLA 131. Carolina Panthers - Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State 132. Baltimore Ravens (Via Denver Broncos) - Travis Feeney, LB, Washington 133. Green Bay Packers (Compensatory Pick) - Avery Young, OG / T, Auburn 134. Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Pick) - Charles Tapper, DL, Oklahoma 135. San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Pick) - Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona 136. Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Pick) - Parker Ehinger, OG, Cincinnati 137. Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Pick) - Devon Cajuste, WR / TE, Stanford 138. Denver Broncos (Compensatory Pick) - Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah 139. Green Bay Packers (Compensatory Pick) - Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU 140. Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Pick) - Kenny Lawler, WR, California 141. Buffalo Bills (Compensatory Pick) - Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State Round 5 142. Tennessee Titans - Dominique Alexander, LB, Oklahoma 143. Cleveland Browns - Dominique Robertson, OT, West Georgia 144. San Francisco 49ers (Via San Diego Chargers) - Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama 145. Oakland Raiders (Via Dallas Cowboys) - Jack Allen, C, Michigan State 146. Denver Broncos (Via Baltimore Ravens) - Caleb Benenoch, OT, UCLA 147. San Francisco 49ers - Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford 148. Jacksonville Jaguars - Domenick Jackson, OG, Alabama 149. Miami Dolphins - Jared Norris, LB, Utah 150. Tampa Bay Bucs - DeAndre Houston-Carson, S, William & Mary 151. New York Giants - Matt Ioannidis, DL, Temple 152. Chicago Bears - Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas 153. Detroit Lions - Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia 154. New Orleans Saints - Maurice Canady, CB, Virginia 155. Philadelphia Eagles - Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida 156. Oakland Raiders - Juston Burris, CB, North Carolina State 157. Los Angeles Rams - SUPPLEMENTAL PICK. Pick Forfeited. 158. Indianapolis Colts - Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama 159. Buffalo Bills - Roberto Aguayo, K, Florida State 160. Atlanta Falcons - NOISEGATE. Pick Forfeited. 161. Denver Broncos (Via New York Jets) - Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas 162. Washington Redskins - Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple 163. Houston Texans - Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina 164. Minnesota Vikings - Steven Daniels, LB, Boston College 165. Cincinnati Bengals - Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson 166. Kansas City Chiefs (Via Seattle Seahawks) - Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU 167. Green Bay Packers - James Cowser, DE, Southern Utah 168. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Pittsburgh Steelers) - John Theus, OT, Georgia 169. Kansas City Chiefs - Tyvis Powell, S, Ohio State 170. Houston Texans (Via New England Patriots) - Graham Glasgow, C, Michigan 171. Arizona Cardinals - Anthony Zettel, DL, Penn State 172. Carolina Panthers - Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Miss 173. Detroit Lions (Via Denver Broncos) - Alex Redmond, OG, UCLA 174. Arizona Cardinals (Compensatory Pick) - Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State 175. Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Pick) - DeMarcus Robinson, WR, Florida 176. Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Pick) - Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky 177. Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Pick) - Deon Bush, S, Miami (FL) 178. San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Pick) - Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU 179. San Diego Chargers (Compensatory Pick) - Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA Round 6 180. Cleveland Browns - Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn 181. Los Angeles Rams (Via Tennessee Titans) - James Bradberry, CB, Samford 182. San Francisco 49ers (Via Dallas Cowboys) - Tyrone Holmes, DL, Montana 183. San Diego Chargers - K.J. Dillon, S, West Virginia 184. Minnesota Vikings (Via San Francisco 49ers) - Drew Kaser, P, Texas A&M 185. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee 186. Baltimore Ravens - Tavon Young, CB, Temple 187. Tampa Bay Bucs - Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan 188. New York Giants - Anthony Brown, CB, Purdue 189. Chicago Bears - Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia 190. Miami Dolphins - Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska 191. Washington Redskins (Via New Orleans Saints) - D.J. White, CB, Georgia Tech 192. Philadelphia Eagles - Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa 193. Dallas Cowboys (Via Oakland Raiders) - Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech 194. Los Angeles Rams - Austin Blythe, C, Iowa 195. Detroit Lions - Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois 196. Buffalo Bills - Kyle Carter, TE, Penn State 197. Tennessee Titans (Via Atlanta Falcons) - Kevon Seymour, CB, USC 198. Oakland Raiders (Via Indianapolis Colts) - Deiondre Hall, S, Northern Iowa 199. Houston Texans (Via New York Jets) - Matt Judon, DE, Grand Valley State 200. New England Patriots (Via Houston Texans) - Tyler Marz, OT, Wisconsin 201. Tampa Bay Bucs (Via Washington Redskins) - Jalin Marshall, WR, Ohio State 202. San Diego Chargers (Via Minnesota Vikings) - Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford 203. Cincinnati Bengals - Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan 204. Green Bay Packers - Michael Thomas, WR, Southern Miss 205. Jacksonville Jaguars (Via Pittsburgh Steelers) - Jason Fanaika, DE, Utah 206. Detroit Lions (Via Seattle Seahawks) - LeShaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah 207. Kansas City Chiefs - Jacoby Brissett, QB, North Carolina State 208. New England Patriots - Will Parks, S, Arizona 209. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Striker, LB / S, Oklahoma 210. Chicago Bears (Via Carolina Panthers) - De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State 211. San Francisco 49ers (Via Denver Broncos) - Henry Krieger Coble, TE, Iowa 212. New England Patriots (Compensatory Pick) - Denver Kirkland, OG, Arkansas 213. Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Pick) - Dadi Nicolas, OLB, Virginia Tech 214. Detroit Lions (Compensatory Pick) - Cole Toner, C, Harvard 215. San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Pick) - Kavon Frazier, S, Central Michigan 216. Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Pick) - DeAndre Elliott, CB, Colorado State 217. San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Pick) - David Perkins, OLB, Illinois State 218. New England Patriots (Compensatory Pick) - Adam Gotsis, DL, Georgia Tech 219. Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Pick) - Victor Ochi, DE, Stony Brook 220. Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Pick) - Elijah Shumate, S, Notre Dame 221. Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Pick) - Aziz Shittu, DE, Stanford 222. Buffalo Bills (Compensatory Pick) - Chase Ferris, OG, Ohio State 223. Denver Broncos (Compensatory Pick) - Vincent Valentine, DL, Nebraska 224. Pittsburgh Steelers (Compensatory Pick) - Stephen Weatherly, OLB, Vanderbilt 225. New England Patriots (Compensatory Pick) - Cleveland Wallace, CB, San Jose State Round 7 226. Tennessee Titans - Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State 227. Cleveland Browns - Ted Karras, OG, Illinois 228. San Diego Chargers - Nate Sudfeld, QB, Indiana 229. Seattle Seahawks (Via Dallas Cowboys) - Davante Harris, OT, Appalachian State 230. Jacksonville Jaguars - Fahn Cooper, OT, Ole Miss 231. Miami Dolphins (Via Baltimore Ravens) - Dean Lowry, DE, Northwestern 232. Denver Broncos (Via San Francisco 49ers) - Glenn Gronkowski, FB, Kansas State 233. Pittsburgh Steelers (Via New York Giants) - Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State 234. Chicago Bears - Derrick Kindred, S, TCU 235. Miami Dolphins - Briean Boddy-Calhoun, CB, Minnesota 236. Washington Redskins (Via Tampa Bay Bucs) - Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State 237. Philadelphia Eagles - Antonio Morrison, LB, Florida 238. Oakland Raiders - Josh Forrest, LB, Kentucky 239. New York Jets (Via Denver Broncos from Houston Texans) - DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech 240. Detroit Lions - Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky 241. New Orleans Saints - Drew Ott, DE, Iowa 242. Atlanta Falcons - Jordan Lucas, S, Penn State 243. Indianapolis Colts - Beniquez Brown, LB, Mississippi State 244. Minnesota Vikings (Via Buffalo Bills) - Tajae Sharpe, WR, UMass 245. New York Jets - Stephane Nembot, OT, Colorado 246. Washington Redskins - Cassanova McKinzy, LB, Auburn 247. New England Patriots (Via Houston Texans) - Jatavis Brown, LB / S, Akron 248. Minnesota Vikings - Vi Teofilo, OG, Arizona State 249. Cincinnati Bengals - Kyle Friend, C, Temple 250. Pittsburgh Steelers - Tevin Carter, S, Utah 251. Seattle Seahawks - Terrance Smith, LB, Florida State 252. Green Bay Packers - Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State 253. Kansas City Chiefs - Cre'Von LeBlanc, CB, Florida Atlantic 254. New England Patriots - Michael Jordan, CB, Missouri Western 255. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Arizona Cardinals) - Morgan Burns, CB, Kansas State 256. Carolina Panthers - Trae Elston, S, Ole Miss 257. Denver Broncos - Trevor Davis, WR, California Big Board
The NFL Draft begins tonight at 8PM with the first round. It continues on tomorrow with the second and third rounds and finishes up on Saturday with the fourth through seventh rounds.
Happy Draft Day! By: Stephen C. As you might have figured out, I've been pretty interested in this Presidential election. Next Tuesday, April 26, my home state of Pennsylvania will go to the polls and vote for, among other things, who we want to represent our respective parties in November as the Presidential nominee. Since the Pennsylvania primary has some confusing rules, specifically on the Republican side, I'll explain what you can expect when you go to the polls on Tuesday. Democrats I'll start on the Democratic side because that's WAY more straight forward. As a Democrat, when you receive your ballot, for President, you will simply select either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. There are 210 delegates, which are awarded in a mostly proportional way. Of the 210 total delegates, 127 delegates are awarded proportionally based on voting at a congressional district level. In addition, there are 62 delegates that are selected by party leadership who will also be proportionally allocated based on the statewide vote, provided that candidate hits the 15% trigger (which only Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton should). The remaining 21 delegates are "superdelegates" and can support whichever candidate they want at the convention, regardless of the statewide vote. So basically, 189 delegates are awarded proportionally based on the state-wide vote, while 21 "superdelegates" can support whoever they want. Simple enough, right? Republicans As a Republican, you will be first be asked to choose between Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, and Jeb Bush (although the latter three have all suspended their campaigns, they will still appear on the ballot). Whoever wins the statewide vote between those six candidates will automatically receive 17 of the 71 delegates. Here's where things can get complicated. The remaining 54 delegates are completely unbound at the convention and will be selected directly by the voters, three per congressional district (this is referred to as a "loophole primary"). There will also be no guidance provided on the ballot for who these potential delegates will be supporting at the convention. Many of those running have said they will support whoever wins the state-wide vote, or whoever wins their congressional district, but the unbound nature of their election makes them complete wild cards. Also, since the ballot will provide no help as to which delegate is supporting which candidate, the voter needs to do their own research. The best resource I found was this Google doc spreadsheet, created by Phil Kerpen, who is the President of American Commitment, a conservative public-policy organization. In the spreadsheet, Kerpen has compiled the information of each potential delegate with who they would be supporting and why, organized by congressional district. All you need to do is find your congressional district, read through the delegate candidates, and select the ones that match up with your Presidential preference pick. Keep in mind that there may not be delegates in your congressional district who are planning on supporting your pick for President. Both Democrats and Republicans Pennsylvania Republicans will be asked to vote in the United States Senator primary (although incumbent Senator Pat Toomey is running unopposed, he still officially needs to win the nomination), while Pennsylvania Democrats will need to vote in the primary for United States Senator between John Fetterman, Katie McGinty, Joe Sestak, and Joseph John Vodvarka. Each party will also need to nominate their congressional district's Congressman/woman. There are also primaries being held for the nomination for Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, State Senator, and State Representative in each party. Attorney General, Auditor General, and State Treasurer will be the same throughout the state (by party), while both State Senator and State Representative are on a local level.
Hope this helped make a potentially complicated process a little bit easier. Happy voting! By: Stephen C. Last night, the NBA closed its regular season with one of the most eventful season finales I can remember. The Golden State Warriors broke the single season record for wins by winning their 73rd game. One of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers SG Kobe Bryant, took his final shot (which was honestly incredible to watch. I watched the whole game, especially since the Warriors game was never in doubt, and what Kobe did was remarkable. He put up 60 points on 50 shots, hit his final five shots from the field and final four free throws, including the go-ahead pull up jumper with 35 seconds left and two free throws to ice the game and give the Lakers one last come from behind victory. It was Vintage Mamba as he turned back the clock one final time for one last epic performance, and watching it unfold was amazing). The Miami Heat blew a 26 point lead with homecourt advantage for the first round on the line by putting up a five point third quarter only to get bailed out and still clinch the three seed. The Philadelphia 76ers almost won their eleventh game. Really great day of basketball. With the end of the regular season, we look to the playoffs. Before we get to who's playing who, here are some things you should know:
Conference Quarterfinals E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E8. Detroit Pistons (Season Series: Detroit, 3-1) The Pistons had a good season. They even won the season series against the Cavs. C Andre Drummond and PG Reggie Jackson seem to be developing a great chemistry together and the future seems bright in Detroit. That being said, they're not beating Playoff LeBron. Cavs in 5. E2. Toronto Raptors vs. E7. Indiana Pacers (Season Series: Toronto, 3-1) The Raptors were probably the most consistent team in the East this season despite finishing second. The backcourt of PG Kyle Lowry and SG DeMar Derozan may be the second best backcourt in the league and the rest of the team is good enough to make a run in the East. The Pacers bounced back after a disappointing season last year (in large part due to the broken leg of SF Paul George). This series could be closer than many think, but Toronto should be able to win relatively easily. Raptors in 6. E3. Miami Heat vs. E6. Charlotte Hornets (Season Series: Split, 2-2) The Miami Heat may be one of the most perplexing team in the league. One night, they'll look like the best team in the league. The next, they'll put up five points in a quarter and blow a 26 point lead. Trying to figure these guys out isn't exactly easy. That kind of inconsistency over a seven game series could brew an upset. Miami should be able to easily handle the Hornets, but with how up and down the Heat have been, I like the Hornets to at least extend the series longer than the Heat would want. Heat in 7. E4. Atlanta Hawks vs. E5. Boston Celtics (Season Series: Atlanta, 3-1) This may actually be the most competitive first round series on either side as these two teams matchup pretty well against each other. Both teams are more of an ensemble approach rather than letting one guy set the pace for either team (although Celtics PG Isaiah Thomas may beg to differ). Should be a fun series that comes down to the wire. Celtics in 7. W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W8. Houston Rockets (Season Series: Golden State, 3-0) The Rockets were actually my preseason pick to win the West. Let's just say that was a bad pick and leave it at that. Warriors in 4. W2. San Antonio Spurs vs. W7. Memphis Grizzlies (Season Series: San Antonio, 4-0) I'm gonna continue to try and save some column space. I don't see any possible way the Grizz beat the Spurs. At all. Spurs in 4. W3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. W6. Dallas Mavericks (Season Series: Oklahoma City, 4-0) Thunder PG Russell Westbrook will probably finish second in MVP voting after his ridiculous triple-double filled season. Couple him with former MVP SF Kevin Durant and the Thunder probably have the best 1-2 punch in the league. The questions come into play after that. The rest of the starting lineup should be alright, but the depth of OKC will be tested. Maybe not in this series, but definitely in round two. Thunder in 5. W4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. W5. Portland Trail Blazers (Season Series: Los Angeles, 3-1) The Blazers were easily the most surprising team in the league this season. After losing four starters, they were supposed to be in contention for a top five pick. Instead, they're in the playoffs. I don't think they're good enough to take down the Clips, but the fact that they even made the playoffs is incredible. Clippers in 5. Conference Semifinals E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E5. Boston Celtics (Season Series: Cleveland, 2-1) This was the first round matchup last year that ended Cavs PF Kevin Love's season. Let's say the Cavs have had this potential matchup circled for a while. They'll want, not just to win, but to win big. The Cavs have struggled to stay motivated during the season. I don't think they'll struggle for motivation in this one. Playoff LeBron rolls on. Cavs in 4. E2. Toronto Raptors vs. E3. Miami Heat (Season Series: Toronto, 3-1) The two teams that are basically opposites in terms of consistency. You know what you'll get on a nightly basis from Toronto. You have no idea which Miami team will show up on any given night. Even so, I like the talent and playoff experience of the Heat in this one. So long as the Heat stay healthy, they're the second most talented team in the East. That talent should carry them past a very good Raptors team. Heat in 7. W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W4. Los Angeles Clippers (Season Series: Golden State, 4-0) These two teams have hated each other long before the Warriors got ridiculously good, so there is nothing the Clippers would like more than to end the Warriors fairy tale run. That said, I just don't see the Clippers being able to handle the multiple looks the Dubs can throw at them. The Warriors are just too deep and too talented for the Clippers top-heavy team. Warriors in 5. W2. San Antonio Spurs vs. W3. Oklahoma City Thunder (Season Series: Split, 2-2) Everyone is looking forward to a seemingly inevitable Warriors-Spurs Western Conference Finals, but this series is not one to overlook. The Spurs and Thunder have played some fantastic games and playoff series over the last few years. Watching Spurs SF Kawhi Leonard guard KD is one of the best one-on-one matchups in the entire NBA. The top three teams in the West are all awesome, so any matchup between two of them is must-see. This entire series is no exception. Spurs in 7. Conference Finals E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E3. Miami Heat (Season Series: Miami, 2-1) The last team the Cavs want to see in the Eastern Conference Finals is the Heat. They seem to be the team in the East that played them the toughest during each matchup. Even so, I don't see anything in the East stopping Playoff LeBron from rolling on to a sixth consecutive NBA Finals berth. Whether he can win, well, we'll see. But the Cavs are the best team with the best player in the East and should be able to win the conference relatively easily. Cavs in 6. W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W2. San Antonio Spurs (Season Series: Golden State, 3-1) The seven game series everyone has been waiting for. The first team to win a road game probably wins this series, and seeing as how the Warriors won a road game during the regular season (the "one" of the Spurs 40-1 home record came against the Warriors in the last week of the regular season), it makes me lean towards them. That, plus Steph Curry is really freakin good. Warriors in 7. NBA Finals W1. Golden State Warriors vs. E1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Season Series: Golden State, 2-0) A re-match of last year's Finals seems to be a fitting end to this season. My heart says Cavs, my head says Warriors. Last year, this series was more competitive than it maybe should have been last year due to a superhuman effort from LeBron after injuries decimated the Cavs. If the Cavs can stay healthy, I truly do believe the Cavs can keep this series close throughout. They'll need all three of their stars to play like stars if they want to pull the upset, especially Playoff LeBron. That being said, this Warriors team is historically good. They're obviously one of the best offensive team in the league, but it's their defense that really makes them great. SF Draymond Green has developed into one of the best players in the league, and he's the catalyst for the Warriors' "Lineup of Death," a lineup that has everyone between 6'3" and 6'9". This lineup gives them the versatility to switch everything on defense, but Draymond's presence allows them to do it without a true center on the floor. It's amazing to watch. Add in the fact that no one in the league has figured out how to stop the Steph-Draymond pick-and-roll, and the Dubs should be on their way to a second consecutive title. I expect Playoff LeBron & Co. to push them to the brink, but the Warriors are just too good at home and too good overall to drop a series over seven games. For the first time in six years, I'm going to pick against LeBron James in the playoffs. Forgive me. I'll be rooting for him and the Cavs, but it's too tough to pick against the Warriors. Warriors in 7. Finals MVP: Draymond Green The NBA Playoffs begin this Saturday. The NBA Finals begin June 2. Happy Playoffs!
By: Stephen C. I’ve never really been in shape, but I’ve never really been that out of shape either. At least until my post grad life. My weight has yo-yoed a bit (freshman year of college for instance! What’s college without the freshman 15? In the first semester?), but for the vast majority of the last 10 years, I’ve been right around 175-180 pounds. I’m pretty average height, so the fact that I was pretty average weight makes sense. When I graduated from Penn State in May 2013, I was right around that weight. Then the real world started.
For the first year and a half of my job, I was on the road just about every single week, and being on the road, we ate out at restaurants just about every single night. Having just found out about this really sweet concept of “money,” plus the fact that work paid for my meals while I was on the road, PLUS the fact that I really like eating AND can eat more than just about anyone I know, well, you do the math. I ate. And I ate a lot. And a lot of what I ate wasn’t exactly good for you. There was one restaurant near that first client site where we ate at pretty consistently, and my dinner was an appetizer of buffalo wings (which was split between me and another person, so I’d eat about three or so. They were a pretty solid size though) and lobster mac & cheese. Trust me when I tell you they did not skimp on the cheese. On the drive home, I would stop at a rest stop on the turnpike and get a bag of those mini Reese’s just because I could. I wasn’t paying for it! May as well eat it! I’d eat the entire bag in one sitting. I’m not saying eating those things is bad or wrong, and I’m sure if I had them with any sort of moderation, it wouldn’t have been nearly as bad, but the word “moderation” never registered when it came to food. It never had to. But a typical day over the past three years has included a lot of me sitting or lying down. Work for eight to ten hours, sitting in front of a computer screen. Drive to and from work, sitting in my car. Watch Netflix, sitting / lying in bed. Watch TV or play PlayStation, sitting / lying on the couch. You get the picture. My daily exercise was when I walked the 250 feet from my car to my desk at work. There wasn’t much physical activity to balance out the crazy amount of food I was eating like there had been in the past. As I said, I’ve never really been in the best shape, but I would always at least go play football or basketball or do something when I was in school. After I started work? Yea, I used my free time to do absolutely nothing. And it really started to show. I noticed, but I didn’t really care that much. What’s it matter? Everyone gains some weight after they start work. It’s basically a rite of passage, right? I refused to go anywhere near a scale, partly because if I didn’t actually see the weight, then it wasn’t true and partly because I really didn’t see an issue. One year went by, then another. Finally, this past year, I really started to notice it, and so did other people. I play in a softball game every Memorial Day with my church, and I hit a SHOT way over the outfielders’ heads (let me brag a little. I destroyed that ball). There’s no fence, so I probably should’ve had a home-run on it. I got a triple, and was absolutely completely out of breath by the time I got to third. It’s not like we were playing on a major league field with 90 foot base paths. They were like 30-40 feet or so. Not exactly a far distance… Someone mentioned that I really shouldn't have been that out of breath from just running that much. They were right. A little later, a co-worker saw a picture of me from college and said “wow, Steve! You used to be really skinny!” (which, compared to what I looked like at the time, he was probably right, but that was also the first time I was ever called skinny in my life, so I’ll take it!). Moments like these would happen every so often during the last eight or so months of 2015, but it never really registered with me. Don’t get me wrong, I knew I had gained some weight, but I didn’t consider it a problem or anything. In my mind, I was probably around 190. No way was I over 200 pounds. Couldn’t be. Finally, as a result of curiosity moreso than anything else, I stepped on a scale. Imagine my surprise when the number 231 was staring back at me. You read those last two paragraphs. The fact that I had ballooned up by about 50-55 pounds shouldn’t really have surprised me. But it did. I stepped on that scale in December, so I told myself I needed to do something, and I needed to start it soon. I decided to do the most stereotypical of stereotypical New Year’s resolutions: lose some weight. One of my best friends lost a ton of weight a few years ago, so I knew I could count on him to help throughout the process, plus, I have three brothers, all of whom work out and work out a good amount (one’s a federal agent who literally gets paid to chase people, the other runs a sports complex where he basically lives in a gym, the third is on the high school football team and lifts just about every single day), so there are positive influences in my life from that perspective, but that wouldn’t have remotely mattered until I wanted to actually do this for myself. I could have had the best influences in the history of the world, but until I told myself that I wanted to get in shape for me, I never would have actually started down this road. On January 4, I started P90X. It’s probably the eighth or ninth time I’ve started it since the program came out when I was in high school. The furthest I had made it was about mid-way through the second month the very first time I did it. That was because I was doing it with two of my brothers. I don’t even remember the reason I had at the time, but I stopped doing it mostly because I didn’t care enough to. As I said, 175-180. That’s where I was most of my life. At that time, I was probably closer to 170. I was fine. High metabolism or something or other. Every other time I did it, I’d last pretty much a week. This time though, I was committed. I had a legitimate reason and a legitimate drive to do those workouts each and every day. This was one of those times when I channeled my competitiveness and stubbornness towards myself and tried to make something good of it. Last Saturday was day 90. Of the 90 days, I only missed two workouts (once because I did not feel well, which I blame on quinoa, and once because I went skiing, so it still counts, right?). I was pretty determined to get through all 90 days, but even I was a little surprised that I actually made it. There were definitely days when I didn’t want to commit an hour plus to having Tony Horton yell at me or make me contort in ways I still don’t think are imaginable, but I pushed myself every single day to, as Tony says, “just push play. Do your best and forget the rest.” As of last Saturday, I was 205 pounds, down 26 pounds in the last 90 days. It’s still not where I want to be, but it’s WAY better than where I was when that scale stared back at me last December. This week, I re-started the program from the beginning, with today being day four (yoga day, which I still contend is the most difficult one seeing as how I’m the least flexible person in the entire world). I don’t have a number in mind for what I want to get to by the end, but I want to just be a bit healthier, a bit more mindful of how much and what I eat, and in overall better shape. To be honest, I don’t write this for the potential “congratulations!” posts that could come when people read this. I almost feel like the arsonist who gets credit for helping put out the fire that he started. The only reason I lost this weight was because I found it in the first place. I don’t even write this to potentially inspire someone else, because, as I said, you have to want it for YOU; otherwise, nothing will come of it. I hope that will happen with someone, but it’d be a secondary goal. I write it mostly for selfish reasons. To hold myself accountable. Peer pressure is real, and the more people that know what I’m doing, the more I’ll hold myself accountable to continue to get in better shape. I feel better. I look better. And I will continue to be better. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m well on my way. By: Stephen C. Happy March! Welcome back to the greatest tournament in the world: the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. This year in college basketball has been one of the most insane in recent memory. Upset after upset has been the story line for the entire year, and with no overwhelming favorite to win the tournament this year, it should make for yet another great edition. Here are some fun bracket facts for this year:
South Favorite: Kansas Sleeper (double digit seed poised to make a run): Wichita State Upset Alert (top four seed that may not make it to the Sweet 16): Villanova We'll start in the South, this year's deepest bracket, where I went mostly chalk in the first round, with the exception of #11 Wichita State over #6 Arizona and #9 UConn over #8 Colorado. Although I think both Arizona and Wichita State were severely underseeded, I like the Shockers to, ahem, shock Arizona (sorry) due to their experience, despite Arizona's talent. Second round is where I have my first big upset: #7 Iowa over #2 Villanova. Fun fact: only four times in the last 31 years have all four #2 seeds made it to the Sweet 16. Although I don't think Nova is the weakest #2 seed, Nova has a history of making an early exit in March, and that could easily happen again this year. As much as I don't want to see it, Iowa has the talent to beat Nova in a potential second round matchup (stop trying to call me on my reverse jinx of having Iowa beat both Philly teams. Just let it go). I also went with Maryland over Cal. Maryland's shooting ability makes them a dangerous team against anyone, and they should be able to give Kansas a solid game in the Sweet 16 if they can make it that far. East Favorite: North Carolina Sleeper: Stephen F. Austin Upset Alert: Xavier The East seems like a pretty chalky bracket in general, but the game to watch is a potential Sweet 16 matchup between #1 North Carolina and #4 Kentucky. Easily two of the most talented teams in the nation, this matchup could end up deciding the region, although, make sure not to sleep on #3 West Virginia. The Mountaineers are the nation's deepest team, allocating about 40% of their total minutes to their bench, and definitely have the talent to make a deep run. Their first round opponent, #14 Stephen F. Austin, could give them some trouble as they may be the best double digit seed in the bracket, but West Virginia should be able to make it to at least the Elite Eight. Midwest Favorite: Virginia / Michigan State (flip a coin) Sleeper: Gonzaga Upset Alert: Utah The Midwest features two of the top teams in the country in #1 Virginia and #2 Michigan State. Both teams should be considered title contenders, and a potential Elite Eight matchup between the two could be one of the best games of the tournament (besides the fact that MSU has knocked UVA out of the tournament that last two years). If one team can play spoiler on another UVA-MSU tournament game, it's #5 Purdue. Purdue may be the best team that's not considered a title favorite in the entire field, and could give UVA a tough out in the Sweet 16. #3 Utah is the team in the most precarious position of the top seeds for a couple of reasons: first of all, they're coming off a blow-out loss in the Pac-12 Championship game to Oregon. Second, they could play the most dangerous double digit seed in the entire field in #11 Gonzaga. The Zags seem to be criminally underseeded at an #11, and Utah could pay the price in an upset game in the second round. West Favorite: Oklahoma Sleeper: VCU Upset Alert: Oregon The West seems to be the weakest region, having the weakest collective top four seeds. #4 Duke is the defending national champions, but their young group of potential one-and-dones have been a bit underwhelming (despite the fact that G/F Brandon Ingram could be the #1 overall pick in June's draft). VCU seems to be the most dangerous lower seed, but with a potential second round matchup with the bracket favorite, Oklahoma, it could be tough for them to make a deep run. I'd probably take the winner of that game to win the West, which is why I took Oklahoma. Oregon seems to be the weakest #1 seed, but the way this bracket is set, they're positioned well for a deep run if they can get by the winner of a strong 8/9 matchup of #8 St. Joe's and #9 Cincinnati. Final Four Why, yes. I did take the most common Final Four this year! Kansas and Oklahoma should be another great game. If they meet in the Final Four, it would be the third time they meet this season. Kansas won a triple overtime thriller at home in the first matchup, and held on for a four point win in Oklahoma in the second matchup. I like the Jayhawks to win a potential third matchup as well. On the other side, North Carolina against Michigan State is a true coin-flip, but I lean towards the Tar Heels since they seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time. F Brice Johnson has been one of the nations best players, and UNC has a deep and talented rotation behind him. Between Kansas and UNC, I still lean towards UNC to cut down the nets in Houston. This tournament is so wide open though, I wouldn't be surprised when they lose in the second round. Should make for an awesome tournament. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tips off today at 12:15 with the defending champion Duke against UNC-Wilmington, with the first round continuing all day today and tomorrow. The second round will be held on Saturday and Sunday. The Sweet 16 will be on March 24 and 25, with the Elite Eight on March 26 and 27. The Final Four games will be played on April 2, and the National Championship game will be on April 4. Happy March!
By: Stephen C. Last week, I started a listing of the 25 players that I believed were the best in NBA history. You've had a week to digest the first part and wonder all the possible ways I could have been wrong or underrated / overrated a certain player. Let's reveal the top 15 now: 15. Julius Erving, SF, Philadelphia 76ers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1993), One Time Champion (1983), One Time MVP (1981), Eleven Time All-Star (1977-1987), Five Time All-NBA First Team (1978, 1980-1983), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1977, 1984) Dr. J is a difficult player to rank for a variety of reasons. First of all, his first five years playing professional basketball were in the American Basketball Association (ABA). You know, that league with the red, white, and blue ball that introduced such concepts as a three-point line and a dunk contest? Doc won two ABA championships and three MVP awards in his five seasons in the ABA. He's the only person to ever win the MVP award for both the ABA and the NBA, and if you combine his point totals from each league, he ranks sixth all-time in scoring. Another reason is the fact that the Sixers didn't break through and win a title before Moses Malone got to Philadelphia (although Doc carried the Sixers to the 1977 NBA Finals). He struggled with a mid-range game and was a sub-par defender. But what makes Doc as great as he was, and why he's ranked within the top 15, is a combination of his influence on the game (you can make a strong argument that Julius Erving is the most influential player in the history of basketball) coupled with the fact that he was absolutely devastating in transition and around the basket. Doc has some of the most iconic moments in the history of the game, including his rock the baby dunk and his behind the backboard layup from the 1980 NBA Finals. 14. Moses Malone, C, Houston Rockets / Philadelphia 76ers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2001), One Time Champion (1983), One Time Finals MVP (1983), Three Time MVP (1979, 1982, 1983), Twelve Time All-Star (1978-1989), Four Time All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985), Four Time All-NBA Second Team (1980, 1981, 1984, 1987), One Time All-Defensive First Team (1983), One Time All-Defensive Second Team (1979) One of the greatest rebounders in the history of the game, Moses Malone made a name for himself on the backboards. His rebounding ability was so good that the teams he was on had a play that was basically "if Moses has position down low, throw the ball at the basket and let him get the rebound for an easy putback." He was one of the most physical centers to ever play, and he used that physicality to crash the boards over and over and over again. His peak from 1979 to 1983 was among the greatest stretches by any center ever. If he could've sustained that peak for longer, he (and the Sixers) would've easily won more than one title. 13. Hakeem Olajuwon, C, Houston Rockets Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2008), NBA All-Time Leader in Blocks, Two Time NBA Champion (1994, 1995), Two Time Finals MVP (1994, 1995), One Time MVP (1994), Two Time Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994), Twelve Time All-Star (1985-1990, 1992-1997), Six Time All-NBA First Team (1987-1989, 1993, 1994, 1997), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1990, 1996), Three Time All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1995, 1999), Five Time All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994), Four Time All-Defensive Second Team (1985, 1991, 1996, 1997) The Dream remains the only person in the history of the league to win the regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP all in the same season. One of the most dominate post players in the history of the league on both sides of the ball, Hakeem was one of the few players who could truly do it all on the court. He had a natural athleticism that allowed him to guard just about anyone. He stuffed the stat sheet on a nightly basis, doing everything from scoring to rebounding to blocking shots. He was incredibly consistent throughout his career, averaging at least 20 points and ten rebounds for a season for the first twelve years in the league and missed the playoffs only three times in his 18 years in the league. From a defensive perspective, he's as good a player as there ever was, being the only player in the history of the league to combine for at least 500 blocks and steals in a single season (1990). 12. Oscar Robertson, PG, Milwaukee Bucks / Cincinnati Royals Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1980), One Time Champion (1971), One Time MVP (1964), Rookie of the Year (1961), Twelve Time All-Star (1961-1972), Nine Time All-NBA First Team (1961-1969), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1970, 1971) The first thing every basketball fan thinks of when they think of Oscar Robertson is that he is the only player in the history of the league to average a triple-double for an entire season. In fact, given his totals for his entire first SIX seasons in the league, he averages out to a triple-double as well (30.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists). He's easily one of the best all-around players ever and was seemingly ahead of his time at the guard position. He was bigger than most guards of his era, and has been called "Jordan before Jordan" in terms of his competitiveness and treatment of teammates. 11. Jerry West, SG, Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1980), One Time Champion (1972), One Time Finals MVP (1969), One Time, One Time Scoring Champion (1970), 14 Time All-Star (1961-1974), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1962-1967, 1970-1973), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1968, 1969), Four Time All-Defensive First Team (1970-1973), One Time All-Defensive Second Team (1969), Jerry West was another player that was simply ahead of his time. Had the three-point line been adopted a decade earlier, West would likely have been one of the top three-point shooters of all-time. West's all-time legacy was also hurt by the fact that All-Defensive teams weren't around until 1969 and the league didn't keep track of steals until 1973. West would have likely been a perennial member of the All-Defensive squad and almost definitely would have been the all-time leader in steals upon his retirement had they kept track of those during his time. West's legacy is unfortunately tied to the fact that he lost in the Finals a mind-boggling seven times and the fact that he's the only player from a losing team to ever be named Finals MVP. He finally broke through and won a title on the 1972 Lakers, but many look at the 1-7 record and try to dismiss him. They'll look past the fact that he averaged a ridiculous 40.6 points per game during the 1965 playoffs, but I mean, sure, just look at the seven losses. Jerry West is easily one of the best two-way players of all-time, and the fact that he's still the silhouette of the NBA logo is just another reason why he's among the best to ever play. 10. Shaquille O'Neal, C, Orlando Magic / Los Angeles Lakers / Miami Heat Accomplishments: Four Time Champion (2000-2002, 2006), Three Time Finals MVP (2000-2002), One Time MVP (2000), Rookie of the Year (1993), Two Time Scoring Champion (1995, 2000), 15 Time All-Star (1993-1998, 2000-2007, 2009), Eight Time All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000-2006), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999), Four Time All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2001, 2003) The most dominate performance I ever remember was Shaquille O'Neal during the 2001 NBA Finals (his stats were better in the 2000 Finals, but I don't remember them as well as the 2001 Finals since the Sixers didn't play in the Finals in 2000). Being a Philadelphia 76ers fan, I obviously was hoping that Shaq and the Lakers would lose, but that team, led by Shaq and Kobe Bryant, was an absolute juggernaut. Shaq averaged 33.0 points and 15.8 rebounds per game during the five game 2001 Finals, but it seemed more like 53 and 35. He was absolutely unstoppable. The Sixers even had the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 in Dikembe Mutombo, but it didn't matter. Shaq did whatever he wanted at will. That was Shaq in a nutshell. The most physically dominating player I have ever seen. So why is he only #10? Shaq had a unique way of leaving you wanting more. For a player as dominate as he was, you'd think he'd have more than one MVP award. For a player who could literally score whenever he pleased, you'd think he'd have more than two scoring titles. Shaq got to the point where he knew the regular season didn't matter as much, and he used it to get back in shape for a playoff run in which he would turn it on and destroy the league (could you imagine me saying that about anyone else on this list? Of course not). He famously feuded with his best teammate (Kobe) and left at least three more titles on the table. You can't convince me that the Lakers don't win the championship again in 2003, 2004, and 2005 if Shaq and Kobe get along. Shaq was subsequently traded to Miami, and probably should've won the title in 2005 (Dwyane Wade got hurt in the Eastern Conference Finals, derailing the Heat's season) before winning title number four in 2006. Had he been able to figure it out with Kobe and stay in LA, there's no doubt Shaq would've been higher on that list. Speaking of Kobe... 9. Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Five Time Champion (2000-2002, 2009, 2010), Two Time Finals MVP (2009, 2010), One Time MVP (2008), Two Time Scoring Champion (2006, 2007) 18 Time All-Star (1998, 2000-2016), Eleven Time All-NBA First Team (2002-2004, 2006-2013), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2001), Two Time All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005), Nine Time All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006-2011), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012) The Kobe Bryant we see today is a sad shell of his former self. It's so unfortunate because there were few players in the history of the league that were more fun to watch than Kobe Bryant when he was on his game. Kobe's last NBA image will be an ailing former star limping through a terrible season on a bad team, but prior to tearing his Achilles almost three years ago, Kobe Bryant was among the most durable superstars in NBA history. His durability is among the chief reasons he cracks the top ten. The fact that he was able to play for so long is how he was able to continually climb the all-time scoring ladder (he'll finish at third once he retires, just shy of 34,000 points). Kobe's 18 All-Star appearances rank second all-time (behind only Kareem) and his 15 All-NBA Teams and eleven First Team All-NBA Teams both rank tied for first all-time (total All-NBA teams tied with Kareem and Tim Duncan. First Team tied with Karl Malone). Throw in five championships and nine All-Defensive First Teams and you're looking at one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport. I think you easily can make the argument that the totality of Kobe's career is the second or third greatest ever (behind Kareem and a coin flip with Tim Duncan). What he has accomplished in his 20 years has been remarkable. The NBA will be a sad place next year without Kobe Bryant. 8. Larry Bird, SF, Boston Celtics Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1998), Three Time Champion (1981, 1984, 1986), Two Time Finals MVP (1984, 1986), Three Time MVP (1984-1986), Rookie of the Year (1980), Twelve Time All-Star (1980-1988, 1990-1992), Nine Time All-NBA First Team (1980-1988), One Time All-NBA Third Team (1990), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (1982-1984) From the 1983-84 season until the the 1987-88 season, Larry Bird ripped off one of the greatest five year stretches ever from the forward position. He averaged 27.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, all while shooting 51.2% from the field, 40.0% from three, and 89.9% from the free throw line and winning three straight MVP awards, two championships in four appearances, and two Finals MVPs. That's right, over a five year stretch, Larry Legend came within one tenth of a percentage point of averaging a 50-40-90 over a five year period. His three straight MVPs made him one of only three players to win three straight MVPs ever, along with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. No one else has done it other than those three. Not Magic. Not Kareem. Not MJ. Not LeBron. Until LeBron's 2008-09 to 2012-13 stretch (27.8, 7.6, 7.3, 51.8/35.1/76.7, four MVPs, two championships in three appearances, two Finals MVPs, four of the top twelve PER seasons ever), it was the undisputed top level of play for a forward. His 60 point performance against the Hawks in 1985 remains one of the most entertaining displays ever (go to the 5:00 mark of this video and watch how the Hawks bench is amazed and celebrating Bird's shot. They're literally falling out of their seat. It's insane). He was one of the greatest passers the league has ever seen and one of the first true great three-point threats. If his career wasn't cut short by a back injury that plagued him during the end of his career, he would almost definitely be higher. Few players ever reached the level of play The Legend ever reached, and even fewer seemed to have as much fun as he did doing it. 7. Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs Accomplishments: Five Time Champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), Three Time Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005), Two Time MVP (2002, 2003), Rookie of the Year (1998), 15 Time All-Star (1998, 2000-2011, 2013, 2015), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1998-2005, 2007, 2013), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (2006, 2008, 2009), Two Time All-NBA Third Team (2010, 2015), Eight Time All-Defensive First Team (1999-2003, 2005, 2007-2008), Seven Time All-Defensive Second Team (1998, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015) Tim Duncan is one of the most consistent and greatest players to ever play. You can look at his per minute stats from his rookie year and his per minute stats from last season and you'd have a tough time distinguishing which was which. Saying that he is the greatest power forward ever almost does him a disservice because he's also among the greatest centers to play the game. He has done whatever necessary to help his team win. If his team needed him to grab 20 rebounds and lock down the best opposing post player, he'd do it. If they needed him to go out there and drop 40 points, he would do it. He probably has the most expansive collection of post moves out of anyone in NBA history not named Kevin McHale or Hakeem Olajuwon. Only Kareem has been as consistent for longer. His teams have never missed the playoffs. Not once. He made First Team All-NBA 15 seasons apart, something only Kareem can say. He's one of only ten players to win back-to-back MVP awards and one of only four players to win at least three Finals MVPs, joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Magic Johnson. Duncan's career has been one of the most remarkable ever by any way you could possible measure it. 6. Magic Johnson, PG, Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2002), Five Time Champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Three Time Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987), Three Time MVP (1987, 1989, 1990), Twelve Time All-Star (1980, 1982-1992), Nine Time All-NBA First Team (1983-1991), One Time All-NBA Second Team (1982) Magic Johnson is probably the greatest passer and floor general basketball has ever seen. He's the reason the Showtime Lakers were the most unstoppable offense / transition team in the history of the league. His playmaking ability on the offensive end, and his ability to get all of his teammates involved and get them the best possible shot was unmatched in the history of the league. With the exception of the 1995-96 season, when he came back after a four year break after testing HIV-positive, the twelve years of Magic's career were as brilliant as any. He made the Finals nine times, winning five of them. His play was absolutely breathtaking during that time, helping to literally save the league in the process. His baby hook in the 1987 Finals remains one of the most iconic shots in NBA history. 5. Wilt Chamberlain, C, Philadelphia Warriors / Philadelphia 76ers / Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1978), NBA All-Time Rebound Leader, Two Time Champion (1967, 1972), One Time Finals MVP (1972), Four Time MVP (1960, 1966-1968), Rookie of the Year (1960), Seven Time Scoring Champion (1960-1966), 13 Time All-Star (1960-1969, 1971-1973), Seven Time All-NBA First Team (1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (1963, 1965, 1972), Two Time All-Defensive First Team (1972, 1973) Wilt Chamberlain is the most statistically dominate player to ever play. To put Wilt's numerical dominance in some sort of modern perspective, consider that we were amazed at Anthony Davis' 59 point, 20 rebound explosion on Sunday (and rightfully so), but Wilt hit the 50/20 mark 17 times in a single season (1961-62) and did it 33 times over his entire career (granted, there are a variety of factors that made rebounds a little easier to come by in 1960s, such as faster pace of play and a terrible overall field goal percentage, but still. 50/20 is impressive no matter how you look at it). He owns a ridiculous number of records, including the all-time rebounding record (23,924, or 22.9 per game), most points in a single game (100), most rebounds in a single game (55), most rebounds per game for a single season (27.2), and most points per game for a season (50.4). Wilt also holds the second, third, and fourth place records for most points per game for a season. Since Wilt retired, no one has posted in a single season the rebound average that Wilt put up for his entire career (22.9). Again, some of that has to do with an era specific advantage, but still. He's the only center to lead the league in assists for a single season. He's scored at least 50 points in a game at least 30 times in a season twice (1961-62 when he scored at least 50 points 45 times, and 1962-63 when he scored at least 50 points 30 times). No other player has ever scored more than 50 points in a game more than ten times in a single season. Other than Wilt, only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have scored at least 50 points in a game at least 20 times in their entire careers. The numbers are absolutely staggering. I could go on and on about Wilt's unbelievable numbers. So why is Wilt at #5 and not higher? The numbers were incredible, yes, but at this point in an all-time countdown, you're splitting hairs, and I simply thought the other four players have had better careers. I couldn't rationalize putting Wilt over Bill Russell for many reasons, but the only one I'll point to for now is this: during Wilt's remarkable 1961-62, when he averaged 50.4 points, 25.7 rebounds, shot over 50% from the field, and averaged more minutes per game than minutes in a game (48.5. He played every minute of the entire season except for one six minute stretch in one regular season game), he wasn't voted the MVP of the league. That went to Bill Russell. Of the other three players in front of Wilt, LeBron has the same number of MVPs, more first team All-NBA (seven for Wilt, nine for LeBron), and is one All-Star game appearance behind. Kareem and MJ both have more of all three. Wilt was incredible, but as I said, I have to start splitting hairs somewhere. 4. Bill Russell, C, Boston Celtics Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1975), Eleven Time Champion (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969), Five Time MVP (1958, 1961-1963, 1965), Twelve Time All-Star (1958-1969), Three Time All-NBA First Team (1959, 1963, 1965), Eight Time All-NBA Second Team (1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968), One Time All-Defensive First Team (1969) No one won more championships than Bill Russell. His eleven rings in twelve appearances rank among the greatest feats in professional sports. His twelve NBA Finals appearances in 13 seasons in astounding. Just one time in his entire career, he didn't play in the NBA Finals, and just twice in his entire career, he didn't win the whole thing. He's arguably the greatest defensive player ever, and would've probably made the All-Defensive First Team every single year if they had it prior to his last season (1969 was the first year the NBA awarded All-Defensive Teams). He also probably would've won at least eight of the Finals MVPs for his eleven championships had they started awarding those prior to 1969 (Jerry West was named the Finals MVP of the only Finals Russell played in with the award). His rebounding ability was phenomenal and he remains the greatest shot blocker in league history (the NBA did not register a "block" as an official stat until the 1973-74 season, four years after Russell retired). The one hole that many try to poke in Russell's résumé is the fact that his game was too era dependent. Throw any of the other guys in the top ten in any era and they would be still be an all-time great. It's harder to convince yourself of that for Russell. He was small for a center (listed at 6'9") and would've been an offensive liability. It seems like he would be able to adjust and still be a great player (from an athletic perspective, Russell could play with anyone. He'd still be a top-tier rebounder and shot blocker regardless of when he played, but it's hard seeing him lockdown some of the bigger centers that have come along), but if you put Russell in today's NBA (or even the NBA that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in), it's difficult to see his game translating nearly as well. He's still easily among the top players ever and you can easily make the argument that he revolutionized the game every bit as much as Wilt did. His five MVP awards tie him for second all-time with Michael Jordan behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His MVP win in 1961-62 is arguably the most impressive MVP win ever since Wilt had the best statistical season anyone's ever had and Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double that year. Even with both of those all-time greats having all-time great seasons, Bill Russell was voted MVP. That's got to mean something. He's the greatest winner and team player in the history of the sport, and, regardless of era, that easily places him in the top five. 3. LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers / Miami Heat Accomplishments: Two Time NBA Champion (2012, 2013), Two Time Finals MVP (2012, 2013), Four Time MVP (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013), Rookie of the Year (2004), One Time Scoring Champion (2008), Twelve Time All-Star (2005-2016), Nine Time All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008-2015), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007), Five Time All-Defensive First Team (2009-2013), One Time All-Defensive Second Team (2014) LeBron James was the most hyped player in the history of basketball, and he has lived up to every bit of that hype and more. He's my favorite current player in the NBA, and probably my second favorite player ever behind Allen Iverson, but I'll admit, when ESPN released their ranking and put him at #3, I initially thought it was too high. Really, after looking at all these guys again, you could pick #3 - #8 out of a hat and make a very strong and realistic argument for any of them in any spot. The case for ranking LeBron this high points to the fact that he's one of just five players to win at least four MVP awards (along with Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Go figure, that's my top five), he's one of two players to lead his team to at least five straight NBA Finals appearances, along with Bill Russell (he could make it a sixth straight trip this year), and he has the second highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) out of anyone in NBA history, trailing only Michael Jordan. Consider this: of the top ten individual seasons ever, ranked by PER, LeBron James has three of them (Wilt also has three, and MJ has the other four. That's right, three players make up the ten best individual seasons ever). He's posted four 30+ PER seasons, something that is only matched by Michael Jordan. He projects out to be the only player to ever score at least 35,000 points, grab 10,000 rebounds, and dish out 10,000 assists. Heck, he's the only player to project out to score at least 25,000 points, grab 8,000 rebounds, and dish out 8,000 assists. Simply put, he's one of the best all-around players the league has ever seen. We've always known he can score, but his scoring has never really been what sticks out the most when you think of him; even so, he has a solid chance to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time points record. The stats that LeBron has already compiled, and will continue to compile, are mind-blowing. His 2012-13 regular season is one of the single greatest individual seasons ever put up by anyone, and his performance in the 2012 playoffs (including arguably the finest game I have ever seen in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics), were both absolutely legendary. We have never seen a player be able to do everything that LeBron can do as effortlessly as LeBron can do it. He's a freakish mutant hybrid of Magic, MJ, and Bird, and to put a cherry on top, that freakish mutant hybrid was placed in Karl Malone's body. His detractors will point to his NBA Finals record (currently sits at 2-4), with his performance in the 2011 Finals as the biggest black mark on his résumé, but I've never subscribed to the theory that losing in the Finals is worse than not making it. Winning a championship is the ultimate goal, yes, but I don't look at the losses in the championship as a negative. I view them as a positive to have even gotten there. Out of the players in my top 25, only Bill Russell (12), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10), Magic Johnson (9), Jerry West (9), John Havlicek (8), Elgin Baylor (8), and Kobe Bryant (7) have appeared in more NBA Finals than LeBron's six championship appearances, and LeBron doesn't seem close to being finished. Given how the East looks this year, LeBron's seventh appearance could very well be coming this June, and even with LeBron's game starting to waver ever so much, any team that he's on for the foreseeable future is a threat to win the championship. When it comes down to it, LeBron at #3 all-time, even if he retired today, is fair. The scary part is he may not be finished climbing the all-time ladder... 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Milwaukee Bucks / Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1995), NBA All-Time Leader in Points, Six Time NBA Champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Two Time Finals MVP (1971, 1985), Six Time MVP (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980), Rookie of the Year (1970), Two Time Scoring Champion (1971, 1972), 19 Time All-Star (1970-1977, 1979-1989), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1971-1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986), Five Time All-NBA Second Team (1970, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985), Five Time All-Defensive First Team (1974-1975, 1979-1981), Six Time All-Defensive Second Team (1970, 1971, 1976-1978, 1984) No one in the history of basketball was as good for as long as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He won Finals MVP an absolutely ridiculous 14 seasons apart, or the entire length of Wilt Chamberlain's career. He made First Team All-NBA 15 seasons apart, or the entire length of Michael Jordan's career. His remarkable longevity and durability (he missed just 80 total regular season games over 20 years) helped him compile arguably the greatest career of anyone in the history of the game. No one won more MVP awards. No one scored more points. No one made more All-Star teams and no one made more All-NBA Teams. His skyhook was the surest two points in the history of the game, and he used it in some of the biggest moments of his career. His skyhook in double overtime of the 1974 Finals remains one of most clutch shots ever. From his rookie year until 1981, he averaged 28.1 points and 14.1 rebounds during the regular season while averaging 29.4 points and 15.2 rebounds during the playoffs. His career accomplishment list is a laundry list of all the greatest achievements an NBA player can possibly have during your career. He went to ten NBA Finals, 14 Conference Finals, and averaged 56 wins per season. Again, this was over 20 years. What he accomplished over his career sets him apart from almost every other player in the history of the game. Every other player except one. 1. Michael Jordan, SG, Chicago Bulls Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2009), Six Time NBA Champion (1991-1993, 1996-1998), Six Time Finals MVP (1991-1993, 1996-1998), Five Time MVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), Defensive Player of the Year (1988), Rookie of the Year (1985), Ten Time Scoring Champion (1987-1993, 1996-1998) 14 Time All-Star (1985-1993, 1996-1998, 2002, 2003), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1987-1993, 1996-1998), One Time All-NBA Second Team (1985), Nine Time All-Defensive First Team (1988-1993, 1996-1998) Where to start? MJ is the best two-way player in the history of the league. He's the best on-ball wing defender ever, and even if didn't try on defense, his offensive game was so great, he probably still would've made the top ten. He's the all-time leader in points per game (30.1), should've probably ended with about nine or ten MVP awards instead of "just" the five he won, won six NBA championships, and was named the Finals MVP in each, is the all-time leader in PER, and won a ridiculous ten straight scoring titles (of the ten straight full seasons he played from 1987 to 1998, he won the scoring title each year). He led the league in points scored every single year he suited up for the Chicago Bulls with the exception of 1985-86 (he missed most of the season with a broken foot) and 1994-95 (he suited up for the last 17 games of the regular season and the playoffs after his baseball sabbatical). And during his ten year stretch of winning scoring title after scoring title, he was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times. He was the league's best offensive player and one of the league's best defensive players. He's as complete a player as we've ever seen. No one has ever reached the level of play that Michael Jordan has, and no one has sustained that level of play for as long as Michael Jordan did. Just look back at all the times I had to mention him along the way of the top 25. Michael Jordan is the yardstick by which we measure everyone else's basketball greatness. He's the undisputed greatest basketball player of all-time and the only choice to top this list. Everyone else was fighting for second. By: Stephen C. Last week, ESPN finished up their NBA rank, their ranking of the top 100 players of all-time. The list has since been the subject of a ton of debate regarding whether certain players were too high or too low (the most ridiculous ranking on the list for me was Blake Griffin at #75. How in the world can you have Blake Griffin at #75 and have a player like Chris Bosh at #86? Insane...). ESPN did 100, but I'll do 25 (with a few Honorable Mentions as well), with the Honorable Mentions and #25 - #16 today. Next week, I'll reveal #15 - #1. Honorable Mentions (In Alphabetical Order) HM: Steph Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors Accomplishments: One Time Champion (2015), One Time MVP (2015), Three Time All-Star (2014-2016), One Time All-NBA First Team (2015), One Time All-NBA Second Team (2014) Let's jump right in to arguably the most controversial ranking from ESPN's, shall we? ESPN ranked Curry as the 23rd greatest player of all-time. I'll start by saying that Steph Curry's ceiling is as high as any player in today's NBA. He's the greatest shooter the game has ever seen, and he'll own every single three-point record by the time his career is over, barring some sort of devastating injury. But to rank him as the 23rd greatest player in the history of the league at this time is just a tad bit premature. What separates the truly elite players is their sustained greatness. Curry has had as good a two season run as there has ever been in the league. But it's just that. It's been (not even) two seasons. If Curry can keep up his play for the next five to ten years, Curry will absolutely warrant a spot at 23 (and probably much higher), but let's hold off a little bit before we place him in front of other point guards like Isiah Thomas and John Stockton or even Steve Nash and Chris Paul. He nabs an Honorable Mention spot from me at this point because he was ranked in such a controversial spot on ESPN's ranking that I wanted to talk about him. HM: Kevin Durant, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder Accomplishments: One Time MVP (2014), Rookie of the Year (2008), Four Time Scoring Champion (2010-2012, 2014), Seven Time All-Star (2010-2016), Five Time All-NBA First Team (2010-2014) KD is arguably the most talented offensive player I've had the chance to watch. We've never seen any player at his size be able to handle the ball and shoot the ball as well as he can. He's also one of only six players since the adoption of the three-point line to complete a 50-40-90 season (shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better from three-point range, and 90% or better from the free throw line). If he continues to score like this, and if he can avoid the recurring foot injury that plagued him last year, he could break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record and should easily continue to move up this list. HM: Allen Iverson, SG, Philadelphia 76ers Accomplishments: One Time MVP (2001), Rookie of the Year (1997), Four Time Scoring Champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005), Eleven Time All-Star (2000-2010), Three Time All-NBA First Team (1999, 2001, 2005), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2002, 2003), One Time All-NBA Third Team (2006) As a Philadelphia 76ers fan, The Answer is my favorite player of all-time. Regarded as the "pound for pound greatest of all-time," AI is also one of the top five most influential players in the history of the game. His scoring ability, despite his smaller size, was unparalleled, and his ability to will the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 2001 remains one of the greatest feats in Philadelphia sports history (his performance in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals ranked #2 on my top ten Philadelphia sports moments). HM: Bob Pettit, PF, St. Louis Hawks Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1970), One Time NBA Champion (1958), Two Time MVP (1956, 1959), Rookie of the Year (1955), Eleven Time All-Star (1955-1965), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1955-1964), One Time All-NBA Second Team (1965) The inaugural winner of the NBA MVP award, Bob Pettit was one of the first great players in league history. One of the best offensive players of his era, Pettit is one of two players in the history of the league to average at least 20 points per game in every single season they played; however, the biggest knock on him is that he played for only eleven seasons. Even so, during an era that was so dominated by Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, Pettit's Hawks handed Russell his only loss in the NBA Finals (1958), and Pettit was the main reason why, scoring a then-record 50 points in the clinching sixth game. HM: John Stockton, PG, Utah Jazz Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2009), NBA All-Time Leader in Assists, NBA All-Time Leader in Steals, Ten Time All-Star (1989-1997, 2000), Two Time All-NBA First Team (1994, 1995), Six Time All-NBA Second Team (1988-1990, 1992, 1993, 1996), Three Time All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1997, 1999), Five Time All-Defensive Second Team (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997) Considered by many to be the best pure point guard in the game's history, John Stockton was the model of consistency during his two decade career in which his team never failed to miss the playoffs. Along with teammate Karl Malone, Stockton was part of one of the best tandems in the league history (although they never quite could break through a win a title thanks to a certain Jordan fella in Chicago), and their pick-and-roll was considered to be among the surest two points the league has ever seen. Stockton was also one of the better defensive point guards ever (although he was considered to be a bit dirty on that end, but hey, whatever works, right?), eventually becoming the all-time leader in steals. Stockton's durability and longevity helped establish him as one of the greatest point guards to ever play. THE TOP 2525. Isiah Thomas, PG, Detroit Pistons Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2000), Two Time NBA Champion (1989, 1990), One Time Finals MVP (1990), Twelve Time All-Star (1982-1993), Three Time All-NBA First Team (1984-1986), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1983, 1987) Zeke was one of the best point guards in the history of the game. We just don't want him to be. As the face of the Bad Boys, back-to-back champion Detroit Pistons, plus his overwhelming failure as both a head coach as a general manager with the New York Knicks, PLUS the fact he was left off the Dream Team because it was basically him or Michael Jordan, the current view of Isiah Thomas is not a very positive one. Even so, on the court, Isiah was as good a point guard as we've ever seen. He was an incredibly dynamic offensive player, able to both score and create offense for his teammates almost effortlessly. His career was cut a bit shorter than it should have been due to an Achilles injury, and he was a notoriously poor sport (the walkout after losing to the Bulls in 1991 is one of his more infamous moments), but for the thirteen years Isiah played, he was right among the best players in the league. Given the time period he played, that's certainly saying something. 24. Kevin Garnett, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves / Boston Celtics Accomplishments: One Time NBA Champion (2008), One Time MVP (2004), One Time Defensive Player of the Year (2008), 15 Time All-Star (1997, 1998, 2000-2011, 2013), Four Time All-NBA First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2008), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (2001, 2002, 2005), Two Time All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2007), Nine Time All-Defensive First Team (2000-2005, 2008, 2009, 2011), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (2006, 2007, 2012) Kevin Garnett will forever be remembered for the intensity he brought to the basketball court. Easily one of the fiercest competitors night-in and night-out over the last 20 years, KG became one of the first successful prep-to-pro stories. Although he seemed to constantly be held back by a subpar supporting cast during his tenure in Minnesota, Garnett was the perfect addition to the 2008 Celtics team that won the championship. He is one of the best defensive players of our generation, and his ability to step away from the basket and consistently hit an 18-20 foot jumper was deadly. 23. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat Accomplishments: Three Time NBA Champion (2006, 2012, 2013), One Time Finals MVP (2006), Twelve Time All-Star (2005-2016), Two Time All-NBA First Team (2009, 2010), Three Time All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2006, 2011), Three Time All-NBA Third Team (2007, 2012, 2013), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2009, 2010) Although Dwyane Wade has struggled with his share of injuries over the last ten years, he has separated himself in my view as the clear fourth best two guard of all-time (third depending on what you consider Jerry West). You can certainly make the argument that he was just as good as Kobe Bryant was (if not better...) for a short period of time, but Kobe' longevity is what separates him from Wade. Wade's performance in the 2006 Finals remains one of the greatest Finals performances in the history of the league, and his 2009 season may have been the best single season by a two guard not named Michael Jordan ever. And although he was not the focal point of the last two championships, his ability to transform his game on the fly and play off-the-ball with LeBron was essential to the Heat figuring it all out and winning those championships. When healthy, DWade was as good as it ever got at the shooting guard. 22. Charles Barkley, PF, Philadelphia 76ers / Phoenix Suns / Houston Rockets Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2006), One Time MVP (1993), Eleven Time All-Star (1987-1997), Five Time All-NBA First Team (1988-1991, 1993), Five Time All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995), One Time All-NBA Third Team (1996) Charles Barkley may be better known today as one of the members of the NBA on TNT, but about 25 years ago, Charles Barkley was one of the best basketball players on the planet. A tremendous rebounder despite being listed at 6'6" (most people believe he was closer to 6'4", which is the same height as Dwyane Wade) and one of the best transition players ever, Barkley carried some pretty awful 76ers teams of the late 80s and early 90s before being traded to Phoenix and nearly defeating Michael Jordan's Bulls in the Finals in 1993. 21. Scottie Pippen, SF, Chicago Bulls Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2010), Six Time NBA Champion (1991-1993, 1996-1998), Seven Time All-Star (1990, 1992-1997), Three Time All-NBA First Team (1994-1995), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1992, 1997), Two Time All-NBA Third Team (1993, 1998), Eight Time All-Defensive First Team (1992-1999), Two Time All-Defensive Second Team (1991, 2000) The ultimate "fill-in-the-blanks" guy, Scottie Pippen was instrumental in all six of the Bulls championships. One of the greatest defenders in the history of the league, Pippen was able to guard just about anyone, making ten straight All-Defensive teams (eight First Team). Pippen was able to do everything on a basketball court at a high level. He could run an offense from the point, he could score when needed, he would rebound, and his defense was always phenomenal. I believe Pippen is forever underappreciated because of just how good Michael Jordan was, but Pippen was a fantastic player in his own right and easily deserves a spot within the 25 best players of all-time. 20. David Robinson, C, San Antonio Spurs Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2008), Two Time NBA Champion (1999, 2003), One Time MVP (1995), Defensive Player of the Year (1992), Rookie of the Year (1990), Ten Time All-Star (1990-1996, 1998, 2000, 2001), Four Time All-NBA First Team (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1994, 1998), Four Time All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1993, 2000, 2001), Four Time All-Defensive First Team (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996), Four Time All-Defensive Second Team (1990, 1993, 1994, 1998) The Admiral was thought to be the next great center when he entered the league (he was thought to be a 7'1" Bill Russell on defense with a much better offensive game, which is an absolutely terrifying thought), and for 13 years, he was among the best players in the league (except for the year he missed due to injury, where the Spurs ended up in a position to draft Tim Duncan, so it worked out...). His advanced stats absolutely jump off the page (he has the fourth highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of any player ever, trailing only Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal), and he was one of the truly great two-way centers in league history. Although the Spurs didn't win a championship with Robinson until Duncan arrived, he was still among the best centers to ever play. 19. John Havlicek, SF, Boston Celtics Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1984), Eight Time NBA Champion (1963-1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976), One Time Finals MVP (1974), 13 Time All-Star (1966-1978), Four Time All-NBA First Team (1971-1974), Seven Time All-NBA Second Team (1964, 1966, 1968-1970, 1975, 1976), Five Time All-Defensive First Team (1972-1976), Three Time All-Defensive Second Team (1969-1971) John Havlicek was one of the most well-rounded forwards to ever play, gaining praise from teammate Bill Russell as the "best all-around player I ever saw." One of the first true great wing defenders, Hondo is perhaps the most underrated defender the game has ever seen, making eight total All-Defensive teams. He was as consistent as they come, churning out productive season after productive season for 16 years, while winning eight championships (six with Russell, two without), and his "Havlicek stole the ball!" play ranks among the greatest single plays in the history of basketball (even if it did come against the Sixers...). 18. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks Accomplishments: One Time NBA Champion (2011), One Time Finals MVP (2011), One Time MVP (2007), 13 Time All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015), Four Time All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009), Five Time All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011), Three Time All-NBA Third Team (2001, 2004, 2012) Despite recently being called a "one trick pony" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki has developed into one of the game's best and most consistent scorers. He's climbed all the way up to sixth on the all-time scoring list, and, depending on how much longer he can play, has a puncher's chance at rising all the way to third (he's currently about 4,300 points behind Kobe Bryant for third all-time, so if he can put together three more solid seasons, he can get there. Three more years will put him in his age-40 year, so it's no sure thing, but he's got a shot). His legendary fadeaway jumper has always been his bread-and-butter, but Dirk has always had an underrated post game outside the fadeaway to go along with a solid faceup game and a good three-point shooting stroke. Dirk was one of the first big men to step away from the basket and really be able to hurt an opposing defense, and his play helped revolutionize the game for big men into what we see today. 17. Karl Malone, PF, Utah Jazz Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (2010), Two Time MVP (1997, 1999), 14 Time All-Star (1988-1998, 2000-2002), Eleven Time All-NBA First Team (1989-1999), Two Time All-NBA Second Team (1988, 2000), One Time All-NBA Third Team (2001), Three Time All-Defensive First Team (1997-1999), One Time All-Defensive Second Team (1988) The second leading scorer in the history of the NBA, The Mailman poured in countless points as the roll man in the infamous Stockton-Malone pick-and-roll. That's always the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Karl Malone, but he was one of the best rebounders ever, a great defensive player, and one of the more underrated passers from the block. There may be players who have reached a higher ceiling than Malone did (the Barkley vs. Malone debate immediately comes to mind), but the fact that Karl Malone was able to play at the very high level that he did for as long as he did is what truly sets him apart from other power forwards. Malone is another player that failed to win a ring during the Jordan era, but he was a major reason why the Jazz were always in contention. 16. Elgin Baylor, SF, Los Angeles Lakers Accomplishments: Hall of Fame Inductee (1977), Rookie of the Year (1959), Eleven Time All-Star (1959-1965, 1967-1970), Ten Time All-NBA First Team (1959-1965, 1967-1969) Although he has the shortest list of accomplishments out of anyone listed thus far, Elgin Baylor was truly one of the game's great players. The easiest way to describe Baylor is to say he was Dr. J before Dr. J. The original high-flyer, and one of the game's first black players, Baylor helped transform the game into the vertical game it is today. He was an incredible scorer, ranking third all-time in points per game, trailing only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. He was also one of the unluckiest players in the history of the league, making EIGHT NBA Finals while not winning a single time (that Bill Russell guy had a lot to do with that). Many will look at his career, see that he never won a title, and try to discredit him, but Elgin Baylor was easily one of the greatest players ever. He AVERAGED 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds per game in a single season, once scored 71 in a single game, which stood as the record until Wilt dropped 100, and is one of two players, along with Michael Jordan, to score at least 60 points in a playoff game (he scored 61 points in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals, a Finals record that stands to this day). Elgin Baylor was an incredible basketball player. Come back next week for Part 2... |
Stephen C.If nothing else, I am consistent. I got LASIK to correct my vision, so I have no flaws. Stephen H.I am so damn good looking. I am also a guest contributor at this point who will probably never post again. Archives
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