2010 NBA Preview: A dozen players ready to break out
Posted by John Paulsen (10/26/2010 @ 3:43 pm)
The 2010-11 NBA season starts tonight (Miami and Boston tip things off tonight at 7:30 ET on TNT) and while most eyes will be on one-name superstars like LeBron, Wade, Kobe and Melo, it’s fun to try to predict who this season’s breakout players will be.
It takes more than just talent to succeed in the NBA. It takes opportunity as well, and each of the 12 players I’ve listed before figure to play a more prominent role than they did last season. I didn’t include any rookies (or Blake Griffin, who qualifies as a rookie) because in order to break out, you have to have a baseline season to start from.
1. Kevin Love, Timberwolves
After spending most of last season coming off the bench, Love has started all eight preseason games and has averaged 18-11 while shooting 14-of-24 from long range. Neither Michael Beasley nor Darko Milicic are aggressive rebounders, so Love has a chance to lead the league in boards this season. I suspect Love will be in consideration for the All-Star team in January.
2. Darren Collison, Pacers
Indiana’s best move this offseason was to acquire Collison from the Hornets. He had a very nice rookie year, but the starting gig is his now and he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder wondering what’s going on with Chris Paul. He averaged 13-3-4 in the preseason, but I’d expect those numbers to rise with bigger minutes. He should be good for 16-4-6 this season.
3. Jrue Holiday, Sixers
Doug Collins is really high on Holiday, predicting that he’ll be a Top 5 point guard in the league sooner rather than later. He averaged 13-4-6 in March of last season and posted 12-6-5 in the preseason.
4. Roy Hibbert, Pacers
Hibbert averaged 12-6 in 25 minutes per game last season, but in seven preseason games, he has increased those averages to 17-9, though he’s shooting just 43% from the field, which is a little worrisome. Still, with Troy Murphy gone, there are a lot of minutes available on the front line, and Hibbert should get his fair share.
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Posted in: Fantasy Basketball, NBA
Tags: 2010 NBA Preview, 2010-11 NBA season, Arron Afflalo, Austin Daye, Darren Collison, J.J. Hickson, Jordan Crawford, Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love, Marco Belinelli, Reggie Williams, Roy Hibbert, Serge Ibaka, Terrence Williams
Reggie Williams tasered, arrested on felony gun charge
Posted by Anthony Stalter (04/06/2009 @ 12:13 pm)
Reggie Williams isn’t smart.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Reggie Williams was arrested Sunday night on a felony drug charge in Houston, FOXSports.com has learned.
Williams — a 2004 first-round draft choice who played the past five seasons in Jacksonville — was charged with possession of a controlled substance that police believe is cocaine following an altercation at a Houston nightclub.
Police spokesman Victor Senties said Williams was tasered during a confrontation with two off-duty officers working security at the Open City Bar and Lounge.
“Mr. Williams was at the front door area causing some sort of altercation,” Senties said. “A witness alerted one of the officers to it. The officer went over and asked Mr. Williams several times to leave. He refused. At one point, the officer attempted to escort him out of club. Mr. Williams pushed the officer and almost knocked him down. At that point, the other officer came over to try and assist. Again, Mr. Williams was very combative. One (officer) had to deploy a (taser) to get into custody.”
Senties said the drug charges stem from a “little baggy” that was in Williams’ possession when he was being booked into jail.
What unbelievable timing this asshat has. He became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season and instead of trying to resurrect his career in another city, he gets busted for DWI and possession of .97 grams of marijuana in February, and then arrested and tasered on a felony gun charge in April.
Wow, momma Williams must be so proud.
Offseason Blueprint: Jacksonville Jaguars
Posted by Anthony Stalter (02/21/2009 @ 4:00 pm)
Notable Free Agents: Mike Peterson, LB; Brad Meester, C; Khalif Barnes, OT; Reggie Williams, WR; Chris Naeole, G; Joe Zelenka, TE.
Projected 2009 Cap Space: $15,500,000
Draft Order: 8
Top Needs: OL, CB, LB, WR, RB.
Offseason Outlook: Let the cleansing process begin. The Jaguars have already released long-time veteran running back Fred Taylor, 2008 free agent bust Jerry Porter and disappointing cornerback Drayton Florence. There’s also little to no chance the team makes a play to re-sign middle linebacker Mike Patterson, who was at odds with head coach Jack Del Rio for the better part of the ‘08 season.
The team also made Gene Smith in charge of personnel decisions and Del Rio is expected to take over the defensive playcalls next year, which should turn out to be two sound moves.
In terms of personnel, the team needs to address the offensive line first and foremost and then go from there. The O-line was ransacked with injuries last season, not to mention heartbreak when Richard Collier suffered 14 gunshot wounds in early September, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.
The Jags don’t have to reinvent the wheel because they’re already got the makings of a competitive team. But they need to regroup and rebuild through the draft and a good start would be to get their hands on one of the top offensive tackle prospects that will be available in the top 10.
Even though his talent is unquestioned, Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith is proving with each passing day that he may be too much of a risk to be taken with the No. 8 overall pick. But Virginia’s Eugene Monrore, Baylor’s Jason Smith or Ole Miss’s Michael Oher could be available and could replace Khalif Barnes at left tackle, who is expected to depart via free agency.
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Tags: 2009 NFL Draft, Brad Meester, Dennis Northcutt, Drayton Florence, Gerald Sensabaugh, Jacksonville Jaguars, Justin Durant, Matt Jones Chris McAlister, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mike Patterson, Mike Walker, Reggie Williams