Why TCU and Baylor got exactly what they deserved...

... or even more!!

In the 2014 NCAA football season (last year), we experienced the first ever College Football Playoffs. Instead on only two teams competing for a national championship at the end of the year, four teams got selected to have a playoff. The four selected teams were Oregon (Pac 12 Champions) Alabama (SEC Champions) FSU (ACC Champions) and Ohio State (Big 10 Champions). On the outside looking in were Baylor and TCU (Both from the Big 12).

 If Baylor, TCU, or the Big 12 in general feels "snubbed" or feels as if they deserved more... they are wrong!

There are two reasons why this is true. But first let's remember the situation: Alabama and Oregon were getting into the playoffs for sure. Their resumes were the best. FSU was also getting in for sure - they were the undefeated defending champions. So that left one spot open and three teams that wanted it. Baylor, TCU, and Ohio State.

Reason 1: Why TCU did not deserve the final spot.

"One True Champion" is literally the slogan of the Big 12. The Big 12 teams play each all other once each, and whoever wins the most is crowned "Big 12 Champion". And (apparently a completely unrelated topic.....) a "tie-breaker" is awarded to the team that wins the head-to-head match-up against the other team.

When TCU and Baylor tied last season, however, the Big 12 refused to name "one true champion". They awarded the teams as follows:

Big 12 Conference - One True Champion

Baylor: "Big 12 co-Champion with tiebreaker over TCU"

TCU: "Big 12 co-Champion"

WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THAT?! That's ridiculous! That's so absurd that the Big 12 only defended it for a few months and then, before the next season even started, self corrected and redefined their interpretation of tiebreaker into an unmistakable "Big 12 Conference tie-breaker: To be used to determine the Conference champion..." Which in layman's terms means: "We were idiots and Baylor should have been named Champions last year. Sorry we screwed up. We will never do that again."

Thus, not only did TCU deserve nothing more than they got last year, but they even deserved less! They did not deserve to be co-Champions in the Big 12. And since they so very much didn't deserved it, the Big 12 had to redefine the rules of "tie-breaker" the following off season.

I don't feel bad for the Big 12 not getting into the Playoffs. They should have had the guts and common sense to name Baylor the Big 12 Champions.

And I don't feel bad for TCU not getting into the Playoffs because they didn't deserve it over Baylor. Baylor beat them head to head and should have been crowned the "Big 12 (Only True) Champion."

Reason 2: Why Baylor did not deserve the final spot.

Because of Reason 1, the final playoff spot came down to Baylor or Ohio State.

When the selection committee chose Ohio State over Baylor, it wasn't obvious if they had made the right choice or not. Only in hindsight was the selection committee proven right.

After placing Ohio State into the playoffs, Baylor got selected to play #8 Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Michigan State comes from the same division as Ohio State, so Ohio State had to go through Michigan State to win the Big 10 conference. Therefore, Baylor was playing a team the better of whom Ohio State had already got.

When Baylor went on to lose their bowl game to Michigan State (in their home state of Texas too!), this killed the argument that Baylor should have been put in the playoffs instead of Ohio State.

Ohio State then went on to beat both Alabama and Oregon to become National Champions; proving they were a good choice to take a spot in the college playoffs.

Fantasy Football 2015: Mock Draft - with Scott Savage

Scott and I love to play fantasy football and we have been doing it for quite a few years now. Scott and I usually do well in our leagues.

To get started early this year, on July 13th, We decided to join a standard, 10-team ESPN league with 8 random other guys. As we drafted, we kept a live chat going on between us discussing our strategies and what-not. I then compiled our live chat, and edited up a bit, and, well - here is who we picked and why:

PRE-DRAFT

Me – I had 3 overall ideas of strategy I wanted to follow going into the draft:

1. Get some good running backs early. I think there a lot of depth at all the other positions, but running back seems very shallow to me this year.
2. Stay away from "trends" (reaching for a position just because other guys are taking those positions). I wanted to get the best available talent, and not worry about what positions other owners were picking.
3. Draft guys with high potential, particularly after round 6 or 7. I don't want someone like Golden Tate or Chris Ivory that we know will be "ok". I want guys that will either really suck so I can drop them, or be really good and actually contribute to my team. “High risk high reward.” Standard 10-team leagues are too shallow to waste time with the "ok" players IMO.

Scott - As an Oakland Raiders fan, I used to just draft the fastest players and hope for the best since they say that football is more of a sprint than other sports like baseball which are marathons. But with the Death of Al Davis, a new regime has taken hold, and I’m beginning to really like it. I like to consider a few different things when prepping my Fantasy Draft Board. 

First, is the rule changes. It used to be that Running Backs were so valued because all of your yards and touchdowns came from them. In short yardage situations, it was a no-brainer to punch it in and give your RB six fantasy points, you know, unless you’re Pete Carroll. But the league has moved towards passing first, and that’s why I look to fill out my WRs and QBs with value before my RB positions. 

The second point is closely linked to the first. I always want to use my picks on someone who is vastly ahead of the next tier of players. You’ll see with my first round pick that I go for someone who I think is going to probably not slip to my second pick and who is also probably going to post substantially more points at his position than, say, the guy who is in fifth or tenth place at the position. I want the guy who is a tier above everyone else left at his position. 

The third is that I want to pick guys that are under the Radar. Maybe it’s because I’m a fan of perennial losers like Oakland and Sacramento. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen my San Jose Sharks be loaded and still choke at the end. Whatever it is, I want to pick someone who people are forgetting about. I’ll take a lower profile, younger, healthier, hungrier player before I take someone who gives me pause based on injury history, contract situation or other surrounding factors but whose name pops off the screen.

THE DRAFT

Rounds 1&2:

Me- I think there are 10 great options at running back this year then a big fall off. They are  Lacy, Bell, Peterson,  Charles,  Lynch,  Foster,  Murray, Anderson, McCoy, and Forte. Because I'm at the end of the draft, I can probably get two of my top 10 RBs. Which is great. I had no doubt in my mind I was going to take two RBs if 2 of my top 10 fell to me. 

3 of my top 10 RBs fell to me, so I got to pick which two. I opted to go with CJ Anderson and LeSean McCoy over Matt Forte. Sticking to my “High risk, high reward” strategy, Matt Forte seems to have nowhere to go but down. His new coach is talking about a “two back system” and honestly I think we have seen the best of Forte. CJ Anderson is primed for a break out year, and McCoy is on a new team and should be doing a lot of work.

Scott - My first pick was Andrew Luck, rated on ESPN’s board as the 20th best prospect. Some may consider that a huge reach, but consider this. The difference in projected points the highest RB or WR and the 10th rated RB/WR is just 38 and 42 points respectively. The difference between Luck (whose projection I feel is low) and the QB 10 spots below him is 63 points. Everyone hopes they’re going to hit the homerun like DeMarco Murray did last year where there’s nearly a 100 point gap, but you’re banking on picking a player to have a career year over reliaing on standard deviation. I almost always want a top flight QB with one of my first two picks. 

My second pick was probably my riskiest proposition given everything you’ve read about me to this point. I picked WR Julio Jones (causing an avalanche of WRs) over more proven names like D. Thomas, Jordy Nelson, Calvin Johnson and AJ green as well as high upside guys Alshon Jeffrey, Mike Evans and OBJ who were all gone by my next pick. I picked Jones because last year was an incredible down year for him, he seems to be back at full strength and his combination of potential and a better system and QB than most of those other guys really made me want to take the leap. Granted, I also thought I’d get one more of those guys that were drafted between, so I may end up being a complete idiot.

Rounds 3&4


Me - I wish a better receiver like Jeffrey or Cobb had fallen to me, or the tight end Jimmy Graham. 

Of who was available, Justin Forsett was an easy choice for me. He could have a big year this year with the Ravens, and with RB position being so thin (in my eyes), picking up a RB as solid as Forsett here was great.

For my other pick, I went back and forth between WRs Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin. Both young, promising receivers from last years draft class. I think both will be great this year.

Scott - I again went for the big differential with my 3rd pick, Jimmy Graham. Jimmy is leagues better than the other TEs available and should only be better on a team with a running game, (you know, supposing they use it) and with a solid defense that will give him more time on the field. Plus, he’s not the injury risk a guy like Gronk is. 

My fourth pick is a guy I felt was sneaky good in Melvin Gordon. I really did need a RB at some point, and Gordon has the potential to bust loose in a team with a good passing offense. Rookie RBs tend to do  surprisingly well, due to their young legs, and their hunger to prove themselves. While Gordon isn’t going to be a top 5 RB he’s certainly someone I’m happy with at this spot.

Rounds 5&6

Me - I like Andre Johnson this year. A great receiver who has put up good numbers with sub-par QB's, now pairing up with Andrew Luck in Indiana. Johnson could have a great year. 

I don't love my Brandon Marshall pick here, but everyone I would have taken over him was gone. Sammy Watkins, Latavius Murray, Andre Ellington, and Drew Brees are players I would have gladly taken over Marshall had they made it to the end of the round. But since they didn't. Marshall was who I elected to choose. He was thought of as a top 5 receiver last year. Coming off a disappointing season and switching over to the Jets, he has fallen from a top WR choice to a high-risk, high-reward type player.

Scott - If I had a time machine that would do nothing to alter the course of human history, I would go back in time and change this pick due to two players I really like going in between. I was banking that one or both of Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray would be available in round six and possibly one slipping to round seven. No such luck. I still like D-Jax as a high potential guy, particularly if RGIII can get his crap together, or if he goes down and Kirk Cousins gets to take another crack at the job. 

My sixth round Pick was Todd gurley, who this late is a steal. Yes, Tre Mason is on the team so he’s not a true number 1, but Todd Gurley got snubbed as the first RB taken in the NFL draft this year, and I think he’s going to have a big year. Especially when you look at who fell between my sixth and seventh round picks, there was no one else I had as highly valued.

Rounds 7&8


Me – All the really good guys are gone, and I am now looking for big-rewards. Also, I am keeping in mind I have 3 RBs and 3 WRs and nothing else. Julius Thomas (TE) was really great the last few years, but that might have had something to do with Peyton Manning being his QB. Thomas has switched teams and now plays in Jacksonville. #HighRiskHighReward

Jeremy Maclin also went from being great in Philly with that high-flying offense to a boring Kansas City team and a boring QB Alex Smith. Who knows if Maclin can still be great after the switch. #HighRiskHighReward

Scott - There’s always that guy that takes a defense a little too soon. That was me this year. I wanted the safest Defense pick, and I went with the team that should have beaten the Colts in the Super Bowl #deflategate. These guys are one of the only groups I’ve seen in a while who may lose a super bowl and come back with enough punch and hunger to try and do it again. I actually think the Rams and Bills may have better defenses, but those picks are more boom or bust to me, and the Texans can’t possibly put up 6 TDs on defense again. 

Round 8 was another where I anticipated a couple guys might fall (Both of Spencer’s picks actually) and they didn’t. With Marshall gone, Someone’s gotta fill those WR2 shoes behind Jeffrey, and White has really high potential this year. His erratic route running may actually be a plus for Cutler’s erratic passing.

Rounds 9&10


Me - There are so many guys left that I want and too little bench space, I decided to take the Texans defense here. With JJ Watt leading the way, and (maybe) #1 pick Jadeveon Clooney coming back, this team can score a lot of fantasy points (PS - they also have an easy schedule including playing the Jaguars and Titans twice each).

Doug Martin is a high potential guy. He was amazing a few years ago, and hasn't been very good since. They say he looks in better shape this year. Maybe he remembers how to be great again. Martin, his competition Carles Sims, and Devonta Freeman are the only RBs left that I think have a chance to be really good, and I think Martin has the best chance out of the three.

Scott - Can someone say Injury Insurance? Remember the time the Cowboys knew they wouldn’t be resigning their star RB so they ran him into the ground? Remember the time their division rivals who thought signing Tim Tebow was a good idea also gave a massive contract to that guy because they lost out on Frank Gore? Ryan Matthews, an injury prone man himself, is someone who is either going to play a major role from injury, or a still significant one for fear of injury. 

I knew I needed another WR at this point only having 3 and so I went with who I figured may be the best of Old Timers that were still on the board. Marques Colston is going to be getting a lot of attention from Drew Brees. Stills is gone. Graham is gone. That’s over 200 targets to be divided amongst Colston, Cooks and Nick Toon? Maybe Josh Hill? Maybe? Even if he gets just ¼ of those, he’s going to be looking at 150 targets which could mean almost 90 receptions. That’s a lot of potential TDs in the New Orleans dumpster fire.

Rounds 11&12
Me - Because my TE Julius Thomas is "high risk high reward," I took another high potential TE in Zach Ertz. He's got great skills and could break out this season as the #1 guy in that high-flying Eagles offense.

There are only a few spot left on my team, and there are still a lot of guys I like left. So I figured I would take the best kicker since he's still here. Stephen Gostowski has consistently been the best kicker in fantasy football for years.

Scott - Need a reliable backup TE? Jason Witten. Just like dinner left overs, he’s always better than you think he’s going to be when you’ve got nothing else. Pick #12 has Spencer Keele written all over it, so I nabbed him. Victor Cruz #highriskhighreward That’s a man looking to get more money.

Rounds 13&14

Me – All the really good quarterbacks are gone now. There is no use of me taking a quarterback now. Any QB I want now will still be there for my last pick. So I took Josh Hill (Jimmy Graham's replacement on the Saints). He's got all the raw talent to perhaps become a great TE this year, and a good QB in Brees looking to throw the ball to him. Between Hill, Julius Thomas, and Zach Ertz, I think I have a really good chance of having one or more of them being an elite tight end for me this year. FYI - If Hill had been gone, I would have taken Owen Daniels.

The Rams defense should be a good 2nd defense to use when the Texans have a bad match up like the Colts or the Patriots or are on their bye week. 

(PS – I would have taken the Dolphins defense instead had they been here.) 

(PPS - I knew everyone was going to start picking defenses these last three rounds, so I stayed ahead of the trend and got first dibs.)

Scott - I can honestly tell you before today I’d never even heard of Devante Adams, but he’s a Packer. Packers are like Spurs. You just want them on your team. No particular reason, but if he has a monster year, you heard it here first. Possibly because you haven’t heard it anywhere else. 

I think the Eagles are going to be good. All the crap I said about Murray going down? If that doesn’t happen, the Eagles could really be in business (or, you know, not given Sam Bradford’s knees). Either way, to have a prayer they’re going to need to score a lot of points, and that kicker was pretty solid last year. It also pains me to not have Sebastian Janokowski as an automatic Kicker pick for me any more.

Final Rounds (15&16)



Scott - In retrospect I should have just grabbed a second defense. Prove me wrong Eddie Royal. Here’s hoping that the bears stay crazy and trade Alshon Jeffries. At least I’ve got someone to drop week 1 when someone much better comes out of the rubble. 

And given everything you’ve read about me is it a shock that Derek Carr is my last pick? Potential to be better an many second QBs (Huge upgrades at all his skill positions this year, plus a top flight center to keep him safe), he’s a younger guy so I think I’m safe not losing sleep over taking Kaep, a rookie, a Raiders Washout with worse knees than Bradford, and only maybe Flacco or Dalton are better. I also think that Spencer is going to see quickly how much of a QBs league this is. Oh, and I’m a giant Raiders homer so not having one on my team would be a travesty. I think that is the same reason Spencer picked Gostkowski. Brady was too rich for his blood as a round 8 pick, he never had a shot at Gronk without massively over spending, so he goes for Gostkowski. Never forget, sports is about fandom and not about winning. It’s just a nice coincidence when those things combine.

Me – You CAN win fantasy football leagues by "streaming quarterbacks" (pick up and start one of the best QBs on waivers that has a good match-up that week). Or maybe I'll find a QB that breaks out and has a great year. There are actually a lot of good choices at QB left.

Sam Bradford will get the first crack at being my starting QB. The Eagles traded their starting QB (Foles) PLUS better draft picks to get Bradford. So there must be something to like about him.... right? Plus the Eagles play so fast. More plays = more quarterback points. 

If Bradford isn't good, Look at all the potential QBs I could pick up on waivers: Kaepernick, Mariota, Winston, Bridgewater, Flacco, Palmer, Cutler, Dalton, Foles, Bortles, and Johnny Manziel. 

Last pick matters very little. I like Robert Griffin and I hope he has a good year. Honestly, I'll probably drop him quickly. Maybe before the season even starts. There will be some good players to pick up on waivers as we get closer to opening day.

Final Teams

Me – Looking at my team, I like it. I have 3 really solid running backs and 2 maybe 3 solid receivers. My fourth RB and my fourth WR have high potential. I have 3 high-risk TEs that could all be really good. Texans and Rams are great defenses and I have the best kicker. I just need to figure out the quarterback situation as the season goes on. This could be a championship team.

Scott - Drafting is always funny because you think you've done so well getting steals in alter rounds always to go, "Why don't I have amazing players at every position? I got steals! Steals I tell you!"
I am content with what I have because barring a serious injury to Andrew Luck there's no one on my team who I'm so tied to that I think I'm unable to replace them. A couple last thoughts are these: Just because you value someone doesn't mean everyone does. If you're undecided on a player, consider drafting whoever may have more value in a trade, or who could light it up the first few weeks. Victor Cruz and Kevin White are those guys for me. I'd also add that you need to have a strategy for picking early, for picking mid and picking late. Spencer did a great job finding serviceable players back to back without reaching very often (I'm looking at you Sam Bradford). I had to consider who may still be available at my next pick. With my 3 and 6th picks I got burned. Rounds 2 4 and 10 were just what I was hoping would happen.

The Ten Commandments of the New England Patriots

The Patriots have been perhaps the most successful NFL franchise over the last two decades. They often seem to make plenty of strange moves, but more often than not those moves work out for the better. From watching their actions and transactions over the years, and from researching the Patriots success, I have noted and now compiled a list of what I call their "ten commandments" that have allowed them succeed ever since Robert Kraft bought the franchise in 1994.

The 10 Commandments

New England Patriots edition

1. Think long term. (Look for sustained success, not just attain it one year.)

2. Be bold and take risks.

3. Build around the talent you have.

4. Everyone's replaceable! (....well except for Tom Brady of course.)

5. Do your job!

6. See things that other people can't see.

7. Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.

8. Running Backs are a dime a dozen.

9. Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.

10. Win. (The bottom line.)

Links:

(#1, 2, 3, 6 and 10)

(#4) 

(#5)

(#7)

(#9)

(#9 actual quote)

Dwyane Wade and the........ Utah Jazz?

Say whaaaaat? Let me start by saying I am not breaking any news here or predicting this will happen. I do not have secret information from an inside source or anything. I am simply looking at the situations of both Dwyane Wade and the Utah Jazz and pointing out that uniting could be a great win-win situation for both parties.

It appears right now that the Miami Heat do not want to give D-Wade the money or the respect that he deserves for what he has done of that origination. It looks like he is either on his way out of Miami, or he is going back for less $$$ than he deserves. If the Heat and Dwyane do go their separate ways, Wade might want to look at the Utah Jazz. The Jazz also should want to pursue D-Wade. The Utah Jazz could offer Dwyane Wade everything he could dream of from an organization and more. And Wade could be exactly what the Jazz are looking for.

What the Jazz bring to the table for Wade:

Money - Dwyane Wade could get more money from the Jazz than any other team is willing or able to offer. Because of the collective bargaining agreement (particularly how max contracts and the salary cap work), no big market team is going to give Dwyane a max contract. And most current contenders cannot afford to give him a max contract right now even if they wanted to. The Utah Jazz have been smart with their contracts and budget these last few years and have a TON of money to blow this off-season. They are already stacked full of young, potential-filled talent (Gobert, Favors, Heyward, Hood, Exum, Trey, Alec, Booker, etc) so they aren't particularly looking for any more young pieces. They don't need any more "nice pieces" or "supporting players." They are looking to give someone a max contract. A player to come be their final piece of the puzzle. Wade could make more money signing with the Jazz than probably any other team is willing (or able) to offer.

Low Stress - Dwyane Wade is getting older and has a past full of injuries. He should look for a team where he doesn't have to do "too much." On the Jazz, Gordon Heyward and Donte Exum would guard the other teams best players (LeBron, Curry, Harden, Westbrook, etc), so Wade doesn't have to work so hard defensively. Also, with Gobert and Favors down low, Wade could "cheat" for easy steals and close out on three point shooters knowing "The Wasatch Front" is in the key watching his back.

Playing Time- Wade doesn't want to go to a team where he does "too little" either. He wants to play. He doesn't want to go to a team to sit on the bench. Dwyane Wade would start on the Jazz, play as many minutes as he wants, and be the primary scoring option.

Winning - Wade wants to play for a contending team. The Utah Jazz, after trading Enes Kanter last year, finished the season going 19-10 (0.66) with a plus/minus over 5 and and allowing opponents to only 89 PPG. Since every player on that team is young and growing, they should be even better next year. The Jazz roster is currently a supporting cast missing a star. They were perhaps the best defense team in the NBA (after the Kanter trade). They have the tallest starting line up in the entire NBA. Dwyane Wade would be the missing piece and could really contend with this team.

Great Fans and Low Expectations - the Jazz fans are great. They love their players, whether they win or lose. The Utah Jazz have never won a ring, so the pressure of winning rings obviously isn't there. If you play for Utah, you will be loved. Even the least talented of players that only played in Utah for even only a few years (like Earl Watson and Trevor Booker to name a few) are still beloved by the fans. John Stockton and Karl Malone never won a title but there are statues built and roads named after them. Wade, if he were to go to Utah and win a title, he would be treated like a God. And if he were to go to Utah and not win a title, he would still be treated like royalty in Utah forever.

What Dwyane Wade brings to the table for the Jazz:

The Needed Position: The Jazz have a strong starting 4. Gobert and Favors as the bigs, Exum is the PG, and Heyward is one of the wings. Throughout the year, the Jazz experimented with different wing players. I believed the guy that started the most as the other wing next to Heyward was... wait for it... Joe Ingles! Imagine the upgrade Wade would be compared to Ingles. Elijah Milsap (Paul Milsap's brother) also started in that spot more than a few times. Rodney Hood and Alec Burks are getting better, but a great wing player like D-Wade would really complete that starting 5.

Scoring: The Jazz defense is great. It is their offense that they should look to improve. Heyward and Favors fine scorers, but they should be more of a secondary option than a #1 option. The Jazz could really use a guy that is their "go to guy." A primary scoring option. Favors, Heyward, and Exum are all-around players and Gobert right now is a defensive specialist. A #1 scoring option like D-Wade would complete that starting 5.

Leadership and Experience - Most of the players on the Jazz roster have little-to-no playoff experience. They could really use a veteran leader on that team that has "been there, done that." D-Wade has been to 5 finals, winning 3 times and has one finals MVP. His experience and leadership would do wonders for this Utah Jazz team.

Overall:

The Jazz are a small market team with a ton of money to spend this off-season. As a small market team, you're going to have to take big risks if you're going to win a championship in today's NBA. One of those risks includes "overpaying" for free agents like Dwyane Wade. Wade will not go to a small market team for the same amount as a larger market team, so you have to pay up. The Jazz, however, have more than enough money this off-season offer Wade more money than probably any other team.

If Dwyane does leave the Heat, he should look at the Jazz. The Jazz would be a great fit for him. He could probably get more money playing there than anywhere else. Their will be low stress, low expectations, and plenty of playing time without having to "carry the load." The fans are great. And he will have the chance to be the best player and leader on a contending team.

And if Dwyane does leave the Heat, the Jazz should try to go after him. The Jazz really could use a guy just like D-Wade. An experienced leader, superstar, #1 scoring option, wing player.

Meme's I've Made

 LeBron be carrying the injured, inexperienced, and just straight up less talented Cavs while Steve Kerr leads a powerful, well oiled machine.

 Love, Varejao, and now Kyrie will miss the rest of the finals with injury. LeBron and JR Smith have been cursed by the Based God. And now Iman Shumpert got his talents stolen by the MonStars. Steph Curry be like "What are you going to do, bleed on me?"

JJ Watt's his name!

 Sometime people picks small samples or select specific stats very carefully to make one play look better than the other.

One can always make a meme to make one player seem better than the other.

 These next two came because I've been in discussions about Derrick Rose and how he might ever get to the finals and people often say things like "LeBron James owns him. He needs to get away from LeBron James." Then I thought "what if that's what everyone is doing and that's why the West is so good??"

 USA draws Argentina in the semi-finals in Copa America 2016.

Duncan is a center who play a bit of power forward when sharing the floor with David Robinson. He played center all four years of college. He played center his entire NBA career.

I fixed a meme that was trying to say Kobe was actually robbed of MVP awards. The stats were of course rounded in Kobe's favor, sometimes completely wrong, and only showed a few stats to try to make Kobe look better than the person who won MVP. So.... I fixed it and put, according to the logic of that meme, "more deserving" players of that particular year. Also, using the logic that meme, LeBron should have won the only MVP award Kobe ever won.

Sometimes when some tells me "True kings never leave their kingdom," i use Disney references:

I did not make this one. I'm just sick of having to go back and find it so I'm posting it here.

didn't make this one just want to be able to find it later.

Dwyane Wade playing for the Cavaliers next year would be a lose-lose situation

Because of problems in contract negotiations between the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade, there has been plenty of speculating that Dwyane Wade could join his ex-teammate LeBron James in Cleveland next year and play for the Cavaliers.

Unlikely.

First of all, the Cavaliers cannot afford to pay Dwyane what many other teams can. More than a couple teams are very desperate for a player just like Dwayne Wade. He's a star. He can be the leader and best player of your team. He has plenty of experience (including 3 titles and 1 finals MVP). There are teams that will him all the money he wants and more. I know the Utah Jazz would gladly do that. Other teams off the top of my head: Hornets, Lakers, Celtics, Kings.... Teams are desperate for stars. Guys that can be the best player and lead the team. 

Secondly, Dwyane Wade is a big gamble. He hasn't played 70 games in a season since the 10-11 season, and many of those games he has played at much less than 100%. He's had several knee problems. Also his back, hamstrings, hip, and ankles have caused him problems. The Cavaliers have the best player in the world right now in LeBron James. They are in the finals. They have a good thing going for them. They can't afford to give a lot of money to the risk that is Dwyane Wade. 

Other teams, however, are more than willing to overpay for a high risk. And, particularly small market teams, have no other choice but to take huge risks. The Hornets gave Al Jefferson a max contract. The Jazz game Gordon Heyward a max contract. Small market teams HAVE to take risks if they want to get a star. The Lakers right now seem pretty desperate for a star. Young teams like the Celtics or the Bucks need a good veteran leader. I'm sure the Kings (seeing how Dwyane Wade won his first title with Shaquille O'neal) would love the chance to pair Wade with their young stud DeMarcus Cousins. Teams that don't have an all star or two are more than willing to pay top dollar for the chance to get Dwyane Wade.

Lastly - Dwayne Wade isn't a very good fit with LeBron James. We saw this in Miami. They play a similar game. Both LeBron James and (even more so) Dwayne Wade were not utilized in their best way. They both sacrificed their own strengths to play with each other. The Cavaliers can't afford to pay a guy a lot of money that's going to be highly underutilized. The Cavs are better off paying players that complement LeBron's game, and not take away from it.

In summary, the Cavs cannot afford Wade's price tag. If they want to be as good as they can, signing Wade, even if it's at a semi-reduced price, is not worth it for the Cavaliers. 

HOWEVER - Although I doubt Wade comes to Cleveland for all the reasons I just stated... I wouldn't be overly surprised if it did happen.

The Cavs are notorious for doing things that are bad for the team just because LeBron likes it. That's what they did when LeBron was there before he went to Miami. And (in my opinion) they picked right up where they left off - with the Kevin Love trade. I thought the Kevin Love trade was a bad from the start (see here). So history tells me that if LeBron tells the Cavs he wants to play Wade, they will overpay him to make it happen. 

On the other side, I can see Wade taking (comparatively) less money to play in Cleveland. Dwyane likes LeBon and he loves winning titles. Not less enough money to make the signing worth it for the Cavs, but enough so the Cavs don't have to pay top dollar for him and feel justified in signing a huge injury risk that doesn't complement LeBron's game.

In short, the Cavs can't afford to give pay Dwyane Wade enough money to play there, and Dwyane Wade won't go there for the amount that would be worth it to the Cavs. But, I can see a scenario where they both compromise and meet in the middle, which would most likely end up bad for both sides. Wade making less than he could be making AND the Cavs paying Wade much more than they can afford. The good-old "lose-lose situation."

Basketball Tiers

All-Time Greatest NBA Players
by Spencer Keele

Tier 5

25 - Scottie Pippen

24 - Bob Cousy

23 - Charles Barkley

22 - Kevin Garnett

21 - Isiah Thomas

20 - Bob Pettit

19 - Karl Malone

18 - John Stockton
17 - Julius Erving

16 - Elgin Baylor

15 - John Havlicek

Tier 4

14 - Kobe Bryant

13 - Moses Malone

12 - Jerry West

11 - Tim Duncan

Tier 3

10 - Hakeem Olajuwon

9 - Shaquille O'neal

8 - Larry Bird

Tier 2

7 - Oscar Robertson
6 - Magic Johnson

5 - LeBron James

Tier 1

1 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1 - Wilt Chamberlain1 - Bill Russell  
1 - Michael Jordan 

Comments - I originally had named each tier, but then I changed it because I liked it better with just the tier levels and no explanation. Tier 5 was "honorable mentions." Tier 4 was something to the effect of "on a another level from tier 5 players, but not quite on the same level as players from tiers 1-3." Tier 3 was something like "Defiantly top 10 player of all time, but defiantly not the BEST player of all time either." Tier 2 was "Almost had it! Gotta be quicker than that!" - just need(ed) a little more to get to tier 1; or better yet "Definitely one of the best, but I cannot say THE best."  And then Tier 1 was "G-O-A-T Tier - Each has a legitimate case for the best player of all time." Also, the last 4 are all listed as "1" because I refused to rank them. They all have a really good argument for the best player of all time.

I guess the best way to describe how the tiers work is how I answer the question "Is (blank) the greatest basketball player of all time?" So:
Q - "Is __________ the greatest basketball player of all time."
My answer any Tier 1 player  - "Quite possibly yes."
My answer any Tier 2 player  - "It's close, but no."
My answer any Tier 3 player  - "No. But they're right up there with the best of the best."
My answer any Tier 4 or 5 player  - "No. But they're definitely one of the greats."


(WOW-stats for tier 1)
Bill Russell (11 rings in 13 years, 2nd all time rebounds, played before blocks/steals were counted, second most MVP's all time, 5 MVP's)
Michael Jordan (Career 30 PPG, highest PER all-time, 5 MVP's)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Most points all time, 3rd most rebounds all time, most MVP's all time (6), 3rd most blocks all time)
Wilt Chamerlain (100 point game, had a season averaging 50 PPG, career average of 30 PPG, most rebounds all time, 4 MVP's)

Links
Bill Simmons has LeBron James in his top 8
Myths about Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem says Oscar Robertson was better than MJ and LeBron