The Warriors are a Dynasty, But Not the Best I've Seen

Why The 2000-2001 Lakers Are 

Still 

The Best Team I've Ever Witnessed

The Warriors have now won three titles in four years

The Last team to win three in four years were the 2000-2002 Lakers

A Few Brief, Closing Thoughts on the 2018 Finals

With just under a minute to play in Game 3 last Wednesday, Kevin Durant stepped into and sank a 33-footer with the shot clock winding down, extending to a 106-100 Golden State lead and securing a 3-0 stranglehold on the series. The moment the ball went through the hoop, I abruptly shut off my television. I did not watch a single second of Game 4. The result was inevitable. Just as everything that transpired these past few weeks was inevitable. Just as this entire NBA season was inevitable.We knew who would hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy when the season commenced in October, and, frankly speaking, we probably know who will hoist it again next June. The slim chance these 2018 Finals had of being a remotely interesting series evaporated in the waning moments of Game 1. The missed free throw, the J.R. blunder, the call reversal. I'm only going to focus on the call, the other two speak for themselves. As any official in any sport at any level, perhaps the most important attributes to have are conviction and confidence. I both referee basketball and umpire baseball, and this is one of the first things they stressed in training. Calls will be missed, calls will be made, but maintain your conviction, credibility, and control over the proceedings. I state as much in an old piece (Old Post), which discusses a similar instance which was so redolent of the call reversal in Game 1 that I felt it necessary to discuss. The instance I am referring to came in a 2014 NFL Wild Card Playoff game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.

Detroit was driving, up three, with a chance to seal the game and the upset the Cowboys in Jerry World. This is when a pass interference, one of the most hazy calls in sports (you see where I'm going here), was called, correctly I might add, on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens. How dare the referees thwart America's Team! They incurred the wrath of all of Jerry's World, serenaded with boos and the imploring of a helmet-less Dez Bryant (who should have been thrown out of the game immediately). At this critical juncture, these referees lost their conviction, reversed the call. and watched the Cowboys engineer a comeback and ultimately win the game and move on in the playoffs. Fast forward to Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Now, the difference here is that, ultimately, I think a blocking foul on LeBron James was the correct call (it was close). Not the point. The point is that it is a slippery slope. Replay was implemented to correct the obvious, egregious miscall. It's purpose is not to reverse a pass interference or a block/charge call, probably the two most subjective calls in all of sports. I heard numerous people say, and I would agree, that you could ask 100 people about that James/Durant play and 50 would say charge, 50 would say block. I personally think it was a block, but I believe more in an official's conviction and giving credence to the call on the field. This particular play should never even have went to replay. When we no longer do that, all credibility is lost. So, without even mentioning the horrid officiating in the rest of the series, and in the league as a whole, the referees obliterated any chance of a competitive series in Game 1. Disclaimer, the Warriors likely would have won in five anyways, but they went on to a four-game sweep and their third title in four years. They are indeed a dynasty, but they are far from the best dynasty I, at 27, have seen in the NBA. Have we forgotten about the Kobe/Shaq Lakers of the early 2000's? The team of the millennium? The last team that won three in four years? Arguably the most dominant, imposing duo in the history of the league? Kobe, Shaq and company throttled teams. The Twin Towers, the Jail Blazers, the Greatest Show on Court. These are real, legitimate, teams with pedigree, not the riff-raff that the Warriors are mowing down. The Warriors are great, no question about it. The Warriors are a dynasty, no question about it. But let's be real, Los Angeles smashed quality competition, while Golden State is just pubstomping (definition). So, while the Warriors play a beautiful brand of basketball and are an unprecedented spectacle of shooting, they are nowhere near as good as the Lakers of the early 2000s, the best team I've ever witnessed. Here is why..........

Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal dunking over Mutombo in the '01 Finals

See that player Shaq is dunking over above? That's Dikembe Mutombo, one of the most prolific shot-blockers in the history of the league. In fact, with 3.289 career blocks, he trails only Hakeem Olajuwon on the NBA's all-time leading list. With all due respect to Mutombo, Shaquille O'Neal made him look like a child in the 2001 NBA Finals. There's no shame in that, Dikembe, the self-proclaimed Big Aristotle dwarfed all of his competition. With Shaq presently known best as the charismatic giant on TNT or in countless advertisements, it is easy to forgot what a force of nature he was on the court. Forgive me for being too young for Wilt Chamberlain, but I have never seen anything even remotely resembling Shaquille O'Neal. The phrase "men among boys" is thrown out far too frequently, but with Shaq, no expression could be more accurate. He was just a different kind of beast. In the 2001 Finals, he averaged 33 points, 16 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game en route to a five-game gentleman's sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers. Of his 79 total rebounds, 31 came on the offensive end. And, when he ends up with the ball in the paint off of a missed shot, good luck stripping him or stopping him. He's not bringing the ball down and he's not holding it precariously. He's throwing it down over multiple defenders. What a helpless feeling. David Robinson? Vlade Divac? Tim Duncan? Mutombo? These are real NBA big men, and none of them stood a chance. If they don't stand a chance, who do you expect the Warriors to throw at him? Javal McGee? Draymond Green? You see my point. Men. Among. Boys. To those who say Shaq's game would not translate to the modern NBA, I say you do not understand Shaquille O'Neal. The combination of size, power, skill, and agility may never be seen in the NBA again. The grace with which a man of that size played the game........Well, I wouldn't have believed it possible if I didn't witness it with my own eyes. Remember it, appreciate it, respect it. And, hypothetically, 2018 Golden State Warriors, try to stop it. Godspeed.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant with a tomahawk jam off a feed from Shaq in the '01 Finals

As the most ardent Kobe Bryant fan out there, I cannot believe I am even addressing this. Kobe was not carried to three championships by Shaquille O'Neal. Not by a long shot. The two were mutually dependent on each other, the most complementary (on the court) and compatible (again, on the court) players ever to join forces. In fact, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Phil Jackson describes Kobe as the dominant force on those championship teams.

Phil often speaks cryptically, and he seems to be saying that Kobe was not only the impetus for these teams on the court, but off it. Bryant's work ethic and competitive ferocity are well-documented, and, like Jordan, he demanded the same intensity from his teammates. Rumor has it that he even tried to fight Shaquille O'Neal at the height of their feud. But Phil Jackson, who frequently referred to Bryant as malleable, asked Kobe to do something he never fully asked of Michael: to defer and facilitate. When most fans think of Kobe, they think of prolific scoring, shooting, and acrobatic dunks. This is a slight disservice to his memory. It is easy to forget that Phil, and he has stated this on numerous occasions, asked Kobe to run an offense that would feature Shaq. For all intents and purposes, and with all due respect to Derek Fisher, Kobe was their point-guard in the most critical moments. When the game was on the line, the ball was in his hands. Kobe made them go. He performed the role masterfully, an obvious fact when examining the team's 15-1 playoff record in 2001. A common misconception is that Bryant has been a merely a scorer, even a selfish player or a ball hog. I'll let legendary coach of Duke and the U.S. National Team debunk that blasphemous notion.

Able to successfully accept a slightly reduced role due to the presence of Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant was flexible (physically too), in ways that Jordan was not. Despite a rapidly ascending set of skills, he was able to rein in his game for the benefit of the team. The team flourished as a result of his sacrifices, and Bryant developed into the premier playmaker for the entire squad.Take a look at this one-minute clip from the 2001 Finals. Kobe snatches the defensive rebound, goes coast to coast, slithers and spins past literally four defenders, before dumping it off to Shaq for an easy dunk. I can't help but chuckle in awe at this clip. It's like these guys were coming from a higher league, they were just way better than their contemporaries.

Now, don't get it twisted, Kobe could, and would, absolutely take over when necessary. Much of his brilliance in 2001 came on the road, where he averaged 32.4 points per game for the entire playoffs, including 48 and 45 in consecutive games at Sacramento and at San Antonio. He led his team to an 8-0 record away from Staples Center for the entire postseason. How crazy is that? No one wins on the road in the NBA playoffs anymore, and this team went 8-0 in dominant fashion. You think these guys would be scared to play in Oracle Arena against the Warriors? Not a chance. Kobe would embrace it, he would flourish in it, he would thrive in it. Not a single player on the current Golden State roster could stay in front of a 22-year old Kobe Bryant. Send help? Shaquille O'Neal is waiting in the wings to throw it down on someone. Here's Kobe, at 22, abusing the Spurs' Twin Towers, David Robinson and Tim Duncan, who had just led the Spurs to a championship in 1999. These are hall of famers, these are champions, and they were completely and utterly outclassed.

The Role Players

Even in the case of Kobe and Shaq, two men don't make a team (though these two come pretty damn close). Fortunately, they had the perfect compliment of role players around them. Let's first examine the guards, Derek Fisher and Brian Shaw. With much of the play-making responsibilities falling on Kobe, Fisher was primarily a spot-up shooter for the '01 Lakers, and a brilliant one at that. For the entire playoffs, Fisher hit 35 of 68 three-pointers, an outrageous 51.5% clip. In the 4-0 drubbing of the Spurs in the Conference Finals, he hit a ludicrous 15 of 20 (75%) from beyond the arc. Obviously many of these looks came as a result of the attention paid to Kobe and Shaq, but to say he performed his role admirably would be an understatement. Fisher's backup, Brian Shaw, on the other hand, was more of a distributor. In limited playoff minutes  (nearly 300 less than Fisher), Shaw racked up 43 assists, just four shy of Fisher's total. The amount of back-breaking, demoralizing alley-oops from Shaw to Bryant were numerous. Shaw also is said to have served as a calming presence on the team, and a mediator between Kobe and Shaq. We then move to forwards, Rick Fox and Robert Horry, two veteran, cerebral, professional players. Fox was incredibly efficient during their playoff run, shooting 56% from the floor and 87% from the free throw line. And I need no argument for the clutchness of "Big Shot Bob" Robert Horry. Instead, I want to focus on the impact these two could make defensively, particularly against the present-day Warriors. In theory, what counters the snipers of Golden State? In my opinion, long, athletic wings that can contest shots and make things difficult. They can go cold. They can be beat. We've seen it as recently as these playoffs, even these Finals. Steph Curry went 3-16 in Game 3, including 1-10 from three. Those misses lead to long rebounds and outlets. Do you know how lethal Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal are in the open court? Yes, Shaq too. They can turn boards into buckets instantly (see: the video at the end of this piece).  Back to Horry and Fox, at 6'7" and 6'9" respectively, they have the ability to contest these shots. In fact, Los Angeles had the acumen and versatility of Horry as at threat coming off the bench as their sixth man during the 2001 run , backing up veteran forward Horace Grant. Perhaps the most underrated and underappreciated player from the Chicago Bulls first three-peat was Horace Grant. Recognizing his value to this particular group, Phil Jackson brought his former player in for one season in Los Angeles. During the 15-1 playoff run, Grant was the team's third leading rebounder with 96, and also added 13 blocks. Grant was always a solid player and a good defender. This team was perfectly balanced. Surrounding the colossal superstars was a surplus of veteran leadership, championship pedigree, and basketball IQ. While much of the credit is bestowed on Phil, Kobe, and Shaq, this team does not reach it's apex without these players fulfilling their roles wonderfully.

The 2000-2001 Lakers in Perspective

Any conversation regarding the 2000-2001 Lakers begins and ends with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The two superstars combined for 958 points in the postseason, an outrageous 58% of the team's total scoring. They also held the team's top two spots in both rebounds and assists. Shaq led the way by collecting a monstrous 247 rebounds (15.4 per), and Kobe dished out 97 assists (7.3 per). As I stated earlier, these two were simply way too good for their competition. In fact, I may be wrong, but I can't recall another instance where a single team definitively possessed the two best players in the entire league. The result? A .937 (15-1) playoff winning percentage and nearly a 13-point margin of victory per game. Before the 2017 Warriors, who went 16-1 and had an even greater point disparity, these were both records. Save the numbers, give me Kobe, Shaq, and Phil any day of the week. In fact, I don't even think it would be close. I can say, with confidence, that the 2001 Lakers played basketball at the highest level I have ever seen it played. It was pure balladry. It was sheer dominance. Now, I was, admittedly, a child during the Jordan era, and never saw firsthand Bird or Magic's legendary teams. Russell? Kareem? Chamberlain? These were before my time. For what it's worth, however, I'd roll the ball out and take Kobe, Shaq, and company over any team in the history of the league. The '87 Celtics, led by Larry Bird, who went 15-3 in the playoffs. Magic's '86 Lakers, who posted the same record. Take your pick, Jordan's '96 team that went 15-3 or his '91 team that went 15-2. How about the '71 Bucks, which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led to a 12-2 postseason mark? Or the '83 Sixers, who went 12-1 en route to Moses Malone and Julius Irving's only rings? For obvious reasons, pitting teams against each other throughout time is pure conjecture. At the same time, maybe it's my nostalgia talking, but I'm putting my money on the '01 Lakers every time, because they are STILL the peak of basketball as I know it.

Thoughts on the NBA Conference Finals

First of All: Uniforms

Before I address any actual gameplay, I would first like to comment on a travesty on the basketball court, the increasing outrageousness of NBA uniforms. Complication for the sake of complication.We all know that in a few short years NBA jerseys, similar to those in soccer, will be plastered with advertisements and logos. It's already begun. But why all the other unnecessary alternate uniforms? Can we preserve any kind of sanctity in the classic, simple jersey? The most egregious example comes from Portland, where the Trail Blazers don uniforms with "Rip City" across the chest. Is that a joke? You can have your slang, that's all good and well, but when you step on that basketball court and represent that franchise and that city, you are the Portland Trail Blazers, a professional basketball team. Conduct yourselves like it, look like it. I laughed as the Blazers, a heavy favorite, got swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the upstart Pelicans. In a similar vein, the best team in basketball, Golden State, wears uniforms that read "The City." Who decided you were The City? What does that even mean? Again, you are a professional sports franchise, act like it. This perversion of jerseys does not end with the names across the chest, but also includes the array of colors and designs NBA franchises feel the need to implement. For example, the Utah Jazz sported this bright orange lava-looking attire in some home games this playoffs, most notably in Game 3 against the Rockets. When I turned this game on, I legitimately did not even know who was playing. The orange jerseys were such a stark contrast to anything at all redolent of the Utah Jazz. I do not understand. What was wrong with the traditional white for home and colored for away scheme? Are they trying to be the NFL? Again, complication for the sake of complication. This is why I so appreciate, and I mentioned this to a friend of mine, the sheer simplicity of the Boston Celtics jerseys. White with Celtics at home, and green with Boston on the road. At least one traditional franchise is preserving the simplicity of the classic jerseys. Here are a few of the notable great ones. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

                                                                    

On to Basketball: Home Teams Go Up 3-2

The Warriors find themselves looking up at the Rockets

The most stunning result of this NBA Playoffs so far was the Rockets 95-92 win over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night, which evened the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. Houston's improbable victory snapped the Warriors 16-game home playoff winning streak, and showed the defending champs to be fallible. Gods do bleed. In fact, Golden State not only looked mortal on Tuesday night, they looked lost, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Warriors came out of the locker room, as they always seem to do, like they were shot out of a cannon. They outscored the Rockets 34-17 in the third, and appeared poised to move within one game of a fourth straight finals appearance. That, however, was when hubris struck. In a final frame where they were outscored 25-12, the Warriors were nothing short of embarrassing. They played sloppy, they played entitled, and they played lazy. As Michael Wilbon would say, they're "slurping the Kool-Aid." They're feeling themselves, and it's costing them dearly. The number of poor possessions down the stretch of Game 4 was stunning, particularly when they came from the most efficient offensive team in the history of the league. The plan looks something like this: Dribble around the top of the key, 30 feet from the basket, until the shot clock dwindles to 5, then launch a contested three. Or better yet, throw the ball away. And this isn't just the Warriors. This lack of efficient, offensive basketball is an epidemic in the NBA, particularly in these playoffs. How many times do I have to watch a star player isolate himself and dribble 10 or 15 seconds off the clock before stepping into a low-percentage three-pointer? Durant does it, LeBron does it, Harden does it. What ever happened to the beautiful game that the 2014 San Antonio Spurs demonstrated to us? Has this been lost?

What is so stunning about the Warriors ineptitude late in these games is that they were the team that took the beautiful game to another level. They seem to have forgotten this. They seem to have lost their way. They have gone from a team that executed at the highest offensive level we've ever seen, to a team that believes they deserve to win simply by lacing them up and stepping on the court. After a season of showing the game, and their opponents, little to no respect, maybe it's finally catching up to them. After the Game 4 meltdown, it was more of the same in Game 5, when one careless play after another led to a 98-94 loss. Poor shot selection, turnovers, 24-second violations, you name it. And, as absolutely hilarious as it was to watch Draymond Green, the league's premier jackass, fumble the ball and subsequently the game, away, that was not even his fault. Steph Curry, the two-time MVP and possibly the most prolific shooter in the history of the league, gave up the ball the moment he crossed half-court, throwing a careless bounce-pass at the feet of a moving and ill-prepared Green. What's the matter, Steph? Afraid to shoot? Where's the shimmy now?

Green dives for the ball after Curry's errant pass

If Golden State goes on the lose this series, this photo of Green diving helplessly for the loose ball in the waning moments of Game 5 may be the lasting image. However, I don't think it's going down like that. Remember, the Warriors have been here before. They trailed 3 games to 1 to a Durant-led Thunder team just two years ago. Klay Thompson, who is quickly becoming the only likable player on this roster, pulled their feet out of the fire with a remarkable 41-point performance on the road in Game 6. So while yes, the Rockets have taken a 3-2 lead, the advantage comes more due to Golden State's arrogance and ineptitude than their strong play. In fact, the Rockets have had nearly as many "hide-the-women-and-children" possessions as the Warriors have. If I have to watch James Harden dribble between his legs for 20 seconds just to launch a step-back three and come up a foot short one more time I'm going to puke. I have no confidence in Harden in the playoffs. Never have, never will. With their backs against the wall, it is time for the best team in basketball to do some introspection and self-evaluation. They need to remember why they are so damn good, and play their game. I heard a statistic during the last broadcast that the Warriors aim to reach 300 passes a game. I would be surprised if they reached this mark in either Game 4 or 5. Going a step further, it is less about quantity of passes than quality of passes. I think we will see a different Warriors team Saturday night at Oracle Arena. No dancing, no shimmying, no disrespect, all business. If they play like they are capable, they will win this series. If they get back to the beautiful game, they will win this series. Warriors in 7. 

At Age 33, LeBron James may have had his best season yet

In a matter of weeks, James Harden will be voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Congratulations to Harden, but LeBron James was the most valuable player to his team this season, and it isn't even close. For the first time in his career, LeBron James, at age 33, played all 82 games. Let me repeat, for the first time in his entire career, LeBron James played all 82 games in the regular season. He averaged 27 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.6 rebounds, while leading an unstable, disoriented, constantly in-flux team to the fourth seed in the East. He carried them past the live-dog Pacers team in the first round, and completely exposed the fraudulent Toronto Raptors in a four-game sweep in the second round. But he has collided with a different beast in these Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. That is a true team that plays smart, plays for each other, and simply does not lose at home.

Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are playing beyond their years

I don't know who deserves the most credit for the Celtics' rapid ascension. Is it general manager Danny Ainge? Head coach Brad Stevens? Or the Celtics collection of young talent, specifically Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown? I'll cop out, and say it's a combination of the three. When I heard the news that Kyrie Irving would miss the entirety of the postseason, I, like many others (don't lie) dismissed Boston as a legitimate contender in the East. I told my friend, an avid Celtics fan, that the C's might win a series, but they'll go down in the second round. Well, they not only stayed up in the second round, but they made quick, 5-game work of everyone's darlings, the young Philadelphia 76ers. But surely they can't take down LeBron James and the Cavs? With home-court advantage, anything is possible. With Wednesday night's win, the Celtics improved to 10-0 at the TD Garden during these playoffs. Fortunately for them, Game 7 will be played in that exact venue. And yes, there will be a Game 7, because LeBron isn't about to get knocked out on his home court, and this Celtics team is just not yet ready to win there. Their defense falls apart on the road, where they allow 113 points per game versus just 86 at home. I fully expect them to get blown out tonight in Cleveland, but also fully expect them to return home and take Game 7, earning their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2010. So, come early next week, we'll have a pair of Game 7s to decide who plays in The Finals. In one case, I'm taking the home team, the Celtics, in the other, I'm taking the best team, the Warriors. Some new blood in The Finals is just a harbinger of things to come for this Celtics squad...............

The Final Rodgers V. Brady?

         Rodgers-Brady. It's the phrase we've heard uttered repeatedly this week, enough to send chills down the spine of any legitimate football fan. The two future hall-of-fame quarterbacks will, remarkably, share a field for only the second time this Sunday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Their only previous meeting came in 2014 at Lambeau Field, in a game won by the Packers, 26-21. In 2010, Rodgers was concussed and could only watch as the Packers came up short at Gillette Stadium, 27-31. Now, with the NFC North and AFC East playing only once every four years, it is easy to see why these two all-time greats have so seldom crossed paths. They have been like ships in the night, excelling and dominating without ever converging. An even better question, however, is how these two have never met on the ultimate stage? Prior to last year, when Rodgers missed most of the season, the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots shared the longest active consecutive postseason berths (8). So how have these perennial contenders and consistently great quarterbacks never met in the Super Bowl? Let's look back.
       

They share a number, will they ever share the field in the Super Bowl?

          If football Gods exist in any form or fashion, they will eventually pull the strings and make this colossal showdown a reality. Of course, bear in mind that I am a die-hard Packers fan living in New England, so I am a bit biased here. Having seen Brady nearly every week for years, I can't help but respect the consistency and longevity of his play. Having seen nearly every snap Aaron Rodgers has taken, I continue to marvel at the inhuman plays he is able to make. Brady is more accomplished in the postseason, but Rodgers's abilities are unprecedented. 

The Packers won Super Bowl XLV, while the Patriots fell short.

          Rewind to the 2011 playoffs, when Rodgers and the Packers sneaked in as a Wild Card by winning their final two regular season games and finishing 10-6. They proceeded to win three straight road games and reach Super Bowl XLV where they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25. The Patriots, on the other hand, after winning eight straight to close the season and finishing 14-2, were delivered a stunning 28-21 home loss in the Divisional Round to the rival New York Jets. Despite one of his best regular seasons (36 TDS, 4 INTS) and a second MVP award, Brady was one-and-done in the playoffs. 

It was the Giants, not the Packers, who topped New England in 2011

          Rodgers found himself in a similar scenario the following season, after putting up one of the greatest statistical seasons we've ever witnessed. Coming off the Super Bowl victory, he threw 46 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions, while throwing for over 4,600 yards. As a result, the Packers finished the season 15-1, and were heavy favorites to reach a second-straight Super Bowl. Instead, the New York Giants came into Lambeau Field and dismantled the defending champs, 37-20, en route to a victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. In consecutive years, the regular season NFL MVPs (Brady, Rodgers) failed to advance past the Divisional Round as a number-one seed, and failed to hold up their end of the bargain.

Brandon Bostick couldn't send the Packers to the Super Bowl

        And who could forget the Packers' epic collapse against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2015 NFC Championship Game? 3rd &19, the fake field goal, the botched onside kick. At the end of it all, the Packers blew a 16-0 lead, and a 19-7 lead in the final three minutes, sending the Seahawks to meet (and fall to) the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. Yet again, the regular-season MVP (Rodgers) stumbled in the postseason, failing to meet their counterpart all-time great on the biggest stage.

Time is running out for a Rodgers/Brady Super Bowl

          Tom Brady may plan to play until he's 50 ( CBS Article), but, realistically, this year may pose the best and final chance for these two tremendous players to go blow for blow on the ultimate stage. Brady, 41, has shown no signs of slowing down yet, and is coming off his third MVP season, in which he threw 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. For his career, Brady has thrown 504 touchdowns and 167 interceptions, good for a ratio of 3.02, the second best in league history. The highest career ratio? That belongs to Aaron Rodgers, and by a significant margin. His 4.13 TD/INT ratio is a FULL touchdown higher than Brady's. Rodgers also remains the only eligible quarterback to post a career passer rating above 100 (103.6). Brady sits second at 97.6. When Rodgers posted a 122.5 passer rating (highest in league history) in 2011, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would reach (and win) several more Super Bowls. In the six seasons following his first Lombardi Trophy, however, Aaron has yet to reach the big game again, and has barely even sniffed it. Brady, on the other hand, is seeking his fifth Super Bowl appearance during that span. The efficiency favors Rodgers, the results favor Brady.

          A quick glance at the graphic above tells you that Rodgers's first seven years in the league were not only more productive, but more efficient, than Brady's. Of course, as a 17-year veteran, Brady has now compiled over 60,000 yards and over 500 touchdowns. A little over halfway towards those numbers, Rodgers would need to continue to play at a high level for quite some time to approach them. What separates Tom for many, however, is his unparalleled playoff resume. In defeating the Houston Texans on Saturday, Brady improved to 27-10 in his postseason career. He ranks first in victories, games played, attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. If you want to relive Brady's earliest postseason heroics, here they are:

          For my money, however, Brady's most iconic performance came just four years ago, in Super Bowl 49 against the Seattle Seahawks. Down 10 entering the fourth quarter against one of the most most fearsome defenses the league has ever seen, Brady never relented. He recovered from two early interceptions to go 13 of 15 for 124 yards and two touchdowns, the final one proving to be the game-winner to Julian Edelman. His passer rating in the final frame was 140.7, and his Patriots staged the largest fourth quarter comeback in Super Bowl history:

          While Aaron Rodgers may not have the postseason accolades or playoff record (he is 9-6) that Brady boasts, he is the most efficient, and quite possibly the most exciting, quarterback the league has ever seen. Two years ago, when my formatting was atrocious and my layout made eyes bleed, I wrote a piece entitled An Ode to Rodgers (Link), which essentially claimed that Rodgers possessed the greatest ability of any quarterback ever to play football. I decided this in 2011, folks, when Rodgers, as a green (no pun intended) third-year starter, put on as impressive a display as I have ever seen in sports:

          The performance in this Divisional Round road game was unreal: 31 of 36 for 366 yards and four total touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) in a 48-21 clobbering of the number-one seeded Atlanta Falcons. It was an absolute clinic, much like the one we saw this past Sunday in Dallas. Every time Atlanta seemed to have him bottled up, he slithered, escaped, and hit a receiver with unprecedented accuracy and velocity. Two weeks later, Rodgers led his Packers to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45, going 24-39 for 304 yards and three touchdowns.

Brady and Rodgers exchange a handshake following their only meeting

          So, for me, the dream remains, but we are running out of time. If football gods exist, in any form or fashion, they will not allow this to be the final Rodgers versus Brady match-up. If football gods exist, they will, at some point, make it happen on the ultimate stage. If we ever do see Packers versus Patriots, Rodgers versus Brady, I don't particularly care who wins, I just want the privilege of witnessing it just one time. If Rodgers throws for 400 yards, defeats Brady, and claims his second Super Bowl, does his folklore-like legend rise to unprecedented heights? Maybe. If Brady wins yet another title in the final moments, will become insurmountable as the Greatest of All Time? That's for you to decide. And you. And you, and you, and you, and you, and every fan of football that has ever lived. That's what makes this so damn fun.

Violent Crime: An Epidemic Among Professional Athletes

          Having not published anything of significance in several months, I immediately thought to write on last week's World Series Game 7, which will almost certainly go down as the greatest baseball game ever played. But there is little insight there. You don't need me to tell you how epic the Chicago Cubs' 8-7, 10-inning victory in the rain last Wednesday night was. You don't need me to tell you that they became just the sixth team ever to win the World Series after trailing 3-1, and shattered a 108-year "curse" in the process. Instead, while combing through countless World Series articles, I encountered a statement that alarmed, disturbed, and triggered me, so to speak, a statement that epitomized what has become an epidemic in professional athletes: violent crime.

Josh Huff was arrested and subsequently released by the Eagles last week

          On Tuesday, November 1, Philadelphia Eagles receiver Josh Huff was arrested in New Jersey for carrying a 9 mm handgun without a permit (According to ESPN). While the arrest itself wasn't shocking in nature (which is a problem in itself), Huff's ensuing comments were:

"I'm a professional athlete. What professional athlete don't have a gun? I have a wife and son at home. My job is to protect them at all costs."

          Huff, 25, went on to claim it was his belief that every NFL player carries a firearm, lawfully or otherwise. Though he later apologized, Huff's initial dismissive comments beg a very serious question. Has illegal gun possession and violent crime, such as domestic abuse, become commonplace in professional sports?

Aaron Hernandez has become the poster boy for crime in the NFL

          Those of us who follow sports even remotely are aware of the major offenders over the past decade. Aaron Hernandez (above), former Patriots tight end, was charged with first-degree murder in June of 2013. Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas was charged with a felony following a 2009 incident in which he and teammate Javaris Crittenton allegedly both had guns in the Washington Wizards locker room. Ex-NFL linebacker Greg Hardy was arrested in 2014 for choking then-girlfriend Nicole Holder, and then throwing her onto a couch covered in guns. This last offense combines gun violence with domestic abuse, the two most prevalent and disturbing forms of violent crime we see in professional sports today.

Ray Rice still cannot find a job in the NFL

Does the NFL Continue to Turn a Blind Eye on Domestic Violence?

          Two years ago, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that he "didn't get it right" in the two-game suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following a felony assault incident (NYP Article). Although the charges were dropped, the league, separate from the court system, was at liberty to dole out any punishment it deemed necessary. Having seen the infamous video of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee (now wife) and dragging her from an elevator, Goodell decided that a two-game suspension was an appropriate sentence. Later recognizing the degree to which he belittled the incident, he issued a statement saying that this behavior has no place in the league, and that a new policy will be implemented in regards to it. The new policy claimed that an initial domestic violence offense will draw an immediate six-week suspension, while a second offense could result in banishment from the league. Yet, even after the Rice debacle, the NFL reduced the aforementioned Hardy's suspension from 10 games to four following an appeal. Are you kidding me? Did the people in charge (namely Goodell) at 345 Park Ave in New York (NFL office) read the police report following Hardy's arrest? Did they see the pictures of Nicole Holder? Did they realize the extent to which guns and weapons were involved? Perhaps not, because no one having done so would have given a maniac like Hardy such a pass in a situation like this.

The Giants recently released kicker Josh Brown

          Fast forward to this fall, when the NFL had another opportunity to take a hard stand on domestic violence, and dropped the ball yet again. Former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown had been arrested in May of 2015 on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge. After somehow evading punishment for over a year, Brown was suspended just a single game to begin the 2016 season. However, when new details came to light just several weeks ago, the Giants decided to part ways with the troubled kicker. According to an article in Sports Illustrated (SI Article), Brown wrote the following in his personal journal:

"I have physically, mentally, emotionally and verbally been a repulsive man. I have abused my wife. I viewed myself as God basically and she was my slave."

          If this is not an admission of guilt, I don't know what is. Yet, if you were to look up Josh Brown, he is listed as a free agent, ready to play for an organization of his choosing. Whether any team is desperate enough to pick him up remains to be seen, but just the fact that he remains able to play is a conundrum. Where is this new policy? Where is this harder stance?

Mets pitcher Jeurys Familia was arrested last week

          Of course, the NFL is not alone in its domestic violence issue. Prominent MLB players such as Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman, Mets infielder Jose Reyes, and most recently Mets closer Jeurys Familia, have all been arrested on similiar charges. While Reyes and Chapman have both served suspensions, the jury is still out on Familia. From the NBA, Sacramento Kings forward Darren Collison was suspended eight games to open the season after assaulting and injuring his wife. If we date back further, the list goes on and on.

Is Violence Actually More Prevalent Among Athletes?

          While overall arrest rates among men ages 20-39 are significantly lower among professional athletes, startling statistics come to light when examining violent crime specifically. According to a Huffington Post article (HP Article), researchers identified six years in which the rate of NFL players' violent crime was above the national average at what was considered a "statistically significant" level. Over the span of time between 2000 and 2013, the rate of NFL players arrested for violent crimes was higher than the national average overall. The article classifies violent crime as things such as murder, manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault, rape, battery, domestic violence, child abuse and kidnapping. 

  

          What makes the discrepancy even more alarming is the fact that nearly all those NFL players fall into a high-income group, which is naturally less inclined to commit violent crime. Yet, it is something we see routinely among professional athletes of all sports. While some may argue that we simply hear more about the indiscretions of an athlete due to their high-profile, the routine way these occurrences are viewed is undoubtedly a problem.

          In 2015, Bethany P. Withers revisited her 2010 article (Article) reviewing the treatment by three major sports (MLB, NFL, NBA) of athletes accused of domestic violence. She explains the issue lay dormant in 2010, but it had come to the forefront five years later. While she addresses that the leagues have now acknowledged the role they have to play in quelling this type of crime, she also argues they have not done enough. For example, from January 2010 to December 2014, there were 64 incidents of alleged domestic violence or sexual assault, and in only seven of those instances were the offending players punished by their respective league.

League officials such as Roger Goodell have a major responsibility

          Maybe this slap-on-wrist mentality plays a major role in the continuation of this behavior. Entitlement has certainly been discussed as a factor, whether as an adult or from a young age. Athletes often develop an ego early on, and some grow to think they are above the law. Maybe it is inherent in their nature, particularly football players, to channel on-the-field aggression elsewhere. Regardless of the plethora of reasons, it is an issue that needs to be heavily scrutinized going forward. Look at Aaron Hernandez, who was due to earn $40 million and was less than a year removed from catching passes in the Super Bowl, and is now a murderer behind bars. The motives of the offenders remains a great mystery, but violent crime is not simply an epidemic among rich professional athletes. It starts with the fact that is has become an epidemic in our country as a whole. Violence has become common, even expected, in 2016, a trend that can and must stop. Perhaps that process begins tonight with the 2016 Presidential Election.

2016 NBA Finals Preview

It's hard to believe we are just two years removed from LeBron James falling to the Spurs in his final year in Miami, especially with the landscape of the NBA changing so drastically since then. Instead of the reigning champion, James enters the 2016 Finals as the underdog, looking to not only to usurp the Golden State Warriors, but also to reclaim his throne as the world's best player. Frankly, and deservedly, that title currently belongs to the back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry ignites the Oracle Arena crowd

The Warriors' point guard had a season unlike any we've ever seen, making an unprecedented 402 three-pointers and shattering his own record of 286 last season. In fact, Curry and teammate Klay Thompson hold four of the five highest total threes in a season (http://goo.gl/4lvMyx) with the next closest being Ray Allen in 2005-06'. In the process of setting this lofty record, Curry averaged 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.1 steals, all while shooting 50% from the field, 45% from three, and 91% from the line. Oh, and not to mention he led his team to a record-setting 73 wins and became the league's first ever unanimous MVP.

Greatest shooter of all time?

With that being said, Curry has more to prove than anyone in the upcoming Finals, beginning tonight at 9 PM Eastern Time on ABC. Whether it is former stars such as Oscar Robertson or contemporary coaches such as Gregg Popovich, there has been no shortage of skeptics regarding Curry and the Warriors. Personally, I am in awe of what Steph and the Warriors have done to transform and push the game with their skill set and teamwork, all within the confines of the rules. It is astounding. That being said, however, it is easy to forget that Andre Iguodala, not Curry, was the MVP of last year's NBA Finals. What is not easy to forget is that the Cavaliers played without two of their top three players in that series, a fact that Golden State detractors are quick to point out.

For the Warriors, that noise serves as motivation. It fueled a 24-0 start to the regular season, eventually culminating in a 73-9 regular season. It fueled historically great regular seasons from Curry (see above), Klay Thompson (276 threes), and Draymond Green (1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 blocks, 100 steals). Most importantly, however, it fuels an insatiable desire to take down Cleveland at full strength.

Green (Left) and Thompson (Right) were integral parts of the Warriors' record setting season

If Golden State is to beat Cleveland, it will HAVE to be because of Steph Curry. Frankly, the Warriors are still playing because of Klay Thompson. Thompson's epic 41-point performance (11-18 from three) in Game 6 at Oklahoma City was the stuff of legend, and kept this incredible journey afloat. Steph didn't play poorly in that game (31 points on 9-22, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), but Klay was undoubtedly the main attraction. While Thompson's stardom rises, the pressure mounts on the two-time reigning MVP. Not only did he fail to bring home the hardware for Finals MVP last season, but he has significantly under-performed (by his standards) in this year's playoffs. He is scoring  nearly five less points per game (26.7) and shooting nearly five percent (45.8%) lower from the field than during the regular season. While these numbers are still great, we are talking about a player that seeks entrance to the pantheon of all-time greats. For that, yes, I will judge harshly. Meanwhile, people will hearken back to the ankle and knee injuries Curry suffered early in the playoffs. I don't buy it. I saw him explode for 40 points on the road in Portland (including 18 in overtime) in his first game back, all but sealing the series over the Trail Blazers. I saw him finally look like fully like himself in Game 7 against the Thunder, when he took over the game in the second half, finishing with 36 points and 8 assists on 13 of 24 shooting. In the final of three straight victories that completed the Golden State comeback and sent the team back to the Finals, the Warriors outscored the Thunder by 18 while Curry was on the floor, by far the highest +/- of any player in the game. The MVP looks to be rounding into form at the perfect time, and the Warriors will need every ounce of him if they hope to beat the guy on the other side, who wants to take down the Warriors more than anything in the world.

LeBron James wanted the Warriors, and he got them

LeBron James' realization of his potential has been questioned before. His postseason performances have been questioned before. Even his will has been questioned before. Last June, however, no one pundit could undermine the desire and motivation of this man. In a 4-2 series loss, James may have had the greatest individual Finals in history, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. To the point of exhaustion, he willed his team to a highly competitive series against what was a much more talented squad at the time. He did so much so that many wondered whether the series may have ended differently with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on the court. I, on the other hand, wonder if LeBron will demonstrate the same ferocity with his full supporting cast at his disposal.

Will Kyrie Irving (Left) and Kevin Love (Right) be the difference in this year's Finals?

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, this postseason has been about improving every game and preparing themselves for the challenge that awaits. LeBron is averaging 24.6 points thus far in the playoffs, his lowest total for a postseason since 2011 (23.7). He is also, however, attempting just 17.9 shots per game, versus an absurd 27.2 last season. If LeBron hopes to avoid the same physical depletion that plagued him last year, the decreased workload is crucial, which is where his two co-stars come into play.

Taken first overall by the Cavs in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Duke, Kyrie Irving is just 23 years of age. His immense and unique talent made him headstrong, often clashing with James early on. People often forget the maturation period that is required of young stars in this league, but it looks like Irving is finally nearing the end of his. Before being sidelined by a severe knee injury, he averaged 19 points and 3.8 assists per game on 43.8% shooting from the field. This postseason? Irving averaging 24.3 points and 5.1 assists, all while being far more efficient (48% shooting). It seems that Irving has finally figured out how to play cohesively with LeBron James and Kevin Love. He will often be the best player on the floor in the upcoming series, and the Cavs will need him to be just that to stand a chance. His agility and quickness will be a nightmare for Thompson and Curry on the defensive end, which means tiring them out may be his greatest impact.

J.R. Smith must play better in this year's Finals for the Cavs to win

Kevin Love, meanwhile, has become as much of a wildcard as J.R. Smith for Cleveland. He has had some truly special games this postseason and some truly horrendous ones. Frankly, I am not a huge Love fan, but there is one stat of his that jumps out. Love is averaging nearly three more rebounds (9.6) than he did last postseason (7.0). Granted, last season was a small sample size, but this is where Love will make his biggest impact. We know he can knock down open threes with the best of them. We know he has a decent offensive skill-set. Love's contributions on the glass could expose the interior of Golden State, which is without question the team's biggest weakness.

If the stars are a wash, this series may come down to which role players show up. Will J.R. Smith shoot 47% from three like he did in the Conference Finals last season versus Atlanta? Or will he shoot an abysmal 29% like in the Finals against Golden State? Tristan Thompson, meanwhile, will have to dominate the paint the way he did last year to the tune of 13 rebounds per game. 8.5 rebounds per game against Toronto last series just isn't good enough, especially when the Cavs' greatest advantage comes in the paint. On the other side, will Andre  Iguodala be Golden State's second-leading scorer and MVP again? With all due respect to the greatness of Iguodala, I don't think the Warriors can win if he is. Will Richard Jefferson (35) and Channing Frye (33) be able to continue to make the impact they have thus far? Will the Cavalier bench be able to match the agility of Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa? Will Golden State be able to keep up on the boards? These are all questions that need answering, and that will be answered in the coming weeks as we watch a potentially epic series unfold. It's hard to imagine a player as great as LeBron James could lose in five out of his seven Finals appearances, which would be the case if his team went down here. Personally, though, while I'd still bank on LeBron's performance over Curry's, I'm taking the better, deeper, all-around team.

Prediction: Warriors in Seven