Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Preview

Guest Contributor Ryan Mahanna is still high on life after the Buffalo Bills grabbed Marcel Dareus. While he is loving the NFL Draft, he is a hooper above all else. He takes a little time out of his life to share his Eastern Conference predictions.

(1) Chicago Bulls vs (5) Atlanta Hawks (Regular Season; Bulls 2-1)

These former roommates will be doing battle at Center.

When it comes to sports I am a big time hippie. Other than hating a few teams and players for personal reasons, I subscribe to the idea of ELE, Everybody Love Everybody. I enjoy different styles of play and respect philosophies that are different from my own. There are only 3 things that turn me off in sports: self-centered coaches, egotistical officials and front-runners. I HATE front-runners. No matter what form they come in (players, fans, media members, coaches, teams), front-runners always lose in the end. After forcing myself to watch some of the Hawks-Magic series I was able to finally figure out why I dislike watching the Atlanta Hawks play so much...Atlanta is the quintessential front-running team. It is the reason they can win by 30 as well as lose by 30 in the same series and the same reason why they will never gain my respect.

Five Final Predictions Before the Draft

Today I woke up, ran out of my room and looked for a tree with presents underneath.....well thats not true but it might as well be. Thats right, its the Collective's Christmas Day! Before partaking in tonights festivities I decided to make five final predictions about D-Day.

Christmas ain't got nothin on the Draft

1. The Patriots will trade up for Robert Quinn

What a great fit for the Pats. Quinn is a monster and would fill a massive need. The most likely pick for the Pats to move to would be 10, but I also like Scott's idea of the Pats moving up to 6.

2. Christian Ponder will go 25 to Seattle

Ponder will be the best Quarterback in the draft. He will be available at 25 where Seattle will be looking for a signal caller. 

3. Prince Amukamara will fall....far

Once projected as a top 10 lock, Amukamara will fall into the 20s. Recent mock drafts have shown this fall. My thoughts are that his lackluster college numbers are the reason.

4. A team will reach for a defensive lineman in the top 10

Last year it was Jacksonville with Tyson Alualu, this years top candidate is Cameron Jordan.

5. Titus Young will slip into the first round

This might be biased because I love him so much, but I think a team in the later part of the first round will nab Young. My guess is the Colts.

Scott Simon Draft Day Mock (2.0)

First Round:

1.     Carolina: Cam Newton – QB – Auburn

2.     Denver: Von Miller – LB – Texas A&M

3.     Buffalo: Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama

4.     Cincinnati: AJ Green – WR - Georgia

5.   Arizona: Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU

6.     New England (from Cleveland): Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina

7.     San Francisco: Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri

8.     Tennessee: Nick Fairley – DT - Auburn

9.     Dallas: JJ Watt – DE – Wisconsin

10.  Atlanta (from Washington): Julio Jones – WR – Alabama

11.  Houston: Cameron Jordan  – DE – California

12.  Minnesota: Anthony Castonzo – OT – Boston College

13.  Detroit:  Tyron Smith – OT - USC

14.  St. Louis: Corey Liuget – DT – Illinois

15.  Miami: Mike Pouncey – G/C – Florida

The OFFICIAL Scott Simon Mock Draft

We are just one day away, so we have another treat from RFH friend and Steelers fan, Scott Simon.  This time, he was kind enough to share his annual, much-anticipated Mock Draft that he cranked out in time to prepare for Gabe Carimi on his podcast.  That's right, the man had Gabe Carimi on his podcast the day before the draft.  Follow him on twitter @1scottsimon.

1.     Carolina: Cam Newton – QB – Auburn

Comment: The Panthers agree to admit to paying Newton to play football for them.

2.     Denver: Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama

Comment: With All Pros Ronald Fields, Marcus Thomas AND Louis Leonard at D-Tackle, the Broncos take a luxury pick in Dareus.

3.     Buffalo: Von Miller – LB – Texas A&M

Comment: Miller played the “Joker” position at A&M and played it very well. Looking likely Ralph “Batman” Wilson will vanquish him to Buffalo.

4.     Cincinnati: Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri

Comment: The Bengals nab a three-year “letterman” to follow Carson.

5.     Arizona: Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU

Comment: Zona play zone? Not with Peterson and Rodgers-Cromartie they won’t.

6.     Cleveland: AJ Green – WR – Georgia

Comment: The Browns take a Green. Green then takes an antacid.

7.     San Francisco: Nick Fairley – DT – Auburn

Comment: This is what Patrick Willis is talkin’ ‘bout. A double-team inducing defensive tackle to keep the Middle Linebacker clean.

8.     Tennessee: Prince Amukamara – CB – Nebraska

Comment: Amukamara instantly becomes the best Titans cover corner since Petey Jones.

9.     Dallas: JJ Watt – DE – Wisconsin

Comment: A little extra wattage at Jerry’s World. JJ will shine in Big D.

10.  Washington: Julio Jones – WR – Alabama

Comment: The ‘Skins need help everywhere and very few can keep up with this Jones.

11.  Houston: Cameron Jordan – DE – California

Comment: If anybody can screw up a 6’6” Jordan who plays incredible defense, it might be Texans DC Wade Phillips. I have concerns…

12.  Minnesota: Anthony Castonzo – OT – Boston College

Comment: After being selected, Castonzo proclaims this the “Summer of Anthony!”

13.  Detroit: Aldon Smith – DE/OLB – Missouri

Comment: The city of Detroit finally have themselves a hybrid!

14.  St. Louis: Corey Liuget – DT – Illinois

Comment: Scouting report says: “Relentless motor.” I say: “Too Liuget to quit.”

15.  Miami: Mike Pouncey – G/C – Florida

Comment: Cue Former Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron and his now infamous “you’re going to love him. You’re going to love his family! He comes from a great family!” We know, Cam. We know.

NEW YORK JETS 2011 DRAFT PREVIEW

We are delighted to introduce the newest RFH contributor, Glenn Vallach.  He is a Jets fan (but not like you ones you know and can't stand), and co-captain of the world-renowned Del Boca Vista Virgins Seinfeld trivia squad.  The following is a gem of analytical draft goodness.  Behold:

Picks: 30^th overall (1^st Round), 94^th overall (3^rd Round), 126^th overall (4^th Round), 161^st overall (5^th Round), 194^th overall (6^th Round), 208^th overall (7^thRound)

Outlook: After a second consecutive AFC championship heartbreaker, the Jets enter the 2011 draft with six picks at their disposal, and some relatively obvious holes to fill.   They desperately need somebody, anybody, who can get to opposing quarterbacks, whether it be an outside linebacker or defensive end.   They could use a dominant nose tackle to anchor their 3-4 after releasing the injury-riddled Kris Jenkins.   They also need help at safety.  With the uncertainty of free agency amidst the lockout, wide receiver has become a position of concern.

But predicting GM Mike Tannenbaum’s draft strategy with any conviction is a shaky proposition.  The Jets have used only seven picks over the last two drafts combined, and only 17 since 2007, repeatedly trading up to nab the big fish that caught their eye.  Tannenbaum famously gave up his first and second round picks, along with three roster players, to move up to the five spot to grab Mark Sanchez in 2009.  Then, just two rounds later, Tannenbaum again paid the price for an upgrade, ceding his third, fourth and seventh round picks to move up 11 spots in the third round to scoop up Shonn Greene. Tannenbaum’s hyper-aggressive “I get what I want” technique isn’t a new development, either - he traded the Jets’ first, second and fifth round picks to move from the 25^th pick to the 14^th pick in 2007, and then selected Darrelle Revis.  He soon sent three more picks to the Packers to move up for David Harris in the second.

Steelers NFL Draft Preview

 Another day, another dollar for the Steelers in the 2010 draft.

The Steelers will enter the 2011 Draft in the same position they often find themselves: towards the end of the first round, without any immediate needs, but tons of areas that could use upgrades in the near future.  They have shown a commitment to taking the best player available and have done so with unprecedented success in the first round.  They are able to pursue this strategy because of their tremendous record picking stars early and finding contributors in the middle rounds, especially in the last few drafts.


Everyone knows that they had the fortune of landing Pro-Bowler, LaMarr Woodley in the 2nd round in 2007, but there are other, slightly less celebrated draft value triumphs for Kevin Colbert.  Most notably, they have managed to reinvent their receiving corps after the first round, assembling the Young Money Trio of Mike Wallace (3rd round, 2009), Emmanuel Sanders (3rd round, 2010) and Antonio Brown (6th round, 2010) in the last two drafts.  That said, despite their strengths all over the field, they are not without weakness in the secondary and along the offensive line.  They also face real concerns about aging stars, particularly on the defensive line and at linebacker.

NFL Draft: Scouting the Badgers

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our newest contributor to the RFH, Scott Simon.  His accomplishments are too many to list in this space, but let's just say he co-hosts a sick podcast and is a Wisconsin grad (class of '06) that is about to give us an in-depth look at some of the best Draft prospects in the country.  Also a fellow Steelers fan, you can look forward to hearing more from him in the coming weeks.  Enjoy.

JJ Watt (6’6” 290lbs) – Defensive end

Watt has just about everything you look for in a prospect. He has great size, a tremendous passion and work ethic, prolific numbers at a high level of competition, shows versatility, is a great leader and is coachable. A former tight end at Central Michigan University, Watt transferred to Wisconsin and while forced to sit out a year he delivered pizza for Pizza Hut to make ends meet while not on scholarship at UW. His 36.5 tackles for loss in the past two seasons is the highest total among this year’s draft candidates. Watt is probably best suited for the defensive position that is toughest to teach (because few college teams play it): the 5 technique as a 3-4 end. I could go on and on about his character. In fact, I think I will. Watt created a motto and subsequently a charity called “Dream Big Work Hard” which provides funding for Children’s Hospitals. He won the Lott IMPACT trophy which is given to a defensive player each season that displays a high level of “integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity.” A second team AP All America, Watt was voted a team captain as a junior and forgave his senior season of eligibility to enter the draft. 

Weekly Links

While you've been reading this site, we've been checking out some other ones and these are some of the best articles we read this week.  Enjoy.

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and after a surprising upset of the defending champs in Game 1, the Hornets fell to the Lakers last night to even the series.  Still, Chris Paul is making it known how stupid talented he is, says Ethan Sherwood Strauss at Hoopspeak.  On another note, Brandon Roy's time in the sun seems to be fading fast, as Chris at Negative Dunkalectics writes.  And also, is DeMarcus Cousins really the MVP?

Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight has a fascinating breakdown of last week's "Black Friday" when the Justice Department indicted the three largest online poker sites, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker.  After commandeering ESPN's programming in 2003, poker exploded in popularity and became a multi-billion dollar industry.  Now the futures of those companies, and the TV shows on which their logos are featured prominently, are up in the air.  Please, make the poker go away.

As you may have heard, Bud Selig went Expos on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, commandeering all financial operations for the club.  What does this mean for a team with a few budding superstars that are looking for contract extensions in the near future?  Well, at least Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have said they want to stick around.  For a scathing review of Frank McCourt's tenure as owner, read what Tim Brown has to say at Yahoo!, and for some background on how this whole mess started, Molly Knight at ESPN chronicled the McCourt's highly leveraged purchase of the club and their subsequent divorce.

Kevin Farrahar of Friarbasketball.net entertained us with a fantastic highlight tape of recent Friar commit Kiwi Gardner.

Maybe a spread offense in college doesn't doom a quarterbacks career in the NFL.  Sharon Katz breaks down some new data for ESPN's "Next Level".

And they say a .250 batting average is, well average. But what if we said it was .264? Well, that's Caey Blake's career mark, who was just names the Most Ordinary Hitter in the Major Leagues by Darren Everson at the WSJ.  Congratulations, Casey.

Collective shoutouts
Charlie Widdoes made his podcast debut last week on the DS Podcast at The Fan Hub, previewing the Western Conference first round in its entirety.

Also, be sure to read up on John and Dave's legendary debut of the Presidential Series comparing Richard Nixon and Isaiah Thomas.  It will make you WAY smarter.

Patriots Draft Preview

Nothing wakes the Hendrie half of the Collective up in the morning like a New England Patriots Draft Breakdown (maybe a couple of pots of coffee). This breakdown will look at each positional unit, analyze the needs of that unit, and project some solutions via the draft.

Bottom line:

Over the last two drafts the Patriots have acquired 14 rotation players. Add in that they have 6 picks in the top 100 this year, and the Patriots will have the luxury of moving up/down within the draft and picking the best player available. Although the Patriots have positioned themselves well going forward, they still have serious needs at offensive line, running back, defensive line, and outside linebacker. Based on Belichick’s past history, we would be surprised if he pulled the trigger on an outside linebacker with any of the picks we are currently slotted in. The only viable option would be to move up (Redskins pick at 10 makes the most sense) and take Robert Quinn. But other than that, the Patriots will most likely address their other needs early.

Vinny Del Negro and an Exercise in Coach Evaluation

It's difficult to isolate and evaluate the performance of a coach, as I found out trying to do just that with with Del Negro and the Clippers this year.  So many moving parts, especially in this coach's first season that included, among other things: injuries, big personalities and plenty of roster turnover.  In the end, I feel pretty much how I expected we'd all feel from the beginning.  From my piece at Clipperblog:

The thinking went: if Vinny could preside over Blake Griffin’s imminent launch to superstardom and facilitate the transfer of playmaking duties from Baron Davis to Eric Gordon, the rest of the team would follow their lead, thus transforming the culture of the organization, both on and off the court. No longer would Clipper teams start out strong and show promise, only to degenerate over the courses of injury-riddled, losing seasons.

Never mind that Rose, like Griffin, was probably bound for greatness no matter which coach he played for, the key would be fostering an approach that emphasized player development and would aim to compete in and hopefully win games with the support of veterans like Baron, Chris Kaman, Ryan Gomes, Randy Foye and Craig Smith. It would not matter to the Clippers if the young players developed because of him or in spite of him, as long as they progressed...

In his first year, Vinny Del Negro won exactly one more game (32) than former Clippers coaches Mike Dunleavy, Alvin Gentry and Mike Shuler did in their first seasons. Only Paul Silas had more in franchise history, 36, while the team was in San Diego. Considering the dismal start to the season, that’s something. What became clear over the course of the season is the unprecedented potential for the franchise. For Del Negro and his staff, their true value will show in what they do from here, amidst the elevated expectations that come with such promise. 

Player Profile: DaJuan Coleman

Guest Contributor extraordinaire, Ryan Mahanna, is back to drop some high school hoops knowledge. Today he will be providing us a glimpse at the Round Mound of Dinosaur BBQ: DaJuan Coleman.

DaJuan Coleman: 6'10'', 280
Syracuse, NY

Jamesville-DeWitt High School/Albany City Rocks

Class of 2012 Rankings : #2 (ESPN)

NBA Comparison: DeMarcus Cousins

I am well aware of the fact that the RFH Collective is all about New England Prep hoops but since two of my stated areas of expertise are Central New York and all things basketball, it is only fitting to submit my player profile of Syracuse's own DaJuan (dae-wahn) Coleman. Coleman, already a 3-time NYS Public School Champion, is the most high profile prospect in the history of Upstate New York basketball. That may seem like a gross exaggeration but it is very true. Ranked #2 in the class of 2012 (ESPN), DaJuan has garnered interest from schools that kids only dream of (UNC, Kentucky, Syracuse, UConn) and has proven himself as a winner. Despite the rumors, DaJuan is NOT the son of Derrick Coleman (sorry Collective) but he is a once in a life time talent that the Syracuse area gets to enjoy.

NBA Draft Steals: Jackson, Thompkins and Jimmer

Hold your breath folks, the mainstream media has infiltrated the Collective! Although this could be cause for concern, we all can vouch for the expertise of Gil Haylon. A four year college hoops player, Gil has recently become a writer and editor for a number of Boston area newspapers. Add in Gil's passion for New England sports, late-night quesadillas , and statistical analysis and I think its fair to say we have found another boss Guest Contributor.

While I may not have the in-depth knowledge of 1990’s Providence Friar basketball that the Hendrie brothers do, I can assure you I loved Ruben Garces as much as the next guy.  (Sidenote: After living with Dave for four years in college, I can’t tell you how many times I saw him drop into a John Linehan defensive stance late night in the student center as he recounted his Friar glory days).  For the purposes of this blog, I’ll use my D3Hoops.com posting skills, as well as my highly mediocre small town news coverage expertise to break down the intricacies of the NBA Draft. 

This year’s NBA draft is thin on talent at the top, and while that doesn’t bode well for the likes of the Timberwolves and the Wizards, there’s plenty of mid-lottery to late first round steals to be had.  There might not be much intrigue during the first few picks a la Oden vs. Durant, but it’s a muddled mess in the middle and it will be fun trying to separate the pack from picks 10-40. Here’s three players in that 10-40 range who are going to exceed expectations at the next level.

Don’t sleep on the hops, for BC’s basketball version of Matty Ice.

Reggie Jackson: Boston College, PG

Projected as a late first round pick

Simply put, Jackson has been drastically overlooked by draftniks and college basketball experts up until this point.  Put in the rare position of being the team’s primary ball-handler and best player, Jackson was able to combine eye-popping stats with a ruthlessly efficient floor game.  Jackson averaged 18.2 point per game while shooting just over 50% from the floor. He also chipped in 4.3 boards per game along with 4.5 assists.  Basically, Jackson put together a better season the Nolan Smith with a far worse supporting cast.  Jackson and Smith’s averages in terms of points, boards and assists were nearly identical, while Jackson shot more than 5% better from the floor and had a much better assist to turnover ratio. Not to mention that Chad Ford has already dubbed Jackson as someone who is sure to impress with his athleticism in workouts.  Put Reggie Jackson on Duke or North Carolina and he’s a top ten pick.  Jackson has the size and athleticism to run the point at the NBA level, and his passing vision and efficient shooting make him a solid bet to succeed in the pros.

Zeke and Tricky Dick: A Parallel History

This is the first installment of a new series on the RFH Collective. We will be taking a look at past Presidents and making the appropriate comparisons to NBA players. Does this make any sense whatsoever? No. So why are we doing it? Because it's awesome.

Richard Nixon and Isiah Thomas: 

A comparison of Richard Nixon and Isiah Thomas is the best possible way to start this series.  The commonalities between these two men can no longer be ignored.  They share an eerily similar career trajectory and operated within their own codes of ethics.  Both men grew up with little, suffered from severe inferiority complexes and would do anything to win.  They were both immensely accomplished and resilient when faced with defeat.  They played dirty, resented others' success and ultimately ruined their legacies.  Here's a closer look.....

MLB Player To Watch: Jerry Sands

The Dodgers already had one of the best outfields in baseball, and that was with a group of left fielders that would have to put together career years just to reach a .300 on-base percentage.  Matt Kemp (.474/.545/.719) and Andre Ethier (.377/.441/.492) have been and are so good, but anyone who has seen the Dodgers play this year knows that those two are the only above-average hitters on the team.  (To put things in perspective, aside from Ethier and Kemp, the rest of the team is hitting .202/.254/.282).  Now, with the stunning news that top prospect, Jerry Sands, will be called up today after only 10 games in triple-A, there is a chance that the team will actually have a third.  

Got Next: Anthony Davis

The RFH Collective loves to see who is coming up the ranks in all of our favorite sports. That is why we created the "got next" segment. This is our first player profiled.


I knew that Anthony Davis was extremely well regarded but, until recently, did not realize the amazing gifts he possesses. I'm not sure who I could compare him to (a cross between Kevin Durant and Brandon Wright maybe), but what I do know is that he has what it takes to be next years #1 overall pick. I know its early, but I'm going to make that prediction right now. Check out some of Davis's highlights below. One section of note is at 3:35 where Davis makes an unbelievable defensive play.

Western Conference Playoff Preview: First Round

Guest Contributor Ryan Mahanna is back for more. This time he breaks down the West.

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies (Regular Season: 2-2)

We could have had a brother match-up! Damn you Lionel Hollins!

The 2010-11 San Antonio Spurs have to be one of the most overlooked #1-seeds in modern playoff history. I can understand why people tend to feel this way considering the Spurs have the most brittle Big-3 in the league and their supporting cast has fewer recognizable names than the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. If you put a gun to my head (or even just threatened to punch me) I would say the Lakers are better and the favorites to win the west. But that is just my gut feeling and everyone who knows me will tell you my gut is an idiot. Realistically,  the Spurs have just as good of a shot as any of the contenders, if not better. Why? Because they won 61 games in a very difficult Western Conference and only played Duncan, Ginobli and Parker an average of 30 mpg and some nights not all!! I think that is incredible. I witnessed a line-up of George Hill, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter SMACK the Portland Trailblazer starters. These guys are good and I think they will be even better in the playoffs.

Eastern Conference Playoff Preview: First Round

We have very few rules at the RFH Collective. However, we do have a motto that we try to live by: Blog hard or go home. After his first effort, it doesn't look like Guest Contributor Ryan Mahanna will be taking his ball and going home anytime soon.


(1) Chicago Bulls vs (8) Indiana Pacers (Regular Season; Bulls 3-1)

Expect some Chicago Public School League highlights.

This will be an old-school first round beat down. If you think the Bulls' Bandwagon is crowded now, wait until they completely dismantle a decent Pacers team. The media will be talking about them like they are the favorites to win it all. What? They already do? Oh, my bad, didn't know that. I thought they a just were well-coached team that played hard for 6 straight months and have a Top-5 talent in Derrick Rose but I guess I missed something. Either way they are going to make Indiana wish they were picking 14th in the Lottery...again.

According to Sports Synergy Tech, Indiana is in the bottom half of the NBA in short clock defense (less than 4 secs) and transition defense, which is exactly when Derrick Rose is going to have the ball in his hands the most. Throw in the fact that they the worst defensive team in the league in isolation situations and Pacer fans are looking at the only first round sweep of the 2011 Playoffs and Bulls fans will enjoy lots of this.

A little diffculty in telling the truth about Blake Griffin

You may not have heard of Randy Hill.  I haven't either.

But apparently he has been covering the NBA for 25 years "as a beat writer and columnist."  Judging by his latest work, I'd imagine he has done so without quite as much concern for the details as we might hope for from our national columnists/beat writers.

I wouldn't normally find my way towards his work (or to that of his contemporaries at the Fox Sports site, for that matter), but a friend suggested I take a peak at this guy's take on the Clippers season.  Considering I watch every game, read nearly everything written and even occasionally write about them myself, I was interested to see what this guy had to say.  As it turns out, said interest was not warranted.

The All-2000s New England Prep Team

My recent articles on Wayne Selden, Nik Stauskas, and Georges Niang prompted me to take a deeper look into what is arguably the best high school basketball in the country. I do not have enough first hand experience of New England Prep basketball before 2000 so I decided to make my "all-time" team confined to the decade. In addition, I used an evaluation system that combined players high school dominance with their future success. The following group consists of almost entirely NBA level players with a couple who slipped through the cracks or who have yet to make it to the league yet. At the end of this article I also provided a college conference breakdown of where these NEPSAC products went to college.

Michael Beasley Led ND Prep to the Inaugural Prep National Title

First Team
G. Jarret Jack, Worcester Academy 2002
G. Dorell Wright, South Kent 2004
F. Devin Ebanks, Saint Thomas More 2008
F. Michael Beasley, Notre Dame Prep 2007
F. Craig Smith, Worcester Academy 2002 

Out with the old...

The past few days I have been trying to organize my thoughts into something profound enough to measure up to even the most hastily prepared posts offered by my kin thus far on this site. First, I started to compile a list of the most talent featured in an NBA playoff series since 1998, but knew my research would pale in comparison to John and Dave’s All-Time Alumni Rankings. Then I set out to analyze the Bonds trial, but was sure that Charlie would rip into it unless my thesis was more developed. These posts may yet come to fruition, but my first had to be better. The Collective has set the bar sky-high.

Impenetrable Darko

But yesterday I visited one of the sites that has inspired me most as a sports writer and fan, only to find its suicide note – FreeDarko.com bid farewell. For those of you not familiar with this haven of NBA insight, FreeDarko was a collective of writers more interested in the culture and aesthetic of professional basketball than All-Star appearances or nightly box scores. It was a site dedicated to the narrative of a basketball game, season, or career – to the intersection of style, personality, race, class, money and athleticism that amazes us each night from late October to mid June. The writing was remarkable, recreating this game that we love in a fantasy world of hyper-academia and athletic artistry. The authors used pseudonyms like Bethlehem Shoals, Brown Recluse, Esq., Silverbird 5000 and Dr. Lawyer Indianchief. They relished the fact that in the 21st century, an NBA fan could watch every team play and could discover beauty even where ESPN told you not to: Monta Ellis’ ruthless stoicism, Gerald Wallace’s unfiltered energy, the supreme legend of Hakeem Olajuan. These guys brought something entirely different...and they named their site after the worst draft pick in NBA history!

Player Profile: Wayne Selden

If you haven't heard the name of Wayne Selden yet, you will soon. This explosive combo-guard is in the running to be the top player in the 2014 class and one of the best New England Players in recent memory. With Selden just hitting the national scene with his recent performance at the Nike EYBL, it is the perfect time for the Collective to publicize some of its long held beliefs on this high school diaper dandy. It is already clear that Selden possesses all of the tools and skills to be an elite college player, but his lack of position could make it hard for him to have a long NBA career. Either way, Selden is an obvious choice for the Collective's first high school evaluation.  In this evaluation, I will not only break down Selden's game, but will also handicap his recruitment and provide some background videos and articles.

Measurables:
Age: 16 (Class of 2014)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 215
Team: Tilton (Prep), BABC (Grassroots)

Top Pu Pu Platters of All-Time: NBA Edition

In light of Charlie's latest post on some of the blockbuster trades during the 2011 NBA trade deadline, I decided to craft a list including some of the biggest fleeces of all time. The common theme in these trades is that NBA superstars are being traded for what is perceived as 70 cents on the dollar, but in reality are essentially being given away. Teams like Philadelphia (Charles Barkley), Milwaukee (Kareem Abdul Jabar), Minnesota (Kevin Garnett), and Memphis (Pau Gasol) have talked themselves into trading away superstars for packages of slightly above average journymen. None of these trades takes into account that the NBA is not like the NFL. A 12 man roster stocked with capable players does not win championships; stars do.

Nothing is better than a Pu Pu platter, Unless you are an NBA GM

Which G.M. job would you choose: Knicks or Nets?

From my post at Stacheketball:

The offseason has now fully dawned on the New York metropolitan area (which of course includes Newark, New Jersey, home of the long-since-eliminated Nets). It’s been an action-packed year for the hometown teams, from high-profile to high-volume free agent signings, but for both the season, and most importantly, the near future, will be defined by their big splash, in-season acquisitions of Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams.

Underrated New England Prep Stars

I am ashamed that the RFH Collective has not produced a New England Prep article yet. I frequently visit New England Recruiting Report and Friarbasketball.net and am a NE Prep basketball product myself (St. Mark's 06). What I decided to do as my first of many NE Prep articles was to focus on two of the most underrated players in the country, Nik Stauskas and Georges Niang.

Nik Stauskas: Class of 2012 - Committed to Michigan

Flashy Canadian Nik Stauskas will bring his flair to Michigan next year.

MLB Players to Watch: Alexi Ogando

Breakout Player? The Collective thinks so

The defending American League Champion Texas Rangers, run by an all-time pitching great and coached by the brother of an even greater all-timer, open this year with the unenviable task of living up to standards they set a year ago, but doing so without Cliff Lee.  Because of his loss, they have been left to patch together a starting rotation that will rely on C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis to lead a staff that really lacks upside.  They were 10th in the majors last season, with a collective 3.93 ERA, but many doubt that Wilson (3.35 ERA) or Lewis (3.72) can be much better than they were a year ago.

A Tribute to the Worm: A look at Dennis Rodman's Hall of Fame Career

Here at the RFH Collective, few things are valued higher (sealing the edge?) than suffocating defense and glass eating. Coincidentally, the recent Hall of Fame induction of Dennis Rodman brings these issues to the forefront. How dominant was Rodman in these categories? Lets take a look at the different stages of Rodman's career.

Decade of Rebounding Dominance

   Rodman                        Moses Malone 

                             Season               RPG                 Season              RPG                                             

90’	12.5	77’	15
91’	18.7	78’	17.6
92’	18.3	79’	14.5
93’	17.3	80’	14.8
94’	16.8	81’	14.7
95’	14.9	82’	15.3
96’	16.1	83’	13.4
97’	15	84’	13.1

Moses Malone was the NBA's dominant rebounder in the Pre-Rodman era. Well as you can see, his successor took the role of holding the Rebounding Championship Belt even more seriously. Jaw dropping rebounding numbers that don't need further description.

RFH NCAA Championship Live Chat

Join us for One Shining Moment, tonight at 9!

Live Blog with the Collective Tonight During the National Title Game!

Tonight during the UCONN vs Butler Title game the collective will be live blogging. Feel free to check in and see the latest insight.

Metro Boston's Finest Shabazz Napier will be one of many topics tonight.

The House that Gavitt Built: All-Time Providence College Basketball Team

One of my favorite things is to analyze the all-time great college basketball teams based on their distinguished alumni. Considering the fact that Friar Black-and-White flows through my veins, I figured I would start with the most underrated all-time team there is: Providence College.


Ernie Digregorio:
Position: Point Guard/Wizard

North Providence Native Ernie D delivers the Pizza right on time.

A native of North Providence, "Ernie D" is the perfect point guard for an all-time team. Know for his brilliant passes and court facilitation, DiGregorio would have gotten the Big Dig to finish on-time. Not only did DiGregorio lead the the Friars to the final four but he was also named the 1973-74 NBA rookie of the year.

All-Time Alumni Position Group Rankings: Offensive Line

This is the second installment of a re-occurring segment on the RFH Collective. Ranking the top-3 College Football Programs by position group based on their alumni.


Following up John's cornerback all-time rankings will be tough so I decided to go with my bread and butter, the O-Line. This decision was more of a calling than a calculated blogging decision. I knew I needed to write the O-Line column when I woke up and spent 20 minutes trying to think of the second guard to go along with John Moffitt for Wisconsin's team (I went with a third tackle). 


1. USC

Anthony Munoz (T), Tony Boselli (T), Bruce Matthews (C), Ed Budde (G), and Brad Budde (G).


Even Pete Carroll couldn't mess up with this group.


A west coast team being the number one O-line of all time really messes with my head but it is hard to refute the facts. At the bookends you have Munoz who is a top 5 LT of all time and Boselli who was a #1 pick and was elite for the Jaguars before injuries derailed his careers. Bruce Matthews is the GOAT at the interior O-line. Asking yourself who the Budde's are???? Well let me tell you, these two players truly have achieved the greatest thing ever. Brad (son) and Ed (father) are the only father and son in NFL history to be drafted in the first round, to the same team and play the same position. Oh yeah, they also were both all-pros and Brad is part of the all-century college team.

MLB Player to Watch: Kila Ka'aihue

Everyone knows the Royals have baseball's best farm system.  Stacked with nine guys who ranked in Baseball America's top 100, they have enough pitching -- John Lamb (18), Mike Montgomery (19), Danny Duffy (68), Jake Odorizzi (69) and Chris Dwyer (83) -- to completely overhaul their rotation within the next year and yet their top three prospects are hitters, Eric Hosmer (8), Mike Moustakas (9) and Wil Myers (10).  Considering the dearth of talent at the Major League level, it would be understandable to assume that space would not be an issue once all these guys arrive, but for Kila Ka'aihue, this year could be crucial in determining whether he has a place in the long term vision of the organization.  Billy Butler is Kansas City's best hitter, and Hosmer, also a first baseman, is arguably their best prospect -- and likely closer than a year away from the big leagues.  Like these other two, Ka'aihue's value is in his bat, and to that end he needs to hit enough to show Dayton Moore that it's worth finding a place for him in the lineup, especially if it means asking Hosmer to move to left field. 

2nd Round Big School Middle Linebackers: Gobble them up as fast as you can

John's latest post about Cam Heyward makes a great point; big school players can suffer from having too much tape. There is no position that is penalized more than middle linebacker. Below I have compiled a list of BCS-school linebackers drafted in the second round. The names in green all were starters for at least one year while the names in red did not end up being NFL starters. In case your wondering 23 of the 35 picks were starters for at least a year.

Name	College	NFL Team
2010
Pat Angerer	Iowa	Colts
Brandon Spikes	Florida	Patriots
2009
James Laurinaitis	Ohio State	Rams
Rey Maualuga	USC	Bengals
Clint Sintim	Virginia	Giants
2008
Curtis Lofton	Oklahoma	Falcons
Jordan Dizon	Colorado	Lions
2007
Paul Poslusnzny	Penn State	Bills
David Harris	Michigan	Jets
2006
Demeco Ryans	Alabama	Texans
D'Qwell Jackson	Maryland	Browns
Rocky McIntosh	Miami	Redskins
2005
Barrett Ruud	Nebraska	Bucs
Kevin Burnett	Tennessee	Cowboys
Lofa Tatupu	USC	Seahawks
Odell Thurman	Georgia	Bengals
2004
Karlos Dansby	Aurburn	Cardinals
Teddy Lehman	Oklahoma	Lions
Daryl Smith	Georgia Tech	Jaguars
Dontarrious Thomas	Aurburn	Vikings
Courtney Watson	Notre Dame	Saints
2003
Boss Bailey	Georgia	Lions
E.J Henderson	Maryland	Vikings
Eddie Moore	Tennessee	Dolphins
Terry Pierce	Kansas State	Broncos
Victor Hobson	Michigan	Jets
Alonzo Jackson	Florida State	Steelers
2002
Raonall Smith	Washington State	Vikings
Levar Fisher	NC State	Cardinals
2001
Kendrell Bell	Georgia	Steelers
Tommy Polley	Florida State	Rams
2000
Ian Gold	Michigan	Broncos
Barrett Green	West Virginia	Lions
Marcus Wasington	Aurburn	Colts