Boogua

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 7, 2013 -> 12:13 PM) LeBron can guard Rose man-on-man pretty darn effectively, so he can probably do the same to Nate. While Nate is a little quicker than LeBron, LeBron's sheer size and his length make up for any quickness disparity. Agreed, with a ton of help defense behind him and Rose's lack of jumper during that series. If they play help defense against Nate like they did against Rose and/or Nate isn't making jumpers, then yes, Lebron will be pretty darn effective.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 7, 2013 -> 11:42 AM) Yeah, if Nate is able to hit from the outside, no big man is going to be able to shut him down, not even LeBron...but if LBJ wants to shut him down from going to the basket, he can recover even if he gets burned with his length. Yes, he would have to concede the outside shot and hope for the best.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 7, 2013 -> 11:15 AM) With a lineup like last night's, if Nate can't get shots off against LeBron that should leave Marco able to score. Getting an easy basket with ball movement would be much easier if LBJ guards our point guard. The reason he shut Derrick down is because Derrick just wanted to run iso instead of playing basketball and running a real play Yes. There were times where Derrick blew by Lebron in that series, but the whole defense collapsed and rose didn't pass. He was also on a hobbled ankle and his jumper wasn't falling. Lebron has become an extremely overrated man defender because of that one series. Is Lebron a bad defender? Not at all. He's an excellent defender, but most of his value comes from his help defense. He can't guard quick PGs one on one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2013 -> 10:34 AM) BS. LeBron can defend pretty much anyone one on one in today's NBA. You're wrong. I provided evidence, you didn't. Rewatch some of those finals games in the fourth quarter. Lebron isn't nearly quick enough laterally to guard Nate. He'll have to concede the jumper or the drive. He'll concede the jumper (he usually does against PGs) and Nate can burn him like Terry did.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2013 -> 10:28 AM) The Heat screwed up by not putting LeBron on Nate at all during the stretch. Make Belleneli or Butler beat you. Yeah, just like they screwed up by not putting Lebron on Terry during the stretch in the 2011 finals. Oh wait. Lebron can't guard Nate man to man.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 6, 2013 -> 06:12 PM) Crean-ed!!!! He was probably going to start at the 4 next year. He most likely left because he doesn't want to play the 4.....

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ May 1, 2013 -> 12:33 PM) Was it always like that? I guess I didn't pay too much attention to seeding, if so. Yeah, as long as I can remember.

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ May 1, 2013 -> 12:26 PM) Huh? Celtics ain't dead.... Yet. The NBA playoffs don't work that way.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ May 1, 2013 -> 08:49 AM) I'm not really excited about either of these guys. Isn't Starks really short? Yes, but he gives the Illini another ballhandler with the ability to get steals while being a very good 3 point shooter. As a one year player he's almost a perfect fit for what the Illini are lacking. It sounds like the Paul rumor may be false, but that one I wouldn't mind either way. He's a somewhat proven big guy that had double doubles against Michigan and NC State last year, but I also wouldn't mind if he didn't come because it's an extra scholarship. Starks would be a fairly large pickup for the Illini (assuming he gets the hardship waiver). He averaged double digit points the last two years while averaging over 2 3's per game. There would be no reason not to be excited about him considering what this coming Illini team was lacking.

So there are rumors that Darius Paul and Ahmad Starks are going to both be transferring to Illinois. Wow if true. If Starks gets his hardship waiver and is eligible this year the Illini will look very strong. I got into discussions with people before in here and spacing was always the question. The additions of ekey and possibly Starks will be huge for spacing. They are probably better 3 point shooters than anybody the Illini had last year.

Te'o definitely looked like a pretty good football player before the Bama game and I would have loved for the Bears to draft him. A big problem for me is the girlfriend thing. If he's that gullible how is he going to gain respect from an NFL locker room? I've heard former players even talk about that aspect on ESPN. Combine that with his mediocre measurables and I no longer want the bears to touch the guy at 20. A big thing Te'o had going for him before the girlfriend story was his intangibles. Those took a huge blow.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 25, 2013 -> 10:35 AM) So good basketball schools don't make offers to sophomores? Sure they do, but even look at a guy like Charles Matthews offer list. And he's a 5 star right now. As the AAU season continues look for Brunson and Matthews (who just picked up Wisconsin and Marquette offers very recently) to pick up more offers.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) So why does he not have any better offers? Because he's a sophomore?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 24, 2013 -> 06:57 AM) That is pretty sad company for Purdue and Illinois to be in. Mid Major central. As an Illini fan I was actually glad to see that we got an offer in on him early. Apparently he has east coast ties though, so I doubt the illini get him.

This is probably one of the best mixtapes I've ever seen and the kid is only 14. Insane. I don't know how to imbed... http://youtu.be/HJO4uw1Nn1o

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 02:32 PM) No this would be the before mentioned Ace formation. Forte out of the backfield, Marshall and Jeffery lined up on the outside, and M. Bennett and let's just say Tyler Eifert lined up in the slot on both sides. No FB in this formation, I just brought up Rodriguez as the FB for different formations. Work him as a run blocker and periodically throw to him out of the same formation to keep defenses guessing. Then we would be missing out on a lot of Rodriguez's versatility. When the two TEs are out there he would be on the bench (more often than not). I feel like he was drafted to be much more than just a blocking FB with the occasional reception. How many FBs are even drafted? Why not take a guy that can play every snap at an actual position of need like OL or LB? Also, Lovie seems to dislike playing rookies for the most part. Me and my friends used to always joke about players taking a "redshirt" their rookie season. We don't really know what Evan is capable of yet.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 02:11 PM) The main point is forcing LBs onto both big TEs. Rodriguez can be covered by a CB or a S. Can the same be said about a guy like Tyler Eifert who is 6'6" with solid leaping ability? Most teams nickles tend to be "undersized", lets use the Packers for example. Casey Hayword is 5'11", would he be able to cover a guy who is 7 inches taller than him? That to me would create a big mismatch over using the 6'1" Evan Rodriguez. If Trestman runs the same kind of offense he had in San Fran years ago I wouldn't be too angry to see Evan used as the FB. I know a lot of people frown upon this because they hate to see their 4th round pick relegated to the FB position, but if you look at what the FBs did in SF while Trestman was there I don't think it would be such a bad thing. In the 2 years Marc was there the FBs caught 112 passes for 802 yards. So this is a jumbo set we're talking about here? 2 TE, FB, HB, 1 WR? How often do you actually think we would call plays out of that formation. Why bench a big WR like Alshon for another TE? I mean, sure, theoretically it gives us more flexibility, but I just don't see us utilizing it all that much. I feel like the pick could be better used elsewhere.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 01:29 PM) They are supposedly in the running for Tyus Jones as well. Well him and Jahlil are supposed to be a package deal.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 01:02 PM) Possibly Cliff Alexander, who is likely (but not certain) to be a one and done. Definitely less odds of being one compared to JO. Is Duke even in the picture for Cliff? Most people are saying it's between Illinois and MSU at this point.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 11:24 PM) I doubt Kendrick Nunn is going to Illinois though to not start until his senior year (assuming Hill start as the SF). Nunn would have to make pretty large strides (which he might) to start over Cosby. Cosby is going to help with spacing a ton if Abrams and rice are in the lineup (a RS senior is more likely to start over hill at the 3, but we obviously haven't seen hill play a game yet).

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 11:16 PM) Saw him play a lot in the Big East, and he's a solid player but I see him as more of a 6th man for Illinois. He averaged 12.5 PPG in the big east as a true sophomore. He shot 40% from 3 on 5 attempts per game. i would be willing to wager that he starts when able (as a redshirt junior). He would definitely start this year if eligible.

So it looks like Aaron Cosby, a transfer from seton hall, is going to Illinois (just tweeted I-L-L and people are saying he committed). Huge pickup if true E: Marcus Jackson, the Illini beat writer,is reporting the verbal. Legit

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Apr 10, 2013 -> 11:30 AM) People won't get over 85 until the Bears win another championship. It could be 20 years from now and if they still haven't won, people will still be talking about 85. People won't ever stop talking about the 85 Bears. It's one of the best teams ever. I'm a 25 years old Bears fan and I still have conversations about the Steel Curtain Steelers. Some things will last forever.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Apr 9, 2013 -> 11:53 PM) Eric Gordon is terrible (not really but I just watched him give the Lakers the game down the stretch). He has a 15.2 PER on a 29.2 USG%. You probably didn't need to add the "not really". Not this year at least. By the way, has there ever been a worse season than Austin Rivers is putting up? His ORTG is 89 and his PER is 5.9, LOL.

QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 6, 2013 -> 10:51 PM) Crazy that Burke could do so little scoring and they still win a Final Four game. Cannot deny the talent of Michigan and how dangerous they are and always have been. I felt like they started to get lost in the shuffle after the mid-season love fest they got. Well, here they are. Here's hoping they all go to the NBA so Illinois can miraculously win the conference! They're terrifying. I'm hoping they are + money in the championship game so that I can get a good price on my hedge (if Louisville wins I'll win $500, if they lose I'll win 0)