2014 NBA Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 2

1. Golden State Warriors: (5-0)
2. Houston Rockets: (6-1)
3. Memphis Grizzlies: (6-1)
4. Chicago Bulls: (5-2)
5. Los Angeles Clippers: (4-2)
6. Toronto Raptors: (5-1)
7. Dallas Mavericks: (4-2)
8. Sacramento Kings: (5-1)
9. Miami Heat: (4-2)
10. Brooklyn Nets: (3-2)

Carmelo Anthony Has a Frostbitten Shooting Hand

Carmelo Anthony isn't balling to his potential as of late. The superstar small forward has shot 28 percent from the field in the last three games, which the Knicks went 0-3 in that run.

Anthony went  8-of-23, 5-of-21, and 5-of-20. Those are some hard numbers to swallow. It's plain and simple that right now, Anthony is ice cold. I guess he's trying to adjust to the winter-like weather in New York.

Something has to change, and quickly. This isn't the Melo that we know to score 25 points per game for his career. We are watching a desperate shooter that isn't comfortable in the new offense, which is the notorious triangle offense.

As long as Anthony keeps these bizarre shooting woes, the New York Knicks will keep losing. The team's success relies heavily on Anthony's made baskets.

When you're a $124 million man you can make all the excuses you want on why you're not making shots. Anthony keeps claiming that he isn't all the way comfortable in the new offense. But he needs to just say that he's off. There's nothing wrong with that. New Yorkers can respect that a lot more than excuses.

Many of his shots that were taken were good shots, but he couldn't knock them down. Melo is just trying too hard, and you can see it in his play. He wants to prove the critics wrong that this team will be non-competitive this year.

Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks fell hard on their faces last night to the Brooklyn Nets 110-99, at the Barclays Center. Nobody had an answer for the Deron Williams who scored 29 points for the Nets.

The Knicks are now 2-4 and no need to panic, because this is going to be a long season. However, Anthony has to start hitting his shots and he'll see it become contagious. That's what the Knicks need from him right about now.

Smart Move by Timberwolves to Lock Up Ricky Rubio Long-Term

Minnesota Timberwolves star point guard Ricky Rubio signed a four-year, $55 million contract extension last week. The former fifth overall draft pick in 2009 is now financially set. Rubio can now put all his focus on basketball and not have any worries about his future in Minnesota. 

Rubio will be counted upon to be the man and lead this team to a playoff berth. However, with the departure of Kevin Love and lack of talent, they'll be lucky to win 30 games this season.

The Timberwolves had some leverage entering into negotiations with Rubio's agent Dan Fegan. Rubio has a lot of potential at 24-year-old, but he isn't an elite player yet. Also, Rubio's shooting accuracy is just down right putrid to say the least; shooting just 37 percent from the field for his career.

Rubio is a stellar playmaker that's a pass-first point guard. The fans love him because he's a crowd pleaser that can do fancy behind-the-back passes, and can defend the ball better than most in the NBA.
 
This was a great move for the Minnesota Timberwolves organization moving forward. What looked like an uncertain future for them after the Love trade, now there seems to be some hope and promise. The team couldn't take the chance of letting Rubio become a restricted free agent this offseason; that wasn't an option. They had to lock him up in long-term.

The $55 million invested in the Spanish point guard is money well spent, if Rubio can develop into an elite player that can lead his team to the playoffs. The fans in Minnesota are ecstatic that Rubio isn't leaving and signed for the next four years. They're hoping that Flip Saunders can build around him.

2014 NFL Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 9

1. New England Patriots: (7-2)
2. Arizona Cardinals: (7-1)
3. Denver Broncos: (6-2)
4. Philadelphia Eagles: (6-2)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers: (6-3)
6. Indianapolis Colts: (6-3)
7. Detroit Lions: (6-2)
8. Dallas Cowboys: (6-3)
9. Green Bay Packers: (5-3)
10. Kansas City Chiefs: (5-3)

2014 NHL Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 4

1. Anaheim Ducks: (10-3-0)
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: (7-2-1)
3. Montréal Canadiens: (8-3-1)
4. Minnesota Wild: (7-3-0)
5. Nashville Predators: (7-2-2)
6. Tampa Bay Lightning: (8-3-1)
7. Vancouver Canucks: (8-4-0)
8. St. Louis Blues: (6-3-1)
9. Detroit Red Wings: (6-2-3)
10. Calgary Flames: (7-4-2)

2014 NBA Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 1

1. Los Angeles Clippers: (2-0)
2. Houston Rockets: (3-0)
3. Memphis Grizzlies: (3-0)
4. Golden State Warriors: (2-0)
5. Miami Heat: (2-0)
6. Chicago Bulls: (2-1)
7. Dallas Mavericks: (2-1)
8. San Antonio Spurs: (1-1)
9. Cleveland Cavaliers: (1-1)
10. Toronto Raptors: (2-0)

The Brooklyn Nets Should Cut Their Losses and Trade Brook Lopez

 

The 26-year-old center Brook Lopez is facing another setback this season with recurring right foot problems. Lopez has already had three foot surgeries in his six-year career in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets has some major decisions to make on Lopez in coming weeks.

Don't be surprised if Lopez is shipped out-of-town by year-end, because he can't stay on the court. When healthy, Brook Lopez is one of the best big men in the league that can put up 20 points per game. However, Lopez's health is always in question every season. The Stanford University standout can't get a break.

Many Nets fans aren't shocked by the news that Lopez was feeling pain in his right foot, because they're use to it by now. The Nets can't win in the long run without Lopez being on the court.

Brook Lopez only played in 17 games last season for the Nets, and you can say if they had him throughout the year, they could've potentially went far in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.

In 2012, the Brooklyn Nets invested $61 million in Lopez believing that he'll be the catalyst in bringing a NBA championship to New York. However, the only thing he's done is sit on the sideline suited up watching his team deflate without him.

There are some teams out there that would take a chance on Lopez, even though he's a big question mark. So if the Nets decide to pull the trigger, they need to make sure they can get back some first round draft picks and another quality big man.

The Brooklyn Nets were a playoff bubble team coming into this season with Brook Lopez, and now with him out the lineup they'll be lucky to win 35 games this season. The good thing is center Mason Plumlee will get increased minutes, and he can develop a much better post-up game. Plumlee's development is key if the Nets want to make the playoffs.