The Whole Delivery

Welcome to the NBA Preview, to be used constantly on Twitter on the real opening night of the season, October 26.  Rookie of the Year : Prime favorites Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram have major questions marks to start the season, both with terrible teams and Simmons with his injury.  Dragon Bender and Kris Dunn will be major factors all season, as well as Bender’s explosive Suns teammate Marquisse Chriss. And mature sharp shooter Buddy Hield will not yield on his ability to not down the 3 at this level as he did prolifically at Oklahoma.  The likes of Sabonis, Prince, Malik Beasley, Bembry, Check Diallo, Tyer Ulis, Hernangomez, Diamond Stone, Niang, Gbinije, Kay Felder, Richardson, Jackson and undrafted Ader Nader will make headlines.  But my Rookie of the Year choice is the Nuggets Jamal Murray , who is ready to explode as a dynamic scoreline who has the ability to put the ball in the net at all 3 levels, catch and shoot, and create his own ...

Look and weep (as UNC fans are understandably doing that right now): And the one made by yours truly:   The Whole Delivery, delivered by Kris Jenkins. 

Full discussion with news of the announcements Thursday, and analyzing both teams ad coaching staffs begins with this thread. Stay tuned for constant updates throughout the week.  

Welp, Roberta Vinci really will officially become the prime enemy of Williams' fans for good after irrationally and angrily calling out Venus Williams moving on match point in the Wuhan Open semifinals today (Wuhan is 12 hours ahead of the ET zone). Here's the match end. Vinci would have already looked bad if she said it in English. But the fact that she said "what the f--k" and then asked Venus if she wanted tea or coffee in Italian makes her look more cowardly here. Roberta truly is a fun, fiery person, but this was really a lame move from her. Even more bizarre would be if she did not complain about Venus' time during the match. Either way, another huge win for Venus in a great week at a big tournament, where she will play Garbine Muguruza in a quality final to salvage a prestige event that has been hurt by absences and laughably bad attendance.

Photo from Fifa.com/Getty Images Score Settled.  Those are the operative words when one comes to mind the minute Carli Lloyd put two goals into the back of the Japanese net in 6 minutes to show the full intent on the United States closing out their World Cup of revenge. It was a start so expedient and clinical, unlike any other World Cup Final had ever seen before, a determination that was set in stone the minute Saki Kumagai hit the final penalty past Hope Solo four years ago in Germany. And it was a desire to feel the glory that the 1991 and 1999 teams felt, instead of the agonizing heartbreak that tormented them for four years all the way to the final whistle was blown at BC place.  The Olympic title for a third straight time and instant revenge in London wasn’t satisfying enough. The hashtag “#ScoretoSettle” was established, because this United States women’s national team program hates when it is not in first place. In their minds, it is against the law of...

Final Words:  From Luis Enrique being on the hot seat to being a manager of one of the greatest sides in the history of the game, Barcelona have proven how amazing their club is once again and will go to the Club World Cup to make official their status as the best football side on Earth. It has been another memorable year covering the Champions League. Here is the team of the season below, where the likes of Carlos Tevez, Thomas Muller, Jordi Alba, Thiago Silva and Dani Alves just miss out. Until next season, when it starts back up in late July and August, peace to this great competition. Full Time: Juventus 1-3 Barcelona (Barcelona become 8th European treble winners) A video posted by Drew Jones (@twdbk) on Jun 6, 2015 at 2:13pm PDT More to come, including the team of this season's Champions League GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) - The 37-year-old marvel may still not have a European trophy to his name, but he still is one of the best in the world and sho...

If Kevin Love was in this series and both teams were full strength, the Cleveland Cavaliers would win this series in five games. These two teams' second matchup this season in Cleveland showed that, as the Cavs outshot the Warriors and dominated them when it came to the second chances and length. More to come with the NBA Finals and TWD, in a bit.

Half-Time Version  It looked as if Ancelotti's gamble to not play a forward up front would back fire, as there was no outlet for his midfield to go up top to anyone for most of the first half. Here is a prime example of that, as neither Bale nor Ronaldo was in the box despite Real being well into Juventus' half.  This was not the only time this occurred. With the backline rattled as Iker Casillas continues to look shaky, Allegri's side was given a real opportunity to at least be the ones in control of this tie when halftime came. Marcelo had a terrible first half and lacked communication with Isco, which helped lead to those two and Varane not following Tevez, whose shot basically acted as an assist for Morata's goal against his former side.   But the aforementioned Isco and James Rodriguez, for any deficiencies they may have defending sometimes, really provided the spark for Real to snatch the momentum of the game away from the hosts. James, alo...

As Serena Williams continues her campaign for the 2015 BNP Paribas Open title, one major thing lost in her remarkable return to the Indian Wells tennis center  last week is the criminal justice group she surprisingly has highlighted. The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was certainly an organization foreign to many people's ears when the legendary tennis player announced not only her Coachella Valley return but that her fans would be donating at least $10 to the EJI in a competition to meet her at Indian Wells. But the organization's noble ethos is something that can't be ignored, as the Alabama based non-profit center is focused on the unjust, racist incarceration system and racial inequality issues that still plague America, especially black and brown Americans. It's why it was startling news that Serena, through the Omaze campaign, selected them in January as the group properly best suited for her unexpected return. "Serena reached out to us, and we wer...

The Patriots are the healthiest they have been all season, with Jerrod Mayo the only player of significance gone. The team has adjusted to his loss, and has long forgotten about both Stevan Ridley and Alfonzo Dennard . Meanwhile, a plethora of injuries for a Seattle team not as good as it was last year. With an offense not as clinical as its 2014 version, the absences of emerging rookie Paul Richardson and safety net tight end Zach Miller are conspicuous. Also notable are losses of underrated tackles Brandon Mebane and Jordan Hill . And this does not included how all three members of their Legion of Boom are now with notable injuries to play through. More to come on TWD's Super Bowl Sunday runthrough. 

Focus: Whether His Team Wins A 4th World Cup For Germany, Joachim Low Has Proven His Greatness Photo from Getty Images Two years ago, Joachim Low faced intense criticism for his German side falling to a less talented Italian side in the Euro 2012 semifinals. That skepticism on whether he was truly the man who could lead this latest golden generation of the German nation, the first as a unified collective, further popped up despite a near flawless World Cup qualifying campaign. Blowing a 4-0 lead at home against Sweden and the long drawn out feud he and Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling had added to the immense pressure on the 54-year-old manager. Low could have easily folded the minute a number of his key talents started to be stricken with injuries. Ilkay Gundogan's long term back issues have ruled him out for a while. Marco Reus suffered a devastating blow knee injury right before the tournament. Mario Gomez couldn't get back to full fitness in time to make the ...

Focus: How Lionel Messi Already Merits Being Right Next To Maradona And Pele, Even Without A World Cup Title  Photo from Getty Images   He posted a final message on Facebook, enthralled by what is to come forth. He wasn’t born the last time his nation won a World Cup, barely born the last time they were in a World Cup final. It’s another step taken on the legacy of a 27-year-old from the town of Rosario, a legacy that has featured a tournament where he has answered all of the questions from any of his rational critics looking for that one incompletion on a glorious resume. Yes, even before the final that could give him the one trophy missing from his glorious cabinet, Lionel Messi has answered any of the final doubts about his claims to be the greatest footballer in history with his monthly display in the rival nation of Brazil. “Tomorrow we will play the most important match of our lives with this t-shirt,” Messi wrote on his Facebook page. “My dreams and my...

FT: Brazil 2-1 Colombia  It was a team performance led by the centerbacks on both ends of the field to see the host nation progress.  David Luiz had his strongest game for his nation, while Thiago Silva displayed why he is the best in the world at his position. Silva unfortunately got the stupidest yellow card of the tournament, as he will not be out of the semifinal against Germany.  But Silva (and Neymar's possible absences) will be analyzed for days to come. Right now, Luis Scolari's team containing James Rodriguez for most of the evening was very good for the evening. Juan Cuadrado couldn't get things going on, and Teo Gutierrez showed once more how big the gap is when he has to replace Radamel Falcao.  The front four (along with Victor Ibrabo) for Colombia failed to do enough as they struggled throughout to get clear chances on a Brazilian defense that had its best performance this tournament. Helping in that was the great play from Fernand...

Photo from Getty Images and FIFA.com Faryd Mondragon has the unique distinction of being the only player in the entire 2014 World Cup who was a squad member in the 1994 installment in the United States. At the time, Mondragon was a soon to be 23-year-old keeper who saw first hand how his Colombian nation came into the tournament as destined for greatness, picked by some to even be world champions. Of course, it turned out to be the opposite of that, as a 3-1 loss to Romania, followed by the more infamous 2-1 defeat at the hands of the host Yanks proved to be the start of a long painful demise on the global stage for Los Cafeteros. The shock exit out of World Cup ’94. The tragic death of Andres Escobar. The quick departure out of the group stage of the following World Cup in France. The three consecutive cycles of failing to qualify for the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cup. Mondragon has seen his country endure its pinnacle and a pitfall, its apex and its vortex, its crowing ...

FT: France 0-1 Germany  Photo from Getty Images One experience class centerback over an talented but young one made the difference in Germany advancing to a record 4th semifinal. Whether their trip in the last four this time will come back with a title is another story.  Nevertheless, despite France controlling most of the second half, it was still the brilliance of both Mats Hummels and Manuel Neuer who preserved the lead for another big win for their nation.  There will still be concerns in attack for Low. Miro Klose's movement did not cause the French any trouble, while the still lethargic Mesut Ozil was poor. Thomas Muller couldn't get himself into real dangerous spots because of Klose, but still is a constant threat instead of Ozil.  Didier Deschamps honestly did the best he could on the day, as he had to allow Benzema to have Grizemann and Valbuena on with him for as long as possible. Giroud just could not join him earlier in that half....

FT: France 2-0 Nigeria (Pogba 79; Yobo 90 OG)  Even a great goalkeeper in fine form is always susceptible to a mistake. And that is what happened to Vincent Enyeama today.  Just his moment allowed Paul Pogba the difference making goal to have France survive a Nigerian side who had better tactics than them.  Deschamps decision to start Benzema with Giroud was a disaster, as Efe Ambrose was having his way all day due to Patrice Evra having no one helping him.  The change to Grizemann should have occurred sooner, but came on to push Les Blues back into the quaterfinals. But Pogba did well to maintain his composure and score what turned out to be the winner, with Joseph Yobo on his 100th (and maybe final) cap a bystander for the header.  France will need a lot better if they are to be a Germany team with Joachim Low's side get through a revenge laden Algerian side.  But he likely will return to supporting Benzema with two wingers inste...

Photo from  FIFA.com Whether it was the beginning of the match or the end, it was all about Keylor Navas. The 27-year-old keeper added to his amazing year by coming up with the denial of Theofanis Gekas to allow Michale Umaña to hit the winning penalty, sending Costa Rica through to their first World Cup quarterfinal. It was the latest great performance from the in-demand Levante man, as his stop of Gekas was the only penalty not given in the deciding kicks. Maybe the only man more coveted for Los Ticos than Navas is manager Jorge Luis Pinto, who saw his team muster up another magical display by his courageous underdog side when Michael Umana picked up a poor second yellow with a rash challenge on Jose Holebas in the 66th minute. That came 14 minutes after Bryan Ruiz added his second goal of the tournament with a clever finish past Orestis Karnezis to give Costa Rica the 1-0 lead. It seemed the CONCACAF side would produce another resolute defensive play with the Gree...

For explanation for the team can be found with the good folks at World Soccer Talk from me. The bench of the team included guys who obviously just missed out on the nod. However, it speaks to how you have to play really well in all three matches to get the nod. Also, being steadfast to not just pointing all "offensive players" in center midfield spots is vital here for the team selection. Bench : Guillermo Ochoa; Ricardo Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Jerome Boateng; Thomas Muller, Juan Cuadrado, Miralem Pjanic, Alexis Sanchez, Karim Benzema, Asamoah Gyan, Clint Dempsey, Tim Cahill 

Postgame Version  Photo from Getty Images  Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda and defender John Boye were the determining factors in the US going through over Ghana, with Portugal realistically out of it because of goal difference.  Germany really could have found the opener early on, but good backline defending by the US kept them scoreless. The US even countered with a few moments on the other end, but it was all about Omar Gonzalez remerging as a vital cog for Jurgen Klinsmann's side.  But both Gyan and Portugal had their opportunities today, with Ronaldo guilty of spurring four golden chances to sum up how dreary his World Cup was. Paulo Bento had to deal with injuries (Coentrao, Almeida, Meireles, Postiga) and stupidity (Pepe) in these three matches, but his tenure looks set to be over.  For Kweshi Appaih's side, against a Portugal team that could have been exhausted after Manaus, they could not produce outside of Gyan's leadership. They fell behi...

It takes quite the achievement to top Lionel Messi on a day where he scores two goals at a World Cup, but that is what one young exciting Swiss has done. Xherdan Shaqiri's hat trick makes him the standout player of Day 14. Messi's two latest goals were matched in the same game by 21-year old Nigeria rising force Ahmed Musa , who was at his best against Argentina and showed why he is one of African football's luminous talents. Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic had fine departures to a World Cup that surely will not hurt their reputations. They earned the goals their performances in the previous two matches warranted and will be a major part in a Bosnia side that will be tough in Euro 2016.   While Shaqiri got all the praise, Gokhan Inler 's captaincy to a Swiss revenge victory over Honduras four years in the making shouldn't be overlooked. The Napoli man showed his underrated value with another solid display in midfield, including delivering the key pass...