Below are the 5 most recent journal entries recorded in signechimes' InsaneJournal:

Monday, April 11th, 2011
10:41 am	Draft Preview: Best of wide receivers and tight ends In a draft with few sure things -- even at the top -- it seems fairly certain that juniors A.J. Green from Georgia and Alabama's Julio Jones will be off the board in the first dozen picks. "Me and Julio are just alike, we don't get caught up in the hype and we're just two guys trying to be the best," Green said at the scouting combine. "I think I'm the best, I'm going to do what I can to be the No. 1 receiver and I feel like Julio's going to do his best -- we're not going to be mad if I'm not the top receiver drafted." In what order the stars of the 2008 recruiting class and All-SEC rivals are likely to be drafted has become more debated since Jones' blazing and widely unexpected combine workout. Jones, knocked for his straight-line speed, ran 40 yards in the 4.34 seconds, besting Green (4.48) in the one area in which the Bulldog had a plain advantage on game film. More praise was heaped on Jones once it was learned he went through drills and tests knowing he had a fractured foot. He only shed the walking boot on his right foot at the end of March. Jones' timed speed doesn't show up on the field. He's more of a rugged blocker with a reputation for decleating defensive backs, not toasting them with his speed. Green, no sprinter in his own right, runs smooth routes with natural and free movement in all directions with short-area quickness to separate from clingy coverage. Recent history shows draft position means little to a wide receiver prospect's long-term future, and if anything shows neither player should necessarily be pining to be picked first. Darrius Heyward-Bey (2009) and Donnie Avery (2008) were the top wide receivers drafted in their classes, and players such as Ted Ginn (2007), Chad Jackson (2006), Troy Williamson, Mike Williams (2005) and Reggie Williams (2004) show that being one of the first two or three receivers off the board doesn't portend NFL greatness. At least one tight end has been selected in the first round in each of the past 11 drafts, and 16 overall, but any expectations teams have of finding a great one in this class borders on unreasonable. Notre Dame junior Kyle Rudolph is the best of an average bunch, but a hamstring avulsion -- meaning the muscle separated from the bone -- kept him on the sideline for the second half of the 2010 season. He's been running since February but caught everything in sight at his April 7 pro day, where his athletic testing was solid but unspectacular as expected. Rudolph could go in the late first round, as Greg Olsen (31st overall, Bears) did as the first tight end drafted in 2007 or Marcedes Lewis (28th overall, Jaguars) in 2006 if a needy team gets anxious even if NFLDraftScout.com has him rated as the 40th overall prospect. Tennessee's Luke Stocker can't be confused with Jason Witten, but he and D.J. Williams, whose 4.59 speed and soft hands could be coveted, should battle to be the second tight end drafted. A closer look at the top wide receivers and tight ends in this draft: WIDE RECEIVERS Rating, Player, Position, College, Height, Weight, Projected Round 1. *A.J. Green, Georgia, 6-4, 211, 1 Green landed in Athens two years after he first committed to coach Mark Richt in 2006 as one of the most heralded recruits in the program's history, immediately drawing comparisons to recent top college pass-catchers including freak athlete Calvin Johnson (Lions) from rival Georgia Tech. Green wasn't alone -- Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones was neck-and-neck with Green in the 2008 prep rankings. They enter the NFL in much the same position, and are so richly talented that the likely top 10 picks could long be linked in historical sports lore as Magic and Bird, Elway and Marino and Russell and Wilt. Green had 14 touchdown catches in his first two seasons with 103 total receptions. He was suspended for the first four games of 2010 for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey to former North Carolina defensive back Chris Hawkins -- deemed an agent by the NCAA -- for $1,000. He returned to catch 57 passes, a career single-season best, for 848 yards and nine scores. Green has the body control of Randy Moss and his hands are elite to rare, honed from years on his elementary school juggling team. A natural with the upside to be an All-Pro very early in his career, teams view Green as a near-instant answer as a No. 1-type receiver. 2. *Julio Jones, Alabama, 6-3, 220, 1 Jones received a regal welcome in Tuscaloosa. On Signing Day 2008, sports talk radio stations were overloaded with Crimson Tide fans predicting Jones would be the next closest thing to Michael Irvin and bring the team a national title. By the time he left Alabama, Jones had a national title ring and owned several records once held by Ozzie Newsome. Jones totaled 179 receptions, 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns. Last season, he posted 78 catches for 1,133 yards and seven scores, all career highs. Jones' physical style of play, his size and NFL-ready frame make the Irvin comparison reasonable. If he becomes more dependable catching the ball in traffic and plays close to his Andre Johnson-level timed speed -- 4.34 seconds compared to 4.48 posted by Green at the combine -- Jones has a chance to be an elite NFL receiver. More likely, because he doesn't show the same rare speed on the field, he'll be known for his physicality downfield blocking downfield and shrugging defensive backs to move the chains consistently. 3. *Torrey Smith, Maryland, 6-1, 204, 1-2 A distant third in the 2011 receiver rankings, Smith is a big-play specialist who holds the ACC single-season kickoff return record, owns Maryland's career all-purpose yards mark (5,183) and is second in ACC history with 2,192 all-purpose yards in a season. His breakout junior season -- 85 catches, 1,160 yards, seven touchdowns -- helped Smith decide to enter the NFL Draft, but the decision was widely expected. He earned his degree, and the oldest of seven children has plenty of responsibility. Smith was born three months premature and by age five was taking care of his younger siblings and "running the household" by age seven, including feeding, diapering and bathing his toddler kin. He saw his mother -- now 38 with a lengthy record and described by Smith as his best friend -- physically and sexually abused, held at gunpoint and escaped by playing sports. He was an outstanding high school baseball player and track athlete, but has never stopped being the father figure in his family. 4. Leonard Hankerson, Miami (Fla.), 6-2, 205, 1-2 A star on his high school team during a 5A state title three-peat, Hankerson was recruited by Miami and expected to be the next great "U" receiver instantly. He was anything but -- 17 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns through his sophomore season -- before being taken under the wing of former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mark Duper before the 2009 season. He led Miami in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns with big-play flair (17.3 yards per catch) and was even better as a senior -- 72 catches, 1,156 yards and broke Irvin's 25-year-old school record with 13 touchdowns to win the team's MVP award. Hankerson's route-running needs work but he's a big receiver with 4.4 speed and strong, natural hands in a thin receiving class. 5. *Randall Cobb, Kentucky, 5-10, 191, 2 A virtual Swiss Army knife on the football field, Cobb is a converted quarterback with the shiftiness and smarts to be a slot receiver, running back or return specialist. He has limited weight-room strength to beat the jam at the line of scrimmage but he's not one to shy away from swimming against the current. He stunned Tennessee and Phil Fulmer in 2008 when he left the state where he was recognized as the top prep prospect, and started at wide receiver (four games) and quarterback (four games) at Kentucky as a true freshman. More than versatile, Cobb makes up for average speed with savvy, agility, good hands and make-you-miss skills in open space. Teams that value his dual-purpose game might reach to get him earlier than most are projecting. 6. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy, 5-9, 190, 2 Speed can't be taught, and NFL scouts are showing appreciation for the explosive Jernigan despite concerns about his level of competition in the Sun Belt. Jernigan was rarely asked to beat press coverage and admits he has plenty to learn when it comes to recognizing defenses and separating when bumped at the line. Jernigan has been timed as fast as 4.32 seconds in the 40 -- and as "slow" as 4.5 -- and can respond to critics by pointing out that he was the focus of every defensive coordinator the Trojans faced the past two seasons. He broke his own school record with 84 catches for 822 yards and six receiving touchdowns in 2010, when he racked up 11 total touchdowns. Jernigan is gifted with the ball in his hands and evaluators have underlined similarities in his game to Vikings wideout Percy Harvin, the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 draft. 7. *Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 230, 2-3 Super-productive in two seasons at Pitt with 2,337 receiving yards and 128 catches, Baldwin could do damage with a focused attitude and strong quarterback play – both of which he lacked with consistency while with the Panthers. Baldwin has the build of former Southern Cal wide receiver Mike Williams, the 10th overall draft pick in 2005 who wallowed as a third and fourth receiver with the Lions, Raiders and Titans before a season of retribution in Seattle in 2010. Baldwin could have the same issues early in his career that dogged Williams -- his size is as much limitation as asset with 4.6-second speed and inconsistent hands. His maturity and professionalism must be proven, including adjusting his long-stride running style and being more disciplined in all areas of his game. He also has to streamline his body to be viewed as more than a niche player who can win one-on-one matchups in the short- to intermediate-level passing game. 8. Titus Young, Boise State, 5-11, 174, 2-3 Young has 4.38 speed and explosiveness -- 35-inch vertical, 10'3" broad jump -- and should be one of the top slot receivers drafted. He averaged more than 15 yards per catch at Boise State with 25 touchdown catches and totaled 150 receptions as a junior and senior for 2,256 yards while adding seven rushing touchdowns. His agility, lateral quickness and straight-line speed allow Young to separate consistently. He can also contribute as a punt returner, but his hands and ball security (six fumbles lost) have been questioned, and Young's attitude isn't for everyone. He has some off-the-field questions, including a nine-game suspension as a sophomore. 9. Edmond Gates, Abilene Christian, 6-0, 189, 3 Abilene Christian has an enrollment of less than 4,800, but its list of alumni in the NFL has ballooned in recent years. The next Wildcats prospect to enter the league might be the best, which is saying something considering the success of running back Bernard Scott (Gates' cousin), safety Danieal Manning and wide receiver Johnny Knox. Gates survived a difficult childhood -- his father was sentenced to 18 years in prison for murder -- and was dismissed from Tyler (Texas) Junior College. Because he's 25 years old, teams might hesitate to draft him in the top 50, but his 4.31 speed will make him difficult to pass up. 10. Niles Paul, Nebraska, 6-1, 224, 3 Paul wore many pelts as a prep, winning state titles in track and football and averaging 19 points per game on the hardwood, but the nephew of former Huskers running back Ahman Green says he was meant to play football. In some ways -- strength and explosiveness as a runner, receiver and returner -- Paul is cut from the same cloth as Cowboys 2010 first-round pick Dez Bryant, another Big 12 receiver who excelled in a run-first offense. But there are less flattering comparisons. Paul's maturity and decision-making have been scrutinized because of two alcohol-related arrests (underage consumption, suspicion of DUI), as was the case with Bryant last April, and he also missed time as a senior with a broken foot. The on-field questions that prevent evaluators from pegging Paul as a potential No. 1 receiver are doubts about his true second gear to separate and concentration lapses that led to numerous drops. If he takes to coaching and embraces his opportunity, Paul could surprise. 11. Greg Little, North Carolina, 6-2, 220, 3-4 Of the prospects considered rare physical specimens in this draft, no receiver this side of Julio Jones (Alabama) holds a candle to Little. Suspended last season for violating the NCAA rule on interaction with agents, Little returned to his high school campus for intense workouts at every opportunity and it showed in his combine testing -- 27 reps of 225 pounds, which was better than many of the top offensive tackles in this class, 4.51 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10'9" with a chiseled frame. Before he was banned, Little wore many hats for the Heels, lining up at quarterback in the Wildcat formation, running back and wide receiver. He starred in big games, including 7-87-2 against Pitt in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl. It's reasonable to question whether Little can have an immediate impact after 18 months away from football contact. He needs position-specific training and coaching to reach his potential, but Little has a chip on his shoulder and is eager to prove he belongs with the elite receivers in this class. 12. Tandon Doss, Indiana, 6-3, 200, 3-4 When does Indiana lure one of the top high school talents in the state even with a porous record and flagging history? When he's the state's Mr. Football with strong ties to the program. Doss came to Indiana in 2008 as a big receiver expected to fill in for James Hardy, a second-round pick of the Bills in '08 coming off of a 16-touchdown season at IU. Doss has tremendous hands and shows great focus in traffic along with the ability to make the first man miss as a returner. But he rolls off the line of scrimmage, lacking instant burst, and isn't projected to be a No. 1 NFL receiver. Doss was a sensation as a slot receiver who dwarfed most nickel cornerbacks, but his durability -- including his current groin issue, which also kept him sidelined for the 2010 season opener -- isn't considered a strong suit. He also missed time with shoulder and knee injuries. Out of the headlines due to the groin strain that kept him from working out for scouts until April 6 (pro day scheduled in Bloomington), Doss no doubt would bring more cachet if he'd played at one of the Big Ten's perennial winners. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, March 26th, 2011
9:32 am	One Team Teal Member to Join the Jaguars at the NFL Draft JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- One member of Team Teal will win two airline tickets to New York City, one night in a hotel and two tickets to the third day of the NFL draft April 30 - free. To be eligible for the drawing, you must be a member of Team Teal by April 13 or be a Jacksonville Jaguars Champions Club member. "We are thrilled to bring this exclusive opportunity to our members," said Team Teal commissioner Tony Boselli. The draft takes place at Radio City Music Hall in New York, and the Jaguars have the 16th spot in the draft following an 8-8 season in 2010. The first round of the draft begins April 28. Friday, teams will draft rounds two and three, and the third day features the most action, rounds four through seven "This is a great chance for a Jaguars fan to represent the team during a major NFL event. We hope that this rewarding experience will be yet another reason for the community to continue renewing interest in the Jacksonville Jaguars...," said Boselli. The winner will be drawn April 16 on the Jaguars This Week radio show. For membership in Team Teal, you must own two season tickets and must register on the Team Teal website. (Comment on this)
Friday, March 18th, 2011
9:28 am	Nene scores 20, J.R. Smith adds 15 to lead Nuggets http://valorieviorel.fotopages.com/ Nene scored 20 points, J.R. Smith added all of his 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Denver Nuggets ran away to another win, beating the Atlanta Hawks 102-87 Wednesday night. It looked as if the game would go down to the wire when Zaza Pachulia flipped in a putback, pulling the Hawks to 72-69 with just over 10 minutes remaining. But Denver dominated the rest of the way, outscoring the home team 30-18. The Nuggets hardly missed in the fourth quarter, making 12 of 18 from the field - including four 3-pointers. Smith knocked down three of those, part of a 6-of-7 fourth quarter after he took only three shots - and missed them all - over the first three quarters. The Nuggets improved to 9-2 since the blockbuster trade sending Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. Pachulia led the Hawks with 19 points off the bench, but the Hawks got little production out of their starters. Josh Smith missed his first six attempts and finished with 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Joe Johnson struggled, too. One night after scoring 36 points against Milwaukee, he was held to 12 points by the Nuggets. The All-Star went 4 of 13 from the field after making six straight 3-pointers in a 25-point win over the Bucks. Denver is clearly having more fun since dealing Anthony, spreading the ball around and playing fierce defense. As the final seconds ticked off, coach George Karl broke into a sly grin watching another impressive performance by his remade team. Nene dominated on the inside, making shots or drawing fouls (he was 8 of 9 at the line). Aron Afflalo returned to the lineup after missing three games with a strained left hamstring and scored 15 points. Wilson Chandler added 14 and Kenyon Martin had 12.http://lenardknie.blog.co.uk/ With Johnson and Smith struggling, the Hawks got good work off the bench from Pachulia and Jamal Crawford, who combined for 16 points in the first half. The duo sparked Atlanta after a sluggish start, pushing the Hawks to a 12-point lead with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter. But the Nuggets dominated the rest of the period, ripping off a 16-2 run that included seven points from Nene. Denver went to the break up 46-42. Crawford had 13 points, and Marvin Williams had 10 off the bench. The Hawks got nearly as many points from their bench (42) as the starters (45). NOTES: When Afflalo came off the court after the pregame warmup, Karl asked nonchalantly, "Are you playing?" Afflalo said he was. "Wanna start?" Karl said. "Yes!" Afflalo responded. ... Hawks coach Larry Drew was liking a new lineup that has Johnson starting at small forward, Jeff Teague and Kirk Hinrich teaming up in the backcourt, with Williams comes off the bench. "We're going to stick with this lineup for now and see how it goes," Drew said before the game. He might want to reconsider. Hinrich had only nine points, Teague just four on 1-of-7 shooting. (Comment on this)
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
9:41 am	No labor deal puts NFL free agency at risk in 2011 http://valorieviorel.fotopages.com// NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jason Babin has won the gamble he took by signing a one-year deal with Tennessee. The defensive end racked up a career-high 12½ sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl berth. But all his hard work may not pay off in a multimillion dollar deal. NFL labor strife will likely mean Babin won't be wined and dined on an owner's private jet during free agency. With the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 3, Babin and other would-be free agents face the very real possibility that they get ordered back to their old teams at the bargain basement price of 120 percent of their last salary. Play another season, risk serious injury. And wait. "That's really scary to me," Babin said. "That definitely wouldn't be good timing. Hey, there's so many guys in a similar situation as myself with contracts expiring, it would be unfair practice and I think a lot would have a huge problem with it." Babin has lots of company in facing this nightmare scenario. More than 700 NFL players have contracts expiring with the labor deal, a group that includes players like Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai finishing up his fourth season in the league to Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch who missed out on free agency in 2010 when rules for the final year of the CBA allowed Tennessee to keep him with a one-year deal. How many years a player needs to reach free agency is something that could change in a new labor deal. There are veterans like Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, who might to decide to retire after 16 NFL seasons. Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall signed his first league deal as a free agent in 2006, and the former Marine is ready to capitalize on blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his five pro seasons. Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway was a Pro Bowl alternate this season and with his five years' experience could find himself not eligible for free agency. He doesn't know what's happening this offseason with his family wanting to know where they'll live next. "For me, of course you're anxious because you want to know what's going to happen, but at the same time ... you can't do too much about it. Just going to stay patient," Greenway said recently. Then there's Babin. The Titans are his fifth NFL team in seven seasons. A first-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2004 by Houston, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Babin didn't fit in as the outside rushing linebacker they wanted. He had just 13 sacks in his three seasons with the Texans before Houston traded him to Seattle in September 2007. He played four games before the Seahawks released him a year later. Kansas City signed him as a free agent in November 2008, and Babin landed in Philadelphia in August 2009 where he played in 12 games with 2½ sacks. Babin signed an offer for $1 million with Tennessee on March 19, and the Eagles declined to match. For the kid who once dragged a tire down the streets of Paw Paw, Mich., trying to prepare himself for the NFL, Tennessee proved the perfect defense for Babin as he turned in the best year of his professional career. He had 58 tackles, those 12½ sacks and forced two fumbles in a performance that earned him a trip to Hawaii as a starter.http://lenardknie.blog.co.uk/ Babin is back home in Texas with his family and says he tries not to worry about what he has little control over. "There's so many moving parts to this and so many people that will be affected by it, it would be atrocious on the owner's side of things to forego the season ... they would be looked on by the public as monsters. I don't think they want that," Babin said. The NFL and the NFL Players Association met for a few hours Wednesday, then canceled Thursday's session. Teammates elected Babin as an assistant player's representative during the season, so he stays in touch updating fellow players because they all want to know the latest information whenever they run into each other or talk on the phone. "It's in everybody's minds," he said. Babin said he has been planning a long time for whatever happens in 2011 in case the NFL suffers its first stoppage in play since 1987 and feels he's been pretty wise. He has a side business running a hunting ranch in Texas. He's much more worried about younger players. "Those guys in their second or third year that don't have much saved or don't have much direction if things do go south. That's who I think is really in the most jeopardy and most concern in my mind," Babin said. "Everyone's been talking about it. It's obvious the owners have been preparing for it for three years secretly so they think it's a real possibility to at least prepare for it. I'm glad now I'm kind of on the inside to see the truth of what's really going on. It's something that happens every ... 25 years it seems like. It's the NFL timetable." Tennessee is a team Babin wanted to return to with a new contract. But his defensive line coach Jim Washburn is now in Philadelphia, the Titans parted with coach Jeff Fisher at the end of January after 16 full seasons as head coach and replaced him by promoting offensive line coach Mike Munchak on Monday. So Babin isn't sure yet what defense will be run until Munchak hires a new coordinator and line coach. He just monitors the situation closely with friends texting him updates every time something new happens in Nashville. He's staying busy living life as a father and husband as he usually does each offseason. Though this offseason brings this new twist. "There's definitely a wait and see," Babin said. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
11:27 am	New Orleans Hornets, other NBA teams to make playoff push http://valorieviorel.fotopages.com/ With 24 games remaining in the regular season, Coach Monty Williams is hoping the New Orleans Hornets can avoid significant injuries and win enough games to stay in playoff contention.They entered the All-Star break as the sixth seed in the Western Conference but 1 1/2 games Cheap NFL Jerseys ahead of eighth-seeded Utah and ninth-seeded Memphis. General Manager Dell Demps isn’t leaving anything to chance, signaling last week that he might make a trade before Thursday’s deadline. While the Hornets are trying to stay in the race, San Antonio, the West’s top seed, has all but secured its playoff spot. The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, though seeded third, could make a push to overtake the Spurs. In the East, Boston and Miami will be battling for the top spot, with the Chicago Bulls serving as a team to watch throughout the playoffs because of their defensive play and emergence of All-Star point guard Derrick Rose. WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS 1. Spurs (46-10) What makes them a threat: They can win playing up-tempo or halfcourt. One of the toughest teams to beat at home, entering the All-Star break with a 25-2 record at the AT&T Center. Potential pitfall: A matchup against the Lakers in the playoffs. The Spurs don’t have the size to match up with 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, but which team does? Fearless prediction: Reach NBA Finals and beat the Heat. 2. Mavericks (40-16) What makes them a threat: Dirk Nowitzki is one of the hardest players to defend because of his ability to score from the perimeter as a 7-footer. Center Tyson Chandler is a defensive stopper in the post, great rebounder and tough to handle hovering around the basket on alley-oops. Potential pitfall: Losing Nowitzki to another injury would be disastrous. Most of their offense goes through Nowitzki, and he’s the player they look to down the stretch for big shots. The Mavericks were 2-7 when he was out with a right knee strain earlier this season. Fearless prediction: Lose to the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs as fourth seed. 3. Lakers (38-19) What makes them a threat: They are two-time defending champions and have Kobe Bryant, arguably the league’s best player. It’s tough for teams to contend with Bynum and Gasol inside. Potential pitfall: Playing uninspired and losing their edge. Fearless prediction: Will lose in the conference finals to the Spurs. 4. Thunder (35-19) What makes them a threat: Kevin Durant leads the NBA in scoring with a 28.9-point average, and Russell Westbrook is one of the most explosive guards in the league. Potential pitfall: Oklahoma City has solid starters, but its bench is suspect. Defensively, the Thunder allows 102.4 points a game, which is way too much for a serious contender. Fearless prediction: Will enter the playoffs with a higher seed than the Lakers. 5. Trail Blazers (32-24)http://lenardknie.blog.co.uk/ What makes them a threat: Forward LaMarcus Aldridge is having a breakout season and should have been an All-Star Game participant. Potential pitfall: They have been injury prone and might struggle in a playoff series if guard Brandon Roy continues to be hampered by knee problems. Fearless prediction: Will backslide after the All-Star break but will make the playoffs as the seventh seed. 6. Hornets (33-25) What makes them a threat: Chris Paul and David West always have the potential to carry the Hornets throughout the playoffs. Despite injuries, the Hornets remain one of the top defensive teams. Potential pitfall: Inconsistency, especially on the road. Not getting enough scoring help off the bench. Fearless prediction: Will enter playoffs as the fifth seed. 7. Nuggets (32-25) What makes them a threat: Entered All-Star break as the highest scoring team in the league, averaging 107.5 points. They are one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league. Potential pitfall: Trading Carmelo Anthony by Thursday’s deadline, then struggling with new players trying to adjust to Coach George Karl’s system. Fearless prediction: Will suffer the biggest drop-off and be replaced by Memphis in playoff seedings after the All-Star break when Anthony is traded. 8. Jazz (31-26) What makes them a threat: Deron Williams is one of the top point guards, and the lineup causes matchup problems with Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Andrei Kirilenko. Potential pitfall: The Jazz’s identity has changed after longtime coach Jerry Sloan’s recent resignation. Williams has expressed a desire to be traded to the New York Knicks. This franchise has been a model of consistency, but major shakeups are ahead. Fearless prediction: Will sneak into the playoffs as the eighth seed. (Comment on this)