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TSN’s Three-Man Weave muses about the fate of Kobe Bryant, where the Hawks, Warriors and Blazers (in the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge) will end up and what’s ailing the Raptors. Hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson, are aided by one third of Below The Hardwood’s web series, Dexter Arriola, as they question the mind of billionaire Mark Cuban on fan voting for the All-Star Game. As a result of his most recent injury, should Kobe Bryant retire? Strickland: Well, he has another $24-25 million reasons next season not to call it quits. Father Time has never lost despite Mr. Bryants most vehement protestations. With the threat on a third-straight season-ending injury looming, the end has never been more apparent. The Kobe Bean Bryant Retirement Tribute Tour 2015-2016 will be his last hurrah. Enjoy one of the best to ever do it one last time in an arena near you next season! Arriola: Kobe Bryant has had an illustrious career, thus far. Hes had numerous accolades and has solidified his name in the Hall of Fame. He has nothing left to prove...to us. However, Kobe being the competitor he is, still wants to prove he is the G.O.A.T. He has a year left in his contract. The Lakers should shut him down this year, bring in some talent and try again next season. Kobes body will retire before Kobes mind will. I would like him to retire from playing, but not from basketball. Watson: Should and will are two different things. The warrior in Kobe won’t let his career end on this note and I believe he will rehab and come back for one more season. He was able to perform at an elite level after his Achilles injury and has the same drive to do it again. He will go out on his own terms. The Hawks and Warriors have been the hottest teams in their respective conferences, do you think either has what it takes to make it to the NBA Finals? Strickland: Absolutely. Solid coaching, Sharply defined game identities driven by players who fully understand and execute their roles, unselfish, focused stars, diverse and deep benches, as well as the ability to win on the road against other elite talent in the Association are pillars of championship-level squads. That said, as is uttered weekly in #1On1, its not how you start - its how you finish. Who finishes the strongest could mark the beginning of a new era in the NBA. Arriola: These teams have a number of similarities that have them atop of their conferences. They play both sides of the ball, their ball movement is impeccable and they take care of business at home, which are all crucial components in the playoffs. The downfall of the Hawks will be their depth. Can their bench still play at a high level in front of a raucous crowd? Only time will tell. The Warriors will have a more grueling trip to the Finals. The inexperience of Steve Kerr will play a huge factor in the playoffs. I hope he took some notes playing for Phil Jackson. Watson: I like the Warriors chances, as they have competed in the West, but I question the Hawks playoff experience. They do all the things right, but the level of play in the postseason is something they have yet to experience, as they haven’t made it out of the semis in over 40 years. Mark Cuban thinks the NBA should do away with All-Star fan voting, not because of who was voted, but the amount of votes and lack of interest. Thoughts? Strickland: No. Fans help drive the visibility of the game, from the diehard to the casual follower of the league. Fan voting for the NBA All-Stars should be treated like the popular vote in US presidential elections: nice to see the numbers, but they dont mean anything. The NBA All-Stars should be voted upon by coaches, current players, a rotating executive selection committee of former players, who were also All-Stars, and certain media members like those guys who offer the world The News, Views and Truths on the NBA and beyond. Arriiola: The All-Star weekend was MADE FOR THE FANS. The voting gives the fans a direct interaction with the NBA. Though I think the fan vote has its flaws, there is really no way to impove it without disappointing the viewers. Other than Melo and Must See BG, the fans got it right this year. And yes, Kobe gets a pass. Watson: He has a fair argument. It’s now easier to vote than it’s ever been where a simple tweet or social media post is a part of daily activities, but only a 24 per-cent increase? The level or participation for the passion of the fans of game is not commensurate and we can finally get rid of the questionable starters getting voted in or the PR stunts. With the Raptors having won just four of their last 12 games, what concerns you the most regarding their play of late? Strickland: A lack of passion, focus and compete level necessary to remain in contention for playoff home-court advantage. While there will be an adjustment period for DeMar DeRozan post-injury, several of his teammates, especially Terrence Ross and James Johnson, will have to recalibrate their mentalities to help push the Raptors in the second half of the season away from a potential 2014 Indiana Pacers-like collapse after a fast and prosperous start to the season. Arriola: The Raptors spark from the first 25 games was extinguished on that west-coast trip. The intensity has gone down and their help defence looks perturbed. There are too many iso-plays and not enough ball movement. And they are missing shots that they usually make. Free throws, free throws, free throws. If this play keeps up, a trade is imminent. Watson: The inconsistency, whether it be on the defensive end, the offensive end or even the level of commitment on this squad. With each game, there is a hope they figure it out and, while they are still competing, they aren’t doing it a level that screams Eastern Conference elite right now. Will the Portland Trail Blazers miss the playoffs because of LaMarcus Aldridges injury? Strickland: No. Worse case scenario with Aldridge missing up to the next 26 games is that we find out how truly special Damian Lillard is and if coach Terry Stotts can really lean heavily on Chris Kaman, Thomas Robinson, CJ McCollum and Wesley Matthews to help keep the Blazers in at least the middle of the playoff pack in the West. Having Robin Lopez and the also-recently injured Nic Batum out of the lineup for an extended period of time along with Aldridge may be asking too much of this team, however. Arriola: Injury is nothing new to the Portland Trail Blazers. Unlike the Brandon Roy years, this team is much deeper and more versatile. The loss of LaMarcus Aldridge will force Terry Stotts to play a more up-tempo style. With young players, like Leonard and Robinson, it is much easier for them to run up and down the floor, which is prevalent in the Wild West. Robin Lopez is also to make his return before the All-Star break. Nicolas Batum left Thursdays game against the Celtics with a wrist injury. If they lose him, then they might be in trouble! Watson: They won’t miss the playoffs, but they won’t be in a great seed as Damian Lillard will not be able to carry the load on his own. They haven’t overachieved this season, but they will definitely be overextending, themselves. With that said regardless of where they finish, no playoff team wants to face Lillard with the ball in his hands with the game on the line...just ask the Houston Rockets. Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Dexter Arriola @dexter_bth . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. . The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists detailed in a report how Russian and international journalists have been harassed and prevented from covering sensitive stories in Sochi such as the abuse of migrant workers and environmental issues. .com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. . Heather, the first Gaiter to win the award, set a Canadian Inter-university Sport record with 3,132 passing yards in eight league games, an average of 391.5 yards per game. That beat the mark of 3,047 set only one week earlier by Westerns Will Finch, a Hec Crighton finalist. . Ronaldo failed to connect on an ample number of opportunities at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. But Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored in each half for Madrid to come out of the first leg with the firm advantage. With the NFL season approaching, its time to sign up for Fantasy Football League Manager on TSN.ca. Then, its time to research, prepare and get ready to build your team to win bragging rights in your own league. Anyone that enters the contest will also have the opportunity, via draw, to win a Football Getaway Experience, which includes flight, hotel, spending money and tickets for your choice of an NFL regular-season game. Start with rankings, projections, injury reports and articles in the Fantasy News section of TSN.ca so that you have a good idea what to expect for the 2013 NFL season, paying attention to rookies, sleepers, position battles and more. There is not merely one way to build a winning team, so its important to maximize value. Given the nature of the sport, and the injuries that occur throughout the season, its important to build depth on your fantasy roster, so that you have a viable alternative at the ready when one of your starters is hurt or, at the very least, on a bye week. For years, running back has been the one position on which to focus and, while there has been some variance in recent seasons, it remains the safest way to build a team. 16 backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards last season (23 averaged at least 60 rushing yards per game), and 13 had at least eight rushing touchdowns, so getting two runners in the early rounds isnt a bad way to go. Of course, even that approach comes with the caveat that running backs get injured -- something about carrying the ball and being the target of 11 angry men -- but with most leagues employing at least a couple of starters at RB and then potentially a flex position or two, securing the services of running backs that are clearly number one on their teams depth chart is a safe play. The appeal of quality runners stands in contrast to a league that is becoming increasingly focused on passing. Scarcity means value, though, so while there are more productive options at quarterback and the receiver spots, the top running backs hold their value. Part of the reason that there isnt such urgency to go for a quarterback early is that a dozen quarterbacks threw for at least 3,900 yards last season and the quarterback ranked 13th in passing yardage, Cam Newton, alsoo had more than 700 rushing yards.dddddddddddd With a dozen quarterbacks throwing at least 25 touchdowns, that pretty much assures a productive starter for most leagues, especially considering that most leagues require only one starting quarterback. That doesnt mean settling for any quarterback, because Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are better bets than the 10th or 12th quarterbacks picked, but if you end up with Tony Romo, Andrew Luck or Eli Manning, there shouldnt be major regrets. As NFL teams throw the ball more frequently, there is a wider net to cast over wide receivers that could contribute to your fantasy squad. 32 wide receivers averaged at least 60 receiving yards per game last season, while 25 scored at least seven touchdowns. Again, theres obviously more appeal at the top end, where Calvin Johnson is a difference-maker and Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson and Dez Bryant could all be top-tier producers, but there was value to be found from lesser-knowns like Cecil Shorts and T.Y. Hilton too and there will be young receivers that emerge this season as well. Get one or two proven guys and then secure depth at the position. Tight end is an interesting proposition, since Jimmy Graham is at the head of a thinning class. Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez are reliably productive too, but what about Rob Gronkowski? Under normal circumstances, he would challenge Graham for the top spot at the position, but after an offseason of surgeries, Gronkowski presents a risk. Then, there is a large group of similarly-productive options. Like the quarterback position, its better to get one of the best but, if that doesnt happen, youre not necessarily going to regret having the 10th-best tight end. Kickers and defences are late-round concerns. There is too much variability in their production to invest early selections, no matter how good you think the Niners defence is going to be or how many times you think Stephen Gostkowski will boot it through the uprights. The bottom line, though, is that a little preparation can make your team better come draft (or auction) day and TSNs Fantasy Football League Manager will be there every step of the way to help you enjoy the 2013 season. Click here to sign up and start building your team today! ' ' '
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