Athletic Freaks – The Most Athletic NBA, NFL and MLB Players
Who are the most athletic NBA, NFL and MLB players? Well let’s take a closer look at these basketball, football and baseball players. Everyone knows that professional athletes are some of the most physically gifted humans on the planet. They can run and jump faster than the average person and have impeccable hand-eye coordination to boot. In addition to their natural ability they often spend hours training their bodies to reach its optimum performance, which can often take their games to the next level. With this in mind, here are the top freak athletes in the 3 major sports!
Most Athletic NBA Player – LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
There have been several amazing athletes of all shapes and sizes who have come and gone in the NBA. Players such as Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson come to mind. But perhaps none have possessed the rare combination of size, speed, power and strength of LeBron James of the Miami Heat. At 6’8” 250 lbs. (some players have speculated that he could be within the 260-275 range) with the speed of an All-Pro wide out (4.4 40 yard dash in high school) and a 44-inch vertical leap, James is a freak of nature on the basketball court and a force to be reckoned with. He is infamous for chasing down opposing players from half court and swatting their layup attempts off the backboard with such force that they often hear footsteps for the remainder of the game. He also utilizes every inch of his 7’0 wingspan to get into passing lanes for steals and finish alley-oops high above the rim. Those who marvel at James’ otherworldly physique assume that he has been utilizing top flight, great exercise programs for several years. However, this has not always been the case. Ironically, James did not start lifting weights seriously until he was 23 years old and 5 years into his pro career according to Sports Illustrated. Nowadays, James lifts weights for 20-30 minutes a day and mixes in core exercises such as yoga and Pilates to round out his workout. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that LeBron is the best pure athlete in the game of basketball, and quite possibly in the world today.
Honorable Mention: Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
Most Athletic NFL Player – Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
2012 NBA Playoff Predictions – NBA Championship Predictions
NBA Playoff Predictions – NBA Championship Predictions for 2011-2012 NBA Season
Let me predict the future by revealing which teams will advance in the NBA playoffs and who will win the 2012 NBA Championship. As the second half of the Lockout shortened NBA season begins, it is never too early to take a look at who will be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at seasons end. That being said, I have taken the liberty of categorizing the top teams from both conferences into two groups: The Pretenders and The Contenders.
2012 NBA Playoff Predictions – Eastern Conference
Pretenders: 76ers, Knicks, Magic
The Magic might be currently sitting pretty as the 3rd seed in the East (27-15), but there is still an air of uncertainty around the team with the possible departure of Dwight Howard and the looming trade deadline quickly approaching. If the Magic trade their superstar big man, they will likely tumble down the rankings while their new-look team adjusts to life without Superman. It would be a miracle to see a Superman-less Magic team go past the first round of the playoffs and the payout on a site like topbet.com for the Magic to go all the way would be astronomical. If they stand pat and keep Howard, it is a safe bet that the Magic will have one last chance to go deep in the playoffs with their current roster intact. Without all the distraction and pressure surrounding Howard, look for the Magic to get bounced in the first round like they did last season against the Hawks.
The 76ers have been the surprise team in the East (25-17) so far, currently the 4th seed if the playoffs started today, the Sixers have relied on a young nucleus of talented players who have succeeded without the presence of an All-Star player. Last season the Sixers were bounced from the playoffs in the first round after facing the Big 3 in Miami, and will likely face a more experienced and battle-tested team this time around. With the emergence of sixth man of the year candidate Lou Williams and former No.2 overall pick Evan Turner finally getting meaningful minutes, the Sixers will get to the second round before being bounced yet again by another tough, veteran team.
With the hype surrounding Linsanity finally dying down, the Knicks are starting to revert back to their old ways as they have lost 7 of their last 10 games (18-23). The Knicks defense has always been a question mark, and now the ball is not moving around as freely as it did before Melo’s return to the lineup. With Jeremy Lin continuing to turn the ball over at a record pace and the Knicks struggling to find an identity, count on them getting bounced in the first round by either the Heat or Bulls who they will likely face as the 1st seed in the East. Seems like the fire in New York has been extinguished ever since ESPN wrote that racist Lin article.
Contenders: Bulls, Heat, Boston
The Bulls (34-9) are still centered around their all-world point guard Derrick Rose and their tenacious defense. They are currently the best team in the East and are riding high on an 8-game winning streak. Last season ended in a disappointing finish after suffering an Eastern Conference finals defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat. If the Bulls are to get to championship this year, the road will have to go through Miami and the Big 3. The Bulls must find a way to get more offensive production out of their supporting cast, as Rose will likely be guarded closely by LeBron James in an effort to slow down last season’s MVP.
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Fantasy Football Trades – Buy Low Sell High 2011
Everyone is thinking about fantasy football trades around this time of the NFL season. And although 3 games is a relatively small sample size, most fantasy football owners must soon make crucial decisions on some key players who may be underperforming and others who are overachieving. By making a move this early in the season, you may be able to take advantage of other teams in your league who are ready to give up on an elite player who is having a slow start but is destined to break out at any moment. That being said, here are 6 players you should look to Buy Low and Sell High.
Fantasy Football Players to Buy Low
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans – It appears as if the Lockout and the tenuous contract negotiations have slowed down the talented speedster—for now. In three games, CJ2k has amassed a measly 98 yards rushing, and even worse, has yet to record a single touchdown. Many owners who used a first round pick on him are surely in panic-mode, and eager to deal him for any respectable, productive player. If you have depth at a certain position, now is the time to be aggressive and make a move for Johnson, as he is due for a big game any moment now.
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets – Greene disappointed many of his fantasy owners when he rushed for a less than spectacular 26 yards on 10 attempts against the Cowboys in week 1. He has yet to have a 100-yard rushing game and has only one touchdown on the season. His next game against a stout Ravens run defense will probably lower his value further, but he has relatively weak matchups the rest of the way including two games against the Dolphins and one against the Chiefs. In an offense that would like to heavily rely on the run, expect Greene to bounce back with a string of big games in the middle of the season.
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NBA Mock Draft 2011
Whether we like it or not, the 2011 NBA Draft could be the weakest collection of potential draft picks since the famously-awful 2000 Draft, due largely in part to an impending league-wide lockout. Had likely Top-5 picks Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, Perry Jones III of Baylor, and Harrison Barnes of UNC opted to stay in the draft, the Lottery would be a lot more exciting and meaningful for everyone involved. Instead, Cleveland may end up with the consensus top two most talented prospects in the draft, a rarity that may still not be enough to turn the NBA’s most hard-luck franchise around. Few, if any, of these prospects outside of the top 5 have a chance at becoming perennial All-Star’s anytime soon, with the influx of unknown international talent and marginal college stars diluting this top-heavy draft pool. A record 5 international prospects could end up cracking the Lottery, making this one of the most mysterious drafts in recent memory.
*Indicates potential trade scenario
1. Cleveland Cavs: Derrick Williams, 6-8, 248, SF/PF, Arizona – By picking the athletic (albeit self-absorbed) scoring machine over the pre-draft consensus number one overall pick Kyrie Irving from Duke, the Cavs organization gives themselves much more flexibility and value. If Cleveland fails to make a widely speculated three-team trade with Detroit to acquire Minnesota’s number two pick-and settle for keeping their slot at four- then they give themselves a chance to land the second highest-rated point guard in the draft-Kentucky’s Brandon Knight- giving them two potential cornerstones for the post-‘Decision’ era. Cleveland could also pick Irving number one overall and then take Williams with the second pick which they are looking to acquire.
2. Minnesota T-Wolves*: Kyrie Irving, 6-3, 191, PG, Duke – With the pending arrival of 2009 5th overall pick Ricky Rubio in the team’s immediate plans, it would make sense for GM David Khan and his brain trust to pass on this slot and ship the pick to Cleveland in order to accumulate more picks or expiring contracts. Turkish big man Enes Kanter could be a potential candidate if Minnesota decides to stay put, as he is a young and talented true center to pair with rising All-Star Kevin Love. If Cleveland indeed makes a move to swap slots with Minnesota, they will likely pick Irving to give the Cavs the two highest rated prospects in the draft.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, 7-0, 260, C, Turkey – Despite being unable to play the entire past season due to NCAA violations, the Turkish center is a legitimate 7-foot post player with a polished back to the basket game and solid mid-range jumper. The transition would be made easier due to the fact that the Jazz already have former All-Star and Turkish compatriot Mehmet Okur on the roster. The Jazz desperately need to take the best player available, after a rollercoaster season in which they lost their Hall-of-Fame head coach Jerry Sloan and future Hall-of-Fame point guard Derron Williams, if they are to return to respectability.
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Brandon Jennings vs. Stephen Curry
So far this season, rookie point guards have emerged as the surprise story in the NBA. Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Brandon Jennings, and Eric Maynor were all drafted in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft. Each player has made an immediate impact on their respective teams, leading some people to wonder if the 2009 draft class could be one of the best ever. A bold statement considering number one overall pick Blake Griffin has yet to show the world what he can do in Los Angeles. For fantasy owners who were smart enough to draft one of these point guard prodigies in the mid-to-late rounds, they are being rewarded with steady production.
Although all the point guards have exceeded expectations, only one has emerged as the runaway leader to claim the Rookie of the Year award while becoming a top 10 fantasy point guard in the process. Jennings started the season off strong, almost notching a triple-double in his NBA debut against the Sixers and dropping 32 points and 9 assists in a close win over the Nuggets.
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