Donegal take command of the race for Sam

Donegal established themselves as a firm favourites for the All-Ireland title with a resounding win over a favoured Cork side at Croke Park last Sunday. Yes, there is still football yet to be played in this years Championship, but is hard to imagine how Mayo or Dublin, on current form can break down the interpretable wall that is Donegal's defence. Cork, with arguably the best group of forwards in the country, succeeded for spells, but ultimately they too were revoked. Dublin got over the line last year because Donegal couldn't get the scores to put them away, but that won't be the case of those two meet again in four weeks time. Dublin have regressed hugely from last year, and they would be ideal fodder for a Donegal team which lives off frustrating its opponents - something which the Metropolitans are easily susceptible to.

One of the more nonsensical points of debate which has arisen in the last couple of days, is the claim that Donegal don't possess the same natural footballing talent that other elite counties do, and that their success is purely down to hard work and the discipline imposed on the squad by manager Jim McGuinness. This suggestion was first made by Tom Carr on RTÉ Radio's 'Take Your Point' on Sunday evening, and again was a topic of conversation on 'Drivetime Sport' yesterday. Personally I think such a suggestion lacks substance and is totally unfair to the Donegal team. Donegal may employ a defence-first style of play, but this doesn't mean that they don't play good football. Some of Donegal's play last Sunday, particularly the speed at which the moved from defence to attack, was superb. Colm McFadden is one player in particular who has been singled out as a beneficiary of the system he plays in, though he is now tied as the top scorer in this season's Championship with 3-28 to his name. Admittedly his tally has been bolstered by the fact that he's Donegal's free taker, but most of top-scorers each year have had that same boost to their numbers. McFadden has struggled with his consistency in the past, but every player does at some point. Look at Bernard Brogan over the last two years. Has he really been a consistently stellar performer? Certainly he hasn't played up to the hype that sponsors, pundits and supporters alike still attach to him. The bottom-line, you don't become such a prolific scorer at inter-county level unless you're a really talented player. Michael Murphy is another interesting case. If anything he's taken a lesser role than his talent demands, for the betterment of the team. He's scored much less in the last couple of years and instead has done much of the donkey-work, winning the ball to create scoring opportunities for others. In defence, Donegal's strength is definitely based on team work and determination, but it's unfounded to suggest that those players are not good footballers. Karl Lacey won an All-Star before McGuinness ever came along, and he continues to be the most key player for Donegal now. I find it very hard to believe that Dublin would have come back to beat Donegal in last year's semi-final had Lacey not missed most of the second half through injury.

It will be interesting to see over the coming months what the fallout from this loss will be like for Cork football. I think Sunday's defeat in many ways, will come to define how we look back on this Cork team in future. They'll always be a team that should have won more. At first, there was the alleged 'Kerry stigma'. Cork could always beat the Kingdom in Munster, but Kerry in Croke Park was different animal, and one that the Rebels couldn't tame. The won their All-Ireland in a year when Kerry and Tyrone had begun to decline, and Dublin were not yet ready. Last year they were taken down by a gallant if not spectacular Mayo side, and last Sunday they went down looking helpless and broken. This is Cork team that promised so much more. They've been consistenly superb in the league and Munster championship, and brought a size and physicality to the game that no other county could boast. Cork should have been the dominant force in football over the last five years, particularly given the lack of stand-out teams competing. Last year was a riveting Championship, in terms of entertainment, and Dublin's heroics gave the GAA a needed boost, but they were arguably the weakest team to win an All-Ireland in 20 or 25 years. The last few years could have been a dominant era for Cork football with 3 All-Irelands to supplement their league titles, instead this team will forever be looked upon as one that could have been truly great, but never managed achieve it's lofty potential.

Donegal v Cork (a short preview)

For the second year in a row, the four provincial champions have qualified for the All-Ireland semi-finals, with Donegal and Cork kicking off the action this afternoon. In many ways, I think this match-up looks to be the 'real' final, as either of these teams looks superior to Dublin and Mayo.

The key for Cork to winning this game will be how they attack Donegal's relentless defence.  Given the physical presence that Cork will bring to the game, I think their best weapon will be to to run at the Donegal defence with pace, and move the ball quickly. If Cork do this, they can put the Tír Conaill men on the back foot and they'll force Donegal to concede frees. The key really is to keep the ball moving, so the Cork forwards and wing-backs will need to work hard and show for possession constantly. That said, this would be an extremely difficult game plan to execute for the full 70 minutes, and I can't see Cork being able to sustain such intensity for the game's duration.

For Donegal, the big question is whether they can find enough scores to get over the line. I can't see Cork putting any more than 10 or 12 points past them, but they'll still need Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy to have big games. McFadden was superb against Kerry, but rather then being a reassuring sign, I find that somewhat worrying, as McFadden has struggled with consistency in the past, and two straight huge performances is a big ask. If Donegal are to create enough scoring chances to win, they'll have to at least break even at midfield. This is no small task, as Cork have so many physically intimidating players around the centre of the park. Aidan Walsh is arguably the best midfielder in the country, and with either Alan O'Connor and Nicholas Murphy alongside him, Cork should win the battle there. Donegal's best hope of competing in midfield is by sticking to short kick-outs and carrying the ball out of defence so as to bypass the Cork midfield.

Obviously, in a game such as this, a goal for either side would be an enormous game changer. If Donegal can get one, I think they'll be able to shut up shop and keep the Leesiders at bay, but without that goal, I see Donegal falling by a point or two in what will almost certainly be a scrappy, hard-fought match.

NBA Off-season Grades: Atlantic Division

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be publishing a series of blogs breaking down the NBA off-season, division-by-divsion, and assigning each team a grade based on the moves they've made. The is first such blog, and covers the Atlantic Division.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have had a another good off-season and one which sets them up to remain a contender in the Eastern Conference for the coming year. The first and most pressing move, was to re-sign veteran forward Kevin Garnett. There had been some rumours suggesting Garnett was considering retirement but KG has ultimately decided to come back and give it two more years. With Garnett back, the Celtics looked to the draft to secure some front-court help for him. With the No. 21 pick in this year's draft, their choice of Jared Sullinger was a no-brainer. 'Sully', as Boston's fans are already calling him, was touted as a potential top ten pick before his stock dropped due to injury. He'll get plenty of minutes in Boston and can play an important role right away offensively. Look for Sullinger to get in the post and score with his back to the basket, - something which should help open up a Celtic's offense which struggled at times last season. Taking Fab Melo (who averaged only 7.8 ppg, and 5.7 rpg in college last season), with the No. 22 was not such a bright move. I understand the lure of any semi-skilled big guy late in the first-round, especially given the Celtic's current big man rotation, but Melo just seems like a major red flag to me. I'll be shocked if he's still in the rotation by December. The Celts also re-signed Brandon Bass, who earned his contract with a very solid showing last year.

On the perimeter, Boston made two significant moves. First, they let go of Ray Allen, replacing him with Jason Terry, and then they re-signed Jeff Green, who sat out last season with a heart condition. Both of these signings seem like good moves to me. Allen's time in Boston had clearly come to an end, and Terry should prove a more that capable replacement. He's not the shooter that Allen is, but he's a much better ball-handler and can create his own shot. Alongside Rondo and Avery Bradley, Terry gives the Celtics an excellent three-man guard rotation. Green can also be a significant contributor if he's healthy. He didn't have the best of times during his first few months in Boston, but Green has good upside is certainly over-qualified to back up Paul Pierce. He'll mostly play the three but could see plenty of time at power-forward too if the Celtics want to play a small-ball line-up.

Grade: A-

Brooklyn Nets

It looks like Brooklyn won't be welcoming Dwight Howard any time soon. Instead Deron Williams' supporting cast will be led by Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, and Gerald Wallace. Let's start at the top. Re-signing Williams was a huge move. This should guarantee relevancy for the Nets for the duration of his contract, providing they can maintain a decent team around him. Something that admittedly seems highly questionable. The Joe Johnson trade was a good move. The Nets gave up a platter of role players and bad draft picks, and landed an All-Star guard, who'll be a great fit next to Williams. The question marks I have over Brooklyn's off-season centre around the Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez contracts. Wallace is a super athletic energy guy, and a great perimeter defender, but he's thirty now, and the track record for players like him at that age isn't inspiring. The four-year forty-million dollar deal the Nets gave him is ludicrous, and  no doubt they'll regret it year or two down the line. The Lopez contract is more debatable. Brook is a quality scoring big - a kind of player that's rare in the NBA. That said, Lopez missed most of last season through injury and he's not an elite rebounder, averaging only 7.5 boards per game for his career. A max. contract seems a stretch and I think it's a big gamble as Brooklyn will struggle to trade him if things don't work out.

The Nets made some nice moves to fill out their roster, adding CJ Watson to be their back-up point guard, and re-signing Kris Humphries. Mirza Teletovic is another guy who could make an impact.

Grade: C+

New York Knicks

Where do I start? It's been a strange off-season for the Knicks, with the most obvious example being the Jeremy Lin debacle. In Lin's place the Knicks have a point-guard rotation of Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni. Hardly inspiring stuff. Kidd is way past his prime and should really only be playing a back-up role. Felton is much more of an enigma. He played his best basketball for the Knicks two seasons ago, but has faded remarkably since the Carmelo Anthony trade, culminating in last season's shameful campaign in Portland. Can MSG re-ignite Felton? If so it was a good trade for the Knicks, and he'll be a solid starter. Knicks fans will also be hoping Felton can help get Amare Stoudamire engaged again. The duo ran the pick-and-roll to perfection a couple of years ago, but that was Mike D'Antoni's system, and this is Mike Woodson's. Prigioni was impressive for Argentina in the Olympics, but he likely won't play much for the Knicks - barring injury. That said, he looks more than capable of filling in when called upon. Adding Ronnie Brewer will help shore up their perimeter defense until Shumpert gets back, and he's an excellent value acquisition at the vet. min.

Up-front the Knick's added veteran depth with Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas, ironically the only remaining active NBA players from the 1999 Knicks team that made the finals as an eighth-seed. Thomas has shown he can still be a great 5th big man, and Camby's size continues to make him an effective player, though he's well into the twilight of his career. New York rounded out it's roster by re-signing J.R. Smith and Steve Novak. So, as you can see, it's been a somewhat tumultuous off-season for New York, and we haven't even mentioned the Steve Nash stakes.

It's very hard to know how these moves will effect the Knicks ability to contend next year, until we see how they co-exist on the floor. On paper, I certainly think New York has improved but they desperately need one of their point guard options to prove themselves worthy of the starting job. The elephant in the room, of course is Amare Stoudamire's seeming decline. If they can get Amare back to full health, and playing in tandem with 'Melo, the sky's the limit. If not, the Knicks are probably locked into four year of mediocrity given their salary cap situation.

Grade: C

Philadelphia 76ers

The biggest off-season move for Philadelphia is, of course, the recent arrival of Andrew Bynum from LA, as part of the four-team Dwight Howard trade. I broke down this trade shortly after it happened, and outlined why I feel it benefits Philly:

1. Bynum is the second best center in the NBA, and has the potential to be a franchise player.
2. His contract only has a year remaining so if injuries/maturity issues derail him, the Sixers can cut their losses and clear cap-space.
3. If things work out, Bynum is a local guy and would probably be open to re-signing with Philadelphia.
4. Most importantly: Boom or Bust, he will help the Sixers avoid the dreaded NBA middle ground

Bynum change's everything about the way Philadelphia will set up it's offense next season. Post-ups constitute 54.6% of Bynum's possessions (according to Synergysports.com). The Sixers will need use their perimeter players wisely to take advantage of the double teams Bynum will draw inside. With Elton Brand gone, Thaddeus Young should assume the starting power forward role, as he would be an ideal fit next to Bynum because of his ability to stretch the floor.

Other notable off-season moves for Philadelphia include singing Nick Young and trading for Dorell Wright. Both guys can shoot the ball, and they'll be valuable pieces for Philly. Kwame Brown's signing seemed ominous only a week ago, but given the new circumstances with Bynum's arrival, I've come around on that one. Brown is much maligned because he was a number one draft pick, and never lived up to expectations, but he's still a good player and a great guy to have coming off the bench. Re-signing Spencer Hawes seems a bad piece of business now, but the Sixers couldn't have predicted Bynum falling into their laps, so the Hawes contract is somewhat forgivable. Look for him to be on the move before the trade deadline if Philly can find a taker.

Grade: B+

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are another team who have had quite a turnover this off-season. They'll have an infusion of young talent next year, with Jonas Valunciunas arriving, as well their three draft choices from this year. Terrence Ross seemed like a reach with the No. 8 pick, but he should still be a good player and he'll be able to contribute. Quincy Acy, who they snagged with the No. 37 pick is another athletic young player who has some upside.

The real prize of the summer for Toronto though, is Kyle Lowry. Given the quality of point-guard play in the NBA right now, having a good point man is fast becoming essential. Lowry is just that. With Lowry on the perimeter, and Bargnani and Valunciunas inside, the Raptors have made big strides forward ahead of the coming season. Landry Fields is another new addition who could make an impact. The Raps overpaid for Fields to try and tie up New York's unsuccesful Steve Nash bid, but he is a good player and if he can regain the form of his rookie season, he could yet be worth the dollars. Toronto filled out it's roster with former Bulls John Lucas III and Aaron Gray, two perfectly fine, if likely unimportant, back-ups.

Grade: B

Howard saga finally at an end?

Somewhere in London this morning, Kobe Bryant will be waking up with a wide smile on his face. Dwight Howard looks set to be wearing the famous purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers when the new NBA season opens at the end of October. Nothing is yet official, but ESPN and league sources have been strongly indicating through the press that a deal is done that will see the controversial center traded to the Lakers. The final deal looks set to be a four-team trade in which the Lakers will receive Howard and Earl Clark, the Sixers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, and the Magic will end up with Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Mo Harkless and a 1st round pick from each team, as well as a 2nd-round pick belonging to Golden State.

How is it that Lakers always have this uncanny ability to re-invent themselves? Just when one era of Laker history is ending, the next one seems to begin. In the fifties there was Mikan and Pollard. In the sixties West and Baylor led the way. Wilt Chamberlain arrived in 1972. Before long Kareem was in town and he and Magic were running 'Showtime'. Only five year passed between Magic's last hurrah in the 1991 finals, and the arrival of Shaq and Kobe ahead of the 1996/97 season. After Shaq left, Gasol soon arrived. Now they have Howard and Nash to help prolong Kobe's championship window yet again. It's a truly remarkable tradition, one that only the Celtics could boast to equal.

Traditions and history will be written later though. The 'Big Four' Lakers may be the natural successors to the past dynasties, but they'll have to earn their place in Lakers lore on the court. It's hard to imagine a seamless transition. This Lakers outfit will stutter at times during the season as they adjust to a new style of play. If they're to maximise Nash's effectiveness, Kobe is going to have to share the ball more. He'll also need to show greater trust in his big men, - and Howard will have to earn that trust just as Bynum did last season. Kobe's scoring is going to drop of slightly - how could it not, playing with three other potential All-Stars - but he'll also use less possessions. I still think Kobe will score twenty or twenty-five a night, but he'll do so more efficiently with the open looks Nash and Howard can create for him. The Lakers were a solid, if not elite, defensive team last season, but Howard's arrival will vault them into the top tier. Howard's defensive presence inside will do much to negate the matador defense of the ageing Nash, and Kobe should have more energy to expend on offense, knowing that Dwight will be covering his back. Potentially Howard's biggest contribution will be how he helps the Lakers spacing. He'll draw double teams every time he posts-up, leaving Nash and/or Kobe wide open on the perimeter. The next challenge for the Lakers should be to find vet. minimum players who shoot the three to fill out their roster. Carlos Delfino could be one such option? Leandro Barbosa has also been linked with LA, and though he's more of a slasher than a shooter, the Brazilian would be a steal for the vet. min. and could play a sixth man role off the bench.

This trade is not just about the Lakers though. It will have a profoud effect on the fate of all four franchises involved. For Philadelphia, it seems a steal to me. They had been trying to trade Iguodala for much of the last two years. Netting Bynum for him was somewhat of a coup for them. Bynum doesn't look like he'll sign an extension so it'll be a wait and see scenario for Philly but it's a gamble worth taking. If Bynum stays and can continue to develop upon last year's dominance, they could build a contender with him and Evan Turner at the forefront. If Bynum leaves, the Sixers will likely drop back into the lottery and acquire better draft picks. Either way, this is Philly's best chance of avoiding the dreaded NBA middle ground. For Nuggets, this trade is somewhat more perplexing. Iguodala is a fine player for them, to acquire, but he plays the same position as Danilo Galinari and is not a major upgrade over Arron Afflalo, who they shipped out in this deal. Denver also gave up a number one pick, which really make me wonder is this deal one the Nuggets will regret in a few years time. A play-off berth and a spirited first round exit still seems the best case scenario to me, for this Denver team. As for Orlando, they come away with little more than a bitter taste in their mouths after arguably the most tumultuous year in franchise history. Arron Afflalo is a nice piece going forward and they'll have plenty of draft picks, albeit middle to late first-rounders. Orlando's best hope is that this team gets really bad, really quickly, so that they can get some quality picks are re-stock in the lottery, ala New Orleans this past season.

What an incredibly unpredictable off-season this has proven to be - one that has totally changed the landscape of the NBA for the coming years. There now look to be three outstanding title contenders - Miami, Oklahoma, and the Lakers - as well as a chasing pack that retains hope - Chicago, Boston and San Antonio. The coming season looks set to be one of most exciting in league history. Remember how great 2010-11 was before the lockout ruined all that momentum? It's time for the NBA to pick up where it left off and remind us all why it's the most exciting professional sports league around.

Olympic Basketball group stages draw to a close

The group stages of the men's basketball competition at these 2012 Olympic games have been completed, with eight teams now advancing to the medal rounds, while China, Great Britain, Tunisia and Nigeria go home. None of the major teams have been eliminated yet, but that's not to say that these group stages haven't thrown up their fair share of surprises. Let's look at each team one by one, and break down their performance so far, and their prospects of further progress in London.

Argentina

Argentina looked solid, if not particularly threatening while qualifying comfortably from the group stage. The Argentines are old heads at major international competitions such as this one, and they know how to pace themselves in the early rounds. That said, they'll need to reach a level of performance we haven't yet seen from them at these games if they're to overcome the challenge of South American rivals Brazil in tomorrow's quarter-final. The Argentinians have been superb offensively, as might have been expected with Ginobili and Scola leading the way. The NBA veterans are each averaging 20 ppg, and accounting for the bulk of the team's scoring, but most impressive has been the way in which they've created their scoring opportunities. They rank second in the tournament in assists to point ratio, which is testament both to their excellent ball movement and the quality play of new Knick's point guard, Pablo Prigioni.

Australia

From Day 1, the battle in group B seemed likely to boil down to achieving a top-three finish, and thus avoiding a likely quarter-final against the USA. It was Australia who drew the short straw. They just didn't have enough to stand out in the group round and looking back now, just getting this far and holding off a determined Team GB has been a solid achievement. Patty Mills, of course, has been the star of the show, and regardless of the result against USA, Mills buzzer-beating heroics against Russia will live long in Boomers fan's memories.

Australia's problem has been that they don't have anyone capable of stepping up and helping Mills out. If USA continue show the lack of focus they've sometimes exuded thus far, then the Aussie might run with them for a half, but ultimately, they've way to contain USA's multi-dimensional offensive, while the States will be more than capable of shutting Mills down should the game get close. The quarter-final exit will be surely be viewed with major disappointment by some down under, but realistically, it's probably been as much as they could hope for, especially without Andrew Bogut.

Brazil

Brazil have been the surprise package of this tournament, overcoming the favoured Spain, en route to second place in group B. The Brazilian's started off with two solid, if not outstanding wins over Australia and Great Britain, and despite losing by a single point against Russia, continued to build momentum. The culmination of this was an excellent win over Spain yesterday.

Brazil's success has come about through their ability to be versatile and play a team game. They've had different players step-up in each game and make the difference. Barbosa has been their main scorer thus fair, but he'still averaging less than 16 ppg, and they've relied on Tiago Splitter, Nene, and Marcelinho Huertas top step up at different times. Defensively, they've done a great job of bullying their opponents in the paint, and are far and away, the best overall defensive team in the tournament so far, allowing just 69.8 ppg. This has been largely due to stellar defence from Anderson Varejao, and the intimidating size of Splitter and Nene. On the offensive end, the have been scoring with efficiency, something which they'll need to continue, if they're to take further scalps at these games. Marcelinho Huertas has been revelation at the point, doing a great job of finding his team mates in scoring positions, to the tune of a tournament-leading 6.2 asssists per game.

Next up for Brazil, are old rivals Argentina, in what should prove to be a fascinating encounter. Argentina have dominated this match-up for the last decade and a half, and will be favourites once again, but I see Brazil putting it up to them, and I think the Samba boys will pull through. That said, if Brazil are to push on and really challenge for a medal at this games, they're going to need someone to step up and be that go to guy who'll score 20 or 25 points in a big game. I had thought before the tournament that Nene could fill this role, but thus far I've been frustrated by his passiveness. Instead, Brazil will likely rely on Barbosa or Huertas to make things happen on offensive, and against superior defences I think they'll struggle mightily. I still believe they'll have enough to see off an ageing Argentina, but, without a dominant takeover scorer, they'll likely fall short of a bronze medal.

China

For Chinese basketball, these Olympic games were not merely a disappointment, they were a total embarrassment. The Chinese team may not have been expected to medal, or even reach the knock-out stages, but no one really expected them to be this bad, and to play with so little fire or determination. When the going got tough, China rolled over. This was certainly epitomised in their final group match when they were convincingly beaten by a GB team missing Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and which sat Luol Deng for much of the game. There really were no positives for China to take home, and the performances paint a very bleak picture of the state of basketball in Asia.

In fact when you consider how much China, and - to a lesser extent - Tunisia struggled at these games, it becomes even harder to fathom why far superior teams like Greece, Italy and Serbia were not at these games. I understand that FIBA wanted an Asian representative and China were Asian champions, but the Greeks are fourth in the world rankings and would have been a legitimate medal threat. The argument against Tunisia goes likewise. Some may ask why I exclude Nigeria and Great Britain in this discussion, but I think there is strong evidence to suggest that both of those nations were worthy of their places at these games. Nigeria fought through a tough qualifying competition to get here, and Great Britain worked extremely hard to build a competitive team. If there continues to be an insistence that only twelve teams may participate at the Olympics, then FIBA needs to reorganise the qualification process to ensure that the best teams are the ones competing. Whether that means, no Asian/African teams or not. Personally, I would be in favour of merely expanding the format to include 16 or 20 teams.

France

France have done what was expected of them at these Games so far. The comprehensively beaten by Team USA in their opening game, but have bounced back well, with victory over Argentina a particular highlight. Next up, are silver medal favourites Spain, and it's an enormous challenge for Tony Parker and Co. France have had a two-pronged approach throughout these Games with Parker and Nicolas Batum to the fore-front. Nonetheless, the French have struggled to put points on the board at times and their strength, surprisingly, has been on the defensive end, where they're in the top-five in points allowed, steals, and blocks. 

In terms of further progress, France have been handed a difficult, if not impossible task. The key to the game will be Kevin Seraphin's ability to slow down Pau Gasol. Seraphin has been really impressive on the defensive end in this tournament, making good use of his size to block shots. Gasol though, looks rejuvenated, and has been dominant. He's currently the tournament's leading scoring at 20.6 ppg (tied with Australia's Patty Mills), and will be the main threat for Spain. If Gasol gets going, Spain will use him as a decoy to draw double-teams and create open looks for their perimeter shooters. France will need to nullify, or at least limit Gasol, if they're to have a realistic shot of winning this next game. It'll be close, but I think Spain's depth will be enough and the French will fall just short, by 4 or 5 points.

Great Britain

Great Britain may be among teams eliminated from the tournament at the group stages, but for the hosts things really went as well as they could realistically have hoped for. In the end, they were knocked-out with a 1-4 record, but when you consider how close some of the games were, it could easily have been 3-2. Their solitary win came in the final game against China, but the highlight of these games for Britain must surely be the magnificent performance they produced to bring Spain to the wire, before eventually falling short by a single point. Luol Deng was masterful that night, - as he was throughout the competition - leading his team in every major statistical category with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. We knew this British team was going to lack the talent of their more illustrious opponents, but they made up the difference with hustle and determination. By the end of group play, they had three players in the top-ten rebounding list, - Pops Mensah-Bonsu (7.2 rpg), Luol Deng (6.6), and Joel Freeland (6.6) -  more than any other nation. In the end, this kind of titanic effort was not enough to make up for their shortcomings in other departments. The key for GB really, was that aside from Deng, Freeland and Mensah-Bonsu, they had no one with the talent to step up and compete consistently at such a high level. Nonetheless, this has been a great tournament for Great Britain, and hopefully British Basketball will invest in a programme to build towards qualification in 2016, as BBC's John Amaechi has suggested. Basketball on the international level needs more teams who can compete in these major competitions and be competitive, and there's no reason why GB can't be on a par with the Italys and Germanys of the basketball world.

Lithuania

Progress has been mixed so far at these games for Lithuania. They were very disappointing in the defeats to France and Argentina, but they ran Team USA close than anyone else, and will be relieved to have beaten Nigeria and Tunisia to progress without too much trouble. Just qualifying for the next stage is a minor success for the Lithuanians when you consider that they were beaten by that same Nigerian team just over a month ago in the qualifying tournament in Caracas. Next the meet Russia, in an eastern European quarter-final showdown, and it's a match-up the Lithuanians will be relish. Certainly Russia must go in as favourites, but the Baltic nation won't fear their larger neighbour. Linas Kleiza will have to step up again for Lithuania, as he did against USA, if they're to cause Russia trouble. The Lithuanians are heavily relient on Kleiza for scoring, but thus far, he's averaging a slightly disappointing 15.8 ppg. Lithuania would love to see him back at the level he played at in the 2010 World Championships when scored 19 ppg. Those extra few points could easily be the difference between playing for a medal, and going home early. The Lithuanians will focus on playing an inside-outside game with Kleiza and Valunciunas to try and stretch the Russian defense and free up space for their perimeter players. This is easier said that done though. Russia are currently one of the best, if not THE best defensive teams remaining. They have  allowed only 71.8 ppg so far (second), and they lead the competition in Blocks per game, at an impressive 6. This is a testament to Russia's interior defense, and their ability to close off the paint to opposing attackers. Lithuania will need their jump shots to be falling early, if they're to open up that Russian defense and get some better looks at the rim. All in all, my greatest worry for Lithuania, is that they're good in all facets of the game, but this current team, is great in none. They lack a true star to carry the burden in crunch time, and their defense isn't at an elite level. If the draw was more favourable I might give them some hope, but I believe this Russian team is set for a medal, and I think they'll dispatch Lithuania will relative ease.

Nigeria

For Nigeria, the greatest success of these games was qualifying in the first place. They're heroic performances against Greece and Lithuania in Caracas won't be forgotten easily. The tournament itself though, has been somewhat of an anti-climax for the Africans. The opened the competition with a solid win over Tunisia but things deteriorated from there and disappointing defeats to Argentina and Lithuania sandwiched an 83 point humiliation at hands of the United States. Nigeria regained some pride in the final game when they showed impressive resolve to hang with France for most of the game, but their legacy at this tournament will forever be associated with that USA game. I think the next challenge for Nigeria now, is to get this same squad to compete at the next AfroBasket. The Aminus, and Ike Diogu did not play in 2011, and so it would be interesting to see could this current model of Nigerian basketball, could win an African Championship. With that would come an automatic place at next FIBA World Championships.

Russia

Arguably the most impressive team outside of USA thus far, Russia have established themselves as strong medal contenders heading into the knockout rounds.They've earned their wins with tough interior defensive, leading the tournament in blocks per game, while holding opponents to a meagre 71.8 points per game. Offensively, Russia may not have the same free-flowing offense or scoring ability as teams like USA, Argentina and Spain, but they've gotten by with efficient offense, moving the ball well, and when all else fails, relying on Andrei Kirilenko to bail them out.

Kirilenko has been magnificent at these games. As well as providing his usual elite, perimeter defense, Kirilenko has shouldered much of the scoring load for the Russians thus far, averaging 18.2 ppg and reminded NBA fans of why he was once an All-Star. Watching Kirilenko, and his compatriot Alexey Schved, at these games, must have Minnesota Timberwolves fans wishing the season could start tomorrow. Schved has looked great for Russia during the Olympics, and his ability to run the pick and roll in particular, will excite 'Wolves fans. If the Russian continue to click and perform the way have been doing, I think they're sure to bag a medal. If the progress past Lithuania, they'll likely face Spain in the semi-final, a game which, I give them every chance of winning on current form.

Spain

Despite qualifying comfortably from Group B, Spain have been one of the more disappointing performers at these games so far. They suffered two defeats (to Russia, and Brazil) and only just avoided a giant-killing upset against a valiant GB. Nevertheless, Spain have the talent and experience to turn it around. Pau Gasol has looked rejuvenated offensively and he's thrived in playing a bigger role than the Lakers afford him. He'll be the key man that France, and later Russia/Lithuania will need to stop if they're to send Spain home early.

Spain's biggest problem seems to be the point guard position. Their merry-go-round rotation has really struggled, and they miss Ricky Rubio more than we could have expected. Juan Carlos Navarro has looked shockingly over hill at times, and both Sergio Rodriguez and two-guard Rudy Fernandez have struggled shooting the ball. Spain have also struggled to figure out how to maximise their talent up front. Serge Ibaka has been the odd-man out as Pau and Marc Gasol have garnered most of the minutes at the four and five positions. With Spain's hopes of seriously challenging for the gold medal, so dependent on their ability to overwhelm USA upfront, they need to find out how to play that trio together, and fast. Despite their solid all round play and experience at this level, there has been something unerring about Spain's performances at these games. I think they'll have enough to see off France, but beyond that they'll need to improve. USA, Brazil, Russia and Argentina all look more impressive to me thus far, but Spain certainly have the most room to grow. They'll most likely improve and medal, but it's by no means the certainty it seemed before this tournament began.

Tunisia

Tunisia's debut Olympic appearance won't live long in the memory. They crashed out as expected, without a win. That doesn't tell the whole story though. Tunisia grew in strength as the tournament went on and gave a brave account themselves considering how much of a talent disparity they faced. They certainly equitted themselves better than the Chinese. Mejri and Benrhomdane in particular made an impact. Tunisia's goal now  will be to develop further as a basketball nation. They should set a target to retain they're AfroBasket crown, and build from the bottom up so that in the near future they'll be better equipped to compete on the global stage.

Cork in pole position as the race for Sam heats up

The All-Ireland semi-final pairings are set. Donegal will face Cork, while Mayo take on the defending All-Ireland champions, Dublin. So what did we learn from this past weekend about each of these teams, as we head towards the penultimate stage?

Cork re-asserted themselves with their victory over Kildare on Sunday, producing the kind of clinical performance we haven't seen from them since the early of the 2009 campaign. Cork won their All-Ireland in 2010 playing arguably the worst football we had seen from that team, but they seem to be back to their best now and they bring a physicality no other team can match. In many ways, I see Cork, when the play their game, as a better version of what Dublin are. Cork have the same size, strength and physicality to overpower their opponents, but they possess far more skilled footballers than Dublin. This balance is the key to why Cork will be All-Ireland favourites with most bookmakers this morning. Cork's strength in midfield is sets them apart from their challengers. Aidan Walsh is probably the best centrefielder in the country right now, and he showing again yesterday the impact he can have on a game. Cork showed a ruthlessness yesterday that they might have been lacking in the past, and if they continue to play with such confidence, it's difficult to see how any team might beat them.

Cork's next opponents, Donegal, were almost equally impressive in quarter-final action. For sixty-five minutes yesterday, Donegal gave a masterclass in how play defend, that Kerry supporters will have found eerily reminiscent of the Tyrone team of 2003. Despite that comparison, Donegal yesterday reminded me more of a different Tyrone vintage, with their overall performance. The 2005 class. That 2005 team, was Tyrone football at its zenith, playing a groundbreaking brand of football in which every man was an attacker when the team had possession, and every man was a defender when possession was lost. We saw flashes of such a style yesterday from Donegal, though they will need to produce a seventy-minute performance of that calibre if they're to see of Cork in the semi-final. Colm McFadden put in a masterful performance yesterday, and one which Donegal badly needed. McFadden struggled against Dublin in last year's semi-final, so it was nice to see him atone for that yesterday. Donegal will need him to be at his very best again the next day out. Despite the class Donegal showed yesterday, I do have a couple of major worries for them heading into the semi-final. In the final few minutes of yesterday's game, Kerry final exposed the one minor flaw in the Tír Chonaill men's defensive armour. Over the last two years, it's become abundantly clear that trying to play though the packed Donegal defence is a futile exercise. The will get men back in numbers and they do an incredible job of forcing turnovers. They way to beat them, is route one. When Kerry finally played long, high ball into Kieran Donaghy, they reaped the benefits. If Cork take heed of this, they could well cause the Donegal full-back line some serious problems. The second worry for Donegal, will be the physical presence that Cork bring to the game. Donegal have proven themselves to be one of the fittest teams in the country, with the relentless approach they take to every game. That said, they ran out of steam last year against Dublin, and this Cork team will inspire many of the same problems. Donegal may be a better team this year that last, but this Cork team are also a superior outfit to the Dublin one which won last year's Championship.

As for Dublin, I can't help but feel that they're living on borrowed time. They've flattered to deceive all year and seem to lack the hunger and determination which got them over the finish line - just about - last year. Bernard Brogan has gone back hugely since his Footballer of the Year season. He's no longer playing like a guy you can depend of for 4-6 points a game, and yet Dublin are still looking to him to fill that role. With Bernard misfiring, Dublin lack quality scoring forwards. Diurmuid Connolly cannot seem to stay on the field and continues to frustrate with his inconsistent play. Connolly has the potential to be one the best forwards in the country but he often seems to lack focus, and his discipline has of course, been an issue. The news that Alan Brogan may miss the semi-final is also very worrying given that he acts as Dublin's playmaker from the half-forward line. Without him, the Dubs will struggle to find scores, and Eoghan O'Gara is most certainly not the answer. In the backs, Dublin are strong and they won't make things easy for opposing forward lines, but they have been indisciplined at times, and the can't afford to give away too many frees against Mayo, as Cillian O'Connor is more than capable of taking full advantage. It will take a massive improvement from Dublin if they're to make their second successive All-Ireland final, but despite the negatives if mentioned, they are certainly capable of raising their game, especially at Croke Park. The semi-final will be the occasion that Bernard Brogan needs to step-up and really prove that he still warrants the hype that surrounds him.

Mayo on the other hand will go into the semi-final clash on the pack of an excellent display against Down. Mayo's attack was widely criticised after the Connacht final, but they did create plenty of chances against Sligo. The difference on Saturday was that Mayo made the most of those chances. I really like the Mayo midfield and this is where they're greatest strength lies. Aidan O'Shea is developing into a magnificent footballer, and for the most part, when he's on song, Mayo are flying. In the forward line, Alan Dillon remains one of the most underrated footballers in the country. He scores efficiently and is the kind of leader that some of Mayo's younger players need. The key for Mayo in the semi-final, will be how they cope with Dublin's physical presence. If they can get men behind the ball and frustrate Dublin, the champions will resort to pot-shots from long range. Mayo will need to play their strengths by running hard at the Dublin defence. As I mentioned above, Dublin's defenders are not the most discipline in the tackle at times, and if Mayo run at them they will earn score-able frees. I think this could be well be the difference at the end of the day.

No matter the outcomes, we're sure to see two quality semi-finals in the coming weeks. Donegal and Mayo always travel well for the big games, and there'll be hardly a person left in either county come throw-in of their respective games. Cork may be the favourites at this point, but this still looks to be the most wide open championship in years, and the best of it is still yet to come.

Donegal and the art of defending in gaelic football

All through their magnificent championship run last year, Donegal were vilified for their ultra-defensive approach. They were accused of not playing the way it should be played. The way it was traditionally played. Donegal deserved credit for their performances then, but that is something which they are only beginning to receive now. Why is that Mayo will be lauded today for scoring 3-18 yesterday, while Donegal's defensive prowess last year was attacked by fans and pundits alike? There are two ways to win a game of football. By stopping the other team scoring, and by scoring yourself. Donegal happen to be the best  team in country at stopping their opponents from scoring. Kerry are arguably the best at scoring past their opponents. This is what makes Sunday's clash so enticing.

Kerry have looked resurgent in recent weeks, following on from their impressive defeat of Tyrone in the qualifiers. There have been some warning signs for the Kingdom all the same. At times, Tyrone waltzed through Kerry defence at relative ease, and Jack O'Connor must surely be worried about the countries elite teams might break down the Kingdom's back line. Donegal, may not be an elite attacking team, but they are a good one and if they can provide good ball into Colm McFadden inside, then Kerry will be in trouble.

This game though, will be decided at the other end. Kerry will win or loss depending on their ability to break down the Tír Chonaill men. Donegal will get men behind the ball and defend in packs, and so I would expect Kerry to be reliant on trying to play long ball into their forwards. They may feel they need him at midfield, but today is a day for Kieran Donaghy to be on the edge of the square. Kerry's best attack to have Donaghy as a target man and play long, high balls into him. If they do that, Donaghy could wreak havoc, and the O'Sullivans, Galvin and the 'Gooch', will propser at fighting for the breaking balls Donaghy can create. It seems likely though that Kerry will bring Donaghy out towards the midfield, and if they do, I struggle to see how they can break down Donegal's defensive barrier.

Donegal will win today. It's time to start appreciate their defensive style of football for what it is, - a legitimate method of play, and a winning method. Few teams have ever played defensive football like Donegal, and I for one, intend to enjoy watching them.

The Chicago Bulls and the NBA off-season

How quickly things can change. With forty seconds to play in their opening playoff game against Philadelphia, the Bulls were on cloud nine. They were coming off back-to-back seasons with the best record in the NBA and had just dominated the Sixers with a top-class performance. Their MVP, Derrick Rose, who had struggled with injury throughout the season, was in flying form. The 'bench mob' was wreaking defensive havoc. It all it took was once split second to turn everything on its head. When Derrick Rose when down clutching his knee, the Bulls championship hopes went up in flames. They're hopes of winning next season did too.

Bulls management have a responded accordingly this offseason and sent a very clear message to the teams fans around the world. 'We don't think we can win next season, so we're not going to pay the luxury tax'. Put that way, it seems like a semi-justifiable position, but in reality, it doesn't read so well. The Bulls lost assets for nothing, and gutted the bench unit that had been an enormous part of their success last season. Surely the goal is to put the best team possible on the floor? The Bulls are one of only seven teams in the NBA to have never paid the luxury tax. The others? Golden State, Washington,  the LA Clippers, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Oklahoma/Seattle. Consider that the Bulls are the number one most profitable team in the NBA (by a wide margin) and owner Jerry Reinsdorf's priorities are clear.

The big move for this Bulls this offseason was, of course, the departure of Omer Asik to Houston. Asik was a restricted free agent, and so the Bulls did have a chance to match his offer, but chose not to, due to the now infamous 'poison pill' contract. Asik's contract was identical to the one Houston offered Jeremy Lin, which pays the two players about five millions dollars each for the first two years, and almost fifteen million in the third year. This third is what convinced the Bulls and the Knicks, not to match, as they fretted over potential huge luxury tax payments.

I was strongly against the decisions of both the Bulls and the Knicks in this situation. The players are only overpaid for one year. ONE YEAR. Those contracts are not going to seriously hamper either teams ability to make moves in the long term, but would have made both teams better in the short term. In fact, those contracts could seriously improve a teams chance to improve down the line. An expiring contract for fourteen million dollars would have been an incredible trade chip to have. For the Bulls, Asik's defensive presence will be sorely missed and they'll now be very reliant on Joakim Noah's ability to stay healthy, because Asik's replacement Nazr Mohammed, is not a guy the Bulls want to see very much action.

The other big off-season for Chicago was the return of Kirk Hinrich to the United Center. I loved this signing, as I feel I Kirk can be a really nice role player for the Bulls. He can handle the ball, and play both the one and the two, and he's a decent shooter. He'll be a solid starter for the Bulls while Derrick Rose is rehabbing. I'm not so sure about his contract though. Since decline to match Asik's offer, the Bulls have given Kirk more money on his deal as part of the mid-level exception. Indications are that he'll earn about three-point-eight million dollars next season.

The Bulls other off-season transactions have merely been a case of filling out the roster. Vladimir Radmanovic will basically replace the Kyle Korver role, though he's not nearly as good a shooter, and Nazr Mohammed will be Chicago's fourth big man. The Bulls did pick up a nice piece in signing Italian two-guard Marco Belinelli, who they'll hope can provide some scoring. They'll need it with Rose out. To that end they have also signed Nate Robinsonm another guy who can score and make a difference off the bench. Robinson's arrival is an ominous sign for rookie Marquis Teague, who looks set be the team's fourth choice point guard once Rose returns.

The Bulls decision not to invest in their team this summer becomes even more disappointing when you consider the moves that other contenders have made. Miami have brought in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, to strengthen their depth of the bench. Boston got a quality rookie, in Jared Sullinger, while also adding Jason Terry and resigning Jeff Green. The Net's have made massive steps forward, and the Lakers of course, added Steve Nash. The Bulls are going very much in the opposite direction.

As a Bulls fan, personally I find myself hoping thatn Luol Deng has his surgery and misses a few months. I won't mind if Boozer and Noah miss plenty of games again. If they're not going to spend the money to get better, then  there's only one other way. That's through the draft. With Rose out injured next season, this is Chicago's chance to be bad enough to get in the lottery, and maybe luck into a great pick, as the Spurs did when they got Tim Duncan in 1997. Such a slice of extraordinary luck is starting to seem like the Bulls only real chance of building a championship team around Derrick Rose.

Elsewhere around the league, the off-season has hit a lull. With most of the free agents having signed new deals and Olympics under way, the NBA has gone into hibernation in the last few weeks. Most of the NBA related discussions have been surrounding the proposed 'World Cup of Basketball'. This is based on a proposal backed most notably by David Stern and Mark Cuban, which would see the NBA and FIBA take joint control of the current FIBA World Championship, and reform it as the World Cup of Basketball. This would involve making only players under-23 eligible for the Olympic basketball tournament. Understandably this suggestion has inspired much debate among basketball fans and critics alike. Perhaps we should just enjoy these current Olympic games while we can.

London 2012: Musings from the first week of the Olympic Games

It's hard to believe, but we're already at the half-way point of these Olympic games already. It's been an entertaining week with drama and stories galore. From twitter-induced expulsions to record-breaking achievements, these games have had everything. This morning we even saw man had had both of his legs amputated, come second in his 400m heat. So here, in no particular order are my five favourite things about the opening week.

1. The men's basketball competition

This was the competition I was most excited about coming into these games and it hasn't disappointed. Team USA have been tearing through the competition so far, culminating in them racking up an national record, 83 point win over Nigeria on Thursday night. I know many people will question the enjoyment one can take from watching such an annihilation in any sport, it truly is a joy to see the near perfect level USA played at. Carmelo Anthony's Olympic record thirty-seven points came in a mere fourteen minutes - an almost unimaginable feat at any level of professional basketball.

The USA haven't been the only ones making waves in the competition however. Russia have impressed in Group B and are currently unbeaten, having stolen a victory from Brazil at the death, and then stunned silver medal favourites Spain. The Russians are looking like the team we thought they could be and they look a real threat to bring home a medal. France also look better than expected, having lost only one game - to the USA - whilst winning three, including a great performance against Argentina. Tony Parker, coming back from his serious eye injury, has been improving with every game and he's slowly return to the form that made him an MVP candidate in the NBA last season.

Last but not least, credit must be given to the host nation. Competing in their first Olympic basketball tournament since the games were last hosted in London in 1948, Team GB have done a respectable job of competing with their more illustrious opponents. Luol Deng has been a one man team, literally doing everything for GB, while being double and triple-teamed on almost every possession. They gave Brazil some worries early in the week, and came within a point of the Spanish a couple of nights ago. If these Olympics have their desired effect of Britain's basketball future, they will be very much indebted to Deng for all the great work his done in promoting the sport in the UK. Ben Gordon on the other hand ...

2. The swimming finals


Sitting down every evening to watch the swimming finals has almost become at ritual by this point in the Games. Swimming has arguably been the most entertaining of all sports so far. Michael Phelps of course, has by claimed the medals he needed to become the most decorated Olympian ever. It was a funny week for Phelps though, beginning with the world heralding his demise after his failure to medal in the 400m Individual Medley, while his rival, Ryan Lochte, stormed to gold. Phelps responded like a true champion, and his defeat of Lochte in the final of 200m IM on Thursday night is sure to rank as one of the defining moments of his astonishing career. It was the perfect way for Phelps to break the Olympic medal record. For his part, Lochte has played the role of Phelp's  nemesis to a tee, and his own achievements in the pool should not be forgotten. Had he not been of the same generation as the 'Baltimore Bullet', Lochte may have been the dominant record-breaker.

The women's events have been just as entertaining, if not more so. Sixteen-year-old, Ye Shiwen has stirred controversy the world over, with her remarkable performances in 400m IM. In her heat, she swam a full two seconds faster than her personal best, before going on to win the gold in the final, in a world record time. This led many to question whether Ye was clean, but to this point, her credibility remains intact.

Tonight, sadly is the last night of swimming finals, so it's very much a case of 'enjoy it while you can'. There's sure to be more twists and turns in tonight's races, but regardless, the swimming competitions will most definitely remain among the highlights from these Games.

3. The Opening Ceremony


I'm sure half you reading this will be shaking your head's in disagreement, but for the most part I genuinely enjoyed the opening ceremony. I understand it may not have been everyone's cup of tea but it was certainly memorable. The 'green pastures to industrial revolution' section was somewhat drawn out, but its conclusion - in which five giant metal rings ascending to towards the sky to former the Olympic logo - was nonetheless impressive. The presence of British icons like James Bond and Mr. Bean was a nice touch, as was the inclusion of music by Elgar, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

The best part in my mind though, was the parade of athletes. Sure, it was basically consisted of thousands of athletes walking into the stadium but there's something magical about it all the same. Watching each country grasp their 15 seconds of fame, it shows you just how true global the Olympic games have become.

4. The social-media element


 These Olympics have been dubbed, the 'Social-Media Games', and with good reason. For the first time, we've seen a number athletes expelled from Olympic competition for views they posted on twitter. To date, two competitors have been sent home for posting racially inflammatory tweets, while a member of the public in the UK was arrested after insulting British diver Tom Daley via twitter.

The impact of worldwide social media on the public's viewing experience has also been significant. Gone are the days when you could record the 100m while you were out for dinner, or at work. It has become infinitely more difficult not to find out the result 'til later on.

5. We have world-class sport to watch, all day long!


The best part of all. Every event is being shown in high definition. From dusk to dawn, there's always something on. It's a sports fan's dream!