5. Matt Flynn – (During his time with the Seattle Seahawks)

During his first four seasons in the league, Flynn was full-time backup to Aaron Rodgers, earning the rookie rate while logging minimal minutes of in-game action. Once given the chance to start, Flynn showed out logging the most passing yards in a game by a Packer quarterback. During free agency, the Seattle Seahawks deemed his performance worthy of a decent payday, throwing him a 3 year/$26 million contract. In his time in Seattle, Flynn threw 9 passes, averaging roughly $1.7 million per completion. Not a bad gig.

4. Rashard Lewis

With a career average of 15.5 points a game, you could say that Lewis has earned the right to be paid a decent amount for his services. When the Orlando Magic felt he deserved $20 million a year for said services, those following the sports world were a little skeptical of Lewis’ worth. After posting declining numbers over the course of four seasons in Orlando, the Magic dealt him to the Washington Wizards where he continued to prove the critics right on not being worth the cash. The Wizards had no problem with it, basically paying him roughly $241k for every basket he made.

3. Adam Dunn

Dunn’s appearance on this list is a little unfair. As a designated hitter that knocked 44 balls out of the parks while batting in 105 runs, he does his job quite well. It’s just the simple fact that he get paid $14 million a year to do it. Add in the fact that he spends most of his time gingerly jogging around the bases as opposed to sprinting, and it makes you wish you had spent more time honing your batting skills in your younger years.

2. Albert Haynesworth – Washington Redskins

After solidifying himself as probably the best defensive tackle in football, Albert Haynesworth was given a $100 million contract by the Redskins. What better way to repay the ones that paid you dividends than to show up to work unprepared, and sometimes not even show up at all? Haynesworth did just that and even complained that the Redskins had no right to tell him what to do, despite paying him large. Try telling that to your employer after you get a raise.

1. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards

It seems as though the nation’s capital just doesn’t know when and who to pay the big bucks. Their track record started when the Wizards decided to give the rising star, Gilbert Arenas, the maximum contract that could be handed down at the time. In his first four seasons with the team, he continued to build upon his points per game average before succumbing to a knee injury sidelining him for the better part of the next four seasons. During that time, he played in 68 games, raking in upwards of $60 million during that timespan, equating to right around $1 million a game and $25,000 per minute of on-the-court action. Where can we sign up?

Putting together this All-Tournament team, we had to take into consideration that each player’s regular season stats shouldn’t be taken into consideration. Aside from that, the only other criteria that was required was that each player’s team reached the Elite 8, with the idea that 4 was a sufficient number of games to judge performance. So, without further ado, we give you the All-Tournament Team.

Center:

Mitch McGary – Michigan

Although McGary put up rather par numbers in the regular season, he brought his A-game for the tournament, almost doubling his points and rebounds average, stepping up to aid his team in reaching the national championship game.

Forward:

C.J. Fair – Syracuse

Fair was a solid contributor during the season, so he lived up to expectations by meeting and exceeding his regular season averages and being a pivotal piece in getting his team to the Final Four.

Forward:

Deshaun Thomas – Ohio State

As the scoring leader of the Buckeyes, putting together a string of good efforts in the tournament was a requirement for Thomas. Posting an average of 22 points in four contests showed that his ability to make baskets was well-needed as the Buckeyes advanced all the way to the Elite 8 this year.

GUARD:

Russ Smith – Michigan

With his eyes set on making the jump to the NBA in the near future, Smith came out of the gates this season with career-high averages. On this big stage that is the national tournament, he shined even brighter scoring 20 or more points in 5 out of the 6 games he played.

GUARD:

Trey Burke – Michigan

Despite playing alongside the high-scoring Russ Smith and inside force Mitch McGary, Burke was still able to find a way to get big numbers and help his team reach their first national championship game in 20 years.

We’ve come to the end of the NBA regular season, so luckily, the postseason picture is pretty much painted. All that’s left is a bit of “playoff pick ‘em” with the contests that are set. So, check it out as we run through the matchups from the first round and give our best guess as to who is poised to advance to the next round.

Eastern Conference:

Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Technically, the Bucks aren’t even considered a “winning” team. Matched up against a Miami Heat squad centered around possibly the biggest ‘Big Three’ of all-time, there’s virtually no chance the Bucks will advance to the next round.

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics

It’s been 5 years since the Celtics won an NBA title, and since then it’s been a slippery slope downhill. With Ray Allen bolting for South Beach, Rajon Rondo out for the season with a knee injury and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett not getting any younger, the Knicks basically just have to show up in order to make it to the next round.

Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks

Although these teams are the 3rd and 6th seeds, they’re the most evenly matched on paper with the series having the possibility of going either way.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls

Despite having a slight edge in the form of home court advantage, the Nets don’t quite seem to have what it takes to hang in the playoffs, whereas the Bulls are considerably experienced in the postseason. Even with Derrick Rose expected to sit out until the start of the regular season, the Nets don’t have what it takes to overcome Chicago and advance.

Western Conference:

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Lakers

This is too easy. The Lakers have stunk it up in grand fashion this season, and with Kobe watching from the bench this time around, it’ll only be an upset if the Thunder doesn’t sweep the Lakers soundly.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets

The Spurs have somehow found a way to defy the aging process and remain dominant for a number of years. Going up against a young Rockets squad, the only thing that will stop them from advancing to the next round is their recent acquisition of Tracy McGrady.

Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors

It’s been almost 2 full seasons since the Nuggets parted ways with Carmelo Anthony, and surprisingly, they haven’t been doing too badly since. They’ve locked in the 3rd seed in the West, and have a solid core of players that should keep them in contention for years to come. The Warriors are on their way up as well, so we don’t expect this to be a cakewalk for Denver.

LA Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Not only are these teams the 4th and 5th seed, they also happen to have the same record. For two teams so evenly matched, it’s likely that this series will go down to the wire, ending in either six or seven games. Playoff experience will come into play in this situation, and the Grizzlies roster is well versed in that department, having shaken things up in the postseason the past two years.

With that being said, make sure you check out this year’s NBA Playoffs to see how accurate our predictions were, and also check back here in a few weeks as we tackle the next round. Before you do, make sure to pick up some of our new NBA Gear at Finishline.com.

Western Conference

As always, there’s intense parity out West as the last 3 seeds are up for grabs to be dispersed between 6 potential squads. The Golden State Warriors seem to have finally gotten over the hump and become a solid team, so we don’t see them falling out of contention. The Houston Rockets have put together what looks to be a young and emerging nucleus that should continue to get better with more experience. Kobe Bryant has vowed to get the Lakers into the playoffs by any means necessary, so we’ll see how that plays out. As for the three teams on the outside looking in, the Jazz, Mavericks and Blazers are in a state of flux where they could make a run or implode at a moment’s notice.

Eastern Conference

There’s an 8-game gap between the 8th and 9th seeds in the Eastern Conference, so by every indication, the playoff picture over there has been taken, developed and framed. Aside from the Miami Heat who sit comfortably atop the standings, only 6 games separate the 2nd and 8th seeds. There are only 20 games left in the season, but anything can happen in the final weeks as we expect the East to shuffle around as teams run and gun for prime position going into the playoffs.

There has been quite a bit of unpredictably this season, but things have started to settle down as the legit teams have proven themselves and others have shown their true colors. You can never be too sure of how things will go, so keep checking back here to see how it’ll all end up.

5. Mike Wallace Takes Talents to South Beach

A solid receiver since his rookie season, Mike Wallace put up consistent numbers during his stint in the Steel City. With this acquisition, the Dolphins are looking to fill in the void left by Brandon Marshall’s departure as they look to create a new tandem with Wallace and Brian Hartline.

4. Steven Jackson Flies with the Falcons

You’ve got to hand it to Steven Jackson for sticking it out with the Rams for as long as he did. In his nine seasons in St. Louis, he was arguably the most underrated runningback in the league, often running behind a weak offensive line and alongside a non-existent passing game. Those two things won’t be a problem in Atlanta as the Falcons were one game away from the Super Bowl. Maybe Jackson is just what they need to get over the hump.

3. Wes Welker Bucks Patriots for Broncos

Wes Welker did a little bouncing around before landing himself a good gig with the New England Patriots that yielded two Super Bowl appearances. For the Patriots, it’ll be sad to see him go. For the Broncos, they’ve got one of the best quarterbacks of all-time behind center that will put Welker to good use. We have a feeling this will go quite well.

2. Boldin Beat Them, Decides to Join Them

It may seem like the Baltimore Ravens willed themselves to a Super Bowl victory, but that’d be an inaccurate assessment. Aside from the Ravens defense coming through as usual and Joe Flacco emerging as an elite quarterback, Anquan Boldin should be credited with putting up a prolific performance in the playoffs and coming through in the clutch. Apparently, he did too good of a job, because the 49ers had their eyes on him. So much so, that they made the necessary trade to acquire him this off-season to potentially help them hoist the Lombardi trophy next season.

1. Ravens Lose Their Defense

It has beaten over our heads that Ray Lewis was on his final lap. Ed Reed toyed with the idea of retirement last off-season, but the Ravens determined early on that they had no intention on keeping him when the season was over. His partner-in-crime, Bernard Pollard, also parted ways with the team. With Dannell Ellerbe, Cary Williams and Paul Kruger leaving for Miami, Philly and Cleveland, respectively, all the Ravens have left is an aging Terrell Suggs and a plethora of unproven players. The Ravens D has been solid over the years, but this may be the end of an era.

The 2013 NFL season is still months away, so you can expect even more shifting to take place in the NFL landscape. Keep checking back here to stay updated on the NFL happenings this off-season.

So why the redesign of the uniforms in the first place? Well, the new adiZero Short Sleeve Uniform System, as it is officially named, is said to be 26% lighter than the Golden State Warriors’ current uniforms. All of that sounds fine and dandy, but if we did our math right, wouldn’t the uniforms be even lighter if they didn’t have short-sleeves on them? We aren’t math majors, but we’re thinking we have the correct formula. So what is the point of the sleeves? Is it simply for aesthetics? If it is, we’re a little worried that the NBA might be heading overseas, because the new short-sleeved design looks awfully European. Not that European styling is bad, but come on, basketball is rugged, it’s raw, it’s the sport that gave us countless cuts and bruises on the asphalt when we were youngsters. In short, it feels like more of a sleeveless sport.

So, short-sleeve NBA uniforms; are they here to stay? Adidas has a contract with the NBA until 2017, so they just might be around until then. However, we have a hunch that if either the players don’t like them or the fans purchase less of them, adidas will scrap the sleeves, making uniforms that are 27% lighter than the current ones (give or take).

5. John Wooden Goes Out With 10th NCAA Championship

Before Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky, there was UCLA; the original college basketball dynasty and the man behind it all was Head Coach John Wooden. Between 1964 and 1973, he guided his team to 9 National Titles with his 10th and final one in 1975, after which he walked away from the game. Not a bad way to go out.

4. Magic vs Bird

It was 1979 and two of the future Hall of Famers were battling it out like they would in the NBA for years to come. Magic came out on top this time around, but as you know from history, Bird would get him back in the professional ranks.

3. Michael Jordan, North Carolina

1982 National Championship

Before Michael Jordan would go on to win multiple titles in the NBA, he was coming alive in college basketball, with his career being punctuated by sinking the game-winning shot in the 1982 National Championship.

2. Christian Laettner, Duke

1992 NCAA East Regional Final

There was only 2.1 seconds on the clock, but for Laettner, that was all that was needed as Grant Hill launched the ball three-quarters of the distance of the court to Laettner who proceeded to turn around and hit a jumper as the time expired.

1. NC State Upsets Houston

With Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler on the same team, there didn’t seem to be any way that the Houston Cougars would lose. NC State felt otherwise as there were able to knock off the Cougars in the 1983 National Championship Game with a game-winning dunk as the final buzzer sounded.

UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Kansas, Louisville, and Cincinnati were the six (un)lucky teams to receive the newly designed uniforms, and they aren’t quite like anything else we’ve seen on the NCAA hardwood before.

Notre Dame, Kansas, and Cincinnati will be playing in the new adiZero sleeveless uniforms, which we have to admit look at least a little bit better than their short-sleeved counterparts, which UCLA, Baylor, and Louisville will be wearing.

All six uniforms feature a very loud Impact Camo print on the shorts, equipped with a stripe along the side featuring the school’s secondary color. The tops of all six uniforms are primarily solid, with Impact Camo print on the sleeves for the short-sleeved versions, and Impact Camo on the shoulders of the sleeveless versions.

Like most things so extreme, you are either going to love or hate these uniforms. Some might say they are unique, revolutionary, eye-catching, and modern, while others will say they are weird, uncomfortable, and just down right ugly.

However, we think everyone can agree that these new NCAA uniforms from adidas are nothing short of different, and if their purpose is to be noticed, well, they have certainly succeeded.

5. Ask any 76ers, Phillies or Eagles athlete and they’ll tell you that playing in Philly isn’t easy. No other man can attest to that reality more than Donovan McNabb. In just his third year at the starting quarterback position, McNabb guided the Eagles to the NFC championship game, but unfortunately fell short, losing to the eventual NFL champion, the St. Louis Rams.

Donovan McNabb would go on to round up his team to three additional NFC championship appearances back to back, with the fourth time being the charm. The Eagles finally advanced to the Super Bowl only to fall to a Tom Brady and Patriots bunch that was determined to capture their third title in four years. McNabb was never able to get  the Eagles back to that level, and will probably be forever remembered as being on the Super Bowl doorstep and never quite getting in.

4. Coming off a severe knee injury at the end of the last season, Adrian Peterson wasn’t expected to do much, let alone come back as quickly and as hardcore as he did. He powered through the season, put his team on his back en route to a playoff berth, all while steadily approaching the single-season rushing yard record. A record standing since 1984, held by legendary runningback Eric Dickerson, came just 9 yards short of the making history. The Vikings could’ve given the ball to Peterson to pick up the yardage, but opted to kick a field goal and punch their ticket to the playoffs. Maybe next year?

3. We all know “The Decision”. It was such an infamous event that those two words are all you need to say and people know what you’re talking about. LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to take his talents to South Beach in the hopes of winning not one, but multiple NBA titles. Well, he got down there, his team got off to a rocky start, picked it up and made it through the playoffs only to lose 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, a team the Heat had beaten in 2006, sans LeBron. James was able to redeem himself the following year and finally took grasp of his elusive championship ring, but him failing right at the end lingered on.

2. Jim Kelly was the Donovan McNabb before Donovan McNabb, but the reason why he’s in the number two position is because he didn’t have a problem getting to the Super Bowl, he had trouble winning it all. In the span of four years, Jim Kelly corralled the Buffalo Bills en route to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances, only to walk away empty handed each time. Many quarterbacks never get to the big game, so making it there four times was a testament to Kelly’s greatness. Despite that fact, he’ll always be infamously remembered for not quite getting the job done.

1. The top spot of “getting there, but not quite getting it done” goes to the New England Patriots of the 2007 season. You might remember them. They won every single regular season game, stormed their way to the Super Bowl and were seemingly destined to complete only the second undefeated season of all time. Unfortunately, their efforts were thwarted by Eli Manning and the underdog New York Giants, with the game being defined by a single electrifying catch to seal the game. As low as the odds were that the Patriots would achieve an undefeated season, it’s an even higher unlikelihood that they’ll have another crack at it, and for that reason, they’re the team at the top of list.

5. Big 10

You might think we’re just being facetious seeing as this conference has five teams ranked in the top-25, but aside from those squads, the rest of the competition is no competition. Maybe mediocre, at best. College basketball thrives on parity and in the Big Ten, there just isn’t too much of that to rank them any higher than the other powerhouse conferences.

4. ACC

With Duke and North Carolina in the same conference, the ACC will pretty much always remain among the best in the country. Like the Big 10, the ACC doesn’t offer too much more outside of those two teams aside from a dark horse that haphazardly comes into the picture. After that, the dropoff in talent is huge, making this conference just average among the best.

3. Pac-12

The Pac-12 is home to a number of the top teams in college basketball and while there are some teams that aren’t that great, the worst isn’t too bad. We chalk it up to the better teams being legitimately good.

2. Mountain West Conference

Being ranked this high might come across as quite a stretch seeing as other conferences are seemingly better, but our numbers just don’t lie. The conference has the 2nd highest average number of wins and the lowest average number of losses. It just goes to show that the level of competition is about as high as the altitude in the Mountain West Conference.

1. Big East

This may come as a surprise, but the Big East is without a doubt the strongest and overall best conference in college basketball right now. Whether that will remain the case as the season progresses remains unseen, but with the top team not peaking too high and the worst team not bottoming out too low, there’s an impressive amount of parity within the conference. On any given night, a lower team can pull off an upset over a one with a better record and potentially shake things up. The strength of this conference lies within its unpredictability, so it takes top spot.