NBA Weekly: Boston Celtics Need Bench Help, Shaq, Atlanta Hawks, & More

Boston Celtics: Having watched most of the Celtics games this season, I have noticed a glaring weakness that could prevent the Celtics from repeating as champions this year. Their bench is not that good and it has hurt them on this recent road trip where they have lost 3 of 4 games. Eddie House, Tony Allen, and Leon Powe are all capable off the bench, but after that the Celtics are extremely thin. Big Baby Glen Davis is horrible and the Celtics will not win a championship with him as their main low post defender off the bench. Once the playoffs come around they will need a P.J. Brown like defender down low off the bench badly if they want to have any hopes of winning it all. I also think that having Eddie House run the point takes away from his best asset, which is shooting the ball in more of a shooting guard type role. I don't think House will be running the point come playoff time and I don't expect to see Big Baby defending opposing centers either. I expect the Celtics to address those two areas of need one way or another before the playoffs begin. Also, check out the video below that shows the ridiculous call by the refs last night who let the Blazers get away with having 6 men on the court and allowing them to score and not take away the basket.

Shaq: Shaq is not getting as much love as he should be for the year he is having. People like to laugh when Shaq comes out and boasts about how he can still dominant a game, but I believe him. One look at his statline this season will tell you why: 17.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 59.8% FG. Pretty impressive numbers for Shaq, who some people believed was going to decline this season, but instead he has posted a Player Efficiency Rating(PER) of 23.75, which is good for 11th best in the NBA. In fact, Shaq has better ratings than Dwight Howard in every category for PER except for his rebounding rate. Shaq's True Shooting % of 61.8% is the highest of his career, meaning that he is a more efficient scorer than ever. So yeah Shaq might not be as dominant offensively as he was in his prime, but he might be more efficient and he deserves to get some props for that.

Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks are on fire of late winning six games in a row and 9 of their last 10 to move into 4th place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-10 record. The Hawks are an impressive 14-2 at home and just a modest 7-8 on the road, so they will have to pick things up on the road if they want to be considered as one of the elite teams in the NBA. Despite a middling road record, the Hawks have built upon their postseason experience last season and have definitely improved as a team. One of the reasons for the improvement in the win column is their improved shooting percentages, especially on three pointers, where they have gone up from 35.6% to 37.9%, which is 9th best in the NBA. Most of that increase is due to having Mike Bibby and the addition of Maurice Evans. Overall the increase in shooting percentage had been a factor in the Hawks being ranked 5th overall in offensive efficiency. While they still aren't a great defensive team, they are giving up less points(94.8) than last year(100.0). Also, Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, and Marvin Williams are all having career type years and as expected Al Horford has improved from his rookie year.

More NBA News:

- The Houston Rockets signed center Dikembe Mutombo for the rest of the season. Mutombo is 42 years old but is still a solid defensive presence. The Celtics were also looking at Mutombo and I think he would have been a good addition to their team as well.

- Carlos Boozer is going to have surgery on his injured left knee, which is not good news for a banged up Utah Jazz team. The Jazz our out of the playoffs right now and I think they could be in danger of missing the playoffs if they don't get healthy soon. They will probably be battling with Dallas, Phoenix, Portland, & Denver for the last playoff spot.

More: NBA Weekly

2008 Rap Up - Skillz

Gotta hand it to Skillz for always speaking the truth on his yearly rap up songs.

2008 Rap Up - Skillz

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Don't Tell Me It's Over - Freeway

Month of Madness has come to an end and Freeway finishes it off nicely.

Don't Tell Me It's Over - Freeway

Day 30: Back For More - Freeway

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Get Out The Way - Statik Selektah feat Bun B & Cory Mo

New video from the latest single off of Statik Selektah's Stick To The Script album.

Old School Wednesday: Check The Rhime - A Tribe Called Quest

...Got the scrawny legs, but I move just like Lou Brock...

Check The Rhime - A Tribe Called Quest

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Way Of Life (Original Version) - D.I.T.C. feat Fat Joe, Big L, Lord Finesse, O.C. & Party Arty

Check out this rare unreleased joint from the D.I.T.C. crew. I've been slackin' on the rare joints and remixes from the 90's lately.

Way Of Life (Original Version) - D.I.T.C. feat Fat Joe, Big L, Lord Finesse, O.C. & Party Arty

Album Version: Way Of Life - D.I.T.C. feat Fat Joe & Big L

More: Rare Joints

Say It - Termanology feat Sheek Louch, Joell Ortiz, Bun B, Saigon, & Freeway

Hot new joint from Termanology featurin Sheek, Joell Ortiz, Bun B, Saigon, and Freeway.

"...we ballin' now give us our ESPYs..."

Say It - Termanology feat Sheek Louch, Joell Ortiz, Bun B, Saigon, & Freeway

More: New Joints

Back For More - Freeway

One more day before month of madness ends and Freeway is back for more with this tight new joint.

Back For More - Freeway

Day 29: Bank Rollz - Freeway

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NCAA Basketball Weekly: Georgetown Defeats UConn, Arizona State, West Virginia, Manny Harris, & More

Overall Efficiency:

Here are the top 10 teams in Overall Efficiency this season with strength of schedule in parentheses:

1. Georgetown .992 (59)
2. West Virginia .985 (90)
3. Pittsburgh .985 (143)
4. North Carolina .985 (101)
5. Duke .983 (88)
6. Gonzaga .979 (14)
7. Arizona State .974 (155)
8. Connecticut .973 (117)
9. Missouri .971 (227)
10. Louisville .970 (240)

Arizona State(7) and Louisville(10), after beating an underrated UAB(59) team, enter the top 10 in overall efficiency this week replacing Clemson(12) and Oklahoma(14).

Georgetown: Georgetown was able to defeat UConn(8) last night in convincing fashion 74-63 on the road. I have to say I am extremely impressed with the Hoyas and not surprised that they are rated as the # 1 team in overall efficiency. Georgetown's only loss was to Tennessee(30) at a neutral site and including last night's win over UConn(8), they also have some solid victories against Memphis(13) and Maryland(37). They rank 1st in offensive efficiency and 6th in defensive efficiency, including a 13th ranked rating in effective FG % on the offensive end and the 1 ranking in effective FG% on the defensive end. In other words, don't get too discouraged if you are a UConn fan because the Hoyas defense is top of the line and is going to wreak havoc on the Big East all season long. The Hoyas have a ridiculous 4 starters shooting over 53% from the field: DaJuan Summers (53.7%), Austin Freeman(53.8%), Chris Wright(54.2%), & Greg Monroe(57.9%). I do have some concerns about their depth even though Julian Vaughn gave them some nice minutes off the bench last night, however, if those 4 guys keep shooting so well from the floor it might not matter who else is out there. By the way, how good is Greg Monroe? If he starts playing like he did last night all the time then the Hoyas will be Final 4 bound for sure.

Arizona State: Arizona State creeped into the top 10 in overall efficiency this week, somewhat to my surprise because I thought they were pretty much James Harden and that's it. Taking a look at their season so far, they have an acceptable loss to Baylor(31) and some solid wins over BYU(11), San Diego State(44), and Nebraska(63). Here's where it gets interesting though because they are # 1 in offensive effective FG% at 60.0%, which is incredible. They are hitting a remarkable 59.9% of their two point shots, which is best in the nation and they shoot the 3-ball at a 40% clip, which is good for 17th overall. A lot of this has to do with the incredible play of James Harden(23.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 57.8% FG, 46.2% 3FG), but they also have a solid low post presence in Jeff Pendergraph(12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 65.2% FG) and another lights out 3-point shooter in Rihards Kuksiks(10.8 points, 52.2% 3FG). As you can see, they have a lot going on for them offensively, but the defense is not too shabby either ranking 37th in defensive efficiency. For some reason this team just reminds me of the Dwyane Wade led Marquette team that made the Final 4 in 2003.

West Virginia: I knew that West Virginia would move up in overall efficiency after dismantling Ohio State 76-48 on the road, but I didn't think they would move all the way up to 2nd. Their offense has been solid and is ranked 25th in offensive efficiency, but they are an outstanding rebounding and defensive team. West Virginia is ranked 3rd overall in defensive efficiency, which is fueled by ranking 4th in the nation in turning other teams over. They also control the boards on both ends of the floor ranking 3rd in offensive rebound percentage and 25th in defensive rebound percentage. They have wins over Ohio State(29), Cleveland State(41), & Iowa(52) with their two losses coming against Kentucky(32) & Davidson(50). The Mountaineers are led by DeSean Butler(15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 45.2% FG, 37.8% 3FG), Alex Ruoff(17.0 points, 2.2 steals, 46.3% FG, 40.2% 3FG) and my personal favorite because of his nickname, Darryl "Truck" Bryant(11.3 points, 44.3% FG, 39.5% 3FG).

Teams To Keep An Eye On:

Illinois: If I have to pick a team from the Big 10, then I'm taking Illinois over Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, and Minnesota. I know the other five teams are getting more hype, but I think the Illini are the best team in the conference, despite the fact they are the only team of the five who isn't ranked. To me they are the most balanced team in the league between the offense(34th in efficiency) and defense(15th in efficiency). They also have a balanced scoring attack with 4 players averaging 11 or more points and 6 players averaging 6 or more points. Offensively, they are led by Trent Meacham(12.2 points, 50.5% FG, 50.0% 3FG), Demetri McCamey(12.2 points, 4.5 assists, 45.1% FG), Mike Davis(12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 54.5% FG), and Mike Tisdale(11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 51.2% FG), while Chester Frazier(6.2 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 45.0% FG, 37.5% 3FG) runs the show at the point. They currently own victories against Missouri(9), Vanderbilt(68), and Tulsa(78), with their lone loss coming by 2 points against an undefeated Clemson(12) squad. Illinois(17) squares off with Purdue tonight and don't be surprised if they pull off the upset.

Players Catching Wreck:

Manny Harris, Michigan: I've been watching what Harris has been doing the past few weeks and was waiting for the right time to do a feature on him. Well, he came through last night with a monster stat line of 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. Sure it was against winless NC Central but Harris is no joke out on the court regardless of the competition. He put up 25 and 17 in two games against Duke and has seen his game improve across the board in his sophomore season. You won't find too many 6'5 college players with his ability to score(19.8 points),crash the boards(7.8 rebounds), and create(5.1 assists); which has led to him being ranked as the 8th best offensive player in the nation of all players who are involved in 28% or more of their teams possessions.

Stats: 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 46.5% FG , 34.6% 3FG

Unheralded Player of The Week:

I'm going to start highlighting some of the better role players in college basketball. Guys who aren't stars on their team but may one day become stars or they may just remain great role players. Either way these types of players have a major part in what teams have success throughout the season.

Corey Raji , Boston College: Raji is a 6'6 sophomore for the Eagles that has been playing really well for Al Skinner up at BC. In his last two games, Raji has hit 20 of the 24 shots he has taken from the floor and scored 42 points. In fact, in his last 6 games(all BC wins), Raji is averaging a solid 16 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting a ridiculous 65.7% from the floor. Raji has been the 31st most efficient player in the nation so far this year, but you probably won't hear much about him even if Boston College keeps winning.

Stats: 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 58.5% FG.

More: NCAA Basketball

NFL Weekly: Top 5 Super Bowl Matchups, Playoff Preview, Wild Card Matchups, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, & Rod Marinelli Fired, & More

NFL Playoff Preview:

Usually I have a good idea of who I think will be going to the Super Bowl before the playoffs begin, but this year has been so crazy that it's hard to tell who the best 2 teams really are. I am not really high on any of the AFC teams and I think you are most likely to see a random team in the Super Bowl come from the AFC. I like Tennessee and Baltimore the most in the AFC, followed by the Steelers and Colts. It wouldn't totally shock me if the Chargers went on a little mini run to the Super Bowl either. Miami is solid but I don't think they will be able to win on the road when all is said and done. In the NFC, despite the loss of Plaxico Burress, I still see the Giants as the favorites, with the Eagles and Panthers having the best chances to knock them off. I have a hard time thinking that the Falcons, Vikings, or Cardinals will get out of the NFC, because I can't see any of them winning on the road if they get out of the first round.

Here are my Top 5 Super Bowl Matchups:

1.) New York Giants vs Pittsburgh Steelers:
This would easily be the best draw ratings wise and is probably the game that the NFL is hoping for. I would not be too excited about this matchup, but then again there aren't that many appealing matchups possible anyway.

2.) New York Giants vs Indianapolis Colts:
Manning vs Manning would be overkill, but it would at least be intriguing. I'm not sure who I would root for in this one, too bad it couldn't end in a tie. Sorry Donovan.

3.) Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens:
If the Eagles made the Super Bowl against the team that Andy Reid benched Donovan McNabb against a few weeks back then that would be a chance at redemption for both of them.

4.) Carolina Panthers vs Tennessee Titans:
Two under appreciated teams who have played great for most of the season wouldn't generate much hype if they faced off, but it would would certainly be rewarding for the team that comes out on top.

5.) Philadelphia Eagles vs San Diego Chargers:
This would be the most random of Super Bowl matchups possible, since both of these teams were left for dead about 4 weeks ago. I actually wouldn't be totally shocked to see this one actually happen.

Wild Card Matchups:

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) at San Diego Chargers (8-8): With the Colts winning 9 straight games and the Chargers being at just 8-8, you would think this one would be an easy game to pick. However, that is not the case at all for several reasons:

- The Chargers are actually the home team despite having 4 less wins than the Colts.

- The Chargers have typically given the Colts trouble over the years and have beat them in the playoffs before.

- The Colts have the second worst rush offense in the league averaging 79.6 yards a game.

- The Colts are also 24th in rush defense giving up 122.9 yards a game on the ground.

Fortunately for the Colts, there is a reason why the Chargers were just 8-8 this season: they can't stop the pass. They are next to last in pass defense giving up 247.4 yards a game through the air. Since the Colts still have Peyton Manning at QB, you have to think they will be able to take advantage of this. The key is that they actually have to run the ball respectively as well in order to really take advantage of the Chargers pass D. Since the Chargers are a solid but not great run stopping team, I think the Colts will be able to run the ball somewhat and give themselves the balance they need on offense to win the game.

Prediction: Colts 31 Chargers 28

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at Miami Dolphins (11-5): I have to say I would be shocked if the Dolphins win this game. On paper these teams look pretty even, but if you check out the level of competition these two teams played against it paints a whole different picture. The Dolphins spent most of their season winning against mediocre and poor defenses. Check out the defensive ratings of all the teams they beat throughout the season: New England(10), San Francisco (13), Buffalo(14), NY Jets(16), San Diego(25), Oakland(27), St. Louis(28), Denver(29), Seattle(30), Kansas City(31). Yup, that's right 6 of their 11 wins came against teams that were among the 8 worst defenses in the NFL. The best defense they beat was the Patriots in Week 3 who later went on to crush them at home 48-28. Meanwhile the Ravens managed to go 11-5, while having 10 of their 16 games against teams ranked in the top 12 in defense: Pittsburgh(1), Philadelphia(3), Washington(4), NY Giants(5), Tennessee(7), Dallas(8), Indianapolis(11), Cincinnati(12). The played Pittsburgh and Cincinnati twice and finished with a respectable 5-5 record in those games. Look for Baltimore's 4th ranked rushing offense(148.5 yards/game) to help the Ravens dominant the time of possession, which will make it even tougher for the Dolphins to score on their defense. I expect the Ravens to come out on top against the Dolphins in this one and it might not be that close.

Prediction: Ravens 24 Dolphins 6

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7): This is a matchup against a great running team versus one that can't run to save it's life. Atlanta is second in the league with 152.7 yards a game on the ground versus the Cardinals who average just 73.6 yards a game which is worst in the NFL. So while both of these teams are bad on defense, I think the Falcons will be able to keep the Cardinals high octane passing game off the field by controlling the clock with their running game. That is the best formula for them to beat the Cardinals on the road by limiting the amount of chances Kurt Warner and company have to throw against the Falcons 21st ranked pass defense. I think the Falcons will be successful running the ball and win the game.

Prediction: Falcons 34 Cardinals 27

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) at Minnesota Vikings (10-6): This is an interesting matchup because the Eagles biggest potential weakness is running the ball and the Vikings are 1st in the league in stopping the run allowing just 76.9 yards a game. If Philly isn't able to get a good ground game going they could struggle to score points. If the Eagles can't get the running game going, you may see them throw short screen passes to Brian Westbrook on first down instead. Fortunately for the Eagles, they are also strong at stopping the run and are 4th in the NFL allowing just 92.3 yards a game on the ground. I think they will load up against Adrian Peterson and force Tavaris Jackson to beat them in the passing game. If the Eagles are successful in containing Peterson than I think they will win the game. They should be able to have enough success passing the ball against the Vikings who are ranked 18th in pass defense to generate some points offensively.

Prediction: Eagles 20 Vikings 17

Other NFL News:

Head Coaches Fired: Eric Mangini, Romeo Crennel, & Rod Marinelli have all been fired after disappointing seasons. Crennel and Marinelli were pretty obvious firings. The Browns did not live up to preseason expectations and the Lions lost every game they played, so you can't really make a case for either one of these guys keeping their jobs. However, in the case of Eric Mangini, I'm not so sure it's his fault that the Jets collapsed down the stretch. Most of the time when I was watching a Jets game I can't remember too many moments where I was questioning the play calling, but I definitely have to question Brett Favre and it seems like it got to the point where Mangini was doing the same. If you take away the 6 TD performance against Arizona, Favre threw just 16 TDs versus 21 INTs on the year. Brett Favre was quite simply horrible this season, making too many mistakes at key moments and he cost Eric Mangini his job. Maybe you fire Eric Mangini anyway, but I say fire Brett Favre too.

Bill Cowher: Cowher is not interested in the Browns head coaching job, which opened up due to the Romeo Crennel firing. Good move by Cowher, who can't go to the Browns, because Steelers fans would never forgive him. I'm not surprised he passing up the opportunity.

Ben Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger suffered a concussion against the Browns in a meaningless regular season game. I have no idea why he was playing in this game when the Steelers could wipe the floor with the Browns no matter who their QB was. I think this was a bad decision by the Steelers and I hope that Roethlisberger is healthy once the playoffs start. I know injuries happen in the NFL, but I think you need to protect your QB in a meaningless game against a crappy team.

Mike Singletary: The 49ers have named Mike Singletary their full-time head coach after leading the 49ers to a 5-4 finish to the season. This is the right move by the 49ers and I think this will pay off for them for many years to come because it definitely seems like Singletary can "coach 'em up." Now they just need to get the man some better talent and the 49ers might be back on top of the NFC West as early as next season.

Tom Brady: The Patriots missed the playoffs despite going 11-5, but got more bad news when it was reported that Tom Brady is behind schedule for a return next season. It is possible that Brady might have to go through another operation which could force him to miss next season and possibly jeopardize his career. This certainly puts the Patriots in a tough situation seeing that Matt Cassel is a free agent now that the season has ended. If Brady can't return or has any setbacks, I would imagine that the Pats would lock up Cassel and let him start again next season.

More: NFL & NFL Weekly

Letter To B.I.G. - Jadakiss feat Faith Evans

Dope new joint from Jadakiss off of the Notorious soundtrack.

Letter To B.I.G. - Jadakiss feat Faith Evans

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Bank Rollz - Freeway

Day 29 of month of madness has Freeway coming with another new joint produced by Don Cannon.

Bank Rollz - Freeway

Day 28: North Philly's Finest - Freeway

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E-Mail Bag Mix: Dynasty TV Exclusive : Glory Maria - Live from Vegas (Video)

Via http://dynastyseries.com/: "As soon as we decided to celebrate a couple of our boys 30th birthdays in Vegas, I immediately knew I had to somehow get together with Glory while I was out there. And shesssh….she's a killer! I lover her lol. Shouts out got to photographer Bobby Berosini to helping us put this all together. And you know I gots them pics coming!!!"

MLB Weekly: Mark Teixeira Signs With Yankees, Randy Johnson, Jason Giambi, & More

Mark Teixeira: The biggest news of the week was obviously the surprising news that the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira. Teixeira fills a huge need for the Yankees, who needed a middle of the lineup bat badly to help out A-Rod, because we all know he needs some support. Teixeira is also an excellent defensive 1B, which will give the Yankees a much needed upgrade over the defense of Jason Giambi for the past several years. The addition of Teixeira also leaves the Yankees with a glut of outfielder/DH types, which means that the Yankees will be looking to make a trade, and rumor has it that they want to trade 2 of the following 3: Xavier Nady, Hideki Matsui, & Nick Swisher. I would imagine that Matsui should be one of those two to move since he probably is only a DH at this point in his career. Also, maybe I'm jumping the gun on this, but if the Yankees trade 2 of those 3 that would leave them with Johnny Damon in left, either Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera in center, and the remaining player from that group of 3 in RF or DH. Now that still leaves one spot open in either RF or DH, so if the Yankees do trade 2 of those 3 players, then I'm thinking for sure their next move would be to sign Manny Ramirez. Maybe I'm just crazy or maybe I'm onto something here. Either way if the Yankees trade 2 of their 3 OF's, then look for them to make another move shortly after that.

Randy Johnson: The Big Unit signed a 1-year deal with the Giants. I think this is a great move for Johnson because he gets to stay in the NL and pitch in a big ball park in San Francisco. He will also remain pitching in the NL West, which is full of big pitchers parks, except for Colorado. Johnson will be looking to win the 10 games he needs to reach 300 wins and I think he will be able to do so barring injury. The Giants rotation is now looking pretty solid with reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, along with Matt Cain, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, and Jonathan Sanchez. However, their offense is still extremely suspect and there are also rumors that the Giants might be willing to move Sanchez. The Yankees and Giants might be able to work out a deal for one of the Yankees' extra outfielders.

Jason Giambi: I've ragged on Jason Giambi in the past, but the truth is that he actually was productive last season and does have some use for a team looking for a DH. The A's and Rays are in somewhat of a standoff with Giambi and several other players including Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson, and Pat Burrell, because neither team wants to be the first to sign one of them since they are both bargain shopping. I wouldn't expect any of these guys to sign any time soon with the Rays or A's, the more likely scenario is that someone else jumps in and snatches up one of these guys first. The A's are looking at Bobby Abreu and Garret Anderson as backup plans for Giambi, but honestly who knows how this is going to shake out. I'm shocked that there hasn't been more talk about the Angels going after Giambi, Abreu, Burrell, or Adam Dunn. They need a bat badly and anyone of those goes would improve their offense. I think they will end up with one of these guys, as will Oakland and Tampa Bay. That still leaves 2 of the following, Abreu, Anderson, Burrell, Dunn, and Giambi without a team. We could see one of those players signing late in the offseason for a bargin price and making some team very lucky. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants jump in on one of these guys as well.

Other MLB News:

- The Reds signed Willy Taveras to a 2 year deal to play CF for them. The Reds believe that the additions of CF Willy Taveras and C Ramon Hernandez, to go along with SS Alex Gonzalez and 2B Brandon Phillips, will substantially improve their defense up the middle. However, I had never heard much talk of Taveras being a superior defensive CF and it appears the Reds might be overrating his defense. Offensively, well if the most similar player to your career to date is Alex Cole then that pretty much sums everything up doesn't it? Yes I said Alex Cole, and yes Taveras actually has a lower OPS+(72), than Cole did in his career(91).

- The Red Sox signed pitcher Brad Penny to a 1-year deal. Penny struggled with shoulder problems last season going just 6-9 with 6.27 ERA. This is a low risk, high reward signing for the Red Sox, who are hoping Penny can come close to matching his 2007 performance, when he went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA.

- See how many MLB teams you can name in 3 minutes or less.

More: MLB & MLB Weekly

Go Hard (Remix) - DJ Khaled feat Jay-Z & Kanye West

New remix from DJ Khaled featuring Hova and Kanye. This says Def Jam South at the end, so no downloads for this joint....just lisssssteennn.



More: New Joints

Verse of The Week

After a two week hiatus, Verse of The Week is back in full effect with the Philly freezer, Freeway, winning this week's honors.

Verse of The Week

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty
It's the land where my fathers was hung, whole bunch of racial violence, bunch of drama to me
9/11 towers droppin','08 stocks droppin', people won't stop robbin',
probably cause it's poverty
they got us all stuck in jail for incorrect bail, there's probably someone rhymin' in the prison hotter than me
I see, you gotta give people the good and the bad,
the bad is the past,
the good is what it's destined to be,
and I know one thing that is destined to me,
destined to free,
tell the people we gonna last
it gets worse before it get better,
they stress us with the recession, then turn around bless us with a black president
and it's evident, that it seems heavent sent,
but I'ma take it, finally got to see the day they let us in
(Freeway, When I Die, Verse 3)

Audio: When I Die - Freeway ft James Blunt

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Roll Call - Jon Hope

New joint from Jon Hope.

Roll Call - Jon Hope



More: New Joints

North Philly's Finest - Freeway

Freeway is North Philly's finest for Day 28 of month of madness.

North Philly's Finest - Freeway

Day 27: I Wanna Be Free - Freeway

More: New Joints

New Joints

Here's all the new joints from this week in case you missed 'em:

Do It To Death - Freeway

There You Go - Freeway

Fades Away (Remix) - Saukrates feat. Mathematik, JD Era, & Tona

For The Better - Freeway

As I Ever Been - Freeway

When I Die - Freeway ft James Blunt

I Wanna Be Free - Freeway

Dunk of The Week

Little man Nate Robinson comes through with the ridiculous putback jam over Leon Powe for the Dunk of The Week. Brought to you by You Got Dunked On.

I Wanna Be Free - Freeway

Day 27 of month of madness and this might be the best joint Freeway has come with yet.

I Wanna Be Free - Freeway

Day 26: When I Die - Freeway

More: New Joints

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest - Vote - Joe Alexander, Russell Westbrook, & Rudy Fernandez

Go to NBA.com and vote for who you want to see in this year's Slam Dunk Contest.

As I Ever Been - Freeway/When I Die - Freeway feat James Blunt

Day 25 and 26 of month of madness has two more dope tracks from Freeway.

As I Ever Been - Freeway

When I Die - Freeway feat James Blunt

Day 24: For The Better - Freeway

More: New Joints

Celtics Break NBA Record Start 27-2 (Highlights) & Kevin Garnett Post Game Interview

The Celtics broke a team record by winning their 19th straight game and broke an NBA record for the best start to a season with a 27-2 record.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 16

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 16, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1. New York Giants (12-3) (1)

The Giants looked to be in trouble against the Panthers, but came back in the second half to win the game and clinch home field in the NFC.

2. Tennessee Titans (13-2) (3)

The Titans crushed the Steelers and clinched homefield in the AFC. Don't count this team out yet.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) (2)

Someone finally exposed the Steelers and I still think they lose in the playoffs because their offense is suspect.

4. Carolina Panthers (11-4) (4)

Carolina blew a great chance to make a statement against the Giants. I can't see them going into NY in the playoffs and knocking off the Giants, so they better hope someone else does it.

5. Indianapolis Colts (11-4) (6)

The Colts won their 8th game in a row, but I have a hard time believing that the Colts who have the second worst rush offense in the NFL are going to be able to go on the road to Tennessee or Pittsburgh and be able to beat one of those teams.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5) (9)

The Ravens are a solid team and I would not want to be playing them in the first or even the second round. They will be playing the winner of the AFC East if they can beat the Jags this week.

7. Atlanta Falcons (10-5) (8)

Great season for the Falcons, if they play the Cardinals in the first round look for them to advance to the second round.

8. Dallas Cowboys (9-6) (5)

The good news is that Dallas still controls it's own fate and should be able to beat a struggling Philly team, but if they slip up then Tampa Bay most likely will sneak into the playoffs.

9. New England Patriots (10-5) (10)

The Patriots look like they might be the big losers in the AFC this year if they miss the playoffs with 11 wins. If Miami beats the Jets and Baltimore beats the Jags then the Patriots will be left out.

10. Miami Dolphins (10-5) (14)

Miami controls its own fate in the AFC East. Beat the Jets and the division is theirs.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1) (7)

The Eagles blew what seems like it will be their last chance to make the playoffs. Even if they beat the Cowboys, they still need the Bucs to lose to the Raiders.

12. Minnesota Vikings (9-6) (11)

The Vikings must beat the Giants this week or hope the Bears lose to the Texans if they want to make the playoffs.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) (13)

Plain and simple, the Bucs will be rooting for the Eagles this week and then need to beat the Raiders to make the playoffs.

14. Chicago Bears (9-6) (15)

The Bears are still alive after another OT victory and now must face an up and coming Texans team that would love to spoil Chicago's playoff hopes.

15. New York Jets (9-6) (12)

The Jets slipped up and now look to be a longshot to make the playoffs.

16. New Orleans Saints (8-7) (17)

The Saints avoided embarrassment by embarassing the Lions.

17. Arizona Cardinals (8-7) (16)

This team is losing in the first round of the playoffs. They are 3-7 against teams outside of the NFC West.

18. Washington Redskins (8-7) (20)

The Redskins put a big hit into the Eagles playoff chances, but still the way they've finished this season has to be disappointing.

19. San Diego Chargers (7-8) (21)

The Chargers are on the verge of a ridiculous comeback to win the division if they can beat the Broncos at home.

20. Denver Broncos (8-7) (19)

I think Denver is in big trouble and will lose to the Chargers.

21. Houston Texans (7-8) (18)

Two steps forward, one step back. Surprising loss for the Texans to the Raiders.

22. Buffalo Bills (7-8) (22)

Buffalo will try to end the Patriots playoff chances and finish at .500 in the process.

23. San Francisco 49ers (6-9) (25)

The 49ers have been a much better team since Mike Singletary took over as coach. I think he's earned the right to coach the 49ers next season.

24. Green Bay Packers (5-10) (23)

I can't believe the Packers have 10 losses. They need to upgrade their defense in the offseason.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) (24)

Jacksonville will look to play spoiler against the Ravens this week.

26. Seattle Seahawks (4-11) (27)

Seattle played spoiler and beat the Jets to put a huge dent in their playoff chances.

27. Oakland Raiders (4-11) (28)

The Raiders surprised me by beating the red hot Texans, so maybe their is some hope in Oakland after all..

28. Cincinnati Bengals (3-11-1) (30)

The Bengals will head into the offseason with a lot of improvement needed.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) (29)

KC lost for the 6th time by a TD or less, so that is something positive for the Chiefs to build on for next season. They aren't too far off from at least being a .500 team.

30. Cleveland Browns (4-11) (26)

The Browns are just horrible right now. Right up there with the Packers & Jags for biggest disappointments this season.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-13) (31)

The Rams were up for most of the game against the 49ers, but still managed to lose.

32. Detroit Lions (0-15) (32)

One more chance for the Lions to win a game. Wouldn't shock me if they went to GB and beat the Packers, but I'm not betting on it. 0-16 looks like a reality.

Old School Wednesday: Mad Props - Da Youngstas

Mad props is what I be out for. Some more 90's classic shit for Old School Wednesday.

Audio: Mad Props - Da Youngstas

More: Old School Wednesday

Kia NBA Player of The Month Nominees: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade, & Devin Harris

Check out the Kia NBA player of the month nominees for December. Personally, I think Lebron and either Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo should replace Devin Harris and Tim Duncan.

Kobe Bryant: 28.2 Points, 4.2 Assists, 5.7 Rebounds, 1.1 Steals, 46.2% FG

Tim Duncan: 19.6 Points, 10.8 Rebounds, 3.4 Assists, 1.9 Blocks, 50.9% FG

Dwyane Wade: 30.2 Points, 6.0 Assists, 5.7 Rebounds, 1.8 Steals, 1.6 Blocks, 47.5% FG

Devin Harris: 22.0 Points, 6.8 Assists, 2.7 Rebounds, 1.6 Steals, 43.4% FG

For The Better - Freeway feat Neesh

It's Christmas Eve and Freeway is like a big bearded Santa Clause bringing us a hot joint for day 24 of month of madness.

For The Better - Freeway feat Neesh

Day 23: There You Go - Freeway

More: New Joints

NCAA Basketball Weekly: Louisville, Kentucky, Jodie Meeks, & Clemson

Overall Efficiency:

Here are the top 10 teams in Overall Efficiency this season with strength of schedule in parentheses:

1. Gonzaga .988 (11)
2. Georgetown .988 (89)
3. North Carolina .986 (90)
4. Duke .986 (64)
5. Pittsburgh .985 (126)
6. Connecticut .977 (167)
7. Missouri .976 (235)
8. West Virginia .972 (110)
9. Clemson .970 (227)
10. Oklahoma .969 (98)

West Virginia(8) and Clemson(9) enter the top 10 in overall efficiency this week replacing Louisville(16) and Ohio State(14).

Louisville: Louisville lost to an underrated Minnesota(41) team mostly because their offense ranks only 122nd in offensive efficiency. They rank outside the top 100 in 3 of the 4 key indicators for success: Effective FG%(118), Off. Rebound %(165), & Free Throw Rate(174). So basically this tells us that Louisville shoots a poor percentage from the field, doesn't rebound those misses very well, and they aren't getting to the line enough or knocking down their free throws consistently when they do go to the charity stripe. As long as Louisville continues to struggle on offense, it won't matter that they are 1st in defensive efficiency come tournament time. They would be in danger of losing to any team that also has a solid defense.

Teams To Keep An Eye On:

Kentucky: Kentucky is a team to keep an eye on because they are in top 15 in both offensive and defensive effective FG%, which are the two most important factors to a team's success. They are also a solid rebounding team and shoot a high number of free throws, while keeping their opponents off the line. Their biggest weakness is that they are one of the worst teams at protecting the ball ranking 319th out of 344 teams in turnover percentage. Kentucky has a bad loss against VMI(184) and two acceptable losses against North Carolina(3) and Miami(33). In the W column, they have some nice wins against Kansas St.(24) and West Virginia(8). Jodie Meeks(24.8 points, 47.0% FG , 42.3% 3FG) and Patrick Patterson(19.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 71.1% FG) form a lethal inside/outside combo for the Wildcats. The SEC is not too strong this year for the second year in a row, so I think Kentucky will be strong in conference.

Clemson: The Clemson Tigers have started off the season 12-0, with their best victories coming against Illinois(17), Miami(33), & Temple(77). Most of the rest of the schedule hasn't been too challenging and that might explain how they cracked the top 10 this week in overall efficiency. They are however 10th overall in offensive efficiency and a sold 34th in defensive efficiency. Their strengths on offense are effective FG% and offensive reb %, so they put the ball in the hoop often and when they don't, they usually get the rebound and give themselves another chance. Defensively, they are doing a great job turning other teams over and they aren't sending their opponents to the free throw line often. I'm not completely sold on them yet, but they are worth keeping an eye on to see how they perform in the ACC. Clemson is led by K.C. Rivers(14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 48.9% FG) and Trevor Booker(14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 2.5 blocks, 57.3% FG).

Players Catching Wreck:

Jodie Meeks, Kentucky: Meeks has gone absolutely berserk in his last two games dropping 46 points and 32 points in his last two games hitting an insane 17 3-pointers. It's safe to say that Meeks has really broken out in his Junior season and 24.8 points a game are 16 more per contest than last season when he averaged 8.8. Meeks is currently 5th in the nation in scoring and should lead an underrated Kentucky team back to the NCAA Tournament.

Stats: 24.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 47.0% FG , 42.3% 3FG

More: NCAA Basketball