A big-time injury has opened the door for a pair of rookies eager to step into the spotlight, while another first-year player has been making the most of his team’s free-wheeling style of play.Note: This article is also available at NBA Soup.Risers:Darren Collison, PG, New Orleans HornetsWith Chris Paul to be sidelined for at least a month with knee surgery, rookie Darren Collison will step in and attempt to fill the enormous shoes vacated by CP3.In two games since Paul went down, Collison has responded extremely well, posting 17 points and 18 assists in the first game, with 16 points and 14 assists in the second.While his shooting percentage hasn’t been great, he does too many things too well to be ignored. Marcus Thornton, SG, New Orleans HornetsAnother Hornet rookie, Marcus Thornton, has gone off in his past five games, with point totals of 19, 18, 20, 14, and 25.With Paul out, Thornton’s opportunities to score on his own should continue to increase. However, he’s not a threat to do a whole lot aside from putting the ball in the basket (though he did randomly post nine rebounds Saturday against Memphis).  Stephen Curry, G, Golden State WarriorsCurry just completed the best month of his brief career, averaging 19 points per game while shooting ridiculous percentages of 48 percent from the field, 49 percent from three-point range, and 89 percent from the free throw line.As was the case in college, he’s proven to be an extremely explosive scorer at times, and has one of the best shooting strokes in the entire league.His confidence is rising, and it’s reflected in how he’s been playing.Curry’s ball-handling has improved since his college days, and his assist numbers (about five per game) and steals (almost two) should also be beneficial to an owner. Fallers: Andre Iguodala, G/F, Philadelphia 76ersIguodala is a versatile player that typically fills a stat sheet, but his scoring numbers plummeted in January.He averaged just 13 points per game for the month (down from 19 over the first two months), and he shot just 40 percent from the field.His scoring numbers have certainly been affected by the return of Allen Iverson, and I would expect those numbers to gradually go back up as Iguodala becomes more comfortable playing with Iverson again.While his fantasy impact should cause some concern, it’s definitely not time to panic just yet. Josh Howard, G/F,  Dallas MavericksLast week, Jason Terry was inserted full-time into the Mavericks’ starting lineup, meaning a sharp decline in the minutes for Josh Howard.Terry has responded well, scoring near 20 points in each of the last five games. As we all know, Randy Orton’s first push was a mega fail. After a year away from the game, Thomas realized his career is done. 6 Duke has found a lot of success the last two seasons beating the Cavaliers.  I personally am very excited to see what Heyward can do on a regular basis! This article is also featured on C70 At The Bat. Growing up in Washington D.C Rodney McGruder didn?t start playing basketball until the Boys and Girls club he played football for advised him that he could be good in basketball because of his length at such a young age. I definitely do not have any interest in delivering anything that would be second-best to what I’ve done before.”When asked about his favorite Wrestlemania match, Austin his Wrestlemania 17 main event match against The Rock, but admits that turning heel and aligning himself with Mr.

Saturday. This article is also featured on The BIG HOUSE Blog. Mardy Gilyard was incredibly active in the game, from returning kicks to continually catching the long ball from Dan Lefevour.Gilyard was already considered one of the top pro prospects, but I would be surprised if he made it past the third round in the draft after his display in the game. We’ll have to see what Gainey does, but I think any smart GM would as least have to look at what they can get for him.. Yes, track time is important, especially someone with only 80 laps in a stock car under race conditions. It would cap a nice but quiet career in Chicago.Many Bears fans questioned what the Bears were doing when they selected running back Garrett Wolfe a few seasons ago in the NFL Draft. and his then DEI team, it wasn?t just points paying races they were winning.

 We could see Tebow play in college football for 15 more years. All I?m saying is that something is wrong when a 23 year old man is taking chunks of time off the tour to deal with injuries. Through free agency or the draft, the offensive line can be easily upgraded to help Al get his wish and move to the power running game rather than zone blocking.Logan Makins doesn’t want to leave the Patriots, period. I stand by that 100 percent.  Bringing in Hudson would have been defensible.  He’s been a good player most of his career, has decent on-base skills, and apparently is revered by several on the squad.But it would be a HUGE mistake to block Desmond’s playing time this season bringing in a journeyman like Adam Kennedy.  Kennedy is not a good fielder, the primary stated reason Mike Rizzo was trying to lure Hudson here.The Nats would be much better off, this season and in the long run, allowing Desmond to grow into the position at the Major League level.Sure, Desmond still has some problem with some of the throws from short.  It’s not lack of arm strength or range, it’s that he sometimes just gets careless.  He can make the difficult look routine and the routine look terrible.Does that sound like anyone else you know?The Nationals had to play Ryan Zimmerman from the moment he looked like a major leaguer, which wasn’t too long into his professional career.  He was, and remains, the face of the franchise.But the team allowed him to work through his throwing problems, which lasted seemingly right up until the time that Manny Acta was let go last season.  Not many people remember this now, but on Friday, July 17, Zim was second in the National League in errors.Not just for third basemen.  In the entire National League.  His fielding percentage at third base was third worst of anyone that qualified at that point.But because of who he is, and his hitting, Zimmerman was allowed the opportunity to work through his throwing problem, and he did.  His defensive performance in the second half of the season was stellar.  He would commit just five more errors after July 17, and go on to win his first Gold Glove.I’m not suggesting that Ian Desmond will win a Gold Glove.  But what I am suggesting is that he be given every opportunity this season to prove, or disprove, that he is going to be a viable major league shortstop.In his tryout last September, one manager Jim Riggleman was reluctant to grant until Cristian Guzman came up lame, Desmond certainly held his own (.280/.318/.561 with four homers in 89 plate appearances).  Rizzo likes to urge caution about September tryouts, but they’re Major League games regardless.The Nationals are all about building through the draft, home-growing their players.  Ryan Zimmerman was the first, and remains the only, position player the Nats have developed since moving here from Montreal.Ian Desmond can become the second, if they just give him the opportunity.. ?We were lucky to have each other,? said Lilly in a recent interview.

Usually in the preliminary rounds, teams tend to alternate goaltenders. Listen to us LIVE every Wednesday at 10pm EST for 90 minutes of pure fantasy baseball talk.. It’s someone that I think can help us take the next step, so we’re all pretty excited about it.”Excited about what exactly?”Well, I think we have a chance,” Cable said. All of the Nuggets bigs are feisty and gritty, and they’re more talented than…….Continue Reading at MySportsPress. Women?s National Team conducted a ?Fan Celebration Tour,? playing 10 games across the United States between September and December On Nov. In the month of January they went 3-9-2 and fell very quickly out of the playoffs with their worst losing streak in almost 100 years.  In that ten game losing streak the Bruins scored more then two goals once and scored one or less goal in five of those games You cannot win games scoring that little. Whether he’s isolating or using a screen, Evans gets to the rim an incredible number of times.