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FIVE QUICK HOOPS THOUGHTS 1. CARMELO ANTHONY: As Knicks fans worry about the potential departure with his decision to opt out, I see this as a blessing in disguise. As currently constructed, the Knicks have NO shot at being a legitimate contender. Yes. The organization gave up a kings ransom to get a major Asset yet when you reflect on his time in NY hes been a terrific scoring talent and theyve had their share of ups and downs and in his defense - not all his fault. He is what he is at this stage of his career -- a brilliant scorer who plays very hard on the offensive end of the court. In the end, sometimes in sports, business and life the best strategy is to cut your losses and move on. With Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani all off the books next season, it allows president Phil Jackson to shape the organization in his image which is the right move. The key is to avoid all the noise from the NY media with demands to go for Big Name $$ Quick Fixes and make thoughtful basketball decisions. This organization tries too often to Win the Back Page rather than do whats smart. Yes, a terrific talent could walk out the door for little or nothing yet in 12 months you get to truly build the right foundation for long term success. Good common sense. 2. CHICAGO BULLS: Youll hear their name lots in the next 10 days when Melos name comes up and if I were Melo this makes complete sense to me as long as hes willing to take a pay cut that he can earn some back in quality endorsements if hes a significant piece on a major-league winning team in Chicago. Against the Knicks, a quick comparison: Money: NY, ownership: Chicago…. not close, management: Chicago…. Sorry, but Phil Jackson has never been a president/GM, coach: Chicago…. not close, team talent level: Chicago. If Derrick Rose can even get back to being 80 per cent of what he was, this is a nice edge. In my mind, the Bulls make the most sense if -- and its a big IF -- hes willing to sacrifice. Hell be held totally accountable here on a daily basis. No nonsense. Defining moment for him in his career. 3. KEVIN LOVE: Where there is smoke …. If Im the TWolves, I move him as soon as I can and get on with the business of reshaping my team while his value is at its highest. Many folks say wait until the trade deadline, yet Im not sure youll get better than the next few weeks. I think you owe it to yourself and your fans to cut the cord as soon as you can. Believe me; if they really want him, theyll blink and offer you close (not all) of what you want. Be proactive. In 12 months, hell be out the door. Deal with it and rid yourself of the drama. Terrific talent, yet hes got you to how many playoff appearances? Sure, the other 14 teammates matter a whole lot in the Western Conference but its time to be realistic and based upon your market build a team rather than the concern with having name guys. 4. ZACH RANDOLPH (Grizzlies): Trying to get an extension worked out in Memphis. Makes perfect sense to me. All the guy does is produce and hes done it in the context of winning/playoffs. A double-double machine who is one of the toughest covers in the league, hes been very good for you. A piece you cant lose. If the term and money make sense, do it. 5. JOEL EMBIID: Feel awful for this young man. Watching him play this year at the University of Kansas hes an intriguing talent with loads of major potential that I love. On the other hand, with some teams freaked out by the injuries to bigs like Sam Bowie and Greg Oden over the years with the complete - and I mean complete - change in the way the NBA game is played on the perimeter it might benefit him to fall a bit to a team that will be patient with him and allow him to work his way in at the right pace as a rookie. Hes got a chance to be very good, yet in a different league that bigs came into 20 years ago. If he drops a bit, someones going to be quite lucky if he holds up physically. Risk vs. Reward. Can change in a very positive way or end some careers with this pick. Will be interesting to watch unfold. Cheap Oakland Raiders Gear . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. 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The only streak he cares about is still intact.Huntington, WV (SportsNetwork.com) - The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs made it out of the Conference USA West Division with a 7-1 mark in league play, and will travel this weekend to face the Marshall Thundering Herd in the conferences championship clash at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Louisiana Tech breezed through Conference USA competition during the regular season until an overtime loss against Old Dominion in the second-to-last week raised some concerns. But the Bulldogs squashed those feelings with an absolutely dominant 76-31 victory over defending C-USA champion Rice at home to earn a spot in the title game. Marshall had already clinched its spot in the title contest after running through East Division play and earning an unblemished record up until the regular-season finale. Even though the Herds dreams of a perfect record were shattered by Western Kentucky last weekend in a 67-66 loss, the team is still a favorite to take the conference crown. These two conference rivals have met just one time on the football field before this championship matchup - a 26-0 shutout by the Bulldogs back in the 1942 season in Ruston, Louisiana. Its been 72 years since that clash, so this second matchup could be well worth the wait. Louisiana Tech entered this season with high hopes, but it wasnt until the team took the field that fans saw what the Bulldogs were capable of. The strong offense, which averages 38.8 ppg entering the title tilt with Marshall, is led by two of the strongest offensive stars in the league. Running back Kenneth Dixon had a stellar regular season, finishing the campaign with 1,080 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 220 carries. He led the team averaging 90.0 ypg, but also served as a primary target out of the backfield in the passing game. He caught five touchdown receptions and averaged another 25.5 ypg through the air during the season. Dixon is coming off a three-touchdown game against Rice. Cody Sokol took the reins under center and ran with them this season. The signal caller passed for 3,117 yards (ranked 23rd in the FBS) with 29 touchdown tosses. He averaged 259.8 passing ypg in 12 contests, and comes into this game sporting a completion percentage just shy of 60 percent. As an offensive unit, the Bulldogs are gaining 415.2 ypg. Dixon is certainly one of Sokols main weapons through the air, but Trent Taylor has made his mark more than anyone in the passing game. Taylor enters this weekend averaging 67.3 ypg receiving, having caught 61 passes this season for 808 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns. Dixons five receiving scores is second on the squad, while Paul Turner has proven his worth with 38 receptions for 466 yards and four scores through the air. The teams defense will have its hands full as it prepares for a Marshall offense that ranks second in the nation in scoring and total offense. But that hasnt stopped the Bulldogs from doing plenty of damage this season, holding opponents to 349.6 offensive ypg and 25.2 ppg. The same Western Kentucky team that just posted 67 points on Marshalls defense was held to a mere 10 points by Louisiana Tech back on the first day of November, which could be very telling. Kentrell Brice leads the Bulldogs this seasoon with 73 tackles, adding in three sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles.dddddddddddd But Tony Johnson isnt far behind Brices tackle total with 69 on the season, adding in six quarterback hurries. Linemen Houston Bates (nine tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries) and Vernon Butler (12.5 tackles for loss) are going to need to be very active in trying to get to Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato and slowing down a high- powered run game. The Bulldogs do lead the nation in takeaways with 36 (12 fumble recoveries, 24 interceptions). This football team is really special to me because I do not know that I have had a football team that has had to overcome so much, with the schedule, new faces, new coaches and everything to make this year work, coach Skip Holtz said. This group of guys is really special. They will always have a special place in my heart. Marshall could be in for a real shock if running back Devon Johnson cant go this weekend after suffering a shoulder injury in last weekends loss to WKU. The tailback carried the ball just three times before he was knocked out of the game and replaced by Steward Butler, who ran for 233 yards and a pair of scores in the relief effort. This season, Johnson has been a monster out of the backfield, gaining 1,602 yards with 16 rushing scores, averaging 145.6 rushing ypg. Its unclear if he will be ready to go this weekend Devon, hes not in real good shape right now, coach Doc Holliday said after the teams loss to the Hilltoppers. Fortunately for Marshall, Butler has rushed for 761 yards and seven touchdowns this season in the reserve role. Cato has been a capable runner as well, scoring six touchdowns with his feet. But the passing game is where Cato excels the most, throwing for 3,314 yards and 35 touchdowns against 12 interceptions (four of which came in last weekends loss). The senior signal caller did toss a school single-game record seven touchdowns in that contest, however. Hes the centerpiece of an offense that is averaging 46.7 ppg and 574.6 offensive ypg. The bottom line is weve got to put (the loss to WKU) behind us because were playing for a championship, Holliday said. And the leadership on this football team has to do a tremendous job of putting this game behind us and moving on because the ultimate goal was to win a championship, and weve still got that out there for us. Defensively, the Herd have been dominant as well. The 67 points allowed to Western Kentucky raised the teams scoring average significantly, and its still at a mere 20.7 ppg. It was the first time all season long that Marshall allowed more than 27 points to a challenger, and just the third time all season the Herd gave up more than 20 points or more in a single game. Linebacker Neville Hewitt leads the team with 100 tackles this season, adding in 10.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks. He and lineman Arnold Blackmon (13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles) will be the two players the Herd turn to in order to slow down Dixon and Sokol. Darryl Roberts (15 pass breakups), Corey Tindal (11 pass breakups) and Taj Letman (four interceptions) will be tasked with keeping the strong Louisiana Tech pass game in check. 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