On Thursday, I struggled through the Fighting Illini's third consecutive 14+ point loss, a defeat that will likely knock formerly #10 Illinois out of the season's Top 25 for good. The hopeful streak to start the season has been shot down once Big Ten play hits for the third time in four seasons for U of I's major programs - 2011 football: 6-0 to 6-6 and fired Zook; 2011-12 basketball: 15-1 to 17-15 and fired Weber; 2012-13 basketball: 12-0 start to 14-5 and dropping. That was only interrupted by an unsightly 2-10 season from first year football coach Tim Beckman, a year that the glimmer of hope from a first week win over the mighty Western Michigan Broncos was quickly shot dead in the desert by the Sun Devils. That glimmer of Illini hope slowly building only to be strangled by a heartless play and underprepared staff in the conference season has shown itself to be the theme of Illini athletics over the last 8+ years.
I cannot fault the 2012 Cubs for these same peaks and valleys - for the first season in a decade, there was little short-term hope on opening day at Wrigley. While Theo's front office takes stabs at every veteran pitcher bargain on the market and Dale Sveum auditions young guns in the lineup daily, much of the excitement for 2013 will happen forty miles west at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva as potential stars Albert Almora, Pierce Johnson and Jeimer Candelario take aim at Low-A ball.
Beyond the Illini and Cubs, there are spots for hope in the state of Illinois this year. Much of it rests with talent sown north of the border in the Great White North, while the other is dependent on the recovery of a 10 millimeter wide ligament behind a hometown hero's left leg.
BULLS
Analysts and fans alike declared the 2012-13 Bulls season a lost cause minutes after Derrick Rose's ACL tear last April. With no consistent secondary scoring threat ready to fill the void, where would the offense come from? Would Thibs' defensive schemes hold up with aging Kirk Hinrich, spindly Marco Belinelli and miniature Nate Robinson filling Rose's minutes? Would Carlos Boozer be able to even hit his disappointing levels from the last two seasons without drive-and-dish threats on the perimeter?
Many of those questions have yet again been solved by the continually amazing Tom Thibodeau and an overachieving squad thus far. Front court duo Joakim Noah and Boozer have both averaged a double-double and have received solid backup support from recently re-upped Taj Gibson. Kirk Hinrich has taken a backseat to "what's an antonym for gunshy?" Nate Robinson in crunch time to rich man's John Lucas III vs. Heat results. Most importantly, Luol Deng has recovered from last season's bum wrist to lead the team in minutes and points.
A second-seed is still in reach for a team ranked #22 in offense due in large part due to the schemes Thibs has put in place. With Rose in full recovery mode running stairs at the UC during practice sessions, a March return could spur a perfectly-timed run to the playoffs. The success Adrian Peterson drove just 8 months after an ACL tear on the gridiron has fans theorizing an even-more-determined Derrick Rose could lift the Bulls to what they missed out on last season: a rematch with the Heat behind a fully-healthy squad.
BLACKHAWKS
Last season's talent was brought down by miserable special teams units only further pronounced by a shaky sophomore effort from Corey Crawford. No doubt, this team is nose-and-nose with Boston, Pittsburgh, Vancouver and the Rangers for the most talented team in the league. When it comes to airtight execution of the NHL playoffs, few teams can overcome a league-worst combined rating of their power-play and penalty-kill units.
The Los Angeles Kings' combination of a powerful forecheck (reminiscent of a 2010 Blackhawks squad) and austere goaltending from Jonathan Quick led them to a title last season. However, as those who caught Saturday afternoon's season opener understand, any gaps in this system or flinches in confidence of those running it can lead to a lopsided outcome. Questions were quickly turned to answers as a healthy Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews torched the Kings for five points combined in a 5-2 win. Seabrook and Keith looked their standard, stifling selves with the second pairing of Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson appearing formidable as well. Even Corey Crawford chipped in a solid effort against a minimal LA attack, taking little blame for the two that got behind him.
With the health of stalwarts and a staunch defensive presence confirmed, the most important player to the success of the Hawks this season is not one of the Canadians nor the many Euros dotting this roster. The Empire State's Patrick Kane appears to be in mid-season form following a mommy-son excursion to Switzerland over break. Somehow, Kaner was able to avoid the allure of Swiss snow bunnies and nearby German grog during his stint and return to his dangerous 2010 form. His whirling dervish power play ringer and slicing breakaway chance followed up by the Captain indicate he's ready to accept a grown-up role on this team. His importance to a consistent power play and ability to elevate the second line to an unstoppable force in his return to the wing make Kane the key to a top seed and the chance to proceed deep into the playoffs this year.
BEARS
The post-Lovie Smith era began with uncertainty around improvements available to the staff. A 7-1 start turned into an Illini-esque storm and ten wins couldn't net the Bears a playoff berth. After an aging squad missed the playoffs for the fifth of six seasons, many fans came around on the end of Lovie's term. But would anything but a big-name coach (Cowher, Gruden, Kelly) be an improvement on Smith's steady hand? Can we grant Phil Emery full Epstein treatment for a team with a dwindling shot at a ring?
Just like the majority of those on the United Center ice this fall, the new coach of the Bears has honed his craft in the Canadian backwoods. His considerable experience with turning aboot QBs' careers as an assistant in the NFL (Testaverde, Mitchell, Plummer, Gannon), coach in the CFL (Anthony Calvillo) and draft-prep expert (Tebow, Weeden and both Bears starters this past season) lend themselves to a more potent Bears offense in 2013. The more important development may be the hiring of Saints coach Aaron Kromer as offensive coordinator and o-line coach.
Kromer has turned his charges into a top run blocking line, ranking third in the NFL this past season, and a league-average pass blocking unit. While average isn't necessarily the aim, it's all the more impressive considering the way pass rushes tee off on the pass-heavy Saints offense. All things considered, his tutoring should be an improvement over the lackluster effort Jay Cutler continues to have to overcome. The Cutler/Forte/Marshall group is among the top-10 offensive skill trios in the NFL. If Trestman and Kromer can lure his prized pupil Jermon Bushrod to man the left side in Chicago (someone the Bears unsuccessfully chased two offseasons ago) and teach up still-young options Lance Louis, J'Marcus Webb and Gabe Carimi, the Bears offense suddenly vaults from average to top-tier and a confident Cutler becomes the top-five quarterback his talent is capable of producing.
2013 has the chance to develop a championship-caliber team in Chicago. Dark runs (midseason 2012 Blackhawks) and disastrous injuries (Rose, Hossa, Urlacher) must be avoided to maintain consistency for playoff shots. Coaches have to handle their talented cores properly to avoid fans' scorn and, more importantly, confidence-dulling losing streaks. But there's a chance. If there's anything I've learned from the Cubs, it's to stay optimistic. But as the Illini have taught me, cautiously optimistic.
No comments:
Post a Comment