Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
Getty ImagesDallas Mavericks
Last season: 50-32, 3rd in Southwest Division.
Coach: Rick Carlisle (2nd season)
Needs: Someone to step up in the middle against bulky, opposing pivot players.
Additions: Guard Rodrigue Beaubois (draft), forward Kris Humphries (trade from Raptors), forward Shawn Marion (trade from Raptors), forward Nathan Jawai (trade from Raptors), guard Quinton Ross (free agent), forward Tim Thomas (free agent), center Jake Voskuhl (free agent).
Subtractions: Guard Jerry Stackhouse (traded to Grizzlies), forward Devean George (traded to Raptors), forward Antoine Wright (traded to Raptors), forward Brandon Bass (signed with Magic), guard Gerald Green (free agent), center Ryan Hollins (signed with Timberwolves).
Remaining from last season: Guards J.J. Barea, Matt Carroll, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry; center Erick Dampier; forwards Drew Gooden, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, James Singleton, Shawne Williams.
Outlook: With the acquisitions of Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden, the Mavericks appear poised to return to their perimeter-oriented, fast-paced roots. It is an approach previously eschewed after a series of playoff failures, but with the current composition of the roster, it also is the best current alternative. That could mean considerable time in the middle for not only Gooden, but also Marion. While Jason Kidd might have lost a step, he still fuels his team's attack as well as any point guard this side of Chris Paul and Steve Nash. And while ultimate success has eluded Dirk Nowitzki, the forward still remains near the top of his game. Still, concerns remain, including whether Josh Howard will finally get it, or whether he will remain a talent but not necessarily a winner. Then there is the issue of when a true center is needed. The goal in free agency was Marcin Gortat. The reality is another season of Erick Dampier.
Denver Nuggets
Last season: 54-28, 1st in Northwest Division.
Coach: George Karl (6th season)
Needs: Someone to step up on the perimeter to compensate for the free-agency losses of Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones.
Additions: Guard Arron Afflalo (trade from Pistons), forward Malik Allen (trade from Bucks), guard Ty Lawson (draft), swingman James White (trade from Rockets), forward Joey Graham (free agent).
Subtractions: Center Steven Hunter (traded to Grizzlies), guard Jason Hart (signed with Timberwolves), forward Dahntay Jones (signed with Pacers), forward Linas Kleiza (signed to play in Greece).
Remaining from last season: Centers Chris Andersen, Nene, Johan Petro; forwards Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Kenyon Martin; guards Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, J.R. Smith.
Outlook: A core that was good enough to make it to the Western Conference finals is back. And any team with Chauncey Billups running the offense certainly can never be counted out. But the offseason free-agent losses of Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones were significant when it comes to the overall depth. Considering the luxury tax remains a decided concern, it's not as if any significant upgrades are on the way. Instead, Nene will have to further step up in the middle and Carmelo Anthony will have to move closer to the level of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. And there still is the uncertainty of what you will get from Kenyon Martin. In the end, the Nuggets could see the West simply passing them by, with the Spurs poised to regain their elite status and the Trail Blazers on the move. As always, it will be interesting watching George Karl trying to keep it together.
Detroit Pistons
Last season: 39-43, 3rd in Central Division.
Coach: John Kuester (1st season)
Needs: Certainty in the middle instead of the morass that is Ben Wallace, Chris Wilcox and Kwame Brown.
Additions: Forward Austin Daye (draft), guard Ben Gordon (free agent), forward DaJuan Summers (draft), forward Charlie Villanueva (free agent), center Ben Wallace (free agent), center Chris Wilcox (free agent).
Subtractions: Guard Arron Afflalo (traded to Nuggets), forward Walter Sharpe (traded to Nuggets), forward Amir Johnson (traded to Bucks), forward Walter Herrmann (signed to play in Spain), guard Allen Iverson (signed with Grizzlies), forward Antonio McDyess (signed with Spurs), forward Fabricio Oberto (signed with Wizards), forward Rasheed Wallace (signed with Celtics).
Remaining from last season: Center Kwame Brown; guards Will Bynum, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey; forwards Jason Maxiell, Tayshaun Prince.
Outlook: These are not your proven Pistons anymore, not with an exodus that began with Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace (now back) and continued this offseason with Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. Instead of continued stability, there is a question of how it all will fit together. Getting beyond the addition of free agent Charlie Villanueva at power forward, there is the issue of making it work with Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton at shooting guard. Did Joe Dumars truly empty his free-agent war chest to play Gordon off the bench? Then there is Rodney Stuckey and whether he will meet the potential that paved the way for the Billups move. It got ugly quickly last season in Detroit. Now Michael Curry is gone as coach and Allen Iverson is gone from the backcourt, but the questions remain. The Dumars golden touch could turn into a move back to the lottery.
Golden State Warriors
Last season: 29-53, 3rd in Pacific Division.
Coach: Don Nelson (4th season).
Needs: A way to make the backcourt work with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry.
Additions: Guard Speedy Claxton (trade from Hawks), guard Acie Law (trade from Hawks), forward Devean George (trade from Raptors), guard Stephen Curry (draft), center Mikki Moore (free agent).
Subtractions: Forward Marco Belinelli (traded to Raptors), guard Jamal Crawford (traded to Hawks), center Rob Kurz (signed with Cavaliers).
Remaining from last season: Guards Kelenna Azubuike, Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, C.J. Watson; center Andris Biedrins; forwards Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright, Ronny Turiaf.
Outlook: Who exactly put this roster together? Oh yeah, the mad-scientist coach who now somehow must find a way to make it work. Let's see, Stephen Jackson wants out, Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis don't exactly mesh in the backcourt, Corey Maggette still plans to shoot every time he touches the ball, as does Jackson. And in the middle, there is as little as there ever has been. There is plenty of scoring talent in place, and in the D-League this team might truly contend. But this is not a roster, it is nothing more than a collection of names. It's not a matter of how you beat the Warriors, it's a question of how they can possibly beat you other than with one-on-one success. Stephen Curry, welcome to the NBA. Now we see why you so wanted to go to the Knicks; you realized how much worse it could be.
Houston Rockets
Last season: 53-29, 2nd in Southwest Division.
Coach: Rick Adelman (3rd season)
Needs: Yao Ming to make a surprise 2009-10 appearance, with 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes currently masquerading at center.
Additions: Forward David Anderson (free agent), forward Trevor Ariza (free agent), forward Chase Budinger (draft), guard Will Conroy (free agent), guard Sergio Lull (draft), center Pops Mensa-Bonsu (free agent), guard Jermaine Taylor (draft).
Subtractions: Forward James White (traded to Nuggets), forward Ron Artest (signed with Lakers), center Dikembe Mutombo (retired), guard Von Wafer (signed to play in Greece).
Remaining from last season: Guards Brent Barry, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry; forwards Shane Battier, Brian Cook, Joey Dorsey, Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, Tracy McGrady; centers Luis Scola, Yao Ming (injured).
Outlook: First, don't overstate the loss of Ron Artest. The Rockets got a good season out of the enigmatic forward, which practically was a bonus. Trevor Ariza will do fine as Artest's replacement. But also don't overstate Rick Adelman's ability to consistently drive his teams into the playoffs. Small ball will be the only option for Houston this season. And while Aaron Brooks had his moments in last season's playoffs, we're not sure you want to have the league's smallest starting point guard in the same opening lineup as the league's shortest starting center. Considering the strength of the West, a playoff berth would be a remarkable achievement. Ultimately, it will come down to how much the Rockets can get out of Tracy McGrady. Yes, that's where the Rockets reside yet again, at the intersection of McGrady and good health. Of course, if all else sours, even a healthy McGrady might not be so much of a difference-maker that the Rockets wouldn't necessarily consider moving him.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
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Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.