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papermoonloveslucy · 7 years ago

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LUCY AND JOAN RIVERS DO JURY DUTY

S6;E9 ~ November 5, 1973

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Lucy is called to jury duty and clashes with one of her fellow jurors (Joan Rivers). After Lucy is the sole dissenter toward a unanimous verdict, the unlikely pair must room together for the night.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, nor is she mentioned in the dialogue. The final credits do state, however, “Lucie Arnaz wardrobe by Alroe.”

Guest Cast ~The Jury

1) Joan Rivers (Joan Reynolds, Juror) was born in 1933 as Joan Alexandra Molinksy. She became stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host. She was noted for her often controversial comedic persona - heavily self-deprecating or sharply acerbic - especially toward celebrities and politicians. Rivers gained prominence in 1965 as a guest on��“The Tonight Show.” Hosted by her mentor, Johnny Carson, the show established Rivers' comedic style. She also was the first female guest-host of the show interviewing Lucille Ball three times. She was nominated for a Tony on Broadway and co-wrote two plays. There seemed like nothing Rivers could not (or would not) do. She died in 2014.

Joan Reynolds' boyfriend is named Marvin Winterbottom III. Joan thinks he is about to 'pop the question.'

2) James E. Brodhead (Mr. Miller, Jury Foreman ) previously played Tilford in “The Big Game” (S6;E2). He makes his fourth screen appearance in a career that lasted until 1995.

3) Burt Mustin (Mr. Robertson, elderly juror) was born in 1884! He didn’t do his first film until age 67, although his stage and radio career started earlier. He was generally cast as the stereotypical little old man. He is probably best remembered as Mr. Quigley on “All in the Family” and Mr. Lanson on “Phyllis.” He played Old Uncle Joe in two 1973 episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Mustin also played Uncle Jeff in Mame (1974). He died at age 92.

Mr. Robertson has a date with a 'heavy date with a swinging chick' after the deliberations.

4) Judd Laurance (Mr. Stalkup, Football Fan Juror) started his screen career in 1969 doing mostly crime dramas. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Mr. Stalkup has tickets for a Rams game after the deliberations. His surname is never spoken aloud, only listed in the final credits.

5) Savannah Bentley (Miss Holmes, Juror) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Her surname is never spoken aloud, only listed in the final credits.

6) Alice Backes (Mrs. Barnes, Juror) made her first TV appearance as a contestant on Groucho Marx's “You Bet Your Life” in 1950, billed as a 'future actress.’ She previously appeared on the series in “Lucy, the Matchmaker” (S1;E12). By her death she accumulated nearly 100 screen credits, so her game show ambitions were more than realized.

Mrs. Barnes is celebrating her wedding anniversary.

7) Lew Palter (Mr. Patrick, Juror) holds a PhD in Theatre and has been a well respected acting instructor for decades. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Mr. Patrick's name is never spoken in the dialogue, it is just listed in the final credits.

8) Shirley Anthony (Juror) makes the seventh of her 13 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” This is one of only two times where she received screen credit.

9) Bob Whitney (Juror) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). This is the third of his five appearances on the series.

10) Sid Gould (Juror) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. This is one of his nearly 50 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.

11) Walter Smith (Juror) made 14 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Hank Brandt (Bailiff) was born in 1934 in New Jersey. He began his screen acting career in 1961. He previously played one of the astronauts in “Lucy and the Astronauts” (S4;E5) and Johnny Muldoon in “Lucy and the Little Old Lady” (S4;E17). This is his final episode of the series.

When Lucille Ball died in 1989, Joan Rivers wrote:

“She was tough, smart, a brilliant comedian and a walking master class in comedy.”

When Joan Rivers died in 2014, The Lucille Ball / Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy wrote a tribute to her on their website, remembering her visit in 2012:

“In an effort to showcase the very best in American comedy in Jamestown, Joan Rivers joined us to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lucille Ball’s birth date in the most fitting way possible; laughter. Her presence has been a key factor in the realization of Lucille Ball’s wish for her hometown: to celebrate and honor the best in comedy. Like Lucy, Joan changed the face of comedy for women on TV. We will continue to celebrate Joan’s unique talents so that her legacy lives on for generations to come.”

~ Journey Gunderson, Executive Director

In his DVD introduction, James E. Brodhead (Jury Foreman) recalls that the episode was filmed in fall of 1973.

Brodhead also remembers that Lucy and Joan enjoyed making each other laugh.

As Johnny Carson’s substitute host on “The Tonight Show,” Joan Rivers interviewed Lucille Ball several times.

This episode is a loose satire of 12 Angry Men (1957), a film starring Henry Fonda about a lone juror standing up for his principles. The movie is mentioned by Joan Rivers in the dialogue. It was based on the CBS 1954 teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” which inspired a 1955 stage play. On television, the lone hold out was played by “Lucy” alumni Bob Cummings. Henry Fonda co-starred with Ball in the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours.

The case is about the last will and testament of one Everett Covington, who has left his million dollar fortune to his nurse, Susan Bartlett. The will is contested by Covington's grandson, George, on the basis that his grandfather was coerced by the much-younger Bartlett to change his will.

Lucy calls elderly juror Mr. Robertson “the Burt Reynolds of Sun City.” The actor (and Playgirl centerfold) Burt Reynolds was one of the hottest male sex symbols of the 1970s. He released three films in 1973 alone. Sun City is a gated, age-restricted community outside of Palm Springs, California. In 2008 it was renamed Desert Springs.

Harry picks up Lucy a couple of magazines to read in her hotel room confinement: Fisherman's Quarterly and The TV Log, two fictional publications.

This is the third celebrity named Joan that has guest-starred with Lucille Ball. The other two are Joan Blondell...

and Joan Crawford.

Although they can't talk about the case, Lucy reasons they can act it out through charades. This gives Lucille Ball a chance to do pantomime, something she loved and was quite good at.

Lucy first played charades on TV in “The Gossip” (ILL S1;E24) in 1952.

The argument between Lucy and Joan about whether to sleep with the window open or closed was also a point of contention between Lucy and Ricky Ricardo in “Breaking the Lease” (ILL S1;E18).

Sitcom Logic Alert! A contested will would certainly not call for a jury trial lasting two weeks.

“Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

It is good to see Rivers in an acting role and riffing with the great Lucille Ball. Lucy was very supportive of women in comedy, although she and Rivers were very different. For all its silly improbability, it is a watchable episode.

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junker-town · 5 years ago

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Which NFL team is truly the most dysfunctional?

The Jets fired their GM weeks after the draft. The Raiders’ organizational chart is just a bowl of Skittles.

Poorly run franchises are a proud NFL tradition. A combination of messy management and bad luck can sink a team to the bottom of its division and keep it there for years to come. And no team is immune; the dynastic runs of the Patriots and Cowboys came only in the wake of years upon years at the top of the draft.

The trend is alive and well in 2019. The Jets fired their general manager less than three weeks after he made the team’s selections at the NFL Draft. The Giants have spent that same stretch defending GM Dave Gettleman’s decision to draft zero-time All-ACC honoree Daniel Jones with the No. 6 pick. The Raiders’ brain trust is P.F. Chang’s most loyal customer, that guy from Monday Night Football you used to mute, and the draft analyst who thought orangutans were making a mockery of the sport.

But who is truly the most dysfunctional franchise this season?

The Giants are a shit hurricane

I feel badly for Pat Shurmur. Every time the touted offensive mind raises his stock high enough to slide back into head coaching consideration, he gets poached by a team in a hopeless situation. It happened in 2011 with the Cleveland Browns, and now it’s happening again in New York.

The Giants currently have no idea what to do with Eli Manning, the 38-year-old who is either going to be immediately replaced by Daniel Jones or start for the next two or three years instead — Gettleman isn’t sure yet. They let All-Pro safety Landon Collins leave in free agency with nothing but a likely compensatory pick in return. They shipped All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns in exchange for a safety to replace him and the No. 17 overall pick — a pick that made Gettleman’s decision to take Jones in the top 10 even more frustrating. They then used that 17th selection to select Dexter Lawrence, who replaces Damon Harrison ... who Gettleman traded away for a fifth-round pick last fall.

New York has taken a shotgun-blast approach to ship out existing stars and replace them with debuting lottery tickets. But the past year suggests any homegrown talent won’t stay for long in the belly of a franchise that’s unable to move in any one direction before spinning out, turning around, and spectacularly detouring back to mediocrity. — Christian D’Andrea

J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!

It’s been 50 years since the Jets’ lone Super Bowl win (and appearance). They haven’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade, and they’ve finished at the bottom of the AFC East four out of the last five seasons.

When Todd Bowles was fired at the end of the 2018 season, it would’ve been logical to let general manager Mike Maccagnan go too.

Instead, the Jets let the guy who used a second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg to stick around and hire the next head coach. He chose Adam Gase, who finished with a losing record in three years in Miami and elicited an extremely “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” reaction from Dolphins players when he was axed.

Maccagnan then handpicked the newest Jets players, spending $120 million in free agency — sometimes to the objection of Gase — and drafting the rookies who will wear the team’s CFL-looking jerseys.

Fast forward a couple weeks and everyone is pointing and laughing at the Knicks for not winning the Zion draft lottery. A day later, that’s when CEO Christopher Johnson decided the Jets needed our attention again for all the wrong reasons and fired Maccagnan.

Now, team is in the hands of Gase, who has the wild-eyed lunacy of Dennis Hopper in, well pretty much everything, but especially those Nike commercials from the early 90s:

youtube

That came a few months after:

Chris Johnson says he would not hire a head coach who demanded total control #Jets

— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffMags5490) December 31, 2018

And a couple days after:

Adam Gase: Rumor about rift with Jets GM Mike Maccagnan “pisses me off.” Story: https://t.co/Zl9x8unyio pic.twitter.com/XUfrIpspV1

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) May 10, 2019

And a couple hours before Gase’s first big move as interim GM was to trade 2016 first-round pick Darron Lee to the Chiefs for ... a sixth-round pick? Yikes.

Oh, and now Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley both know their new coach doesn’t think they’re worth the money they were paid.

Even if reports are true, that won’t stop me from doing what I came here to do...everyone has a job to do, and I’m gonna do mine whether peopIe “like” me or not. I’m here to win football games.

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) May 16, 2019

And they’re taking cues from the Raiders?!

Just months after NFLN Draft Analyst Mike Mayock took the Raiders’ GM job, his replacement Daniel Jeremiah is under serious consideration for a prominent front-office position with the NY Jets, per sources. NFLN Draft Analyst job has become breeding ground for front-office jobs.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 15, 2019

They could’ve let the Giants and Knicks battled for New York’s dumpster fire crown. But nope. That dishonor belongs to the Jets, a team that birthed The Buttfumble and had Bill Belichick as its head coach for one day before he went to New England to begin his dynasty. Bravo. — Sarah Hardy

The Bengals? More like the Bungles

The Bengals have to be on the Mount Rushmore of cheap sports franchises. For a team that drafts relatively well, they really struggle to retain some of their top talent.

Let’s rewind the clock back to 2015. The Bengals had one of the best offenses in the league. Andy Dalton finished second in the league in passer rating, Cincinnati was ranked seventh in points per game, and the Bengals won the AFC North with a 12-4 record.

Unfortunately, Dalton got injured and the Bengals ended up losing in the Wild Card Round to the Steelers, continuing their decades-long playoff winless streak. That offense was loaded with players. Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler, Mohamed Sanu, and Marvin Jones were key cogs on that playoff team. None of them are still on the team.

Letting Whitworth and Zeitler walk in free agency was especially confusing. Whitworth has been one of the best left tackles in the NFL over the past decade and was a fan favorite. After the Bengals lowballed him, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 2017 season and has still been a shutdown left tackle.

Zeitler was the Bengals’ first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and became everything they could want in a guard: a monster in the run game and the pass game. But Cincinnati just refused to pay him and he ended up signing a five-year, $60 million deal with the rival Cleveland Browns.

What happened next was fairly predictable. The Bengals were unable to replace two stud offensive linemen and their offense immediately fell off a cliff. They were eventually able to help fill the void left by Sanu and Jones with Tyler Boyd, but they haven’t been able to replicate that 2015 success.

When you have extremely talented players, open up the checkbook for them — especially when you have the cap space to do it, and the Bengals almost always do. — Charles McDonald

The Jaguars blew their only Super Bowl window in a decade

The Jaguars have never had a great quarterback. You might be saying, “Hey what about Mark Brunell? David Garrard?” but calling them anything more than “OK” is a stretch. When Blake Bortles threw 35 touchdowns in 2015, he destroyed the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season by 12 freakin’ touchdowns.

There were 15 players in 2018 who would’ve had the second-most prolific passing season in franchise history if they were in a Jaguars uniform. That includes Baker Mayfield, who had 27 touchdowns as a rookie in only 13 starts.

Maybe their historical lack of success at the position is why they’re still so hilariously terrible at evaluating it. After a dominant defense and a powerful rushing attack got the team to the AFC Championship in January 2018, the Jaguars decided Bortles was worth a three-year, $54 million contract extension. Everyone who has watched Bortles play football laughed and — one year later — the quarterback was released, sticking the team with $16.5 million of self-inflicted dead cap space.

The solution to the problem — in Jacksonville’s eyes — was giving Nick Foles a four-year, $88 million deal. That mammoth deal that includes $50 million guaranteed came despite the fact that there were no other significant suitors for Foles. According to Mike Garafolo, the Jaguars paid him that much because “they need Foles to walk in there and be the leader” and were worried he wouldn’t get the same respect at a lower salary. Smart!

Is Foles worth that much? Nope. He’s inconsistency personified with a passer rating at 96 or higher in three seasons and a rating below 82 in four seasons. He posts outstanding completion percentages by being arguably the best passer of all time at checking down well short of a first down.

The Jaguars could’ve drafted Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson in 2017. Lamar Jackson was on the board in 2018, and they could’ve gone after Dwayne Haskins or Drew Lock this year. Instead, Jacksonville’s first bit of relevance in the last decade is circling the drain because of the team’s staggering inability to find a worthwhile quarterback. — Adam Stites

The Chokeland Raiders, amirite?

The NFL is much more fun when the Raiders are good and able to be the bad guys. They make perfect villains. The problem is that the only people they’re terrorizing are their own fans (and the Steelers, once every other year or so, for some reason).

Reggie McKenzie was far from the best general manager in the NFL, but he inherited a Raiders team that was happily paying Richard Seymour and other veterans far too much money. The team was still recovering from bringing in guys like JaMarcus Russell (ahahaha) and Kwame Harris (AHAHAHAHA), and it had no first-, second-, third-, fourth-, or seventh-round draft picks for that year.

When McKenzie took over in 2012, the Raiders were more than $30 million over the salary cap thanks to the mismanagement of Al Davis, whose propensity to meddle and make poor decisions really hurt the team.

McKenzie purged the bad contracts, and slowly — very slowly — brought the Raiders around. He got rid of Hue Jackson, Seymour, Michael Huff, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Rolando McClain. Carson Palmer was the face of the franchise for a while, a move that was made by Jackson before he was let go, but McKenzie eventually traded him. He then added standouts like Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, and Amari Cooper, bringing together a young core that would likely lead the Raiders back to contention.

Except it didn’t. The Raiders went 12-4 in 2016, with McKenzie being named Executive of the Year. But soon Mark Davis started butting in again, sacking Jack Del Rio and giving Jon Gruden a stupidly large contract ($100 million, if you forgot) and full control over the roster, making McKenzie redundant.

Gruden, a man who many believe was and still is stuck in the past, quickly dispatched with McKenzie and then proceeded to absolutely decimate the Raiders roster. Mack and Cooper were both traded, and instantly became stars for their new teams.

Now the Raiders have Gruden, a depleted roster severely lacking in young talent, and just turned three first-round picks into a “C” draft grade.

Oh, and I didn’t even talk about the absolute shitshow that was (and is) their relocation to Las Vegas. A terrible back-and-forth with the city of Oakland went nowhere, fans were misled, arguments over nothing occurred, and the Raiders are heading to Vegas next year. I’m sure they’ll be well-liked there — look at the Vegas Golden Knights — but it’s essentially twisting the dagger that’s been stuck in the hearts of Raiders fans for well over a decade now. — James Brady

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torentialtribute · 6 years ago

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Dallas Mavericks cash in on Stephen Curry absence to beat Golden State Warriors

Luka Doncic had a triple double, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-best 21 points in a rare start and the Dallas Mavericks took advantage of Stephen Curry & # 39; s absence to defeat the Golden State Warriors 126-91 on Saturday night.

Golden State fell from the top seed in the Western Conference to a half-game behind Denver.

Resting with Curry, Kevin Durant had 25 points and DeMarcus Cousins scored 19. [LukaDoncicproducedanexcellent5inthesecondhalfoftheyear9"

Luka Doncic produced an excellent performance with a triple double victory

The Warriors were 4 for 30 from 3-point range, with Durant 0 for 8 and Klay Thompson missing all four are

Doncic had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Dallas had fallen 12 directly in Oakland since the previous win in April 2012.

Mavs have never fallen behind and have built up their lead to 43 early last quarter, Maxi Kleber had 16 points and Ryan Broekhoff added 17 off the bench to Dallas, who made a losing streak of three weeks contests.

Dirk Nowitzki used a rare start to score a season – best 21 points "

a rare start to score a season – best 21 points "

Dirk Nowitzki used a rare start to score a season – best 21 points

HAWKS 129-127 76ERS

Bring Young scored 32 points, including a last-second, go-ahead floater, the Atlanta-ended Philadelphia & six-game winning streak. With 3.5 seconds left, Young grabbed Kevin Huerter's incoming pass and dribbled past Jimmy Butler before sinking the short, soft jersey for the lead with 0.1 seconds left.

Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Butler had 25 points for Philadelphia.

Taurean Prince had 23 points for Atlanta. ]

The 76ers started the night with a firm grasp in third place in the Eastern Conference, 3 {games for Indiana and four games for Boston.

] different drinks

JAZZ 114 – 83 BULLS

Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Utah rolled to one of his most crooked victories of the season. was only three shy Utah & # 39; s high season. The Jazz flew to a 70-36 lead at rest and never looked back for the sixth time in seven games.

Donovan Mitchell added 16 points and eight rebounds. Derrick Favors scored 13.

Lauri Markkanen led Chicago with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He made only 6 of the 20 shots and the Bulls delivered one of their worst performances in a rough season

TIMBERWOLVES 112-99 GRIZZLIES

Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points and 23 rebounds, and Minnesota ended a five-game slide with a win over Memphis.

Andrew Wiggins added 22 points and rookie Josh Okogie had 17 Minnesota, eliminated from the playoffs Friday night, ending the longest losing streak of the season.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 14 rebounds.

HEAT 113-108 WIZARDS

] Dwyane Wade scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and helped Miami stay alone in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Wade also had nine rebounds as he scored in double digits for a ninth consecutive game. ]

Dion Waiters added 19 points and Josh Richardson had 18 for Miami, which remained a game before Orlando in the race for the last playoff spot in the East. Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Jeff Green scored 25 points for Washington, who lost four consecutive points. Thomas Bryant had 17 points, Bobby Portis Jr. added 14 and both grabbed 11 rebounds. 11th place Wizards fell 6 1/2 games behind Miami with eight to play.

Dwayne Wade helped Miami Heat pass Orlando Wizards with a 20-point version Wizards with a 20-point version

Dwayne Wade helped Miami Heat pass Orlando Wizards with a 20-point version

Walker's 23rd game with 30 or more points.

Kemba Walker scored 18 of his game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte gathered to beat Boston. this season. He added 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Rookie Miles Bridges scored a career-high 20 points, Marvin Williams and Malik Monk added 13 points each and Dwayne Bacon scored 11.

Charlotte won the second straight, improved to 33- 39 and kept his vague postseason hope alive.

Kyrie Irving led Boston with 31 points. Jaylen Brown added 29 points and Marcus Morris 15. The Celtics (43-30) lost their third consecutive game despite hitting 19 3-pointers.

TRAIL BLAZERS 117-112 PISTONS

Damian Lillard had 28 points, nine assists, and six rebounds as Portland Detroit beats for the third consecutive victory.

Blake Griffin led the pistons with 27 points and six assists.

Damian Lillard had 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Portland Trailblazers.

Damian Lillard had 28 points, nine assists, and six rebounds for Portland Trailblazers Assists and six rebounds for Portland Trailblazers "

Damian Lillard had 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Portland Trailblazers

KINGS 112-103 SUNS

Hield made 7 of 14 from outside the arc, giving him

Buddy Hield 25 points and the record in the franchise season for 3-pointers in Sacramento's victory over Phoenix, 245 three-pointers this season, surpassing the 240 figure Peja Stojakovic had set in 2003-04. The Kings made 17 3s overall.

Harrison Barnes scored seven of his 25 points in the last three minutes, Nemanja Bjelica had 13 points and 17 rebounds and De & # 39; Aaron Fox added 13 points and nine assists for Sacramento Marvin Bagley III had 16 points and 11 rebounds

[1 9459002] Devin Booker scored 32 points and Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.

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#Dallas Mavericks cash in on Stephen Curry absence to beat Golden State Warriors"

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buddyrabrahams · 6 years ago

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10 early NBA Rookie of the Year candidates

We’re a third of the way through the NBA season, and a number of players have staked an early claim for postseason hardware. Recently, we reviewed 10 early candidates for MVP.

Though no rookie will enter that conversation this season (the last rookie to win the award was Wes Unseld in 1968-69), a few first-year players look like future MVP candidates. Here are 10 rookies who have gotten off to a hot start – the leading candidates, at this point, to win Rookie of the Year.

10. Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets

Bridges made an interesting decision choosing to return to Michigan State for his sophomore year. Though he had a solid season, he didn’t help his draft stock, and he may have hurt it slightly. A top prospect out of high school, he fell to No. 12 in the draft. In his rookie campaign, Bridges isn’t putting up jaw-dropping numbers — 7.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. But he’s playing 20 minutes a night for a surprisingly good Charlotte team (currently No. 6 in the East), and he’s shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Last week, he dropped a career-high 16 points and connected on three of his six three-point attempts. Look for his role in James Borrego’s offense to continue to increase.

9. Kevin Knox, New York Knicks

Knox was a favorite to win Rookie of the Year heading into the season, as the Knicks lacked a clear No. 1 scoring option with Kristaps Porzingis out for the foreseeable future. Knox hasn’t been great, but he’s had more opportunity than most rookies. He’s playing 21.4 minutes per game. Though he’s had some off nights (like a 1 for 7 showing against Detroit in late November), and his Player Efficiency Rating is only 9.5, Knox seems to be finding his groove. In his last two games, he’s put up 26 points and 15 rebounds (against Charlotte) and 19 points and seven rebounds (against Cleveland). Another Knicks rookie who narrowly missed this list: the surprising Allonzo Trier, who went undrafted out of Arizona.

8. Wendell Carter Jr., Chicago Bulls

Carter has been exactly as expected: consistent. The Duke product was ready to play from the second he stepped onto an NBA court. Though the Bulls have had a miserable season and coach Fred Hoiberg was canned, Carter has been a bright spot. His PER of 15.9 is seventh-best among rookies. In a recent game at Detroit, he scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He has five double-doubles this season. Carter is taking fewer shots now that Lauri Markkanen is back, and he’ll need to develop a better outside shot to take that ‘next step’ – but early signs are overwhelmingly positive. Bulls fans should be encouraged.

7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Clippers

Gilgeous-Alexander was one of my favorite prospects in the draft. Watching him in his lone season at Kentucky, he just seemed to “get it” – and he had the ability to really turn it on when the moment was biggest, as we saw in the NCAA tournament. “Man, he got the midrange down,” Kevin Durant recently said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “His midrange is so good…he’s probably the guy that stood out the most because I never watched him in college…he got confidence on him.” After dealing Chris Paul, the Clippers have found their point guard of the future. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, with only 1.8 turnovers.

6. Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs are another team having a miserable season. At 7-21, the post-LeBron era (Part II) is off to a rough start. Like Chicago, Cleveland has already moved on from its coach. But, like the Bulls, the Cavs should be encouraged by the play of their first-round pick. He’s another guy who’s not afraid of the moment. In a recent battle with Steph Curry, he scored 21 points. With 15.8 points per game, Sexton is third among rookies. His three-point shot has been better than advertised, too. Though he doesn’t attempt many jumpers from downtown, he’s connecting on 43.6 percent of his attempts. After coming off of the bench for the first 10 games of the season, he’s become a permanent fixture in the Cavs’ starting lineup.

5. Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings

I placed Bagley No. 1 on my summer list of Rookie-of-the-Year candidates. He just seemed “pro ready.” And, for the most part, he has been. The lefty is putting up impressive numbers of 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Dig a little deeper and his performance becomes more impressive. His PER of 18.4 is second among rookies (behind only his long-time rival Deandre Ayton). The Kings are undergoing a renaissance, and with studs like Bagley, De’Aaron Fox, and Buddy Hield, their fans have reason to be optimistic. Bagley has missed some time with back spasms, and he has yet to start a game, but he’s played a key role in Sacramento racing to the West’s No. 8 seed.

4. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

I love this guy. He has “All-Star” written all over him. A 6-foot-11 big with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Jackson can do it all. He’s an explosive scorer. He recently dropped 36 on the Nets, shooting 13 for 22 from the field and adding eight rebounds. He’s received praise from his teammates, with Mike Conley Jr. saying the former Spartan has “the gene to make the big shots in the big time” and is “built for it.” Jackson has jockeyed for minutes with JaMychal Green. One thing Jackson needs to work on: his foul rate. He’s averaging nearly four fouls per game, which has inhibited his ability to stay on the court.

3. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Young received perhaps more flack than any other prospect leading up to the draft -– a result of the “ESPN treatment” he received during his freshman season at Oklahoma -– and he has continued to be under the spotlight as a rookie. He’s had an up-and-down season. In his last game, at Dallas, he dropped 24 points on 11-for-20 shooting and added 10 assists. Dallas came out on top, but Young impressed. You’d better believe Young had that game circled on his calendar, given that the Mavs traded Young for Luka Doncic on draft night. Young still is shooting poorly from outside (24.7 percent), but you have to think he’ll figure that out. His stroke is too pretty for him to continue shooting so inefficiently, and the rest of his game has been better than expected.

2. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

Is Ayton the league’s next dominant big man? That remains to be seen. He has, like Young, had highs and lows. But one thing is for sure: Phoenix got a good one. This guy is going to be an excellent player. The advanced statistics tell the story. He’s the only rookie with a PER over 20 (20.4), and his Value Added of 126.7 is head and shoulders above the competition (Jaren Jackson is second at 68.9). Further, his Estimated Wins Added score of 4.2 is also tops in the league among rookies. With 15.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, he’s started 27 of 28 games this season, and he’s been one of the best players on a miserable Suns team.

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are, like the Kings, one of the league’s early surprising teams. At 15-12, they’re currently No. 7 in the West, and they’ve won three straight. They’re really fun to watch. During Wednesday’s battle with Young and the Hawks, Doncic played the most minutes (35) of any Dallas player. He dropped 24 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. This guy is amazing. He’s out there getting buckets and hanging with veterans while wearing jersey number 77 — what a time. Though, like pretty much every rookie on this list, he’s had some bad games, he’s also been more consistent than any other first-year player. His 32.4 minutes per game leads the Mavericks, and his 18.0 points per game is tied with Harrison Barnes for the team lead. Expect to see him in an All-Star Game in the next two years.

Aaron Mansfield is a freelance sports writer whose work has appeared in Complex, USA Today, and the New York Times. You can reach him via email at [email protected].

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yahoo-the-dagger-blog · 7 years ago

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2018 NCAA tournament title contenders, ranked 1-68

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There is no dominant team in college basketball. Or so the vast majority of commentary and analysis throughout the 2018 season would have you believe. Some used the word “parity.” Others used “chaos” to describe dizzying weeks of upsets suffered by the sport’s bluebloods.

And heading into the 2018 NCAA tournament, that sentiment largely holds, at least in that there is no runaway favorite. There are at least six very legitimate title contenders. They, along with dozens of other Final Four hopefuls, are the teams you’ll read about below, ranked 1-68, and placed into eight distinct tiers.

But there is one that has stood above the rest.

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There is one that, if its jerseys read “Duke” or “North Carolina” or “Kansas” or “Michigan State,” would absolutely be considered college basketball’s dominant team. One that went 31-2 while none of its peers managed fewer than four losses. One that triumphed at Cameron Indoor Stadium and twice over the defending national champs. One that won a demanding ACC by four games, the first to do so since 2000 Duke.

This is a team that, statistically, compares favorably to the top-ranked team in college basketball from three of the previous four seasons, and pales only to one that had Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein and the Harrison twins. One that had John Calipari, and an undefeated record until the Final Four.

This is the team that leads our 1-68 list, which is ordered not based on talent, and not based on regular season performance, but rather based on chances to cut down nets in San Antonio on April 2. The team most likely to do that is Virginia.

TIER 1: THE FAVORITES

1. Virginia (1)

Leave your preconceptions stemming from past NCAA tournament shortcomings at the door. Leave your misconceptions equating slow basketball to inept offense there as well. Virginia plays at a snail’s pace for two reasons: 1. It works for the shots that fuel its deceivingly efficient offense, and 2. opponents spend full shot clocks searching for those same shots against the Cavaliers, and more often than not come up empty.

Statistically, Virginia has the second-best defense of the past 17 years in college basketball, just 0.002 adjusted points per possession behind Calipari’s Memphis. It has added turnover-forcing to its already stocked defensive arsenal. As a result, Tony Bennett’s pack-line defense is as suffocating as ever. And there’s nothing to suggest it won’t continue to be. The Cavs played 16 games against NCAA tournament teams this season, and held 12 of 16 opponents – including Duke, North Carolina and Clemson twice – under a point per possession.

So no, they haven’t been to a Final Four since 1984, and no, their roster isn’t overflowing with NBA lottery picks. So what? The ACC regular-season and tournament champs are damn tough to score against, and damn tough to beat.

Tony Bennett led the Virginia to the 2018 ACC regular season and postseason titles. His Cavaliers are the team to beat in the NCAA tournament. (Getty)

2. Villanova (1)

Jay Wright just keeps churning out contenders. It’s remarkable. Villanova has claimed a top-two seed five years in a row now, and hopefully killed off the “can’t win in March” narrative two years ago with an unforgettable title run.

The consistency is extraordinary, and perhaps the best emblem of Wright’s role in it is the cyclical succession of upperclassmen stars. Josh Hart, a role player as a freshman, took the mantle from Darrun Hilliard and then Ryan Arcidiacono. Hart has now passed it off to Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, who themselves were secondary or tertiary options on the national championship team.

Now they’re the catalysts for what at one point this season was a historically prolific offense. That offense has wobbled at times during conference play, against opponents familiar with Wright’s schemes and personnel. But, led by Brunson and Bridges, and supplemented by the likes of Donte DiVincenzo and Omari Spellman, it’s more capable of six consecutive explosions than any other in college basketball.

3. Duke (2)

The starting five – Trevon Duval, Grayson Allen, Gary Trent Jr., Wendell Carter and Marvin Bagley – could all be first-round NBA draft picks in three months. When they’re clicking, they’re the nation’s best.

But they’re irritatingly unpredictable. The lone senior among them, Allen (ever heard of him?), embodies that. He’s gone for 20-plus points 10 times this season, but has also been held to single digits on eight occasions. His volatility is well documented. And Duke’s zone – Mike Krzyzewski’s cure for an ailing defense – is an improvement but still imperfect. The Blue Devils, therefore, have the widest range of possible outcomes in this three-team top tier.

TIER 2: THE TRUE CONTENDERS

4. Michigan State (3)

The Spartans have all the ingredients of a Final Four team, and perhaps an eventual national champion. They have the Hall of Fame coach (Tom Izzo) and the savvy facilitating point guard (Cassius Winston). They have the bully down low (Nick Ward) and floor-stretchers aplenty. They have the lottery pick (Jaren Jackson) and the lottery pick who came back for a second go-around (Miles Bridges). So what don’t they have?

Two things. One is a track record. A 2-4 record in just six games against NCAA tournament teams is the main source of skepticism. The Spartans could prove that skepticism to be unfounded. But it’s legitimate.

The other is a top-two seed. As a result, the Spartans will likely have to go through the team directly above them on this list and the one directly below them just to get to San Antonio.

5. Kansas (1)

The Jayhawks were Final Four-caliber each of the past two seasons, but were out-dueled by the eventual national champions in 2016, then by scorching-hot Oregon in 2017. This year’s team might actually be a small step behind those two top-seeded squads, but is absolutely capable of doing what they couldn’t. Devonte’ Graham might be the most accomplished player in college hoops. Svi Mykhailiuk, the 20-year-old senior shooting over 45 percent from deep, has had his long-awaited breakout. Udoka Azubuike is a menace around the rim at both ends. And the “Bill Self, choke artist” narrative is worn out.

6. North Carolina (2)

Carolina won the 2017 title primarily on the backs of four big men, only one of whom attempted a 3-pointer all season. The other three departed Chapel Hill with strands of nylon in their caps. The result? Roles on Tobacco Road have been reversed – kind of.

While Coach K and Duke have gone to a double-big starting lineup for the first time since 2013, Roy Williams is legitimately playing stretch-fours, and even stretch-fives! The Tar Heels are shooting more 3s than ever before under Williams (by a wide margin), and former walk-on-turned-Elite Eight hero Luke Maye has been their best player.

They’re still more interior-oriented than the average Division I team, and their front-court depth is one of their distinguishing strengths. But their newfound balance – and two wins over Duke for the first time since 2009 – make them a very intriguing candidate for a repeat.

TIER 3: THE WILD CARDS

7. Arizona (4)

DeAndre Ayton is the most talented player in the nation, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and … Arizona isn’t that good? Or at least Arizona hasn’t been that good?

Seriously, the Wildcats have been pretty ordinary in a worse-than-ordinary Pac-12. Yes, they won the conference – regular season and postseason – but they struggled with opponents they shouldn’t have been struggling with. They lost to some as well. They’re flawed, especially on the defensive end. And in their one game against a team expected to progress to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament – vs. Purdue on a neutral floor – they lost by 25.

However … with all of that being said … Ayton is playing the most monstrous, fear-inducing basketball of his life. The realization had to set in for prospective opponents watching the Pac-12 tourney from afar: Holy s—. How do we stop this guy? And even beyond Ayton, Arizona’s starting five is one of the country’s best.

Perhaps they just got tired of the Pac-12 mediocrity storyline. Perhaps the allegations against head coach Sean Miller woke them up. Perhaps, after years of coming up short as a favorite, the Wildcats could finally get Miller to his first Final Four as an underdog.

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8. Kentucky (5)

Who’d have thought that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – the one relatively unheralded four-star recruit on a roster stacked with five-stars – would be Kentucky’s saving grace? The 6-foot-6 combo guard kept a raw, inexperienced team afloat for much of the season, then led the Wildcats to the SEC tournament title this past weekend. They’ve won seven of eight, and Gilgeous-Alexander might have already played himself into the lottery.

The other side of his brilliance, though? Part of it has come out of necessity. Many of his more highly touted classmates have underperformed, and that’s why Kentucky isn’t anywhere close to the top-five team it was in the preseason. Or at least it hasn’t been … until now?

Calipari’s crew was awesome at the SEC tournament in St. Louis, and there aren’t many reasons it can’t continue to be. That’s why it, along with Arizona, remains a wild card. These two teams aren’t better than Michigan or Purdue. But they have more upside.

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TIER 4: THE FRINGE CONTENDERS

9. Michigan (3)

There was no near-death experience this year. There was, though, another Big Ten tournament title run that seemed to foretell of more March success. And while the Wolverines no longer have their late-clock assassin, Derrick Walton, they have by far their best defense of the John Beilein era.

10. Purdue (2)

The Boilermakers’ inside-outside attack, with five 3-point marksmen (all 39 percent or better) around 7-foot-2 giant Isaac Haas, fluctuates between unstoppable and maddeningly impotent. It’s far more often the former, though, and breakout star Carsen Edwards gives Purdue a perimeter dynamic it lacked last year.

11. Xavier (1)

Easily the most vulnerable of the No. 1 seeds. Behind Trevon Bluiett, Xavier has rotation depth, but not the top-end quality of, say, Kansas or Michigan State. It won just one game against a top-six seed all season, and might be an underdog against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 if that matchup materializes. Speaking of which …

12. Gonzaga (4)

A four-loss, fourth-seeded Gonzaga team previously would have been viewed with skepticism – as unproven, perhaps overrated, maybe even fraudulent. After last year’s legitimizing NCAA tournament run – and even despite losing four of their top six players from that squad – the Zags are once again a Final Four threat.

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13. Cincinnati (2) 14. West Virginia (5) 15. Wichita State (4)

This was supposed to be Gregg Marshall’s best, or at least second-best team at Wichita State. It turned out to be perhaps his worst of the last seven years. But that doesn’t mean the Shockers can’t live up to their name. They or West Virginia could be a very tough out for Villanova in the Sweet 16.

16. Tennessee (3) 17. Texas Tech (3)

TIER 5: THE LONG SHOTS

18. Ohio State (5) 19. Florida (6)

Swept Kentucky. Lost to Vandy. Beat Gonzaga, Cincinnati and very nearly Duke. Lost to Ole Miss. This Florida team can seem Jekyll-and-Hyde-y – which isn’t the worst thing if you’re looking for a surprise Elite Eight pick, but a potential first-round matchup with UCLA looks a lot like a toss-up.

20. Houston (6) 21. Clemson (5)

It’s not as if Donte Grantham’s ACL tear torpedoed their season, but the Tigers are no longer a threat to win more than two games without their second-leading scorer.

22. Miami (6)

Advanced stats and bookies aren’t too enthusiastic, but anybody who watched Miami over the final two weeks of the regular season is. The first-round matchup is admittedly tricky – more on that later – but if nothing else, pick the Hurricanes so you can root for delightful 5-foot-7 freshman guard Chris Lykes.

23. Auburn (4)

Auburn and its draw are emblematic of why it’d be unwise to cram your bracket with upsets. It’s the weakest of the top-four seeds by some margin, but, as you’ll see, it was blessed with a 13-seed that grades out worse than one 16-seed. That’s just how things seemed to work out this year, the vulnerable against the harmless, the armed underdogs against the armored giants.

TIER 6: THE VERY LONG SHOTS

24. TCU (6) 25. Texas A&M (7) 26. Missouri (8)

The Tigers aren’t the 26th best team in the country – not even with a half-fit Michael Porter Jr. But hey, there’s a non-zero chance Porter morphs into the second-coming of Kevin Durant in time for Friday night. After all, he’s only played 25 minutes all season. The unknown tied to his health, but also to his ability, makes Mizzou’s tourney campaign all kinds of unpredictable.

27. NC State (9) 28. Virginia Tech (8) 29. Creighton (8) 30. Butler (10) 31. Seton Hall (8)

There’s almost no separation between these three Big East teams. They won 10 games apiece in conference play, tournament included. They’re No. 27, 25 and 26 in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings. They’re all slight favorites to win in the first round, but none has the firepower to do much thereafter.

32. Nevada (7) 33. Rhode Island (7)

The Rams aren’t playing particularly good basketball right now. But a friend sent me a text back in early January, more than two months before the bracket was revealed, saying he “liked Rhody to upset Duke in the tournament.” And, well …

Rhode Island could meet Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament. (Yahoo Sports)

34. UCLA (11) 35. Davidson (12)

America, meet the new Cinderella. Same as the old Cinderella.

36. Texas (10) 37. Syracuse (11)

The Orange aren’t good. Seriously, they’re one of the worst at-large teams in the field. They’re an underdog against reeling Arizona State at the First Four. But we’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we?

38. Kansas State (9) 39. Alabama (9)

Collin Sexton turned into Russell Westbrook for one breathtaking coast-to-coast sprint to beat Texas A&M, then for a stunning 28-3 early second-half run to topple top-seeded Auburn. If not for him? Alabama would enter the tournament – the National Invitational Tournament, that is – having not won since Feb. 13.

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TIER 7: NOPE, NOT HAPPENING

40. Arkansas (7) 41. Providence (10)

Impossible to know if a rip-roaring (and pants-ripping) Big East tournament tear, in which it took down Xavier and very nearly Villanova, was a sign of things to come or an outlier in an otherwise pedestrian season.

42. Florida State (9) 43. Loyola-Chicago (11)

The Ramblers’ four-around-one offense, which runs through slick-passing freshman big Cameron Krutwig in the high post, could give opponents fits. It and an energetic, fundamentally sound defense are why Loyola leads our list of five potential Cinderellas. There’s a reason the point spread in that Miami matchup is just 2.5. [Insert eyes emoji here]

44. St. Bonaventure (11) 45. San Diego State (11) 46. New Mexico State (12)

Jemerrio Jones is, statistically, the best rebounder in the country. He’s also 6-foot-5.

47. Murray State (12) 48. Arizona State (11) 49. Oklahoma (10)

Trae Young is a very good basketball player. This is not a commentary on him. But his teammates? The less said, the better. The Sooners haven’t won away from home in 2018.

50. UNC Greensboro (13)

The Spartans are led by seventh-year head coach Wes Miller – yes, the same Wes Miller who played under Roy Williams at North Carolina. And yes, that should make you feel old if you have fond memories.

51. South Dakota State (12)

Mid-major legend Mike Daum has a bit more around him this year. He also still takes over 36 percent of his team’s shots when he’s on the court. But nobody has a problem with that, because he makes 43 percent of the ones he takes from beyond the arc.

TIER 8: DEFINITELY NOT

52. Buffalo (13) 53. Marshall (13) 54. Stephen F. Austin (14)

The Lumberjacks still wreak defensive havoc, turning opponents over on more than a quarter of their possessions, but they don’t quite have the giant-killing capabilities that Brad Underwood’s teams had.

55. Montana (14) 56. Georgia State (15) 57. Bucknell (14) 58. Penn (16)

If too many people talk about it, it won’t happen. So keep your mouth shut.

(What’s “it”? Hint)

59. Charleston (13)

yahoo

TIER 9: ABSOLUTELY NOT

60. Lipscomb (15) 61. Wright State (14) 62. Iona (15) 63. Cal State Fullerton (15) 64. Radford (16) 65. UMBC (16) 66. LIU Brooklyn (16) 67. Texas Sothern (16) 68. North Carolina Central (16)

Kevin Ware, Christian Laettner, Ali Farokhmanesh, Bo Kimble

– – – – – – –

Henry Bushnell covers soccer and college basketball for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.

More from Yahoo Sports: • Did a Lakers usher really not recognize Jack Nicholson? • How the NCAA’s mistake could lead to historic tourney upset • Heartbreaking photo shows sad side of March Madness • Short deal for QB Cousins could go long way for elite NFL players

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cover32-yahoopartner-blog · 7 years ago

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#VikingsRank: Week 5

The Vikings are at a strange crossroads in the 2017 season. Despite a dominant defense, their inconsistent play has kept them from being among the NFC elite. They are currently on a good week/bad week streak, looking dominant in games one and three and flat in games two and four.

For this week’s #VikingsRank, the defense is going to dominate largely because of these inconsistencies. Unfortunately, Dalvin Cook, who ranked eighth in last week’s rankings, is now off the list due to his season-ending knee injury.

15. C.J. Ham

Ham cannot rank much higher than this, no matter how he plays because he just does not get on the field that much. The Vikings are one of the few teams that uses a fullback but they still only use Ham on 16.5 percent of offensive snaps. Still, when he is on the field, few Vikings play their position better than Ham plays his. Cook has broken off a few long runs due in large part to Ham throwing the key block. He even has a couple of touches for 13 yards and a touchdown.

14. Brian Robison

Robison stays on the ranking but just barely. His veteran presence will always have an impact on the field but his actual play is still lacking, even in a week four game when the Vikings controlled the Lions’ line from start to finish. With only two games recording a single tackle this year, Robison’s rotation time could be waning.

13. Andrew Sendejo

Sendejo was the leading tackler once again Sunday. His pass coverage slipped a couple of times against Detroit but his presence as a run-stopper from the secondary and having Harrison Smith next to him makes up for it.

12. Sam Bradford

Bradford drops five spots without taking a snap. Why is that? It is because of the old sports adage: The best ability is availability. Minnesota is not going anywhere if Case Keenum is the quarterback for the long run so the Vikings absolutely need Bradford to return to the field and stay on it.

11. Riley Reiff

Reiff threw the key block to get Cook into the endzone Sunday and continues to play well against the opponents’ best pass-rusher. He and the rest of the line would look even better with a quarterback who is not so quick to bail on the pocket.

10. Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph was finally targeted Sunday the way a guy his size and athleticism should be. He finished with only two catches because Keenum air-mailed him a couple of times, but for the first time this season, he looked like the downfield weapon he has been in past years.

9. Danielle Hunter

That is more like it. In terms of pure pass-rushing ability, Hunter is number-one on the Vikings. His speed and quickness creates mismatches for any NFL tackle, yet for most of 2017, he has looked like he had Velcro attached to his jersey. Sunday he broke out with two sacks and pressure on almost 20 percent of his pass-rush snaps and a pass deflection, to boot.

8. Adam Thielen

Thielen committed the fumble that sealed Minnesota’s fate Sunday, but he was once again the most-targeted receiver on the team. His most underrated quality is his strong hands, which saved completions on multiple occasions against Detroit. He is Mr. Consistency on an offense that has been largely hit-or-miss in 2017.

7. Eric Kendricks

Mike Zimmer has dialed up more double A-gap blitzes against the Lions which was a big reason Stafford was on the run so much. Kendricks recorded his first sack of the season against Detroit as a result. Kendricks also continues to show an uncanny ability to pick up the first read in play-action, forcing the quarterback to throw the ball away. It is a subtle strength but it has a large impact.

6. Xavier Rhodes

Rhodes kept another receiver in check Sunday, stifling Marvin Jones Jr. when in man coverage. However, Rhodes made a bad mistake in zone coverage, passing Jones off on the outside to Sendejo when the safety had to stay inside on the slot. As a result, the Lions converted a third-and-long. Still, Rhodes will continue to be tasked with getting the opponents’ top target off his game as one of the best man-on-man defenders in football.

5. Anthony Barr

What more can be said about Barr? He is the most versatile player on the Viking defense. He gets pressure on the quarterback, stops the run and excels in pass coverage. With six more tackles and a pass deflection Sunday, Barr looks poised at the quarter pole to make his third-consecutive Pro Bowl.

4. Harrison Smith

Smith drops two spots not due to any slip in play but rather the excellence of those above him. Like Sendejo, he performs best when he drops into the box to stop the run as it essentially gives the Vikings an extra linebacker. He was targeted three times in coverage Sunday, allowing two receptions but both were checkdowns and accounted for only nine yards.

3. Stefon Diggs

Diggs became one of the most important non-quarterback offensive players in the league as soon as Cook went down. With five catches for 98 yards in week four, Diggs was the guy keeping drives going, pulling Minnesota along when the offense was sputtering. Going forward, his targets are only going to increase as the Vikings are forced to throw the ball a lot more.

2. Everson Griffen

After getting his fifth sack of the season Sunday, Griffen has now recorded one in each of the first four games. He added two more quarterback hits as well as a tackle for loss. With Hunter finally showing some teeth on the other side of the line, Griffen’s opportunities to get to the quarterback should only increase.

1. Linval Joseph

While the defense as a whole let up a few more rushing yards than they had, Joseph himself was a beast once again. With nine total tackles and his first sack of the season, not to mention multiple beaten double-teams and even one beaten triple-team, Joseph has put himself in the conversation of best interior lineman in the NFL.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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