Ducks Nuts: Week 4 Pac-12 Predictions

Note: home teams are on bottom of box score

Pac-12 Football: Week 3 Predictions

Oregon LSU video preview

The Duck Nuts first video preview is here. Make sure to check it out!

Oregon Ducks Football: Season Preview

Offense: A

The Ducks were the nations highest scoring team last year, averaging over 47 points a game, and this year Chip Kelly wants the offense's pace to be even faster. The offense returns six starters (QB Darron Thomas, RB LaMichael James, OL Mark Asper and Carson York, TE David Paulson, WR Lavasier Tuinei) but lost their top two receivers and three offensive linemen. But with these uncertainties comes the highest preseason ranking in Oregon Ducks football history. While the offense loses the aforementioned players, the returning core of Thomas, James and Kenjon Barner have the offensive unit looking as strong as ever. Oregon's backfield is as strong as any in the country. Players like lineman Darrion Weems rotated regularly with the first team offense and will transition into a starting role nicely.

Quarterback: A

Starter: Darron Thomas

Darron Thomas comes back for his second year under the helm after possibly the best season a Duck quarterback has ever had. Thomas showed his dual-threat skills with 486 rushing yards and 2,881 passing yards. Thomas had 346 passing yards in the national championship, but could have made some better reads against Auburn's defense (throwing two interceptions). Thomas has shown leadership ability all off-season and has set the standard for all his teammates through his actions.

Brian Bennett is an intriguing prospect that will back-up Thomas. Bennett showed his strong arm and fast feet in the spring game. Fighting for the 3^rd spot will be incoming freshman Marcus Mariotta and walk-on Dustin Haines. There is a strong chance Mariotta could redshirt if the other QB's stay healthy.

Running Backs: A+

Starter: LaMichael James

The Ducks have the best group of running backs in the nation. This platoon of running backs is led by LaMichael James, who led the nation in rushing yards last year, finished 3^rd in the Heisman, and is 20 yards away from being the Ducks all-time rusher. Kenjon Barner is no scrub as a back up either. In the lone game Barner started (New Mexico, 2010), he had 147-yards rushing, 60-yards receiving, and five total touchdowns.

Fighting for the other spots will be redshirt freshman Lache Seastrunk, walk-on Ayele Ford, and incoming freshman De'Anthony Thomas. Seastrunk and Thomas are both 5-star recruits and came to Oregon with high expectations. More than likely Seastrunk will be the Ducks’ third running back option with Thomas either redshirting or playing special teams and playing the  “tazer” position.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: B+

Starting Receivers: Lavasier Tuinei, Josh Huff, and Justin Hoffman

Starting Tight End: David Paulson

The Ducks lose their top two receivers in Jeff Maehl and Drew Davis, but have plenty of depth coming into replace them. Josh Huff and Lavasier Tuinei should be the top receivers for the Ducks but it's a mystery after that. Players like Daryle Hawkins, Justin Hoffman and Nick Cole are just a few players who could be in the mix.

And don't forget about the four newcomers to the team: Rahsaan Vaughn, Devon Blackmon, Tacoi Sumler and B.J Kelley all will have the opportunity to contribute this year. And the starting tight-end will be star David Paulson with redshirt freshman Curtis White and true freshman Colt Lyerla battling for the second string spot.

Offensive Lineman: B

Starters: LT Darrion Weems, LG Carson York, C Hroniss Grasu, RG Ramsn Golpashin, and RT Mark Asper

As mentioned earlier, the Ducks lose three starting linemen from last year's team. However the Ducks have plenty of depth at the position and are better positioned than the 2009 season when they lost three starters as well. Coming into the 2009 season the offensive linemen had a combined 19 starts while this 2011 group has a combined 55 career starts. This group will face an instant test against the size and speed of the LSU defense.

Defense: B+

While Oregon’s offense is what most football fans know about the team, Oregon’s defense is still one of the top in the Pac-12 and often goes overlooked. The Ducks return five starters from last season’s national championship game run, and Oregon must replace key seniors Casey Matthews, Spencer Paysinger and Kenny Rowe. But with how much the Ducks rotated players on defense, usually around 25 players a game, the team should still have a great unit going into the 2011 season.

Defensive Line: B

Starters: Terrell Turner, Taylor Hart, Ricky Heimuli, and Brandon Hanna

The ducks lose three of their four starting defensive lineman, and as mentioned earlier, most notably defensive end Kenny Rowe. The Ducks also lose both defensive tackles, Brandon Bair and Zac Clark.

Returning are seniors Terrell Turner and Brandon Hanna as the starting defensive ends. And on the inside of the line, returners Ricky Heimuli, Taylor Hart, Wade Keliikipi and Isaac Remington will battle for the two starting defensive tackles spots.

With how much the Ducks rotate, seeing seven or eight different defensive lineman each game wouldn’t be a surprise.

Linebackers: B-

Starters: Dewitt Stuckey, Michael Clay and Josh Kaddu

The line-backing unit is easily the weakest on the team. The Ducks replace the longstanding production of Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger, now in the NFL.

The starting Ducks linebackers are likely to be Dewitt Stuckey, Michael Clay and Josh Kaddu. With this starting unit, reserves Derrick Malone, suspended linebacker Kiko Alonso, up-and-coming star Boseko Lokombo, and true freshman Anthony (Prime Time Player) Wallace all will likely see the field regularly.

With this unit being so weak, the Ducks will constantly be rotating fresh bodies. Look for any of the reserves to earn a starting spot at some point in the season.

Secondary: A

Starters: Cliff Harris, Anthony Gildon, John Boyett and Eddie Pleasant

The Ducks’ secondary may be it’s strongest overall unit.

Both safeties Eddie Pleasant and John Boyett return, as well as flashy (currently suspended) cornerback Cliff Harris. With senior Anthony Gildon in place to secure the final spot in the defensive backfield, Oregon has an abundance of sophomores and freshman ready to secure their spot on the second team.

The second and third team corners are Dior Mathis, Scott Grady, Troy Hill, Terrence Mitchell, and James Scales. Out of this list, Hill and Mitchell were most impressive in spring ball. For the safety positions, Erick Dargan and Brian Jackson are the primary reserves with Avery Patterson splitting time as a corner and safety.

Overall Preview: Ducks finish 13-1 Pac-12 Champions, Rose Bowl Win

Best-Case Scenario: Ducks finish 14-0, Crowned National Champions

After falling just short a season ago, the Ducks come into 2011 more motivated then ever and take care of unofficial business. With the offense being carried by Heisman Trophy winner LaMichael James and Davey O’Brien award winner Darron Thomas, the Ducks offense takes another step forward.

Worst-Case Scenario: 7-5, end season on a three game losing streak

The 2011 season could go the way of the 2007 season in which the Ducks worked their way to the No. 2 ranking in the country, only to lose their starting quarterback and finish with three consecutive loses. The Ducks season may hinder on the health of Darron Thomas.

USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll: Where the Voters Went Wrong

Today, the USA Today Coaches poll was released with an incredible eight SEC teams (5/6 in the SEC West) in the preseason top-25. The Duck Nuts, who write with as little bias as possible, are flabbergasted that this east coast bias has become so extreme. While the SEC is the best conference in college football, the Duck Nuts aren’t denying that, they don’t deserve to have this many teams ranked this high. (FULL LIST HERE)

The first issue that we have is that the coaches’ poll is unbelievably biased. A total 6 of the 59 coaches who decide the poll are from the SEC. One coach in that list is Steve Spurrier, who was so famously caught with a bizarre vote a few seasons ago and admitted he has an assistant vote for him.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is also on the list, and admits he doesn’t know who and where to rank teams. If coaches like these two are voting in a poll that decides who plays for the national title, how valid can this poll really be?

Yes the SEC has won the previous five national championships, they are clearly the best league in college football, and they deserve to be credited for that. The grind a team in the SEC faces for a full season is more intense than any of the other power conferences.

Many will argue that it shouldn’t matter what league the SEC teams are in. If those eight teams are good enough to be ranked that high, they should be there. We would agree. Several of these teams have major flows and are ranked too high.

Arizona State and West Virginia were both robbed by the coaches. ASU, who many believe will win the Pac-12 South, comes in at No. 26. They return 20, count that 20, starters and finished the season on a three game winning streak.

Penn State is always tough in Beaver Stadium under Joe Pa, and will have Robert Bolden back for his second year under the helm behind the likes of: Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida.

All of the teams in the SEC ranked above Arizona State, West Virgnia and Penn State have some serious flaws. Let's start with Auburn, who only returns eight starters, who was underrated last year but this year appear to be overrated due to the fact they just won the national championship.

Georgia's top running back Caleb King, who was slated to be their top offensive threat, was dismissed from school and plans to enter the supplemental draft. Georgia will also miss their all world wide receiver A.J. Green this season, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Georgia is also still in the process of changing their defense to the 3-4. If Georgia's Mark Richt has one more bad year, he could be out of the head coaching position in Athens.

Mississippi State will have to replace all three starting linebackers from last season and will take a hit on the defensive side of the ball.

Florida brings in a new coach and offensive coordinator, and is making a major change on offense moving from the spread to a pro style offense. At best even with Florida's top of the line recruiting, this change will take a few years to get the personnel and system aligned correctly.

For these reasons we believe that the new poll is yet another example of east coast bias showing it’s ugly head. And while the SEC is the most dominant conference in college football, eight teams is a gross over evaluation.

Agree or disagree with what the Duck Nuts have to say? Comment below and be sure to follow our blog. Look for our podcast, soon to come.

Randy Moss: Hall of Famer or Quitter?

The recent retirement of Randy Moss got the Ducks Nuts thinking about his legacy in the NFL. Here is what we think:

Chris: With his spectacular catches and his spectacular mouth, Randy Moss has cemented himself as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history. Moss burst on the scene in 1998, finishing the season with 17 touchdowns ( a rookie record) and a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. Moss was known as the freak and rightfully so because he is the most athletic receiver the league has ever seen.

Alex: Slow down there turbo. Randy Moss is a freak of an athlete, but he is not the most athletically gifted receiver of all-time. There's a guy whose name rhymes with Larry Mice, who might have something to say about that.

Not to quote the idiot, Collin Cowherd, but there are are only a handful of guys in all of sports who are so incredibly gifted, that they can put in no effort and still be a first ballot HOF player. A Charles Barkley of the NBA. A Manny Ramirez (had he not been busted, twice) of the MLB. And of course, Randy Moss of the NFL.

When I look back at the player that was Randy Moss, I'll remember the man who quit on four cities. One of them twice. As the great Darrelle Revis said, "He's just a slouch”.

Chris: Randy Moss is a much better athlete than Jerry Rice, but that's another discussion for another day. There truly has not been a player like Moss in NFL history. With his combination of size, speed and acceleration, he became of the center of the defensive gameplan and always gave defensive coordinators headaches. Moss not only could get the deep ball but could take a screen pass or a reverse to the house. I was witness to Randy Moss completely obliterating the Cowboys on numerous Thanksgiving games.

Alex: I remember Moss in his prime as well. But no one will ever touch Jerry Rice. Not in raw skill. Not in athleticism. Not in statistics. Moss isn't even close. Jerry Rice, also never quit. You may remember Randy Moss for his skills, but I'll remember the wasted talent. In the era of prima donna wide outs. Moss takes the cake. Look at his last season in the league: he was thrown away by three different teams! It was this play which got him cut by the Vikings, where he quit on a play when his team desperately needed a touchdown.

Chris: Last year was an abberation for Moss. The Moss I remember had arguably the greatest season ever for a receiver with 98 receptions, 1500 yards, and 23 touchdowns. Moss also did it with consistency, playing 10 seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards, which is 2nd most in NFL history. To close out my argument I'll leave you with one more stat: Moss had 153 receiving touchdowns, tied for 2nd most in NFL history.Moss was straight cash homie.

Alex: One phenomenal season doesn't define a career. With the 2007/2008 Patriots Moss and Brady made for the best tandem since Young and Rice. However, I cannot support a guy who for his entire career played at 75% effort. If that. Moss should not be commended, but condemned. Good Bye. And good riddance.

So what do you think? Is Moss a quitter or a transcendent Hall of Famer? Let us know by commenting and make sure to follow us.

The Duck Nuts: Miami's Most Overrated, LeBron Or Reggie

Today First Take posed the questionwhich player is more overrated Reggie Bush or Lebron James?

The impetus for this question came from Reggie Bush's trade today to the Dolphins

The Duck Nuts have their own thoughts on this issue and wanted to share them

Chris: First off Reggie Bush to the Dolphins is a horrible fit. Under Tony Sparano they've been a power running, punch you in the face and take no shit kind of team.

Now to this bogus question that showcases First Take's inability to come up with good questions. This isn't even a debate. Reggie Bush was supposed to be the next O.J. Simpson and he can't even become the starter. Lebron has 2 MVP's.

Alex: You, like that dumb woman, don't understand the question. It's not who was more overrated going into their respective leagues, it's RIGHT NOW who is a more overrated player? NOBODY considers Bush to be a quality running back, MANY PEOPLE consider LeBron to be the best basketball player ever. Bush is not overrated at all, LeBron is incredibly overrated.

Chris: Skip Bayless is the king of idiots and and always will be. Jemele Hill was right in this case.

If the question is framed like you say it is, they why is this even a intriguing question. Jemele Hill handled this question so well because it is so obvious but she was attacked by 2 guys with faulty logic and I would have gone off the deep end.

But if you want me to "understand" the question I'd say this Reggie Bush is still showing he's overrated because a team actually decided to trade for him and see if they could unlock his immense potential and become the starter for them.

Alex: Skip Bayless is an idiot who gives Cowherd a run for his money. But here he is right. Even the impartial host sees the stupidity in Hill's case.

And we don't even know what his trade value is. He isn't worth more than a second round pick because everyone already knows he is a bust.

But he still isn't as big of a disappointment as LeBron. Nobody was giving Bush the "Chosen One" title and nobody expected him to take over the league. Yes he did bust, but nobody has crumbled to pressure of great expectations like LeBron.

NOBODY

Chris: Ok look at your own words

Nobody expected Bush to take over the league. 1st off yes they did after his last year at USC experts thought he would revolutionize the position.

Secondly, everyone expected Lebron to take over the league and HE DID. Yea choke on your own words.

Alex: WHAT!? LeBron took over the league!? Okay, now I know you're joking. It's hard to take over anything when you don't have a single ring. Not one. Last time I checked, Reggie does. I might have to go make a page "Silly LeBron, rings are for Reggie".

Chris: Lebron is the consensus best player in the game

--Lebron had 2 consecutive MVP's

--2nd best court vision in the history of the NBA behind Magic

--1st forward in NBA history to average more than 8.0 assists per game

--Most athletically gifted freak in the NBA's history

--Most unstoppable force going to the hole ever

--Only player in NBA history to average at least 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for their career

--One of three players in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a season

need I say more!

Alex: I'll take rings. If you want to look at numbers, Wilt is the best player ever. LeBron got most of those numbers for a team whose offense was "give LeBron the ball and hope something good happens".

Chris: Oh and are you realllllllllly going to count Reggie Bush's ring as legit

Thats like congratulating Luke Walton or D.J. Mbenga for his rings

Come on Alex you should know better.

Alex: Silly LeBron, rings are for Adam Morrison

Oregon Ducks Football: Evaluating Ducks in the NFL

Recently teams in the NFL were allowed to sign free agents, and an abundance of Ducks have been picked-up. Here's what the Duck Nuts see shaking out...


Which Duck from the 2011 Draft Class will be most successful in the NFL?

Alex: Jeff Maehl

This one is pretty obvious in my opinion.

Maehl is one of the best Ducks’ receivers of all-time, and a player who gets overlooked way too much. I legitimately believe that he will be a go-to receiver in the NFL within 3-5 seasons.

Chris: Brandon Bair

While Bair is 27, I feel like he can be the Dejuan Blair of the NFL. Bair is 6'7 and can easily add 20 more pounds to his frame and be a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE.

With more and more teams moving to the 3-4 I think this is where Bair could thrive. With his combination of size and agility Bair could be a starter in the league for five years easy.

Which Duck will surprise the most people in the league?

Alex: Brandon Bair

Well, I would go with Maehl again but to switch things I’ll go with Brandon Bair. It surprised me that Bair wen undrafted, and I think he’ll find his way onto an NFL roster by kickoff.

Chris: Jeff Maehl

Maehl has some of the best hands and really surprised people including myself by coming within .006 seconds of the record in the 3 cone drill, which showcases a player's agility. Maehl could make a nice living in the slot and is in the mold of a Brandon Stokley/ Wes Welker.

There weren't many expectations for Maehl coming out of Paradise HS in California as a two star safety but he ended up being one of the best receivers in duck history. Maehl has been surprising people his whole life and next season, it will be Maehl time every sunday.

Which Duck will be drafted first in next year’s NFL Draft?

Alex:

Oregon doesn’t have an astounding group of seniors going into next season. They do however have a great group of juniors. Assuming Cliff Harris and LaMichael James choose to return for their senior seasons, the favorite has to be David Paulson.

Paulson is a top-5 tight end in the eyes of most NCAA talent evaluators. He is projected by some to be a late-second round pick and may very well be the first Duck to be called next draft.

Chris:

With only 11 seniors on the roster this year for the Ducks, I'm going to go with Cornerback Cliff Harris. Cliff burst on the scene last year as a corner, returner, and prime quote giver.

Harris excels in man coverage and loves to go for interceptions which is why he got six interceptions, but is also why he occasionally gets burned (Case in point out and up against arizona). The consensus All-American really reminds of Deion "primetime" Sanders and should be the cheese on top of some lucky teams nachos.

2011 Recruiting Questions: Ducks Nut Style

The Ducks Nuts can't wait for football season and we wanted to get our juices flowing and minds ready for the season by preparing some questions about new faces that will be appearing in Eugene next year.


Most Hyped up recruit?


Chris:A local Oregon Recruit, Colt Lyerla was one of the best athletes in the 2011 class and a five-star recruit according to some scouting services. Lyerla is equipped to play multiple positions but will likely end up at TE. At 6'5 230 Lyerla already has a pro body and will mature even more in Eugene.


Alex: This is by far the most obvious answer out of all the questions. De’Anthony Thomas, CB/RB out of Crenshaw, is one the most highly touted players ever to sign with the Ducks. Whichever side of the field he ends up playing, his presence will be felt very soon. Watch out for the “Black Mamba” Ducks fans.


Recruit with biggest impact in 2011?


Chris: I'm going to go with a surprise pick here and go with Juco WR Rahsann Vaughn. According to some scouting services Vaughn is a four-star recruit and is regarded as the top Juco wideout in the nation. With Vaughn being a sophomore I think he'll pick up the dense Oregon playbook faster than his more highly regarded WR recruits. While Vaughn is under the radar right now, he will make his name known to many come football season.


Alex: Before yesterday, I would have said one of Oregon’s stable of receivers. But with the announcement of Brandon Williams retirement from football, I have to go with TE Colt Lyerla.


Lyerla is a freak of an athlete, and he’s been impressing coaches and fans all off-season. He was arguably the most impressive player in the spring game, and he will now likely get extended playing time in 2011.


Freshman who Ducks fans should know about?


Chris:If you asked me which Lake I thought would get more playing time this upcoming season I would bypass five-star running back Lache Seastrunk and pick Hawai'i product Lake Koa-Ka'ai. The Ducks are reloading their defensive line and Lake has the skills to step in right away and contribute.


Alex:Anthony (Big Time Player) Wallace
One of Oregon’s weaker positions this off-season is linebacker. Wallace, a 4-star linebacker according to most recruiting sites, is an enforcer. He may not get a starting spot this season, but he will be a force in his career with the Ducks.


How many recruits will earn starting spots sometime during the 2011 season?


Chris: WR- Rashaan Vaughn, Tacoi Sumler


           TE- Colt Lyerla


Alex:Assuming no injuries occur, I see 3 freshman stepping into a starting role this year.
1. Colt Lyerla
2. Devon Blackmon/Tacoi Sumler
Oregon’s first position of need is TE, where two highly touted freshman will battle for a spot opposite David Paulson. And lastly one of Oregon’s incoming wide receiver is likely to get a starting spot.


Recruit that will surprise the most people?


Chris: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
Say that name ten times fast. This southern California four-star recruit is drawing comparisons to Nnamdi Asomugha due to his great skills in man coverage. In a few years Olomu will be the Ducks top corner.


Alex: Lake Koa-Ka'ai:

This guy isn't a household name yet, but he will be by season's end. Oregon's weakest position is defensive line, and Lake has the abilities to step in right away help out the front seven.

Espy Review

For Sports fans the top sports show is always the Espy's. We get to see our favorite athletes out of their uniforms and walking on the red carpet. Since the Ducks Nuts have been watching the Espy's since we have been little we wanted to take on a few Espy related questions.

Who do you want to see host?

Chris: Kevin Hart

A top flight comedian that is a bit under the radar is just what the Espy’s need and has been their protocol so far. Hart has really been rising in hilarity with his two comedy specials, Seriously Funny and I’m a Grown Little Man. Hart is a sports lover from Philly and would fit like a glove for the Espy’s. I can already imagine a bunch of jokes about a height comparison between Hart and the athletes.

Alex: Vince Vaughn
The ESPYS are all about humor. Seth Meyer’s has done a great job the past two seasons keeping the worst awards shot entertaining, and whoever follows him has big shoes to fill.
Vince Vaughn is a known sports fan, and great comedian who would be great as a host. If ESPN decides to not go with Meyer’s for a third time, I hope it’s Vaughn.
Which award did the voters get wrong?

Chris: Best Play

Alex with your choice for Cam Newton, I am mad you even uttered that unspeakable word in this scared place of blog. I think it would be smart for you to submit your letter of resignation immediately. 
Now to why they got the best play wrong. There has been a lot of hype for the U.S women’s world cup, some of which I think is occuring because there isn’t much going on right now. Submitted a few days before the Espy’s Abby Wambach’s play gained a ton of steam. While the play was spectacular and one of the best of the year, Marshawn Lynch’s touchdown run against the Saints in the playoffs was the best run I’ve ever seen. I have been watching football since before I can remember and I have never seen any run as crazy as Lynch’s. He broke at least nine tackles and went into self-acclaimed “Beast Mode”.

Award to add?

Chris: Best postgame interview

Every year in sports there are memorable postgame speeches by coaches and players. From Dennis Green’s “they are who we thought they were” to Mike Gundy’s impassioned “I’m a man, I’m 40!” speech, there really is no shortage to pick from.

Alex: Biggest F*#%-UP of the Year

How funny would it be to hear them rip Kyle Brotzman a little bit more? This award would easily be my favorite and I’d imagine a lot of other fans’ favorite as well.
Favorite host?

Alex: Seth Meyers

I alluded to this a little bit in my first posting. Seth Meyers is without a doubt the best host of all-time. His joke about Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian was priceless. Meyer’s keeps the show funny throughout.
A shout out to honorable mention: Norm McDonald. 


Chris: Jamie Foxx

Without a doubt, Jamie Foxx is the most incredible host in Espy history. Jamie Foxx is the Michael Jordan of Espy hosts. When I was little, I watched the Espy’s with him numerous times. No further proof is needed rather than Foxx sing “I Wanna be your tennis ball” twice to Serena Williams (note two links)

NBA Lockout: Which side are you on?

Intro: The Duck Nuts next topic is the current labor dispute between NBA owners and the players. Recently, players like Deron Williams have opted to "take their talents" overseas in order to assure a paycheck. This work stoppage appears as if it will last a long time. In this debate, Alex will take the side of the owners with Chris representing the players. Enjoy…

Alex: It is perfectly clear to me that the owners have the upper hand in this lockout, and for good reason. Recently 22 teams reported losses of over $300 million in net profit, and many others barely gaining any money. Even with the increased viewership and popularity for the league this past season, teams and owners are losing massive amounts of money. Why Chris do you believe that the players have any right to be demanding more money when teams are losing this much?

Chris: Alex as a matter of fact the players aren't demanding more money. They are willing to make concessions including a $500 million pay cut over the next five years, which would result in the players basketball related income being reduced from 57 percent to 54.7 percent. Also, the owners are the greedy ones here, not the players. The max salary the players can make starts out at about 17 million while the owners can make an unlimited sum and can come out way more nicely than the players.

Alex: Only $17 million? I think I just shed a tear. One of the biggest issues and one of the main reasons for this lockout is the ridiculous max salary. Too many players earn max salary or near max salary contracts. You can put that blame on the owners or players, but either way it's hurting the league.

The problem is teams are losing money, a lot of money. Over the past few decades’ player salaries have sky rocketed, while owners are losing millions and millions more each season. Asking simply to break even isn't a huge request. Until the players realize they have no authority in handling where the money goes, this lockout will not end.

Chris: 17 million seems like a large amount of money but is overshadowed by the billions of dollars the NBA makes overall. Who exactly is giving players these large contracts? That’s right, the owners who dig themselves into a hole.

The owners aren't even giving the players close to a fair deal with their proposed offer of 2 billion dollars. At a glance, this seems fair, but as the NBA's revenue rises and grows over the next five years the player’s deal will be outdated and unfair.

The players should propose an elastic cap to quell the owners concerns of losing money. This would mean when the owners make money, so do the players. However when the owners make less money, so do the players. Potentially this is a risky situation for the players, but if it works out, it would be fair for both the players and the owners. Alex, what do you think of this plan?

Alex: I agree with you completely. Having some sort of a loose, non-binding cap is the only solution. A hard cap would not work. Period.

A lot of experts are suggesting a cap at $45 million. But look at the Miami Heat. The "Big 3" alone will make close to $48 million next season, with that number rising for the remainder of their contracts. A hard cap will not work.

Both sides will need to be flexible, but the players have a lot more to lose with the loss of games. I feel like a broken record, but the majority of owners are losing hundreds of millions of dollars. They have little reason to budge. The players are doing just fine and don't need anymore.

Chris: The players are in the right when it comes to the lockout for multiple reasons. Basically, the players are willing to give up 500 million. While the owners may be losing money, the players are the only ones that seem to be making concessions for the good of the league.

Alex: We agree to disagree. But one thing I think we both can agree that a deal needs to get done ASAP. Join us again for another debate. Feel free to leave a comment below.