Only a year ago, Brampton, Ontarios Anthony Bennett was making a splash in the NCAA at UNLV, averaging 16. Russell Gage Jersey .1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, shooting .533 per cent from the field and .375 per cent from the three-point line with a good mix of power and range. The 68" freshman was drawing comparisons to former alum and Naismith Player of the Year Larry Johnson, and was considered a cant-miss NBA lottery pick. Today, two months into his rookie NBA season after being selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 Draft, ESPNs NBA Insider Chad Ford says "hes looking like the worst #1 draft pick of the last twenty years." Bennetts season averages of 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, shooting .275 per cent from the field, .556 per cent from the free throw line and .148 per cent from behind the arc in 10.5 minutes per game do little to contravene Fords claim. Bennetts agent and former AAU coach Mike George feels the media criticism is making a bigger story than necessary and is tinged with bias. "Obviously hes the #1 pick so theres a lot of pressure in that regard," George says. "I also think the fact that hes Canadian [means] a lot of the American media are not telling both sides of the story." Yet, Ford was also the biggest champion of the now since forgotten, Serbian 7-footer Darko Milicic, who in 2002 was drafted behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. So how did Bennett go from stud to dud? Last January, he developed a torn left rotator cuff which he played through, until the Runnin Rebels were eliminated from the NCAA tournament in March. After declaring for the draft, he had shoulder surgery in May and wasnt cleared for basketball activity until September, missing all of Summer League. He finally was able to participate in Clevelands training camp, with a focus of getting back into game shape, working on his conditioning and losing weight. The other side of the story that George refers to - the unfair media criticism - is that the Cavaliers strategy was always to ease Bennett in. Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, who covers the team, agrees. "They actually are kind of stacked at power forward," she says. "So bringing him along slowly, on what they anticipated was going to be a playoff team, was definitely part of the plan. I know that they are a little sensitive to criticism of him, compared to some of the other players. They say if he played as many minutes as some of these other players, his stats would be better. Im not sure I am totally in agreement on that." But minutes are hard to come by for a rookie on an underperforming 11-21 squad searching for wins. Sending him down to the D-League isnt an option that the Cavaliers are entertaining, so is their master plan working? "For the past two months, hes been going two-a-days and getting himself back in shape," George says. "Thats why hes cut his weight down to 243 right now, and you see the difference between his play today and the start of the season. He looks different on the floor, hes running better, and playing with more confidence." Schmitt Boyer offers a more measured assessment. "Its very, very incremental," she says. "Hell do little things that coaches see and will point out to him when they are going through game footage. But I do think hes catching on and getting a little better, although theyve set the bar pretty low. I sense that his confidence is actually getting better. Even if it might not be totally showing up in his stats, theyre showing more confidence in him." That confidence, coupled with opportunity, may be the shift Bennett needs, as he has lost 17 pounds since training camp. The Cavaliers have indefinitely suspended centre Andrew Bynum, freeing up minutes in the frontcourt and have ended the small forward experiment, moving him back to his natural slot in the power forward position. "Is he starting off slower than a number 1 pick should?" Schmitt Boyer asks. "Yes, and Im not trying to soften what hes doing in any means. A couple years ago, people were really down on Tristan Thompson and now Im not sure he wouldnt be the second pick in that draft. Its a little quick to determine him the worst number one pick in twenty years. He may well be a bust, I just dont think its fair to say that after two months in the NBA." The end result of Bennetts rookie campaign lies somewhere in between. He wont go down as the worst pick in the last twenty years, yet is hard pressed to live up to the standard of a number one draft pick. Make no mistake, no one will pencil him in for the All-Rookie team just yet, but chances are high Bennett will prove that Ford may have been suffering from a case of premature proclamation. Deadrin Senat Jersey . The Oilers will try to get back in the win column on Monday when they continue a four-game road trip with a battle against the Buffalo Sabres. Edmonton won its third straight game last Wednesday against visiting San Jose, beating the Sharks 3-0 as Scrivens stopped 59 shots to set an NHL record for saves in a regular-season shutout. Tony Gonzalez Jersey .Y. - Urijah Faber walked out on a Madison Square Garden stage in a Wes Welker jersey, the UFCs fun nod to that other "super" show this weekend. http://www.cheapfalconsjerseyschina.com/foyesade-oluokun-jersey/ .Murray has played 20 matches in five weeks, winning three titles to climb to fifth in the ATP Race.The two-time Grand Slam champion also seeks to qualify for next months ATP World Tour Finals.Murray said: I always wanted to qualify for it, but also I want to get back into the top 8 players in the world and it makes a huge difference for seedings in the major events.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Miami Dolphins are right smack in the middle of the AFC playoff picture, and Joe Philbin knows that now is the time for his team to make a push.Coming off a 39-36 loss to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins (6-5) are eager to bounce back when they take on the rival New York Jets (2-9) on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.I like the way this team has competed, really since weve started this whole thing, Philbin said. I told them we have a great opportunity, its December 1 by the time we kick the ball off in New York. Really good football teams play their best football in December and Im confident that we are going to play an excellent game up in New York.The Dolphins are in a mix of seven non-division leaders in the AFC who are either 6-5 and 7-4 heading into this weekends games. They need to keep pace to avoid missing the playoffs for a sixth straight year.Its a division game and we need to win this, cornerback Brent Grimes said. This game is a big one because its double-weighted. We need it if we want to go to the playoffs.A major reason for optimism is the elevated play of quarterback Ryan Tannehill the last two months. In each of his last four games, he has completed over 70 per cent of his passes.He knows where to go with the ball and hes just, Boom! Jets coach Rex Ryan said. Hes kind of in rhythm.Meanwhile, Ryans quarterback situation is in flux, with the Jets turning back to Geno Smith after he was benched the last three games in favour of Michael Vick. The team is out of the playoff picture, so Ryan wants to see what the Jets young players — Smith especially — do as New York plays out the stretch.Lets see how far hes come, Ryan said of Smith. Weve given him a few weeks off. Lets see how it handles it.Here are a few other things to look for when the Dolphins and Jets square off Monday night:HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE?: Being the road team in this rivalry hasnt been a bad thing lately.The team playing away from home has won seven of the last 10 games in the series, dating to the start of the 2009 season, with the road team winning the last four. The Dolphins have won the last two against the Jets at MetLife Stadium, and are 4-1 overall there against teamss coached by Ryan. Discount Falcons Jerseys. I would certainly love to duplicate what weve been doing up there and change whats been happening down here, Philbin said.REXS WRECK: After consecutive trips to the AFC title games in his first two seasons, the Jets will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season under Ryan.Thats not sitting well with fans, many of whom have taken aim at Ryan and general manager John Idzik and calling for both to be gone after the season.I assume and I expect to coach here for five weeks, Ryan said. After the season, as everybody says, thats when well be evaluated and well go from there.DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS: After giving up 22 points in the fourth quarter last week against Manning and the Broncos, the Dolphins defence is looking to bounce back in a big way.Miami is ranked fifth overall and fourth against the pass, but the Dolphins allowed 39 points after giving up a total of 29 combined in the three previous games against Buffalo, Detroit and San Diego.Every game is not going to be a goose egg on defence, defensive end Cameron Wake said. Were going to have games where it comes down to the last drive, whether its the offence driving to score or the defence going to get a stop.SHAKY SMITH: The Jets quarterback carousel has stopped on Smith again, and hes eager to prove he can be a franchise-type quarterback.Time, however, is running out. Smith has been turnover prone — 31 interceptions, six lost fumbles — in his two seasons, and Vick had just one interception in his three starts in his place. If Smith is shaky the rest of the way, the Jets will undoubtedly be in the market for a new quarterback next season via the draft or free agency.INJURIES: New York is likely to be without defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson because of a toe injury that sidelined him all week in practice.Jace Amaro, who leads rookie tight ends in catches and yards, also hadnt practiced while going through the NFLs protocol for head injuries.Dolphins tight end Charles Clay returned to practice this week after missing Miamis game against Denver with hamstring and knee issues.___AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Davie, Florida, contributed.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '