TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the Christmas Day extravaganza, including the Nets struggles, the improvement of Serg

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TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the Christmas Day extravaganza, including the Nets struggles, the improvement of Serge Ibaka, the feisty Mario Chalmers, the performance of Chandler Parsons and the lane presence of DeAndre Jordan. Ronnie Lott Jersey . 1. BROOKLYN NETS: I know Brook Lopez is a good player but come on now. The Chicago Bulls didnt have Derrick Rose and Luol Deng wasnt suited up and they get their tails kicked at home. What I see is a team thats disjointed and just not on the same page in terms of what the plan is. Injuries and the lack of practice time with a healthy group have been factors no doubt but when I see inconsistent effort and lack of fire/passion, then I wonder. I think we all thought this team would be so much better. Now what? Tough decision for GM Billy King. Theyve gone all in with this group and it will be a difficult fix. 2. SERGE IBAKA (Thunder): Each time I watch him, Im more and more impressed with what I see. Hes continuing to improve his game and has become a very nice third piece to compliment Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Plays the game very hard. Relentless in his rebounding effort, finishes in the lane and has become so much more confident in his face-up game and jump shot. He was so raw when he first entered the league but not anymore. Its a true testament to his work ethic. 3. MARIO CHALMERS (Heat): Doesnt get a lot of attention on this team yet hes a feisty perimeter defender and gets the ball to the right places at the right time. Is a guy that can hurt you with the 3-point shot and loves the big moment. Perfect complimentary fit for this club. You dont need to run a lot of plays for him and the style of play is good for his game. Has a really good motor and compete level and playing with such great players has taught him to slow down and concentrate on making the smart play which he does with better consistency. 4. CHANDLER PARSONS (Rockets): Never thought hed be this good as a pro when he came out of the University of Florida. Not a big, strong guy and when you look at him, hes far from a physically imposing figure yet at an explosive/demanding position, hes more than held his own. His performance yesterday against the Spurs was one of pure efficiency and productivity with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. He makes you guard him from deep (5- 3 Pointers) and has a neat change of pace with his ball skills. Plays the game at a controlled speed yet with superb energy and awareness. A keeper. 5. DE ANDRE JORDAN (Clippers): He gives his team the lane presence that is so important to win consistently in the NBA. Gets 13 rebounds and six blocks against the Warriors and takes only terrific high percentage shots in the lane, usually on offensive rebounds or off of Chris Paul penetration for dunks. As we get into the playoffs in April, Ill be curious to see if Doc Rivers continues to play him major minutes, particularly late in games with his shaky free-throw shooting. Rivers has made it a point of emphasis to play him and boost his stock and compliment him and its paid dividends in an improved player. With coaches leaning towards playing small and adding skill to the court in bigger games, this will be an interesting dynamic to watch develop. Kyle Juszczyk Jersey . Louis Blues are reportedly taking restricted free agent forward Vladimir Sobotka to arbitration. Earl Mitchell Jersey . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal. http://www.thesf49ersshoponline.com/Youth-Roger-Craig-49ers-Jersey/ . At times during a solid but not spectacular season, they looked all three. Still the defending AFC champions persevered, riding their top-ranked defence and key contributions from younger players to a 12-4 record and their eighth playoff appearance since 2000, remarkable consistency in a league where change is the only constant.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres general manager Tim Murray couldnt get through explaining how popular Buffalo is as a free-agent destination without his cellphone ringing on Tuesday. Stopping in midsentence after making a flurry of moves in opening the NHLs signing period, Murray checked his phone, smiled and said: "I should take that call." He didnt. But the timing was perfect in emphasizing Murrays point. Whatever laughingstock reputation that Sabres established in being the leagues worst team last season certainly didnt reflect in how popular they were among established free agents. "It just shows you that there are quality players that want to come here," Murray said. "Ive thought that all along, but youre never sure until the clock hits 12. And there were more (interested) than what we got done." Overseeing his first free-agency frenzy since taking over in January, Murray added depth and experience to a young, patchwork roster that contributed to one of the Sabres worst seasons in franchise history. Buffalo (21-51-10) set a franchise record for losses and established a post-NHL-expansion-era low by scoring just 150 goals. In a matter of four hours, Murray changed the teams outlook by committing a combined $46.375 million in salaries to fill various leadership and offensive needs by signing four free agents, including former Montreal Canadiens captain Brian Gionta. He also acquired veteran defenceman Josh Gorges, who adjusted his no-trade clause to add Buffalo, in a deal with Montreal. And he also re-signed forward Marcus Foligno, a restricted free agent, to a two-year $3.75 million contract. "This changes the mindset is what it changes," Murray said. "I still dont consider us a contending team by any means. But now the players may think differently. And thats good." Though forward Matt Moulson, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract, was the Sabres priciest addition, Gionta was the centerpiece. At 35, Gionta is a consistent two-way forward and respected leader, whose presence is expected to resonate on a young and developing team. From nearby Rochester, Gionta signed a three-year, $12.75 million deal. Murray is already envisioning the impact Gionta can make among plaayers, including centre Sam Reinhart, who was selected with the No. Joe Williams Jersey. 2 pick in the draft last weekend. "Yesterday, he was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens, a storied franchise, a playoff team. That wasnt a token title. That was real," Murray said of Gionta. "Theres something obviously intangible that you cant measure with a yard stick, with analytics, with anything like that, and he has it in spades." Gorges, a nine-year NHL veteran, also has leadership potential and is regarded as someone capable of grooming Buffalos young crop of blue-liners. "Hes heart and soul," said Murray, who gave up a 2016 second-round pick to acquire Gorges. "He blocks shots. Hes the type of player that can wear a letter. Hes definitely part of the leadership group." Moulson, a seven-year NHL veteran and a three-time 30-goal scorer, rejoins the Sabres after a brief four-month stint in Buffalo last season. Acquired by the Sabres in a trade that sent Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders in October, Moulson was then dealt to the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline in March. Moulson was expendable in Buffalo because he was in the final year of his contract. And yet he enjoyed his brief time with the team to come back. The Sabres also signed defenceman Andrej Meszaros to a one-year, $4.125 million contract, and gritty forward Cody McCormick to a three-year, $4.5 million deal. McCormick is a former Sabres player, who was traded in the deal with Moulson to Minnesota. As for Meszaros, hes a nine-year NHL veteran who has had difficulty finding his niche after splitting the past six seasons between three teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins last year. Murray, who previously worked for the Senators, is familiar with Meszaros from when the defenceman was in Ottawa. Murray believes the former first-round draft pick can regain the steady form he had in Ottawa, when he combined for 26 goals and 110 points in 246 games. The additions gave Murray reason to be hopeful regarding the teams future. "We can say its a team on the rise. People have to see that, Murray said, including the Sabres youngsters. "I think our kids are sitting at home, going, Wow!" 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