Heels in the League (03/25/09)
03/25/09
Pretty big night in the National Basketball Association, where eleven games were played, and of that six teams with a touch of carolina blue were in action. All of this means just one thing, it’s time to do my daily post called “Heels in the League”. The interesting thing about last night’s games was that of the six teams with ex UNC players on it, four went head to head. Right after checking out these four games I will be looking at the NBDL and see how the ex Tar Heels did last night. Lastly, as I began yesterday, besides the ESPN recap I will be linking to Slam Dunk Central on any posts they did regarding the games.
First game of the night was the match up between the New Jersey Nets (3rd in the Atlantic Division) going up against the Cleveland Cavaliers (1st in the Central Division) at the Quicken Loans Arena, or as Carolyn over at the And One web site calls it, the “Q”. For the Nets, who are fading fast from the playoff picture, it’s Vince Carter getting 41 minutes at the shooting guard spot. In that time frame the ex Tar Heel got a team high 20 points, but achieving it by going 7 for 21 (3 from 9 from beyond the arc) can’t have helped. Carter also had five assists, four boards, two steals and a block, while turning over the ball four times in the game. In the end, it was Cleveland (58-13, 33-1 home) winning this game by 11, defeating New Jersey (30-41, 15-21 away) by the final of 98 to 87. Matt Loede, over at Slam Dunk Central, did believe that New Jersey did put up a battle in this game. With the loss the Nets are now 11th in the East, 3.5 games back of the last opening for the playoffs with just 11 games remaining in the season.
The second game of the night with a touch of carolina blue, played at Philips Arena, was the one that had the Atlanta Hawks (2nd in the Southeast Division) hosting the San Antonio Spurs (1st in the Southwest Division) in a East versus West match up. As we all know by now the ex Heel for the Hawks, Marvin Williams, has been out with a back injury and will probably not be seen for the rest of the season. However his squad is still solidly in the playoffs, thanks in part to the ex Heel contribution, and hopefully will be able to go as deep as possible in the playoffs. As far as the game last night, it was San Antonio (47-24, 22-13 away) winning the game by 10, beating Atlanta (42-30, 28-8 home) 102 to 92. While the Hawks lost so did the team that is chasing them for the fourth spot of the playoffs, the Heat, keeping Atlanta 3.5 games ahead of Miami.
The third game of the night is one that pits division foes as well as old school UNC vs new school Carolina. The Charlotte Bobcats (4th in the Southeast Division) headed north to the Verizon Center to take on the Washington Wizards (last in the Southeast Division) for a game that meant a lot more for the `Cats than it does for the Wizs when it comes to the playoffs. For the visiting team only Raymond Felton of the new school (aka ex pupils of Roy Williams) played, getting 34 minutes in all. In that time the ex national champion got 14 points along with eight assists, five rebounds, three steals to go along with three TO’s on the night. His team mate Sean May was a “DNP – Coach’s Decision”, that makes us all wonder what is going on with the ex UNC big man and his head coach Larry Brown, another member of the Tar Heel family. On the other side of the court, the old school Heel (aka ex pupil of Dean Smith), Antawn Jamison, got 37 minutes getting a game high 27 points, as well as a team high eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. When it was all said and done in this one it was Washington (17-56, 12-25 home) beating Charlotte (31-40, 11-23 away) by the final tally of 95 to 93. With the loss the chances of the `Cats going to the playoffs becoming smaller and smaller, now 2.5 games back of the last spot with 11 games left.
The last game of the night is another head to head game between old school and new school Carolina. It’s the Golden State Warriors (3rd in the Pacific Division) going to the lone star state to take on the Dallas Mavericks (4th in the Southwest Division) at the American Airlines Center. For the visiting Warriors you have Brandan Wright getting 19 points from off the bench, a change since the ex Heel had started the last games. The forward got eight points, three boards and a steal on the night. On the other side, for the Mavs, we know that there should have been Jerry Stackhouse on the court. But once again he does not make it to the court, sitting on the sideline with his team mates, watching the game, and hoping to be gone as soon as possible from Mark Cuban’s team. The game was a blow out, with Dallas (43-28, 26-8 home) taking this one by 22 points, crushing Golden State (25-47, 6-31 away) by the final of 128 to 106.
As far as the ex Heels in the development league not much to report as the NBDL didn’t have any games last night. However I did find an article from the World Leader in Sports about the league that talks how it is growing before everyone’s eyes.
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