Heels in the League (NBA) 01/05/10
After a very small recap in the last one we are back with plenty of games as this “Heels in the League” (NBA) for Tuesday, January 5, 2009 as the NBA had a nine game slate, five of them being with a touch of carolina blue, two of those with Heels on both benches. (On a side note: there will be a lot of interviews coming from bloggers who follow the teams that have Carolina players on them, so stay tuned for that!). Now, without further ado, let’s get going with this recap from 01/05/10…
The first game is a match up between two squads that both have Heels. It’s the Orlando Magic heading to Conseco Fieldhouse to take on the Indiana Pacers in front of a pretty small crowd that numbered 11,119 (max capacity: 18,345). For the visiting squad from the sunshine state it’s guard Vince Carter, who starts and gets 24 minutes in all. The shooting guard does not have a good shooting night (and if you have to wonder if the sprained ankle had anything to do with it) as he scores six points (2 for 15 ~ 0 for 3 ~ 2 for 2) to go with three rebounds, one steal and a couple of turnovers. Carter’s +/- pts differential was -14 in this game. On the other side of the court, for the Pacers, we should have seen Tyler Hansbrough. Unfortunately the rookie forward is still out due to the ear infection and didn’t dress for this game. In the end it’s Indiana pulling out the win, defeating Orlando by the final of 97 to 90. With the win the Pacers are now 11 and 23 (.323 winning percentage), while being tied for 12th spot in the Eastern Conference race, 4 games back of the last playoff spot. The Magic slide to 24 and 10 with the loss (.705 winning percentage), and are the third team in the Eastern Conference, two games back of the conference leader.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by Ben Q Rock
Indy Cornrows (SB Nation) by Tom Lewis
Howard the Dunk (FanSided) by Andrew Melnick
In the second game of the night, which has the Washington Wizards going to the city of the brotherly love to take on the Philadelphia 76′ers at the Wachovia Center with a very small attendance of 11,822 (max capacity: 21,600). For the visiting team from the nation’s capital we usually talk about the duo of Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood. The ex NPOY under Dean Smith has a great game, with 42 minutes, getting a double double in the game. The forward scores a game high 32 points (13 for 20 ~ 1 for 2 ~ 5 for 5) to go with 14 rebounds, an assist and a steal. But the Wizs’ center does not dress, and I find this about him: Haywood (illness) is out for Tuesday’s game against the 76ers, Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports. (Jan 5). In the end it was Washington winning this one, defeating Philadelphia by the final tally of 104 to 97. With the W the Wizards are now 11 and 21 (.343 winning percentage) and places the franchise in the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference race, 3 games back of the eighth spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bullets Forever (SB Nation) by Mike Prada
The third game of the night has the Charlotte Bobcats hosting the Chicago Bulls. The game was played at the Time Warner Cable Arena with an attendance of 13,749 (max capacity: 19,026). For the home squad we have speedster Raymond Felton, who starts for his Bobcats and gets 35 minutes in all. The point guard scores 17 points in this one (6 for 13 ~ 2 for 2 ~ 3 for 3), gets six assists, four rebounds, two steals and four TOs. The Heel has a -1 in pts differential in this game. As far as the game went it was Charlotte beating Chicago by 5, with the final being 113 to 108. With the win the Bobcats are now 15 and 18 (.454 winning percentage) and in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 10.5 games behind the first place team and 0.5 games ahead of the eighth place squad.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Queen City Hoops (TrueHoop Network) by Brett
Rufus on Fire (SB Nation) by David Arnott
The fourth game on tap for last night was the other game with Heels on both rosters. We have the Golden State Warriors going to the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets. A game that was played at the Pepsi Center in front of a crowd that numbered 15,129 (max capacity: N/A). For the visiting squad it would be Brandan Wright giving them the touch of carolina blue, but has we all know by now the young forward has been out all season long recovering from shoulder surgery. While the Nuggets we have rookie Ty Lawson, who starts again, and plays 35 minutes in all. For the point guard it’s a good night as he scores 21 points (8 for 12 ~ 3 for 5 ~ 2 for 4) along with eight assists, a rebound, a steal and turns the ball over three times. The speedster’s +/- in this game is -3. In what was the closest game of the night Denver defeats Golden State by a single point, with the final score being 113 to 112. With the win the Nuggets are now 22 and 13 (.628 winning percentage) and in third place in the Western Conference. While the loss puts the Warriors with a record of 9 and 24 (.272 winning percentage), placing them second to last in the Western Conference, 9.5 games out of the playoff race.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Roundball Mining Company (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Denver Stiffs (SB Nation) by Nate Timmons
Golden State of Mind (TrueHoop Network) by IQofaWarrior
Finally, in the last game of the night, it’s the Sacramento Kings playing host to the Phoenix Suns. The game is played at the Arco Arena in front of a crowd of 13,630 spectators (max capacity: 17,317). For the home squad from the City of Trees it’s ex UNC big man Sean May, who once again does not see any action in the game (DNP – Coach’s Decision). In another close game it’s Phoenix taking this one by four points, defeating Sacramento by the final score of 113 to 109. With the loss the Kings slide to six games under .500 at 14 and 20 (.411 winning percentage). They are now in 13th place in the Western Conference, 14 games back of first place and 5 back of the last spot for the playoffs.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Cowbell Kingdom (TrueHoop Network) by Zach Harper
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
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