Heels in the League (NBA) 01/08/10
In yesterday’s NBA slate there were twelve games in all, so I was pretty amazed that only five of them had Carolina players in them. Then I figured out why. All five games from Friday, January 8, 2009 had players from Chapel Hill on both benches! Yes, all of the games were head to head match ups, meaning five games, ten teams and twelve Heels were in action. So, sit back and relax as you check out this pretty unique edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) for 01/08/10…
In the first game of the night it’s divisional match up as the Orlando Magic (1st play: EC – Southeast Div) head up north to take on the Washington Wizards (5th place: EC – Southeast Div) at the Verizon Center. The game was played in front of a sell out crowd of 20,173 (max capacity: 20,173). For the visiting team it’s guard Vince Carter, who starts for the Magic and gets just 10 minutes (as he was injured). In that time frame the veteran scored 8 points (1 for 2 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 6 for 6) and one turnover, with a -3 pts differential. On the other side, the Wizards have Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood, who both start and both get a double double on the night. The ex NPOY plays 42 minutes, scoring a game high 28 points (10 for 21 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 7 for 10) to go with 11 rebounds, two steals, an assist and a TO, while having a -2 pts differential. While the big man in the middle plays for 34 minutes in all, going perfect in his scoring spree of 18 (6 for 6 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 6 for 6), while adding 15 rebounds (4 offensive), a block an a pair of turnovers. His pts differential in this game was +9. As far as the game went it was Washington winning the game, defeating Orlando by 7, with the final score being 104 to 97. With the wins the Wizards are now 10 games below .500, with a record of 12 and 22 (.353 winning percentage), holding the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, three games behind the eighth slot. The loss, the fourth in a row, puts the Magic at 24 and 12 (.666 winning percentage), making them the third best squad in the East, three games back of the conference leader.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bullets Forever (SB Nation) by Mike Prada
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by Ben Q Rock
Extra Coverage:
About the injury to Vince Carter @OrangeChuck, who has a SU blog told me that…
…from that I went looking on the net and found this injury report about it.
Here is Antawn Jamison’s pre game speech about what has been going on:
The next game on the schedule has the Atlanta Hawks (2nd Place: EC – Southeast Div) hosting the Boston Celtics (1st Place: Atlantic Div). A game played at the Philips Arena in front of 15,149 fans (max capacity: 19,445). For the visiting squad we had ex UNC big man Rasheed Wallace, who once again starts the game for the Celtics and gets 39 minutes in all. The ex pupil of Dean Smith scores 11 points (5 for 15 ~ 1 for 8 ~ 0 for 0) to go with four assists, three rebounds a steal, a block and a TO. Wallace had a -9 pts diffential in the game. On the other side, it’s forward Marvin Williams, who starts at the small forward slot for the Hawks. The ex national champ under Roy Williams gets 35 minutes, scoring 11 points as well (4 for 8 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 2 for 2) while adding six rebounds, three steals, an assist and three turnovers, while having a +7 pts differential . As far as the game is concerned, it is Atlanta taking the game by eight points, beating Boston by the final of 93 to 85. With the W the Hawks are now 23 and 12 (.657 winning percentage) and holding on to the fourth spot in the East, 3.5 games behind the leader and just 0.5 games behind third place. With the loss the Celtics drop to 29 and 9 (.735 winning percentage), and second place in the Eastern Conference, just a game back of the conference leader.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Brendan Jackson
Hoopinion (TrueHoop Network)
CelticsBlog (SB Nation) by Greg Payne
Peachtree Hoops (SB Nation) by hawksdawgs
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
Moving on we now have the game that pits the Indiana Pacers (5th Place: EC – Central Div) and Minnesota Timberwolves (5th Place: WC – Northwest Div) one against the other. The game was played at the Target Center, with a pretty low attendance that numbered 13,111 (max capacity: 20,500). For the visitng squad from the Eastern Conference we should have see rookie Tyler Hansbrough, but he is not on the floor still fighting the ear infection. On the other side, another rookie, Wayne Ellington is the carolina touch for the Timberwolves. The shooting guard gets 26 minutes off the bench in this one, where he scores eight points (2 for 6 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 4 for 4) to go along with six rebounds, three assists and a pair of turnovers. Ellington finishes with a -1 pts differential. In the end, in a high scoring game, it was Minnesota winning it by seven, taking down Indiana 116 to 109. With the W the TWolves are now 8 and 29 (.216 winning percentage), being the last team in the Western Conference, over 20 games back of the leader. While the loss puts the Pacers at a record of 11 and 24 (.314 winning percentage), being the 13th team in the East, 4.5 games of the last playoff spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Indy Cornrows (SB Nation) by spstevenson
Canis Hoopus (SB Nation) by Stop-n-Pop
Always Miller Time (FanSided) by Josh Dhani
In our next game we have the Clevaland Cavaliers (1st Place: EC – Central Div) going to the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets (1st Place: WC – Northwest Div). The game is played at the Pepsi Center. For the visiting squad it’s the duo of Jawad Williams and Danny Green. While the rookie guard doesn’t see the floor in this one (DNP – Coach’s Decision), Williams does, getting nine minutes in all. In that time frame the ex national champion scores four points (2 for 2 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0), while getting a rebound, a steal and two TOs. In the game the forward had a pts differential of -5. On the other side of the ball, another rookie, guard Ty Lawson, has the same result as Green, (DNP – Coach’s Decision), but from the sound of it, the point guard might not be at full health. In what was the closest game of the night, it’s Denver beating Cleveland by a duece, with the final score being 99 to 97. With the victory the Nuggets are now 23 and 13 (.638 winning percentage), placing themselves third in the Western Conference, five games behind the league leader. With the loss the Cavaliers are 28 and 10 (.736 winning percentage) and still the conference leader in the East.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Cavs: the blog (TrueHoop Network) by John Krolik
Denver Stiffs (SB Nation) by Andrew Feinstein
King James Gospel (FanSided) by Cody Norman
And we close out this huge recap with a divisional match up between the Sacramento Kings (4th Place: WC – Pacific Div) and the Golden State Warriors (5th Place: WC – Pacific Div). This game features a Heel per side that does not see any action. For the Kings it’s ex UNC big man Sean May, who sits (DNP – Coach’s Decision), while the Warriors have forward Brandan Wright, who is still out with his shoulder injury. The game was won by Golden State, beating Sacramento by the final of 108 to 101. With the W the Warriors are 11 and 24 (.314 winning percentage), and are 14th in the West, 8 games back of the eighth spot. The loss places the Kings at 14 and 21 (.400 winning percentage), putting them 13th in the Western Conference, 5.5 games back of the last playoff spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
SacTown Royalty (SB Nation) by Ziller
Golden State of Mind (SB Nation) by jae
Shortlink:
