Heels in the League (NBA) 02/03/10
(NBA) 02/03/10
And we are once again back to my daily recap of the North Carolina players now in the National Basketball Association. In this edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) I am going to check out the games from last night, Wednesday, February 3, 2010, where the league had 11 games, seven with a touch of Carolina Blue and amazingly enough none of them being head to head match ups. So, sit back and enjoy this edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) as we go through the games from 02/03/10…
(For a look at all the games from yesterday you can check out Real GM’s recap for 02/03/10)
First game of the night is an East vs West battle as the Atlanta Hawks (EC 2nd Southeast) host the Los Angeles Clippers (WC 3rd Pacific) at Philips Arena in front of a crowd of 13,303 (max capacity: 19,445). For the home squad we have the “one and done” Marvin Williams (47 Games: 29.7 MinsPG ~ 10.2 PPG ~ 5.1 RPG ~ 1.0 APG), who starts for the Hawks and plays for 26 minutes. In that time frame the small forward registers a double double, as he scores 10 points (4 for 7 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 2 for 2) to go with 10 rebounds and an assist. Williams also has a -6 pts differential in the game. Thanks to a great fourth quarter it was Atlanta who wins this game, defeating Los Angeles by the final score of 103 to 97. With the win the Hawks are now 31 and 17 (.646 winning percentage), in fourth place in the East, seven games behind the conference leader, but just 1.5 back of second place and 0.5 of third place. ESPN says that the Hawks have a 99.9% chance of making the playoffs, but just a 1.8% to getting the top spot in the East.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
The second game of the night is played at the Mecca of Basketball between the Washington Wizards (EC 5th Southeast) and the New York Knicks (EC 3rd Atlantic). The game was viewed by 19,225 fans (max capacity: 19,763). For the team from the nation’s capital we have the tandem of Antawn JamisonBrendan Haywood (39 Games: 38.9 MinsPG ~ 20.9 PPG ~ 8.8 RPG ~ 1.3 APG) and (47 Games: 33.0 MinsPG ~ 9.8 PPG ~ 10.3 RPG ~ 2.1 BPG), who both started in this game and had sub par performances. For the forward its 41 minutes, where he scored 11 points (4 for 10 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 3 for 4) to go with six rebounds, three steals, two assists, one block and a TO. Jamison also had a -15 pts differential. For the big man in the middle it was just 24 minutes in this one. In that time frame he scored 12 points (6 for 8 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) with eight rebounds (3 offensive), four blocks and one turnover while having a pts differential -21. Along with the two Heels the rest of the team didn’t have a great game as New York won this game by 22 points, beating Washington by the final of 107 to 85. With the loss the Wizards are now 16 and 32 (.333 winning percentage), falling to second to last in the East, 7.5 games behind the last playoff spot. ESPN’s odds maker believe that Washington has a 0.1% of making it to the post season, but has a 9.4% of getting the top player in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bullets Forever (SB Nation) by Mike Prada
Moving we have another game between two teams from the east coast as the Miami Heat head up north to take on the Boston Celtics. The game was played at the TD Garden in front of a virtually sold out crowd of 18,624 (max capacity: 18,854). For the home team we have ex UNC big man Rasheed Wallace (44 Games: 23.8 MinsPG ~ 10.2 PPG ~ 4.3 RPG ~ 0.8 BPG), who gets 21 minutes off the bench in this one. For the ex pupil of Dean Smith it’s a seven points (3 for 10 ~ 1 for 4 ~ 0 for 0) performance, to go along with two rebounds, an assist and a pair of turnovers. Wallace had a +6 pts differential in this game. In the end it’s Boston winning this game by five points, defeating Miami by the final score of 107 to 102. With the W the Celtics are now 31 and 16 (.660 winning percentage), third in the East, 6.5 games back of the conference leader, 1.0 game behind second place. ESPN gives Boston a 99.9% chance of making the playoffs, with a 94.3% chance of winning their division.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Zach Lowe
CelticsBlog (SB Nation) by Jimmy Toscano
Hardwood Houdini (FanSided) by greenbanner18
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
RedsArmy.com by BigMck
The next game of this recap is the one that has the Golden State Warriors (WC 5th Pacific) going to the lone star state to take on the Dallas Mavericks (WC 1st Southwest). The game was played at the American Airlines Center in front of a crowd that numbered 19,679 (max capacity: 21,041). For the visiting team we should have seen Brandan Wright, but as we have known all season long he is out due to a shoulder injury and will not be coming back for a while. As far as the game was concerned it was Dallas winning this pretty high scoring affair, as they defeated Golden State 110 to 101. With the loss the Warriors slide to 13 and 35 (.271 winning percentage), second to last in the West, 14.5 games back of the last playoff spot and 24 games behind the conference leader. ESPN gives no chance of this team making the playoffs, while believing that right now they have a 12.3% of having the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Golden State of Mind (SB Nation) IQofaWarrior
The fifth game is the one between the San Antonio Spurs (WC 2nd Southwest) and the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific), a game played at the ARCO Arena, with 12,934 fans (max capacity: 17,317). For the home squad it’s ex UNC big man Sean May (12 Games: 10.7 MinsPG ~ 3.2 PPG ~ 2.4 RPG ~ 0.1 BPG), who didn’t get much playing time in this one. The ex national champ from 2005 just played two minutes, scoring no points (0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) and had nothing else while his pts differential was -2 in the match up. The game was a tight one that was won by San Antonio, defeating Sacramento by a duece, with the final score being 115 to 113. With the loss the Kings are now 16 and 32 (.333 winning percentage), 13th in the West, 11.5 games out of the playoff race. The World Leader in Sports gives no chance for the Kings going to the post season and has them with a 6.8% chance of getting the top player in the draft.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Cowbell Kingdom (TrueHoop Network) by Zach Harper
Sactown Royalty (SB Nation) by Ziller
The second to last game of this recap has the Denver Nuggets (WC 1st Northwest) hosting the Phoenix Suns (WC 2nd Pacific). A game that was played at the Pepsi Center in front of an attendance that numbered 19,155 (max capacity: N/A). For the team from the Mile High City we have rookie point guard Ty Lawson (45 Games: 22.3 MinsPG ~ 9.1 PPG ~ 3.4 APG ~ 0.8 SPG), who plays for 20 minutes in this one. In that time he has a perfect night shooting, scoring nine points (3 for 3 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 3 for 3) to go with one steal and a TO, while having a -10 pts differential. The game was won by Phoenix, who defeated Denver by a dozen, with the final score being 109 to 97. With the loss the Nuggets are now 33 and 16 (.673 winning percentage), second in the West, 4.5 games behind the conference leader. ESPN gives Denver a 97.1% of making the playoffs, while just a 33.7% of winning their division.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Denver Stiffs (SB Nation) by Andrew Feinstein
Nugg Love (FanSide) by madness
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
And we close this big recap with the game from the STAPLES Center as the Charlotte Bobcats (EC 3rd Southeast) traveled cross country to take on the reigning NBA champs, the Los Angeles Lakers (WC 1st Pacific). This East/West game was played in front of a sell out crowd of 18,997 (max capacity: 18,997). For the team from back east we have point guard Raymond Felton (48 Games: 32.7 MinsPG ~ 12.2 PPG ~ 5.1 APG ~ 1.8 SPG), who starts for the Bobcats and gets 32 minutes in all. In that time frame the ex national champ had 11 points (5 for 13 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 0 for 0) to go with three rebounds, two steals, an assist and a pair of TOs. In this game the guard had a pts differential of +5. In another tight game it was Los Angeles winning this one by a bucket, beating Charlotte by the final tally of 99 to 97. With the loss the Bobcats are now 24 and 24 overall (.500 winning percentage) and 6 and 19 (.240 winning percentage) on the road. They hold the sixth spot in the East, 7 games back of the 4th spot for home court advantage and just 0.5 game of the last playoff spots. In Bristol they believe that Charlotte has a 92.5% chance of making the playoffs this year.
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
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
