Heels in the League (NBA) 02/07/10
(NBA) 02/07/10
While the last “Heels in the League” (NBA) was a very big one, with seven games, this one and the next are going to be very small, with both of them having just a pair of games a piece. In this edition we are going to check out the games from Sunday, February 7, 2010, where the Association had two games and both had a touch of Carolina Blue in them, one of them a head to head match up. This is going to be a wild week as it leads up to the NBA All-Star game, so hang on and enjoy the ride, which starts with this recap for the games from 02/07/10…
The first game of the night is a West/East clash as the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific) head north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors (EC 2nd Atlantic). The game was played at the Air Canada Centre in front of a crowd that numbered 18,007. For the team from Cali it’s ex UNC big man Sean May (15 Games: 10.0 MinsPG ~ 3.5 PPG ~ 2.3 RPG ~ 0.1 BPG), who gets just eight minutes in this game. In that time frame the power forward scores eight points (4 for 5 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go with two rebounds while having a 0 pts differential. As far as the game is concerned it was Toronto beating Sacramento by 11 points, with the final score being 115 to 104. With the loss the Kings are now 16 and 34 overall (.320 winning percentage) and 3 and 22 on the road (.120 winning percentage), holding the 13th spot in the West, 12.5 games back of the last playoff spot. ESPN gives Sacramento no chance of getting to the playoffs and a 8.2% of getting the first pick of the NBA Draft.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Cowbell Kingdom (TrueHoop Network) by Zach Harper
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
The second (and last game) is the head to head one of teams that both acquired Tar Heels in the off season as the Orlando Magic (EC 1st Southeast) head north on I-95 to take on the Boston Celtics (EC 1st Atlantic) in a game played in front of 18,624 at the TD Garden. For the team from the sunshine state we have shooting guard Vince Carter (44 Games: 30.5 MinsPG ~ 15.8 PPG ~ 2.9 APG ~ 4.3 RPG), who starts for the Magic and plays for 34 minutes in all. In that time the guard scores a game high 20 points (7 for 13 ~ 3 for 4 ~ 3 for 4) to go with three rebounds, three assists, one block and a pair of turnovers. Carter had a +10 pts differential. On the other side, for the team from Bean Town, we have ex UNC big Man Rasheed Wallace (46 Games: 23.7 MinPG ~ 10.0 PPG ~ 4.2 RPG ~ 0.8 BPG), who comes off the bench for 19 minutes and has a sub par performance. The center scores just two points (1 for 6 ~ 0 for 2 ~ 0 for 0) to go with three assists and a rebound while having a -10 pts differential. In the end, using a huge 3rd quarter and then holding back a late charge by the home squad, it’s Orlando taking this one, defeating Boston by seven points, with the final tally being 96 to 89. With the win the Magic are now 34 and 17 overall (.667 winning percentage) and 15 and 12 on the road (.555 winning percentage) while being the second team in the East, 6.0 games back of the conference leader. ESPN believes that the Magic have a 100% of making the playoffs and 18.7% of making the NBA Finals. With the loss the Celtics drop to 32 and 17 on the season (.653 winning percentage) and 15 and 9 at home (.625 winning percentage), being tied for third in the East, 7.5 games behind the top team of the conference. The people at Bristol say that Boston 99.9% of getting to the post season and a 8.9% of getting to the finals.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Brian Robb
Orlando Magic Daily (TrueHoop Network) by Philip Rossman-Reich
CelticsBlog (SB Nation) by Jimmy Toscano
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by Ben Q Rock
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
