Heels in the League (NBA) 02/17/10
(NBA) 02/17/10
As we do every morning it is once again time to check out the North Carolina basketball players in the National Basketball Association in my daily post called “Heels in the League” (NBA). This post is going to check out the games from yesterday, Wednesday, February 17, 2010, where in all there were eleven games. Of those seven had a touch of Carolina Blue with two of them being head to head match ups with teams that have ex UNC players on both benches. Off the field last night Antawn Jamison has gone from the Wizs to the Cavs, meaning that both the players that began in the nation’s capital are now gone from there. For a run down of all the games from last night make sure to check out the Real GM‘s recap. But for now sit back and relax as we go through this edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) for the games from 02/17/10…
The first game of the night is a West/East clash as the San Antonio Spurs (WC 2nd Southwest) head to the Railroad City to take on the Indiana Pacers (EC 5th Central), with the Pacers being a 4 points underdog. This game was played at the Conseco Fieldhouse in front of a crowd of 14,947. This is the second match up (of two) between these two teams, with San Antonio winning the first contest. In this game we should have seen rookie power forward Tyler Hansbrough, but he is still sidelined by the inner ear infection and does not even dress in this one. As far as the game went it was once again a close one with the San Antonio winning it by three points, defeating Indiana by the final score of 90 to 87. With the loss the Pacers are now 18 and 35 on the year (.340 winning percentage), 12 and 15 at home (.444 winning percentage) and second to last in the East, 8.5 games behind the last playoff team. The people in Bristol believe that Indiana has no chance of making the playoff and a 7.7% of getting the top pick in the draft.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Indy Cornrows (SB Nation) by Tom Lewis
The next game of the night is the one that has the Detroit Pistons (EC 4th Central) heading south to the sunshine state to take on the Orlando Magic (EC 1st Southeast), in a game that was played with an attendance of 17,461 at the Amway Arena, with the Magic being a 12 points favorite. This is the fourth (of four) game between these two squads, with Orlando having won two of the first three. For the home squad we have veteran guard Vince Carter (48 Games: 30.6 MinsPG ~ 16.5 PPG ~ 2.9 APG ~ 4.4 RPG), who starts for the Magic and gets 30 minutes in all. In that time the shooting guard scored 20 points (8 for 12 ~ 3 for 5 ~ 1 for 1) to go with four assists and a rebound while having a +11 pts differential in the game. In the end it was Orlando winning this one, defeating Detroit by 25 points, with the final score being 116 to 91. With the W the Magic are now 37 and 18 overall (.673 winning percentage), and 21 and 5 at home (.807 winning percentage) and being second in the East, 6.5 games behind the conference leader and 1.5 ahead of the third squad. ESPN believes that the Magic have a 100% chance of making the playoffs and a 15.8% possibility of winning it all.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Orlando Magic Daily (TrueHoop Network) by Philip Rossman-Reich
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by Ben Q Rock
Howard the Dunk (FanSided) by Andrew Melnick
Need4Sheed by Natalie Sitto
The third game is also the first head to head match up, as well as a West/East clash, with the Minnesota Timberwolves (WC 5th Northwest) head to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards (EC 5th Southeast), with the home squad being a 4 points favorite. This game is played at the Verizon Center in front of a crowd that numbered 13,143. This is the second (of two) match ups between these two franchises, with Minnesota winning the first one. For the visiting squad it’s rooke Wayne Ellington (53 Games: 18.0 MinsPG ~ 6.3 PPG ~ 0.9 APG ~ 2.2 RPG), who got 14 minutes coming off the bench. In that time frame the shooting guard scored just two points (0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 2 for 2) to go with two rebounds, an assist and a TO while having a pts differential of -2. On the other side it is the last time that Antawn Jamison dresses up as a Wizards, but does not play in the game (DNP – Coach’s Decision). In this one it was Washington winning it, taking down Minnesota by nine points, with the final tally being 108 to 99. With the W the Wizs are now 18 and 33 for the year (.353 winning percentage), 10 and 16 at home (.384 winning percentage) and 13th in the East, 8.5 games behind the playoff race. With the loss the TWolves are 13 and 42 for the season (.236 winning percentage), 4 and 24 on the road (.142 winning percentage) and dead last in the West, 18.5 games behind the eighth place team.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bullets Forever (SB Nation) by Mike Prada
As we keep going it’s a East/West battle with the Houston Rockets (WC 3rd Southwest) going at it with the Milwaukee Bucks (EC 3rd Central), in a game played at the Bradley Center in front of 11,685 fans, with the home squad being a 5 points favorite. This is the second game (of two) between these two teams with Houston winning the first one. For the home squad we have veteran Jerry Stackhouse (13 Games: 20.0 MinsPG ~ 6.5 PPG ~ 2.1 APG ~ 2.4 RPG), who gets 15 minutes in this one. The shooting guard only scores two points in the game (0 for 5 ~ 0 for 2 ~ 2 for 2) to go along with one assist while having a -15 pts differential. As far as the game went it was an upset as Houston wins this one, defeating Milwaukee by 28 points, with the final score being 127 to 99. With the loss the Bucks are now 24 and 28 overall (., and 16 and 9 at home (.640 winning percentage) as the ninth team of the East, 2.0 games behind the last playoff spot. ESPN gives Milwaukee a 67.7% chance of making the playoffs.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bucksketball (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Brew Hoop (SB Nation) by Alex Boeder
As we continue our look on yesterday’s games it’s the Dallas Mavericks (WC 1st Southwest) playing host to the Phoenix Suns (WC 2nd Pacific), a game played at the American Airlines Center in front of a crowd of 19,974, with the home squad being a five point favorite in this one. These two franchises have met twice already with Dallas winning both of them. In this one, for the Mavs, we have center Brendan Haywood (51 Games: 32.6 MinsPG ~ 9.7 PPG ~ 10.2 RPG ~ 2.1 BPG), who starts and gets 34 minutes in all. In that time the big man in the middle scores 10 points (5 for 7 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 2) to go with nine boards (5 offensive), five blocks, two assists and a pair of TOs while having a +5 pts differential. As far as the game went it was Dallas winning once again, taking down Phoenix by ten, with the final score being 107 to 97. With the win the Mavs are now 33 and 21 on the season (., while being 16 and 9 at home (.640 winning percentage) as they hold the fourth spot in the West, 8.5 games behind the conference leader and just 1.0 games ahead of the fifth squad.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
The Two Man Game (TrueHoop Network) by Rob Mahoney
Mavs Moneyball (SB Nation) by zdgmans
The next game is the second head to head match up with the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific) and the Golden State Warriors (WC 5th Pacific) doing a divisional battle in front of 17,023 fans at the ORACLE Arena, with the home team being a three points favorite in this one. This is the fourth match up (of four) between these two teams, with Sacramento winning two of them and Golden State one, and home court advantage being kept throughout the series. For the visiting squad it’s ex UNC big man Sean May who does not dress in this one (not sure why). While on the other side it’s forward Brandan Wright who is still out with his pre-season shoulder injury. The game was won by Golden State, keeping the home court advantage going, defeating Sacramento by 32, with the final score being 130 to 98. With the W the Warriors are noe 15 and 38 overall (.283 winning percentage), while being 11 and 15 at home (.435 winning percentage) being 14th in the West, 15.5 games out of playoff contention. On the other side, with the loss the Kings are now 18 and 36 for the year (.333 winning percentage), 5 and 23 on the road (.178 winning percentage) in 13th place in the West, 13.0 games back of the eighth place team in the conference.
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
And the last game of the night is one that has the Atlanta Hawks (EC 2nd Southeast) going cross country to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (WC 3rd Pacific) at the STAPLES Center in front of a crowd that numbered 15,485, with the visitors being a 5.5 points favorite. This is the second clash (of two) between these two franchises, with Atlanta having won the first game. In this one the Hawks have forward Marvin Williams (51 Games: 29.9 MinsPG ~ 10.3 PPG ~ 5.1 RPG ~ 1.0 APG) starting and playing 34 minutes (most of any Hawks in this game). In that time frame the small forward scores nine points (4 for 8 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 1 for 2) to go with two reboudns and two steals while having a +16 pts differential. This one was won by Atlanta, who beat Los Angeles by the final of 110 to 92. With the victory the Hawks are now 34 and 18 overall (., 13 and 12 on the road (.520 winning percentage) and holding on to the third spot in the East, 8.0 games behind the conference leader and only 0.5 games ahead of the next team. ESPN has Atlanta with a 99.9% of making the post season and a 28.5% of making it to the NBA Finals.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Hoopinion (TrueHoop Network)
Peachtree Hoops (SB Nation) by hawksdawgs
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