Heels in the League (NBA) 03/05/10
(NBA) 03/05/10
Once again we are back checking up on the Carolina players now playing in the NBA. In this edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) we check on the games from yesterday, Friday, March 5, 2010, where in all there were eleven games. Of those eight had a touch of Carolina Blue, three of them being head to head match ups. If you want to check out the whole slate for yesterday’s games you can check out ESPN’s page. But, without further interruptions, let’s get going with this recap from the games of 03/05/10…
The first of the night is a divisional match up between the Detroit Pistons (EC 4th Central) going to C-Town to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (EC 1st Central) in what is the second (of four) clashes between these teams, the first one won by Cleveland. The game was played at the Quicken Loans Arena in front of a sold out crowd of 20,562 (max capacity: 20,562). For the home squad we have Antawn Jamison (49 Games: 38.3 MinsPG ~ 19.7 PPG ~ 8.6 RPG ~ 0.3 BPG), who starts for the Cavs, Jawad Williams (36 Games: 12.1 MinsPG ~ 3.8 PPG ~ 1.3 RPG ~ 0.1 BPG), who comes off the bench and Danny Green, who does not play in this one (DNP – Coach’s Decision). For the ex NPOY it’s 36 minutes in all, where he scores 17 points (7 for 13 ~ 2 for 4 ~ 1 for 5) to go with four rebounds, three steals, an assist, a block and a pair of turnovers while having a +10 pts differential. Williams gets just six minutes in all, scoring no points in this one (0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go along with two rebounds, an assist and a pts differential of +8. Coming from over 20 points back it was Cleveland winning this one by seven points, defeating Detroit by the final of 99 to 92. But before I go on let me say that I wish all the best to Pistons’ point guard Rodney Stuckey who collapsed during the game and was taken to a hospital. I also thought it was great how both teams circled around to pray for the collegue. With the win the Cavs are now 49-14 overall (. winning percentage), 27-4 at home (.870 winning percentage) and are the top team in the East, 6.0 games ahead of the second place squad.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
King James Gospel (FanSided) by Cody Norman
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
The next game is once again a divisional battle as the Boston Celtics (EC 1st Atlantic) head south on I-95 to the city of brotherly love to take on the Philadelphia 76′ers (EC 3rd Atlantic). The game played at the Wachovia Center in front of 19,008 (max capacity: 21,600) is the fourth (of four) meeting between these franchises, with Boston having won the first two and dropped the last one. In this one we have ex UNC big man Rasheed Wallace (57 Games: 23.5 MinsPG ~ 9.7 PPG ~ 4.1 RPG ~ 0.8 BPG), who comes off the bench to play a total of 20 minutes. The center scores seven points (2 for 3 ~ 1 for 1 ~ 2 for 4) to go along with four rebounds, two blocks, two turnovers and a pts differential of +8. The game was a pretty low scoring affair that Boston won, defeating Philadelphia by ten points, with the final tally being 96 to 86. With the win the Celtics are now 39-21 on the year (.650 winning percentage), 22-10 on the road (.687 winning percentage) and are fourth in the East, 8.5 games behind the conference leader and just 0.5 games behind the third squad.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Brendan Jackson
Celtics Blog (SB Nation) by Jeff Clark
Hardwood Houdini (FanSided) by greenbanner18
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
Third game of the night is the one in which the Milwaukee Bucks (EC 2nd Central) travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards (EC 5th SE). This is the fourth time (out of four) that these two teams meet with Washington having won the first two and Milwaukee the third one. The game is played in front of 16,963 fans (max capacity: 20,173) at the Verizon Center. For the visiting team it’s veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse (22 Games: 20.8 MinsPG ~ 8.4 PPG ~ 1.8 APG ~ 2.7 RPG), who comes off the bench to play for 18 minutes. The shooting guard scores six points in this one (1 for 4 ~ 1 for 2 ~ 3 for 4) to go with three boards, two assists, a pair of turnovers and a +13 pts differential. In what was not much of a game Milwaukee defeated Washington by 28 in this one, with the final tally being 102 to 74. With the win the Bucks are now 32-29 overall (.525 winning percentage), 13-20 on the road (.393 winning percentage) and sixth in the East, 16.0 games behind the conference leader and 2.5 games ahead of the playoff chase.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bucksketball (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Brew Hoop (SB Nation) by Frank Madden
We’re Bucked (FanSided) by Justin Malaise
In the next game, an East/West match up, we have the Charlotte Bobcats (EC 4th SE) playing host to the Los Angeles Lakers (WC 1st Pacific) in what is the second game (of two) between these two teams, the first one having been won by LA. The game was played at the Time Warner Cable Arena in front of a sold out crowd that numbered 19,568 (max capacity: 19,000). For the home squad we have speedster Raymond Felton (59 Games: 32.6 MinsPG ~ 11.9 PPG ~ 5.2 APG ~ 1.7 SPG), who starts for the Bobcats and gets 30 minutes in all. In this one the ex national champ from 2005 scores 13 points (5 for 9 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 3 for 4) to go with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a staggering 7 turnovers while having a pts differential of +7. In what had to be one of the big upsets of the night Charlotte won this one, beating Los Angeles by 15, with the final being 98 to 83. Interesting tidbit from SportsCenter: Charlotte are 4 and 2 vs LA and Cleveland this season and only 1 and 2 against New Jersey. With the win the the Bobcats are now 29-31 overall (. winning percentage) and 21-8 at home (.724 winning percentage) while being ninth in the East, 1.0 game behind the last playoff spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Queen City Hoops (TrueHoop Network) by James
Rufus on Fire (SB Nation) by David Arnott
The fifth game of this recap is a head to head and East/West match up that puts the Golden State Warriors (WC 5th Pacific) and the Atlanta Hawks (EC 2nd SE) at Philips Arena in front of 14,066 fans (max capacity: 18,750). This is the second (of two) games between these franchises with Golden State having won the first one. For the team from Cali we should see forward Brandan Wright, but as we all know his shoulder injury has sidelined him for the entire season so far. On the other side, for the home squad, we have forward Marvin Williams (60 Games: 29.9 MinsPG ~ 10.3 PPG ~ 5.2 RPG ~ 1.1 APG), who starts for the Hawks and gets 36 minutes of playing time. For the one & done and national champ it’s a double double performance, with 12 points (4 for 10 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 4 for 4) to go with 14 rebounds, two steals, an assist and a pair of TOs while having a +6 pts differential. In the end it was Atlanta taking this high scoring game by a nickel, with the final score being 127 to 122. With the W the Hawks are now 40-21 on the year (.656 winning percentage), 25-7 at home (.781 winning percentage) and third in the East, 8.0 games behind the conference leader and just 0.5 games ahead of the fourth place team. With the loss Golden State slides to 17-44 on the season (.279 winning percentage), 4-26 on the road (.133 winning percentage) and in second to last place in the West, 18.5 games out of the playoff chase.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Golden State of Mind (SB Nation) by IQofaWarrior
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
Continuing on with the night’s games we now have the Orlando Magic (EC 1st SE) heading up north to take on the New Jersey Nets (EC 5th Atlantic), this is going to be the third time (out of three) the two teams meet up with Orlando having won the first two games. The game is played in front of a crowd of 15,320 (max capacity: 19.990) at the IZOD Center. For the visiting squad from the sunshine state it’s shooting guard Vince Carter (56 Games: 30.7 MinsPG ~ 16.2 PPG ~ 2.9 APG ~ 4.2 RPG), who starts for the Magic and gets a total of 40 minutes of playing time. For the veteran guard it’s a 13 points night (4 for 11 ~ 2 for 3 ~ 3 for 4) to go with three rebounds, three assists, a TO and a pts differential of +9. In the end Orlando sweeps the series against New Jersey, winning this one by ten, with the final score being 97 to 87. With the W the Magic are now 43-20 overall (. winning percentage), 19-14 on the road (.575 winning percentage) and in second place in the East, 6.0 games behind the conference leader and 2.0 games behind the third place squad.
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
The second to last game of this recap is a head to head match up between the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific) and the Dallas Mavericks (WC 1st SW). These two teams are meeting up for the third time (out of 4) with Dallas having won both games in the series already. The game was played at the American Airlines Center with a sold out attendance of 19,954 (max capacity: 19,200). For the visiting team from Cali it’s ex UNC big man Sean May (24 Games: 9.5 MinsPG ~ 3.3 PPG ~ 2.1 RPG ~ 0.2 BPG), who comes off the bench for just eight minutes of playing time. In that time the ex national champ from 2005 scores no points (0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go with three rebounds, an assist, a turnover and a +3 pts differential. On the other side, for the team from the lone star state, it’s another big man, Brendan Haywood (60 Games: 32.5 MinsPG ~ 9.7 PPG ~ 10.1 RPG ~ 2.1 BPG), who starts for the Mavs and gets a total of seven minutes due to back tightness that made him leave the game. In that time the center scored zero points (0 for 2 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go with an assist and a -4 pts differential. In the end it was Dallas winning this game, defeating Sacramento by the final of 108 to 100. With the W the Mavs are now 42-21 on the year (.667 winning percentage), 22-9 at home (.709 winning percentage) and second in the West, 4.0 games behind the conference leader and just 0.5 games ahead of the third place team. With the loss the Kings slide to 21-41 on the season (.279 winning percentage), 6-27 on the road (.181 winning percentage) and 13th in the West, 15 games behind the last playoff spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Sactown Royalty (SB Nation) by Ziller
The Smoking Cuban (FanSided) by Jay Maguire
And we close this out with a head to head match up with teams from both conferences as the Indiana Pacers (EC 5th Central) head to the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets (WC 1st NW) in what is the second (of two) battles between these two squad, with Denver winning the first game. This one was played at the Pepsi Center in front of 19,155 (max capacity: 19,309). For the visiting squad we would see power forward Tyler Hansbrough but the young man is out with an inner ear infection (and maybe worst). For the home squad it should be speedster point guard Ty Lawson (who was a team mate of Hansbrough), but he too does not play due to a shoulder problem which is severe enough for the young man to go to ultra sounds on it. As far as the game went, in a pretty high scoring affair it was Denver winning by eight points, defeating Indiana by the final of 122 to 114. With the win the Nuggets are now 41-21 on the season (. winning percentage), 27-5 at home (.843 winning percentage) and third in the West, 4.5 games behind the conference leader and just 0.5 games back of the second place team. With the loss the Pacers are now 20-42 on the year (.323 winning percentage), 7-26 on the road (.212 winning percentage) and second to last in the East, 11 games out of playoff contention.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Denver Stiffs (SB Nation) by Andrew Feinstein
Indy Cornrows (SB Nation) by spstevenson
Nugg Love (FanSided) by madness
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
