Heels in the League (NBA) 03/14/10
(NBA) 03/14/10
Trying to get a step up on my daily post called “Heels in the League” (NBA) I am going to work on the game from yesterday, Sunday, March 14, 2010. The Association had eight games on their slate, half of them had a touch of Carolina Blue. Well, actually those four games had more than just a touch of Carolina Blue as they are all head to head match ups. For those of you that want the complete run down for the day you can check out ESPN’s Scoreboard Page. However, for now, enjoy this edition of “Heels in the League” (NBA) for the games from 03/14/10…
First game of this recap is a divisional match up that has the Indiana Pacers (EC 5th Central) going to the Bradley Center to take on the Milwaukee Bucks (EC 2nd Central) in front of 15,107 spectators. This is the fourth (of four) games between the teams with Milwaukee having won all the games so far. For the visiting team it should be rookie power forward Tyler Hansbrough, but as we all know the lottery pick is out for the Pacers due to an inner ear infection and maybe more problems. On the other side, for the home town team, it’s veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse (24 Games: 20.5 MinsPG ~ 8.0 PPG ~ 1.9 APG ~ 2.6 RPG), who comes off the bench for 24 minutes. The shooting guard scored a team high 20 points (7 for 13 ~ 4 for 6 ~ 2 for 2) to go with two boards (both offensive), an assist, a steal, a block and a whooping five turnovers while having a -1 pts differential. In the end, in a pretty close game, Milwaukee clean sweeps Indiana by beating them 98 to 94 in this one. With the W the Bucks are now 36-29 on the year (.554 winning percentage), 23-9 (.718 winning percentage) and are fifth in the East, 15.0 games behind the conference leader and 2.0 ahead of the next squad. While with the loss the Pacers slide to 21-45 on the season (.318 winning percentage), 7-29 on the road (.194 winning percentage) and are second to last in the East, 12.0 games behind the playoff race.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bucksketball (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Eight Points, Nine Seconds (TrueHoop Network) by Jared Wade
Brew Hoop (SB Nation) by Alex Boeder
Always Miller Time (FanSided) by Josh Dhani
The second game of the day was the one that has two divisional leaders battling it out with the Boston Celtics (EC 1st Atlantic) going to the Quicken Loans Arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (EC 1st Central), who is the first team definitely in the PO, in a game played in front of a sold out crowd of 20,562. This is the third (of four) match ups between these two franchises, with Cleveland winning two out of the first three. For the team from Bean Town it’s ex UNC big man Rasheed Wallace (61 Games: 23.2 MinsPG ~ 9.5 PPG ~ 4.1 RPG ~ 0.9 BPG), who comes off the bench for a total of 17 minutes. In that time the center for the Celtics scores five points (1 for 8 ~ 0 for 2 ~ 3 for 4) to go with four rebounds and a -17 pts differential. On the other bench there is a trio of Heels, with power forward Antawn Jamison (51 Games: 37.9 MinsPG ~ 19.8 PPG ~ 8.6 RPG ~ 0.3 BPG) starting, forward Jawad Williams dressing but not playing (DNP – Coach’s Decision) and guard/forward combo Danny Green not even dressing. The ex NPOY under Dean Smith plays for 31 minutes in all, getting a double double with 15 points (6 for 17 ~ 1 for 7 ~ 2 for 9) and 12 rebounds (4 offensive) to go with two blocks and a TO while getting a +3 pts differential. The game was won by Cleveland, defeating Boston by 11 points, with the final tally being 104 to 93. With the win the Cavs are now 52-15 on the season (.631 winning percentage), 29-4 at home (.878 winning percentage) and are first in the East, 5.5 games ahead of the next squad. With the loss the Celtics drop to 41-24 on the year (. winning percentage), 22-12 on the road (.647 winning percentage) and are fourth in the East, 10.0 games back of the conference leader, 1.0 games behind the third place squad and 5.0 ahead of the next team.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Zach Lowe
CAVS: the blog (TrueHoop Network) by John Krolik
Celtics Blog (SB Nation) by Greg Payne
Fear the Sword (SB Nation) Jeff at the BBC
Slam Dunk Central by Jeff Sack
This game is a match up of divisional foes as the Charlotte Bobcats (EC 3rd SE) head to the sunshine state to take on the Orlando Magic (EC 1st SE) at the Amway Arena in front of a crowd that numbered 17,461. This game was the fourth game (of four) between the squads, with Orlando having won all three of the previous games. For the team newly acquired by Tar Heel Michael Jordan it’s point guard Raymond Felton (63 Games: 32.7 MinsPG ~ 11.7 PPG ~ 5.4 APG ~ 1.6 SPG), who starts for the Bobcats in this one and gets 34 minutes in all. For the speedster and national champion in `05 its a 16 points performance (5 for 12 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 6 for 7) to go with seven assists, four rebounds, a steal and three TOs while having a +9 pts differential. On the other side, for the home town squad, it’s veteran guard Vince Carter (60 Games: 30.8 MinsPG ~ 16.5 PPG ~ 2.9 APG ~ 4.1 RPG), who starts for the Magic and gets 41 minutes of playing time. In that time the shooting guard scores 23 points (7 for 13 ~ 3 for 8 ~ 6 for 7) to go along with six assists, four rebounds, a steal, a TO and a 0 pts differential. In what has to be an upset of sort it is Charlotte winning this one by seven points, beating Orlando by the final score of 96 to 89. With the victory the Bobcats are 34-31 on the season (.523 winning percentage), 10-23 on the road (.303 winning percentage) and in a tie for sixth place in the East, 17.0 games back of the conference leader and 1.5 games ahead of the last playoff squad. With the loss the Magic drop to 47-21 on the year (.691 winning percentage), 27-7 at home (.794 winning percentage) and in second place in the East, 5.5 games behind the conference leader and 3.5 games ahead of the third place squad.
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
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by erivera7
Howard the Dunk (FanSided) by Andrew Melnick
And finally, the last game of this recap is the one that has the Minnesota Timberwolves (WC 5th NW) heading to the Wes Coast to take on the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific) for the third time (out of four) between the two teams, with the first two being split. The game was played in front of a crowd of 10,736 at the ARCO Arena. For the visiting squad it’s rookie Wayne Ellington (61 Games: 18.0 MinsPG ~ 6.4 PPG ~ 0.9 APG ~ 2.2 RPG), who comes off the bench and plays 32 minutes in all. The shooting guard scores 15 points in this one (4 for 9 ~ 4 for 5 ~ 3 for 4) to go with four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a pair of TOs while having a +8 pts differential. While for the home town team we have ex UNC big man Sean May (27 Games: 9.7 MinsPG ~ 3.5 PPG ~ 2.1 RPG ~ 0.2 BPG), who plays just three minutes in this one. For the ex national champ from 2005 it’s a two showing (1 for 3 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go along with one rebound and a pts differential of -5. The game was won by Sacramento, defeating Minnesota by 14 points, with the final score being 114 to 100. With the W the Kings are now 23-44 on the year (.343 winning percentage), 17-16 at home (.515 winning percentage) and are in 13th spot in the West, 17 games out of the playoff race. The loss slides the TWolves to 14-53 on the season (.209 winning percentage), 5-28 on the road (.151 winning percentage) and dead last in the West, 26 games behind the last playoff team.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Howlin’ T-Wolf (TrueHoop Network) by JSteinmeyer
