Heels in the League (NBA) 03/24/10
(NBA) 03/24/10
And once again it is time to jump in and check out what is going on with the ex Carolina players now in the National Basketball Association as we look at the games from Wednesday, March, 24, 2010. On the slate there were eleven games in all, of those eight had a touch of Carolina Blue, three of them head to head match ups, meaning that half of the teams in action last night had someone playing that once played in Chapel Hill. For a complete run down of the games you can always check out Real GM‘s recap from 03/24/10. But for now I hope you enjoy this edition of “Heels in the League” reviewing the games from yesterday, 03/24/10…
First game of the night was between the top two teams from the Southeast Division, who are both headed to the playoffs, as the Orlando Magic (EC 1st SE ~ clinched playoff) went north to take on the Atlanta Hawks (EC 2nd SE ~ clinched playoff). The game, played at the Philips Arena in front of 16,887 fans, was the fourth (of four) between these divisional foes, with Orlando having won all three so far. For the visiting team from the sunshine state it’s veteran Vince Carter (65 Games: 31.3 MinsPG ~ 16.8 PPG ~ 3.1 APG ~ 4.0 RPG), who starts for the Magic and plays a total of 39 minutes. The shooting guard scores 16 in this one (7 for 16 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 1 for 2) to go with four assists, two rebounds, a steal and having a +8 pts differential. On the other side, for the home town team, it’s forward Marvin Williams (70 Games: 30.3 MinsPG ~ 10.2 PPG ~ 5.3 RPG ~ 1.1 APG), who starts for the Hawks playing 27 minutes. For the small forward it’s a four points performance (2 for 9 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0) to go with four boards, two assists, two steals and a pts differential of -16. In the end it was Atlanta winning the game at the buzzer with a put back slam dunk, defeating Orlando by the final of 86 to 84. With the W the Hawks go to 46-25 on the year (.648 winning percentage), 29-7 at home (.805 winning percentage) and are tied for third in the East, 10.5 games behind the conference leader and 6.5 ahead of the next squad. With the loss the Magic slide to 50-22 on the season (. winning percentage), 22-15 on the road (.594 winning percentage) and are second in the East, 7.0 games back of the conference leader and 2.5 ahead of the next teams.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Orlando Magic Daily (TrueHoop Network) by Philip Rossman-Reich
Hoopinion (TrueHoop Network)
Orlando Pinstriped Post (SB Nation) by Ben Q Rock
Howard the Dunk (FanSided) by Andrew Melnick
The next game is once again a head to head match up as well as being an East/West battle between teams that are on top of the divisions and heading to the playoffs. It’s the Denver Nuggets (WC 1st NW) heading to Bean Town to take on the Boston Celtics (EC 1st Atlantic) in a game that was played in front of 18,624 spectators at the TD Garden. This is the second (of two) games between the two franchises, with the first game haven been won by Denver. For the visiting team from the Mile High City we finally get to see rookie Ty Lawson (56 Games: 21.3 MinsPG ~ 8.9 PPG ~ 3.3 APG ~ 0.8 SPG) again (he was out for almost a month), who plays eight minutes off the bench. The speedster scored two points (1 for 1 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go with three TOs and a +2 pts differential. On the other side, it’s ex UNC big Man Rasheed Wallace (68 Games: 22.7 MinsPG ~ 9.1 PPG ~ 4.1 RPG ~ 0.9 BPG), who came off the pine to play for 15 minutes. The center scored two points (1 for 4 ~ 0 for 2 ~ 0 for 0) to go along with three rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block, a turnover and a pts differential of -1. In the end it was Boston winning this one, defeating Denver by 14 points, with the final score being 113 to 99. With the win the Celtics go to 46-25 on the season (.648 winning percentage), 22-12 at home (.647 winning percentage) and are for third in the East, 10.5 games behind the conference leader and 6.5 ahead of the next squad. With the loss the Nuggets drop to 47-25 on the year (.653 winning percentage), 17-19 on the road (.472 winning percentage) and are tied for third in the West, 6.5 games behind the conference leader, 0.5 games behind the second squad and 1.5 games ahead of the next team.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Celtics Hub (TrueHoop Network) by Brian Robb
Roundball Mining Company (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Celtics Blog (SB Nation) by Jimmy Toscano
Denver Stiffs (SB Nation) by Andrew Feinstein
Slam Dunk Central by Stephen Rhodes
RedsArmy by BigMck
Celtics Life by Karl Dillinger
The third game has the Indiana Pacers (EC 4th Central) hosting the team from nation’s capital, the Washington Wizards (EC 5th SE) in a game played at the Conseco Fieldhouse in front of a crowd that numbered 12,504. It’s the third (of four) games between these two, with Indiana having won the first two match ups. For the home squad we should be seeing rookie lottery pick Tyler Hansbrough, but as we all know the power forward is out and won’t be back this season. As far as the game went it was Indiana winning beating Washington by 17, with the final score being 99 to 82. With the victory the Pacers go to 26-46 on the season (.361 winning percentage), 18-16 at home (.514 winning percentage) and are 11th in the East, basically out of the playoffs, 10 games behind the last post season spot.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Indy Cornrows (SB Nation) by spstevenson
Always Miller Time (FanSided) by Josh Dhani
The fourth game of the recap is another head to head match up and an East/West game as the Minnesota Timberwolves (WC 5th NW) head to the east coast to take on the Charlotte Bobcats (EC 3rd SE). The game, the second of (two), with Charlotte winning the first one, was played at the Time Warner Cable Arena in front of a crowd of 14,457. For the visiting team it’s rookie guard Wayne Ellington (67 Games: 18.5 MinsPG ~ 6.9 PPG ~ 1.0 APG ~ 2.2 RPG), who comes off the bench for the TWolves for 16 minutes. The shooting guard scores six points (2 for 8 ~ 2 for 4 ~ 0 for 0) to go with three rebounds, two assists and a pair of TOs while having a +6 pts differential. On the other side we have speedster Raymond Felton (70 Games: 33.1 MinsPG ~ 12.0 PPG ~ 5.4 APG ~ 1.6 SPG), who starts and plays 32 minutes in all. In that time frame the point guard almost has a double double, scoring 16 points (8 for 10 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0) to go with eight assists, three boards, a steal and having a team high +21 pts differential. In the end it’s Charlotte winning this one by a baker’s dozen, defeating Minnesota by the final of 108 to 95. With the win the Bobcats are 37-34 on the season (.521 winning percentage), 26-8 at home (.764 winning percentage) and are tied for sixth place in the East, 1.5 games behind the fifth squad, 1.5 games ahead of the last playoff team. With the loss the TWolves drop to 14-58 on the year (.194 winning percentage), 5-32 on the road (.135 winning percentage) and are dead last in the West, with no chance at the post season.
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
Canis Hoopus (SB Nation) by SG
The next game is once again an East/West match up with teams that are not going to the playoffs this season. It’s the Sacramento Kings (WC 4th Pacific) going across the country to play against the New Jersey Nets (EC 5th Atlantic). The game, played at the IZOD Center in front of 10,068 fans, is the second (of two) match ups between these squads, with Sacramento winning the first game. For the team from Cali it’s ex UNC big man Sean May (31 Games: 8.9 MinsPG ~ 3.3 PPG ~ 2.0 RPG ~ 0.2 BPG) who comes off the Kings’ bench to play four minutes in this one. The power forward and `05 national champ scores two points (1 for 1 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go with four rebounds, two TOs and a team high +7 pts differential. In what was a shocker of sorts, it was New Jersey winning this one by 14 points, defeating Sacramento by the final of 93 to 79. With the loss the Kings drop to 24-48 overall (.333 winning percentage), 7-29 on the road (.194 winning percentage) and are 13th in the West, out of playoff contention for this season.
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
A royal Pain (FanSided) by Eze
Sixth game is yet again another East/West match up with the Cleveland Cavaliers (EC 1st Central) heading to the big easy to take on the New Orleans Hornets (WC 5th SW) in what is the second (of two) games between them, with Cleveland winning the first one. The game was played at the New Orleans Arena in front of 18,008 spectators. For the team from C-Town it’s a trio of Tar Heels, with Antawn Jamison (57 Games: 37.2 MinsPG ~ 18.9 PPG ~ 8.6 RPG ~ 0.3 BPG) starting and playing 33 minutes, Jawad Williams (45 Games: 13.3 MinsPG ~ 4.2 PPG ~ 1.5 RPG ~ 0.1 BPG) coming off the bench for just a minute and Danny Green, not even dressing for this one. Jamison registers a double double in this one, scoring 11 points (5 for 10 ~ 1 for 2 ~ 0 for 0) and boards (2 offensive) to go with three assists and a +6 pts differential. Williams has no points (0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) and registers a pts differential of +1. As far as the game went it was Cleveland by 13 (who also clinched their division with this one), beating New Orleans 105 to 92. With the win the Cavs go to 57-15 overall (. winning percentage), 26-11 on the road (.702 winning percentage) and are in first place in the East, 7.0 ahead of the pack.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
CAVS: the blog (TrueHoop Network) by John Krolik
King James Gospel (FanSided) by Cody Norman
Waiting for Next Year by Rick
The second to last game of the night has the Milwaukee Bucks (EC 2nd Central) hosting the Philadelphia 76′ers (EC 4th Atlantic). The game, the third (of four) with the series tied at one, was played at the Bradley Center in front of a crowd of 12,675. For the home town team it’s veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse (30 Games: 20.1 MinsPG ~ 8.1 PPG ~ 1.7 APG ~ 2.4 RPG), who comes off the bench and plays for 23 minutes. The shooting guard scored 15 points in this one (3 for 9 ~ 1 for 6 ~ 8 for 
to go with two boards, two assists, two steals, a block, a TO and a -3 pts differential. In the end, in another shocker, it was Philly winning this one, taking it from Milwaukee by 15, with the final score being 101 to 86. With the loss the Bucks drop to 39-31 on the year (.557 winning percentage), 24-10 at home (.705 winning percentage) and are fifth in the East, 6.5 games behind the team in front and 2.5 games ahead of the ones behind.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Bucksketball (TrueHoop Network) by Jeremy
Brew Hoop (SB Nation) by Alex Boeder
And closing this recap out is the game between the Memphis Grizzlies (WC 3rd SW) and the Golden State Warriors (WC 5th Pacific). The game, played at the ORACLE Arena in front of a crowd that numbered 17,123, was fourth (of four) with Memphis holding a 2 to 1 lead in the series. For the home town team we should be seeing forward Brandn Wright, but as we all know he is out due to an injury that has kept him off the court all season long. In the end Golden State won the game (and tied the series), defeating Memphis 128 to 110. With the W the Warriors are 20-51 on the season (.282 winning percentage), 16-21 at home (.432 winning percentage) and are second to last in the West, nowhere close to going to the post season.
Main Stream Media:
ESPN ~ NBA.com ~ The Sporting News ~ CBS Sports
Blogs:
Golden State of Mind (SB Nation) by IQofaWarrior
Shortlink:
