Heels in the League (NBA) 11/14/09 (Part 1)

Moving along trying to catch up on my (not so) daily post called “Heels in the League” (NBA) here is the first part of the post about the games from Saturday, November 14, 2009. In all there are 10 games, seven of them have a touch of carolina blue, so I will split this in half so it doesn’t get too long. A programming reminder for this post, in the games from 11/15/09 there are no teams in action that have ex Tar Heels on it, so there will be no recap of that day and my daily post will be about the games from the 16th, which means I will be finally caught up with the “Heels in the League” (NBA). But for now enjoy the first part of the games from 11/14/09…

The first match up of the night featuring an ex UNC player is the game between the New Orleans Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks. The game is played in the Big Peach at the Philips Arena in front of 18,572 fans. For the Hawks it’s national champion (from `05) Marvin Williams, who plays 26 minutes and doesn’t have the best of night as far as shooting (2 for 10 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 3 for 4) for seven points. The small forward also had six boards (three offensive), three assists and a steal on the night. As far as the game itself, it was Atlanta winning this one easily, taking down New Orleans by the final score of 121 to 98. With the win the Hawks are now 8 and 2 on the year. Over at my favorite site for the Hawks, Peachtree Hoops, here is what they had to say about the game.

Box Score — Play-By-Play

In the second game of the recap we have the only head to head match up between teams with a touch of carolina blue on their rosters. It’s the Boston Celtics going to the Conseco Fieldhouse to take on the Indiana Pacers in front of 18,165 fans. For the visiting team it’s ex UNC big man Rasheed Wallace, who comes off the bench for 19 minutes and scores four points (2 for 4 ~ 0 for 2 ~ 0 for 0) in that time frame. The ex pupil of Dean Smith does not register much else on the night, with the exception of a turnover. On the other side it’s rookie Tyler Hansbrough coming off the pine for the Pacers and playing 14 minutes in all. The ex national champ scores seven points on the night (3 for 6 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 1 for 2), while adding a rebound as well as a TO. As far as the game is concerned it’s Indiana winning this one, defeating Boston by nine, 113 to 104. With the win the Pacers go above .500, with a 4 and 3 record, while the Celtics drop their second in a row and go to 8 and 3. Jeff Sack of Slam Dunk Central has his recap of this game entitled Granger And Jones Help Pacers Punk Celtics 113-104

Box Score — Play-By-Play

Moving on in this post, here is the third game of the night, with the Detroit Pistons going to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards. This game was played at the Verizon Center in front of 20,173 fans. As we all know the Wizs has a pair of players that once used to play in Chapel Hill, Antawn Jamison, who is still rehabbing his injury, and Brendan Haywood, who started in the middle for his team and played 38 minutes in all. The ex UNC big man scored 11 points (3 for 8 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 5 for 7) and got nine rebounds (coming up short a third double double in a row). Haywood also had three blocks and four TOs on the night. In a close game, it’s Detroit beating Washington by the final score of 106 to 103. With the loss the Wizards are now 2 and 7 (definitely not what a lot of people expected of them). Over at Need4Sheed Natalie has her key points of the game, while at the Truth About It they have their piece entitled In losing to the Pistons, at least Gilbert Arenas is more relaxed, more of a “fun guy”. I am not going to comment on the title, but it’s definitely worth the read.

Box Score — Play-By-Play

The last game for this first half is the one between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Bobcats, played at the Time Warner Cable Arena in front of a crowd of 15,872. For the Bobcats it’s speedster Raymond Felton, who plays for 35 minutes but does not have a great shooting night. The ex national champ from `05 scores nine points (3 for 15 ~ 2 for 5 ~ 1 for 2) to go along with five rebounds and four assists. In a very low scoring affair it is Portland winning this one by six points, taking down Charlotte by the final of 80 to 74. With the loss the Bobcats are now 3 and 6 and going the wrong way if they expect to make the playoffs for the first time in their history. Queen City Hoop has the recap of the game.

Box Score — Play-By-Play