Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2012/11/15/20121115-steal-of-the-night.nba/index.html
Friday, November 16, 2012
Steal of the Night
Mario Chalmers steps into the passing lane and picks off Kenneth Faried's pass, setting up a dunk by LeBron James.
Jets owner unhappy with floundering Jets: 'I didn't sign up for 3-6 season'
Woody Johnson expects the New York Jets to turn things around -- and fast.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=5f80cecf0c7fdd9bb0474ae301621fc3
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Boston Celtics: 5 Rivals Teams That Are Still a Threat
The Boston Celtics have a legitimate chance at capturing their 18th NBA title this year. Their roster is stacked with both talent and experience, and there are really no glaring weaknesses on the ballclub.
That being said, there are still teams the Celtics do not match up particularly well against. They may be better than said teams, but they may struggle to beat them because, let's face it, the game is all about matchups.
Of course, Boston isn't the only squad that could face problems against certain teams. Every ballclub has its kryptonite, and it's a matter of whether or not a team can overcome it that will determine whether or not it can win a title.
Here are five teams that could represent that potential "kryptonite" for the C's.
NBA's most surprising (and unlucky) team
There are unlucky teams, and then there are the Timberwolves. But in the face of early misfortune, Rick Adelman has his team off to a hot start. Rob Mahoney examines their success.
Source: http://nba.si.com/2012/11/14/minnesota-timberwolves-injury-kevin-love-ricky-rubio/?xid=si_nba
NY Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs: Preview, Analysis and Predictions
As they look to continue their hot start, the New York Knicks have quite the challenge on their hands tonight. In the second game of a three-game road trip, the team will head to the Lone Star State to face the dangerously experienced San Antonio Spurs.
New York has started the season 5-0 and will look to keep up its tough defensive effort against the 7-1 Spurs. However, San Antonio has continued to dazzle in regular season games, their only loss coming against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Still, this game is going to be a real barnburner as the experience factor is sure to play a key role. The Knicks have gotten off to a great start, but this group is still very much learning how to play together.
San Antonio, on the other hand, has a core group that has played together for years, winning three championships along the way.
That said, it's going to be interesting to see how much that experience plus the home-court advantage factor comes into play.
Given how both teams can go on a big run at the drop of a hat, this game is going to be intense from start to finish.
Time: Thursday, November 15th, 8:30 p.m., EST
TV: MSG, Fox Sports Southwest
Records: New York Knicks (5-0) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7-1)
Betting Line: New York (+5), San Antonio (-5), via Bovada
Injuries: Ronnie Brewer (knee), Amar'e Stoudemire (knee)
Key Storyline: Knicks Look to Stay Undefeated in Faceoff with Experienced Spurs
The Knicks didn't expect to start the season 5-0, but fate had other ideas. The team now faces its next test in a tough Spurs squad, whose core have won three championship rings together. If there's one team that can halt New York's streak, it's this one.
However, as is the case with any NBA game, it's not going to be easy for either team. The Knicks have shown incredible depth in each of their victories, not to mention played some tough defense.
The same can be said for San Antonio, but they'll face the issue that has been something of a bug-a-boo for them in recent years. As great as the team has performed during the regular season, their core group's age is starting to show. Team leader Tim Duncan is 36, whereas pesky defender and clutch shooter Manu Ginobili is 35.
Of the Knicks' starters, only Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd are over the age of 30. Though Kidd is 39, he has played phenomenally this season and has shown no signs of age whatsoever.
That said, it's all going to come down which team can play better defense. Age may or may not play a factor, but one thing is certain. Both teams want this victory, and badly.
Key Matchup: Carmelo Anthony vs. Kawhi Leonard
This is an interesting matchup as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likes to mix and match on defense, so there's no telling who will be guarding Anthony throughout the game. It may be Boris Diaw, Manu Ginobili or maybe even Tim Duncan at some occasion.
That said, the Spurs will most likely look to their most athletic forward to try and slow down the Knicks' best scorer. Leonard doesn't have much size at 6'7", 225 pounds, but he is already starting to come into his own as a defensive forward. This season, he is averaging 9.9 points, five rebounds and two steals per game.
However, though Leonard is surely going to give Anthony a hard time throughout the game, he's only going to be able to do so much. The sad truth is that while he is indeed a talented defender, Anthony has much more experience than the former San Diego State Aztec and knows how to deal with pests.
Combine that with his natural shooting touch and ability to create instant mismatches, and his Knicks have the advantage here.
X-Factor: Tim Duncan
The key to defeating the Knicks tonight is simple: take their best defender out of the game. That means getting Tyson Chandler to the bench by any means necessary, and Tim Duncan is going to be tasked with doing that tonight.
Though Chandler is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Duncan has plenty of experience in the paint, plus he has a lot of gas left in the tank despite being 36 years old. This season, he is averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. It's as though he took a drink from the Fountain of Youth.
Also, at 6'11", 255 pounds, Duncan has the height and build to match up well with Chandler, who is 7'1", 240 pounds. From the opening tip until the final buzzer, the former No. 1 pick is going to do everything he can to keep Chandler in the low post so that he can take a shot and, hopefully, draw multiple fouls.
Simply put, destroy Chandler, and destroy the Knicks' odds of winning.
Depth Charts:
Knicks
Spurs
Prediction:
They say that all good things must come to an end, and that's going to be the Knicks' undefeated status tonight. As great as the team has looked, they just don't have the same cohesiveness and experience that San Antonio has.
More importantly, the Knicks have struggled in San Antonio in recent years, losing each of their last nine games there.
That all being said, this game is going to be a tough defensive battle from start to finish. It has a good chance of being a low-scoring contest, though there will certainly be a few offensive outbursts at given points.
In the end, it's going to be the tougher and more experienced team that wins out. Unfortunately, that team isn't going to be the Knicks.
San Antonio Spurs 97, New York Knicks 89
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
3 Easy Steps for Curing What Ails the Sputtering Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons limped into their contest versus the Philadelphia 76ers with an 0-8 record, the worst start in franchise history.
Their offense thus far this season had been anemic—one of the league's worst. The defense had been porous at best, non-existent at worst—again, one of the league's worst. And you had a better chance of finding an actual wolverine in the Michigan woods than the Pistons did of outrebounding an opponent. Through six games, they were the league's worst in total rebounds.
So how in the heck did they win in a blowout, 94-76?
The offense clicked. The defense held the Sixers to 30 percent shooting. The Pistons were even more dominant in rebounds than they were on the scoreboard, grabbing 19 more than the Andrew Bynum-less Sixers.
The Pistons will take it, believe me.
But the question is this: Other than keeping every opponent's superstar player out of their contests, how do the Pistons make this kind of game a regular occurrence?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Notebook: Celtics 98, Jazz 93
THE FACTS: Paul Pierce scored 23 points, as the Celtics overcame an injury to All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo to defeat the Utah Jazz 98-93 for their third straight victory. Rondo exited the game in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle on a layup attempt, but the Celtics bench picked up the slack in his absence. Leandro Barbosa and Jeff Green keyed the second unit with 16 points each, as Boston reserves combined to score 47 of the team's 96 points during the hard fought win. Paul Millsap posted 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, as they dropped to 1-5 on the road.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121114/0021200110_notebook.html?rss=true
NBA players union still appealing Cousins' suspension
The NBA players' association is continuing its appeal on behalf of Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins even after he has served his suspension.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/14/kings-demarcus-cousins-appeal.ap/index.html?rss=true
5 Philadelphia 76ers Who Must Have Career Years for a Deep Postseason Run
If the Philadelphia 76ers are going to have another shot at a deep postseason run, then certain players will have to have the best year of their careers.
After surprising most of the basketball world and getting to the second round of the NBA playoffs, expectations are much larger this year.
If you're a Sixers player, then you know that those expectations are well-deserved.
Of course, the big new acquisition in Andrew Bynum will help, but it's impossible to rely on one new player to carry an entire team. Philadelphia will need other specific players to step up and deliver great seasons.
With that, let's look at the five most important Sixers that need to have career years.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Colangelo re-elected USA Basketball chairman
Jerry Colangelo has been re-elected to a second term as chairman of USA Basketball after overseeing a program that has dominated world basketball under his guidance.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/13/colangelo-usa-basketball.ap/index.html?rss=true
Derrick Rose's Perfectly-Timed Return Will Give Chicago Bulls Title Hopes Again
Derrick Rose is still reduced to watching his Chicago Bulls away from the sidelines, yet he is still a source of championship-worthy hope.
Why?
Because according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Rose is poised to return to the hardwood before this season is out:
Derrick Rose began cutting on his surgically-repaired left knee, the next step in his nine- to 12-month recovery from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Coach Tom Tibodeau said Rose began the next progression "within the last week," reiterating that he does believe the All-Star guard will play at some point this season.
"Everything is going according to plan," Thibodeau said. "He's not ahead of schedule. He's not behind schedule. He's exactly where he should be."
Though Bulls fans may have hoped to hear that the prized point guard was ahead of schedule, it is more than comforting to know he's on pace to return this season.
Should Rose's rehab take the full 12 months, he would return just in time for the playoffs. If everything continues to go according to plan, however, he could return two or even three months before the postseason begins.
Which is huge.
The Bulls are off to an ambiguous start to the season without Rose at the offense's helm. They remain near the top of the Central Division, yet haven't exuded dominance on the offensive end by any means.
Chicago is currently just 20th in the league with 94.6 points per game. And though 44.6 percent shooting puts the team in the top 11 in overall field-goal percentage, its 31.6 percent clip from deep is ninth-worst in the Association.
Luckily for the Bulls, though, their fifth-ranked defense—which allows just 90.4 points per game—has allowed them to keep their heads above water. But fighting to stay above .500 isn't going to win this team a championship.
No, Rose won't solve Chicago's perimeter shooting woes, but he's the potent offensive force they currently lack. Because while it's encouraging that the Bulls have five players averaging double-figures, their leading scorer in Luol Deng is averaging under 19 points a game.
Is that bad?
Absolutely not. Despite scoring at such a low rate, Chicago has kept the ball moving and is dropping a fifth-best 24 dimes per game.
But Rose is only going to help the team build on top of that. He provides the Bulls with not only a clear-cut first option on offense, but a go-to scorer down the stretch, a luxury they lacked in losses against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics.
Simply put, without Rose, this team is good. Really good. Like "break some contender's heart in the playoffs" good.
With him, however, they're an unstoppable force.
Even if Rose only makes it back in time for the playoffs, his addition is going to open up the floor for everybody else who has already stepped up in his absence. Should he make his return a couple of months before the postseason, though, then the rest of the NBA is in trouble.
We've seen what the Bulls can do with Rose. More importantly, though, we've seen what they can do without him. And what we've seen is enough to know they're only one piece short of completing for a championship.
A piece that is going to make it back just in time to not save the day, but rather, return in time to make sure the Bulls' days are worth even more than they already are.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA: http://t.co/2iBhAnkS - The @MiamiHEAT's @DwyaneWade shows off & talks about his new Li-Ning kicks before practice. #ChinaGames
NBA: http://t.co/2iBhAnkS - The @MiamiHEAT's @DwyaneWade shows off & talks about his new Li-Ning kicks before practice. #ChinaGames
Monday, November 12, 2012
NBA: Boston Celtics' 101-95 Win over Chicago Bulls a Step in the Right Direction
Before the start of the game when the announcers continued to belabor the point that Chicago's defense was so good it never allowed over 100 points a game, you could just sense the Celtics were going to score 101 points.
Against an offensively challenged Bulls team starting Nate Robinson at point guard, that should have been more than enough to win. To the Bulls' credit, though, they were still able to make the game interesting.
In many ways, it reminded me of the Patriots' game yesterday. The moment the Celtics had a comfortable lead in the fourth was the moment you knew they were going to blow it, but for some reason, it didn't seem to matter, because, in the end, everyone knew the Celtics were going to pull it out—much like the Patriots yesterday.
Sure, it took a Devin McCourty interception for the Patriots and consecutive dunks from Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass for the Celtics. But at the end of the day, wins are wins.
And although this Celtics game was unnecessarily close, it was a genuine step in the right direction for the C's. It was a glimpse at how effective the Celtics can be offensively when they have complete balance.
Offensively, they outperformed the Bulls in every major statistical category besides three-point percentage—where they finished with a head-scratching 18.8 percent. It was not for a lack of good looks, though, they just weren't really falling for anyone on the Celtics—besides Jared Sullinger.
Looking past the three-point shooting, the Celtics were just over 50 percent shooting from the floor and an impressive 16-16 from the free-throw line. This offensive efficiency was a direct result of the great ball movement and scoring dispersion.
As always, Rondo led the way with his passing, finishing with ten assists (just keeping his streak alive) and helping the Celtics amass 28 total assists for the game. With the exception of one stretch in the fourth quarter, the Celtics were passing off good shots for better ones and truly playing unselfish basketball.
This brand of selfless basketball led to a great balance of scoring that is just great to see in a box score. Every starter scored in double digits and the bench still managed to score 27 points.
While the bench did score decently, they also all have minuses in the plus/minus category while all of the starters have overwhelming positives.
So the bench isn't free of blame just yet. Nor are the Celtics an elite team just yet. But, seven games into the season, they are both heading in the right direction.
And really, that is all we can ask for at this point. This team is a work in progress as we saw in the first few games. The offense had trouble functioning in sync, the bench was surprisingly ineffective and they couldn't finish games.
Tonight, the offense was one unit, working together to score over 100 points, the bench did their part offensively and the Celtics were able to close out the Bulls in what turned out to be a close game.
Nothing about the win was perfect. But we don't need to see perfection quite yet. All we need is progress and that is exactly what we saw tonight and hopefully what we will continue to see for the next 75 games.
(Celtics Mailbag is back! To submit a question, just write it on my Bulletin Board here)
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Rap-reality TV star sits in on Hawks broadcast
ATLANTA (AP) - T.I. added a new line to his expanding resume - broadcaster.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49768875/ns/sports-nba/
Notebook: Nets 82, Magic 74
THE FACTS: Less than two days winning by 39 points in Orlando, the Nets managed to overcome their own Sunday sluggishness and fend off the Magic, 82-74 at Barclays Center.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121111/0021200090_notebook.html?rss=true
Notebook: Nets 82, Magic 74
THE FACTS: Less than two days winning by 39 points in Orlando, the Nets managed to overcome their own Sunday sluggishness and fend off the Magic, 82-74 at Barclays Center.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121111/0021200090_notebook.html?rss=true
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Up and Under
Arron Afflalo takes the pass and sinks a nice layup.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/games/nets/2012/11/11/0021200090-orl-bkn-play1.nba/index.html
Nightly Notable - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scores a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Bobcats' first franchise win over the Mavs.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2012/11/10/20121110-nightly-notable.nba/index.html
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