For the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants the NFL Playoffs begin Sunday night in The Meadowlands thanks to a one game, winner-take-all contest for the NFC East crown and a trip to the Playoffs. The loser…well, they get an early jump on next season’s OTAs.
Kobe seems to be taking this season very personally and doing whatever it takes
Kobe had 13 of his 28 in the third quarter to buoy the Lakers over the Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks 99-82. He looked great at times shooting, spinning, shaking and pattin’ down the defense in front of him. Kevin Durant on the other hand, went hero on the Mavericks with 1.4 seconds left after Vince Carter’s three looked to be the difference for Dallas.
Besides the game winning dagger in front of the world it seemed, Durant finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal and 6 assists in the 104-102 win.
TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET with an exclusive doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks followed by the LA Lakers @ Portland Trailblazers.
When the NBA announced its 66-game schedule, the first team that I thought would benefit the most from the shortened season would be the aging San Antonio Spurs. The flip side to that coin is that condensed games call for more back to back contests and less time to regroup.
Last night was one of those nights…
Cam this record breaking year: 3,893 yards in air, 674 on ground. 20 passing td’s, 14 rushing. 60% completion rate. 16 picks. One game left in his rookie year.
Let’s discuss what Cam Newton recently told ESPN for its NEXT issue: “I can’t sit up here and look at it like, oh man, my critics are racist. I blame JaMarcus Russell and to some degree Vince Young. If you have the opportunity to make that kind of money doing something you love to do, why would you screw it up? I’m trying to be a trailblazer. If Baylor’s Robert Griffin decides to come out, I want people to say ‘He can be the next Cam Newton’ instead of ‘He’s gonna be the next JaMarcus Russell.’”
The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder picked up right where they left off in last season’s Western Conference Semis. Kevin Durant shook off a 1 for 7 first half to score on 9 of his next 10 attempts to finish with 32 points, as he and James Harden (20 points) were able to hold off the stubborn Memphis Grizzlies 98-95. Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Spurred by a 19-0 run to start 3rd quarter, Philadelphia pulled away from Phoenix 103-83. Andre Iguodala was the fire starter and finished with 15 points, 6 assists, 4 rips and 4 steals. Andre had 4 blocks in the opener. Philadelphia’s had its largest lead at 34 with 5:34 in the third. Phoenix didn’t score in the 2nd half until Shannon Brown hit a free throw (right extended) jumper with 5:47 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Jrue Holiday who had 15, did a great job of splitting the pick and roll in the second half. He banged his knee on the floor after coming down awkwardly with 3:06 left going up on the offensive glass. He says he’s fine. Thad Young had 15 as well.
(Photo: Sam Sharpe/US Presswire)
Wade: had just 10 but his last two proved to be game winner
The Heat will get everyone’s best shot. Cliche as hell…but very much a reality. Charlotte came out hot tonight…their biggest lead was 50-34 with 4:21 in the 2nd…before falling 96-95 on Wade’s driving layup off the left side off glass with 2.9 left.
Straight up monster. His ability on the glass transcends eras.
Minnesota, if you were smart, you’d lock up Kevin Love this very second by extending his contract. That aside, it’s worth mentioning his monster stats even in a loss. You just don’t see 31-20 like you used to. Power forwards are out on the wing pulling up for jumpers and picking up silly fouls following their shots now. Kevin Love is a throwback. His skills are refined. He knows how to get on the block and pull down a rebound, tip in a errant shot and even dish it pretty off the rip to an open cutter. Sure he would rather be on the winning end of a Milwaukee 98, Minnesota 95 score.
(Steven Dunn/Getty)
What can Brown Peace do for you?
It was only a matter of time right? We all know the Lakers will be a different team once Andrew Bynum comes back mad at the world but chill on the court. As far as the Heat? Here’s how they’ll finish. Oh…the addition of Shaquille to that set? We are going to see and hear some hilarious stuff. Did you hear Shaq singing “Chalmers is in trouble” after Norris Cole went off?
TNT’s NBA coverage continues on Thursday, December 29 with an exclusive doubleheader featuring the Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET) followed by the New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)
The Miami Heat blew an 18-point lead, but the sharp shooting of rookie Norris Cole was enough to hold off a furious Celtics rally as the Heat held on for a 115-107 victory.
Painful to this day…
The Lakers and Mavericks are teams in mad transition and most likely won’t pull it all together until the mid point of the season. The Lakers didn’t play bad but Marcus Thorton’s 27 ensured they didn’t get a win. Dallas is playing flat and uninspired. Whatcha gonna do Mark Cuban? Derrick Rose was held to 13 points and 8 dimes and the Warriors won on the heels of Monta Ellis’ 26.
(Bruce Ely / The Oregonian)
No answer for Aldridge
When a team turns the ball over, the opposition gets more shots. It’s simple. Doesn’t matter how well a team is playing, if giving the ball away, the likelihood of coming away with a victory is slim. The Sixers had 20 turn0vers last night; the very talented Blazers capitalized and won their home opener, 107-103.
The Christmas Day games to open the season are nothing but NBA pr fodder. League wide roster turnovers (still moves to be made?), new coaches, barely any training camp and back to back to backs, will distort the usual process of players getting their legs before everything gets serious. There’s really no need in over analyzing yesterday’s games as a result because very few teams have played enough with each other.
Before all of current craziness ensues and the Clippers anointed the Kings of LA, let’s see Los Angeles battle an opponent that’s better defensively.
That being said, how in the hell does Donald Sterling get to own such a pretty team? He’s the racist cat whose stocking should be nothing but coal so…he now has a point guard to throw lobs to Jordan and Griffin while hitting clutch jumpers in rest of NBA faces?
Oklahoma City, the popular pick to represent the Western Conference in the Finals began its quest for world NBA domination with a convincing victory over the Orlando Magic, 97-89. Durant lit up Orlando for 30 while Kendrick Perkins…and company…held Dwight Howard to 11 points on 4-11 shooting. Howard did have 15 rebounds.