Miami, on the heels of blowing a 24 point lead at home against Orlando on Thursday night, did little to quiet their critics last night in San Antonio. Miami was sluggish from the start falling behind 36-12 after one quarter and allowing San Antonio to hit 8 3-pointers. They rallied a little in the second behind 15 points from LeBron James and cutting the deficit in half, but they couldn't do enough to close the gap further in the second half. The Spurs eventually pulled away winning by an astonishing 30 points, hitting a franchise record 17 3-pointers and finished with 8 players in double figures including all 5 starters. Manu Ginobili had 20 points and 7 assists, Tony Parker came back earlier than expected from his calf injury to score 15 points and dish out 8 assists, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 14 rebounds, Matt Bonner hit 6 of 7 3-pointers, Gary Neal hit 7 of 8 shots... Everyone was getting into the act for San Antonio in what could be described as nothing less than a total team effort. Miami has now lost 3 in a row and 4 of 5 falling to 1-8 against the top 5 teams in the NBA - Boston (0-3), Dallas (0-2), Chicago (0-2), LA Lakers (1-0), San Antonio (0-1). The schedule doesn't get any easier for the struggling Heat as they kick off a 6 game homestand against Chicago, Portland, the Lakers, Memphis, San Antonio and Oklahoma City tomorrow. Chicago has already moved ahead of Miami in the standings and another loss will only widen that gap. Someone is going to need to emerge as a leader on that time because right now they seem to be spinning out of control. Sure, they're still 43-19, but with all the talent on that roster, that sure doesn't seem to be good enough.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
SOME THINGS JUST DEFY EXPLANATION
The Cleveland Cavaliers have just 12 wins this year. The Knicks have 31. However in 3 games between the two teams, it's been the lowly Cavaliers who have won ALL of them. The latest was a 119-115 win over the Knicks where Cleveland overcame 70 points from Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Seven different Cavs scored in double digits led by J.J. Hickson's 23 as they overcame the absence of their leading scorer, Antawn Jamison, and kicked off the Baron Davis era in memorable fashion. Davis came off the bench to score 18 points and 5 assists and hit 4 3-pointers while New York sorely missed their own newly acquired veteran point guard, Chauncey Billups who missed the game with a quadriceps injury. The Cavs mastery of the Knicks is really quite something when you look at the way they've done it. Only 3 players played in all 3 games for Cleveland (Anthony Parker, Ramon Sessions, J.J. Hickson) and yet Cleveland has averaged over 114 points a game against the Knicks this year compared to around 96 a game overall. Twelve different Cavaliers have scored in double figures against the Knicks this year too: Antawn Jamison, Parker, Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson, Sessions, Hickson, Christian Eyenga, Alonzo Gee, Samardo Samuels, Baron Davis and Luke Harangody. I don't know what the secret is, but the Knicks should sure be glad that Cleveland will not be making the postseason.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
50 STRAIGHT DOUBLE DOUBLES
Kevin Love just keeps rolling right along. Games on back to back nights? No problem. Kevin Love followed up his 21 point 23 rebound effort against Philadelphia last night with an equally impressive 20 point 21 rebound game at Washington today. Love now has 50 straight double-doubles, and 11 games this season where he's had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Still, the Wolves managed to drop both games. Andre Iguodala overshadowed him on Friday night with his 2nd triple double of the season finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for the 76ers and John Wall had 18 points, a career high 11 rebounds and 8 assists to lead Washington today. Minnesota is now 15-49 on the year and just 5-27 on the road.
Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com
LONDON GETS THE ROYAL TREATMENT
Nearly 19,000 fans at O2 Arena in London get treated to a triple overtime thriller between the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets. New Jersey came away the winner 137-136, but the game was filled with tremendous individual performances. Andrea Bargnani had 35 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan had 30 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and Ed Davis had 12 points and 15 rebounds to lead Toronto. For New Jersey Brook Lopez had 34 points 14 rebounds and 8 blocked shots before fouling out, Kris Humphries had 20 points and 17 rebounds, Deron Williams had 21 points and 18 assists and Sasha Vujacic had 25 points. In the end it was Travis Outlaw's 2 free throws in the final minute that were the difference as Bargnani's jumper at the buzzer was no good. New Jersey gets the London sweep having also won yesterday's game 116-103. The Nets are now 2-3 since the acquisition of Deron Williams. Williams has averaged 15.2 assists in his 5 games with the Nets.
Photo Courtesy: missfreebie.com
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