Saturday, December 01, 2007
SIXERS NEWS
Another night, another tough loss for the Sixers. Tonight they traveled to New Jersey to face the Nets. Offensively, four Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Louis Williams.) with Andre Iguodala leading the way with 26. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert was once again a standout. Dalembert pulled down 16 rebounds, to help the Sixers outrebound the Nets 43-36, and blocked 5 shots. Early on, after the 1st period the Sixers lead 28-19. In the 2nd period the Sixers upped there lead to 51-35(that is a 16 point lead). The Nets rallied back to within 1 through 3 quarters(61-60). The 4th quarter was once again an up and down battle, but the Nets had just enough resolve to forge an 83-83 tie at the end of regulation and force the game into overtime. In the overtime period defense reigned supreme as the two teams combined for just 20 points. At first it was all Nets as they pushed out an 88-83 lead. The Sixers rallied back several times and with 2 seconds to play they got to within 1, with the score 93-92 . From here though, the Nets made their free throws and the Sixers were not able to score again, losing 94-92 in a heartbreaker. So the Sixers drop to 5-11 overall, and remain in last place in the Altantic division.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers returned home tonight to face the Dallas Stars. Okay so Flyers-Stars isn't exactly Eagles-Cowboys, but its still Philadelphia vs. Dallas and a Flyers win would have been just as sweet. Unfortunately the Flyers did not produce much offense on the night and goalie Marty Biron did not have one of his better nights, allowing 4 goals(3 in the 2nd period), and the Flyers fell. Early in the 1st period Randy Jones made it 1-0 Flyers. Later in the period Jeff Halpern knotted it at 1 and the Starts never trailed agan. The 2nd period belonged to the Stars, as Jussi Jokinen, Antti Miettinen, and Mke Ribeiro each scored to make 4-1 Starts. Finally, in the 3rd period, the goalies put uo matching shutouts until the game had ended in a 4-1 Stars victory. So the Flyers drop to 14-9-2 overall and 2 points out of fist place in the Atlantic division
Friday, November 30, 2007
SIXERS NEWS
A little over a week ago the Sixers traveled to Washington to face the Wizards and were embarrassed 116-101. Tonight at home in the wachovia center, the Sixers exacted revenge. While the last game was a shootout, tonight's game was a sloppy defensive stalemate. Despite poor shooting(under 40% from the field, 0-14 from beyond, and only 73% from the free throw line) the Sixers still managed to post 4 scorers in double digits(Andre Miller, Willie Green, Reggie Evans, Samuel Dalembert). with Samuel Dalembert leading the way with 19. Defensively, Dalembert was the star again with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Andre Iguodala also contributed 12 rebounds and 2 blocks as the Sixers outrebounded the Wizards 42-40. Perhaps more importantly though, the Sixers won the turnover battle with just 8 to the Wizards 18, just enough of a factor to help the Sixers pull out a win. Early on the Sixers led by as much as 11, but had to settle for a 5 point lead after the 1st quarter(25-20). Washington stormed back to take a 1 point lead at the half(43-42). The Sixers rallied back in the 3rd quarter to forge a 68-68 tie through 3 quarters. The 4th quarter was a tight back and forth tussle throughout. The Sixers led 85-81 with 45 seconds to play. Then the Wizard's Caron Butler nailed a 3 pointer to cut the lead to 85-84. From there, Sixers milked the clock down to 12 seconds, but Andre Iguodala missed a layup and the Wizards had a final possession to steal victory. Fortunately rookie Nick young jacked up a 3 pointer with 1 second to play and missed it, to give the Sixers an 85-84 win. So the Sixers improve to 5-10 overall, but remain tied for last place in the Atlantic division.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers continued to play hard tonight as they returned home to face the Utah Jazz. This time, however hard work was not enough, and the Sixers ultimately fell to the Jazz. Offensively, 4 Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Miller, Willie greene, Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert) with Miller leading the way with 20 points. Defensively, the Sixers outrebounded the Jazz 39-36, but turned the ball over 4 more times than the Jazz and allowed them to shoot over 50% from the field. Early on the Sixers lead by 2 through the 1st quarter(27-25). The Jazz then rallied to take a 5 point lead into the half(49-44)l. By the end of 3 quarters that lead was up to 9, with the score 77-68. Although the Sixers kept fighting they would not get any closer than they'd been back in the 1st half and lost by 11, 106-95. All in all it was a pretty disheartening loss coming after such a satisfying win. So the Sixers drop to 4-10 overall and back into sole possession of last place in the Atlantic division. What a team.
FLYERS NEWS
The Orange and black returned to Carolina for the 2nd time in a week tonight, and for the 2nd time they prevailed over the Hurricanes. Marty Biron was the man of the hour with 40 saves of the 41 shots he faced on the night. Early on the Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Derian Hatcher(his 1st goal of the season), and Kimo Timonen each scored in the 1st period. The 2nd period was scoreless. Then early in the 3rd period Mike Knuble scored to make it 3-0 Flyers. The Hurricanes attempted to mount a comeback as Corey Stillman scored on the power play midway through the 3rd period, cutting the lead to 3-1. However, Biron was impenetrable the rest of the way and the Flyers got the win, 3-1. So the Flyers improve to 14-8-2 overall and assume sole possession of first place in the Atlantic division by two points over the Rangers.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers came out firing against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight and were not disappointed. Offensively five Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Miller, Willie Green, Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, and Kyle Korver), and 3 of those 5 scored 20 points or more(Iggy and Korver each had 20, and Dalembert had 22). After sitting out the last 4 games Korver returned with a vengeance hitting 4 of 5 from downtown. Also for once, Andre Miller with a near double-double(18 points, 9 assists) actually distributed the ball amongst his teammates, and a funny thing happened. The Sixers won the assist to turnover battle, with 31 assists, to 9 turnovers, to the Bucks 20 assists and 14 turnovers, and shot over 50% from the field. In other words the Sixers offensive actually flowed together the way its supposed to for about the first time all season. If only Miller would play like that every night instead of just when he feels like it. Anyway, defensively it was once again the Samuel Dalembert show, as the center pulled down 8 rebounds to help the Sixers outrebound Milwaukee 39-35, blocked 3 shots, and likely redirected countless others. Basically, just about every statistical category went the Sixers away tonight and its hard to lose when that happens, even for the Sixers. Early on the Sixers raced out to a 32-18 lead after 1 quarter of play, but by the half Milwaukee had cut the lead back down to 4(56-52). Tonight however, the Sixers would not fall off in the second half. By the end of 3 quarters, the Sixers' lead was back up to 9(85-76). Then in the 4th quarter the Sixers just kept pouring it on and finally wound up winning by the laughable final score of 114-99. So the Sixers improve to 4-9, but for now remain tied with the Knicks for last in the Atlantic division.
Monday, November 26, 2007
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers maddening inconsistency continued tonight as they returned home to face the Boston Bruins. After getting the night off against the Senators, Marty Biron returned to the ice for the Flyers today and he didn't fare so well. In just 14 shots faced and 23 minutes played he allowed 3 goals and was yanked in favor of Antero nittymaki. Niittymaki didn't fare to well either, allowing two goals despite facing only 15 shots on goal. Early on Boston jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Glen Murray and Marc Savard in the 1st period. In the 2nd period Boston jumped out to an eaven bigger lead on goals by Murray and Glen Metropolic. Late in the 2nd period Mike Knuble and Mike Richards finally got the Flyers on the board to cut the lead to 4-2 Bruins. With about a minute to play in the 2nd, Pete Schaefer scored yet another Bruin's goal to up the lead to 5-2 heading into the 3rd period. Finally, early in the 3rd period Scottie Upshall scored on a power play to cut the lead back to 5-3. Then Chuck Kobasew scored on the Flyer's empty net to put it away for good with the final sc0re 6-3 Bruins. So the Flyers drop to 38-7-2 overall but remain tied for 1st place in the Atlantic dvision with the Rangers.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles came oh so close to pulling what would have been the biggest upset in NFL regular season history, in terms of the point spread. Unfortunately thanks to a couple late interceptions of A.J Feeley, starting in place of a banged up Donovan Mcnabb, the unbeaten Patriots survived and improved to an NFL best 11-0. Even without Mcnabb the Eagles offense clicked on all cylinders. Feeley completed 27 of his 42 passes for 345 yds and 3 TDs, Brian Westbrook rushed 17 times for 52 yards and a TD, and Greg Lewis made 5 catches for 88 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the Eagles defense played about as well as they could have against the Patriots #1 offense. They sacked Tom Brady 3 times, made Randy Moss and the deep pass largely a non-factor and limited the Patriots running attack to just 48 yards. Unfortunately, with the Pats unable to go deep, the underneath reciever, speedy Wes Welker, emerged with 13 catches for 149 yards, which proved to be the difference. The Patriots struck on the 3rd play of the game, as Asante Samuel intercepted Feeley deep in the Eagles own territory and returned it for a TD. The Eagles responded with a long drive capped off a by 1 yard Brian Westbrook TD run to tie it at 7. The Patriots came back to score on their 1st offensive series on a 1yd TD run by Heath Evans for a 14-7 lead heading into the 2nd quarter. Early in the 2nd quarter Feeley fired a 28 yard TD pass to Greg Lewis to tie at 14. The Patriots answered with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal for a 17-14 lead. Feeley fired another TD pass to Lewis, this time from 18 yards out for a 21-17 Eagles lead. After a long drive to end the half, it appeared the Eagles would hold the Pats to a field goal a retain a 21-20 lead at the half. Instead, with 8 seconds left Brady hit Jabar Gaffney with a 19 yard TD pass for a 24-21 halftime lead for the Pats. Late in 3rd quarter following a missed field by Gostkowski, Feeley fired an 8 yard TD pass to Reggie Brown for a 28-24 Eagles lead. The defense gave the Eagles the ball back with a chance to boost their lead heading into the 4th quarter, but they went 3 and out. Then in the 4th quarter with 7 minutes to play, after another long Patriots drive, Laurence Maroney plowed in from 4 yards out, to put the Pats up 31-28. The Eagles drove down to the Patriots 29 yard line with 3 minutes to play. They had a 2nd and 4, but rather than slowing down, milking the clock and going in for the winning score with little time on the clock they choose to go for it all, and Feeley was intercepted in the endzone by Asante Samuel. The Eagles defense held and Feeley and offense got the ball back one last time with 19 seconds to play, but Feeley was intercepted again, and the Pats ran out the clock for the 31-28 escape. In the end it was the greatest loss in Eagles history and hopefully a springboard to a playoff run down the stretch of this season, as the Eagles at 5-6 now, remain just one game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC, held precariously by the struggling Detroit Lions.
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