Saturday, December 20, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers faced off against their 4th consecutive awful team tonight in the Indiana Pacers, looking to take advantage of a golden opportunity to win their 4th game in a row and pull to within a game of .500. Instead they coughed up a 15 point lead early and couldn't hang on late, squandering the opportunity. In the process they wasted a triple double by Andre Miller(10 boards, 12 assists, 14 points) and Sammy Dalembert's best game of the season with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. Statistically, except from beyond the arc where the Sixers went 0 for 8 on the night, they outplayed the undermanned Pacers , but they just couldn't put them away and eventually Indy found away to steal one from the Sixers. In the first quarter it was all Sixers as they jumped out to a 13 point lead, but the Pacers battled back late in the 2nd quarter, cutting the lead to 4 at the half with the score 48-44. From there the Sixers tried desperately to hang on to their slim lead the rest of the game and almost did, but with 4 seconds to play T.J Ford nailed a jumper to put Indiana ahead at last 95-94. Andre Iguodala had a chance to win it for the Sixers at the buzzer but his desperate lunging runner at the basket rimmed out harmlessly to close out the 95-94 Pacer win. So the Sixers drop to 12-15 overall and 10th in the Eastern conference still somehow only a game out of 8th.
Friday, December 19, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers traveled to Washington tonight to face the Wizards for the 2nd time in 3 games. Once again they got better of the Wiz for their 3rd straight win. Once again that doesn't necessarily mean much since all 3 wins came against bad teams, but hey it's something to hold onto. This time the Sixers actually had a decent night offensively, shooting 49% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc, while dishing 23 assists to 12 turnovers, and compiling 51 points off the bench, 26 from Lou Williams and 17 from Maurice Speights. Defensively they were not so sharp but were able to turn it on when they needed it. All in all it was a solid performance for the Sixers tonight, considering they were without the services of Elton Brand for yet another night, as he recovers from the dislocated shoulder he suffered in the Sixer's last game. For most of the night,largely because the defense was so poor on both sides, it was a close game. In fact Washington led by just 2 heading into the 4th quarter, with the score 86-84. Fortunately, in the 4th quarter where it really counts the most, the Sixers were able to turn on the D and seize control of the game, eventually hanging on to win by 6 with the final score 109-103. So the Sixers move to 12-14 overall and are suddenly back from the dead, in the 8th place in the weak Eastern conference.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
Well, sadly all good things must inevitably come to an end, and so the Flyer' s winning streak did so tonight at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal. Antero Niittymaki got another rare start while Marty Biron recovers from the flu, and he wasn't as good tonight allowing 5 goals on just 31 shots. Likewise, the Flyers scoring touch fizzled out, at least for tonight. Early in the 1st period Matt D'agostini scored for a 1-0 lead. Midway through the period Sergei Kostitsyn scored for a 2-0 Montreal lead. Late in the period Steve Begin made it 3-0 before Aaron Asham quickly cut it to 3-1 to restore hope for the Flyers. Early in the 2nd period Andrei Kovalev scored for a 4-1 lead. With just over 7 minutes to play Braydon Coburn scored to cut it to 4-2 and again briefly restore hope of a Flyer's victory, but it was too little too late. Just a couple minutes later Guillame Latendresse scored for a 5-2 lead to put the Flyers away for good. So the Orange and Black drop to 17-8-6 overall but remain a solid 4th in the Eastern conference.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
After an easy win over the mess that is the Washington Wizards, the Sixers welcomed the equally dreadful Milwaukee Bucks to the Wachovia center tonight, and what do you know they won again. Tony Dileo must be a genius, or perhaps the Wiz and the Bucks really are that bad, but who cares 2 wins in a row for this team is 2 wins in a row no matter how you slice it. Honestly the Sixers didn't play all that well tonight and even lost Elton Brand to a dislocated shoulder early in the game, but somehow they reached deep down and figured out a way to stink just a little bit less than the Bucks and a pulled out a much needed win. Okay, so they did shoot 50% from beyond the arc, while Milwaukee stupidly threw up 15 threes and hit just 2 of them. and yes they did outrebound Milwaukee 45-41, but other than that there's not much to talk about. Well, except for the bench which actually came to rescue for once, with 47 points, 25 for Lou Williams. The Sixers starters combined for just 44 points, so they can thank the bench for this one. Milwaukee actually led virtually the entire night, 2 after a quarter of play, 7 at the half, and 6 heading into the 4th quarter. Finally in the 4th quarter, the Sixers put together a solid rally thanks to the bench, took the lead with just over 3 minutes to play and eventually held on to win by 5 with the final score 93-88. So the Sixers move to 11-14 overall, nothing to brag out but at least respectable enough for 9th in the Eastern conference.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers had won 4 in a row coming into tonight. Well make it 5 in a row, after a drubbing of the Colorado Avalanche at the Wachovia center tonight. Antero Niittymaki got another rare start in goal and delivered saving 29 of the 31 shots he faced. Meanwhile, Simon Gagne led the way offensively with a goal and 2 assists. Midway through the first period Paul Stastny scored for a 1-0 Avalanche lead. A couple minutes later Mike Knuble scored to knot it up at 1. Late in the period Jeff Carter scored yet another goal for a 2-1 lead. Just a little past midway through the 2nd period Joffrey Lupul and Mike Richards scored goals within minutes of each other for a 4-1 lead. Late in the period David Jones scored to cut it to 4-2. Finally early in the 3rd period Gagne scored to put it away for good, as the Flyers eventually hung on for a 5-2 win. So the Orange and Black move to 17-7-6 overall for 40 points and still 4th in the Eastern conference, and 2nd in the Atlantic division now just 2 points behind the Rangers.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils have come to an agreement with Jamie Moyer on a 2 year deal. The exact terms have not been disclosed but at any rate Moyer, the 46 year old lefty, will be back with the Phils next season and then the season after that, when he will likely retire. In other news the Phils have also signed pitcher Chan Ho Park to a contract. Park will probably compete along with J.A Happ and Kyle Kendrick for the 5th spot in the Phils rotation behind Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Moyer, and Joe Blanton. Park could also wind up as the Phils long reliever, even though Clay Condrey is already pretty handy at that trade.
Monday, December 15, 2008
EAGLES NEWS
The Birds kept on rolling tonight at the Linc as they welcomed the Cleveland Browns to town. With the Browns nursing one of the worst defenses in the league and an offense down to its 3rd string QB, this one was destined to be no contest. However, thanks to some stupid Eagles plays in the red zone, namely two turnovers right at the goal line, the Browns were able to keep it close for a while, before the Birds finally pulled away late. Statistically the Eagles crushed the Browns on offense, with 21 first downs, and 418 total yards, but they were only 2 for 9 in the red zone, so the final score wound up much closer than it should have been. Individually, Donovan Mcnabb completed 26-35 passes for 290 yards and 2 TDs, and one very meaningless interception, and Jason Avant the proverbial 3rd down reciever, had a big night with 5 catches for a 101 yards. Finally, Brian Westbrook was not effective on this night has he had been the last 2 weeks, rushing 16 times for just 53 yards, but the constant threat of him in the backfield or splitting out for a pass, was enough to open up the rest of the offense and allow it to often move down the field seemingly effortlessly. Defensively, it was another stellar night for Jim Johnson's boys, as they held the Browns to just 196 yards of offense, and 0 offensive TDs, while intercepting Ken Dorsey twice. The individual most directly responsible for that performance was Trent Cole, who harassed Dorsey all night, forcing him to throw before he wanted to, again and again. The Eagles opened the game by driving straight down field for a Mcnabb TD pass to Kevin Curtis and a 7-0 lead. Cleveland responded with a Phil Dawson field goal to cut it to 7-3. David Akers booted a 24 yd field goal to finish the first quarter with the Eagles ahead 10-3. It stayed that way until late in the 2nd quarter when Asante Samuel intercepted Dorsey and then raced 50 yards for a TD and a 17-3 lead. The Birds then had a golden opportunity to go up 24-3 at the half, but Mcnabb was intercepted in the end zone on the final play of the half, just underthrowing a fade route. Finally with a little over 3 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter the Eagles managed to add to their lead, but had to settle for another Akers field goal to make it 20-3. Early in the 4th quarter Akers booted yet another field goal for a 23-3 lead. A few minutes later Mcnabb fired a TD pass to Greg Lewis for a 30-3 lead and his night was done. A couple minutes later Kevin Kolb came in to finish out the game and watched Brandon Mcdonald intercept him and return it 24 yds for a score to cut it to 30-10 and that would be about all she wrote. So the Eagles move to 8-5-1 overall and for now remain alive and well in the playoff race.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils got their off season underway yesterday coming to a preliminary agreement with leftfielder Raul Ibanez on a 3 year $31.5 million deal, pending a physical. Ibanez, is 36 years old, but batted .293 last season with 23 homers and 110 RBIs, so he's still got a little bit left in the tank. Most likely, this means that Pat Burrell will not be returning to the Phils next season, as Ibanez would take his place in left, but you never know. The Phils also signed utility infielder/outfielder Eric Bruntlett and reliever Clay Condrey to one year contracts, avoiding arbitration with the two. However, Bruntlett and Condrey are just a couple of the numerous Phils that are arbitration eligible, so they have their work cut out for them in the coming months.
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