Wednesday, December 06, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies continued thier off season work by making a huge move today, trading pitchers Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez to the White Sox for ace starting pitcher Freddy Garcia who went 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA. last year and is 116-71 with a 4.01 ERA in his 8 year career. Yes, that's right Phillies' fans we have an ace in our starting rotation. Of course this also gives the Phillies 6 starters now, with Jon Lieber being the obvious odd man out, so he's likely to either be traded or sent to the bullpen.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
EAGLES NEWS
Eagles 27 Panthers 24
It Was Over When....
Eagles' cornerback Lito Sheppard intercepted Panther QB Jake Delhomme in the back of the endzone on first and goal with 25 seconds left. Before Lito's pick it really appeared that Carolina was going to hand the Eagles yet another loss on the final play of the game, but Lito's pick saved the day.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Eagles QB Jeff Garcia who hit 21 of his 39 passes for 312 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Coming into this game many of the fans had questioned head coach Andy Reid's decision to stick with Garcia for another week, believing that 3rd string QB A.J Feeley was the better option. However, in his career on monday night Garcia had a 104.7 QB rating with 7 touchdowns and o interceptions and he simply added to those stats tonight, erasing any doubts among the fans that he could lead this team.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
0, as in 0 turnovers for the Eagles tonight to 2 for the Panthers, both in the 4th quarter. Both were also Jake Delhomme interceptions, with the 1st one setting up what turned out to be the game winning field goal for the Eagles, and the 2nd one sealing the win for the Eagles.
The Bottom Line Is....
Man, what a game, I mean don't you just love it when it comes down to about the last play like that. Anyway, this is a big win for the Birds. It ends the 2 game losing streak they had been on, and it gets them back in the playoff picture, for at 6-6 they currently own the 6th and final playoff spot in the NFC ahead of the Panthers and Falcons who are also 6-6. Yeah, their schedule is brutal the rest of the way, but if they can just find a way to win 2 of their last 4 they might just get in at 8-8. Basically, what this does for the Eagles is give them back the hope that seemed lost after last week, because they now know that they can win without Mcnabb and the defense knows that it still has what it takes to win games, as they limited the Panthers to just 108 yards rushing on the night, which obviously isn't great, but for this run defense it's pretty darn good. Anyway, the Eagles have hope now and they are just going to have to hold onto it and continue take care of business these next 4 weeks like they did tonight.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Timberwolves 95 Sixers 84
It Was Over When....
Timberwolves' forward Ricky Davis stepped on the court in the 4th quarter. Davis scored 14 of his 22 points on night in the quarter, helping to turn a tight game into a runaway for the T-Wolves.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Ricky Davis with 22 points, Mike James with 20 points, and Kevin Garnett with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
39 as in just a shooting percentage of 39 for the Sixers on the night and 12.5 as in a measily 3-point shooting percentage of 12.5 for the Sixers on the night. Basically you can't win if you shoot that poorly.
The Bottom Line Is....
Well let me see, that's 1-2-3-4, count 'em 4 straight losses now for the Sixers. Man that 3-0 start seems like it was a long time ago. Once again the Sixers defense was terrible and as mentioned the shooting just wasn't there. I mean, who knew they would miss Shavlick Randolph so much. So far they have yet to win since he went on injured reserve, despite the fact that Chris Webber has returned to the lineup. Speaking of injured reserve, Kyle Korver also sat out again tonight, and that pretty much explains the poor 3-point shooting percentage, but what of their other problems tonight. As far as I know there is no easy way to explain it, they just don't seem to have the same energy level they had at the beginning of the season and I don't know why.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Nets 112 Sixers 107
It Was Over When....
Andre Iguodala's in bounds pass sailed over everybody and onto the sidelines with 3 seconds left and the Sixers down 110-107. Vince Carter then hit 2 free throws to seal the 112-107 Nets victory.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Jason Kidd with 13 assists, Vince Carter with 41 points and 8 rebounds, Richard Jefferson with 24 points and 8 assists, and Nenad Krstic with 20 points.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
20, as in 20 points scored by Sixers rookie Rodney Carney in his first career start, in the hopes that he would fill the void left by Kyle Korver who sat out the night with a sprained ankle. Yeah, so the Sixers lost, but it is still encouraging to see Carney score 20 points in his first start.
The Bottom Line Is....
Incredibly, despite the fact that both teams came into the night with a record of 5-9 this game was actually for first place in the Atlantic division. Since the Nets are notorious for early season loafing, and the Sixers had the benefit of Chris Webber finally returning to lineup, you'd think the Sixers would have had a good chance to win this one. For some reason though, it just wasn't there for the Sixers tonight. The defense was terrible throughout and the Sixers as a team really didn't come alive until about the last 3:00 minutes of the game, when as it turned out after Iguodala's ill-fated in bounds pass, it was too little too late. This loss now marks 10 losses out of the last 12 for the Sixers and it tells me that this team is in trouble. For now they are only 1 game out of 1st place in the woeful Atlantic division, but if they have any hope of even sniffing the playoffs this season they are going to have to get in gear and turns things around fast, before it is once again too little, too late.
FLYERS NEWS
Devils 4 Flyers 3 Final in a shootout
It Was Over When....
the Devils Brad Lukowich scored with just over 2 minutes left in the 3rd period, to tie the game at 3 and effectively send it into overtime. So far this season the Flyers have not fared very well, in the extra period and beyond, so just having to play in overtime significantly reduced their chances of winning this one.
The Game Puck Goes To....
The Devil's Zach Parise who scored both the Devils first goal of the night, and the game winner in the shootout.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
0, as in o goals scored by the Flyers during the shootout, pretty pathetic considering their two shooters were the normally reliable Petr Nedved and Simon Gagne.
The Bottom Line Is....
Ugggh, I can't believe the Flyers lost tonight. I mean, they are so close to breaking open a long winning streak. If they could just get one or two more things to go their way, they'd be good. Seriously though, doesn't it always seem like every Flyers' loss happens because of some sort of freak accident. Take tonight for example, the Flyers were up 3-2 with just over 2 minutes to play, and were on the power play, so it was pretty much okay game's over the Flyers are going to win right? wrong, because at that instant, Brad Luckovich somehow slips behind the Flyer's man-advantage defense and scores to tie the game while shorthanded. I mean think about it, who else would blow a 3-2 lead with just over 2 minutes to play on a shorthanded goal, but the Flyers. Really who? just tell me who? no one that's who.
Friday, December 01, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies have been working on their latest free agent signing for some time now, but today they finally made it official signing righthanded pitcher Adam Eaton to a 3 year, $24.5 million contract. Eaton, a former Phillies draft pick in 1996, went 7-4 with a 5.12 ERA for the Texas Rangers last season in limited work (just 65 innings due to a finger injury), and will replace another former Phillies draft pick, the recently departed Randy Wolf , in the Phils rotation (Wolf just signed a one year $8 million deal with the LA Dodgers, his hometown team). In his career Eaton is 54-45, with a 4.40 ERA, and 666 strikeouts. Those are not great numbers, but clearly good enough for the Phils to include him in their rotation, which will also feature, Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jon Lieber, and of course the newly re-signed Jamie Moyer.
SIXERS NEWS
There is more bad news in the injury department for the Sixers today. With Chris Webber already on the IR indefinitely they could ill afford to lose any other big men, but they did today, as Shavlick Randolph who had been playing in place of Webber at power forward severely injured his ankle and may be lost for the season. God only knows who the Sixers will start at power forward at this point, obviously getting Webber back would be the best thing but at this point its' not clear as to when he'll be back, so they may have to delve into the free agent market, but in order to do so they would have to cut one of their players, so who knows.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Flyers 3 Islanders 2
It Was Over When....
Mike Knuble scored with just over 2 minutes to play in the 2nd period to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead. Yes ,the Islanders were able to battle back, but goalie Antero Niittymaki has been so good lately that you just had to assume that a 3-0 lead would be enough for him to get the Flyers a win.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Goalie Antero Niittymaki who faced 41, count em 41 shots on goal throughout the night and somehow managed to save 39 of them. Basically, this is a Kudos to Niittymaki for surviving another night of 40 + shots on goal.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
2 as in 2 power play goals out of 4 chances on the night for the Flyers, to 0 power play goals out of 4 chances on the night for the Islanders. The Flyers penalty killing unit has been good all season and they were again tonight. However, the Flyers have not been very good on the power play this season, and their power play goals have been few and far between. Thus, just scoring 2 power goals on one night is a major achievement for this team.
The Bottom Line is....
If you want to know how to win an NHL game just look at what the Flyers did tonight. They dominated on the power play, not only scoring 2 power play goals and not only not allowing any power play goals by the Islanders, but scoring one shorthanded as well. Thus they put up a total of 3 goals on the night which as I mentioned the other day is the magic number when it comes to today's NHL. Also as Mentioned the Flyers received 39 saves out of 41 shots from goalie Antero Niittymaki, which is astounding. Basically, tonight was a real team effort for the Flyers, and everything that could have gone right did. Also with this victory the Flyers have now won 3 of their last 4 and really do appear to be on a roll heading into December which is good since they are coming up on some crucial games on their schedule, against other teams in their division. It really does seem like the Flyers have suddenly realized that it is not too late to save their season and I just hope they can keep it up.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Predators 3 Flyers 2
It Was Over When....
the Predators Martin Erat scored with just over 5 minutes to play in the 3rd period to give them a 3-2 lead. The Flyers R.J Umberger had scored just seconds earlier to tie the game at 2 and provide temporary hope that Flyers could push the game into overtime, but Erat's goal erased all that.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Predator's goalie Chris Mason. Flyer's goal Antero Niittymaki had several fantastic sprawling saves throughout the night, saving 26 of the 29 shots he faced, but Mason was just a tick better saving 24 of the 26 shots he faced and preserving the predators win after Erat's score gave the predators the late lead.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
2, as in only 2 goals scored on the night for the Flyers. Generally, with the way the NHL is now, if you don't score at least 3 goals you're not going to win and the Flyers didn't tonight.
The Bottom Line Is....
Well, it was fun while it lasted but the Flyers 2 game winning streak has come to an end, and I mean really did anyone expect it to last all that long. This team just isn't consistent enough to carry on a winning streak for too long. Still, the Flyers didn't play that badly tonight, well at least until that last score by Erat. Seriously, what was Mike Knuble thinking throwing that puck out in front of his own net. I mean aren't you supposed go back behind the net first and wait for your teammates to clear everything out before you try to clear the puck out of your zone, or at least try to find an opening before you through the puck away. Anyway, that's just another one of the many ways this season that the Flyers have figured out a way to snatch defeat from the clutches of victory.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Heat 103 Sixers 91
It Was Over When....
The 4th quarter started. As they have in just about every game this season, the Sixers dominated the 1st half, yet could produce no better than a 51-51 tie with the Heat at the Half. the Sixers hung tough throughout the third quarter but trailed by 6 at the start of the 4th quarter and after 3 straight Heat baskets to start the quarter fell behind for good 80-68.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Dwayne Wade with 33 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, and Udonis Haslem with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
37.1, as in a 37.1 shooting percentage for the Sixers on the night. The Sixers put up 34 more shots then did the heat, but shot only 37.1 % from the field to the Heat's 58.7% and thus lost the game.
The Bottom Line Is....
As usual Allen Iverson scored big with 45 points, but the rest of the team was largely ineffective as the only other Sixer to score in double figures was Andre Iguodala with 15. The Sixers' defense also was not up to par and failed to give Iverson any help. A.I simply can't win games by himself, he's got to get some help from somewhere, and right now it's just not there, as Chris Webber remains on the injured list, although backup center Steven Hunter did finally return to the lineup.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
EAGLES NEWS
Colts 45 Eagles 21
It Was Over When....
Joseph Addai scored his 4th touchdown of the night to put the Colts up for good at 38-21, with just over 3 minutes left in the game.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Colt's rookie running back Joseph Addai who ran through the Eagles defense on 24 carries for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
420, as in 420 yards of offense for Peyton Manning and the Colts offense. Simply put, the struggling Eagles defense had no answer for Manning and the vaunted Colt offense.
The Bottom Line Is....
This was not a memorable night for the Eagles. Jeff Garcia and the offense did their job putting up 300 yards and 21 points of offense. Unfortunately you can put up as many yards and score as many points as you want and it won't matter if you can't stop the other guy from scoring and the Eagles just couldn't do that. If the Eagles still want to have any hope of reaching the playoffs they have got to figure out a way to get it going on defense.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Cavaliers 108 Sixers 95
It Was Over When....
The 2nd quarter began. The Sixers ruled the 1st quarter, building up a 13 point lead at one point, but by the end of the quarter their lead was down to 9 and and all of the momentum had shifted hands to the Cavs, as they began the 2nd quarter with scoring runs of 13-2 and 10-0 to race out to a big lead which would hold up for the rest of the night.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Lebron James with 25 points and 11 assists, Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks, former Sixer Eric Snow with 11 points and 8 assists, and Drew Grooden with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
49 as in 49 rebounds for the Cavs to 36 for the Sixers, and 62 as in 62 points in the paint for the Cavs to just 38 for the Sixers. Simply put, you can't win if you can't rebound or score in the paint, and unfortunately they won't be able to do any of those things until Chris Webber and Steven Hunter return from the injured list.
The Bottom Line Is....
Well, after this it seems pretty clear now that the Sixers are not among the eastern conference's elite without Chris Webber in the lineup to rack up the rebounds. They could probably get by if only Steven Hunter were injured and Webber was still healthy, but not without the both of them. It's not that Allen Iverson can't still lead the Sixers victory on his own, because he can, but only with help from the defense and right now that help just isn't there. All I can say is, Webber and Hunter, get well soon.
FLYERS NEWS
Flyers 4 Canadiens 2
It Was Over When....
Simon Gagne scored shorthanded, with just over 2 minutes to play in the 3rd period, to give the Flyers an insurmountable 4-2 lead.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Simon Gagne with 2 goals and one assist, one on the power play and one shorthanded, plus an assist at full strength.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
31, as in 31 shots on goal for the Canadians, and 29 as in 29 saves for Flyer's goalie Antero Niittymaki. Once again kudos to Niittymaki for surviving another night of 30 plus shots on goal.
The Bottom Line Is....
Don't look now, but Simon Gagne is suddenly back to being the red hot goal scorer he was most of last season. Perhaps, all the Flyers need to get back on track is for Gagne to start pumping in the goals again. At any rate the Flyers do appear to be putting something together now, with their second 2 game winning streak in the last week and a half. So who knows, maybe the Flyers do still have a couple run's left in them.
Friday, November 24, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Sixers 123 Bulls 108
It Was Over When....
the 1st half ended. The Sixers shot 60% from the field, led by 10 at the half and the Bulls were not able to cut into lead at all during the 2nd half.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Allen Iverson with 46 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds, Andre Iguodala with 19 points and 7 rebounds, and Willie Green with 20 points off the bench.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
22, as in 22 turnovers for the Bull on the night, to just 11 for the Sixers. Both teams shot over 50% from the field and over 30% from three point land for the night, but the Bulls simply turned the ball over too many times to have any chance of defeating the Sixers on this night
The Bottom Line Is....
It has been a struggle lately for both these teams, but for the Bulls more so than the Sixers. Chicago has lost 6 games in a row, and 8 in a row on the road. Tonight, a plethora of turnovers and the ineffectiveness of star Ben Wallace with 0 points or rebounds on the night proved to their downfall. For the Sixers however, who had lost 4 in a row, it was the effectiveness of star Allen Iverson with 46 points on 50% shooting that led to victory. Still, at only 5-7 the Sixers are from being back where they were at the beginning of the season when they started at 3-0. Hopefully, the return of Iverson with help them string together some wins, but it won't be easy as Chris Webber remains on the injured list, as does backup center Steven Hunter, and tomorrow night they must travel to Cleveland to face Lebron James and the red hot Cavaliers.
FLYERS NEWS
Flyers 3 Blue Jackets 2
It Was Over When....
Mike Richards scored two minutes into the 3rd period to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. The Blue Jackets are just about the only team that has played worse than Flyers have this season, so you knew when the Flyers finally took the lead it would stand up.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Peter Forsberg and Freddy Meyer with a goal and an assist each. Oddly enough, Meyer assisted on Forsberg's goal and Forsberg returned the favor on Meyer's goal.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
41, as in 41 shots on goal for the Blue Jackets, and 39 as in 39 saves for Flyers Goalie Antero Niittymaki. Basically what I am saying is, kudos to Niittymaki, for surviving 41 shots on goal.
The Bottom Line Is....
At this point any win for the Flyers is huge, since they're not likely to get many of them. However, since the Blue Jackets came into this game as the only team in the NHL with a worse record than Flyers this win was expected and it was sweet revenge over newly signed Blue Jackets head coach , Ken Hitchcock. So Kudos to the Flyers for giving me something else to be thankful for this thanksgiving, a Flyers win.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Bucks 98 Sixers 94
It Was Over When....
Andre Iguodala missed a game tying layup with 25 seconds remaining in the game. Micheal Redd and Ruben Patterson then each sunk a free throw to seal the win for Milwaukee.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Micheal Redd with 32 points, Ruben Patterson with 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Andrew Bogut with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
1, as in only 1 time in which the Bucks had the lead during the entire game , and that of course was the final score of 98-94. The Sixers had the lead for all but the game's final 25 seconds.
The Bottom Line Is....
Once again the Sixers were without AI and C Webb, and once again they put up a valiant effort. In fact, this is the second time in their last three games that the Sixers have held the lead for an entire game, only to lose it in the final seconds. obviously it doesn't get any more frustrating than that, but at least this shows that the Sixers are putting in the same effort night in and night out. You just have to hope that they continue with this kind of effort when AI and C Webb return to the lineup.
FLYERS NEWS
Senators 3 Flyers 2 Final in OT
It Was Over When....
The Senators Wayne Redden scored with about 21 seconds remaining in the overtime period.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Peter Schaefer who assisted on all 3 Ottawa goals, and Mike Fischer who scored the Senators first goal of the night and assisted on Redden's game winner.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
0, as in 0 penalties committed by the Senators on the night. In the NFL, if you as a team go an entire game without committing a penalty, it's not usually all that special, but for an NHL team to do it, especially with the way penalties are called in today's game, is really something else.
The Bottom Line Is....
In the Senators, the Flyers actually faced a team tonight which has played almost as poorly as they have this season, and yet they still lost. However, as bad as the Senators have been this season, they are on a roll right now, having won 4 of their last 5, so this Flyers' loss should not really come as a shock to anyone. It's just unfortunate that the Flyers have now lost 2 games in a row at home, after having such a promising west coast trip just a few days ago.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Pistons 97 Sixers 87
It Was Over When....
Tayshaun Prince followed a pair of free throws with a three-pointer with about 8:45 left in the game. Before this flurry from Prince the Sixers had cut the lead to 6 at 78-72, but after, the Pistons built a double digit lead , which would last the rest of the game.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Rasheed Wallace with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Chauncey Billups with 11 point and 11 assists, Rip Hamilton with 16 points, and Tayshaun Prince with a game high 25 points.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
40, as in a shooting percentage of 40 for the Sixers on the night. Even, by the Sixers inconsistent standards, that's a pretty low percentage for an entire game.
The Bottom Line Is....
Considering they were without Chris Webber(lower back injury), and Allen Iverson(had a wisdom tooth removed), this was actually a quality effort for the Sixerss. Still, there was never really any chance that Sixers would win the this one, because they never do without C Webb or AI in the lineup. So, I guesse based on that I can't be too mad at them, and I just hope they get well soon, although it will be tough for them to return to the lineup for the next game, because the Sixers' next game is tomorrow night.
Monday, November 20, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Penguins 5 Flyers 3
It Was Over When....
the 1st period ended. The Penguins scored three goals in the period for a 3-0 lead, and never looked back.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Sidney Crosby and Dominic Moore with a goal and an assist each and Ryan Whitney with a goal and 2 assists.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
4, as in 4 wins this season for the Penguins against the Flyers. The last time the Penguins reached this plateau was way back in the 1992-1993 season when they won the season series 5-1-1.
The Bottom Line Is....
Man, the Penguins just light up the Flyers every time they see them now. They are just too quick and to crafty for the Flyers to handle right now. Sadly, I am not surprised the Flyers lost this one and I really believe that they have now lost all of the momemtum they built on that west coast trip.
PHILLIES NEWS
Ryan Howard was crowned the NL MVP today outlasting the Cardinals Albert Pujols. If only Major league baseball didn't take a month to give out all its awards this would mean more than it does right now. Anyhow, just so I don't shortchange Howard, I will now spot out some stats. Howard was more than deserving of this award leading not only the national league but all of major league baseball with 58 homers and 149 RBIs, while batting .313. Also Howard is the first Phillies player to be named MVP since Mike Schmidt in 1986, and only the second player in major league history to be named, rookie of the year and league MVP in consecutive seasons, after Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982 and 1983.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
EAGLES NEWS
Titans 31 Eagles 13
It Was Over When....
Donovan Mcnabb was lost for the season early in the 2nd quarter, after tearing his ACL on a routine roll out towards the sidelines, in which he was hit on the knee. Basically, the Eagles never recovered from the loss of Mcnabb scoring just 10 points the rest of the way without him.
The Game Ball Goes To....
The Much maligned and for good reason, Titans defense(ranked dead last in the NFL), which held the Eagles offense(ranked 1st in the NFL) to just 13 points, despite gaining 390 yards of offense.
The Stat Of The Game is....
8 as in 8 penalties on the day for the Eagles, and 209 as in 209 yards rushing on the day for the Titans. Basically this was just an all around ugly day for the Eagles.
The Bottom Line Is....
ummm, weren't the Eagles supposed to win this game easily, I guess someone forgot to tell them. Still, far more worse than losing the game, is losing McNabb for the season. McNabb is expected to be out from 8 months to a year, so this injury not only effectively ends the Eagles playoffs hopes for this season, it could also limit their playoff chances next season as well. I just hope that the Eagles as a team, don't just fold and give up on the season after this. There is still a slight chance that backup and ex- pro bowl QB Jeff Garcia could revert to form and get the Eagles to the playoffs, so who knows.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Clippers 103 Sixers 97 final in OT
It Was Over When....
Kyle Korver missed a game tying three pointer with 18 seconds left. Elton Brand then hit 3 free throws in last 17 seconds to seal the win for the Clippers.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Elton Brand with 33 points and 12 rebounds, Corey Maggette with 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Sam Cassell with 12 points and 9 assists.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
well, really there isn't anything to distinguish one team from the other in this game, in fact most of the stats would tell you the Sixers won, even though they lost, so we'll just say the final output in the overtime period, which was Clippers 13 and Sixers 7.
The Bottom Line Is....
Considering they were without both Chris Webber and Steven Hunter, this was a very admirable effort by the Sixers. In fact, they lead this game for nearly the entire night, until of course, when it counted the most. Yes, the Sixers are now just 4-5, but if they keep up this kind of effort they'll be just fine.
FLYERS NEWS
Sharks 6 Flyers 1
It Was Over When....
The first period ended. The Sharks scored three times in the 1st period, and never looked back as they went on to score three more times in the 2nd period.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Basically, if played for the Sharks tonight you scored a point, either with a goal or an assist, so we'll just give it to the whole team, because let's face it they dominated.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
18, as in a measely 18 shots on goal for the Flyers on the night. It's tough to score goals when you take so few shots at the goal.
The Bottom Line Is....
This was a tough way to end what was a promising west coast trip. The Flyers were on a 2 game winning streak to start this trip, but this takes all the air out of that. Still, who knows, maybe this west coast trip on the whole will give the Flyers the confidence to start consistently winning games again. They're just going to have to forget about this one.
Friday, November 17, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
Suns106 Sixers 94
It Was Over When....
The Sixers failed to get the lead at halftime. They led at one point with about 3:00 minutes left in the 2nd period, but the Suns charged back ahead before the half and never trailed again.
The Game ball Goes to....
Leandro Barbosa with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Amare Stoudamire with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Simply put, the sixers just did not have an answer for the these 2.
The Stat Of The Gane Is....
14.3 as in just a 14.3 3pt shooting percentage for the Sixers on the night and 66.7 as in just a 66.7 free-throw shooting percentage. Winning is all about good shooting and when you shoot that poorly against an explosive offensive like the Suns' you usually end up on the short end of the stick.
The Bottom Line Is
Well, it appears that the victory over the Sonics was just a blip on the screen the for the Sixers, who once again fell back to a .500 record at 4-4. You have to hope though, that the Sixers can at least get another hot streak started at some point before the end of the season. Otherwise, this team won't be going anywhere.
It Was Over When....
The Sixers failed to get the lead at halftime. They led at one point with about 3:00 minutes left in the 2nd period, but the Suns charged back ahead before the half and never trailed again.
The Game ball Goes to....
Leandro Barbosa with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Amare Stoudamire with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Simply put, the sixers just did not have an answer for the these 2.
The Stat Of The Gane Is....
14.3 as in just a 14.3 3pt shooting percentage for the Sixers on the night and 66.7 as in just a 66.7 free-throw shooting percentage. Winning is all about good shooting and when you shoot that poorly against an explosive offensive like the Suns' you usually end up on the short end of the stick.
The Bottom Line Is
Well, it appears that the victory over the Sonics was just a blip on the screen the for the Sixers, who once again fell back to a .500 record at 4-4. You have to hope though, that the Sixers can at least get another hot streak started at some point before the end of the season. Otherwise, this team won't be going anywhere.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies continued their offseason wheeling and dealing today. Thus far, they've already made some changes to the coaching staff and I'm sure you'v e heard by the now that they have also made move at free agent slugger Alfonso Soriano. Now, today they've have bagged their free agent, but it's not Soriano, instead it's free agent 3rd baseman Wes Helms, who last year hit a career best .329 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs for the Florida Marlins in a limited role. Most likely his role with Phils will also be limited, but he should provide some infield depth, both at 3rd base when Abraham Nunez needs a blow and at 1st base when Ryan Howard needs a blow. Now just based on this you might think that this was a smart move for the Phils and it is for the most part, but the deal the Phils signed with Helms, seems a little hefty, as they agreed to pay Helms 5.45 million for 2 years. I don't know about you but that just seems to me like an awul lot to pay for backup infielder such as Helms and I don't why did. All I can say is they better sign Soriano, or there will a lot of disgruntled Phils fans out there.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Flyers 4 Kings 3
It Was Over When....
R.J Umberger took the ice in the 3rd period. Umberger netted 2 late goals in the period to rally the Flyers to their 4-3 win.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Who else, R.J Umberger who scored twice on the night both times in the third period, including the game winning goal
The Stat Of The Game Is....
Well, there's nothing particularly distinguishing about the way either team played so we'll just go with 3, as in 3 goals scored in the 3rd period for the Flyers. At one point the Flyers trailed 3-1 in the middle of the period, but they posted 3 late goals to rally for the win.
The Bottom Line Is....
Honestly I fell asleep last night just as the 3rd period was starting and the Kings were leading 3-1. So imagine my shock when I woke this morning to find that the Flyers had won 4-3. I don't know, maybe it's me, but if this isn't the start of a turn around for the Flyers they've sure fooled me into thinking it is. I just hope they can keep it going.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Flyers 7 Ducks 4
It Was Over When....
The first period ended. The Flyers spent most of the period on the power play and took advantage of it, scoring 5, yes that's right 5 goals in the period, all against overmatched Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Peter Forsberg, with a goal and an assist, Simon Gagne with a goal and an assist, Sami Kapanen with 2 goals, Mike Knuble with a goal and an assist, Geoff Sanderson with a goal and an assist, Joni Pitkanen with 2 assists, Randy Robitaille with 2 assists, and Petr Nedved with 2 assists.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
7, as in 7 goals on the night for the Flyers as a team. This is the first time all year that they have scored more than 4 goals in a game.
The Bottom Line Is....
No that score at the top of this report is not a typo, the Flyers actually won for a change, and boy did they win. I mean they scored 7 goals against the best defensive team in the league thus far. You'd think if the Flyers can do that, then why can't they can't do it every night and win every game. Unfortunately things don't quite work like that, but hey who knows maybe this means the Flyers can actually turn things around.
SIXERS NEWS
Sixers 96 Sonics 90
It Was Over When....
The 3rd quarter ended. The Sixers built up a 15 point lead at one point during the quarter and by the the time the 4th quarter began they still led by 13, which was enough to hold on for the win.
The Game Ball Goes To....
the two AIs. Allen Iverson scored 28 points, and Andre Iguodala had a near triple double with 12 points , 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.
The Stat Of The Game Is....
0, as in the sonics biggest lead on the night was zero, in other words they never once had the lead in this game, as the Sixers led all night long from start to finish.
The Bottom Line Is....
This is the way you start a road trip. You just go into the other guy's building and take care of business. I mean it's one thing to lead for an entire game when you're at home, but to do it when you're on the road, is a real testament to your team unity. In fact, it was pretty clear, from beginning to end that the Sixers were not intimidated by the pro-sonics crowd, and they never really let them get in the game. I just hope this is the start of another long winning streak for the Sixers, rather than just a blip on the radar screen like that the 3 game winning streak at the beginning the season.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
FLYERS NEWS
Penguins 3 Flyers 2
It Was Over When....
Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Evgeni Malkin scored with just over 2:00 minutes left to play in the 3rd period to put the Penguins ahead for good at 3-2.
The Game Puck Goes To....
Pittsburgh's other wunderkind, Sidney Crosby who recorded their 1st goal of the night and assisted on Malkin's game winning score.
The Stat Of the Game Is....
3, as in 3 wins against the Flyers this season for the Penguins. Prior to this the Penguins had not beaten the Flyers three times in a season since 2000-2001.
The Bottom Line Is....
Once again the Flyers actually played farely well tonight, and once again they lost a hearbreaker on a late goal in the 3rd period. I don't know about you, but it seems increasingly evident to me that this team just isn't ready to win this season. Whether it's a lack of experience, or a dearth of heart and will to win, they are just not all put together right now. I mean at this point, if they can just somehow break even by the end of the season I'll be happy.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
EAGLES NEWS
Eagles 27 Redskins 3
It Was Over When....
Redskins star running back Clinton Portis broke his right hand in the 1st quarter. Portis would not return for the remainder of the game and whatever chance the Redskins might have had to win this game was lost with him.
The Game Ball Goes To....
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Assuming the play calling duties for the first time this year,(usually head coach Andy Reid scripts and calls the plays) he made sure that the Eagles offense ran the ball more times than it passed it for the first time this season. In fact, the Eagles got the ball with just over 9:00 minutes left in the game and with their new found running game were able to completely run off the remaining time on the clock, without having to bring the defense back out on to the field.
The Stat Of the Game Is....
113, as in 113 rushing yards in the game for Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, and 139 as in 139 yards receiving for Eagles receiver Donte Stallworth. This is the first time all year the Eagles have had a 100 yard rusher and receiver in the same game, and just the second time all year that they have had a 100 yard rusher(it was Westbrook the other time too).
The Bottom Line Is....
All I can say is thank god the Eagles won this one and thank god for Marty Mornhinweg. The Eagles won this one because Mornhinweg was willing to run to the ball and balance out the offense with 3o runs and 29 passes. If they can keep up that kind of balance for the rest of the season, there is a good chance that they will make the playoffs. However it's not always going to be this easy so if the Eagles hope to make playoffs they're just going to have to keep at it. They just can't have anymore of the let downs they had in the 1st half of the season.
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