Month: April 2009 (Page 5 of 53)

Nuggets dismantle the Hornets, win by 58

April 28, 2009 / John Paulsen

The Nuggets matched a playoff record for win margin, beating the Hornets, 121-63, in New Orleans.

I’ll let that sink in for a moment.

The box score is amazing. The Nuggets had seven players in double-digits; the Hornets had three. The Nuggets shot 57% from the field and 50% from long range; the Hornets shot 32% and 13%, respectively. Denver outrebounded New Orleans, 41-32. The Nuggets turned the ball over 11 times; the Hornets turned it over 26 times.

In short, Denver dominated virtually every aspect of this game.

How does this happen to a team that has two All-Stars (Chris Paul and David West) and a pretty decent supporting cast? At home?

The Hornets added James Posey this offseason because they were supposed to make a run to the Finals. But things just haven’t clicked this year. One night they’ll look great and beat a contender, the next night they’ll lose at home to a bottom feeder. The Tyson Chandler on-again, off-again trade might have sent this franchise into a bit of a tailspin, and it’s not clear how long it’s going to take to straighten things out.

NBA

2009 NBA Playoffs Chris Paul David West Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs New Orleans Hornets

James Jones scores eight points in 11 seconds

April 28, 2009 / John Paulsen

This has to be a record of some sort. James Jones had back-to-back four-point plays in the Heat’s loss last night to the Hawks. The two plays were part of a 14-0 (and 19-2) run that got Miami back into the game late in the second quarter (after falling behind by 21 points).

Due to the nature of the NBA game (i.e. sooooooo many timeouts, the level of play), it’s not often that you see a 14-0 run in a game. And you NEVER see back to back four-point plays. (Granted, it didn’t really look like Mike Bibby fouled him on that second make, but still.)

NBA, NBA Finals, Video

Atlanta Hawks James Jones Miami Heat

2009 All-Wacko Baseball Team

April 28, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

GQ.com is doing a pretty cool feature where you can vote on which ball players deserve to be on their 2009 All-Wacko Baseball Team.

Some of the notables that you can vote on are White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (should be on the all douche team), Dodgers’ outfielder Manny Ramirez and Nationals’ outfielder Elijah Dukes.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and A’s infielder Nomar Garciaparra are on the list as well, which I don’t get, but the site has descriptions of why they could be “All-Wacko” this year so check it out.

Click here to cast your votes.

Humor, MLB

A.J. Pierzynski Baseball players who are nuts Dustin Pedroia Elijah Dukes Manny Ramirez Nomar Garciaparra Wacko baseball players

Dolphins waive Beck, White to get a shot at quarterback?

April 28, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

The Dolphins have waived former second round pick John Beck.

The draft class of one year HC Cam Cameron is getting thinner every day. The Miami Dolphins have announced the release, not the trade, of 3rd string QB John Beck. Beck rode the bench last year and never saw the field the entire season. After the Dolphins drafted QB Pat White over the weekend, it was evident that Beck’s future with the team was seriously in doubt.
The release comes following a weekend when the Phins likely tried to move the QB VIA trade, but it is obvious that the team couldn’t get anything in return. Beck started 3 games in his rookie season after being drafted in the 2nd round. He won no games.
Beck has a strong arm but his experience and age, 28 made him an unlikely candidate with this regime to not only see playing time, but stick on the roster. Earlier this off-season, HC Tony Sparano said that it would be hard to find Beck practice reps this off-season as they groom Chad Henne.
Beck becomes another 2nd round QB that the Dolphins have swung and missed on in the last few years. The Dolphins traded a high 2nd round pick for AJ Feely to Philadelphia, spent a high 2nd round pick on Daunte Culpepper, drafted John Beck with a high 2nd round pick, drafted Chad Henne with a low 2nd rounder, and of course this year spent the 44th overall pick, a 2nd rounder, on QB/RB/WR Pat White.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but what a brutal pick in the second round. Scouts knew that he played in a system that allowed him to put up gaudy numbers at BYU, yet they ignored that and just paid attention to his arm strength. Some team will likely give him a shot as a backup, but in his brief starting appearances in Miami, he was brutal.

Maybe this means that they’ll give Pat White – whom they took in the second round last weekend – a shot to play quarterback. Some envision White as a receiver at the next level, but he had the best scouting combine of any quarterback in this year’s draft, and that includes Mark Sanchez. White has the arm strength to complete all of the passes in the NFL and obviously has the mobility to make things happen with his feet. Clearly the Dolphins are going to find ways to get him on the field if they took him in the second round, most likely in their “Wildcat” formation.

NFL, NFL Draft

John Beck John Beck rumors John Beck waived Miami Dolphins Pat White Pat White rumors

65 Observations about the 2009 NFL Draft

April 27, 2009 / Anthony Stalter

I’m going to channel my inner Peter King and dole out a crap load of quick-hit thoughts on last weekend’s NFL draft, which by the way, was one of the more unpredictable drafts I have ever witnessed.

Below are 65 observations from the 2009 NFL Draft. Why 65? I don’t know – don’t worry about it. Originally I came up with 62, but I know that some people freak out when things aren’t in round numbers, so I added three more. But the number 65 means nothing, so don’t waste time searching for its meaning.

Obviously these are all my opinions and feel free to debate them. But before you do, I already know that it supposedly takes three seasons to fully grade a draft and that no prospect is a sure thing. Again, I’m projecting here – so lighten up and let’s strike up some good debates.

1. Outside of the fact that he’s now a millionaire and could buy a small country, I kind of feel bad for Matthew Stafford. You know some halfwit fan or media member can’t wait to utter the comment, “For $72 million, he should have made that pass.” I hate the fact that money plays such a huge role in sports because when you get down to it, completing a pass, making a catch or kicking a field goal has nothing to do with how many zeros are on your paycheck.

2. I know I’m not saying anything new here, but the rookie salary structure is a joke. When teams don’t even want a top 5 pick anymore because of the financial burden that comes with it, there’s a huge problem.

3. The kid could turn out to be the next Ryan Leaf on the field, but Lion fans have to at least take comfort in the fact that Matthew Stafford is saying all the right things at this point. He did an interview with the NFL Network on Sunday and he talked about how he wants to be a starter right away, but also wants to learn and be patient in his development. From all accounts, he looks like he has a great head on his shoulders.

4. If Tyson Jackson turns out to be the next Richard Seymour like Chiefs’ GM Scott Pioli believes, then nobody is going to remember (or care) that he was taken with the third overall pick in a weak draft class.