Category: External Sports (Page 141 of 821)

      Taj Gibson throws down…twice. [video]

      May 16, 2011 /

      I’ve seen dunks as good or better than what Taj Gibson had against the Heat, but I’m not sure I’ve seen a single player have TWO dunks of this magnitude in a single game before. I’m sure it has happened — but maybe not in a game of this magnitude.

      First, Gibson posterized Dwyane Wade:

      Then he followed up a C.J. Watson missed to hammer home his point:

      Granted, that second dunk came when the game was basically over and both teams had cleared their benches…but still.

      At what point does Gibson’s play (nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks) make the Bulls regret signing Carlos Boozer to a huge contract?

      External Sports, NBA, Video

      Bulls take Game 1 in convincing fashion

      May 15, 2011 /
      Chicago Bulls’ Taj Gibson celebrates after a dunk on the Miami Heat during the first half in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff basketball game in Chicago May 15, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      According to the oddsmakers, the Bulls are the series underdog, yet they were favored to win Game 1. (Go figure.) The game was tied at 48-48 at the half, but Chicago’s 24-15 third quarter put them control heading into the final period. A 14-6 run (from the Bulls bench) to start the fourth quarter stretched the lead to 17 and Chicago cruised to a 103-82 win.

      There were two big stats in the Bulls’ favor. First, they outrebounded the Heat on the offensive glass, 19-6, so that’s 13 extra possessions which contributed to 19 additional shots and five additional free throws. Couple that with the Bulls’ stellar shooting from the three point line (10-of-21) and the result is a blowout win.

      Derrick Rose had 28 points and six assists, but the difference in the game was Luol Deng (21 points, seven rebounds, four steals), who absolutely outplayed LeBron James (15 points, six rebounds, six assists). Taj Gibson (nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks) combined with Carlos Boozer (14 points, nine rebounds) to offset a surprisingly good game from Chris Bosh (30 points, nine rebounds).

      Game 2 is on Wednesday.

      External Sports, NBA

      NFL lockout to last for rest of May?

      May 15, 2011 /
      Gregg Levy (L) and David Boies (R), attorneys for NFL team owners, enter a federal courthouse for a hearing regarding labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association in St. Paul, April 6, 2011. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL CRIME LAW BUSINESS)

      NFL business analyst Andrew Brandt tweeted that he expects the owners’ temporary stay of the lockout injunction to last until at least June 3.

      From Rotoworld:

      Brandt also expects neither side to offer a concession until that date. In other words, the league would have no movement for the rest of the month and possibly even pass that June 3 date. The lawyers on both sides are meanwhile racking up some serious cash. The Eighth Circuit Court, same one that’s refused to rule on the temporary stay, will hear the June 3 appeal in St. Louis.

      I don’t understand why The Eighth Circuit Court refuses to rule on this temporary stay. I’m not a lawyer so maybe I’m missing something here, but why can’t this court make a ruling? Are they still reviewing the case and they just can’t make a decision or are they purposely stringing everyone along? I don’t get it.

      It would be nice if the lockout lifted in early June, free agency began and mini-camps started in July. But that seems like a reach at this point.

      External Sports, NFL

      Reggie Bush wants to return to Saints

      May 14, 2011 /
      New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) runs up the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during first half action at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 2, 2011. Defending on the play is the Buccaneers’ Corey Lynch (41). UPI/A.J. Sisco

      Two weeks after suggesting on Twitter that the selection of Mark Ingram sealed his fate in New Orleans, Reggie Bush has pulled an about-face and wants “first and foremost” to be a Saint.

      From Rotoworld:

      Bush regrets his post-draft tweet suggesting the Mark Ingram pick had sealed his fate with the team. “Obviously, sometimes you write things or say things that you wish you shouldn’t have,” Bush said. “(Ingram and) I can definitely help each other.” Bush acknowledges that he and the Saints still have to “handle the business side of things” and “come to a happy medium” on a restructured contract, but he to play the rest of his career in New Orleans. The odds are now much better than 50-50 that Bush will remain with the Saints

      The problem is that Bush is set to make $11.8 million next year before he becomes a free agent in 2012. Given his role in Sean Payton’s offense and the fact that the Saints just drafted their running back of the future in Ingram, it’s hard to justify them paying Bush $11.8 million. If he’s willing to restructure his deal to stick around, I’m sure the Saints would love to keep him in New Orleans.

      If he does wind up playing elsewhere next year, there have been some rumblings that Bush could be a nice fit for the Colts.

      External Sports, NFL

      Russell Westbrook strikes again!

      May 14, 2011 /
      Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (C) heads to the hoop as Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (L) and O.J. Mayo (R)defend during the second half of NBA basketball action in Memphis, Tennessee May 13, 2011. The Grizzlies won 95-83 REUTERS/Alan Spearman (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      Regular readers know that I’m no fan of Westbrook’s performance in the Playoffs. He posts gaudy numbers in virtually every game, but when it comes down to crunch time, he has been inconsistent.

      Take Game 6 in Memphis. Westbrook finished with 27 points (on 11-for-22 shooting), four assists and three rebounds. Great, right? Not quite.

      A closer look at Westbrook’s performance in crunch time reveals an entirely different story. After entering the game with 9:04 to play, he turns the ball over on three of the next four OKC possessions. The Grizzlies capitalize with a pair of Zach Randolph buckets. The four-point lead swells to seven.

      Trailing by that margin with 3:29 to play, Westbrook misses a layup. On the next Memphis possession, Westbrook closes on an O.J. Mayo catch too quickly and Mayo goes by him for a 19-foot stop-and-pop to push the lead to nine. When Westbrook misses a 17-foot jumper with 2:23 to play, the Thunder are all but done.

      He went 3-of-7 (0-2 from 3PT) with zero assists and three turnovers in the final 9:04, and his team was -8 during that span.

      Can the Thunder win a title with Russell Westbrook at the point? Unless he finds a way to suddenly become much more efficient, I’d say no. He’s young, but he’s been in the league for three years and is still playing inconsistent ball in crunch time.

      External Sports, NBA

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