Page 323 of 2957

      Zach Randolph leads Grizzlies to series-clinching win

      April 29, 2011 /
      Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (R) shoots as San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tennessee April 29, 2011. REUTERS/Nikki Boertman (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      It was The Z-Bo Show on Friday night, as Zach Randolph scored 31 points (on 12-of-22 shooting) to go along with 11 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ 99-91 win over the top-seeded Spurs.

      Check out the final 6:37 from Randolph:

      6:37 Zach Randolph makes layup
      4:24 Zach Randolph makes 4-foot two point shot (Shane Battier assists)
      3:30 Zach Randolph makes 8-foot two point shot
      2:54 Zach Randolph makes two free throws
      1:54 Zach Randolph makes 8-foot two point shot
      1:10 Zach Randolph makes 8-foot two point shot
      0:19 Zach Randolph makes 1 of 2 free throws
      0:09 Zach Randolph makes two free throws

      Other than a Mike Conley jumper with 3:57 to play, no other Memphis player scored for six minutes while Randolph almost single-handedly stretched the Grizzlies’ lead from three to nine. During that span, he scored 15 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. It was truly an epic performance from a player who certainly has had his share of ups and downs during his career.

      Grizzlies/Thunder in the second round — it should be a lot of fun to watch these two young teams battle for a berth in the Western Conference Finals.

      External Sports, NBA

      15 Observations from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft

      April 29, 2011 /
      The National Football League logo is displayed near the stage during round one of the 2011 NFL Draft Pick at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. UPI/Monika Graff

      Here are 15 observations, thoughts and projections (sure to be wrong knowing my luck with predictions on prospects) from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

      1. Hey kids, if you want to be a NFL quarterback…don’t…do…drugs. I’ve never seen so many quarterback-needy teams stay away from a prototypical pocket passer like they’re doing with Ryan Mallett this year. I may be in the minority here, but I think he’s going to be a steal no matter where he winds up. (Side Note: Before this article went live, I saw that Mallett got taken by the Patriots in the third round. Bill Belichick is going to make this kid a winner someday.)

      2. Andy Dalton may not have the strongest arm but he’s a solid fit for Jay Gruden’s offense in Cincinnati. I’m thinking the dream scenario for the Bengals would be for Carson Palmer to suck it up for one more season and then they can turn the keys over to Dalton in 2012. But if Palmer is done, the Bengals can sign a veteran and bring Dalton along slowly.

      3. It may take a couple of years but give Jim Harbaugh some time and he could turn Colin Kaepernick into a good pro quarterback. Kaepernick is a bit of a project but the kid has good size, a great arm and is one hell of an athlete. He has all the tools to succeed and if fans are patient, this could wind up being a beautiful marriage.

      4. The Browns did well in the first two rounds. Not only did they acquire 62 picks from the Falcons in exchange for the No. 6 overall selection, but Mike Holmgren addressed needs along the D-line with Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, and at receiver with Greg Little (who isn’t Julio Jones but he’s a solid prospect nonetheless). All three players should see action as rookies.

      5. So what does it say about Beanie Wells if the Cardinals are taking Ryan Williams in the second round? If Williams stays healthy, he’s an explosive runner with good vision but he’s going to have to fight for carries next year in the desert. Given how many needs Arizona has, this is a strange fit.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      ESPN reports that stay was granted, then retracts story

      April 29, 2011 /
      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does a television interview before the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/MIke Segar (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      ESPN reported that St. Louis’ Eighth Circuit Court granted a “stay” of the lockout injunction on Friday, but then retracted the story.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      Yahoo Sports’ Mike Silver is still reporting that a stay is expected, but it isn’t official yet. Some reports claimed teams were already kicking players out of their facilities; that isn’t the case. Expect a formal ruling to be handed down from the Eighth Circuit Court before the start of round two.

      How ridiculous is it that in the midst of all this hype for the draft, the owners are waiting to hear if their lockout can continue? If you flip on NFL Network or ESPN right now, all the talk is about whether or not these prospects will pan out and what kind of impact they’ll make for their team next year. And yet, there is no season as of right now.

      If Roger Goodell makes more appearances at Radio City Music Hall this weekend, he can expect more boos from fans.

      Fans on Thursday night: “We want football! We want football!”

      Goodell: “I hear ya – me, too.”

      What a joke.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Falcons’ first round trade has been three months in the making

      April 29, 2011 /
      Wide receiver Julio Jones of the University of Alabama stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the sixth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Heading into this year’s draft, the overall consensus was that the Falcons would use their first round pick (No. 27 overall) on defense after they gave up 48 points in an embarrassing Divisional Round loss to the Packers last January.

      But that ugly showing inside the Georgia Dome that night must have showed GM Thomas Dimitroff that he had a more pressing need than defense. One that facilitated the biggest trade so far of the 2011 NFL Draft.

      It was apparent in the Falcons’ loss to the Packers that they didn’t have another receiver opposite Roddy White to stretch the defense. In fact, the Falcons had an issue all season in gaining yards after the catch. Tight end Tony Gonzalez is still productive, but he’s lost a step over the years. Michael Jenkins comes up with a couple of clutch receptions every season and is a solid blocker in the run game (an important skill in Atlanta‘s offense), but he doesn’t threaten defenses with his speed. Slot receiver Harry Douglas does have good speed, but he’s been slow to recover from a knee injury that he suffered in training camp in 2010.

      So Dimitroff packaged five picks (including his 2012 first round selection) in order to move all the way up to No. 6 (which was the Browns’ original pick) in order to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the first round on Thursday night. Jones is the ultimate blue-chip prospect. He can break tackles, make plays after the catch and yes, stretch defenses vertically. Assuming Jones isn’t a bust in the making, defenses won’t be able to double-team White and Matt Ryan now has even more weapons at his disposal.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑