FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1.
Official Indianapolis Colts Jersey . CHRIS GRANT (Cavs): The GM gets fired on Thursday after his team won only 29 per cent of its games during his tenure. Obviously, a totally undermanned Lakers team beating them on their home floor was the final straw. Wow, what a mess it is right now. Many folks thought with the addition of Jarrett Jack, Andrew Bynum, head coach Mike Brown and first overall pick Anthony Bennett that they would be knocking on the door for a seven or eight seed in the East. No such luck. Its been dysfunctional and the idea of signing LeBron James in the summer looks like a pipe dream and the ability to hold onto Kyrie Irving (in spite of what he says) is in serious doubt. Fragile business. 2. ENES KANTER (Jazz): Have watched him twice in person and on TV a bunch of times and I gotta confess, Im more of a Derrick Favors fan. Not sure both of these guys can co-exist. Kanter is averaging 12 and 6 and when I watch him I see a guy that is a bit robotic with his game. Yes hes a bruiser but its hard to play that style unless you have great skill to go with it. Still a work in progress. 3. CHRIS PAUL (Clippers): Its a bit chilly and rain is in the forecast here for later today in L.A. Rather this than snow and freezing temperatures. News that warmed me up today was the fact that the All-Star point guard wont make his return from injury until Sunday so the Raptors catch a break not seeing him. But it will still be a very difficult game to win for Toronto here on Friday. It will be great for Paul to get on the court this weekend and play next weekend at his first professional stop (New Orleans) in the All-Star Game. Good for the sport. Terrific player and class act. 4. RAPTORS at KINGS: It was the fourth time in the last few weeks (Celtics, Lakers, Bobcats) that the Raptors played down to their competition and "Played the Record". Games like these haunt teams and cause sleepless nights for coaches. I felt for Dwane Casey on Thursday night - he tried everything to get his team going with little success. Im sorry but this team isnt good enough to overlook anyone. Totally got outplayed and didnt deserve to win. Winning teams have real good habits. This team still floats big time with its focus. Its easy to get up for the name teams but as usual guys get it backwards. Its really hard to win those games. Play really hard against the teams you can beat and youll have a really nice season and then steal the occasional game when you play a team thats in the upper class. Tough lessons to learn. Time they actually learn the lesson and do something about it. You want the third our fourth seed and home court in the first round of the Playoffs? Punch the clock, bring the lunch bucket and hard hat and compete like crazy. You do that - youll have success. Time to grow up a bit. I have no issues with losing if you lay it all on the line to the best of your ability and the other guy happens to be better that night - that happens. Shake his hand and hold your head high and get ready for the next one. Stop teasing folks. This team is good enough and has good people on it - theyll figure it out. 5. TOM THIBODEAU (Bulls): I like what he said recently about playing time. Hes the boss and he and only he will determine who gets the privilege that you have to EARN to play and finish games. Carlos Boozer is upset with his fourth quarter role of late. I have a suggestion - play really hard and well and guess what? Youll play and finish games. Coaches want to and have to win. Its your job to please your coach, not the other way around. A coachs ultimate loyalty has to be to winning and team. Nothing else comes close. Believe me you could coach a guy you completely dislike personally yet youll play him every minute if he helps you win.
Trent Cole Colts Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right.
Anthony Castonzo Colts Jersey .The result meant Juventus will spend the winter break three points clear of Roma after the league leader beat Cagliari 3-1 on Thursday.Milan remained seventh ahead of the rest of the weekends fixtures, but was provisionally two points behind third-place Napoli in their duel for the final Champions League spot.Liverpool and FC Basel meet in a straight shootout at Anfield Tuesday to determine which team joins Real Madrid in advancing from Group B of the Champions League.Only a win will suffice for Liverpool, whose return to Europes top competition has been a disappointment with its only points coming from matches against group minnow Ludogorets Razgrad.Basel will go through with a draw — and will be buoyed by its surprising strong record against English teams that has seen the Swiss team lose just one of its last nine matches. Basel has won four straight games against Premier League opposition, including home and away against Chelsea in last seasons group stage.In the other game, group winner Madrid hosts Bulgarian champion Ludogorets, which cannot reach the last 16 but could still finish third and gain entry to the knockout stage of the Europa League.Here are some things to know about Tuesdays games:___GERRARD RETURNSLiverpool will look to captain Steven Gerrard to rise to the big occasion again — just like he did exactly 10 years ago in one of his defining moments in the famous red shirt.In 2004, Gerrard scored a brilliant long-range goal in the final minutes to seal a 3-1 victory over Olympiakos in their final group game — securing a two-goal winning margin that put Liverpool through. The English club went on to win the Champions League that season.It is one of a number of big-game moments in the career of Gerrard, who is now age 34 and no longer plays every game under manager Brendan Rodgers.He started on the bench for Saturdays 0-0 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League, ensuring he wwill be ready for Basel.
Sio Moore Colts Jersey. We cant always rely on him. It cant be up to him every single game to be the catalyst. Rodgers said. His talent is world class but that contribution has to come around the team.___MAKING A POINTBasel will advance to the last-16 with a repeat of its 1-1 draw at Liverpool 12 seasons ago.Then, the two teams played at Anfield earlier in the group stage, before also meeting in a decisive sixth and final match.Basel needed only a point in November 2002 to clinch second place in the group, and got it despite letting a three-goal lead slip to an eventual 3-3 draw.Basel has lost both away matches this season, and Liverpool lost four of its past six home games, stretching back to 2009.___RECORD REALReal Madrid has a little bit of history to play for when it welcomes Bulgarian minnow Ludogorets on Tuesday.The defending champions are the only team to have won all five group games, and have already wrapped up top spot.But Madrid will be aiming for a 19th consecutive victory across all competitions that will give it one more than the record for a Spanish team set by Barcelona in 2005-06.The key to keeping this up is playing consistently, said Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos. The important thing isnt the record, rather winning each individual game.Cristiano Ronaldo — unless coach Carlo Ancelotti decides to give his star forward a rare rest — will also try to add to his stunning tally of 29 goals in 21 games for Madrid this campaign.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva and Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report.
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