Slower pace, shorter rotation and Jarred Jeffries; reasons for the Knicks’ 7-2 record on the last 9 games before Christmas but there’s only so much you can do, against a certain amount of teams. The momentum just wasn’t enough for New York and on an afternoon where the offense was just terrible from both sides, the Knicks attempted a late 4^th quarter comeback but came short against the Heat on the Garden.

The 1^st quarter was just awful basketball. Both teams combined for 18 of 43 shooting from the field on the first 12 minutes and some way, somehow they managed to score a total of 44 points to at least keep us awake. Act 2 wasn’t much better either but after intermission things picked up a little bit. Dwayne Wade & Michael Beasley took over which helped the Heat to open a 12 point lead after 3. A back and forth on the 4^th and the Knicks cut the lead down to 7 and eventually down to 4 but a Jermaine O’Neal jumper and simply Dwayne Wade completed the inevitable.

New York, 2^nd in league in 3 points attempted and made, shot a pour 5-28 (17.9%) from beyond the arc, weird considering that Galinari, team’s main sniper, had a team high 26 points. The Knicks had 18 TOs and only 4 of the 8 players that played reached double figures.

Miami started its usual lineup with Arroyo at PG once again, instead of Chalmers, and behind Wade’s 30 points and Beasley’s 19, the Heat took the lead just before halftime and never looked back. Every time Quentin Richardson hit a shot this afternoon, the crowd got in some sort of coma generated by denial. O’Neal’s huge jumper when the Knicks were getting close made me remember that sometimes, just sometimes, I think he still got it.

New York remains its quest to … well, nowhere as they sit, wait and wish for the super free agency summer of 2010 while the Heat keeps doing what they were supposed to, beating all those weak teams, in their way to the playoffs because it seems that Wade will make through this season healthy again. Two teams on opposite direction for now but that hope the same; that the season ends soon.

John Francis Wade (1711-1786

• Adeste Fideles

Elīna Garanča – Genia Kühmeier – Juan Diego Florez – Paul Armin Edelmann
Wiener Sängerknaben – Chorus Viennensis

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Mark Chichon

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Alright, the NBA season is in full swing and teams that look they have a shot at the title are clearing up and those who are challenging for a post season bid are also clearing up for the most part.  However, who are some of those players that are opening up some eyes that may be people have yet to find.

We all know Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Dwight, and Carmelo are at the top of league in popularity as well as elite players.  Each of these players have proven why they are elite and the best of the best, but I have a list of some young players that may be on their way to stardom.  Players that have been in the league for a couple of years and also some rookies that have shown glimpses of big time performances down the road.

Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder, is in his third year and has improved each year in major ways.  He upped his point total by five from year one to two, and by three so far this season from last year.  He is asserting himself as one of the most athletic players in the game right now.  Still, because he plays for the Thunder, he is just now getting the publicity he deserves.  Finally playing on national television and getting in magazines and even commercials, KD will be a household name soon.  At 6′10”, Durant is a freakish swing man who can shoot the three, and take the defenders off the dribble.

Johnny Flynn of the Minnesota Timberwolves, has played really well in the association for a rookie in his first 20 plus games.  The rookie point guard out of Syracuse, has led the young wolves in several categories throughout the season in numerous games with the absences of Kevin Love.  Flynn, Love, and Jefferson may prove to be a dynamite trio in the near future if they can stay healthy and get some big time help up there in Minnesota.  Flynn has the ability as a point guard to be great, but needs work on his shooting from outside to play premiere games in the NBA.  However, with his heart, especially after the six overtime thriller in the Big East tournament last season, Flynn can play and create by simply willing his way to the basket.

Brandon Jennings, rookie point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, has already shown why he is a star in the making.  Jennings dropped a rookie record  55 points in a game against the Warriors earlier this season, and has had multiple games at or near the 30 point plateau too.  Jennings has also shown good vision as a passer and setting up his teammates, but needs to look to become a more consistent shooter from outside.  Jennings a very streaky shooter has a tendency to get cold and stay cold if he does not get it going early.  Jennings also has to do a better job of finishing strong around the basket.  He tends to rely on the floater and tear drop shot that can and is effective, but with his high free throw percentage, it would be ideal for the Bucks to get him to the line where he can get “And 1’s” or create foul problems for the opponents.

Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets Center, has gotten off to a good start for his career.  Well, maybe not in a team aspect, as he played on the Nets while they set a record for most consecutive losses to start a season, but Lopez has been a bright spot.  The size and strength he has shown in the lane for a young player is phenomenal.  Lopez also has great hands and foot work that has the potential as limited as the sky.  Lopez may be the next big man to make a name for himself controlling the 3-second area.

Tyreke Evans, rookie point guard for the Sacramento Kings, has made an immediate impact in the NBA.  Evans has already shown why he was a first round pick, and why only one year of college ball was necessary.  He moves to smoothly through defenses and already has a NBA ready body that he entered the league with.  Evans and Jennings will go one-two and even Flynn at three for the rookie of the year this year, not in any particular order, but all have different styles, but all effective. Evans the bigger frame and most athletic of the three has already been handed the keys to the franchise as it is his team to be built around, and he is proving the owners why he is that type of player.

Get ready NBA fans, these young guns are on their way to an arena near you, and you may be sitting in on your couch 10 or 15 years from now saying to yourself, “I remember when this guy was just entering the league playing against Kobe and LeBron.”  Keep your eyes open, because this is the class that will replace Kobe and LeBron, maybe not as successful or as good, but provide some great memories to be remembered by.

DeRozan will have his hands full with D-Wade tonight

Home or away, the Raptors always seem to get the best of Dwyane Wade and his cast of misfits these days. A couple weeks after a tight win over the Heat at the ACC, Toronto is in Miami tonight for a grudge match, looking to make it 113 straight against the South Floridians. As usual, check in with my boys at Raptors Republic for all the goods.

Miami got off to a hot start this season but now finds itself at 11-11, fresh off an embarrassing 118-90 home loss to Memphis on Sunday, which I believe was the Grizzlies’ first road win in about six years. As in past years, as Wade goes, the Heat go. Michael Beasley is starting play well, but Miami still doesn’t have much in the way of depth, and with apologies to Jermaine O’Neal, I’ve witnessed first-hand that he’s not exactly the type that turns a team into an instant contender anymore. Miami’s bench is weak too — Udonis Haslem provides a bit of muscle but there isn’t much in the way of an offensive spark, or at least one that can shoot straight. If the Raps can keep Wade from scoring 100 points, this one is certainly winnable.

Toronto, meanwhile, is looking to make it two straight after a comfortable win over Houston on Sunday. Hedo Turkoglu was big in that game, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask him to come up with another good effort tonight. Jarrett Jack will get another start at the point in place of Jose Calderon, who’s still nursing a hip injury that’ll probably plague him all season, if we learned anything from last year.

The Raptors and Heat tip at 7:30.

The first returns of the 2010 NBA All-Star Balloting Presented by T-Mobile names Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers as the top overall vote-getter with 692,518 total votes while Dwyane Wade tops the list in the East which accumulated 672,227 votes. Fans across the globe voted in several ways including voting booths at each NBA arena, at NBA.com which is also available in 20 Languages and through mobile their mobile phone by texting the Player’s Surname to 6-9-6-2-2 (“MYNBA”), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier.

The All-Star ballot lists is composed of 120 players (60 from West + 60 from East). It’s composed of 24 Guards, 24 Forwards and 12 Centers from each conferences. Voters can vote as many times as they want and continues up until Jan. 10 (for paper balloting) and Jan. 18 (for Wireless and NBA.com voting). All-Star starters will be announced on Jan. 21. and the complete lineup on Jan. 28, 2010.

The NBA All-Star will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 — the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game — on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 which will be aired on TNT.

2010 NBA All-Star Balloting(First Return Results)

Eastern Conference

Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 649,327; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 533,187; Chris Bosh (Tor) 303,550; Paul Pierce (Bos) 131,379; Josh Smith (Atl) 109,404; Danny Granger (Ind) 100,122; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 75,146; Michael Beasley (Mia) 58,461; Hedo Turkoglu (Tor) 55,416; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 46,073; Luol Deng (Chi) 37,428.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 672,227; Vince Carter (Orl) 292,002; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 212,526; Ray Allen (Bos) 208,276 Derrick Rose (Chi) 196,059; Allen Iverson (Phi) 136,976*; Joe Johnson (Atl) 118,964; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 113,371; Jose Calderon (Tor) 68,084; Mike Bibby (Atl) 48,935.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 625,279; Shaquille O’Neal (Cle) 206,657; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 67,310; Al Horford (Atl) 52,747; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 45,920; Brook Lopez (NJ) 39,420; Jermaine O’Neal (Mia) 38,956; Rasheed Wallace (Bos) 36,855; Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 19,408; Brad Miller (Chi) 17,188; Tyson Chandler (Cha) 14,062; Samuel Dalembert, (Phi) 13,969.

Western Conference

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 588,958; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 366,300; Pau Gasol (LAL) 280,758; Tim Duncan (SA) 271,321; Kevin Durant (OKC) 177,205; Trevor Ariza (Hou) 168,167; Shawn Marion (Dal) 161,653; Luis Scola (Hou) 134,321; Ron Artest (LAL) 99,209; Lamar Odom (LAL) 85,817; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 70,588.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 692,518; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 281,545; Steve Nash (Pho) 272,135; Chris Paul (NO) 248,049; Jason Kidd (Dal) 207,247; Jason Terry (Dal) 131,422; Aaron Brooks (Hou) 131,167; Chauncey Billups (Den) 112,509; Brandon Roy (Por) 106,416; Deron Williams (Utah) 94,715; Manu Ginobili (SA) 75,392.

Centers: Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 447,776; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 299,484; Nene (Den) 90,439; Marc Gasol (Mem) 75,765; Greg Oden (Por) 73,874; Al Jefferson (Min) 48,676; Antonio McDyess (SA) 46,323; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 35,606; Marcus Camby (LAC) 35,471; Andris Biedrins (GS) 28,287; Emeka Okafor (NO) 19,827; Spencer Hawes (Sac) 10,733.

*While Allen Iverson appears among Western Conference guards on the paper ballot because he began the season with Memphis, his votes will count toward the Eastern Conference guards due to his signing with Philadelphia Dec. 3.

Let Your Voice Be Heard (Vote for your All-Star LineUp Now!)
Other News:

Celtics’ Allen reaches 20,000-point milestone
Nuggets’ Martin misses another game with dislocated pinkie
Wizards to wear jersey patch honoring Abe Pollin
Top scorers (and T-Mac) lead pack in All-Star voting
Cavs accompany Gibson to jersey retirement ceremony

Game Results

Thursday, December 10,2009

DET runs over visiting DEN, 101-99
BOS takes over east leadership with a win over WAS, 104-102
UTA back on the winning track at the expense of ORL, 120-111

Top 5 Plays of the night

Game Schedule(Friday, Dec. 11,2009/simulcast over NBA league pass)

11 Games:
NJN visits IND@7PM ET
HOU goes to PHI@7PM ET
ATL flies to TOR@7PM ET
DAL comes to MIA@7:30PM ET
GSW rallies to CHI@8PM ET
POR plays CLE@8PM ET
OKC tries to thunder shock MEM@8PM ET
NYK goes to NOH@8PM ET
CHA visits SAS@8:30PM ET
MIN tries to stop LAL@10:30PM ET
ORL wants to get back on the winning track vs. PHX@10:30PM ET

Top 3 Statistical Leaders (averages/as of Thursday, Dec. 10,2009)

Points(ppg)

1. Carmelo Anthony, DEN-34.3
2. Dwyane Wade, MIA-30.5
3. Brandon Roy, POR-30.0

Rebounds(rpg)

1. Gerald Wallace, CHA-16.
2. Dwight Howard, ORL-13.5
3. Tim Duncan, SAS-13.2

Assists(apg)

1. Rajon Rondo, BOS-11.5
2. Deron Williams, UTA-9.8
3. Gilbert Arenas, WAS-8.0

Steals(spg)

1. Andray Blatche, WAS-5.0
2. Trevor Ariza, HOU-3.0
3. Joe Johnson, ATL-3.0

Blocks(bpg)

1. Shane Battier, HOU-6.0
2. Dwight Howard, ORL-3.0
3. Chris Hunter, GSW(Rookie)-3.0

League Leaders(as of Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009)

East (overall) win-loss-streak record

1. Boston Celtics-18-4-W9

2. Orlando Magic-17-5-L1

3. Atlanta Hawks-16-6-W3

4. Cleveland Cavaliers-15-7-L2

5. Miami Heat-11-9-W1

West (overall) win-loss-streak record

1. Los Angeles Lakers-17-3-W10

2. Denver Nuggets-16-7-L2

3. Dallas Mavericks-15-7-W1

4. Phoenix Suns-15-7-L2

5. Portland Trail Blazers-14-9-W1

D-League News

Update on the 2009 NBA Developmental League (D-League) Draft.

WNBA News

Check out WNBA MVP Candace Parker as she post as cover girl for the March 23 issue of the ESPN Magazine.

Jr.NBA Update

Tip-off begins January 16, 2010.

Fan Stuff

Amazon.com Widgets

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I wrapped up a slow week with the two best fish of the trip Thursday evening and Friday (of course they were separated by many fruitless casts).  After a marathon night of fishing on my birthday, Wednesday was a total wash, better for lounging in the hot tub at my Dad’s rental and enjoying a belated birthday dinner at Diamond Shoals restaurant (I had seared yellowfin tuna).  I spent the first half of Thursday working while the wind died down and the tide peaked out, and ventured out after noon with the plan of doing some clamming and oystering behind Oregon Inlet on low tide.  I ended up hitting the north point and inlet instead, mainly to scope out the long bar running from the point to the bridge in case I return later – its nice to know where the slough can be crossed without swamping my waders with cold water in the middle of the night!

Oregon Inlet

Conditions were nice and I casted a Storm wildeye swim shad into the inlet while walking the bar.  These lures are a great imitation of a bunker, aka menhaden, and are pretty irresistible to a foraging striper.  No foraging stripers around this afternoon however.  From Oregon Inlet, I continued my striper pursuit with another soundside foray at sunset.  I found some really nice current which is key to success for soundside stripers, and although the action was very slow, I was able to coax another fat football of a striper to hit a blurple (black over purple) bomber.  This one measured 23″ long x 15″ girth – fat fish!  Since most of these soundside stripers seem to be gorging on peanut bunker (baby menhaden of about 3-4″ in length), I usually try to stick with lures with a small profile.  However, this particular bomber was the 6″ “long-A” model.  With the slow fishing, I wanted a heftier lure that I could cast further to cover more ground.  I also felt like a big noisy lure might incite an anger strike since the smaller profile lures weren’t producing.  This particular fish had about an 8″ long speckled trout in its stomach, an indication that a longer profile lure can match the bait on the soundside.

Fat soundside striper

Thursday late night I fished a nice point/hole formation near Ramp 43 in Buxton on the full moon and falling tide.  Great looking water, but very slow fishing.  I had action on shrimp early and landed a small sea mullet that was immediately cut up to replace the menhaden on my larger rod.  The cut fish baits didn’t get touched in a couple hours of fishing though.

Friday morning, I did a trout tour from Frisco to Hatteras to Buxton and with the high, muddy water, didn’t have a look.  Later, I scouted out a few likely spots on the ride out of town and was pleased to see some relatively clear, but high, water in Rodanthe.  I had one light hit that I do believe was a small trout and then hooked and landed a nice 25″ puppy drum on my last cast along the surfline of a good deep hole adjacent to a broad shallow point.

Rodanthe pup

So, all told for the week: two pups @ 24 and 25″, four stripers @ 16, 21, 21 and 23″, one small flounder, one tiny croaker, and one small sea mullet…and I did well compared to most people!

On the road again...we will be back!

With 3.2 seconds left, Kobe adds another game winning shot to his resume by sinking this one in on D. Wade Friday night.

You can count on some highlight reel plays anytime Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade hook up. Last night, it was Kobe delivering the knockout blow…

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Check out more of Scott Wade’s car art here!

Yep, finally had a pretty nice day (for fishing…not so much for catching) on my birthday and was able to pull out a couple respectable soundside stripers – they were both 21″, but one had a beer gut bigger than mine (turns out it was actually a peanut bunker gut).  Also released a 16″ and missed about a half dozen hits.  With only a bit of current, the bite was slow and I had to continually mix lures and tactics to entice a strike.  The fat football fish was on my second cast with a black bomber, the 16″ was on a nightstalker mirrolure, and the more svelte 21″ was on a live eel fished on a jig head.

soundside stripers

Rewinding a bit, the day started pretty miserably with a dawn high tide and the surf kicked up from the blow the night before.  But, by afternoon, it was a gorgeous day.  I found some of the clearest water of the trip on the south beach and Ramp 55 in Hatteras and fished some wonderful sloughs with just one throwback flounder and a light hit or two to show.  The moonrise coinciding with sunset was absolutely stunning.

Knowing that today (Wednesday) would be a total washout, I fished most of the night, with the only action being on those soundside stripers.  The beaches north of Oregon Inlet (KDH, KH, etc.) are still muddy and disappointingly troutless on an otherwise perfect, calm and moonlit evening.  I wrapped up eeling around Oregon Inlet proper and didn’t have a take.  I talked to a guy in the parking lot who said two were landed from the catwalk that night – one at 6 pm and one just before I talked to him around 2 am.  Not exactly a hot bite.

Those of you who have pets, know the feeling when man’s best friend is going under the knife. It’s like your child getting surgery and you hate to see them in pain and hope they understand that it’s for the better and hope they don’t hate you for it. Our dog “Wade”, a 3.5 year old Newfoundland has had a rough childhood with 2 eye surgery’s, one knee surgery and constant vet visits.

You just want your pet to have a good healthy, loving life, and that’s all that matters. Fortunately his ACL surgery went great and he was off his pain meds in 2 days and eating like a horse. with 6 weeks to go, he is doing great.

Poor Wade not stoked to go in for knee surgery....

Wade, in a deep sleep of pain meds, but looking good.

Wade on his way to recovery....

Yup, thats right, I’ve finally found someone after 3 months of moping around because of Nick…

His name’s Wade :3 He’s greek and has long brown hair, big light brown eyes, and he’s just adorable. He’s really funny and nice, he opens doors  and cares about me. He makes me happy

I really hope things work out with us because he’s the only guy I’ve had feelings for this school year, and he helped me get over pretty boy Nick.

Happy Turkey Day everyone! Remember what you’re truly thankful for, because thats what matters most.

Love that fire, CB

Raptors basketball just wouldn’t be Raptors basketball without the nightly heart attacks, would it? Tonight’s came in the form of a 23-point third quarter lead dwindling to one late in the fourth, but Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack led a late push en route to a 120-113 win over the Heat in Toronto’s return to the ACC.

Bosh was magnificent tonight, going 10-of-14 and finishing with 29 points and 12 rebounds and Jack made a pair of clutch threes from the corner in the final three minutes, finishing with a season-best 17 in 31 minutes off the bench. Andrea Bargnani had 24 and 10 and Hedo Turkoglu had arguably his best game as a Raptor, scoring 19 points to go with five boards and eight assists.

Of course, this one came with it’s share of second half head-to-wall banging, as the Heat went about 27 possessions in a row late in the third with a bucket. Bargnani was eaten alive by Joel Anthony and Mario Chalmers had a riot at the hands of Jose Calderon, scoring a career-high 30. Even when it looked like the Raps were putting Miami away midway through the fourth, Calderon managed to lose Chalmers on back-to-back possessions for threes to pull the Heat right back in. On the bright side, a handful of Toronto defenders did a commendable job on Dwyane Wade, holding him to 10-of-24.

I know the NBA is a game of runs, but it doesn’t always have to be. With that said, it would be nice to see the boys put it to bed next time they jump to a double digit lead in the second half.

So, a win in the first game back after four straight out west leaves the Raps at 6-7. Superman and the Magic, who beat Toronto at the ACC Nov. 1, are in town Sunday.

Bosh and the Raps stare down Miami tonight

Ah yes, home sweet home. After seven of eight out west, the Raptors are back at the ACC tonight to face Dwyane Wade and the Heat. The boys escaped the trip at 2-5 (wins in New Orleans and LA) and sit at 5-7 on the year — to be honest, a mark I’m pretty, pretty pleased with at this point. As always, a full preview for tonight’s game is available at Raptors Republic, including my world-famous simulation.

Miami enters tonight’s game at 7-4, but don’t be deceived: The Heat’s schedule has been the opposite of Toronto’s — not to hate on the Knicks and Nets, but it’s been a walk in the park, highlighted by eight of 11 at home. With apologies to first-class citizen Jermaine O’Neal, the Heat really have nothing going for them aside from Wade. Case in point: The Band-Aid Man was 6-of-18 for 15 points in Atlanta Wednesday and Miami was pasted 105-90. If the Raptors can keep Wade from going out of his mind, this should be a comfortable win.

With “defensive stopper” Antoine Wright expected out for Toronto, the Raptors will be forced into throwing a host of defenders at Wade, none of which, I’m sure, will be Jose Calderon. With Udonis Haslem unlikely to dress for the Heat, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani should be set for field days against O’Neal and big softy Michael “Supercool” Beasley. No excuses for Andrea — time to get back to work after a couple nightmarish games.

The Raptors and Heat get it popping at seven.