One team is soaring towards a high playoff seed, the other is treading water on the edge of the playoff picture. And this could not have been more evident on Friday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder trampled all over the Toronto Raptors, winning 115-89.
Kevin Durant led the way with 31 points and Jeff Green added 25 as the Thunder raced ahead and were up by 27 at the half.
With the Raptors' offense stagnating and their defense typically limited, Durant had little trouble getting to the rim while Green and Kyle Weaver punished Toronto with the three.
Amid boos and early crowd exits, the Thunder bolted on in the second half. Playing with the greater energy, their young line-up sliced through a Raptors team that is blowing up at the worst possible time. Only the injuries besetting the Chicago Bulls are keeping Toronto in the playoff picture. They remain eighth but have games with Dallas, Utah and Denver over the next seven days.
Meanwhile, Durant, Westbrook and Green sat out the entire fourth quarter. Their sights are set higher, zoning in on a top four finish. The Thunder are sitting pretty as dark horses to make the Western Conference Finals.
Friday, March 19, 2010
NBA: Nuggets answering call for bumper March
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl set his team the task of winning a minimum of ten games this month. With six games left in March, the Nuggets already have eight wins.
With a perfect 5-0 at home, Denver has hung around during the Dallas Mavericks' hot streak and is getting itself a good shot at the second seed.
Of the Nuggets' six remaining games in March, five are on the road. They include trips to Boston, Orlando and Dallas, which is a huge game in the race for the two spot. So you might say it is just as well that Karl's team have eight wins in the bag.
But this stretch might just bring out the best in the Nuggets, who have been average on the road this season yet boast wins over some of their rivals out West.
Barring a disaster, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and company will get to their target for March but if they play to their potential they might just put down a marker for the playoffs too.
With a perfect 5-0 at home, Denver has hung around during the Dallas Mavericks' hot streak and is getting itself a good shot at the second seed.
Of the Nuggets' six remaining games in March, five are on the road. They include trips to Boston, Orlando and Dallas, which is a huge game in the race for the two spot. So you might say it is just as well that Karl's team have eight wins in the bag.
But this stretch might just bring out the best in the Nuggets, who have been average on the road this season yet boast wins over some of their rivals out West.
Barring a disaster, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and company will get to their target for March but if they play to their potential they might just put down a marker for the playoffs too.
Soccer: United with big smiles after Champions League draw
Manchester United were seemingly the big winners at the Champions League draw for the quarter finals and semi finals. United were paired with Germans Bayern Munich but cannot face Barcelona, Arsenal or Inter until the final.
Arsenal against Barcelona is the standout tie of the round, with Thierry Henry returning to North London. The winner of that tie will play Inter or CSKA Moscow.
Meanwhile, the winner of United's tie will play the winner of the Lyon-Bordeaux tie.
Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt have been delighted with the news, though Bayern will be no pushovers with Arjen Robben showing flashes of his best form again.
The door is also open for an outsider to reach the final and French football received a boost as one Ligue 1 club will be in the last four.
Despite the absences of heavyweights like Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan and of course Real Madrid, there is plenty more mouth-watering action ahead, including a possible repeat of last season's final.
Arsenal against Barcelona is the standout tie of the round, with Thierry Henry returning to North London. The winner of that tie will play Inter or CSKA Moscow.
Meanwhile, the winner of United's tie will play the winner of the Lyon-Bordeaux tie.
Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt have been delighted with the news, though Bayern will be no pushovers with Arjen Robben showing flashes of his best form again.
The door is also open for an outsider to reach the final and French football received a boost as one Ligue 1 club will be in the last four.
Despite the absences of heavyweights like Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan and of course Real Madrid, there is plenty more mouth-watering action ahead, including a possible repeat of last season's final.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
NBA: Pistons' decline a sad sight
Detroit against Cleveland was a magnificent series back in 2007. LeBron James raised his game to a new level to overpower a Pistons team containing proven winners like Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. It was one of the best Eastern Conference Finals of the decade.
Yet watching the Cavaliers win in Detroit 113-101 on Tuesday night, it was hard not to think once again about how far the Pistons have fallen. James' 29 points were a reminder that he and the Pistons are heading in opposite directions.
The trade that sent Billups to Denver was the catalyst for a decline that was already in progress. Without their leader, the Pistons have collapsed. Joe Dumars' deals for Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon have been equally disappointing thus far, leaving Detroit scrambling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and thinking about the lottery.
From championship contenders to lottery team in two seasons (Detroit reached the Conference Finals in 2008) is a sad and frightening fall. It will be a fair while before the Pistons recover.
Yet watching the Cavaliers win in Detroit 113-101 on Tuesday night, it was hard not to think once again about how far the Pistons have fallen. James' 29 points were a reminder that he and the Pistons are heading in opposite directions.
The trade that sent Billups to Denver was the catalyst for a decline that was already in progress. Without their leader, the Pistons have collapsed. Joe Dumars' deals for Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon have been equally disappointing thus far, leaving Detroit scrambling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and thinking about the lottery.
From championship contenders to lottery team in two seasons (Detroit reached the Conference Finals in 2008) is a sad and frightening fall. It will be a fair while before the Pistons recover.
Soccer: Chelsea crash out of Europe as Mourinho enjoys perfect return to the Bridge
Chelsea's wait for Champions League glory must go on after former boss Jose Mourinho led current team Inter Milan into the quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.
The Italians arrived at Stamford Bridge with a slender 2-1 lead from the first leg but outstanding defending from Lucio and Walter Samuel kept Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka at bay.
Asides from a very good penalty shout when Samuel pulled down Drogba at a corner, Inter were comfortable and posed a threat on the counter attack.
For Mourinho, it was a tense night. Undoubtedly, he was aching to progress. His departure from Chelsea was hardly a quiet affair and the opportunity to put one over Roman Abramovich must have been mouth-watering.
Inter struck the sucker punch in the final ten minutes as Samuel Eto'o raced onto a sumptuous through ball and drilled a clinical low shot into the bottom corner. The Blues suddenly need two goals to force extra time and they had nothing left.
There was still time, however, for Drogba to enhance his reputation as a sore loser. The Ivorian was sent off in the dying moments after appearing to stamp on Inter's Thiago Motta.
Mourinho's celebrations were modest in comparison to his touchline sprint years ago at Old Trafford but inside he will have been jubilant. It was an emotional return to Stamford Bridge but one he will remember for all the right reasons.
As for Carlo Ancelotti's side, they must bounce back and focus on the Premier League and FA Cup. For another season, the Champions League trophy has proved beyond them.
The Italians arrived at Stamford Bridge with a slender 2-1 lead from the first leg but outstanding defending from Lucio and Walter Samuel kept Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka at bay.
Asides from a very good penalty shout when Samuel pulled down Drogba at a corner, Inter were comfortable and posed a threat on the counter attack.
For Mourinho, it was a tense night. Undoubtedly, he was aching to progress. His departure from Chelsea was hardly a quiet affair and the opportunity to put one over Roman Abramovich must have been mouth-watering.
Inter struck the sucker punch in the final ten minutes as Samuel Eto'o raced onto a sumptuous through ball and drilled a clinical low shot into the bottom corner. The Blues suddenly need two goals to force extra time and they had nothing left.
There was still time, however, for Drogba to enhance his reputation as a sore loser. The Ivorian was sent off in the dying moments after appearing to stamp on Inter's Thiago Motta.
Mourinho's celebrations were modest in comparison to his touchline sprint years ago at Old Trafford but inside he will have been jubilant. It was an emotional return to Stamford Bridge but one he will remember for all the right reasons.
As for Carlo Ancelotti's side, they must bounce back and focus on the Premier League and FA Cup. For another season, the Champions League trophy has proved beyond them.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Soccer: United go top with win over Fulham
Wayne Rooney kept his scoring run going with a classy double and Dimitar Berbatov added a third as Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-0 victory over Fulham.
With huge games against Liverpool and Chelsea on the horizon, United needed this win and Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased to have heaped the pressure back on his team's rivals.
With huge games against Liverpool and Chelsea on the horizon, United needed this win and Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased to have heaped the pressure back on his team's rivals.
NBA: Nuggets looking to complete 4-0 road trip
JR Smith's 30-point eruption in Memphis has the Denver Nuggets on course for a perfect 4-0 road trip. The last challenge comes in the form of the Houston Rockets.
Denver got key contributions from Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups against the Grizzlies and managed particularly well without forward Kenyon Martin, winning the rebound battle in Memphis. Despite all the talk surrounding the Dallas Mavericks' hot streak, the Nuggets have won six straight and are back at number two in the West.
The Rockets will present different threats, though. Aaron Brooks is having a stellar year at the point and Luis Scola poured in 44 points against the New Jersey Nets at the weekend. Kevin Martin, acquired from the Sacramento Kings, is Houston's premier shooter.
But the Rockets are short of a shot blocker and cannot match the strength of Billups and Nene in the post. Shane Battier is a top stopper but will have his hands full with an in-form Anthony. Looking at the line-ups on paper, Denver has the varied scoring options to keep the Rockets guessing.
Billups' battle with Brooks will be the key area as two contrasting styles come head to head. The Nuggets point guard is scoring the ball more than ever before in his career and is stepping his leadership up another notch while George Karl cannot be with the team.
Denver is looking a real contender down the finishing stretch - despite an ugly schedule - and a 4-0 road trip would be the perfect boost for Karl as he watches from home.
Denver got key contributions from Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups against the Grizzlies and managed particularly well without forward Kenyon Martin, winning the rebound battle in Memphis. Despite all the talk surrounding the Dallas Mavericks' hot streak, the Nuggets have won six straight and are back at number two in the West.
The Rockets will present different threats, though. Aaron Brooks is having a stellar year at the point and Luis Scola poured in 44 points against the New Jersey Nets at the weekend. Kevin Martin, acquired from the Sacramento Kings, is Houston's premier shooter.
But the Rockets are short of a shot blocker and cannot match the strength of Billups and Nene in the post. Shane Battier is a top stopper but will have his hands full with an in-form Anthony. Looking at the line-ups on paper, Denver has the varied scoring options to keep the Rockets guessing.
Billups' battle with Brooks will be the key area as two contrasting styles come head to head. The Nuggets point guard is scoring the ball more than ever before in his career and is stepping his leadership up another notch while George Karl cannot be with the team.
Denver is looking a real contender down the finishing stretch - despite an ugly schedule - and a 4-0 road trip would be the perfect boost for Karl as he watches from home.
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