The T20 World Cup is in full swing and it is no surprise to see Australia rising to the occasion. A 49-run win over India in Barbados confirmed that the Aussies have finally cracked this format of the game.
Much had been made of India's powerful batting line-up but, after David Warner's 72 sparked a total of 184-5, the Australian attacked ripped the Indians to shreds.
Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait bagged three wickets apiece as India slumped to 42-6 and then 135 all out.
While the Aussies are playing impressive cricket, they are not the only side excelling in the Caribbean. Michael Clarke and company will face stern opposition from South Africa, Sri Lanka and perhaps even England, who earned a big win over Pakistan on Thursday courtesy of a timely half century from Kevin Pietersen.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Soccer: United, Chelsea going to the wire
Wins for Chelsea and Manchester United took the Premier League title race to the final weekend of the season.
Chelsea grabbed a crucial victory over Liverpool at Anfield, helped in part by Steven Gerrard's horrendous backpass that allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring.
Though United kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win at Sunderland, the Blues remain a point clear heading into a home clash with Wigan on the final day.
United take on Stoke at Old Trafford but know a victory may still not be enough.
Chelsea grabbed a crucial victory over Liverpool at Anfield, helped in part by Steven Gerrard's horrendous backpass that allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring.
Though United kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win at Sunderland, the Blues remain a point clear heading into a home clash with Wigan on the final day.
United take on Stoke at Old Trafford but know a victory may still not be enough.
NBA: Nuggets in need of a summer trade
When the season began, the Denver Nuggets had aspirations of improving on last year's trip to the Western Conference Finals. The core of the team was still intact and there was every chance that Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith and Nene would take their games to a new level.
Denver made a flying start and outmuscled Utah, Portland and the Lakers in the early stages of the season. Anthony was playing like a man possessed, leading the league in scoring and showing incredible focus, while Chauncey Billups was continuing to pull the strings.
At the All-Star break, the Nuggets looked the likeliest number two seed, even when Dallas made the big trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. But then news broke of George Karl's cancer battle, rocking Denver to the core. With influential forward Kenyon Martin going down with a knee injury around the same time, the Nuggets were suddenly in disarray.
A disastrous five-game road trip brought just a single win - in the final second in Toronto - and interim head coach Adrian Dantley struggled to pull the temperamental Nuggets into line. From a number two seed, Denver slipped to fifth before recovering to at least claim home court advantage in the first round of the Playoffs.
Not that it did them much good. Facing a depleted Utah team, the Nuggets were heavy favourites. They won Game 1 behind an Anthony masterclass but lost the next three with lazy defense and limited offense outside Anthony and Billups.
Nene was supposed to exploit the Jazz's lack of size down low, JR Smith had a clear advantage against Utah's Kyle Korver and Denver seemed to have enough guards to counter Deron Williams.
None of the above materialised. Nene went missing on the road, Smith sulked his way through Game 6 after an underwhelming series and Williams ran riot, carvering the Nuggets defense to pieces. The undermanned Jazz won in six games and thoroughly deserved it.
So where does Denver go from here? Clearly, the hopes that the 2008/09 roster would mature and progress this year were misplaced. The Nuggets cannot win with the current group, despite Anthony's solid play and the savvy leadership of Billups, who showed his big game nerve with 30 points in Game 6.
That means a trade is necessary to keep pace with their Western Conference rivals. After a summer of rest and recovery, you can be sure that Houston, Portland and New Orleans will be better next season - so even making the Playoffs cannot be taken for granted for Denver.
In an ideal world, the Nuggets will find a new home for Smith. His lack of maturity and questionable shot selection make him more of a liability than an asset. While he is great when he catches fire and pours in 20 or 30, if his shot is off he becomes a non-factor due to his poor defense.
There are plenty of options for Denver and one of them is Toronto's Chris Bosh. Sending Smith, Martin and a reserve might be enough to tempt the Raptors. Smith and Martin seem to be the best trade chips that the Nuggets have to play with and finding a healthy big man who can contribute at both ends is the number two priority this summer, after getting a healthy Karl back on the bench.
The Championship window is closing fast for this group, particularly with Billups entering the last few years of his career. Anthony is a free agent in the summer of 2011 and, unless there is more evidence of progress, he might seek greener pastures.
So, without doubt, the time is ripe for the Nuggets to make a headline-grabbing move this summer.
Denver made a flying start and outmuscled Utah, Portland and the Lakers in the early stages of the season. Anthony was playing like a man possessed, leading the league in scoring and showing incredible focus, while Chauncey Billups was continuing to pull the strings.
At the All-Star break, the Nuggets looked the likeliest number two seed, even when Dallas made the big trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. But then news broke of George Karl's cancer battle, rocking Denver to the core. With influential forward Kenyon Martin going down with a knee injury around the same time, the Nuggets were suddenly in disarray.
A disastrous five-game road trip brought just a single win - in the final second in Toronto - and interim head coach Adrian Dantley struggled to pull the temperamental Nuggets into line. From a number two seed, Denver slipped to fifth before recovering to at least claim home court advantage in the first round of the Playoffs.
Not that it did them much good. Facing a depleted Utah team, the Nuggets were heavy favourites. They won Game 1 behind an Anthony masterclass but lost the next three with lazy defense and limited offense outside Anthony and Billups.
Nene was supposed to exploit the Jazz's lack of size down low, JR Smith had a clear advantage against Utah's Kyle Korver and Denver seemed to have enough guards to counter Deron Williams.
None of the above materialised. Nene went missing on the road, Smith sulked his way through Game 6 after an underwhelming series and Williams ran riot, carvering the Nuggets defense to pieces. The undermanned Jazz won in six games and thoroughly deserved it.
So where does Denver go from here? Clearly, the hopes that the 2008/09 roster would mature and progress this year were misplaced. The Nuggets cannot win with the current group, despite Anthony's solid play and the savvy leadership of Billups, who showed his big game nerve with 30 points in Game 6.
That means a trade is necessary to keep pace with their Western Conference rivals. After a summer of rest and recovery, you can be sure that Houston, Portland and New Orleans will be better next season - so even making the Playoffs cannot be taken for granted for Denver.
In an ideal world, the Nuggets will find a new home for Smith. His lack of maturity and questionable shot selection make him more of a liability than an asset. While he is great when he catches fire and pours in 20 or 30, if his shot is off he becomes a non-factor due to his poor defense.
There are plenty of options for Denver and one of them is Toronto's Chris Bosh. Sending Smith, Martin and a reserve might be enough to tempt the Raptors. Smith and Martin seem to be the best trade chips that the Nuggets have to play with and finding a healthy big man who can contribute at both ends is the number two priority this summer, after getting a healthy Karl back on the bench.
The Championship window is closing fast for this group, particularly with Billups entering the last few years of his career. Anthony is a free agent in the summer of 2011 and, unless there is more evidence of progress, he might seek greener pastures.
So, without doubt, the time is ripe for the Nuggets to make a headline-grabbing move this summer.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Soccer: Important summer for Manchester United
This season's title race is not over just yet. The Blues must still visit Anfield, ensuring plenty more drama in the final two weekends. United have not given up hope just yet.
However, it does not take a genius to realise that all is not well at Old Trafford. Even overlooking the tense situation regarding the Glazers, United have issues to address. And you can be sure that plans for next season are already being drawn up.
The truth of the matter is that this season's title race has been different from recent years. The top teams have slipped up more often - to the credit of the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Burnley and others - and no team has consistently dazzled. This was a year that a good team, not a great one, would lift the trophy. And yet United may let the prize slip away.
As predicted last summer, this United squad has its limitations and is too dependant on a handful of key players. For stretches during this campaign this fact was hidden, largely by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney. Yet the lasting impression will be that United have not had enough quality to call upon.
So expect an interesting summer, regardless of the outcome of the title race. It remains to be seen how much money Ferguson will have to spend but there are obvious holes to plug. Three areas spring to mind as the United boss plots a mini revamp of his squad.
First, the champions need a reliable right back. At present, Rafael Da Silva is still maturing, Wes Brown is injury riddled and Gary Neville has been exposed against quality opposition. Rafael's lack of experience cost United in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Ferguson cannot afford such lapses. The rest of the back four - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra - is up there with the world's best but the right back slot needs attention.
While Rafael appears to be the long-term answer, a couple of names jump out as useful additions for the present in this position, though their availability is unclear. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos would be a high end option – and might be tempted to leave the Bernabeu after several disappointing years – while Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lamm is another top drawer performer.
Next, a cultured midfielder capable of scoring ten goals a season is a real necessity. As Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs near the end of their careers, United must provide fresh legs to complement them. Darren Fletcher had an outstanding season and will remain a regular for years to come but Michael Carrick's form was patchy and his prowess in the last third remains limited.
While United are unlikely to lure Xavi or Andres Iniesta away from Barcelona, it is this type of player they are so badly missing. A central midfielder with vision, quick feet and a good engine would make a huge difference alongside Fletcher. In short, they need Scholes in his prime.
Assuming United can throw around £25M at this problem, the likes of Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic, Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff and Roma’s Daniele De Rossi look attractive options and would take some of the pressure off the strikers with their knack of finding the net. Valencia’s David Silva is another playmaker who has long been linked with United.
The third area to address is even more glaring and that is finding a partner for Rooney. Ferguson still loves the 4-4-2 formation but Dimitar Berbatov's low confidence and often feeble contributions have made that unworkable.
Instead, the 4-5-1 system has regularly been employed. This helps protect the weary legs of Scholes but a reliable strike partner for Rooney would relieve some of the burden on the England man's shoulders. United swooped for talented Mexican Javier Hernandez this month but the feeling remains that a proven front man is required, especially as the Michael Owen gamble failed to bear fruit.
Without breaking the bank, United could pursue Gabby Agbonlahor or even Robbie Keane. And of course, in an ideal world, they could table an offer for Valencia’s prolific striker David Villa. The addition of a predator like Villa would, in itself, push Ferguson’s side closer to matching Barcelona.
Of course, the United boss may well have considerably less to spend than the £70-80M or so required to address these three problem areas. But he could add to his transfer kitty by offloading Berbatov or even temperamental winger Nani.
It should be noted that after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, United have exceeded expectations in pushing Chelsea all the way. But until they find the weapons to support Rooney, the Red Devils will struggle to match Europe’s finest.
ENDS
However, it does not take a genius to realise that all is not well at Old Trafford. Even overlooking the tense situation regarding the Glazers, United have issues to address. And you can be sure that plans for next season are already being drawn up.
The truth of the matter is that this season's title race has been different from recent years. The top teams have slipped up more often - to the credit of the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Burnley and others - and no team has consistently dazzled. This was a year that a good team, not a great one, would lift the trophy. And yet United may let the prize slip away.
As predicted last summer, this United squad has its limitations and is too dependant on a handful of key players. For stretches during this campaign this fact was hidden, largely by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney. Yet the lasting impression will be that United have not had enough quality to call upon.
So expect an interesting summer, regardless of the outcome of the title race. It remains to be seen how much money Ferguson will have to spend but there are obvious holes to plug. Three areas spring to mind as the United boss plots a mini revamp of his squad.
First, the champions need a reliable right back. At present, Rafael Da Silva is still maturing, Wes Brown is injury riddled and Gary Neville has been exposed against quality opposition. Rafael's lack of experience cost United in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Ferguson cannot afford such lapses. The rest of the back four - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra - is up there with the world's best but the right back slot needs attention.
While Rafael appears to be the long-term answer, a couple of names jump out as useful additions for the present in this position, though their availability is unclear. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos would be a high end option – and might be tempted to leave the Bernabeu after several disappointing years – while Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lamm is another top drawer performer.
Next, a cultured midfielder capable of scoring ten goals a season is a real necessity. As Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs near the end of their careers, United must provide fresh legs to complement them. Darren Fletcher had an outstanding season and will remain a regular for years to come but Michael Carrick's form was patchy and his prowess in the last third remains limited.
While United are unlikely to lure Xavi or Andres Iniesta away from Barcelona, it is this type of player they are so badly missing. A central midfielder with vision, quick feet and a good engine would make a huge difference alongside Fletcher. In short, they need Scholes in his prime.
Assuming United can throw around £25M at this problem, the likes of Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic, Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff and Roma’s Daniele De Rossi look attractive options and would take some of the pressure off the strikers with their knack of finding the net. Valencia’s David Silva is another playmaker who has long been linked with United.
The third area to address is even more glaring and that is finding a partner for Rooney. Ferguson still loves the 4-4-2 formation but Dimitar Berbatov's low confidence and often feeble contributions have made that unworkable.
Instead, the 4-5-1 system has regularly been employed. This helps protect the weary legs of Scholes but a reliable strike partner for Rooney would relieve some of the burden on the England man's shoulders. United swooped for talented Mexican Javier Hernandez this month but the feeling remains that a proven front man is required, especially as the Michael Owen gamble failed to bear fruit.
Without breaking the bank, United could pursue Gabby Agbonlahor or even Robbie Keane. And of course, in an ideal world, they could table an offer for Valencia’s prolific striker David Villa. The addition of a predator like Villa would, in itself, push Ferguson’s side closer to matching Barcelona.
Of course, the United boss may well have considerably less to spend than the £70-80M or so required to address these three problem areas. But he could add to his transfer kitty by offloading Berbatov or even temperamental winger Nani.
It should be noted that after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, United have exceeded expectations in pushing Chelsea all the way. But until they find the weapons to support Rooney, the Red Devils will struggle to match Europe’s finest.
ENDS
NBA: Deng and Bulls ready for bright future
Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls may have crashed out of the NBA Playoffs in five games against the Cleveland Cavaliers but the GB star could not be faulted.
Charged with spearheading the Bulls offence and guarding Cleveland dangerman LeBron James, Deng rose to the challenge and cemented his standing as a talented small forward.
Though James, this season's MVP, averaged more than 31 points in the series, Deng played gritty defence on the Cavaliers' number 23. Despite giving up 30 pounds, he pushed James all the way.
Deng also chipped in consistently at the offensive end. With his trademark jump shot looking smooth, he scored 18.8 points in the series.
The Cavaliers are many people's favourites to win the NBA Championship this season. Yet the Bulls were not disgraced and, believe it or not, they can a lot of heart from that.
Now Deng must wait patiently to see how the summer unfolds in Chicago. The Bulls cleared enough cap space just before the trade deadline to chase a top free agent, such as the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, who is a Chicago native, or Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.
With a strong, young core, which includes Deng, point guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, Chicago should be better equipped to make an impact in next year's post season, depending on their success in wooing a top free agent.
There could be a coaching change too. Head coach Vinny Del Negro's position has been the subject of speculation for the bulk of the season, even though he guided a solid but not spectacular Bulls roster into the Playoffs.
So there is plenty for Deng to digest as he enjoys a well earned rest this summer. After an injury hit year, the GB talisman is rediscovering his best form and it is perfect timing because next season promises to be the most exciting for Bulls fans since the great Michael Jordan left town.
Charged with spearheading the Bulls offence and guarding Cleveland dangerman LeBron James, Deng rose to the challenge and cemented his standing as a talented small forward.
Though James, this season's MVP, averaged more than 31 points in the series, Deng played gritty defence on the Cavaliers' number 23. Despite giving up 30 pounds, he pushed James all the way.
Deng also chipped in consistently at the offensive end. With his trademark jump shot looking smooth, he scored 18.8 points in the series.
The Cavaliers are many people's favourites to win the NBA Championship this season. Yet the Bulls were not disgraced and, believe it or not, they can a lot of heart from that.
Now Deng must wait patiently to see how the summer unfolds in Chicago. The Bulls cleared enough cap space just before the trade deadline to chase a top free agent, such as the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, who is a Chicago native, or Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.
With a strong, young core, which includes Deng, point guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, Chicago should be better equipped to make an impact in next year's post season, depending on their success in wooing a top free agent.
There could be a coaching change too. Head coach Vinny Del Negro's position has been the subject of speculation for the bulk of the season, even though he guided a solid but not spectacular Bulls roster into the Playoffs.
So there is plenty for Deng to digest as he enjoys a well earned rest this summer. After an injury hit year, the GB talisman is rediscovering his best form and it is perfect timing because next season promises to be the most exciting for Bulls fans since the great Michael Jordan left town.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Soccer: FLASHBACK - Nigeria win over fans at USA '94 in World Cup debut
The 1994 World Cup was a special event, hosted by a scorching USA and graced by some of the true greats of the game from Roberto Baggio to Romario to the controversial Diego Maradona. Viewers were treated to a combination of stunning goals, questionable haircuts and some major surprises.
The Republic of Ireland shocked the Italians with a 1-0 victory in the group stage while Bulgaria and Sweden reached the semi-finals. And then there were the Nigerians.
Making their World Cup debut, Nigeria were drawn in Group D with powerhouse Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece. It was a daunting group and few fancied the Nigerians’ chances of reaching the second round. However, manager Clemens Westerhof and his players had other ideas.
Nigeria made a dream start against a Bulgarian team featuring star man like Hristo Stoichkov. In front of more than 44,000 in Dallas, the Nigerians’ physical, athletic approach caught Bulgaria napping and by half-time they were two goals ahead. Rasheed Yekini opened the scoring after 21 minutes and Daniel Amokachi – who would later join Everton – doubled the lead two minutes before the break.
When Emmanuel Amunike netted a third ten minutes into the second half, the Nigerians were in dreamland. Instead of displaying nerves in their first World Cup game, they had seized the moment with a 3-0 victory.
However, a sterner test awaited in the shape of Argentina, who had hammered Greece 4-0 in their opening fixture. Striker Gabriel Batistuta, who smashed a hat-trick against the Greeks, was among the world’s best while Maradona was showing flashes of his genius again. And yet Nigeria took an eighth-minute lead through Samson Siasia.
With the world order in grave danger, the Argentines responded impressively as a Claudio Caniggia double turned the game on its head in the space of just seven minutes. Westerhof rolled the dice by throwing on Mutiu Adepoju and belatedly Jay Jay Okocha but ultimately the Nigerians fell to a valiant 2-1 defeat.
All was not lost, though. Nigeria travelled to Foxborough knowing that a victory over Greece would confirm their place in the second round. This World Cup adventure was bringing out the very best in the Nigerians and they duly punched their ticket for the last 16 with a 2-0 win, courtesy of Finidi George and Amokachi.
To add to the jubilation, Bulgaria stunned the Argentines with a 2-0 victory, meaning Nigeria finished as group winners. It was a deserved reward for the fearless performances that Westerhof’s side had produced in the searing heat.
Yet topping Group D also seemed a mixed blessing as it set up a second round clash with Italy. The Italians had begun the tournament slowly and looked out of sorts but still possessed some incredible talents, including Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. It would be veterans against newcomers.
A crowd of more than 54,000 arrived at Foxboro Stadium and witnessed Nigeria make a flying start. Buoyed by their surprise run through the group stage, the Super Eagles once again took the lead against a superior opponent. Amunike, who had been on the scoresheet against the Bulgarians, netted after 25 minutes to set the game up perfectly. Could the Nigerians spring another surprise?
Predictably, the Italians responded with plenty of possession but when Gianfranco Zola was sent off with 15 minutes to go it seemed that Nigeria were in the clear. But, just two minutes away from reaching the quarter-finals, disaster struck for the Nigerians as Roberto Baggio levelled the scores.
Visibly deflated, Westerhof’s men headed into extra-time but were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage. And that man Roberto Baggio broke Nigerian hearts in the 110th minute as his penalty sent Italy into the last eight.
Even after this emotional exit, there was plenty for the Nigerians to reflect on proudly. Expected to just make up the numbers in the group stage, they had rocked the established order and topped the group table.
And this wonderful performance paved the way for future Nigerian teams to prosper on the world’s biggest stage. Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup debut was followed by appearances in 1998 and 2002, with mixed results.
This summer, their tournament total will reach four when current boss Lars Lagerback sends out his team in South Africa. With a bit of luck, they might even go further than the heroes of ’94.
The Republic of Ireland shocked the Italians with a 1-0 victory in the group stage while Bulgaria and Sweden reached the semi-finals. And then there were the Nigerians.
Making their World Cup debut, Nigeria were drawn in Group D with powerhouse Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece. It was a daunting group and few fancied the Nigerians’ chances of reaching the second round. However, manager Clemens Westerhof and his players had other ideas.
Nigeria made a dream start against a Bulgarian team featuring star man like Hristo Stoichkov. In front of more than 44,000 in Dallas, the Nigerians’ physical, athletic approach caught Bulgaria napping and by half-time they were two goals ahead. Rasheed Yekini opened the scoring after 21 minutes and Daniel Amokachi – who would later join Everton – doubled the lead two minutes before the break.
When Emmanuel Amunike netted a third ten minutes into the second half, the Nigerians were in dreamland. Instead of displaying nerves in their first World Cup game, they had seized the moment with a 3-0 victory.
However, a sterner test awaited in the shape of Argentina, who had hammered Greece 4-0 in their opening fixture. Striker Gabriel Batistuta, who smashed a hat-trick against the Greeks, was among the world’s best while Maradona was showing flashes of his genius again. And yet Nigeria took an eighth-minute lead through Samson Siasia.
With the world order in grave danger, the Argentines responded impressively as a Claudio Caniggia double turned the game on its head in the space of just seven minutes. Westerhof rolled the dice by throwing on Mutiu Adepoju and belatedly Jay Jay Okocha but ultimately the Nigerians fell to a valiant 2-1 defeat.
All was not lost, though. Nigeria travelled to Foxborough knowing that a victory over Greece would confirm their place in the second round. This World Cup adventure was bringing out the very best in the Nigerians and they duly punched their ticket for the last 16 with a 2-0 win, courtesy of Finidi George and Amokachi.
To add to the jubilation, Bulgaria stunned the Argentines with a 2-0 victory, meaning Nigeria finished as group winners. It was a deserved reward for the fearless performances that Westerhof’s side had produced in the searing heat.
Yet topping Group D also seemed a mixed blessing as it set up a second round clash with Italy. The Italians had begun the tournament slowly and looked out of sorts but still possessed some incredible talents, including Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. It would be veterans against newcomers.
A crowd of more than 54,000 arrived at Foxboro Stadium and witnessed Nigeria make a flying start. Buoyed by their surprise run through the group stage, the Super Eagles once again took the lead against a superior opponent. Amunike, who had been on the scoresheet against the Bulgarians, netted after 25 minutes to set the game up perfectly. Could the Nigerians spring another surprise?
Predictably, the Italians responded with plenty of possession but when Gianfranco Zola was sent off with 15 minutes to go it seemed that Nigeria were in the clear. But, just two minutes away from reaching the quarter-finals, disaster struck for the Nigerians as Roberto Baggio levelled the scores.
Visibly deflated, Westerhof’s men headed into extra-time but were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage. And that man Roberto Baggio broke Nigerian hearts in the 110th minute as his penalty sent Italy into the last eight.
Even after this emotional exit, there was plenty for the Nigerians to reflect on proudly. Expected to just make up the numbers in the group stage, they had rocked the established order and topped the group table.
And this wonderful performance paved the way for future Nigerian teams to prosper on the world’s biggest stage. Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup debut was followed by appearances in 1998 and 2002, with mixed results.
This summer, their tournament total will reach four when current boss Lars Lagerback sends out his team in South Africa. With a bit of luck, they might even go further than the heroes of ’94.
NBA: Playoffs begin with a bang
For those of you just tuning into the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the matchups are as follows:
EAST
Cleveland-Chicago
Orlando-Charlotte
Atlanta-Milwaukee
Boston-Miami
WEST
Los Angeles Lakers-Oklahoma City
Dallas-San Antonio
Phoenix-Portland
Denver-Utah
Day 1 of the Playoffs saw the home teams go 4-0. The Cavaliers topped the Bulls 96-83 behind 24 points from LeBron James. Cleveland built a 14-point first quarter lead, let Chicago close to within seven then pulled away down the home stretch. Derrick Rose poured in 28 for the Bulls.
The Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 of their series with the Bucks after using their advantage in the paint to establish a 22-point lead at the break. Milwaukee, behind an outstanding 34 points from Brandon Jennings, threatened to make a bold comeback but Joe Johnson, with 22 points, closed the door in the final minutes.
Boston and Miami certainly ensured the Playoff physicality was there from Game 1. Kevin Garnett was ejected for two technicals - the second for an elbow on Quentin Richardson - but the Celtics held on for an 85-76 win. The Heat led at half-time but managed just 19 points in the final 15 minutes, including a measly 10 in the fourth quarter.
But the most impressive individual performance came in Saturday's final game. Carmelo Anthony erupted on the Utah Jazz, scoring 42 points on 18-25 shooting as the Nuggets won 126-113. Melo, who averaged nine free throw attempts a night this season, did not even need the charity stripe (he took just four shots in Game 1). JR Smith added 20 and Nene chipped in with 19. Deron Williams paced the injury-hit Jazz with 26 points and 11 dimes.
The law of averages suggests that Day 2 will see an upset and that will be on the minds of the Lakers, Mavericks, Magic and Suns. The post season is well and truly underway and on Sunday eight more teams begin their Playoffs journey. It is sure to be mouth-watering action.
EAST
Cleveland-Chicago
Orlando-Charlotte
Atlanta-Milwaukee
Boston-Miami
WEST
Los Angeles Lakers-Oklahoma City
Dallas-San Antonio
Phoenix-Portland
Denver-Utah
Day 1 of the Playoffs saw the home teams go 4-0. The Cavaliers topped the Bulls 96-83 behind 24 points from LeBron James. Cleveland built a 14-point first quarter lead, let Chicago close to within seven then pulled away down the home stretch. Derrick Rose poured in 28 for the Bulls.
The Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 of their series with the Bucks after using their advantage in the paint to establish a 22-point lead at the break. Milwaukee, behind an outstanding 34 points from Brandon Jennings, threatened to make a bold comeback but Joe Johnson, with 22 points, closed the door in the final minutes.
Boston and Miami certainly ensured the Playoff physicality was there from Game 1. Kevin Garnett was ejected for two technicals - the second for an elbow on Quentin Richardson - but the Celtics held on for an 85-76 win. The Heat led at half-time but managed just 19 points in the final 15 minutes, including a measly 10 in the fourth quarter.
But the most impressive individual performance came in Saturday's final game. Carmelo Anthony erupted on the Utah Jazz, scoring 42 points on 18-25 shooting as the Nuggets won 126-113. Melo, who averaged nine free throw attempts a night this season, did not even need the charity stripe (he took just four shots in Game 1). JR Smith added 20 and Nene chipped in with 19. Deron Williams paced the injury-hit Jazz with 26 points and 11 dimes.
The law of averages suggests that Day 2 will see an upset and that will be on the minds of the Lakers, Mavericks, Magic and Suns. The post season is well and truly underway and on Sunday eight more teams begin their Playoffs journey. It is sure to be mouth-watering action.
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