The Metsian Podcast: Joy to the World, Buck Showalter Has Come to Flushing

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell    CTMetsFan    BTB_MikeII

BUCK SHOWALTER
Named Manager of the Mets

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Peace on Earth

Stay Tuned

From the desk: BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

I'm on an unscheduled break as family and business come before pleasure and hobby.  But please know I am very grateful for the support of my followers and visitors to this blog.  Thank you all.

In the meantime, I am elated over the election of Gil Hodges into baseball's Hall of Fame.  However, I am also somewhat dismayed that former Brooklyn Royal Giants members Grant "Homerun" Johnson, Dick "Cannonball" Redding, and John Donaldson was not distinguished with the same honor. 

The Brooklyn Nets are tops in the Eastern Conference, but I fret they live a precarious existence.  Across the river, the Knicks have yet to match last season's level of defensive mastery.

Chris Kreider continues having a brilliant season (and it's about time).  An increase in team physicality is serving the Rangers well.  With 37-points to date, they are playing on par with the NHL's top contenders.  The Islanders opened the season on a 13-game road trip with a 5-6-2 record.  On November 7, they lost the first of eleven consecutive games until finally defeating the Senators on December 7 at Ottowa - a whole month after their previous victory.  The Isles have played six games in their new home, including one against the Rangers, and have yet to win at the newly opened UBS Arena.

Baseball?  Check out our most recent episode of THE METSIAN PODCAST with guests John Saponaro and Matt Ibanez, hosts of the TIL METS DO US PART PODCAST.  The show initially aired on 4 DEC 2021.

I'll be back ...

Thank you,

Michael

BrooklynTrolleyBlogger

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Gil Hodges Hall of Fame Panel w/ Baseball and BBQ Hosts Len Aberman and Jeff Cohen, and Brooklyn/LA Dodgers Pitching Legend Carl Erskine

From the desk: THE QUIET MAN

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST

A Sam Maxwell Production

GIL HODGES

Hall of Fame Panel Discussion

Featured:

Jeff Cohen and Len Aberman 

BASEBALL AND BBQ PODCAST

and

Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers Pitching Legend

CARL ERSKINE

a/o: Dec. 1, 2021

HALL of FAME 

GOLDEN ERA VOTE

DEC. 5, 2021

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Outlasts Knicks in Season's Opening Battle of the Boroughs

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN

I - BKN 112; NYK 110

A Decisive James Harden Leads Flatbush Against Manhattan Rival

I preface this game recap acknowledging that RJ Barrett left after just nine minutes on the floor, and Coach Thibodeau, for lack of sufficient effort on defense, essentially benched Kemba Walker.  Meanwhile, Flatbush likewise entered this game somewhat rearranged, with Blake Griffin no longer in the starting lineup, Joe Harris out pending ankle surgery, and of course the controversial missing man variable.  

Thus lay the pretext to a tightly contested one-point margin of victory.  In the final second of the game, the team that possessed the ball got off one last desperation shot, missed, and lost.  That's how closely Tuesday's first showdown this season played out between the host Brooklyn Nets and the East River traversing Manhattan Knickerbockers.

After every game, top players around the league are unavoidably confronted by media and their microphones.  They ask questions, even ones they know sometimes are circumstantial or even uncomfortably unanswerable, yet in return, expect some level of inside info.  It's part of the job.  My point is, James Harden can say anything he wants insofar as telling the media he's still learning when to distribute, orchestrate, or personally seize upon a given possession.  But I say all that is just talk for the sake of talk.  For James Harden knows precisely what he's doing.  It's about other players not named Kevin Durant following Harden's lead and finishing.

Thrust into the starting lineup by Coach Thibs, Alec Burks, and Julius Randle for the Knicks, and Harden and Kevin Durant for Flatbush are the measures of this game.  They were the only four with 20+ shot attempts and topped all other players in minutes.

James Harden led all scorers with 34 points and secured a game-high ten rebounds with eight assists in 40 minutes.  He was 11/20 from the field and a more customary 9/10 from the line.  Otherwise, Harden knows turnovers continue marring his overall performance; this time, he committed a game-high five.

Kevin Durant was 0/5 from beyond the arc but made up for it by shooting 9/9 from the charity line en route to 27 points while (importantly) tying for a game-high nine assists in 41 minutes.  Together with Harden, they accounted for 61 (54.4%) of Brooklyn's 112 points.

Alec Burks led the Knicks with 25 points in 39 minutes, and Julius Randle added 24 points and posted team-highs of nine rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes.  Together, they accounted for 49 (44.5%) of the Knicks' 110 points.

The Knicks outrebounded the Nets by four and put up six more shots than Brooklyn.  This continues to be a troubling trend for me, but the Nets bailed themselves out, again, outscoring the Knicks by a margin of eleven at the line.  And whereas the Nets were outscored in the paint, they outscored the Knicks off fast-break opportunities.

Manhattan had five players score in double-digits.  Derrick Rose scored 16 points in 36 minutes, and with 0.17 seconds left in the game, Evan Fournier tied the game at 110-110 as part of a 13 point night.  But James Johnson's free throws put the Nets back ahead by two.  Afterwhich, Even Fournier missed on a last-second attempt.

The Nets had four players in double-digits.  Cam Thomas led the bench effort with 12 points in 21 minutes.  However, the Knicks bench outscored Flatbush by a nine-point 36-27 margin.

If a 15-6 record makes me anxious ... it is what it is.  Teams nearing (or even matching) the Nets in shooting percentage are very problematic as Flatbush continually allows the opposition more possessions and overall shot opportunities.  

It's been my pet peeve all season.

Defense is the main issue with the Knicks.  They went from being elite defenders last season to the middle of the pack this season.  It's quite the conundrum when this team last season in the playoffs lacked desperately for points.

The Metsian Podcast: Shopping in the Premium Isle with METSRADAMUS John Coppinger

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST

TheSportsDaily.com

METSTRAMADUS

John Coppinger

Steve Cohen Flexes His Financial Might

Eduardo Escobar ~ Mark Canha ~ Startling Marte ~ Max Scherzer

Plus: MLB Labor Negotiations

and so much more!

#LGM

Our Thanksgiving Metsian Podcast with Queens Native and Voice Actor Matthew Streppone

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST
Queen Native ~ Mets Fan

VOICE ACTOR

MATTHEW STREPPONE

Steve Cohen ~ Money ~ Farm ~ Billy Eppler

Noah Syndergaard ~ Steven Matz ~ Aaron Loup ~ Jon Matlack

CBA ~ Japanese Baseball ~ Gil Hodges HOF

and so much more!

#LFGM

Bedford and Sullivan Podcast: Talking Brooklyn 1940s and 1950s with Shelly Sacks

From the desk: BEDFORD & SULLIVAN

A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

TALKING BROOKLYN: 1940s and 1950s 

with Sheldon "Shelly" Sacks

N.Y. Knicks: Bockers Slow Down Indiana's Pace

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

MONDAY

Pacers      84

KNICKS    96

FINAL

Coach Thibodeau Asks And He Receives

Talk about slamming the breaks on the Pacers ...

The Knicks entered Monday's action losers of three of their last four.  Despite a different mix of personnel, Coach Thibodeau still makes defense no less a point of contention. 

Last season the Knicks limited their opponents to a league-fewest of 104.7 points per game.  This season, the opposition has eclipsed 100 points in nine of the Knicks' first 14 games.  At present, they are allowing 109.2 points per game, the tenth most in the league and an increase over last season of 4.5 points per game. 

On Monday, the Knicks took heed and clamped down on the Indiana Pacers.  But not before Indiana took a one-point lead into the half and a 74-69 lead after three.  Afterwhich, the Knicks limited the Pacers to just ten points in the fourth quarter - one-three pointer, two points from midrange, and five points from the line.  Meanwhile, with 23 points in the final session, the Knicks overcame a five-point deficit and came away with an eight-point margin of victory.

Coming off the bench, Derrick Rose is still the backbone and effective MVP of this team.  He scored 14 points and tied for a game-high seven assists in 25 minutes.  Immanuel Quickley tied for a team-high 16 points, including 4/4 from behind the arc in 23 minutes, also off the bench. 

Julius Randle registered a workmanlike double-double with eleven points and a team-high eleven rebounds in 35 minutes.  

But here's the difference between this season and last.  Kemba Walker was 8/11 from the field for 16 points but finished with a minus-15, while Evan Fournier added seven points but posted a minus-10 in 24 minutes.  The Knicks bench averaged a +16, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett finished -2 and -1, respectively.

 

N.Y. Rangers: Chris Kreider Sticks Pitchfork Into Devils

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

I - NYR 4; NJD 3*

*shootout

Off-Broadway Kids Come Through Against Devils

Low and behold, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko each played good games on the same night.  

After Adam Fox tied the game at one, Lafreniere scored at 11:24 of the second period on feeds from Kappo Kakko and Jacob Trouba.  It's only Lafreniere's fourth goal of the season and his first of November.  However, roughly two minutes later, Dougie Hamilton scored on a power play tying at two.

The Rangers failed to score with a man advantage in the third, but immediately after Newark's successful penalty kill, Kappo Kakko scored assisted by Ryan Strome.  But you know me ... if the Rangers had a top-flight center, Kakko doesn't need to fill the lane.  Kappo's second-period assist and third-period goal are his first two points this season.  They come in his eleventh game.

Together, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko have tallied a grand total of six points.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider continues killing it.  His game-winning goal in the seventh round of Sunday's shootout may not count on the back of his baseball card.  But his two goals against the Blue Jackets are etched in stone.  Kreider has now scored a goal in nine of 15 games played and has 14 points.  Two consecutive games are the longest he's gone this season without a goal.

Pavel Zacha scored at 16:17 of the third period to send this game into overtime.  It was his seventh goal this season.

Mackenzie Blackwood was forced to leave the ice midway through the third period with an upper-body injury.  Jonathan Bernier closed out regulation time, held the Rangers scoreless in overtime, and denied them through six shootout rounds.

Making his fourth start, Alexandar Georgiev stopped 24 of 27 shots.

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Restoring John Donaldson's Legacy with Negro League Historian Peter Gorton

From the desks: BEDFORD AND SULLIVAN & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

BEDFORD AND SULLIVAN PODCAST

A Sam Maxwell Production

A Bedford & Sullivan Podcast welcomes back Negro Leagues Baseball historian and founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.  Based in Minnesota, Mr. Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson.  Hosted by yours truly, this episode will discuss Donaldson's lone season with the Brooklyn Royal Giants and his career accomplishments.  We'll learn about the life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game and how his fantastic legacy became lost to a nation.  With the Early Baseball Era Committee's upcoming vote on Dec. 5, the hope is John Wesley Donaldson is finally awarded a rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

FOUNDER of 

THE DONALDSON NETWORK

PETER GORTON

 

EARLY ERA HALL OF FAME BALLOT

FORMER BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS UP FOR CONSIDERATION:

Dick "Cannonball" Redding

Grant "Homerun" Johnson

John Wesley Donaldson

... AND JOHN DONALDSON

⚾

1918 BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

• 6/28 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Acquire Midwest Pitching Great, John Donaldson
• 6/30 - John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants
• 7/3 - John Donaldson Poised To Make Brooklyn/Queens Debut At Dexter Park
• 7/4 - John Donaldson Twirls Shutout Over Cuban Stars In Dexter Park Debut
• 7/7 - Joe Williams Wins Second Straight Decision Over John Donaldson; Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill
• 7/13 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 7/14 - John Donaldson Defeats Bushwick; Royal Giants Split Twin Bill At Dexter Park
• 7/15 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Series Opener From Atlantic City Bacharach Giants
• 7/16 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Game Two from Bacharach Giants; John Donaldson Earns The Victory
• 7/17 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Wrap Up Series With Bacharach Giants at Atlantic City
• 7/18 - N.Y. Ship League Team Defeat Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, New Jersey
• 7/21 - Cuban Stars Double-Up Brooklyn Royal Giants; John Donaldson Takes Loss at Dexter Park
• 7/24 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Bow To Stan Baumgartner and Bethlehem Steel at Allentown, PA
• 7/27 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Camp Dix Soldiers*
• 7/28 - Silk Sox Clout John Donaldson's Offerings; Brooklyn Royal Giants Fall at Doherty's Oval
• 8/3 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Prospect Heights at Hackensack*
• 8/4 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Forfeit Game To Glendale at Farmer's Oval
• 8/7 - Bethlehem Steel Team Hosts a Scoreless Tie Against Brooklyn Royal Giants
• 8/11 - New York Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Wins Opener, John Donaldson Wins Game Two
• 8/17 - New York Ship Wins Second Contest Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, N.J.
• 8/18 - The Tietjen & Lang Shipyard Nine Defeat John Donaldson and the Brooklyn Royal Giants, North Bergen, N.J.
• 8/24 - Morse Dry Dock BBC Defeat Royal Giants in John Donaldson's True Brooklyn Debut
• 8/25 - Irvin Brooks Twirls Shutout; Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer Oval, Queens
• 9/1 - New York Lincoln Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Royal Giants at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Earns Dual Victory, John Donaldson Suffers Loss in Second Tilt
• 9/2 - Brooklyn Royal Giants and Cuban Stars Split Games of a Doubleheader at Dexter Park
• 9/4 - Southpaw John Donaldson Hands Camp Mills Their First Loss This Season; Brooklyn Royal Giants Win, 7 to 6
• 9/8 - John Donaldson's Return Match Against Morse Dry Dock Along Brooklyn Waterfront Likely Rained Out
• 9/12 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale in Eleven Innings at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 9/14 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Tietjen and Lang Club; John Donaldson and the Backdrop of WWI
• 9/15 - Bushwick Sweeps Both Ends of Doubleheader Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park
• 9/22 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Stage Doubleheader Against New York Giants Players at Jersey City
• 9/29 - Smokey Joe Williams Outlasts Irvin Brooks and John Donaldson in Lincoln Giants Decisive Series Win Over Brooklyn Royal Giants
• 10/6 - John Donaldson Hurls a Gem; Brooklyn Royal Giants Sweep Doubleheader From Long Island City at Recreation Park
• 10/12 - John Donaldson Wins Duel Against Joe "Cyclone" Williams; Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants Split Twin Bill at Dexter Park
• 10/13 - Bushwick Sweeps Twin Bill From Brooklyn at Dexter Park; John Donaldson Plays Last Games With Royal Giants

PIGSKIN 2021: Week Ten

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Ten

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine

Scoreboard
Week Nine Record: 4-8

Overall Record (ATS): 57-59-2

Schmear of the Week: 6-3

Bagels in the Basket: +5

1st and Ten

• The smashmouth Titans own an AFC best 7-2 record.
• The Cardinals lead the NFC with an NFL-best 8-1 record.

2nd and Long

• Is Sam Still I Am With Cam back in Carolina?  Not on IR.
• First Von Miller, now Odell Beckham Jr.; the Rams are really assembling a hell of a team.  Too bad their head coach is incapable of guiding them through to the finish.

No Gain

• Aaron Rogers says he might have misled people.
• Former NFL running back Frank Gore will fight former NBA point guard Deron Williams in a boxing match slated for Dec. 18.

PUNT!

• Jon Gruden might be right insofar as being singled out and forced out of Las Vegas, but he still royally effed up. 
• Last week was one of the funkiest Football Sundays to date.

WEEK TEN
Friday line ~ NYP/MGM

Bills -13 JETS

If nothing else, the Jets demonstrated that playing them will not be as easy as the opposition once thought over the last two weeks.  But they've been giving up a lot of points.  The Bills are coming into this game pissed off after being limited to a mere six points against the Jags.  A lot of their week-long frustration will be taken out on the Jets.

COWBOYS -9 1/2 Falcons

Here's the problem: the Cowboy secondary sucks, which means Matt Ryan can keep this close.  But if Dallas continues featuring one of the game's better running attacks, Ryan's field time gets limited.  Atlanta's defense sucks too.  Dak Prescott can take of the rest, but the Cowboys really need to make this a statement game.

TITANS -3 Saints

I was very impressed with Tennessee's victory last week against the Rams.  Their defense is top tier and  New Orleans will be playing minus Alvin Kamara, and their starting left tackle.  That could spell trouble for novice quarterback Trevor Siemian.

Jaguars +10 COLTS

Carson Wentz needs to replace his uniform number with a question mark.  The Colts (4-5) are merely defeating the best of the rest.  Wentz has had just one 300+ yard game to date.  Which is to say, he hasn't elevated the Colts as high as they hoped.  The Colts are actually 6-3 versus the spread.  But their defense isn't performing up to expectations.  I'm imagining Jacksonville scores roughly 19 points.  Do you think the Colts cover?  Too many points ...

Browns +2 PATRIOTS

I'll tell you why ... the Browns still have other things they can do after Belichick takes away what they do best.  But Baker Mayfield must be up to the task.  Another reason I'm leaning Browns is that the Patriots are just 1-4 at home.

STEELERS -8 Lions

I know the Steelers will struggle for points.  But I can't see the Lions doing any better against the Steeler defense.  So, who do you trust, Big Ben or Jared Goff?  Compelling stuff, I know ...

Buccaneers -9 1/2 WASHINGTON

Washington gives me no reason to think otherwise.  Their defensive front is the biggest group of underachievers in football.  The Bucs are defending SB champs for a reason.  Watch them turn it up over the second half of the season.  Brady has always loved running up scores.

CARDINALS -10 Panthers

This is a lot of points.  Cam Newton isn't playing; Sam Darnold is out, and P.J. Walker is starting for the Panthers.  At least he'll have Christian McCaffrey back to help carry the load.  In truth, the Cardinals should have few problems taming an ineffective Panther offense.  Moreover, the Panthers' defense of the first three weeks has yet to reemerge, or they're just being overworked.

CHARGERS -3 1/2 Vikings

The Vikings run the ball well and the Bolts have trouble stopping the run.  But I still like the Bolts at home against the Vikings, who are playing their second straight game on the road.  If the Bolts can avoid settling for field goals, they got this.

Eagles +3 BRONCOS

The Eagles are coming off a loss at the Chargers, and the Broncos are coming off an uplifting win over the Cowboys.  Therefore, it's a perfect time for the Eagles' to screw up everyone's best-laid plans.

PACKERS -3 1/2 Seahawks

I was so looking forward to Jordan Love versus Geno Smith.  We must settle for Rogers versus Wilson.  Aside from Wilson's potential QB rust, Seattle's defense is suspect.  Temperatures are falling at Green Bay.  Should be a good day for their fans.

Chiefs -2 1/2 RAIDERS

Another old-school rivalry should be fun.  The Chiefs are 2-7 against the spread, but the Raiders continue failing to distinguish themselves, and we'll see why on Sunday.  I'm giving the Chiefs the benefit of the doubt.

Schmear of the Week

Bills -13 

Good luck and have a great Football Sunday!

N.J. Devils: Newark Offers Wandering Long Islanders No Quarter

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & LONG ISLAND NOMADS

THURSDAY

Islanders   0

DEVILS      4

FINAL

Islanders Arrive on Familiar But Unfriendly Shores

Newark, New Jersey, is the closest the Islanders have been to home base since departing for an Oct. 14 game at Carolina in the first stop of a Homeric-like season-opening 13 game road Odyssey.  

The Isles defeated the Winnipeg Jets but lost to the Minnesota Wild on the very next night.  Four days later, they sailed up the Hudson River where their metropolitan area neighbors on Thursday night offered them no quarter.  

With their defeat at the hand of the Devils, the Long Islanders are now 5-4-2 with two more road games left before finally swinging the doors open at the brand new UBS Center at Belmont.

I know Barry Trotz isn't one for excuses and is not exactly pleased with their play of late, but I believe the Islanders are still in a good place and that a significant correction will occur when they play 12 of 20 games at home through Christmas.

Semyon Varlamov finally made his 2021-2022 debut during the Isles Nov. 7 game against Minnesota, who went wild with five goals but only three off Semyon, who stopped 34 of 37 shots on goal.  But Varlamov did not earn a second straight start.  Enter Ilya Sorokin.  Making his tenth start and coming off a shutout over Winnipeg, this may have been both Barry Trotz's and Ilya Sorokin's most frustrating game to date.

Long Island's power-play in the first period fell apart like wet toilet paper.  At 12:12, Janne Koukannen capped off a flurry of activity in front of Ilya Sorokin with a shorthanded goal on assists from P.K. Subban and Nico Hischier.

With 0:50 left in the second period, Tomas Tartar scored during a Devil power-play on feeds from Dougie Hamilton and Pavel Zacha.

Dawson Mercer gave Newark a 3-0 lead at 5:46 into the third period, assisted by Andreas Johnsson and Jesper Bratt. Approximately eleven minutes later, Dougie Hamilton closed out the scoring with his third goal this season at the 16:33 mark.

However, the clear star of the game was Newark goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.  He faced 42 shots on net and stopped them all, including 35 at even-strength and five on special teams.  It marks his second consecutive win through three starts and his first shutout this season. 

The Devils improve to 7-3-2, just four points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.

Next, the Islanders set sail for Tampa.

 

The Metsian Podcast's Winter Meeting With Amazin' But True Podcast Host Jake Brown and QBC's Keith Blacknick

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Break Time is Over ... The Metsian Podcast is Back on the Air

GUESTS

New York Post Sports Exec Producer 

Host of Amazin' But True Podcast

JAKE BROWN

&

Queens Baseball Convention's

TheMediaGoon, aka Keith Blacknick

ninety-two minutes

TOPICS

Steve Cohen ~ Sandy Alderson ~ Front Office

Free Agents ~ MLB vs. UNION ~ Pitching

Prospects ~ Robinson Cano ~ Field Manager

Upcoming QBC  ~ and so much more!

#LGM

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Bullied in Chicago

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

MONDAY

Nets       95

BULLS  113

FINAL

Playing Consistent Ball In All The Wrong Categories

You know I've been antagonizing these Nets since opening night at Milwaukee if you ride this Trolley - not that I find it enjoyable.  In fact, it's frustrating.  And I again uttered a few days ago that prolonged success under these circumstances is unsustainable.

Picking up against the Toronto Raptors, for only the third time through their first ten games, the Nets held the opponent under 90 shot attempts.  However, for the tenth consecutive game, the opposition put up more shots than Brooklyn.  Points in the paint are also an ongoing item of contention.  The Raptors were +18 against the Nets in that respect.  But Flatbush made it all up by shooting 17/38 (44.7%) and outscoring the Raptors by 30 points from behind the arc ...

... which is precisely how they got off to a 7-3 record entering Monday's game.

In their tilt at Chicago, the opposition for the eighth time in eleven games exceeded 90 shots, and for the eleventh consecutive game, Flatbush attempted fewer shots than the opposition.  

This time they paid the price.  Three-point conversions and free throws were within a respective range of one another, but the Bulls benefited from 16 more field goal opportunities and converted 12 more attempts from the field.  

Brooklyn again got sandblasted in the paint by a 54-24 margin or, said another way, a 30 point discrepancy.  Chicago also secured 15 offensive rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities.  Otherwise, Brooklyn lost the overall battle of the boards by a 56-42 margin.

The game started in what is now typical Net fashion.  After getting outscored by eight in the first quarter, Flatbush recovered and took a 57-51 lead into the half.  But the output failed to flow in the second half.  Brooklyn was limited to 21 points in the third quarter and just 17 points in the fourth.  Whereas the Bulls rolled to 42 points in the fourth en route to a 23-point margin of victory.

The search for a third consistent contributor continues ...

Coming off his first double-double this season, Blake Griffin helped with seven boards and four assists but suffered another case of the chills going 1/5 from the field and 0/4 from three, not to mention 0/2 from the line.  Bruce Brown was frozen solid, shooting 0/8 in 31 minutes.  Five other players attempted more shots than Joe Harris, who finished 3/5 from behind the arc for nine points.  The three together combined for just eleven points on 4/20 from the field.

Kevin Durant went double-double with a game-high 38 points with ten rebounds.  Meanwhile, the word is out across the league: hack James Harden cause the Refs aren't blowing their whistles.  The absurdity continued against Toronto and again Monday against the Bulls.  Harden wrapped up with 14 points, of which only 3/3 came from the line.

Chicago starters outscored Brooklyn's starting five by an 85-63 margin.

The "third man in" recipient goes to LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 19 points with seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.

N.Y. Giants: Jason Garrett and Devontae Booker Getting In Step With Running Game

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SUNDAY

Raiders    16

GIANTS    23

FINAL

Is Jason Garrett Shedding the Sunglasses?

Better late than never, but Jason Garrett seems to finally have figured out that running to daylight is still a worthwhile endeavor.  

Against Kansas City, Devontae Booker rushed 16 times and averaged 4.0 yards per attempt for 60 yards.  But the rushing game versus the Chiefs started and ended there.  Daniel Jones accounted for the only other five scrambles, and not so much as a single touch for Elijhaa Penny. Instead, the plan was for Jones to attempt 32 passes.

Let's be clear: the Raiders suck against the run.  Las Vegas allowed the eighth-most ground yardage to date.  But let us not forget the compromised state of the Giant offensive line.  That being said, in the absence of Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker set season-highs with 21 rushes for 99 yards and 4.7 yards per average.  Elijhaa Penny rushed another five times for 35 yards and an average of 7.0 per attempt.  Together, Booker and Penny rushed 26 times for 134 yards.  It marks the most times this season Jason Garrett has called upon the backfield on non-receiving plays.  Even if you subtract Booker's and Penny's respective long gains, they still joined in mustering 102 yards on 24 attempts for an average of 4.25 yards per attempt.  

As such, the Giants were able to possess the ball for 30:11, which matters extraordinarily when you consider the Raiders mounted over 400 yards of offense.  Las Vegas had 13 more plays from scrimmage than the Giants but could not survive three turnovers.  Thus, the Raiders' opportunities were likewise limited by a lack of time.  In the meantime, Daniel Jones managed a somewhat more conservative yet effective performance, connecting on 15 of just 20 attempts and one for a touchdown to Evan Engram.

Did the defense save the Giants' Big Blue posterior?  You bet they did.

But if Jason Garrett tosses away the sunglasses and continues this new pursuit rushing the ball, the Giants will no doubt benefit.  

One has to stick with it from the first through fourth quarter; rushing is a cumulative effect.  

With discipline come results.

N.Y. Knicks Upend Defending Champs at Milwaukee

From the desk: KICKIN' CAN DOWN 33rd STREET WIT' JIMMY

FRIDAY

Knicks   113

BUCKS    98

FINAL

After Woeful First Quarter, Coach Thibs Takes Knicks By The Antlers

Okay, the Buck were without Kris Middleton and Brook Lopez.  But that in no way should diminish what the Knicks accomplished Friday at Milwaukee against the NBA's defending champs.  

Without further adieu, I credit this particular victory to Coach Thibodeau.  After consecutive losses against Toronto and Indiana, the Knicks found themselves down 38-19 after the first quarter.  That's when Coach drew a line in the sand and assigned his three most trusted Knicks to protect it.

Despite missing the aforementioned players, Milwaukee still had four players score in double-digits, while the Knick had three.  But Milwaukee's quarter by quarter offensive depletion tells the story.  The Knicks held the Bucks to 25 points in the second quarter, thus cutting their deficit to seven.  Afterwhich, they held Milwaukee to 20 points in the third quarter, then a mere 15 points in the final session.  Even with 38 points in the first quarter, the Knicks still prevented the Bucks from exceeding 100 points for the game.  All the while executing a methodical comeback in handing the defending champs a decisive 113-98 margin of defeat at Milwaukee.

Rebounding was no doubt a key factor.  The Bockers outrebounded the Bucks by a glass breaking 59-37 margin.  Second chance opportunities likewise favored the Knicks, who secured 20 offensive rebounds, whereas the Bucks only grabbed seven.

Although the Knicks were a mere 10/40 from behind the arc, they made up for it with a plus-five from the free-throw line and converted eight more made field goals in 14 more attempts.

Julius Randle led the floor with 22 attempts and a game-high 32 points in 33 minutes and notched a double-double with 12 rebounds.  

RJ Barrett was the only other starter in double-digits.  He finished 8/21 from the field and 2/2 from the line for 20 points; it's his fifth consecutive game of 20 points or more.

Afterwhich, Coach Thibodeau turned to his old reliable, Derrick Rose, who was the only other Knick to receive 30 minutes, and in turn rewarded his coach with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals off the bench.  Nerlens Noel was also a factor off the bench with six points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 24 minutes.

The rest was Coach Thibodeau mixing and matching and substituting bodies like chess pieces while Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer was busy playing checkers.

Put this one in the affirmation column, like the victories against Chicago and Philly.

N.Y. Islanders: Ilya Sorokin Grounds Winnipeg Jets

From the desk: LONG ISLAND NOMADS

SATURDAY

Islanders   2

JETS          0

FINAL

Ilya Sorokin Shuts Out Winnipeg Jets; Keeps Semyon Varlamov Season Debut On Ice

With Saturday's victory over the Winnipeg Jets, the Islanders improved to 5-2-2, highlighted by wins in four of their last five contests.  That's nine games down, and four more to go during this North American-wide road trip before the Islanders finally play their first-ever match at their new home arena just off the Cross Island Parkway.

The Jets are lagging in the standings, and the Isles treated them as such.  Ilya Sorokin faced 24 shots on goal and stopped them all.  He has started all nine games this season.  Despite opening the season with two consecutive heavy-handed losses, Sorokin has since turned things on a dime, and Saturday night pitched his third shutout in his last four starts.  Ilya's teammates also blocked another 19 Winnipeg shots attempts.

All this being said, Coach Trotz seems in no rush to insert Semyon Varlamov back into the starting role, although it's understood that day is coming sooner than later.

Anders Lee scored a goal in the first game of the season against the Hurricanes.  Then went the next six games without so much recording a point.  In fact, he is still without an assist through eight games.  But at 3:12 of the first period, Anders Lee gave the Isles a 1-0 lead on a feed from Josh Baily, who together outworked the Jets to force through the game's opening tally.  

After a scoreless second period, Brock Nelson notched his team-high seventh goal just 0:47 into the third period, assisted by Adam Pelech and Kyle Palmieri.  

As noted, Ilya Sorokin took care of the rest.

After a 1-2-1 start, the Islanders are elevating back up to standard.  They have a quick turnaround with a Sunday encounter at Minnesota against the Wild.  

The schedule is indeed as much an adversary as any forthcoming opponent.  But the good teams get through it.

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Waves Victory Flag at Motor City

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

FRIDAY

Nets     96

PISTONS  90

FINAL

Much of what transpired Friday night at Detroit effectively described the first nine games of the Brooklyn Nets 2021-2022 season.

For just the second time in nine games, the Nets held their opponent to under 90 shots.  Conversely, Flatbush was outshot by their opponent for the ninth time in as many games to start the season.  But for as long as the competition continues with a poor (or poorer) shooting percentage, the Nets continue to get away with it, winning two of every three games played.

The Pistons put up seven more attempts than Brooklyn, all from beyond the arc.  But whereas the Nets converted 11/27 (40.7%) for 33 points, Detroits was 11/34 (32.4%) to forge a draw.  The Pistons also had four more attempts from the line to no avail, as both teams converted and equal 13 times.  Detroit was 22/53 (41.5%) from the rest of the field, while the Nets were only slightly more efficient with 25/53 (47.1%) for a six-point advantage and the final margin of victory.

The Nets barely won the battle of the boards but allowed the Pistons seven offensive rebounds and only secured four of their own.  Detroit was also plus-three in points off turnovers and plus-four in points in the paint.

All of which discussed here have been recurring characteristics.

Kevin Durant led the floor with 29 points and tied for a game-high with ten rebounds.  He accounted for 27 (50.9%) of Brooklyn's 80 total shot attempts.  The rest of the Nets accounted for 53 shots.  James Harden finished 3/5 from beyond the arc and was 4/4 from the line for 13 points along with ten rebounds and a game-high ten assists to complete the triple-double.  

Blake Griffin also "broke out" for 13 points on 5/8 from the field but only 1/4 from three.  Blake's starting mate Bruce Brown chipped in ten points in 26 minutes.  After an 18 point performance against the Hawks, Joe Harris scored a quiet seven points to round out the starters.  

LaMarcus Aldridge led the bench effort with 16 points, five boards, and a block in 21 minutes.

PIGSKIN 2021: Week Nine

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Nine

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

SCOREBOARD

Week Eight Record: 7-7

Overall Record (ATS): 53-51-2

Schmear of the Week: 6-2

Bagels in the Basket: +12

1st and Ten

• Broncos trade Von Miller to the Rams.  If it wasn't for L.A.'s useless dolt of a head coach, this is a phenomenal acquisition to their defense.

2nd and Long

• Mike White, the literal one-game wonder, hurt in his second start.
• One half of the season is done; the final half is to go.

No Gain

• Aaron Rogers: liar, liar, media on fire!  He'll miss this week's game against the Chiefs due to a positive COVID, that virus-thingy he claimed to be "immunized" against.
• No teams want Odell Beckham Jr?  I wonder why ...

PUNT!

• First John Gruden, now Henry Ruggs III ... if every NFL team owner(s) failed to take time out to address these matters and issues with their own extended organizations, they're wrong.  Just ask the owner of the Phoenix Suns ...
• And don't think we forgot who in the WFC was on the other side of those leaked email exchanges with Gruden.

WEEK NINE

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

Raiders -3 GIANTS

The Raiders have their issues, but so do the Giants.  Big Blue still relies on Daniel Jones to do too much: pass, run, catch.  Defensively, they're also not generating enough pressure.  That's where Derek Carr comes in, who is playing better with Gruden gone.  The Giants and Raiders have a common opponent - Denver.  The Giants lost to the Broncos while the Raiders defeated them.

Loss; 23-16 Giants

BENGALS -2 1/2 Browns

The Browns' performance and morale continue deteriorating.  OBJ missed two practices this week, and he doesn't like Baker Mayfield.  Meanwhile, the Bengals' blood must be boiling after last week's embarrassing loss against the Jets.  They couldn't have done things any more wrongly than what transpired last Sunday.  After watching the film, I'm sure they'll be sufficiently motivated.

Loss; 41-16 Browns

 

COWBOYS -10 Broncos

Dak is back, and Von Miller is no longer a Bronco - one less thing for Prescott to fret over.  Dallas' defense is good enough to rattle Teddy Bridgewater.  The Broncos haven't blown anyone out.  They've been held under 20 points in four of their previous five games. 

Loss; 30-16 Broncos 

DOLPHINS -5 1/2 Texans

TOILET BOWL Week IX: Each team has one win, both in week one.  They've since gone winless, respectively.  The problem this week is the Texans are 0-4 on the road, but the Fish are 0-3 at home.  Bookmakers like the Fish at the aquarium, so, what the hell ...

WIN; 17-9 Dolphins

SAINTS -5 1/2 Falcons

The Saints' defense will hold the Falcons in check, and the offense will take care of the rest because they can.

Loss; 27-25 Falcons

Patriots -3 1/2 PANTHERS

This game is more about competency and discipline and a team that gets a little better every passing week against a Carolina team falling out of the sky like a piano.  Just wait and see what Belichick designs for Sam Darnold or his potential replacement, P.J. Walker.

WIN; 24-6 Patriots

Bills -14 1/2 JAGUARS

The Bills covered 14 points against Miami.  The Bills are averaging 20 points more per game than their seven previous opponents.

Loss; 9-6 Jaguars

RAVENS -6 Vikings

Let u not lose faith in the Ravens, especially against the passive Minnesota Vikings.

Loss; 34-31 Ravens o.t.

Chargers -1 1/2 EAGLES

Stay away!  The Eagles, to my dismay, can still run the ball, something the Chargers have trouble stopping.  The big question mark is Eagles' Q.B. Jalen Hurts.  He makes Philly the most unreliable team in football.  Everybody has beaten the Lions.  Thus the Eagles did nothing special.  At least the Bolts were competitive against the Pats.

WIN; 27-24 Chargers

CHIEFS -7 Packers

There is no (Jordan) Love in this matchup for the Packers against Patrick Mahomes, who had his troubles against the Giants.  Love makes the Packers as compromised as the Chiefs coming off a short week.  I also like Coach Reid versus the Packers sideline.

Loss; 13-7 Chiefs

Cardinals +1 1/2 NINERS

The Niners are finally up and coming, but they allowed the Bears way too many chances to win.  The division-leading Cardinals are looking to redeem themselves after suffering a tightly contested loss last week against the Packers - their first defeat this season.  Injuries to Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins won't stop those two from play ... well.  

WIN; 31-17 Cardinals

RAMS -7 1/2 Titans

Smashmouth just sustained a major setback.  Tennessee's Derrick Henry is out.  Smashmouth is about running and maintaining ball possession.  The Titans' defense will find themselves on the field more often.  Opponents will manufacture more scoring opportunities. 

Loss; 28-16 Titans

SCHMEAR of the WEEK

Ravens -6

LOSS

Good luck and have a great Football Sunday!

POSTGAME
Week Nine Record: 4-8

Overall Record (ATS): 57-59-2

Schmear of the Week: 6-3

Bagels in the Basket: +5

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Wraps Up Homestand With Win Over Hawks

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

YEAR TEN

WEDNESDAY

Hawks   104

NETS    117

FINAL

Joe Harris Takes Turn Filling The Big Three Void

I'll keep saying it till I'm blue in the face: this is the Joe Harris needed by the Nets in Kyrie Irving's absence.  According to the lineup card, Joe Harris is the defacto number three.  Along with Kevin Durant and James Harden, only Harris has started all eight Net games to date.

Joe tied with Bruce Brown for third-most shots against the Hawks with ten, but more importantly, Harris was 6/8 from behind the arc for a season-high 18 points and six defensive rebounds in 34 minutes - the Nets' second-most floor time.  His previous high was 15 points against Miami.

Harris has now scored in double-digits in five of eight starts with an average of 11.9 ppg.  But it's his lack of consistency that is so maddening.  That being said, he has yet this season to put together three consecutive double-digit scoring performances when we all know he's capable.  We'll see what transpires in Detroit.

For the seventh time in eight games, Kevin Durant led the Nets with a game-high 32 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in 36 minutes.  This marks the third time he's eclipsed 30 points and the first time since scoring a season-high 38 points on Oct. 24 against Charlotte.  James Harden matched KD in minutes and pulled in with 16 points and a floor-high eleven assists.

Flatbush got blasted on the boards by a margin of ten and got outscored in the paint by 20 points.  But they did a far better job of ball distribution which helped the Nets convert nine more three-point attempts than Atlanta.  It also helped mask the fact that for the seventh time in eight games, the opposition has not only exceeded 90 shot attempts per game but has likewise outshot the Nets in every game to date.  Even in the one game when Brooklyn held Detroit to just 79 shot attempts, the Nets still only finished with 72 attempts of their own.  

The opposition has hoised up 747 shots for an average of 93.3 per game; the Nets have attempted 674 total shots for a rate of 84.2 per game.  As the season marches onward, if you factor in potentially improved shooting percentages by Brooklyn opponents, then ... then there will be issues.  But that's for Steve Nash to figure out.

Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown continue starting games together.  Brown finished with ten points in 31 minutes.  However, Griffin's scoring struggles remain ongoing.  He was 2/7 from behind the arc and 1/1 from the line for seven points but secured four offensive rebounds and seven overall.  I know he's trying to transform his game, but truth be told, Blake's transition to a three-point shooter is not exactly going well.  Fill the center role and stick with the mid-range stuff and rim rockers when opportunity allows.  Otherwise, hanging around the perimeter is Joe Harris' job.

Patty Mills added 14 points and was second on the team with six assists, and LaMarcus Aldridge dropped ten points in 17 minutes, both off the bench.

Brooklyn wins their third consecutive game at Barclays Center and wraps up their homestand with a 4-2 record.

Next stop: Motor City.