N.Y. Knicks: Coach Thibodeau's Time Bandits

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

KNICKS STARTERS 

AVERAGING 33 MINUTES PER GAME

🏀      🕰      🏀

Coach Thibodeau Time Stamping Team Effort at the Door

Six games into the season, the Knicks perhaps have already won two more contests than many anticipated.  First and foremost was their bedazzling twenty-point victory over Milwaukee.  They promptly followed up with a nine-point victory at Cleveland, and then Saturday's defensively contested win at Indiana.  A defeat at the hands of Toronto makes them 3-1 in their last four games.

The Knicks, on average, have thus far allowed 104.7 points per game, ranking them fifth-best in the league.

Hello Coach Tom Thibodeau!

If you're a starter for the Knicks, Coach is taking away the minutes that make up a dull day in an old-fashioned way (... Pink Floyd).  Said another way, he makes you work hard, and it appears as if he has the full attention of his largely young and impressionable personnel.

I'll make opening night a stand-alone game, only because it was the first game, and no one really knew what to expect - not from Thibodeau, but from this roster.  However, six games in, we have a trend to speak of.  

During game one against Indiana, seven different players registered at least twenty minutes; the starters clocked in an average of 27.6 minutes.  After the first game, what's there to say..?

During game two versus PHILA, six different players played at least twenty minutes; the starters averaged 28.4 minutes.  However, whereas Elfrid Payton started, he only played eighteen minutes.  Carrying the load off the bench were Kevin Knox II with 29 minutes and Alec Burks with 31 minutes.

Coach Thibodeau switched up and started Reggie Bullock against Milwaukee but limited him to seventeen minutes.  Similarly, six different players partake in at least twenty minutes, with two coming off the bench; Knox registered 26 minutes and Burks 21 minutes.  The five starters this time average 31.2 minutes.

Thibodeau revved things up in their victory at Cleveland, playing his five starters an average of 38.4 minutes without a single bench player achieving twenty minutes.  Coach stuck with a tight eight-man rotation with Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Nerlens Noel, receiving sixteen minutes each.

Coach then eased up on the gas pedal against Toronto.  Seven players got at least twenty minutes, but the starting five still averaged 32.2 minutes.

SATURDAY

KNICKS   106

PACERS   102

FINAL

Saturday in their return match against the Pacers, Coach stuck with a nine-man rotation.  Elfrid Payton started and scored 19 points with five assists in 34 effective minutes.  The starting five averaged 35 minutes, but center Mitchell Robinson just missed the mark with 29 minutes.  Otherwise, the four-man bench averaged 16 minutes.

Cycling back, I am omitting game one just because ...

Under Coach Thibodeau, Knicks' starters over the last five games average 33 minutes per game and play top tier defense.  They have now played Indiana twice.  Therefore, to date, four of the Knicks' five opponents last season all qualified for the playoffs, with the lone exception being Cleveland.

With another coach in place, this team is not playing .500 basketball.  Inclusive in Tom Thibodeau and Scott Perry's job descriptions are making the recent past (twenty years) a non-issue.  Thibodeau is already garnering results.  The onus now falls on general manager Scott Perry to procure for this coach some more complimentary talent by the March trade deadline.  Nothing crazy, just someone to help share the load.  That Thibodeau is a demanding dude.

• NEXT: @ Atlanta Hawks, Monday

Winter League Playoffs 2020-2021: LBPRC & LIDOM Game Recaps

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

Opening Games of 2020-2021 

Winter Leagues Playoffs Are Underway

FINALS a/o 2 JAN 2021

LBPRC

BOXSCORE - In Puerto Rico, top-seeded Los Criollos de Caguas take game one against number four seed RA12 at Estadio Pedro Montañez in the city of Cayey.  With two runners aboard in the bottom of the third, Mets farmhand Johneshwy Fargas singles on a comebacker to RA12 starter Juan Aponte who throws errantly to first; third baseman Edwin Diaz scores on the play.  Caguas scores twice more before the frame is through on a pair of sacrifice flies for a 3-0 lead entering the fourth.  The RobertoAlomar12 squad scores their lone run of the game on designated hitter Glenn Santiago's triple in the seventh.  Los Criollos pick up two insurance runs in the eighth en route to a 5-1 victory.  Johneshwy Fargas' base hit ends up being Los Criollos' only hit of the game but reached base on seven walks and three errors.  Right-hander Jose DeLeon earns the victory upon yielding no runs on just three hits and no walks with ten strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Four Criollos pitchers join in limiting RA12 to just four hits, three walks while fanning fourteen.

• SCORE: Caguas 5; RA12 1

BOXSCORE - In the series pitting the number two and three seeds, Los Indios de Mayaguez roll to a commanding 12-2 victory over Los Atenienses de Manati at Estadio Isidoro "El Cholo" Garcia.  Indios right fielder Henry Ramos homers in the fourth, and former Mets favorite and local Bronx product T.J. Rivera doubles as part of Mayaguez' twelve hit barrage.

• SCORE: Mayaguez 12; Manati 2

LIDOM

BOXSCORE - Fans in attendance at Estadio Julian Javier in San Francisco de Macorís were treated to an old fashioned pitching duel between opposing staffs.  Starting for Los Gigantes del Cibao, Richelson Pena allowed no runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched for the victory.  Three relievers join to pitch 3.2 innings of no-run, no-hit ball with one walk and four strikeouts.  Los Gigantes score the lone run of the game in the seventh on a challenged (and upheld call) tag-up from third base.  Otherwise, five Estrellas Orientales pitchers allow just the one run on six hits and five walks with six strikeouts.  Estrellas' shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr., goes 0 for 3, and designated hitter Robinson Cano collects two hits in four at-bats albeit in a losing effort.

• SCORE: Orientale 0; Cibao 1 

BOXSCORE - With a lineup featuring Miguel Andujar and Yasiel Puig, Los Toros del Este rout Juan Lagares and Melky Cabrera and Los Aguilas del Cibaenas, 9 to 1, at Estadio Cibao.  Los Toros designated hitter Pete O'Brien homered twice, once in the third and again in the seventh.

• SCORE: Este 9; Cibaenas 1

Brooklyn Nets: Lack of Physical Graffiti in Flatbush

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Hawks  114

Nets        96

FINAL

Grizzlies and Hawks Paint Nets Interior

This was not the happiest way to ring in the New Year as the Duds of Flatbush trailed by nine at the half and lost by eighteen points to the Atlanta Hawks, who on Friday gained a series split with the Nets at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn's defense clearly took the holidays off, allowing the Hawks 255 points over the course of two games.  Last week's loss against the Memphis Grizzlies initially brought into question the Nets' lack of physicality and interior defense.  On Friday, the Hawks, as if by invitation, ball-handled through the lane for easy bucket after easy bucket.  

With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Coach Nash emptied the entire bench.  Of the five players to play the last three minutes of the game, only Chris Chiozza walked off with a personal foul.  My point is the Nets committed only fifteen other fouls all game.  Obviously, no one wants Durant and Kyrie Irving playing in foul trouble.  But only Joe Harris earned as many as four fouls - one-quarter of all Nets whistles.  Said another way, they had better start bumping bodies and better protect the paint.  Because this just isn't about the Hawks; this has everything to do with the way the Nets were manhandled two playoffs ago by Philadelphia.  I'm not asking them to clothesline Kurt Rambis.  But sometimes, a team effort involves starters and the bench having three, four, or even five players with upwards of four personals.  If you're crafty about it, it's well worth the effort.  When you deploy fifteen bodies and seven of them walk off the court with no personal fouls in a game wherein the Nets couldn't prevent a mailbox from driving the lane, well ... you know what mean,

... or not.

Flatbush from long-range shot a mere 7/37 (18.9%) and was outscored 48-21 from the arc.  That more than accounts for Brooklyn's eighteen point margin of defeat.  The bench was largely ineffective as well.

However, shooting touch comes and goes, whereas defensive intensity must come every night.  Things really fell apart in the third quarter against Atlanta's subs.  Moreover, this is only Brooklyn's third loss of the season, but they've already revealed so much.

Lastly, if you're going to let DeAndre Jordan start over Jarrett Allen, who is getting more minutes and finishing games, then encourage Jordan to throw around his body more.

The "Centers of Attention" were effectively outplayed by Atlanta's Clint Capela, who finished 6/10 from the floor for twelve points and tied for a game-high eleven rebounds in thirty minutes.  Kyrie Irving led the Nets with eleven rebounds.  Allan and Jordan joined for thirteen points and nine rebounds (with four total fouls) in a combined forty minutes.  Atlanta outrebounded the Nets by a margin of three and did a better job of distribution and creating turnovers.

Aside from Coach Nash switching everyone out during the last minutes, five other bench regulars only scored 25 points in 88 total minutes.

But when it rains, it pours.  Getting starts, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot shot just 1/7 and 0/5 from the arc.  Meanwhile, Caris LeVert was 4/10 from the field and 0/3 from afar with three assists in 27 minutes off the bench.

• NEXT: Wizards at Barclays on Sunday

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Seventeen

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Seventeen

🏈

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

💀 2020 💀

2021

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine
Week Ten

Week Eleven

Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve

Week Thirteen

Week Fourteen

Week Fifteen

Week Sixteen

SCOREBOARD

Week Sixteen Record:  7-4

Overall Record ATS:  113-86-7 (+20)

Schmear of the Week:  3-13-1 (-33)

Bagels in the Basket:  -13

WEEK SEVENTEEN

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

Cowboys -2 GIANTS

With a playoff berth at stake, I'd like to think the Giants are gonna pull one out for The Duke, but the Cowboys seem to have figured a few things out, and as I said last week, Dallas still has enough playmakers.

Loss  23-19 Giants

Jets +3 PATRIOTS

Why the hell not?!  If there was a way to screw the Jets out of the second overall picks Adam Gase will find the way.  Gang Gase actually played well against the Patriots in their first meeting, and the defense is playing better since Gregg Williams was fired.  Sam Darnold wanting to go out on a good note, will have his best game of the season (although Adam Gase still won't let him audible).

Loss  28-14 Patriots

BUCS -6 1/2 Falcons

Not impressed with Atlanta's tight near-victory against the Chiefs.  Tom Brady and the Bucs defense punctuate their regular season with a drubbing of the Falcons.

WIN  44-27 Bucs

Ravens -13 BENGALS

We'll see how good the Bengals feel about themselves after this game.

WIN  38-3 Ravens

Packers -5 1/2 BEARS

Oh no! Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is out with a torn ACL.  That's a big loss.  If the Bears take away the Packers' run game, Aaron Rogers will beat them; if they try and get after Rogers, the Packers' run game will trip up the Bears.  Mitch Trubisky can't do enough to keep up. 

WIN  35-16 Packers

COLTS -14 Jaguars

The entire Jaguars roster is questionable - just to make sure they get that #1 pick.  Their general manager will be jumping for joy watching his team get destroyed by the Colts, who desperately need this game.

PUSH  28-14 Colts

Chargers -3 1/2 CHIEFS

This is a rest game for the Chiefs, allowing the Bolts to end off on a good note.

WIN  38-21 Chargers

BILLS -3 Dolphins

The greatest team in New York State will play this game straight up.  Miami is counting on their rookie quarterback; Ryan FitzMagic tested positive for COVID.

WIN  56-26 Bills

Vikings -6 1/2 LIONS

I dub thee Toilet Bowl XVII ... Lions are already sipping on the catnip.  Two despondent teams will make for an eye tearing yawn fest.

Loss  37-35 Vikings

Saints -7 PANTHERS

Panthers had their fun last week.  Saints have great balance on each side of the ball.

WIN  33-7 Saints

BROWNS -9 Steelers

The Browns need to hit the restart button.  The Steelers are sitting out regulars.

Loss  24-22 Browns

Titans -7 1/2 TEXANS

The Titans will be met with little resistance by the Texans' defense.

Loss  41-38 Titans

No Names -2 EAGLES

WTF: win and in.  Dwayne Haskins is unemployed, and Alex Smith is back behind center.

WIN  20-14 No Names

Cardinals -3 RAMS

That's it for the L.A. Paper Tigers; the damage is done.  Rams are collapsing like a cheap poker table.

Loss  18-7 Rams

Raiders -2 1/2 BRONCOS

... member when this was one of the best rivalries in football?  Parity demands the Raiders finish with an 8-8 record.

Loss  32-31 Raiders

Seahawks - 5 1/2 NINERS @ Arizona

The Seahawks finish a fine season on a high note; Jamal Adams makes a tremendous difference for Seattle.

Loss  26-23 Seahawks

Schmear of the Week

Saints -7

WIN ... Finally!

Good luck, Happy New Year, and have a great Football Sunday, everyone!

End Regular Season

Week Seventeen Record:  7-8-1

Overall Record ATS:  120-94-8 (+18)

Schmear of the Week:  4-13-1 (-30)

Bagels in the Basket:  -12

 

Winter League Baseball Playoff Preview 2020-2021

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

!FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

Liga Profesional de Beisbol Roberto Clemente

Congratulations are in order for even completing an abbreviated regular season.  Puerto Rico's four participating league members are now seeded and set for the first round of playoffs scheduled to begin on Saturday.  Just so you know, I root for Caguas.

• Caguas; Live Audio and Streaming 

⚾  TWITTER

⚾  BOXSCORES

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:

1. Criollos de Caguas        14-4
2. Indios de Mayaguez      13-5
3. Ateniensas de Manatí    7-11
4. Roberto Alomar/RA12   2-16

PLAYOFFS (TEAM & LEAGUE FACEBOOK PAGES)

• Indios de Mayaguez vs. Atenienses de Manatí

• Roberto Alomar/RA12 vs. Criollos de Caguas

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

The most recent games between Los Magallanes versus Los Cardenales was postponed due to COVID.  Otherwise, all teams compete in a round-robin format.  Teams play against one another six times.  The top six team advance to the first round of playoffs.

⚾  TWITTER

⚾  BOXSCORES

CENTRAL STANDINGS

1. Caribes de Anzoategui        16-14
2. Leones de Caracas             14-16
3. Tigres de Aragua                13-15
4. Tiburones de la Guaira         9-20

WEST STANDINGS

1. Bravos de Margarita            18-13
2. Navegantes de Magallanes   16-12
3. Cardenales de Lara             17-13
4. Aguilas de Zulia                  15-15

ROUND ROBIN GAMES of the DAY

• Bravos de Margarita vs. Cardenales de Lara

• Caribes de Anzoategui vs. Tiburones de la Guaira

• Leones de Caracas vs. Tigres de Aragua

• Aguilas de Zulia vs. Navegantes de Megallanes

Liga de Beisbol República Dominicana

LIDOM's regular season concluded just before Christmas.  After which, Los Estrellas (Stars) swept a best of three series against Los Leones (Lions) to earn the fourth playoff position.  The league's top four finishers now enter the best of seven semifinals.

• Los Estrellas feature Robinson Cano and Fernando Tatis Jr.; both players were signed by Orientales earlier this week.  Also representing the New York Mets is pitcher Oscar de la Cruz.
• Playing for Los Toros representing the New York Yankees are pitcher Domingo German, infielder  Miguel Andujar, and catcher Gary Sanchez.
• Los Aguilas feature former New York Yankee Melky Cabrera and former New York Met Juan Lagares.
• Representing the Mets on Los Gigantes is pitcher Jesus Reyes.

⚾  TWITTER

⚾  BOXSCORES

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

1. Gigantes del Cibao    16-14
2. Toros del Este          16-14
3. Aguilas Cibaeñas      16-14
4. Estrellas Orientales   15-15
5. Leones Escogido       14-16
6. Tigres del Licey        13-17

PLAYOFFS

• Gigantes del Cibao vs. Estrellas Orientales

• Toros del Este vs. Aguilas Cibaenas

Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

The ten-team league regular season is split into two halves.  Los Yaquis de Obregon captured the first half-title; Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo captured the second half-title and the number one seed.  The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs, which commence on Saturday.  By the way, through the years, I just gravitated towards the Naranjeros and became a fan.

⚾  TWITTER

⚾  BOXSCORES

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

1. Yaquis de Obregón              37-22
2. Naranjeros de Hermosillo     33-23
3. Algodoneros de Guasave      31-26
4. Sultanes de Monterrey         29-27
5. Aguilas de Mexicali              30-28
6. Charros de Jalisco               30-29
7. Tomateros de Culiacán        29-29
8. Venados de Mazatlán           28-30
9. Mayos de Navojoa               23-36
10. Cañeros de Mochis              19-39

PLAYOFFS

• Venados de Mazatlan vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo

• Yaquis de Obregon vs. Charros de Jalisco

• Tomateros de Culiacan vs. Algodoneros de Guasave

• Aguilas de Mexicali vs. Sultanes de Monterrey 

⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾   ⚾

R.I.P. 2020

Rest In Peace 

2 0 2 0

Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant Continues to Have Something to Say

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Hawks   141

Nets      145

FINAL

Flatbush Snaps Two-Game Skid With Fourth Quarter Surge

Kevin Durant & Jarrett Allan Register Double-Double

I have a saying: Once is an event; twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend.

After the season opener against Golden State, I wrote the following:

"As a new leader of the Nets, the television camera in the first quarter caught Kevin Durant (admonishing?) encouraging Joe Harris to take a shot from the left corner, who instead elected to pass off.  That may not seem like much and will likely go unspoken.  However, I think playing alongside KD will be hugely beneficial towards Joe's continued career advancement..."

On Wednesday evening against the Atlanta Hawks, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, after sitting out Monday's game, return to action.  This time Coach Nash staggers their minutes, unlike during their previous three starts together.  

That set up a curious moment early in the fourth quarter when Kyrie Irving engages in a dispute with the refs, which for a split second gives the impression matters might escalate.  But they didn't; Irving quickly subdues himself, but not before Kevin Durant is again seen admonishing Kyrie from the sidelines, perhaps about maintaining his composure.  

On the one hand, what was said is between friends, and I guess we'll never know because this will, like with Joe Harris, remain unspoken about.  On the other hand, this marks instance number two within the team's first five games in which Durant was caught by home viewers playing team (captain) police. Regardless of what was said, stern best describes the expression on Durant's face. 

🏀

Brooklyn trailed the Hawks through the first three quarters until finally overcoming the Hawks with a 43-37 effort in the fourth.  The Nets are out-rebounded but are an effective 19/41 (46.3%) from the arc.  Kevin Durant is the big man on campus with a game-high 33 points, eleven boards, and a team-high eight assists in a season-high (four starts) 35 minutes.  Irving recovers from a sloppy start and finishes with a strong fourth quarter in leading the Nets down the stretch to a four-point margin of victory.  He finishes with 25 points and six assists.  Meanwhile, Joe Harris registers his best game to date, shooting 8/11 from the field and 6/8 from the arc en route to an early season-high 23 points.

But it's the bench that truly propels the Nets to victory.  Taurean Prince shakes off a bad start to his season with a perfect 5/5 from the floor and 2/2 from the arc for twelve points.  Caris Levert tied for a team-high eight assists with ten points, and Landry Shamet does what Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot does not.  Shamet, like Prince, goes a perfect 5/5 from the field, 2/2 from the arc, and 2/2 from the line for 14 points with team-high plus-eleven in 17 minutes.  Getting the start, Luwawu-Cabbarot scores three points with three assists in 26 minutes.

The politics of playing minutes at center continue.  Jarrett Allan off the bench is a plus-eight with fifteen points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 24 minutes.  DeAndre Jordan contributes five points, one rebound, and one block in 15 minutes as the starter.

• NEXT: Atlanta Hawks back at Barclays on Friday

N.Y. Knicks: Julius Randle Rocks a Triple-Double at Cleveland

From the desk: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

DEUCES WILD

Knicks      95

Cavaliers  85

FINAL

KNICKERBOCKERS EVEN RECORD (2-2) WITH SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

Don't look now, but Coach Thibodeau has the Knickerbockers at .500 with a 2-2 record.  After a disjointed start to the season against the Pacers and Sixers, the Knicks stormed back with a highly spirited 130-110 victory over the Eastern Conference power Milwaukee Bucks.  On Tuesday night, the Knicks kept their guard up against a step down in competition with a tight 95-85 defensively intensive win over Cleveland.

Julius Randle continues his stellar start, leading the floor with a game-high 28 points while leading all players with 44 minutes.  He was 9/16 (56%) from the field, a perfect 4/4 from the arc, and 6/10 from the line.  Randle secured a team-high dozen rebounds and distributed a game-high eleven assists.  This comes on the heels of his game-high 29 point and 14 rebound effort against the Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks.  Through four games he is averaging 24.7 points in 37.7 minutes. 

Reggie Bullock led the Knicks with five buckets from the arc and finished with seventeen points overall.  R.J. Barrett was a quiet 4/15 from the field and 4/4 from the line for 12 points.  Mitch Robinson fell one point short of a double-double with ten rebounds.

All five Knicks starters exceeded at least 32 minutes each.  Coach Thobideau went with an eight-man rotation, handing Kevin Knox II, Frank Ntilikina, and Nerlens Noel sixteen minutes each off the bench.  The three were collectively 5/11 from the field, 3/5 from the arc, and 2/3 from the line for fifteen points with eleven rebounds.

Collin Sexton led the Cavs with twenty points, and Andre Drummond went double-double with seventeen and a game-high seventeen rebounds.

• NEXT: on to Tampa, Florida, to play the relocated Toronto Raptors on New Year's Eve.

N.Y. Jets: Year End Godspell

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

R.I.P.

GANG GASE ERA

b. January 11, 2019

d. January 3, 2021

When all is said and done, it will be almost two years to the day that the Jets made the ill-fated mistake of hiring Adam Gase.  Right or wrong, that was the general consensus unless you're Christopher Johnson, that is.

Today, WFAN's Craig Carton reported that Adam Gase will be fired after this Sunday's game against the Patriots.  The greater local New York media is yet to confirm this.  But we all know it's most likely true.  

How can it not..?

WORST HEAD COACHES

1. Rich Kotite; 4-28 (.125) 1-15 record in 1996.
2. Lou Holtz; 3-10 (.230) quit in 1976 after 13 games.
3. Adam Gase; 9-22 (.290) one game left versus Patriots.

After Sunday's game, if either of the Brothers Johnson is directly involved in hiring the next head coach, then we know we're dealing with the same old Jets.  But if Joe Douglas is given complete autonomy, and we never hear from the Johnsons, then maybe they're finally headed in a new and a better direction. 

Brooklyn Nets: Adversity Makes Early Visit to Flatbush

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Grizzlies  116

Nets        111

FINAL/OT

Hello, adversity, it's been a while ...

Flatbush is faced with its first dilemma of the 2020-2021 season.  Sunday's two-point loss at Charlotte somewhat exposed their general lack of physicality on the interior.  Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both registered 36 minutes each, and there are calls to begin staggering their minutes.  I say you plan accordingly while keeping the competition in mind, although I agree their deployment needs some reconsideration.   

The loss is secondary to the disheartening news regarding Spencer Dinwiddie, who in Sunday's game suffered a partially torn ACL of the right knee and will undergo surgery.

With Dinwiddie out, Irving and KD likewise did not play against the Grizzlies on Monday night at Barclays.  It was the second game of back-to-back nights and their third game in four days.

Memphis, who last season clinched a play-in berth, jumped out to a 32-23 lead against the short-handed and unsettled Nets in the first quarter.  But the Brooks regrouped and turned the tables with a 32-22 second-quarter effort for a one-point advantage at the half.  Caris Levert negated Dillon Brooks' three-pointer with the last possession floater for the lead.  

With 1:44 left in the fourth quarter, LeVert's shot from three gives Brooklyn a 106-104 lead.  But LeVert, in the closing seconds, would miss his final two attempts.

Into over time, they go ...

Memphis doubled-up on Flatbush in the extra session for the win, 10 to 5.

In the final minutes of the fourth, Coach Nash kept DeAndre Jordan on the floor; he blocked a shot and committed a turnover.  He had four blocks and four turnovers for the game, scoring four points and securing nine rebounds in 30 minutes.  Jarrett Allan, after playing a season-high 25 minutes against Charlotte, was back down to 22 minutes.  He still managed a game-high fifteen rebounds and eight points.

Caris LeVert tied for a game-high 28 points in 38 minutes.  He was 12/29 from the floor but just 2/9 from the arc.  Getting the start, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was second on the team with 21 points in 40 minutes.  Joe Harris played a game-high 42 minutes, with fourteen points and 2/4 from the arc.

Chris Chiozza (welcome back) led the bench effort with four assists and fourteen points but posted a minus-9 in 27 minutes.  Landry Shamet, who will also be seeing more minutes, had three steals and five points in 24 minutes.  

There's no hiding a bad start by Taurean Prince.  He scored nine with five rebounds in 19 minutes.  After starting the first three games 1/11 from the field, he was 2/8 against Memphis, making him 3/19 (15.7%) through four games.

• Next: home-and-home vs. Atlanta Hawks.

N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Sacked by the Sophomore Jinx

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

One Small Step Forward for the Rookie; 

One Giant Leap Backwards For Danny Dimes

With Daniel Jones recovering from a strained hamstring and foot sprain, Sunday's game was essentially a case study in his quarterbacking abilities from the pocket.  It wasn't necessarily his worst day at the office, depending on your point of view.  Jones was 24/41 (58.5%) for 252 yards, with one touchdown (Sterling Shepard), no interceptions, and no fumbles.  But he was sacked six times by the Baltimore Ravens while clearly playing on compromised legs.

As a rookie, Daniel Jones played in thirteen games and started twelve.  His performance was promising, throwing for 3,027 yards, with 24 touchdowns.  Although, his turnovers, twelve interceptions, and twelve fumbles were problematic.

Daniel's SOPHOMORE season has JINX graffitied all over it.  Due to injury, Jones is now at the thirteen-game mark of his season but is scheduled to end up benefiting from two more starts over last year.  This, in turn, brings into question the measure of his development and/or improvement.  On the one hand, Jones has to date thrown fewer interceptions and fumbled less than last year.  On the other hand, Daniel has thrown fifteen fewer touchdown passes.  

Then, there's the bright side; after all, the sun shines on a dog's posterior at least once a day.  If there is a team that allows opposing quarterbacks time and space to pad their stats, it's the Dallas Cowboys.  With one last game left in the season, Jones is still 36 pass attempts, 21 completions, and 313 yards away from merely matching last year's totals.  He'll need to at least complete 59% of his attempts this coming Sunday.  That reasonable to ask.  But the real problem is expecting Jones to do something he has yet to accomplish all season.  After passing for 300 yards in five games as a rookie, he is yet to register a single 300-yard game during this campaign.   

Sunday's 252-yard effort against the Ravens was actually his third-highest output of the season.  His second-best game was a 256-yard effort in his eighth start against Tampa, and his top effort came way back in week one when he threw for 279 yards against the Steelers.

Insofar as Daniel Jones (the passer) is concerned, it goes without saying he is behind last year's pace.  The best he can achieve this coming Sunday is avoiding a numerical regression.  However, there's likely nothing he can do in this last game that will stem the tide of off-season criticism heading his way regarding his actual regression in the pocket.  Last season he completed 61.9% of his attempts; this year he is completing a marginally improved 62.2% of his attempts.  His QB rating has so far plummeted from 87.7 last season to 78.9 this year.

Jones skews the overall offensive numbers as well.  This last game against the Ravens was only the fourth time this season Jones did not factor in the running game.  However, in nine other starts this season, Jones accounted for 44.2% of the Giants' rushing yardage.  

So, are we being led to believe the Giants only win when Daniel Jones is off and running?

This is not a viable system for a team that still lacks identity.

In both victory and defeat, Daniel Jones' ability to scamper has also diverted attention away from the deficiencies, inefficiencies, and collective ineffectiveness of this wide receiver corp.  The lack of a legitimate blocking/receiving tight end is also handcuffing this offense.  It's no wonder it took Wayne Garrett so long to figure out his personnel.

  

Look around the league; see what rookie, second, and third-year quarterbacks are doing.  Then compare and contrast them with Dave Brown ... sorry Daniel Jones' performance.  Sure other quarterbacks are running around like their hair is on fire.  But they're getting it done in the pocket too.

And, yes, by the sophomore jinx I believe I'm being kind.

Brooklyn Nets: For Jarrett Allen, Time is of the Essence

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

"Center of Attention"

In Sean Marks, we trust, right?

Jarrett Allen is my favorite player.  Let's get that out of the way.  I was not pleased to hear his name mentioned in off-season trade rumors and would have been downright irate had he been included in a rumored deal for James Harden.  But I digress ...

Allan's contract status is the matter at hand.  Brooklyn's center of attention and the Nets recently failed to reach an agreement on an extension by the required deadline.  Thus, he becomes a restricted free agent at season's end.  This is just capitalism at work.  I have no compunction letting the market set Allen's price, so long as I know the Nets are committed to matching any potential offers.  And there's the rub.  Jarrett is effectively playing out the rest of the season to establish his future worth.  If all goes according to plan, Jarrett's annual value is due to spike from its present level of just under $4 million towards much higher and more cap and tax problematic sums.

Lest we forget, Caris LeVert last season signed an extension that was well celebrated by fans.  At this stage, I would also argue Spencer Dinwiddie is more expendable than Jarrett Allen.  

But the real phantom menace at play here is veteran DeAndre Jordan, who came loosely linked together with KD and Kyrie Irving.  He is taking up time and space that formerly belonged to Jarrett Allen.  In four games to date (two exhibitions, two regular-season), DeAndre Jordan started each time with Allen coming off the bench.  Jordan in the pre-season played 17 minutes and 19 minutes, respectively; Allen punched in 15 minutes and 17 minutes.  Through four games, Coach Nash has so far kept his starting lineup intact.  But whereas Jordan's playing time has remained consistent at 17 minutes against Golden State, then 19 minutes at Boston, Jarrett Allen's minutes were bumped up to 20 against the Warriors, and 21 minutes against the Celtics.  

Regular Season:

• Jordan vs. G.S. - 17 minutes, 11 rebounds, 4 points, 1 block.
• Allan vs. G.S. - 20 minutes, 7 rebounds, 8 points, 2 blocks.

• Jordan vs. BOS - 19 minutes, 7 rebounds, 4 points, 2 blocks.
• Allan vs. BOS - 21 minutes, 11 rebounds, 9 points, 4 blocks.

Albeit a small sample size, the numbers both collectively and individually speak for themselves.  No team in their right mind turns away 38.5 minutes, 18 rebounds, 12.5 points, and 4.5 blocks per game at center.  For the moment, it's a good problem for the Nets to have, but for how long?  Jarrett is averaging just 20.5 minutes a game.  He hasn't averaged as little as 20 minutes a game since his rookie season.  This, after spending the last two seasons as a prominent performer on an emerging playoff contender, punching the clock for 26.3 minutes per game.  Said another way, Allen, a starter for most other league teams, is theoretically deprived of a half-dozen minutes per game.  What Coach Nash has planned for Jordan and Allan moving forward remains to be seen.  Allen won't be 23-years old till next Spring.  Jordan, although very likable, is ten years Allen's elder.  Injuries can come into play for all we know.  But as they say: time is money.  In Allan's case, minutes are now his primary unit of value.  

So, what's a restricted free agent to do in the meantime?  

I guess learn from Jordan and Amare Stoudemire and prove himself an indispensable component of the Nets.

Circling back to Sean Marks, he continually reiterates the merits of being a disciplined organization, one that sticks with the plan, all the while prioritizing team and organizational culture.  Well, Jarrett Allen has been no less instrumental in establishing said culture than any player to don a Brooklyn Nets uniform.

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Sixteen

PIGSKIN

WEEK SIXTEEN

Football Sunday

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine
Week Ten

Week Eleven

Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve

Week Thirteen

Week Fourteen

Week Fifteen

Christmas Day

Week 16 Saturday

SCOREBOARD:

Week Fifteen Record:  8-4-2

Overall Record ATS:  106-82-7 (+17)

Schmear of the Week:  3-12-1 (-30)

Bagels in the Basket:  -13

• STEELERS: KEVIN GREEN Rest In Peace.  He was just 58-years old.  Cause of death still unknown. 

 

• PLAYOFF BOUND: Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, Saints, Bucs, Seahawks.

• It's official .. the Patriots are out of the playoff picture for the first time in a very long time.

• Meanwhile, Tom Brady in his first season with Tampa takes Bucs to playoffs and breaks team's touchdown record.

• Jets win their (counterproductive) first game of the season, and the once undefeated Steelers are now losers of three in a row.

• Big Ben said he's playing like "poo"

• Alvin Kamara ties NFL record with six rushing touchdowns.

• Drew Brees first quarterback to pass for 80,000 yards.

• WTF is up with the WFT; Snyder says he's being extorted!  Why don't Snyder's partners just put in a vote of No Confidence..?

• Eff ewe to the NFL for putting the Cards/Niners game on Amazon (although I still watched it).

• Terry Owens called in, said JuJu Smith-Schuster dancing on team logos is unprofessional.

• Hey, Dwayne (Haskins), strippers can transmit COVID too; open a PayPal account and wear a mask.

• Chargers, Browns, Lions; COVID, COVID, COVID.

WEEK SIXTEEN

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

RAVENS -10 1/2 Giants

If Daniel Jones plays, the Ravens will simply implement a spy and prevent him from running.  They will dare Jones to beat them through the air.  That's not happening, particularly when Jones oftentimes accounts for upwards of 40% of the Giants running game.

WIN  27-13 Ravens

Browns -9 JETS

Not comfortable laying nine.  Baker Mayfield has no one to throw to, four receivers down due to COVID protocol.  But the Jets are playing without Quinnen Williams.  It's gonna be close, but if the Browns have any killer instinct, they'll win handily.

Loss  23-16 Jets

CHIEFS -10 1/2 Falcons

This pick suddenly became easy.  Center Alex Mack and Julio Jones are both out for Atlanta.  They can just fugheddaboudit.

Loss  17-14 Chiefs

Colts -1 1/2 STEELERS

Steelers can't run!  They've lost three in a row because they've suddenly become one-dimensional.  That plays into the Colts hands.  But can Philip Rivers seize the day without his starting left tackle?  There's the rub.  I think a late field goal wins this game.

Loss  28-24 Steelers

TEXANS -8 Bengals

I dub thee Toilet Bowl XVI ...

Loss  37-31 Bengals

Bears -7 1/2 JAGUARS

The Bears are suddenly in charge of their playoff destiny.  Gardner Minshew is out, again - or so they say, now that they have dibs on next year's number one overall pick.  RB James Robinson isn't playing either.  How strange.  I hope Joe Douglas is paying attention!  The Jets can only hope for a miracle and the Jags win.  Boy, did they screw this up!

WIN  41-17 Bears

Panthers +1 NO NAMES

Not without Alex Smith, they're not ... the oddsmakers don't even know what to make of this.

WIN  20-13 Panthers

Broncos +3 1/2 CHARGERS

Bolts will be missing Joey Bosa.  That kinda levels the playing field and blunts the advantage Justin Herbert has over Drew Lock.

WIN  19-16 Chargers

SEAHAWKS -1 1/2 Rams

The NFC West title is on the line ... I'll say it again, the Rams are a paper tiger.  I don't even think Sean McVey is a good coach.  It's about time Pete Carroll and the Seahawks finally figure out this matchup.

WIN  20-9 Seahawks

COWBOYS +2 1/2 Eagles

I don't care what the Eagles are doing at quarterback, the Cowboys still have too many playmakers at their disposal.  No one plays defense anymore, so what the hell ...

WIN  37-17 Cowboys

PACKERS -3 1/2 Titans

Game of the Week!  Smash Mouth has it's shortcomings.  Titans ball control makes it hard to play from behind.  The Packers will score in bunches against a suspect Titans defense.  The Titans offense will keep this close, but might ultimately be outgunned by Aaron Rogers.

WIN  40-14 Packers

Schmear of the Week

CHIEFS -10

LOSS!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck, and continue having a very Merry and Happy Holiday, everyone!

POSTGAME

Week Sixteen Record:  7-4

Overall Record ATS:  113-86-7 (+20)

Schmear of the Week:  3-13-1 (-33)

Bagels in the Basket:  -13 

N.Y. Mets: A Flushing December to Remember

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SOAPBOX SPECIAL

Okay, the Mets went from seeking a President of Baseball Operations to just letting Sandy Alderson make up his own mind about filling the position himself.  

In the meantime, the Mets reconnected with Jerry Blevins and signed Trevor May.  While Blevins is signed to a minor deal, the Mets' expediency in shoring up the bullpen speaks volumes.  Sandy Alderson was made to sit idly under previous ownership, while the annual run on quality relievers generally took place before New Year's Day.  Then by late January/early February, Jeffie would finally authorize Alderson to sift through the leftovers.

The Mets also signed a much-needed and, more importantly, a competent receiver in James McCann.  He is not J.T. Realmuto, who is presently seeking everything under the sun in contract demands.  Sandy Alderson reasoned that timing was one of the determining factors insofar as their decision to pounce on McCann.  Unlike Realmuto, McCann comes at a very reasonable four-year, $40 million pact.  He has never played more than 120 games in a season.  However, the 30-year old owns an above-average caught-stealing percentage; he is fundamentally sound behind the plate and is adaptable to varying pitching styles and individual quirks - a major complaint levied against Wilson Ramos.

Sandy Alderson also could have easily moved on from manager Luis Rojas but elected not to.  Not only did an as yet fully-formed front office reaffirm their commitment to Rojas, but they also facilitated his request by hiring Dave Jauss as bench coach.  Jauss knows Rojas since the day he was born.  Between them exists a mutual trust along with a lifetime of love and respect.

Then, out of nowhere, the media killjoys chimed in.  Some among the local pundits actually criticized the Mets for what they perceived to be their too slow and overly methodical vetting process while panting at the sudden availability of Theo Epstein and pointing to the aforementioned player acquisitions made before having a general manager in place.  These are the same so-called experts; they know who they are, who for years and years apologized for the Wilpons and criticized a "petulant" fanbase (until emboldened by the Wilpon's clear demise and departure, that is).

Although, it's somewhat ironic that Brodie Van Wagenen raided away from the Red Sox executives  Allard Baird and Jared Banner, only to have Steve Cohen's incoming regime purge Baird and Banner and all remnants of the previous administration, then revert right back to raiding the Red Sox by hiring away Zack Scott to work as assistant general manager to Jared Porter (himself a one-time former Red Sox executive).  In turn, Boston's front office insisted the Mets please agree to cease poaching their executives for a while.  But not before Porter and Scott are successfully reunited.  Therefore, mission accomplished.

It's been quite a December to remember in Flushing.  That being said, I'm not expecting the now settled ownership and new front office to build a World Series champion all in one off-season.  After all, proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance - food for thought that some folk in media should have taken into consideration before disseminating such trash.

Where were they when over the better part of the last eighteen years, we needed them to chastise the Wilpon's for their legacy of gross mismanagement?

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Sixteen (Saturday)

PIGSKIN

WEEK SIXTEEN

Football Saturday

Christmas Day

Full Season Results

WEEK SIXTEEN

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

Buccaneers -9 1/2 LIONS

Lions coaching staff is in shambles; the team is a mess.  They're still smarting from last week's whooping against the Titans.  The more the Bucs play together, the more they understand each other, and the better they get.  Just can't see the Lions generating enough offense to keep up.  If Tom Brady taught us anything while at New England, it's that he has no compunction running up the score.

WIN  47-7 Bucs

CARDINALS -5 Niners

The Niners have more problems than a math book and the Cardinals are under pressure to win at all cost.  Arizona generates among the most offensive yardage in the league.  Niners have nothing left to play for, but the Cardinals can still make the playoffs.  Motivation rules the day.

Loss  20-12 Niners

Dolphins -3 RAIDERS

Raiders can't even lay the obligatory three points at home where they are 2-5 this season.  That's because Miami has yielded the least points per game and the Fish are going up against a very pedestrian defense.  Derek Carr is potentially out, meaning Marcus Mariota is potentially in for the Raiders.  If this game were at Miami the Sea Mammals would be favored by six.

Loss  26-25 Dolphins