24. Laker fans really will be chanting 'Let's Go Lake Show' right now as the reigning NBA champions dropped their fourth straight loss at Houston amidst a rocky road trip. This is the first losing streak of this nature for last years leaders ever since April of 2007. The Houston Rockets were under power with injuries but that was no problem as they took the Lakers out the game 109-99. This loss and regular, uninventive media questions clearly got to Kobe who insists, "We're fine", adding, "Are we going to win a three-peat today? Probably not, but the **** is not played today." Coach Phil Jackson added, "Concern? It's way too early in the season, and we've got a long ways to go." Kevin Martin led Houston's takeoff with 22 points while Shane Battier had 17, 11 of which came in the final three minutes of regulation. Battier found his own three peat against the defending champions with a barrage of back to back three's which overcame their deficit of three to win the game. Both Shane and Kevin were vital for the Rockets in this win with many other stars grounded. Kobe paced the Lakers with 27 but came up just short on a clutch three point attempt. A season high of 25 points for Lamar Odom to go along with 11 rebounds was not enough, neither was Matt Barnes impressive 14 and 8. As the Lakers head back home they better check themselves at the Chick Hearn statue outside Staples and get out the refrigerator, otherwise were looking at a cold winter in California.
48. Some bad news also for the Atlanta Hawks, one of their top flight stars also is not cleared for take off. All-Star, franchise man Joe Johnson looks to miss four to six weeks after taking an injury to the right elbow. JJ will need arthroscopic surgery to remove a "loose body" from his elbow. He hasn't been playing pickup with the President has he? Johnson is due in surgery today and the Hawks will hope the star will be back in action soon although they do have reigning Sixth Man Of The Year Jamal Crawford and the capable talents of the athletic Maurice Evans in reserve. Johnson will be thankful for the surgery as he has been playing through the pain but recently he has told press, "It just got unbearable yesterday," and it has been reported he cannot fully extend his arm. The Haws still managed to claw a victory away from the Grizzlies so they look able to stretch without Joe at least for some time.
(Rogers has got all of Toronto in it's sight)
82. Even with Chris Bosh gone and times looking hard at least someone is still interested in the Toronto Raptors. If your Canadian your probably familiar with Rogers. The giant company is a wireless, phone, television and Internet provider much like Comcast or AT&T in the U.S.A. The technology giants already have their name in sports pools as they own the Ontario Baseball franchise the Toronto Blue Jays, who play in the impressive Rogers Centre a looking distance from the Raptors Air Canada Centre. The company is looking to get it's top hat, cane and moustache on as they look to monopolize professional sports in Toronto. They are buying a majority stake in the Toronto Raptors franchise the leagues sole franchise outside the United States. The bucks don't stop there as the company also look to do the same with the huge National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs franchise and the popular, young, Major League Soccer's Toronto FC. This is set to make Canadian sports history and furthers the confidence amongst Torontonians that their basketball franchise will remain even if their stars won't. At an estimated $1 billion this transaction looks to be the biggest ever in North America. The Marlies who are the Maple Leafs minor league hockey team will also be included in the package deal as will the television stations that carry these franchises. One thing that is uncertain is whether this will result in sponser Air Canada taking off possibly giving Toronto two potential Rogers Centres in walking distance of each other.
(No California love for San Antonio at Staples)
O.T. IN BRIEF: It seems Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is back at it hiring a firm to look into tampering and he thought he said he was 'over' all this LeBron stuff...speaking of all good things coming to an end the Spurs have ended their run of wins as they finally have lost at home, the Clippers handed them the defeat at Staples in revenge to their hard fought loss at the SBC Centre back in early November...Durant was out for Oklahoma City last night but Russell Westbrook didn't miss a beat as he led his team to victory over three overtimes...however as Carlos Boozer returned from injury the Bulls couldn't keep up with Orlando's Magic tricks as they dominated Boozers debut...Carmelo Anthony had plenty of time to listen to his new brilliant mixtape and think about contracts as he was ejected early against the Bucks but still his Nugget team prevailed without him...also the Boston Celtics managed to win their fifth straight which also as a parallel coincidence was the Portland Trail Blazers fifth straight loss. TIM DAVID HARVEY
No comments:
Post a Comment