A lot has happened in Sports the last few weeks so let’s get into it!
KNICKS: 9-24 We are starting to find our groove a bit. A tough 115-87 loss to the Blazers, was followed by a west coast overtime win against the lowly Warriors 124-122, in a game that Marcus Morris went off to for 36 points. Another win followed that one, as the Knicks rallied down 16, to defat the young and feisty Kings 103-101, led by Julias Randle’s 26 points. They settled down a bit, with a loss to the Nuggets (111-105), but rebounded with authority!
The Knicks returned home from their west coast trip, and dropped 41 points in the 1st quarter, had 77 by the break, and finished the game with 143 points, thumping the Hawks 143-120.
RJ Barret poured in 27, while 6 different Knicks got in double-figures in points. It was truly a night to remember (12/17), at MSG.
The Knicks came down to earth though, with losses to the Heat (129-114), the 29-5 Bucks (123-102), and Wizards (121-115).
All seemed lost at 7-24, then something magical happened. The Knicks defeated the Nets 94-82 in Barclays Center, where Julias Randle poured in 33 points, and we saw Nets set a record for the least two pointers in an NBA game in the shot clock era (spanning back to 1950) with 8.
After that emotional win, the Knicks defeated the Wizards 107-100 in DC, with guess who? Julias Randle being the star of the show once again.
Also, new Knicks coach Mike Miller has more wins (5), in 11 games, than David Fizdale (4) did in 22 games this season.
NETS: 16-16
This team needs Kyrie and Caris back, and fast. It turns out they aren’t better without them.
They have been mediocre the last couple of weeks, starting with when they blew a double-digit lead to the Hornets at Barclays Center, losing 113-108, before continuing with a 110-102 loss to the Raptors in Canada.
They would wake up with two straight wins, over the 76ers (109-89) and the Zion-less Pelicans (108-101). But just when you think the “Next Net up” mentality was setting in, they dropped a 118-108 decision to the Spurs in Texas, where they also lost star bench player David Nwaba for the season with an ACL injury.
The mediocrity continues, with a 123-112 win over the Hawks at home, before three disappointing losses to the rival Knicks and the Houston Rockets in H-Town, and a devastating 122-115 loss to the KAT-less Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime. In that Minny matchup, the Nets blew a 7 point lead, with 1:45 remaining in regulation.
Through all this though, Spencer Dinwidee has continued to play like an All-Star. He consistently puts up approximately 30 points a night, and has been hitting practically all of his 10 Free Throws on average a game.
Also, Jarret Allen has been a beast on the boards lately for Brooklyn, hauling in rebound after rebound.
QUESTION FOR READERS:
Should the Nets pursue Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic for bench depth?
RANGERS 19-15-4:
This team is playing like a mediocre squad, which is a surprise to nobody. They have gone 4-4-1 in the last 3 weeks, with wins coming over the lowly San Jose Sharks 6-3 in California, (when superstar Artemi Pannarin recorded a hat trick and a assist), a 5-1 revenge win over the woeful Ducks at MSG, a 3rd straight win over a strong Hurricanes team 5-3 at MSG (With Mika Zibanejad having 2 goals and an assist in that one, with AP backing him up with a goal and an assist, while Henrik Lunquist was tall in net making 42 saves), and finally a 5-4 upset and revenge win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Canada, where Artemi had 3 assists, Ryan Strome had two goals, and Tony Deangelo scored the game-winner in overtime, saving a big effort from Rangers netminder Alexander Gegorgiev.
As for the losses, 3-1 to the lowly Kings in LA, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Ducks in Anaheim, (where the Blueshirts blew a 3-2 lead late in regulation, and a 1-0 lead in the shootout), a 5-2 loss to the strong Nashville Predators at home, a 6-3 loss to the Leafs at MSG, and finally a 5-1 Divisional loss to the Flyers in Philly, where ex-Ranger Kevin Hayes torched them with two goals.
PANARIN TO ASG:
The guy has 21 goals and 30 assists, for 51 points in just 38 games! Artemi Panarin, has been worth every penny for the NYR.
GEORGE TO LEAFS?
The Maple Leafs have been interested in acquiring Rangers netminder Alexander Gegoreiv.
QUESTION FOR READERS: Do you think the Rangers are a playoff team? They currently sit 4th in the Wild Card race, and 6 points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
ISLANDERS: 25-10-3
This team is insane! They have went 5-3-1 over the past 3 weeks, and as I write this, have now defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in Washington, to close within 6 points of the division lead. Not really any superstars on this team, because it’s Team hockey everyone!
JETS: 7-9
They got bombarded by the white-hot Ravens 42-22, but closed out the year with 2 straight wins over the playoff hopeful Steelers (16-10), and the backups of the playoff -bound Bills 13-6.
Honestly, for a team that started 1-7 and had their starting QB lost at the beginning of the season, the Jets should be proud of themselves on how they finished off the year with a 6-2 run. Some tinkering on the offensive side, and some depth added to that defense, and they could be a playoff team in 2020.
TEAM MVP: Superstar safety and pro-Bowler Jamal Adams
GIANTS: 4-12
Eli got a nice sendoff at home, with the Giants defeating the lowly Miami Dolphins 36-20, and the crowd sell-out crowd chanting “Eli” as he was taken out of the game, late in the blowout win.
The week after saw Daniel Jones ( 5TDs) Saquon Barkley (2TDs) go off, as the Giants defeated the Redskins in OT 41-35, with Ken Smith catching the game -winning TD in overtime for the Giants.
But a 33-17 loss to the NFC East champions Philadelphia Eagles at home, ended a pathetic 4-12 season for the Giants, which led to the firing of coach Pat Shumer (9-23) after two seasons and wasted a year full of promise on the offensive side.
The last Giants TD of the year, came from Saquon Barkley, who wowed everyone with a 68 Yard TD run late in the 3rd quarter.
COMING UP:
Thoughts on the Giants season
My NFL playoff predictions!!!
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