Line Of The Night — 01/07/2008
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008Forget that weak college football “title” game last night… a two-loss team? Really? The trill action was in the NBA, with two of the best games of the season. Can we get 7-game series in the playoffs with these four involved?
Line Of The Night:
Boom Dizzle — 34 points, 14 assists, 6 boards, 1 steal
ALL the big players played great in the Warriors/Spurs game, but amongst the stars, Baron Davis shined the brightest.
Game Of The Night (Part I):
Phoenix 137, Denver 115
At no point was the game really competitive, but damn was it entertaining.. Although the Nuggets never rolled over, they were down double-digits straight from the get go. The Suns were on FI-YEERRRRR and the Nuggets did their best to make everyone understand that they are the WORST defensive team in the NBA. At one point in the first half, as his team was on it’s way to 78 POINTS, Shawn Marion hit 3 consecutive threes, and even on the third, there was not a defender within 10 feet. MARCUS BANKS was 7-8 from three for the game! Brian Skinner hit only the second three pointer of his career! Denver is so bad at D that just their mere presence on the court makes the other team 20% better offensively. These teams need to play way more often.
You know what we’re sick of though? All this talk about the chemistry problems Phoenix has. They have the best record in the West, a tough-as-nails conference! Settle down, everyone.
Deflicted J’s Of The Night:
This game also featured two of the deflictedest looking J’s in the game: Shawn Marion and Marcus Camby. Free Eric Piatkowski!!!
Guilty Pleasure Of The Night:
Eduardo Najera 22-63 from three, this season
Prior to this season, Najera had on shot 55 threes in his 7 year career. He’s already surpassed that this season, and we love it. Thank you, George Karl. Send some game tapes to Tyler Hansbrough! Isn’t this his NBA profile? The next Eduardo Najera?
Game Of The Night (Part II):
Golden State 130, San Antonio 121 (OT)
If the PHX/DEN game was a 10 on the offensive scale, this match-up was a 9, AND it was competitive. Golden State had never beaten San Antonio twice in a row during the Tim Duncan era, until last night, and they had to straight BATTLE to get it done. The Spurs played much of the game in catch-up mode, but in regulation, every time it looked like they were through, it seemed like Manu or Finley would bomb a three to keep them in it. And the threes were very necessary with the Warriors — Captain Jack, Boom Dizzle, Mickael Pietrus, Al Harrington and Kelenna Azubuike — bringing a relentless long-range assault. Stephen Jackson showed the heart of a cold-blooded killer, as he just kept gunning and gunning despite his horrendous early game shooting. What a game.
The Corner 3 Of The Night:
This game also served as a “Corner 3″ convention. With guys like Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Ime Udoka and Mickael Pietrus comparing and contrasting techniques, and generally showing off their love for the shot last night. Parker even hit one at the regulation buzzer to force OT. It was a celebration, snitches.
Nickname Of The Night:
Rasheed Wallace on nicknaming new Piston, Primoz Brezec, “Gangsta”:
“Told that Brezec was seen jogging through the streets of Indianapolis during the time when most players are just waking up from their afternoon naps, Wallace said, ‘See, that’s gangsta.’”
A little lazy, maybe, Rasheed, but we’ll roll with it.
