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Tag: playoffs

  • Miami Heat Dominate Pacers to Take 3-1 Series Lead

    All season long, the Miami Heat were looking forward to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Eastern Conference standings, with the Pacers eventually finishing the season two games ahead of the Heat. The immense amount of success for the Pacers during the regular season had many people postulating as to whether this was the year someone would take down the Heat dynasty in the East. And after a decisive Game 1 victory of the Eastern Conference Finals for the Pacers, many of those speculations seemed to be vindicated.

    Following Game 4 of the series Monday night, however, there is no doubt to be had – this is Miami’s year, once again.

    The Heat cruised to a 102-90 victory over the Pacers at American Airlines Arena in Miami, leading the entirety of the game and even stretching the margin to 23 points in the fourth quarter. The final score did not represent the complete domination exhibited by Miami during the course of the game (thanks to a late run by the Pacers), but actions during the contest and comments following Game 4 prove how out-matched and desperate the Pacers are becoming.

    Speaking after the Pacers’s loss in Game 3, Indiana’s Lance Stephenson expressed his belief that his trash-talking was finally getting to LeBron James, exhibited by the fact that James had finally decided to start jawing back:

    To me, it’s a sign of weakness. Because he never used to say nothing to me. I always used to be the one that would say, ‘I’m gonna get under you. I’m gonna do something to get you mad.’ And now he’s trying to do it to me. So I feel like it’s a weakness. I feel like I’m doing something right, and I’m getting under his skin. But I definitely got to keep stepping up to the plate, and be more aggressive when he [does] that.

    Proving that words are just that – simply words – Stephenson was personally violated and destroyed by James’s performance Monday night. While LeBron had 32 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, Stephenson did not score his first point until 3:43 was left in the third quarter. He would finish the game with a paltry 9 points.

    Stephenson’s response to the performances following the game: ”I was trying to get into his head. I guess he stepped up and got the win. I can take the heat.”

    If Stephenson’s performances from Game 3 (10 points on 3-9 shooting) and Game 4 are any indication, he most certainly should stay out of the kitchen.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0PdK-98AOc

    Stephenson was not the only Pacer feeling the heat Monday night, though.

    Pacers’s center Roy Hibbert put up a big goose-egg in Game 4, adding essentially nothing to the Pacers’s effort against the Heat. His excuse? Hibbert did not place the blame upon himself, but rather the coaches and the play-calling: “The game plan wasn’t really utilizing me much. Just try to be effective wherever I can. Would I have liked to get a few more touches earlier on and get going? Yeah. That’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.”

    Unfortunately, Hibbert was not the only Pacer to pass-the-buck for the poor performance.

    While Paul George seemed to be the one positive for Indiana on the court Monday night, scoring 23 points and pulling down 7 rebounds, his comments off the court hint at his level of frustration with the series.

    “Looking at the stat sheet, we outplayed them. You got to give them credit. They won this game at the free throw line. They really just were able to get to the line more than we were, but I thought we outplayed them tonight.”

    Letting his immaturity and inexperience show, George continued in his diatribe against the officials:

    “I mean, you can’t tell me we don’t attack the basket as much as they attack the basket. You can’t tell me we’re not aggressive. Maybe we’re too aggressive… Maybe this was just home cooking.”

    Perhaps the behavior and comments of the Pacers’s players are simply a reflection of their head coach, however. While no one can take away the effort Frank Vogel has put into bringing the Pacers back to a position of prominence in the NBA, his actions reflect the heat he is feeling at the prospect of being eliminated by Miami in the postseason for the third consecutive year.

    In the closing minutes of the first quarter in Game 4 Monday night, Vogel decided to help his Pacers play some sort of defense by yelling at Heat forward Shane Battier as he released a three from the corner.

    When asked about the play, Battier replied that he was unaffected and could understand why Vogel would undertake such an action:

    You don’t hear anything. You hear nothing. I didn’t notice it. Was he screaming at me? That’s news to me…He’s the man, he can do what he wants for his team. It makes them feel part of the game… He’s one of the guys who does not like when I call out what plays come in. I’ve been doing it my entire career. But some coaches really, it irritates. I don’t think he likes me very much. When the play comes in, he waits until I turn away, and I stare right at him.

    While the Pacers are slowly but surely losing their collective mind, the Heat are thriving due to their experience and much-needed maturity.

    In the post-game press conference, Dwayne Wade voiced exactly why the Heat have persevered despite the talk and pressure from the Pacers:

    We played (the Boston) Celtics a lot, and they made it more than just about basketball, and they beat us in the mental game as well as the physical game. We learned that the only way we’re going to beat them is if we beat them playing the game of basketball. They’re great at that mental game… So from that point, we try to leave that alone. We try to beat you at basketball. We don’t go into the back‑and‑forth talking because that’s not what we’re here for, and that’s not going to win us a game. So we try to beat you at basketball.

    When the Pacers learn to play basketball instead of childish mind-games, perhaps they will finally ascend to the NBA Finals. Until that time, though, the Heat will continue their Celtic-esque dynasty-building.

    Image via Twitter

  • Kevin Durant Hits Improbable Shot; OKC Loses

    The MVP race in the NBA this year was and still is absolutely no contest. Kevin Durant has been the best basketball player in the world in 2014, by far. His statistics prove just how unreal his 2013-14 campaign has been: 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The only other player who comes close to KD’s numbers is LeBron James, and even he believes the honor should go to Durant: “I would say he’s the most consistent basketball player as far as the MVP this year, man. He’s put up some great numbers.”

    If that wasn’t enough proof that Durant should be this year’s NBA MVP, the closing seconds of regulation in Monday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies solidifies the argument.

    With the Oklahoma City Thunder down 5 with 13.8 seconds to go in the game, Kevin Durant received the ball in the very corner of the court from Russell Westbrook after the OKC guard nearly had the ball stripped. As KD received the pass, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol bodied him up, bumping Durant out of bounds. Before he landed, though, Durant threw up this circus shot:

    Kevin Durant Crazy 3

    Prompting this reaction from his teammates on the bench:

    OKC Bench Reaction

    While the celebration was definitely warranted, perhaps the moment of the shot created too much pandemonium and havoc, especially considering the Thunder would go on to lose to the Grizzlies in overtime, 111-105.

    When asked if the shot was the best of his still young career, KD replied with an NBA MVP-caliber answer: ”I don’t know, man. We lost, so it really don’t matter.”

    While Oklahoma City may be the No. 2 seed in the West and feature perhaps the two most exciting players in the league with Durant and Russell Westbrook, they have their hands more than full with the No. 7 seed Memphis Grizzlies.

    The match-up is so difficult for the Thunder due to the contrasting styles between the two teams: OKC wants to play loose and up-tempo, while the Grizzlies are looking to slow the game down and pound the ball down low to their two big men, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

    ”Basically it’s just going to be a slugfest. We’re going to pound it. They’re going to run it. Whoever can come up with the most stops pretty much wins the game,” stated Tony Allen, the man who was tasked with defending Durant for the majority of the game.

    The validity of Allen’s statement rang true in the latter moments of overtime Monday night as the Grizzlies were able to pull away late by forcing OKC into bad shots. The Thunder shot under 40 percent in Monday’s contest, with Durant going 12-28.

    The momentum stays with the Grizzlies as the series moves to the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis for the next game. The series is currently tied 1-1, with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday night.

    (And another look because it is well-warranted.)

    Images via YouTube and Twitter , (1), and (2)

  • Dwyane Wade: Returns to Game For A Loss; New Shoes

    D.Wade is a hot topic once again, although good that this time it’s for purely professional reasons, bad that there is a big question mark around his name. The *main topic of discussion is Wade’s return to the court after sitting out for nine games on Saturday only to lose to the Atlanta Hawks.

    Although it looks pretty bad on paper, some could consider that a necessary warm-up game before the playoffs begin. He sat out for nine games; now is a great time to get his rhythm back. With the team consistently asserting that their main focus is not on having the number-one conference seed, but just being healthy for the playoffs, the Heat may not be worrying yet. According to Wade’s pre-game statements told to ESPN,

    “I’m going to give it a go today.That’s the plan. The first thing was to get comfortable with it. You never know how severe it is until you try to strengthen it. Now, it’s just about getting comfortable and pushing it to see where you’re at.”

    That seems to be their mind state— although fans are worried:

    Miami might need to be worried about why didn’t they beat Atlanta with four and a half players.

    That’s not the only discussion on hand. Looks like D.Wade has dropped a new Jordan shoe recently,

    that the public is receiving with mixed reviews:

    So, today is Dwyane’s day in the media. Let’s hope the next talk of the town with his name in it will consist of excellent plays and wins.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dirk Nowitzki: Breaking Records and Not Done Yet

    BleacherReport reports to us that Dirk Nowitzki contributed 27 points to the Mavericks’ 107-95 win over the Lakers this past Friday to pass longtime scoring leader Dominique Wilkins for the 11th place in the NBA scoring list. Wilkins ended his career with 26,668 points, while Nowitzki hit 26,678 at the game’s end with more games in the season. At 35, the question of Nowitzki’s retirement hovers about, but he is healthy, and a longtime mentor states, “I guess if he’s not seriously injured he can play three or four more years easily.”

    In the postseason race, Nowitzki has been scoring consistently well for the Mavericks– and it was definitely needed. In his last three games, Nowitzki scored at least 26 points to edge them along the super-competitive Western Conference, and he’s been averaging 21.6 points all season. The Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies are their main competitors for a Western playoff spot; it looks like Nowitzki will be making a couple more shots. Here is the current list of the guys right above him on the NBA scoring list. Who knows, maybe he’ll pass another one during gargantuan playoff efforts.

    1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- 38,387
    2. Karl Malone- 36,928
    3. Michael Jordan- 32,292
    4. Kobe Bryant – 31,700
    5. Wilt Chamberlain- 31,419
    6. Shaquille O’Neal- 28,596
    7. Moses Malone- 27,409
    8. Elvin Hayes- 27,313
    9. Hakeem Olajuwon- 26,946
    10. Oscar Robertson- 26,710

    From the looks of it, Oscar Robertson might want to kick on his PF Flyers for a couple of games; it is very likely that Nowitzki is coming for his spot in the very near future. Just a little more ammunition for the Nowitzki fans who assert that Nowitzki may just very well be one of the top three scorers of NBA history.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Mocks Cam Newton

    Thanks in part to two turnovers by the Carolina Panthers and their inability to put any points on the board in the second half, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Panthers yesterday to get one step closer to the Super Bowl. The 49ers won 23-10 and will travel to Seattle on Sunday to play for the NFC Championship. As if the Panthers’ poor showing wasn’t enough, one end-zone move by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick succeeded in making an already frustrated Carolina fan base completely ticked off.

    Some Panthers fans are attributing the loss to the “Ric Flair Curse,” since the former wrestler switched his allegiance from the Panthers to the 49ers just days before. Whether you chalk up the loss to the lack of Ric Flair’s presence in the Panthers locker room or failing to score more than three points on two trips inside the 49ers five-yard line, the Charlotte-based team certainly didn’t bring their A-game yesterday.

    Kaepernick is now 4-1 in his post-season career as a starter. Even though the young quarterback didn’t have one of his best passing games (he was 15-30 for less than 200 yards), Kaepernick let Panthers quarterback Cam Newton know who the real Superman was yesterday. On a touchdown Kaepernick ran in, he stole Newton’s signature Superman celebration move, which didn’t go over well with Panthers fans.

    Check out Kaepernick’s Superman celebration, which is followed up with his traditional bicep-kiss, below.

    Some football fans wasted no time in calling out Kaepernick on Twitter for his move:

    Not everyone was put off by Kaepernick’s Superman celebration, including former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Donté Stallworth.

    It’s worth noting that both quarterbacks were taken in the 2011 NFL Draft and were roommates at the NFL Scouting Combine. One quarterback is one game away from his second Super Bowl appearance while the other just finally led his team to a winning season. Like Kaepernick or not, there is little debate as to who the real Superman is on the field.

    Image via YouTube

  • Coldest NFL Game? Not By a Long Shot

    Headed into Sunday’s match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers, many sports analysts and weather forecasters were proclaiming that the record for the coldest NFL game ever played could potentially be broken. With the polar vortex blowing through the central and eastern United States, meteorologists predicted that several parts of the country could see wind-chill temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Before Sunday’s NFC wild-card game, reports cited that the game-time temperature at Lambeau Field were expected to be at -5 degrees, with the wind-chill reaching a disastrously cold -51 degrees. If that was to happen, this game between the 49ers and Packers would have been one of the coldest games ever played in the NFL.

    However, it wasn’t even close. NFL records determine game-time temperatures at kick-off and do not record temperature fluctuations throughout the game. At kick-off for Sunday’s game, the recorded temperature was a mild 5 degrees, with the wind-chill resting at -10. Eventually, the wind-chill at Lambeau would drop as low as -14 degrees, but would still not come close to setting any NFL records for the coldest game ever played.

    In preparation for the frigid conditions, much fuss was made about what the players would be wearing on the field. While certain hard-nosed, Hall of Fame coaches (like Vince Lombardi) would discourage and lambaste their players for choosing to wear extra apparel, current players are much more lenient:

    “I don’t really subscribe to ‘the less clothes I have on, the tougher I am. The guys who think they’re the toughest guys in the world go out wearing no sleeves. It doesn’t make any sense. Being cold doesn’t make you tough. It makes you stupid,” stated Packers tight-end Ryan Taylor.

    While wearing less clothes potentially makes one stupid, it can also make one a winner.

    Coming in to Sunday’s game, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to heed his head coach’s advice to wear more clothing, stating “I’m a little hardheaded at times.”

    Kaepernick, a Wisconsin native who played many college game in cold weather at Nevada, chose to wear short sleeves and no gloves for the game, sticking to his mantra that the cold is “more mental than anything.”

    Perhaps Kaepernick and Vince Lombardi have the correct stance on cold-weather gear, seeing as Kaepernick was able to lead his 49ers to victory over the Green Bay Packers with a stellar performance, throwing for 227 yards and 1 TD while rushing for 98 yards and setting up the game-winning field-goal as time expired.

    Image via Twitter

  • Colts Blackout Averted For AFC Wild Card Playoff Game

    It was quite a close call for the Indianapolis Colts. It appears they were able to squeeze pass the daunting possibility of a blackout. Although yesterday it looked as though they totally out of the woods yet. However, they have sold the last 4,500 tickets needed to avert the blackout.

    According to CBS Sports, NFL officials have announced that the Saturday wildcard playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs will not be blacked out. As of this morning, Indiana’s News Center reported that regional hypermarket Meijer stepped in and purchased the last 1,200 Colts’ tickets for the AFC Wild Card game scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 4. The tickets will be distributed to the families of  local military personnel.

    Colts’ fans and ticketholders were definitely pleased by the news. Indianapolis Colts’ owner and CEO Jim Irsay tweeted his gratitude to Meijer for their contribution to the blackout aversion. Isray also shared information about the government organizations the tickets would be distributed to.

    The announcement was also posted on the Colts’ official Twitter page. Then, of course, the Colts’ offered a tweet to raise anticipation for tomorrow’s game in an effort to redirect attention to the playoffs, as opposed to any further talks of the blackout.

    Meijer also tweeted a reply to the Colts’ franchise, reassuring the team of their support.

    NFL regular season rules and regulations require teams to sell out home game tickets at least 72 hours prior to kickoff time as a means of avoiding potential blackouts. While the same rules apply for playoffs, some teams have a tendency to barely make the looming deadlines. Playoff game schedules are tentative, so spectators usually have only a short period of time to purchase tickets, which is the reason for potential blackouts.

    The Football Night In America pregame coverage will start at 4:00 p.m. on NBC33, and the AFC Wild Card game will follow immediately after. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.

    Image via Twitter | NFL Network

  • Green Bay Packers Finally Sell Out, Avoid Blackout

    Football fans in Green Bay and Indianapolis can rest easy. You will be able to watch your football team on television this weekend.

    It’s hard to believe that Sunday’s Green Bay Packer’s game against the San Francisco 49ers was not sold out as of Thursday night. In fact, three of the four Wild Card weekend NFL games still had seats available. The only game completely sold out was the Eagles/Saints game in Philadelphia. Frigid weather conditions and the comforts of home kept fans from buying round one tickets for the Colts/Chiefs game in Indy (they actually can’t blame the weather since they play indoors) and the Bengals/Chargers game in Cincinnati.

    According to a very old arcane NFL rule that was established to make sure that football stadiums sold tickets, if a game was not sold out 72 hours before kickoff, local television markets would be required to blackout the game. The FCC fought that rule yesterday when Hurricane Hercules dumped snow throughout several areas of the country and an expected extreme cold front made even the most diehard fans reconsider taking a trip to the stadium.

    Fans were given an extra day to snatch up remaining tickets to avoid blackout. Colt’s Corporate Sponsor, Meijer, took care of the game in Indianapolis by buying up the remaining 1,200 seats for Saturday afternoon’s matchup. In an act of goodwill, the company has donated the seats to the Indiana National Guard, Wish for Our Heroes. Meanwhile, the Packers organization sold off their remaining tickets to various corporate partners.

    The word is still out for Cincy fans who have until 4 pm ET today to sell off their remaining tickets and avoid a blackout. Corporate sponsor Kroger has reportedly bought a chunk of tickets that they intend to donate to families of the military.

    Tell us what you think of the NFL blackout rule. Is it time to make a change?

    Image via Facebook

  • Green Bay Packers Fans Could Get Blacked Out

    Green Bay Packer fans have always been among the most die-hard, loyalists in all of football. From the Ice Bowl to the Brett Favre era to the Super Bowl winning team of 2010, fanatics have braved frigid temperatures and unbearable conditions to watch their beloved soldiers take Lambeau Field. But could it be now that we are accustomed to our large screen definition televisions, pizza delivery and cozy recliners that to brave freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions would be ludicrous?

    It’s almost unbelievable to think that Packer Nation has not sold out Sunday’s wild card game at home against NFC rival the San Francisco 49ers. Temps are expected to drop well below zero, so the usual Lambeau loyalists may prefer to stay warm and toasty by the fire while they watch the game.

    But there’s just one thing. The NFL has a blackout rule that may prevent Packer fans from watching the game on television. According to the rule, which the FCC is fighting, if a game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff, local TV markets will be in a blackout zone. In fact, three of the four wild card games this weekend are not presently sold out. This includes the games in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The Eagles/Saints game in Philly is currently the only game completely sold out. It’s all very hard to believe because football is more popular now than ever, however, a weekend of frigid temperatures combined with the comfort of home seems to be keeping fans out of the stadium and glued to their couch.

    The Packers sneaked into the playoffs last week with a game-winning touchdown drive by Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback hadn’t played since November 4th after suffering a broken collar bone. In his absence, the team could only muster up two wins in eight games, putting the Packers in a win or go home situation last Sunday. Rodgers looked a bit rusty for most of the game against the Chicago Bears, however, he stepped up when he needed to. Rodgers found an open receiver on fourth-down and tossed a perfect 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb to win the game and earn the chance to face San Francisco in round one.

    (image)

    The Packers are a three-point home dog on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 4:40 pm est. Fans and the NFL feel optimistic that Lambeau will sell out, and Green Bay locals will be able to catch the game from the comfort of home.

    Images via Facebook, Facebook

  • Wes Welker Will Likely Be Out Until Playoffs

    Here is some scary news for fans of the Denver Broncos. Wes Welker, the star receiver who was recently acquired from the New England Patriots, is not scheduled to return to the team’s lineup until the playoffs.

    The Broncos are set to have one of the top spots going into the playoffs, but as they are currently tied with the Chiefs, and only one game ahead of the Patriots, the last couple of games will play into their seeding in the playoffs.

    With a victory in their next two games, the Broncos would clinch a first-round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

    Fortunately for the Broncos, the final two games of the season, which they will play without Wes Welker, are against two of the worst teams in the league. The Texans and the Raiders have a combined record of 6-22, and they will play the Texans and Raiders to close out the season, respectively.

    Welker resumed light physical activity on Thursday, but today, it was announced that he would be ruled for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, and will likely not make it back until the playoffs. Wes Welker suffered two concussion in a span of three weeks, and is still recovering from the injuries.

    His most recent injury came during a game agaisnt the Tennessee Tittans on December 8th when he left shortly before halftime. He suffered a neck injury in addition to his concussion, and also suffered a concussion in their win against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 17th.

    Speaking on the injury of Wes Welker, coach John Fox said “The exercise is picking up. They’re doing more and more with him in the weight room, running around out here a little bit and … he’s doing better every day.”

    The Denver Broncos started the season with unstoppable force as Peyton Manning set records as a quarterback, and the team went 6-0 before losing to Manning’s old team, the Indianapolis Colts.

    The Broncos lost to the Chargers in their last game, while playing without Wes Welker, but will certainly expect more favorable results when entering Houston on Sunday.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • NFL Playoff Scenarios: What Happens Next?

    NFL Playoff Scenarios: What Happens Next?

    Certain teams have already staked a claim in the playoffs. We’re likely to see an exciting series of games as the regular season draws to a close.

    The Denver Broncos surprised no one by clinching a playoff spot. They are projected to be the top seeded team in the AFC division, but there’s still a lot in the air for them depending on how things shake out. Denver can clinch the AFC West and a first round-bye if they win and the Kansas City Chiefs lose. If both the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots lose while the Broncos win, it will give Denver not only the AFC West, but home-field advantage as well.

    The Patriots need the Baltimore Ravens to lose in order to secure their playoff position. A loss by Miami means that New England will maintain their position at the top of the AFC East division. Earning the AFC East and first round-bye is a little trickier. In order for New England to get this, they must win with both the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals losing.

    The Cincinnati Bengals meanwhile need to win and have the Miami Dolphins lose to get a playoff spot. If Cincinnati wins and Baltimore loses, the team will clinch the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens need to win and have both the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins lose to get a playoff position.

    In the NFC, the dominant Seattle Seahawks have already earned their place in the playoffs and are the projected top seeded team for their division. The Seahawks need a win or a loss by the San Francisco 49ers to secure the NFC West and gain home-field advantage.

    The New Orleans Saints will clinch the NFC South and a first round-bye with a win. In the event that the Saints lose, they get can still get a spot in the playoffs. However, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers must both lose. An additional scenario had the Saints gaining a spot if the Chicago Bears also lose in addition to the Cardinals and 49ers.

    The Philadelphia Eagles can finish at the top of the NFC East if they win and the Dallas Cowboys lose. The Cowboys face a tough task of collecting themselves following a shocking upset that saw them lose to the visiting Green Bay Packers at home for the first time in many years, and after holding a convincing lead for much of the game.

    The Chicago Bears will clinch the NFC North with a win and the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers both suffering defeats.

    Odds are longer for some teams than others, but nothing is set in stone and anything can happen. We’ve already seen MAJOR upsets just this past week.

    Post by NFL.

    Predictions are being made nevertheless. Who do you think will make the playoffs this season?

    Image: NFL’s Official Facebook

  • Reggie Bush Expects To Play On Monday Night

    Reggie Bush missed out on Detroit’s last game in Philadelphia but expects to play in their big game on Monday night. This will be the first time that the Lions have played in a Monday Night Football game, and Bush does not want to miss the opportunity to play.

    He is one of the older running backs in the league, and has experienced injuries before, but Reggie Bush still remains a very tough runner in the NFL. He sat out during the Lions’ previous game with an injury that he had suffered before the game started.

    In the game that Bush sat out, the Lions faced the Eagles in the middle of a Philadelphia snowstorm that somehow found the Eagles taking command of the game and winning with a final score of 34-20.

    While it was originally reported that Bush had injured himself while slipping on the snow, he later denied that claim. He said that he was already fighting a calf injury and simply aggravated the pulled muscle while jogging before the game.

    On Wednesday the running back stated that he simply wasn’t healthy enough to play, and did not want to chance it when saying “I didn’t fall. It was definitely icy out there. There was definitely a lot of snow, but I didn’t fall on the ground or anything like that. I was just out there jogging. I wasn’t even really going hard. I was just jogging, and it just grabbed on me.”

    Watching from the sideline was hard on Reggie Bush, and he is determined to make it back to the field on Monday, in an important game against the Baltimore Ravens, as both teams battle to stay alive for the playoffs. He has never missed a game for a pulled muscle before, and looks forward to getting back on the field.

    He explained his frustration in last week’s game further when saying “What was at stake, playing on the road and just being out there with my teammates. It’s always hard being on the sidelines, being a spectator. I hate it, so I look forward to getting back this week.”

    The Lions have a big game while also playing in front of a national audeince on Monday night, and it will certainly help to have Reggie Bush back on the field. The Lions still remain in first place in the NFC North, but need to show up with better performances in the final three weeks of the season if they expect to stay there.

    Image via Facebook

  • LeSean McCoy Plows His Way Through Snowy Philly, Sets Rushing Record

    LeSean McCoy was by the far the most impressive performer in yesterday’s game between the Eagles and the Lions. In a game that started in a complete snowstorm, it was hard for either team to see what was going on for much of the first half, not to mention score.

    The Lions led the game with a score of 8-0 at halftime, which seemed as if it may have been enough with the way the first half played out.

    The Lions went up 14-0, and seemed to take control of the game, however, LeSean McCoy had other plans for how the game would play out. The game ended with a final score of 34-20 in favor of the Eagles.

    LeSean McCoy put his best performance, and more than most players, when he rushed for 217 yards and lifted the Eagles to victory. Despite the snowy conditions, he was the one who was able to outshine everyone else and somehow find a way for the Eagles to win in the Philadelphia snowstorm.

    McCoy broke the record for most rushing yards in a game that was previously held by Hall Of Famer Steven Van Buren in 1949, which was 205 yards. The Eagles rushed for 299 yards in total, while the Lions came into the game allowing the third-fewest yards rushing per game in the league.

    To get an idea of just how hard it would be to run in the snowy conditions, check this out.

    (image)

    He also became only the third member of the Eagles to rush for 200 yards in a single game in the the team’s history, with the other being Duce Staley in 2000. He is on pace for over 1,600 rushing yards, and would likely be in the hunt for MVP if it were not for all-star quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.

    In contrast to McCoy’s record-setting performance, the Lions were hardly able to run at all, and it was revealed later in the day that the reason fans were not able to see Reggie Bush on the field throughout the game was because he injured himself before the game started when slipping on the snow.

    While completing his incredible performance through the snow, McCoy admitted how difficult it was to run when saying “It was tough, to be honest. But the guys were giving me so much room. I actually like to run in between the tackles.” It was certainly an impressive performance for the running back, and gave the Eagles their 8th win of the season.

    The game was very important for both the Lions and the Eagles, and with LeSean McCoy’s performance leading the Eagles to victory, it is an important statement for the team going into week 15.

    In his outstanding performance as a runner, McCoy had more yards than Matthew Stafford, Nick Foles or Calvin Johnson, who was held to only 49 receiving yards. Fortunately, Johnson only needed 40 yards to break the all-time record for receiving yards as a Detroit Lion.

    Imagesvia Facebook and SB Nation

  • Wes Welker Injured In Broncos Win, Unlikely To Play Thursday

    Wes Welker left yesterday’s game with a concussion, and it looks like it may be serious enough to keep him out of their next game. Welker is playing in his first season for the Broncos after enjoying great success with Tom Brady and the Patriots for several years.

    During the Broncos game that was played on Sunday, Wes Welker was forced to leave before halftime, due to a hard hit that he suffered, which lead to a concussion. This is the second concussion that he has suffered in the past four weeks, after suffering the same injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 17.

    In yesterday’s game, Welker appeared dazed following the hit that was delivered from Titans’ safety Bernard Pollard. He went low in an attempt to make a catch late in the second quarter, and received a hit in the head as Pollard tried to break up the pass.

    Luckily for the Broncos, they have been able to win both games that he has been injured in, but Welker is one of the top receivers in the league, and certainly Peyton Manning’s favorite target on the field, just as he was for Brady. Despite losing Welker, the Broncos beat the Titans 51-28, and clinched a spot in the playoffs with a record of 11-2.

    Wes Welker is now subject to the NFL’s concussion protocol, which baseline testing on Monday. Le’Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers also suffered a concussion recently in an NFL league that seems to leave players injured more often than in the past.

    Unfortunately for Broncos fans, even if he were cleared to play this week through the test, he would still be unable to play in Thursday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

    The protocol states that a player who is cleared for activity the day after a concussion is only able to participate in the non-contact parts of practice on Thursday, and with this week’s game being on a Thursday, that does not allow him to play.

    Along with Peyton Manning, Wes Welker has been an important part of the Broncos offense that has been destroying its opponents throughout the season, especially in the first half of the season.

    Before leaving the game with his injury, Wes Welker was able to catch five passes for 61 yards and 1 touchdown. In the 2013 season, Welker has 73 receptions for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Eagles-Lions Game Starts In A Snowstorm, Eagles Find A Way To Win

    For anyone who just finished watching that epic game between the Eagles and Lions, many people are probably still wondering how the first half and the second half played out with such different performances.

    The game started during a huge snowstorm, and throughout the first half especially, it was hard to see what was going on for players, referees, as well as the fans watching in Philadelphia and at home. As a result, neither team was able to score in the first half for the most part, and the first quarter ended with both teams unable to score.

    Several games this week opened with severe weather conditions, but none as bad as the one that took place in Philadelphia with the field covered in snow, reaching a height of 8 inches at one point according to one reporter who was on the field.

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    Somehow things calmed down a bit in the second half, allowing both offenses to explode, however it was the running game of the Eagles that truly took off, with LeSean McCoy setting an Eagles record for most rushing yards in a game, and destroying the Lions defensive ground game.

    The Eagles finished with 299 yards rushing against a defense that didn’t allow a TD on the ground in the previous eight games and came in allowing the third-fewest yards rushing per game. McCoy was responsible for 217 rushing yards in the game, breaking the previous record of 205 that was held by Hall of Famer Steven Van Buren in 1949.

    While the game completely lacked offense in the first half, and neither team was even able to kick a field goal or extra point throughout the game, there were a lot more points than expected at the start of the game. It became a back and forth scoring rout for a while, but eventually the Eagles took control, and dominated the 4th quarter.

    The Lions led the game 8-0 at halftime, before taking a 14 point lead and appearing to take over the game. However, the Eagles quickly came back and under the running skills of LeSean McCoy, it became too hard for the Lions to come back. The snowy conditions were simply too much for the Lions to overcome, and fumbled on multiple occasions, twice during runs.

    While it did not prove to be too big of a deal in this game, Calvin Johnson is one of the top receivers in the league, and the Eagles were fearing going up against him. Johnson, as one of the top receivers only needed 40 yards to break the all-time receiving yards franchise record, and did that in the first quarter, however, he was not very effective during the rest of the game.

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    Despite the very snowy environment, both teams somehow managed to find ways to score, and the Eagles pulled away with the victory. The final score was 34-20, giving the Eagles a record of 8-5, and dropping the Lions to 7-6. It was an important for both teams trying to secure spots in the playoffs, and the Eagles made a big statement with the win.

    Images via SB Nation, SB Nation and Facebook

  • Seahawks Fans Acheive Loudest Stadium Record Again

    The Seahawks fans have clearly proved that Seattle is the toughest place for the opposing teams to play throughout this season. They set the record for loudest stadium once already this season, breaking it once again last night.

    In Monday night’s game, the Seahawks faced off against the New Orleans Saints in a game that could have gone either way as they are the two top teams in the conference, fighting for the No.1 seed in the playoffs.

    However, the noise was definitely a factor with the power of the Seahawks fans, and the Seahawks handled Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints easily, proving that they are the top team, with a final score of 34-7.

    Seahawks Fans have set themselves apart from fans of other teams in the league, while being dubbed “The 12th Man.” Their two star players Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch also have the nicknames of “Danger” and “Beast Mode” respectively, making any team in the league fear the tough Seahawks, and especially on their home field.

    After the Seahawks fans set the record for the loudest stadium record once already this season, last night the nose rose even louder. The fans in Seattle did all that they could in order to boost their team, and it certainly worked.

    At one point during the game, the noise of the crowd reached a level of 137.6 decibels, after their previous record was set at 136.6 decibels. The noise level was reached during the second quarter of the game, and after that the Seahawks completely took control of the game, and shut out the Saints in the second half.

    Just in case anyone does not realize just how loud 137.6 decibels is, a jet engine traveling at a height of about 100 feet is about 140 decibels. The Seahawks are on a path to secure the No.1 seed in the NFC, and subsequently earn themselves homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. If the noise of the crowd continues to be this effective, it is hard to imagine how anyone will be able to defeat them during playoff time.

    The Seattle Seahawks are currently No.1 in the league with a record of 11-1, and leading the NFC West division. After an easy home game against the Saints, the Seahawks are set to play an away game against their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers, in their next game.

    Here is a look at what the crowd sounded like the last time the record was broken. Keep in mind that they were even louder last night.

    Image via Twitter

  • NFL Power Rankings: New Standings Are Out, Playoffs Are Not Far Off

    The new edition of the NFL power rankings have been released, and once again the Seattle Seahawks are at the top. With only a few weeks to go in the season, several teams are fighting for a chance to make the playoffs, or to have a more desirable seed.

    After another exciting weekend of NFL games, it is time to look at where each team stands, and how they will need to play in the coming weeks, as everyone around the league gets set for the playoffs.

    Following their big win last night against the New Orleans Saints, the Seattle Seahawks have secured the No.1 spot in the NFL power rankings for another week, and have a commanding lead in the conference.

    The Seahawks are planning to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and with their crowds that have broken the record for noise level twice already, including during last night’s game, it could be very dangerous for other teams competing with the Seahawks.

    While the NFC seems even more competitive this year, fans were also able to experience another incredible dose of Peyton Manning as the Denver Broncos beat the Chiefs again, and remain to be the second best team in the league, and the Patriots continue to show that they are one of the best as well, as both teams are led by veteran quarterbacks.

    With the release of the updated NFL power rankings, the Denver Broncos are in the No.2 spot, followed by the Panthers, Patriots, and the Saints. With the loss the Saints suffered last night, they are tied with the Panthers in the NFC South, and the Panthers are looking to take advantage with two meetings between the teams still to go before the season comes to a close..

    The Panthers currently sit at the No.3 spot. They previously rose to No.5, after an incredible finish and defeat against the New England Patriots in week 12. They are currently on a 8-game winning streak, and as they are led by their outstanding young quarterback, Cam Newton, they have defeated other top teams such as the Patriots and 49ers.

    With only one loss, and the top spot in the NFL power rankings, the Seattle Seahawks have put themselves on a level above their competition, and continue to prove that they are the best. Russell Wilson has shown his power as a quarterback throughout the season in the air, and on the ground, and he threw for 315 yards in the first half of Monday’s game.

    As the Seahawks continue to make their presence known as the best in the league, the question remains, what team is able to beat them? Will they win the Super Bowl?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HF8kmVPVVs

    Image via Facebook

  • Baltimore Ravens Outlast Bengals, Win In OT

    In a tough battle between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens were finally able to pull away in overtime. The Ravens led for much of the game, in a big surprise to almost any football fan watching the game. After being up 17-0 at the half, the Bengals were able to tie it up, forcing the game into overtime, where they won with a final score of 20-17.

    After the game eventually went into overtime, the Ravens were finally able to pull away, and get a much needed win against their division rivals. The Baltimore Ravens are clearly not the team that they were last year, and are currently trying to improve on a record that was only 3-5 coming into the game against the Bengals.

    The Ravens were lucky to win this one, after being on a 3-game skid. They won in a less than stellar fashion, only putting up 189 yards of total offense, in addition to 3 turnovers. They have struggled throughout this season, due to the numerous injuries to players, as well as losing a couple to trades and retirement.

    Even in the first week of the season as they attempted to return with a big statement as the defending Super Bowl Champs, they struggled, and lost another player to injury with Jacoby Jones.

    Although this is the first win for the Ravens since October 6, they are only a game behind the Bengals in the loss column in the AFC North, and are lucky to be in such a position, with the Browns and Steelers struggling so much this year.

    The Baltimore Ravens were stuck in a difficult situation after they led for the entire game, and let the Bengals comeback, putting the game in overtime. While the hopes of many teams would have been lost at that point, the Super Bowl champs defending their honor, and marched down the field in overtime to score a field goal to win the game. Coach John Harbaugh said of their win, The thing I’m most proud of is the heart of our guys. They showed the heart of champions. Where this will lead us, we’ll find out.”

    Whether this win is enough to help the Baltimore Ravens reach the post-season is still to be determined, but it certainly helps and puts them in a much better spot than if they were to be 3-6, and tied with the Steelers.

    Image via Facebook

  • Pittsburgh Pirates Reach Playoffs After 21 Year Wait

    Andrew McCutchen knew good things were afoot when Francisco Liriano showed up to Tuesday night’s Wild-Card game with his suit on: “He had the expectancy to win. When he showed up with his suit on, that got me hyped up.”

    Not only did Liriano have his suit on, but he also had his suitcase packed. The message from Liriano to his teammates, the fans, and the Cincinnati Reds was obvious – Liriano had all intentions of boarding the next plane to St. Louis.

    And on Tuesday night, the Pirates punched their first class tickets to the Gateway to the West. Before 40, 487 stark-raving mad fans, Liriano and Russell Martin gave the performances of their lives, leading the Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the Reds, marking the first trip to the playoffs for the Pirates in 21 years.

    The last time the Pirates were in the playoffs in 1992, Barry Bonds’s throw home was barely beaten by the Braves’s Sid Bream, allowing the Braves to beat the Pirates in the bottom of the 9th, of Game 7, of the National League championships series.

    This time around, the same scenario was not even close to recurring. Liriano gave up only 4 hits in 7 innings, while striking out 5. Russell Martin, catcher for the Pirates, had a record-setting night at the plate. Russell became the second Pirate ever to have a multi-homer postseason performance in the team’s 132 year history. Russell also became only the second player to hit two home runs in a game played in Pittsburgh, the other being Mickey Mantle. Russell’s 2 home runs also make him only the third catcher in major league history to have a multi-homer postseason game, the other two being Johnny Bench and Gary Carter.

    Russell’s response: “It’s definitely a good feeling, but we’ve still got work to do.”

    Cincinnati has a lot of work to do this off-season. After achieving their 90th win of the season, the Reds lost their last 5 regular season games (3 of which to the Pirates, perhaps foretelling events to come), and literally dropped the ball in their only post-season game.

    In his first ever playoff at-bat in his 1,250 game career, Marlon Byrd blasted a home run into left field to lead off the 2nd inning. It was at this point that Pirates fans showed exactly how ravenous for a win they were, taunting Reds’s pitcher Johnny Cueto by chanting his name: “Cue-to, Cue-to, Cue-to…” Cueto seemingly responded well to the pressure, getting the next batter out. Cueto’s next move, however, captured Tuesday night’s performance by the Reds perfectly, however.

    As Russell Martin dug in at the plate to receive the next pitch from Cueto, the Reds’s pitcher simply dropped the ball. Out of his hand the ball went, skittering into the infield grass.

    Before the game, Reds’s manager Dusty Baker discussed Cueto facing the Pirates’s fans: “If you know Johnny Cueto like I know Johnny Cueto, he thrives in this type of environment.” Apparently Dusty should spend this off-season getting to know his pitcher a little better. After the game, the Reds continued to defend their pitcher and his nerves of steel: “I don’t think he was rattled. That’s one thing with Johnny I don’t worry about,” said Reds’s catcher Ryan Hannigan.

    Cueto himself denied any allegations that the crowd shook his confidence, stating “No, no, I don’t care about those things. I don’t listen to them. It’s like opening day; it’s like any other game. It doesn’t scare me. You may think I was scared when the ball dropped — but the ball dropped.”

    While the Reds are reluctant to blame their pitcher, shortstop Brandon Phillips was not hesitant to blame the team, and even himself, for the Reds’s loss: “We choked. We did. I don’t care about how my teammates feel about what I’m saying right now, because it’s the truth.” Phillips then responded to a question concerning how he felt about his own performance, stating “I choked. I didn’t do nothing. It’s not the team’s fault, it’s my fault. I had the opportunity to come through for the team, and I didn’t do that.”

    While the Reds spend the off-season trying to figure out why the end of their season faltered, Pirates second baseman Neil Walker will be relishing this time of triumph for the city of Pittsburgh: “This is just really special for the city of Pittsburgh. And nobody knows that more than me. I’m 28 years old. I’ve seen a lot of stuff. I’ve been in this organization since 2004. So I know this is special. And what’s really special is that we feel like this is just the beginning.”

    The beginning of the next series for the Pirates starts Thursday in St. Louis, where Pittsburgh faces the regular-season division champions, the Cardinals.

    Image via Facebook

  • Baseball Playoffs Set to Begin Tonight

    It was an amazing finish for three American League teams competing for the right to play in the one game Wild Card that begins on Tuesday night. For the past several weeks, the Texas Rangers, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Indians fought tooth and nail to outlast the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. And even after 162 games, there needed to be another game, another dramatic finish for Texas and Tampa Bay who have seemingly been playing like every day was an elimination game.

    On the heels of an outstanding pitching performance by David Price and the power bat of Evan Longoria, the Rays were able to best the Rangers in their ballpark in Arlington 5-2 for the right to face the smoking hot Cleveland Indians who have won ten in a row. The two teams will compete in a one game match on Wednesday night at 8:07 pm.

    David Price describes Monday night’s victory on his twitter account:

    Tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who haven’t hosted a postseason game in 7,660 days and haven’t had a winning season since 1992, send Francisco Liriano to the mound to face Johnny Cueto and the Cincinnati Reds. Tomorrow, we will get a chance to see the Rays face the Indians in Cleveland at 8:07. The game will be a battle of young arms. The Rays will send 25-year-old Alex Cobb to the mound and the Indians will hope that rookie Danny Salazar can give them quality innings. Both games will air on TBS and both games feature a one and done scenario. Win and move onto the best of five series against the division winners, lose and schedule a tee time back home.

    The winner of the Pirates/Red matchup will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday at Busch Stadium. There will be three games on Friday as the Division series gets into full swing. The winner of the Rays/Indians will face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway at 3:00 pm. The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field at 6:00 pm and the Detroit Tigers will square off against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum at 9:30.

    The Red Sox and the Cardinals both led their respective leagues this season with 97 wins. However, we’ve seen before with this three-round playoff system, it’s anyone’s title to win. The Indians are certainly the hottest team coming into the playoffs but it really is anyone’s championship to win.

    Image via Facebook

  • Social Media Decides the NBA Playoffs

    No need to watch the rest of the NBA playoffs – Facebook, Twitter and Google + have already predicted the outcome. visual.ly user kennynorton posted this nifty infographic that utilizes the highly “scientific” method of using social media status to determine the winners. And if internet popularity is any indication, the Miami Heat will be taking home the trophy.

    If you ask me the guy is just a Heat fan, because the method for choosing the winner varies from round to round. The First round is decided by facebook likes. The second round is decided by total social media following. The third round by Twitter interaction (Tweets, RT, @replies, etc.), and the Tournament champion by the total number of Twitter followers for each of their players.

    Change the order of those methods, or choose just one and you may get a different winner every time.

    To determine the total overall social prowess of a team, you have to include all the social medias. If that is the case, The Lakers would take home the trophy with over 16 million followers, likes and + circles. The Heat has less than half of that.

    When it comes to popularity nobody beats the “King”, Tweets with his name and “ring” or “MVP” show up a lot more than Kobe’s. The only exception is when it comes to comparisons with arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Twice as many people believe Kobe takes that title with over 400,000 tweets with both their names together.

    Any way you look at it, social media and the NBA just go together. Over 18 million people can’t be wrong.

    Click HERE for a larger infographic.

    [source: theScore, statistics provided by sysomos]