Carmelo Anthony may not like what his name means in Chinese but we LOVE it. According to Anthony his name translates to “sweet melon” in Chinese. Something he learned this summer while filming “Amazing” with Dwight Howard in China. The folks at English Baby don’t understand the monster in a nickname they have unearthed but thank you!
No details on what “Amazing” is about, but if everyone on set was referring to Anthony as “Sweet Melon” then what a wonderful set that must have been. Here’s hoping the nickname sticks, and cantaloupes get their names changed to Melo.
Sweet Melon is a big fan of Animal Planet, and movies….who isn’t Sweet Melon.
Wilson Chandler scored 22 points( 8 in the 4th) Amare Stoudemire had 19 points( 7 in the 4th) and 10 rebounds and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 98-93 on Wednesday night. The game was closer then Knicks fans would like. Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points in the first half but had just four in the second for Toronto, which had won eight of its previous nine home openers, and swept the Knicks in all four games last season.
(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
The Boston Celtics were in Cleveland for opening night of the King-less Cavaliers. Playing its first game in seven years without THE DECISION MAKER, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the OLD Celtics 95-87. J.J. Hickson scored 21 points, Daniel Gibson added 16 — all in the second half –. Rajon Rondo lead the Celtics in scoring with 18. If Rondo leads in scoring, it means one thing, the Celtics are tired. Since Cleveland beat the Celtics and they beat the Heat is Cleveland the best tema in the East? I’m joking.
New Jersey Nets gave Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov a win in his first game as their owner with a 101-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Nets outscored the Pistons 13-3 in the final 1:40 to give Avery Johnson a win in his first game as coach — coming much quicker than last season, when they set an NBA record by losing their first 18 games and not getting that first W till December 4th. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 25 points and nine boards, and Devin Harrisvadded 22 points and nine dimes. Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva each had 14 points.
Atlanta Hawks 119 – Memphis Grizzlies 104: The last time the Grizzlies won on opening night was when they were in Vancouver, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics at home, 94-88 on Oct. 31, 2000. … Memphis went 8-0 in the preseason … Atlanta has won eight of its last nine regular-season games against Memphis and is 20-10 all-time against the Grizzlies.
Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook had 28 points and 10 boards and Oklahoma City beat their young Eastern Conference equivalent Chicago Bulls, 106-95 in the season opener for both teams. Derrick Rose scored 28 points to lead the Bulls but sat for a long stretch due to foul trouble. A late 11-0 run for the Thunder sealed the deal. Joakim Noah finished with 18 points and 19 boards.
Both games between the NBA champion Lakers and the Miami Heat, led by their All-Star triumvirate of Chris Bosh, reigning NBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, will air nationally. The Lakers host the Heat on Christmas Day on ABC (5 p.m. ET), with the Heat hosting in Miami on March 10 on TNT (8 p.m. ET).
One of the league’s most experienced and battle-tested teams matches up against one of its youngest and most explosive squads on Nov. 19, when Boston’s quintet of stars – Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo – hosts reigning scoring champion Kevin Durant, emerging star Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).
TNT’s Thanksgiving night doubleheader will begin with All-Stars Joe Johnson and Al Horford leading the Hawks against the Washington Wizards and John Wall, the top overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft (8 p.m. ET). The second game features Blake Griffin, last year’s top overall selection, and the Los Angeles Clippers hosting reigning T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and the Sacramento Kings (10:30 p.m. ET).
In James’ first visit to Cleveland as an opposing player, the Heat takes on Antawn Jamison and the Cavaliers on Dec. 2 (TNT, 8 p.m. ET).
Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey on Houston Sports Radio 610:
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In one of the league’s best rivalries, All-Stars Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony lead the Denver Nuggets when hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on Friday, Jan. 21 (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET).
The Orlando Magic, led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard and star guard Jameer Nelson, hosts All-Star Derrick Rose and the new-look Chicago Bulls, including star forward Carlos Boozer, on March 4 (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).
The NBA has released the national network schedule for this season’s games on Opening Week, Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The full NBA schedule will be released on Aug. 10. The season doesn’t start till October 26th.
*Noteworthy Games:
The Los Angeles open their title defense at home against the Houston Rockets, who return to nationally televised games. The Lakers will get their rings and sadly Trevor Ariza will watch his old team get their back-to-back bling.
Miami and the Lakers will be undoubtley get the maximum 34 nationally televised games. The Heat open their season in Boston against the Celtics. The last games of the playoffs for both LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade took place in Boston, how fitting.
On October 30th the two of the NBA future teams , Chicago and Oklahoma City battle. Out of the games announced today the Thunder have more then the Celtics, Lakers, or Heat.
No nationally televised games(so far)for the Raptors, Mavs, Spurs, Bucks, Pacers, Pistons, Bobcats, Timberwolves(how will Rubio see the games?), Hornets, Nets, 76ers or Cavs.
The Nuggets’ frontcourt just got better — and healthier. Former Knicks forward Al Harrington has agreed to sign with Denver.
He tweeted “I’m taking my Talents to the MILE HIGH. Lol. Love Yall Lego DENVER!! Harrington agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract with the Nuggets.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season for New York. Harrington said he would have preferred to stay with the Knicks, but coach Mike D’Antoni didn’t want him on the roster. “Hell no,” Harrington told the New York Daily News on Wednesday. “He definitely didn’t want me back. That was the most obvious thing of all. We all knew that he didn’t want me to be there.”
“Communication is the key with everything,” Harrington said. “I respect people that tell you what it is. Don’t tell me one thing and say something different to somebody else.”
Twenty-two NBA teams, including 11 that appeared in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, will compete in this year’s NBA Summer League. For the second consecutive year, a team of NBA Development League Select players will also participate in the action taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Marketing partners included in the event are adidas, EA SPORTS, Gatorade and T-Mobile.
This year’s event will feature the Washington Wizards, who won the top overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Other participating teams with top five selections in this year’s draft include the Minnesota Timberwolves(fourth overall pick) and the Sacramento Kings (fifth overall).
Additionally, 10 of the top 14 picks are expected to participate in Las Vegas this summer.
Joining the above-mentioned teams scheduled to appear in Vegas this summer are the Dallas Mavericks,Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers,Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.
Tickets for the 2010 NBA Summer League are on sale and can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS, through UNLVtickets.com or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office and UNLV Ticket Outlets. All general admission tickets are $25 for the day; seniors and children (3-12) are $15 for the day; and children two years and under are admitted free of charge.
A complete broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.
Atlanta Hawks with a must win on the road played with more then they have all Playoffs. After a closely contested first half, the Hawks outscored the Bucks 29-11 in the third quarter and held on to win 83-69. Atlanta got 22 points from Joe Johnson and Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford finished with 24 points.“The bottom line today is we brought our hard hats and not our fishing caps,” Smith said. “We established ourselves early. They gave us a fight, but we were just hungry tonight. I haven’t seen us play like this the whole series.” Atlanta heads back to the Philips Center where the city will turn down Wacka Flocka Flame on the radio and tune into the Hawks game.
Milwaukee had a chance to finish off the Hawks at home and advance to the Eastern Conf. Semifinals, instead they left their offense in the locker room. Bucks shot 25 of 76 from the field for 32.9%, and 7 of 26 from deep. John Slamons and Brandon Jennings combined for 20 points on 6 of 28 shooting. Carlos Delfino had 20 and was the only player with more then 13 points. Bucks. Milwaukee may have to put the blame solely on Jerry Stackhouse for this:
Stackhouse said it was his fourth time singing the national anthem. “I’m a little disappointed that my mojo didn’t work,” he said. “I’m 3-1 now.” Series tied 3-3.
(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Once again the Lakers came out fired up, jumping out to a 13-4 lead, before the Thunder woke up to gain the lead 27-26 by the end of the first. After a back and fourth game, it came down to the final possession. Kobe missed a fade-away jumper and Pau Gasol was there to tip the ball in with .05 on the clock given the Lakers a1-point lead. Kobe lead all scorers with 32 points, and the only other Lakers in double figures were Derek Fisher, and Shannon Brown both with 11.
Ron Artest’s defense on Kevin Durant was the x-factor in this game and the series. Durant shot 5 of 23, for 26 points, which came mostly from the charity stripe where he went 14-15. Jeff Green had 16 in his best game of the series, and Russell Westbrook was solid with 21 points and 9 assists. Thunder were unable to execute with less then a minute left and the lead, allowing the Lakers multiple chances to win the game. Phil Jackson came up with an unexpected answer to a question about why visiting teams are generally more vulnerable. “You have to remember these men are out there in their underwear, in their shorts. These aren’t like the old days but they are pretty scantily clad, and they are, you know, in front of their fans. If you’re at all self-conscious, there you are.”
After a 50-win season and their first appearance in the playoffs, Oklahoma City gave the city and their fans an exciting and competitive series against the Lakers.
(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
In the most disappointing series of this years playoffs, the Nuggets got completely embarrassed by the Utah Jazz. the above pic describes the awkwardness of this entire series. Denver was without its head coach George Karl as everyone in the world knows, and it had to affect the team in a major way. They seemed easily shook, and out of sorts on defense. Chauncey Billups led Denver with 30 points and Anthony finished with 20 points on 6 for 22 shooting.
After Carmelo’s explosion in Game 1 the Jazz won three straight and ended the series in Game 6 in front of their fans 112-104. 91 combined free throws were attempted…damn! Matthews went 13 for 15 from the free throw line.
Deron Williams had 14 points, and 10 dimes. Boozer had 22 points and 20 boards. Utah now heads to Los Angeles for a rematch of last years Round 1 matchup where the Jazz where dismissed in 5 games. Lakers were without Bynum, and the addition of Artest should be too much for the Jazz.
The comparisons between the Hawks-Bucks, and the Nuggets-Jazz are eerily similar. Both the Hawks and Nuggets are the higher seed with a habit of losing on the road. The Bucks and Jazz are missing key players, yet lead the series. Bucks and Jazz are both small market teams and have coaches who preach defense above all else. Nuggets and Hawks have coaches that wont be coaching for them next year.(maybe)
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
In Game 5 of the Hawks-Bucks series, the Bucks did something they hadn’t done since April 21st of 2004, win a road playoff game. Brandon Jennings had 25 points, John Salmons added 19 and the Bucks down by as much as 13 fought back to win 91-87. The Bucks did what the Thunder were trying to do yesterday, win Game 5 on the road after winning both home games. Bucks can clinch Friday at the Bradley Center.
Atlanta appears to be in free-fall mode. They played a good game but Joe Johnson fouling out with over 2 minutes to go, left the Hawks out of sorts down the stretch. Joe Johnson shot 6 of 16 for 13 points and Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford was 4 of 18 from the field for 11 points. “This is incredible,” said Jamal Crawford, “We had the game won. It just slipped away from us.” Hawks coach Mike Woodsen’s future with the Hawks is fading like people in the pictures in Back to the Future. His contract is up at the end of the year, and if Atlanta doesn’t make it pass the Bucks, Mike Woodsen will be unemployed. Bucks 3-2
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The Nuggets had to win, and they did just that, playing the best they have all series. Six players scored in double figures for the Nuggets, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 26. Anthony added 11 rebounds for his 10th career playoff double-double, and second in a row. The Nuggets shot 50.7 percent from the field and improved to 9-0 over the last two postseason when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. Surprisingly this was the first win for Carmelo win the Nuggets face elimination. Nuggets now head to Utah where winning will be as difficult as solving a Rubiks cube while skydiving.
The Jazz have never lost a series when up 3-1. Heading back to the Delta Center for Game 6 Friday, the Jazz will look to end this series. There was never a doubt that they weren’t trying to win tonight though. Deron Williams had 34 points and 10 assists to lead the Jazz. The 34 points is one off his playoff career high. Williams joined Kevin Johnson as the only players with 5 20-10 games in a single playoff series. Carlos Boozer added 25 points and 16 boards. Jazz 3-2
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Heat needed a win to continue the series and to continue watching Dwayne Wade in a Heat uniform. In the previous three games Wades 2nd and 4th quarter production was down. In Game 4 Wade put the Heat on his back and single-handedly(he yelled at his right hand) and outscored the Celtics 19 to 15 in the 4th. Wade scored 46 points, 30 in the second half — both franchise records — and the Heat beat the Boston Celtics 101-92. Quentin Richardson’s 20 points were the most by a Heat not named Wade this whole series. Dwyane Wade’s 46 points Sunday are the most scored against Boston in a playoff game dating back to 1991. Wade is only the fourth player since 1991 to score at least 40 in a playoff game against Boston, and the first since LeBron James scored 45 on May 18, 2008.
Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 23 points. Garnett had 18 points and 12 rebounds,Paul Pierce scored 16 and Ray Allen added 15 for Boston, which was bidding for its first 4-0 sweep of a series since 1986. “It’s not a big deal,” Rondo said. “We just have to close it out now in five. We’re confident.” Celtics 3-1
49FT.! (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron James nailed a 22-foot fadeaway from up top just before the halftime buzzer, then he hit a pull-up 49 foot jumper to end the 3rd quarter. That about sums up this game! James finished with 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. The Cavs shot 12-25 from deep, and got 12 points from Jamison, and 19 from Mo Williams.
After an impressing win in Game 3, the Bulls returned to their Game 1, and 2 form shooting 37% from the field. Bulls were 4 of 12 on 3-pointers, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah both scored 21 apiece, and Noah had 20 boards. Noah had the first 20/20 game in franchise playoff history. Noah told reporters after Game 3 that “Cleveland Sucks”.and he will be the focus of fans in the Quicken Loans Arena in Game 5! Vinny Del Negro seem to be LeBron-struck saying after the game “It came down to LeBron.” “We could not control LeBron.” Cavs 3-1
I can’t help but feel bad for Dwayne Wade. If you didn’t know, Dwayne Wade likes to look cool. So far this playoffs he and the Heat are just that, only in a bad way.
Heat fans slowly made there way into American Airlines Arena, donning black t-shirts for the Heats “BlackisBack” campaign. The crowd draped in all-black looked as though they were attending a funeral, and in many ways they were. Just like in the first two games Wade was dominant, but Dwyane Wade’s numbers have fluctuated heavily in each of the Heat’s three playoff games. Wade averages 23.3 ppg, 70% fg, and 50% 3-point shooting in the first and third quarters. His numbers in the second, and fourth quarter arent very Wade-like 6.3 ppg, 36.4% fg and 11.1% 3-point shooting…ouch! This is largely due to the immense amount of work Wade has to do on the offensive end of the court. Dwayne Wade has been the only Heat to score more then 16 points in any of the three games. Jermaine O’Neal is 5-31 shooting.
Not sure many people expected the Celtics to sweep the Heat, but that has become a strong posibility. Paul Pierce went all 2008 playoffs in Game 3, scoring 32 points and hitting the game-winner from the spot he hit against the Bulls in the first round last year. Celtics 100, Heat 98.
The Heat are down 3-0 to the Boston Celtics and without an immense miracle their playoffs are over. “It hasn’t really set in yet,” Wade said. “Down 3-0 hurts. This team’s good. They’ve got a lot of veteran guys who step up to the billing.” On the bright side at least more then three Heat scored in double figures. Celtics 3-0
