Six point Phila lead 91-85 at halfway point 4Q. The "Heat's" 4Q collapse.
Heat vs. Sixers is the only 2018 playoff series taking place in 1997
Saturday, April 21, 2018
"I was not happy with the pitch. It was a tough game, especially after the pitch was getting dryer and dryer and we had the ball constantly so that makes it not so easy.West Brom obviously decided not to water the pitch at half-time...
"They can do it next year playing football with a dry pitch in the Championship. That's how it is and we have to deal with it."
"They can do it next year playing football with a dry pitch in the Championship. That's how it is and we have to deal with it."
Jurgen Klopp is a bit of a bitch.
Oh hell that wasn't a fight. Simmons pushed Goran Dragic to the floor on a layup attempt. Simmons ended up leaning against the basket stanchion and James Johnson, who could have karate kicked Simmons into a tenor, pushed Simmons in the chest and they started jawing. No punches thrown. Bull shit incident. No fight.
Miami 61 Philadelphia 56 HT
According to ESPN there was a fight in the first half between MIA's James Johnson and Phila's rookie star Ben Simmons. Don't like that. This isn't hockey. You can get really hurt in a basketball fight, see Rudy Tomjanovich. James is a karate black belt, too.
West Bromwich Albion 2 Liverpool 2 FT
Not only did the league's anchor man draw with the third best but the third best squandered a 2-0 lead. Said Liver manager Jurgen Klopp post-match:
"Useless comeback. I don't think that point will help West Brom massively, it is a complete waste of points: they don't need it, we would have needed it.
"They are happy now, we are not happy. We stay in the league, they don't stay in the league -- it is a strange situation.''
"Useless comeback. I don't think that point will help West Brom massively, it is a complete waste of points: they don't need it, we would have needed it.
"They are happy now, we are not happy. We stay in the league, they don't stay in the league -- it is a strange situation.''
Which is a strange thing for Jurgen Klopp to say! Sport is about competition. Jurgen Klopp did not want West Brom to compete; just wanted them to hand Liverpool the match, give them the three points Liverpool need--still need--to cinch the Champions League competition next season. "It is a complete waste of points." For West Brom to deny Liverpool the points. Strange in the extreme! Maybe this perplexing view by the manager is one of the reasons Liverpool dropped points today-- just as they have all season. NEVER heard a sportsman say anything like that. Never.
Oh my goodness West Brom drew with Liverpool at The Hawthorns. One week after inflicting humiliating defeat on Manchester United (and delivering a frisson of schadenfreude for Manchester City fans) the "Baggies" bagged a point against the Man (City) eating "Cannibals."
There has been a pattern present all season for Liverpool that is evidenced here. The "'Balls" will beat City or another top club and then drop points against lesser opposition. I don't know if it's distraction (Liverpool are still playing in the Champion's League), lack of concentration, complacency or what it is but whatever it is it's the reason Liverpool are in third place behind Manchester United--with United having a game in hand!--and light years behind City, the champions they have defeated three of four this season. It is puzzling.
For West Brom the four points the last two weekends against the league's runners-up are almost are almost surely not going to be enough to keep them up.
There has been a pattern present all season for Liverpool that is evidenced here. The "'Balls" will beat City or another top club and then drop points against lesser opposition. I don't know if it's distraction (Liverpool are still playing in the Champion's League), lack of concentration, complacency or what it is but whatever it is it's the reason Liverpool are in third place behind Manchester United--with United having a game in hand!--and light years behind City, the champions they have defeated three of four this season. It is puzzling.
For West Brom the four points the last two weekends against the league's runners-up are almost are almost surely not going to be enough to keep them up.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Our Mistake: Cleve Blows 17 Point Half Time Lead, Falls to Indy 92-90
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The "Pacers" have now won two of three in this first round series, in which round LBJ had not lost in 21 straight before now. This is different, as the undersigned and every other carpel tunnel afflicted wretch wrote after the Pounding at the Pawnshop in Game One. The Canary and Blue twill be the canary in the coal mine for the Blood and Pus, formerly the "Wine and Gold."
Peter Bogdanovich lead the Pace with 30.
Oh by the way that gold standard of basketball evaluation metrics the +/-? LBJ had 28 10/22, 12, 8, 1,1, 6(turnovers) and was a -1 +/- wise. So, Cleve woulda been better off without him. Aha, hmm-mmm.
The "Pacers" have now won two of three in this first round series, in which round LBJ had not lost in 21 straight before now. This is different, as the undersigned and every other carpel tunnel afflicted wretch wrote after the Pounding at the Pawnshop in Game One. The Canary and Blue twill be the canary in the coal mine for the Blood and Pus, formerly the "Wine and Gold."
Peter Bogdanovich lead the Pace with 30.
Oh by the way that gold standard of basketball evaluation metrics the +/-? LBJ had 28 10/22, 12, 8, 1,1, 6(turnovers) and was a -1 +/- wise. So, Cleve woulda been better off without him. Aha, hmm-mmm.
What is the purpose of this? Cohen_lap_dog To humiliate Michael Cohen and to scare Trump. It is mean-spirited and has no news value. Co-authored by Maggie Haberman who often has written to tip off Trump.
For years Mr. Trump treated Mr. Cohen poorly, with gratuitous insults, dismissive statements and, at least twice, threats of being fired, according to interviews with a half-dozen people familiar with their relationship.
“Donald goes out of his way to treat him like garbage,” said Roger J. Stone Jr....
Now, for the first time, the traffic may be going Mr. Cohen’s way. Mr. Trump’s lawyers and advisers have become resigned to the strong possibility that Mr. Cohen, who has a wife and two children and faces the prospect of devastating legal fees, if not criminal charges, could end up cooperating with federal officials who are investigating him for activity that could relate, at least in part, to work he did for Mr. Trump.
[Could not according to reports this week. Rosenstein told Trump recently that he was not a target of the Cohen investigation. If that is true, then there is no news value to this article except "human interest." ( En passant, is it ethical for the prosecutor overseeing the Mueller investigation to tell his boss--who wants to fire him--over said investigation that he is not a target of the Cohen probe?)]
Mr. Trump has long felt he had leverage over Mr. Cohen, but people who have worked for the president said the raid has changed all that.
“Ironically, Michael now holds the leverage over Trump,” said Sam Nunberg, a former aide to Mr. Trump who worked with Mr. Cohen and Mr. Stone.
...
Mr. Stone recalled Mr. Trump saying of Mr. Cohen, “He owns some of the finest Trump real estate in the country — paid top dollar for it, too.” In Mr. Trump’s worldview, there are few insults more devastating than saying someone overpaid.
...
[Cohen] fought with the initial campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman, later blocked him from coming on board. Mr. Trump never ordered his aides to make a place for Mr. Cohen.
...
Particularly hurtful to Mr. Cohen was the way Mr. Trump lavished approval on Mr. Lewandowski in a way he never did for Mr. Cohen.
Wenger Out-For Real
Arsene Wenger, 21 years manager at Arsenal F.C., The Invincibles, and of late the selling pop gunners and subject of constant WENGER OUT protests, has announced he is stepping down after this season with one year left on his contract
A Dark Blessed Night
Leagues deep sleep. Vivid dreams. Rested. Reharged. Day: prepare to be seized by the neck and throttled.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
I Lyke Heather
Heather Lyke, the new athletic director at Pitt strykes me as smart, tough, decisive, committed, enthusiastic, honest, articulate and telegenic. She ran a squeaky clean program at Eastern Michigan before leaving for Pitt. She did not flinch in firing men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings nor women's basketball coach Susie McConnell-Serio. She made a universally applauded "late save" hire of Jeff Capel after failing on Dan Hurley. Usually at Pitt and elsewhere panic sets in when Plan A falls through. There is no Plan B. Ms Lyke did not panic, had a Plan B, and Capel was a good catch. This chick is going to succeed.
No Justise, No Heat!
Frigging Justise Winslow 19 points at the half :o. Usually takes him a week to get 19. 4/5 from 3.
He leads all scorers both teams.
Who the hell is guarding him?
And he's a -1.
He leads all scorers both teams.
Who the hell is guarding him?
And he's a -1.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Cleveland 100 Indiana 97 Final
Oh boy. If ever a win felt like a loss. If ever a team can take inspiration in defeat.
The Land needed 40', 46 17/24, 12, 5, and 2 from fill in blank, a 13-0, 19-3 start, 33-18 end-1, 58-46 half to hold off the "Pacers" by tres at home. Ooh. The "Pawns" led 74-67 end-3 but Indy closed to within three on Darren Collison's 3 with :51.2 left in the game. LBJ made 4 free throws and JR Smith 1 in the remainder to complete their scoring. As if to punctuate their invitation to Cleve for the next two in Indy the stellar Victor Oladipo hit a buzzer-beating 3 to make the final 100-97.
That kind of early burst then fade is usually the signature of an overmatched team, hang on or lose. Indy smells blood.
The Land needed 40', 46 17/24, 12, 5, and 2 from fill in blank, a 13-0, 19-3 start, 33-18 end-1, 58-46 half to hold off the "Pacers" by tres at home. Ooh. The "Pawns" led 74-67 end-3 but Indy closed to within three on Darren Collison's 3 with :51.2 left in the game. LBJ made 4 free throws and JR Smith 1 in the remainder to complete their scoring. As if to punctuate their invitation to Cleve for the next two in Indy the stellar Victor Oladipo hit a buzzer-beating 3 to make the final 100-97.
That kind of early burst then fade is usually the signature of an overmatched team, hang on or lose. Indy smells blood.
So this is a screenshot of the Pittsburgh P.D. email.
This is a clarification of Cmdr Joseph's email.
“The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police receives information daily that we evaluate and prepare for if the event should occur. Events can include anything from extreme weather to potential demonstrations,”
“Often the events we prepare for do not occur. However, through an abundance of caution, we attempt to adequately prepare for an appropriate response,” he continued. “We receive information regularly about potential events and/or threats, assess the credibility of the information and plan for a potential event. In this case, we have not assessed the credibility of the potential for disturbances, and we do not have any knowledge of the President’s decision-making process.”
-Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette termed Joseph's email "alarming"--ACCURATELY. It was...inartfully drafted by Cmdr Joseph. "We have received information...There is a belief..." It sure sounds like the belief that Trump is about to fire Mueller imminently is based on "information" the police department "received," especially when the "There is a belief" part is given its own paragraph! Read differently however and in conjunction with Director Hissrich's clarification Joseph's "There is a belief" refers to the protesters, "There is a belief" among the protesters. I can't really fault Joseph. Stylistically, the email was inartful.
This is a clarification of Cmdr Joseph's email.
“The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police receives information daily that we evaluate and prepare for if the event should occur. Events can include anything from extreme weather to potential demonstrations,”
“Often the events we prepare for do not occur. However, through an abundance of caution, we attempt to adequately prepare for an appropriate response,” he continued. “We receive information regularly about potential events and/or threats, assess the credibility of the information and plan for a potential event. In this case, we have not assessed the credibility of the potential for disturbances, and we do not have any knowledge of the President’s decision-making process.”
-Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette termed Joseph's email "alarming"--ACCURATELY. It was...inartfully drafted by Cmdr Joseph. "We have received information...There is a belief..." It sure sounds like the belief that Trump is about to fire Mueller imminently is based on "information" the police department "received," especially when the "There is a belief" part is given its own paragraph! Read differently however and in conjunction with Director Hissrich's clarification Joseph's "There is a belief" refers to the protesters, "There is a belief" among the protesters. I can't really fault Joseph. Stylistically, the email was inartful.
"There is a belief that President Trump will soon move to fire Special Prosecutor Mueller. "
“We have received information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District. There is a belief that President Trump will soon move to fire Special Prosecutor Mueller. This would result in a large protest within 24 hours of the firing. The protest would be semi-spontaneous and more than likely happen on short notice. Beginning Thursday, all Major Crimes detectives will be required to have a full uniform and any issued protective equipment, like riot gear, until further notice."
-Commander Victor Joseph in an email sent to Pittsburgh detectives.
Golden
The Vegas "Golden Knights," an expansion team, swept Los Angeles last night four games to none in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They are the first expansion team to sweep a series. Viva Vegas.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Bill Kristol retweeted this with a recommendation that we all read a book on how personality cults and mass movements get started:
Candace Owens
@RealCandaceO
I truly believe that @realDonaldTrump isn’t just the leader of the free world, but the savior of it as well.
May God bless America— the last stand for western civilization.
10:18 PM · Apr 16, 2018
I have written many times of the "Svengali-like hold" that Trump has on his detritus, in fact, that was my first answer to a question posed by my-brother-the-klansman (and Trump voter, duh) when Trump first started winning primaries. "Why do you think nothing sticks?"
I thought of this again over the weekend. I was re-reading some China books ("Everything always comes back to China," my last girlfriend Carmen once said to me.) and I remembered Sen. Ted Cruz' debate with two Trump supporters in Indiana. "What do you like about Donald Trump?" Cruz asked. "Everything," detritus #1 answered. "Whatever Trump says, I believe," he went on. "Whatever is in the Bible, I believe," one of my other brothers once said to me. They are the savior's words. In both cases, and in Candace Owens' case, whatever the savior says is to be believed; he is the savior.
And, yes, that brings to mind China. In the case of Hua Guofeng, Mao Zedong's immediate successor. Hua's prescription to the Chinese people was, 两个凡是, the "Two Whatevers," We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave" since,
The east is red, the sun is rising.
From China comes Mao Zedong.
He strives for the people's happiness,
Hurrah, he is the people's great savior!
He strives for the people's happiness,
Hurrah, he is the people's great savior!
Candace Owens
@RealCandaceO
I truly believe that @realDonaldTrump isn’t just the leader of the free world, but the savior of it as well.
May God bless America— the last stand for western civilization.
10:18 PM · Apr 16, 2018
I have written many times of the "Svengali-like hold" that Trump has on his detritus, in fact, that was my first answer to a question posed by my-brother-the-klansman (and Trump voter, duh) when Trump first started winning primaries. "Why do you think nothing sticks?"
I thought of this again over the weekend. I was re-reading some China books ("Everything always comes back to China," my last girlfriend Carmen once said to me.) and I remembered Sen. Ted Cruz' debate with two Trump supporters in Indiana. "What do you like about Donald Trump?" Cruz asked. "Everything," detritus #1 answered. "Whatever Trump says, I believe," he went on. "Whatever is in the Bible, I believe," one of my other brothers once said to me. They are the savior's words. In both cases, and in Candace Owens' case, whatever the savior says is to be believed; he is the savior.
And, yes, that brings to mind China. In the case of Hua Guofeng, Mao Zedong's immediate successor. Hua's prescription to the Chinese people was, 两个凡是, the "Two Whatevers," We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave" since,
The east is red, the sun is rising.
From China comes Mao Zedong.
He strives for the people's happiness,
Hurrah, he is the people's great savior!
He strives for the people's happiness,
Hurrah, he is the people's great savior!
Good suggestion by Kristol to re-read some of the literature on personality cults and mass movements. Already have.
We Learned...
We learned that Goran Dragic made a layup with six seconds left. (?) We learned that this pissed off the "76'ers" coach and players (?). And one fan particularly. And we learned that this one fan can really write, really well. As a "Heat" fan, I take no offense; as a hobby writer I stand in gape-mouthed awe of Tyler's writing. I reprint his tirade in entirety in awe.
A calm, measured response to Goran Dragic’s end-of-game layup against the 76ers
Yeah, we’re salty.
By Tyler Tynes on April 17, 2018 9:05 am
It was an electric Game 2 in the Wells Fargo Center. Mark Zumoff’s deep brown suit was unnecessarily gorgeous. Per usual, several “Trust the Process” chants pinged around the arena. The soul of Sam Hinkie could be seen moonwalking the hardwood as the Sixers attempted comeback after comeback against the Miami Heat, each plagued with poor shooting and a sin of the Eastern Conference playoffs: the necessary “Dwayne Wade ‘bout to beat that ass” game.
I’m not one of those fans who believed the Sixers were going to sweep anyone this early in the playoffs. For whatever dumb sports reason that could be uttered, I believe a team as talented and young and handsome as this one needed to lose early so they could prove to the imaginary and real haters that they could get knocked down then get back up. Please cue up any scenes from Creed.
Eventually the Sixers’ gas powered, three-point-surging flamethrowers were going to run out. Somebody was literally going to try to fight Ben Simmons for 48 minutes in a bump-and-run style where WWE was enforced for several runs by referees Tony Brothers and Scott Foster. Charles Barkley was bound to say something dumb, which he did during the halftime show by suggesting, essentially, that Simmons and crew weren’t prepared for this because he’s never faced adversity in basketball thanks to not playing in March Madness.
What I didn’t expect was this. I need you to look several times, as I did. It felt as if Mortal Kombat’s Raiden launched 8,000 lightning bolts into my being and engulfed my soul in flames.
Dime on UPROXX
@DimeUPROXX
·
14h
Brett Brown and the rest of Philadelphia didn't like that late Dragic layup...
0:24
Embedded video
Let this be said now and remembered at this point of history when Philadelphia has established that it will destroy anything within it’s nuclear cloud: the Sixers will beat the Heat in this series and Goran Dragic will have to get jumped.
You may believe Dragic’s actions are no big deal, that players do this often enough (see Chris Paul vs. Damian Lillard and a zillion other examples), that turning the other cheek is something one should do when met with blatant disrespect.
I am here to tell you that’s horseshit. Disrespect must be met with an aggression so hot it melts away any thought that piling on a meaningless layup once the game is over will ever be OK. There must be a response, and it will come in a way only Philly knows and enjoys: a hate-induced troll that will taunt the heavens and a fan base willing to remember this every time Dragic comes back to Broad Street.
The Sixers deserved to lose Game 2. They shot like shit. They were muscled out of the lane. The were missing a part of the tenacity and fluidness that made them the NBA’s hottest team this spring. Wade was tremendous. And, they really shot like shit.
But from this moment on, Dragic’s late-game layup should be a rallying cry. We know the Sixers have the tools to become the darlings of the East. From this moment on, they should play like they like the underdog motif the city has leaned into since September.
So, thank you, Dragic. We needed a mental steroid. Whatever comes next, I can’t tell you. I’ll only say: don’t take bum-ass layups at the end of games, or death might meet you at your door in the form of an army yelling Beanie Sigel lyrics.
https://www.sbnation.com/2018/4/17/17245832/heat-vs-sixers-goran-dragic-layup-video-game-2-angry
A calm, measured response to Goran Dragic’s end-of-game layup against the 76ers
Yeah, we’re salty.
By Tyler Tynes on April 17, 2018 9:05 am
It was an electric Game 2 in the Wells Fargo Center. Mark Zumoff’s deep brown suit was unnecessarily gorgeous. Per usual, several “Trust the Process” chants pinged around the arena. The soul of Sam Hinkie could be seen moonwalking the hardwood as the Sixers attempted comeback after comeback against the Miami Heat, each plagued with poor shooting and a sin of the Eastern Conference playoffs: the necessary “Dwayne Wade ‘bout to beat that ass” game.
I’m not one of those fans who believed the Sixers were going to sweep anyone this early in the playoffs. For whatever dumb sports reason that could be uttered, I believe a team as talented and young and handsome as this one needed to lose early so they could prove to the imaginary and real haters that they could get knocked down then get back up. Please cue up any scenes from Creed.
Eventually the Sixers’ gas powered, three-point-surging flamethrowers were going to run out. Somebody was literally going to try to fight Ben Simmons for 48 minutes in a bump-and-run style where WWE was enforced for several runs by referees Tony Brothers and Scott Foster. Charles Barkley was bound to say something dumb, which he did during the halftime show by suggesting, essentially, that Simmons and crew weren’t prepared for this because he’s never faced adversity in basketball thanks to not playing in March Madness.
What I didn’t expect was this. I need you to look several times, as I did. It felt as if Mortal Kombat’s Raiden launched 8,000 lightning bolts into my being and engulfed my soul in flames.
Dime on UPROXX
@DimeUPROXX
·
14h
Brett Brown and the rest of Philadelphia didn't like that late Dragic layup...
0:24
Embedded video
Let this be said now and remembered at this point of history when Philadelphia has established that it will destroy anything within it’s nuclear cloud: the Sixers will beat the Heat in this series and Goran Dragic will have to get jumped.
You may believe Dragic’s actions are no big deal, that players do this often enough (see Chris Paul vs. Damian Lillard and a zillion other examples), that turning the other cheek is something one should do when met with blatant disrespect.
I am here to tell you that’s horseshit. Disrespect must be met with an aggression so hot it melts away any thought that piling on a meaningless layup once the game is over will ever be OK. There must be a response, and it will come in a way only Philly knows and enjoys: a hate-induced troll that will taunt the heavens and a fan base willing to remember this every time Dragic comes back to Broad Street.
The Sixers deserved to lose Game 2. They shot like shit. They were muscled out of the lane. The were missing a part of the tenacity and fluidness that made them the NBA’s hottest team this spring. Wade was tremendous. And, they really shot like shit.
But from this moment on, Dragic’s late-game layup should be a rallying cry. We know the Sixers have the tools to become the darlings of the East. From this moment on, they should play like they like the underdog motif the city has leaned into since September.
So, thank you, Dragic. We needed a mental steroid. Whatever comes next, I can’t tell you. I’ll only say: don’t take bum-ass layups at the end of games, or death might meet you at your door in the form of an army yelling Beanie Sigel lyrics.
https://www.sbnation.com/2018/4/17/17245832/heat-vs-sixers-goran-dragic-layup-video-game-2-angry
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