Ballin’: Orlando’s Banks Are Open Late
NBA January 22nd. 2008, 9:01am
Orlando 102, Detroit 100: Obviously Billups traveled on his 32-footer that tied the game with three seconds left. No debating that. The key is that it didn’t matter, since Rashard Lewis beat the buzzer with a bank shot to win it, ending the Magic’s nine-game losing streak against the Pistons.
Minnesota 109, Golden State 108: Ryan Gomes emerged from the Witness Protection Program in Minny to go for a career 35 as the T-Wolves shocked the Warriors in Oakland. Adriana Lima’s boyfriend messed around and nearly had a triple double: 16 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds.
Washington 102, Dallas 84: If the 28-12 Hornets are the surprise of the NBA this year, and the Blazers are a close second, then the Gilbert-less Wizards, who are 22-17, have to be third. Sweeping the Mavericks? Nice beard, locksmith.
Boston 109, New York 93: Kendrick Perkins scored 22 of his 24 in the first half, but the highlight was on the radio, when Dr. Jack Ramsey tore into Eddy Curry for being lazy. That was funny. Gus Johnson said something like, “Can’t disagree with you.” Also funny – Van Pelt’s “Bushwick Bill” reference on Sportscenter last night.
Los Angeles Lakers 116, Denver 99: Melo made a jumper in the second quarter and landed on Kobe’s ankle. Down he went. X-Rays were negative, thankfully. Kobe was fantastic, taking only seven shots (!) and he looked closer to Magic in his prime than Michael in 1986. D Fish made six-of-seven three’s.
Portland 111, Atlanta 109, OT: Travis Outlaw’s 20 foot jumper with one-second left in the grill of Josh Smith was the difference. The Blazers are a stunning nine games over .500, yet only 7th in the West. That would be good for third in the meek East.
Photo: Icon Sports Media
45 Responses to “Ballin’: Orlando’s Banks Are Open Late”
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January 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Can any of us ever be truly Gilbert-less?
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 AM
last night was the first time i really saw the heat play and i wish i had my few hours back. i know the t-wolves are worse record-wise, but i cant fathom a team being any worse than miami.
and the fact that the cavs let them keep it interesting makes me sick.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Detroit was 18-0 when scoring 100 or more points.
great game last night and even though he may of traveled, i think billups is one of the greatest clutch shooters ever. Billups is money when the game is on the line. surprise of the night, dwight howard had 8 rebounds and 23 points. no double double. he must be in a slump
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 AM
irish…this is one day where i really dislike you
okay so I’m more pissed at the pistons but it was your team that kicked our ass last night
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 AM
cmon where are all the pistons fans today
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 AM
@irish
Present…
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 AM
mags nice day off yesterday. must be nice. magic is 1-1 against the pistons now with 2 more games against them still to come in Detroit.
we are trying to avenge our sweep from last years playoffs thats all.
but the magic have showed that they can play with the best of em. its when they play the shitty teams that they play down to there level. Detroit still is the team to beat in the east.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 AM
@irish
The Magic are on an upswing and getting better, the Stones are on a downswing and getting worse. It’s as simple as that. This is about the last run for an aging Pistons team. It is sad, but they got a ring (and got robbed of two) I actually enjoy the rebuilding years, tickets are cheaper, the arena is less crowded by bags of douche and teenage girls with pink “popular player X” jerseys. We will still own the Magic in the playoffs this year though, but next year? I am not so sure.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 AM
No Cavs shoutout, TBL?
Unfortunately, that’s been the Cavs forte all year, spence. I think the only blowouts they’ve had were versus Seattle and Indy, and anyone could blow out a Durant-”led” team.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Oh and being busy once in a month is not equal to having the day off. They should really standardize the holidays. Like MlK, is it a day off or not? Someone tell us damnit!
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Which two were you robbed?
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 AM
One game 7 vs. the Spurs and one 4 game stretch against the Cavs. Thank you. I will not be taking responses to this comment. Have a nice day.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Mags…so who robbed the pistons’ collective balls during that 4 game stretch? thats the only theft i saw.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 AM
burn
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Are you talking about what was effectively a 6 game sweep by the Cavs?
And if you want to win a game 7, do more work in the regular season and ensure it’s at home.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 AM
i know i know…lame on my part.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 AM
This argument has been hashed and re-hashed. It is like the freaking Miami 2002 NC game, I am bored with it. Let’s just say we all agree to disagree on how that whole debacle went down. You guys won and were steadfast in your complete destruction of the opposition in the finals. Victory!
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 AM
If I was a Pistons fan, I still wouldn’t be over fist-f’ing LeBron inflicted, either. So don’t feel too badly, spencer.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Too many good games last night, no room for the Cavs win over the worst team in the NBA
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 AM
I think Kobe purposely did that to Melo. Kobe is a cheap guy and you could kind of see the smirk on his face after it happened. Total douche.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 AM
@HammondBacon
Killer use of the english language, bro.
/revenge through grammar police
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Irish, the Wizards are coming for you!!!!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 AM
cbh, keep playing catch up
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 AM
The Cavs will nip you both. 3 seed is a lock.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 AM
toronto will make it into the playoffs before the Cavs do
the cavs could barely beat the heat last night, as i said before Lebron will never win a ring in Cleveland. he needs major help and his shot isnt consistent enough. Sure he can take it to the hoop, but no consistent shot at all from any distance.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 AM
hey, if lebron can still get 30 a night without a consistent shot, ill take it.
would any Eastern team really want to face lebrizzy in a 7 game series? detroit and boston, maybe.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Magglio:
I missed a “the.” Flip Saunders missed LeBron. Which is worse?
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 AM
give the magic beat the cavs by 1 this year in OT, they could handle the King. My boy would put big Z into retirement also
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 AM
@HammondBacon
yer mom
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I don’t think anyone wants to play the Wizards in the playoffs.
I am nervous about Gil coming back, like theoretically it should be a tremendous boost but I am worried he will screw up the chemistry and defense the team has seem to developed in his absence.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 AM
irish…maybe we’ll find out later this year. who knows what each teams’ draw will look like, were not even to the all-star break.
plus, we can just get sideshow bob to flop the fuck out of dwight. that’ll take care of him.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 AM
spence i talk basketball how you talk osu. i dont care if it isnt the all star break yet, this is the time of year where teams establish themselves as contenders.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 AM
irish…i hear you. blind devotion is the only way to roll.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Cavs did get beat in OT, but we were without Varejao. We’re an entirely different team now.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Seriously, how do change a gravatar on this site???
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 AM
@rick
go to gravatar.com and attach an image to the e-mail you provided in your account for TBL and it should show up next to your name like mine here, or nick’s, or spencer’s.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 AM
@rick
oh if you are using a mac, it may not show up. My mac does not do well with the gravatars for some reason.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 AM
mags most on here dont have the same email address as the TBL account and then they would pretty much have to start over
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:53 AM
thanks mags, i’ll give it a shot
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Is there something I have to do after attaching it to the email address? I even logged out and back into TBL and nothing…
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Yep same deal here.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 PM
All I know is, the Pistons better not pick C-Webb back up. That experiment failed last year in the playoffs.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Did anyone watch the Lakers game last night? It was the first time I have ever seen Kobe play in such an unselfish way, and it was absolutely incredible. He was droppin dymes left and right, and wasn’t even thinking about putting up a shot in the first quarter, even though he had plenty of open looks.
I think we’re witnessing the maturation of what is going to turn out to be on eof the greatest players ever. Don’t forget Jordan was jacking up shots early in his career before he learned to trust his teammates. If Kobe can play like he did last night, and his supporting cast continues to hit shots, with Bynum back their my pick for the finals.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Quin – Just watched first two + quarters and agree that Kobe looked awesome. However, I’d caution the optimism because they were playing a Denver team that plays no D.
Did it seem like Denver was playing zone, yet had no idea what to do? George Karl is a clown
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 PM
see that TBl, i called the lakers going to the finals how long ago
and we know mr coke binge knows basketball