Tarheels breeze by Rutgers 93-71

UNC came off a season schedule break to capture a 93-71 victory on the road against the Rutgers Sunday night. The closest the game ever got was in the first half with the score 20-15. The attempts at a comebacks where short-lived for the Rutgers as they couldn't match North Carolina's speed off transition and low post scoring. Point guard Ty Lawson lead all scores with 26 points and collected 5 assists. The UNC sophomore is a super prodigy on the court and only continues to get better as he moves further into his collegiate career. His counterpart for the Scarlet Knights, freshman Corey Chandler scored 23 points.

Due to a nasty spill on the court where resulted from a barreling charge (no foul actually called by officials) Tyler Hansbrough sustained a mild concussion. He laid motionless behind the backboard after crashing into the goal post. Luckily he was okay after walking away from the tumble and heading back to the locker room. The junior forward had a fine performance finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Roy Williams as well as Tarheels fans were glad to see Hansbrough wasn't injured.

Off to a 9-0 start UNC stays on a roll anticipating a successful run in the tourney. I think they're better than Duke in the ACC yet haven't faced their best competition outside the conference. They'll defeated Ohio and Kansas. March Madness will put UNC to the real test. Their bench is so productive with the efforts of Danny Green and Marcus Ginyard. Those guys have developed well in the North Carolina program. Keeping them healthy will be so important come tournament time.

MLB steriods list continues to grow

Being a baseball fan isn't as fun as it used to be when America's National Past-time held intregity. Really, the Game has shown it's visible loose ends and shortcomings for a couple of years. The recent announcement of additions to the aforementioned steriods lists is only escalating. Senator George Mitchell is cracking down on the illegal performance enhancing drug use in MLB. He's released a new list of names that is quite staggering, a total of 86 and counting.

The Human Growth Hormone and anabolic steroids seemed to the be the popular choice for these players. In the reports gathered by the government out 62 players who purchased steroids 23 are active. Most everyone in baseball wanted to ride on the gravy train to success. Going back to the early to mid-90's and finding out now guys like Mark Carreon, Todd Hundley, Lenny Dykstra, David Segui, and Chuck Knobloch got away with secretly using steroids is surprising. None of them hit for power consistently in their careers. The biggest shocker to me is the scrub Montreal Expos players....Tim Laker and F.P. Santangelo....who the hell are these guys anyway??

Noted I'm sure as the most disappointing player named on the list is Roger Clemens. Baseball fans had so much respect and high regard for the veteran star pitcher. It's a sad day in sports with such a prized, presitigious player gets busted. This isn't the way Clemens wants to end his career. I think it would have been a good idea for him to retirement a year ago. At least then there would be less negative spotlight on him with the attention be diverted more on active players.

There are groups of people to blame for this mess: players, trainers, owners and possibly masocots. The authority on delivering swift action is the Commissioner Bud Selig. He knew what was going on with Barry Bonds and failed to dish out any punishment. Sitting back in a mezzaine suite or press box, ignoring the scandal and raking in millions from baseball was the option he chose. Selig does his share of talking and lying to the media and public, but never makes good on plans for fair-grounded affirmative action. The old timer might as well call it quits and step down as Commissioner, allowing another qualified, no-tolerance BS candidate to take over the position.

Lebron's return helps spark Cavs win

The Cleveland Cavaliers are glad to have Lebron James back. His injury kept him on the sidelines for a few weeks in which span of time his team struggled to muster enough offense. For the first time Lebron came off the bench as a reserve in Tuesday night's game. The end result, a 118-105 win over the Pacers. In limited minutes King James scored 17 points while his teammates chipped in to carry the rest of the scoring load. The Cavs shot 50% from the beyond the arch and 54% from the field.

Much of the credit for the victory is due to Larry Hughes who had a breakout performance, scoring 36 points (13-17 FG) adding 3 assists and 4 boards. He actually entered the game off the bench, playing 25 minutes. Cleveland fans were treated to a good game and didn't seem to give Anderson Varejao too much of a hard time as his made his season debut last night. With their superstar back this team is ready to make a change of pace and bump up their record. After Tuesday night's outcome the Cavs are 10-12.

Cleveland has to start getting serious now if they want to capture a top seed in the East again. Being 5.5 games back in the Central is okay at this point, sooner or later though they'll have to be concerned with the Pistons. The main priority is getting everyone healthy and on the same page. Lebron will put up his share of impressive totals throughout the season, but it's his teammates who will have to write the ship and show consistency.

Boston College skims past Maryland at College Park

The comeback Maryland came seconds away from pulling off against Boston College would've been extraordinary. They sure gave the fans at College Park their moneys worth Sunday evening. Coming down to the wire Maryland fought back and forth, hitting threes on two possessions with around 10 seconds left to put them within a 1 point deficit. Guard Eric Hayes and forward James Gist nailed the big shots when needed. However, it wasn't quite enough to sustain the Golden Eagles' offensive attack, who won 81-78.

The leading scorer for the game was BC's Tyrese Rice with 19 points who dished out 7 assists. Boston College's defense held up well in a scrappy defensive battle of loose balls and block shots in the paint. Maryland had a couple of chances to go ahead late in the second half, though caught tough breaks down the floor a few times. Some calls didn't go their way and shifted the momentum a bit. Scoring inside became a real challenge for the Terps as BC freshman Tyrelle Blair swatted 10 shots away at the basket.

ACC action is only beginning to heat up as the real good match-ups will surface next month. With the final result last night Maryland falls to 6-4 as Boston College leaps to a 7-1 record overall. Before heading back into conference play the Terps will face Ohio, American University, and Delaware. I know Coach Gary Williams will instill words of wisdom to his squad and help them bounce back from Sunday's disappointing loss. They've got a talented, young group which will play a string of tight ends with their conference foes later in the season.

Jason Kidd's migraine sends media into frenzy

Of all the NBA players to shine negative light on with exaggerated, perpetrated lies Jason Kidd one of the most innocent guys on a list. Oddly enough the media is hellbent on believing Kidd missed a game on purpose to make a statement of trying to be traded. How ignorant are the reporters who came up with this crap? The New Jersey Nets owner even shared that he knew Kidd was sick and unable to play. Instead of accepting that the star guard had a migraine headache and was banged up the media wants to insinuate there is trouble in paradise (if you consider NJ paradise, not me).

Kidd seems content to be in New Jersey and has no beef with the owner or coach. Of course the team isn't up to par in the standings and has shown inconsistency as admitted by the veteran team captain. They've also be dealing with injuries to their starting center, Nenad Kristic and been without Vince Carter for 5 games. I would say that's a big part of the problem. The team can only produce but so much offense without their key players. They suffered a major setback a few years back when Richard Jefferson went down with a season-long injury.

As far as Kidd is concerned he's being paid close to $20 million for this year and has a year left on his contract and continue to produce more triple-doubles each season. Lebron James and him lead that category in the NBA. Motivation is sure not an issue with him. He has a likable personality, it's clear his teammates trust him on the court and have grown accustomed to his style of play. Plus I bet fans don't want to see the point guard get traded. They have much respect for his commitment to winning and great all-around performances. Those who don't believe that can buzz off and shut their freaking mouth.

Anyone who blames or accuses Jason Kidd of the Nets' lack of success this year is a complete idiot! Without Mr. Triple Double on the court the franchise would be in shambles and have to undergo a rebuilding process. I don't think a team can replace such a versatile leader as Kidd, he is such a valuable asset that puts it all on the line every game, whether he's 100% or not. Before people go around spouting off-handed remarks and serve up these stories with no credibility they need to remember what he's done for New Jersey. Forget about the team making 4 or 5 consecutive playoff appearances if he wasn't around. Give credit where it's due. Jason is an awesome player and is still a marvel to watch as a older veteran.

UNC steam rolls Penn, prolongs undefeated streak

Life on the road has fared real well for the no. 1 ranked Tarheels. They have yet to lose a game so far in the early part of the season. Last night at Pennyslvania they jumped out to a quick lead and stayed on top for the rest of the game. Most of the offense came from big man, Tyler Hansbrough who pounded the ball inside for 29 points while snatching 10 rebounds. Guard Danny Green followed up with a supportive performance, 19 points (9-12 FG) 5 boards, and 4 steals. Again UNC ran up the score, winning 106-71.

With Ty Lawson back in the lineup the offense is running smoother since the start of the season. His speed and exceptional passing ability are another threat of this Tarheels team. He fed Hansbrough on a few fast-break chances which lead to thunderous dunks. North Carolina had the hot hand again, shooting 57% to Penn's 48%. UNC went into halftime up 50-37. The closest the game ever got was within 3 points then the Heels ran away with the game.

It was a bittersweet homecoming for UNC sophomore Wayne Ellington as his usual rapid fire from long range wasn't there yet his team got the victory. The packed arena stayed to the end, watching North Carolina flourish to a 8-0 record. Coach Roy Williams believes in his players and sees the heart and soul they display out on the court every game. He has the Heels way on their way to another outstanding season. Up next on the schedule for UNC are the Rutgers on 12/19 and then Nicholls St. on 12/22. Right now both Duke and UNC are tied atop the ACC standings.

VCU upsets Maryland in BB&T Classic

The ACC looked to be on a roll this past weekend as they dominated the Big Ten. No one knows when an upset can occur though. The Maryland Terrapins fell victim to such an outcome against VCU, losing 85-76 on Sunday. I'm surprised that this game got away from Maryland, who went cold from the field in the final couple of minutes. They shot just 37% and committed 19 turnovers. Usually such a breakdown dooms a team. Only 3 Maryland players scored in double-digits.

Jamal Shuler carried the Rams, scoring 30 points on 10-for-19 shooting (6 three-pointers) with a hot hand throughout the game. VCU got rebounded 51-38 and didn't shoot as well at the free-throw line as Maryland, but managed to go out in front late in the second half and maintain their lead. Guard Eric Maynor also helped in the winning effort by finishing with 25 points and 5 assists. VCU climbs to a 4-3 on the season coming off a loss against Hampton. Maryland suffers their third loss as look to bounce back this week against Morgan State (4-3) and Boston College (5-1). The Terps can't take these two match-ups lightly either.

Warriors notch another win over Rockets

Sometimes the smallest, most unpredictable teams have the most fight in them. The Golden State don't know the meaning of 'quit'. Thursday night they sealed a win against Houston 113-94. The Golden State defense was able to keep Yao Ming in check, only allowing him to hit 4-of-12 from the field. Much of that was credited to Al Harrington, who stuck to the 7' 6 Center like glue throughout the game. Golden State went on a late spurt which wore the Rockets out.

Once again Baron Davis took control and capped off the victory with a 27-point, 8-assist performance. He's a big piece to the up-tempo and fast break style of play, keeping the offense running smooth. The Warriors bump their mark up to 8-7 with three consecutive wins. They started the season off 0-5, but have received a pick-me-up from Stephen Jackson after he served a 6-game suspension. I think Golden State will be one of the best upset underdogs teams in the West again this year. Count on Baron Davis to keep this team afloat and shocking the basketball critics.

UVA stomps Northwestern 94-52 in NCAA action

It was a good night for the ACC Tuesday as Duke, Clemson, Florida, and UVA all pulled off victories. There was only one exception. Georgia Tech suffered a close loss to Indiana. A few of the games were absolute blowouts, one being the Virginia vs. Northwestern game. Sean Singletary didn't even have a great scoring performance, putting up 14 points while dishing out 10 assists. The leading scorer for the Cavs was Mamadi Diane, who finished with 22 points on 6-of-11 from the field.

UVA shot 52% to Northwestern's 36%, which pretty much resulted in such a lopsided outcome. The John Paul Jones was fully behind the home team, helping spark their offense. Once UVA gained an early lead they never looked back. With the win last night UVA elevates to 6-1 on the season with their toughest opponents awaiting them late on the schedule. Their sole loss was to Seton Hall (74-60), which they faced a tough encounter. I believe the Cavaliers one of the top 3 teams in the conference. They've got a quality lineup with a couple of good jump shooters.

With the work cut out for them in the coming weeks they'll face the likes of Syracuse, Xavier, and Hartford before heading into ACC play against their rivals. I can only this these young, highly motivated team getting better and making another bid for a NCAA tournament appearance. It's sure looks to be in the works for the Cavs, who are lead by senior Sean Singletary. He averages 20.4 ppg and 6.9 assists. His presence on the court and leadership will play a huge part in UVA's success this season. Keep up the strong play Cavs!!

Lebron James rattles home another triple-double in Cavs win

The Indiana Pacers became yet another victim of a Lebron James' triple-double showcase. I don't think there is any small forward or shooting guard in the league that can stop Lebron James. He's so explosive when going to the rim or has developed into a much better jump shooter since his rookie year. The Cavs pulled out a 111-106 victory over the Pacers Sunday in route to a 8-6 record. It was a fairly close game until Lebron took over in the 4th quarter. He delivered in the clutch when Cleveland really needed the offense.

Having another veteran back in Eric Snow is well welcomed. His time on court was limited to 11 minutes, but he's a key defensive player and is a good guy to seek and give advice from throughout the course of big games. Lebron finished yesterday's contest with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This makes his 4th triple-double of the season and 14th of his career. Wow! No other player is the league besides Jason Kidd seems to so consistent with such overall outputs.

Cleveland has said goodbye to Anderson Varejo and his contract demands. It would've been nice to see the young scrappy Brazilian stay, but the Cavaliers can manage without him. Somehow they'll going to have to make at least one good trade this season, sooner better than later. Big Z has proven to be more productive in the early going, but Lebron simply won't score 40 or more points every game so they an extra reliable, clutch shooter on the team. The superstar needs back-up support once and a while. Finding talent in exchange for Larry Hughes is a good starting point.

Shaq and Wade in control as Heat weather drought

The Miami Heat are starting to steady themselves and make a turnaround. Getting off to a slow start due to the injuries nothing other than bad luck on fell upon this team. With Wade back the outlook for the rest of the season is looking up. Friday night the Heat up ended the Rockets 98-91. The star duo of Shaq and Wade lead the way. Dwayne Wade scored 14 of his 31 points in the 4th quarter. Without him Miami wouldn't be able to survive. I'm sure they're glad to have him back.

Despite the offensive performance from Yao Ming (20 points) the Heat managed to outlast the Rockets, shooting 54% to their 44% from the field. The Diesel capped off the win with a strong scoring showcase of 26 points and 14 rebounds. Miami improves to 3-9 with many critics believing the Heat season is already over. I agree they have a long, uphill battle yet they still have a chance in the East.

The Celtics will be their toughest competitor. They'll be a top seed in the East. Next week they'll face the Bobcats and Celtics at home and today they take on Orlando. The head-t0-head strategies of Coach Van Gundy and Riley will probably make the game close coming down to the final few minutes. I still look for Wade to deliver in the clutch as he's done in the past.

Warriors blow by Knicks, Davis drops 31 points

With Stephon Marbury's return to the lineup the Knicks still had no luck last night against the Warriors. This group has more to worry about than quarrels and conflicts on and off the sidelines. The defense just isn't there. I have to admit few teams cans shut down Baron Davis, who scored 31 points, hitting 4-of-6 from three-point land and dishing out 7 assists. Veteran guard Stephen Jackson also added 23 points in the 108-82 win. The up-tempo play of Golden State got the Knicks out of breath. They couldn't match that type of pace.

The Warriors move to 3-6, off to a slow start yet showing viable signs of progress unlike the Knicks. I feel bad for Zach Randolph because it would've been better for him to stay in Portland as the young guys there giving the team life and helping the franchise grow. He can see his new team is going absolutely no where. Maybe New York can see if sports journal writer/ex-NBA player Paul Shirley is available and sign him on for a small contract. Pull him out of the European league. At least the franchise will still be saving money and it's not like New York can suck any worse than they do now. So why not give it a shot? (Isiah will give him at least 5 minutes playing time every week or so)

Stephon Marbury isn't helping the cause and probably wants to be traded. A few new faces on the squad would be good. The Knicks don't want it to be get so bad to points where the fans are encouraged to take the court in Madison Square Garden or those who brought their tennis shoes can come off the bench. Talk about things getting ugly in a hurry: brawls in the Garden would become so raucous and out of control games would be suspended. I hate to see what ticket sales are like this year. Fans must be leaving after the 1st or 2nd quarter and saying, "The hell with it."

NCAA action: Tarheels overpower Iona in home opener

The no. 1 ranked Tarheels are well on their way to another magnificent season. Last night the capped their home opener off with bang, ripping Iona 107-72. UNC got a lead early and maintained it throughout the game. Chapel Hill stayed in an uproar with mass sea of Carolina faithful on hand. Tyler Hansbrough completed a 27-point 9-rebound performance. He was so focused on offense he slammed down a dunk and not even realized an Iona defender was under the goal until power forward/center landed on him.

Sunday was an easy contest for the Heels. They shot at a 51% clip on field goals compared to their opponent's 46%. Carolina's Wayne Ellington and Danny Green combined for 29 points, helping fuel the offense. The points off transition and fast-break layups were too overwhelming for Iona. I look forward to see the ACC action this year. The Tarheels will encounter several good matchups. No one team is likely to take the conference by storm. Several teams are just too evenly matched.

Once again Ty Lawson, who finished yesterday's game with 9 assists will be a major asset for the Tarheels. His quickness and ability to score near the basket will be a contributing factor to their overall success. The lineup is pretty much the same with the exception of Brandan Wright after he left for the NBA. This week on the schedule UNC will meet South Carolina St. and Old Dominion at Chapel Hill. Those will be the lighter games, the most favorable competiton they'll face during the season.

Don't expect Marbury to land a deal in Cleveland

I wonder if there will ever come a day when basketball players and coaches won't be at each other's throats. This whole turmoil on the Knicks due to the feud between Stephon Marbury and Isiah Thomas is idiotic. The star point guard is clearly unhappy. By missing practice and a game this week on the road without a legitimate reason is inexcusable. He's being fined over $180,000 for his actions. Isiah is trying to play it cool like this heated tension isn't a big issue. It sure is effecting the team's performance and appears to be tearing them apart.

Earlier this week Knick teammates have supported Marbury, but were stunned by his absence. Other NBA players don't feel the same. Lebron James doesn't want Marbury to come to Cleveland because he knows the controversial point guard is a problem player now. At first before I knew what was going on in New York I thought it would be a good idea for the Cavs to trade for him, but not now. Such a an attitude-player becomes too much of a liability and is a major distraction for a team. I like to watch Stephon on the court (one of my favorite point guards), he was a team leader, but is in desperate need of an attitude adjustment.

I'm not sure if the Knicks will be able to get rid of him before the season ends. The franchise is set to pay him over $40 million for the rest of the year and next year. New York got a raw deal there. Why would any team invest so much money in 1 player for just a year? Cleveland will be smart to stay away from negotiations for Marbury, besides Lebron won't allow it anyway. They need to concentrate on finding a reliable scorer and replacement for Larry Hughes. He just seems like dead weight to the Cavs.

Well, it looks to be another long season of suffrage for the New York Knicks. The back-and-forth jawing to the media sure doesn't help the situation either. If Isiah doesn't find a way to make a great turnaround for the franchise then he's sure to be out the door after the season. Being benched ought to be the least of Marbury's problems. It always is an issue of lack of respect with certain players, they refuse to accept their role or direction from a coach. The two sports professionals need to work out their differences or it will continue to drain the team's motivation.

Celtics ride hot start, breeze by Pacers 101-86

Boston fans these days seem to be getting the best of all sports. In the off-season the Celtics made wise moves in acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Since the pair have arrived the franchise has made a promising turnaround. Boston is off to a 6-0 start and look to take the East by storm. Last night they captured a 101-86 victory over the Pacers. Paul Pierce was the player of the game, showcasing a 31-point performance with 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

I think this new Celtics team can beat anybody in the league this year. Their bench is okay with Scalabrine, Posey, and Allen which will probably serve as their main secondary contributors. In Tuesday night's game Boston outscored Indiana in each quarter. When you can manage and build upon a lead like that then a win is basically imminent. If the big starting 3 can average at least 18 points per game a piece the Celtics will continue to dominate Eastern conference competitors.

KG must be glad to finally be on a winning team after all of those disappointing years with Minnesota. He may not be the top scorer on the team, but will instill the greatest motivation and leadership. People who dared laugh at this franchise in previous years will be sorry the did this season. The real test for the Celtics for be consistent good defense. That will be them to the limits against opponents like the Pistons, Cavs, and Magic. I'd like to see them prolong the hot streak, reappearing on the highlight reels at night.

Heat finally grab first win in low-scoring affair

If the Heat can count on at least one fairly easy opponent this year it's the Knicks. Sure New York is improved with the addition of Zach Randolph still they don't have that special element(s) to be a winning team yet. It's going to be an uphill battle for them as it will be for the Miami Heat. The 75-72 outcome didn't showcase any player scoring more than 19 points. Guard Jason Williams scored the winning basket with around 18 seconds to go.

Shaq will try to labor for his team, but without Wade as many people feel the Heat don't stand a chance. While he's out Ricky Davis is taking over at the 2 guard while Penny Hardaway got the start at small forward for last night's game. Having a prominent, consistent scorer is Miami's biggest weakness right now. They're also dealing with injuries to other key players like Antoine Walker. I'm sure they're glad to have run into the Knicks. Their 1-5 start doesn't appear to forecast good things in the near future.

This week Miami will face the Bobcats on the road before heading back home to play the Supersonics. I like their chances in those two games, but then they play the Celtics on Friday with another tough matchup with the Nets the next day. Pat Riley may let the young guys who are on the active roster and ready to go play some extra minutes. Zo can give them a lift off the bench with his defense. This injury-plagued Heat team is willing to take any victories, short or wide they can scrounge up.

Davis explodes for 37 points, but Mavericks prevail 120-115

Another gutsy, outstanding performance was delivered by the Warriors' Baron Davis who almost tied the game last night at Golden State against the Mavs. Coming off a screen with around 3 or 4 seconds left Davis got an open look at a three, but missed. Davis still finished the game with 37 points (14-26 FG) 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Dirk and company breathed a sigh of relief. It was bad enough they got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by these same Golden State Warriors. They didn't want to deal with another humiliating loss.

It was a close game coming down to the wire with both teams swapping leads. The difference for the Mavericks was probably Jason Terry who hit some big shots late in the 4th quarter. Jason Richardson's replacement at the 2 guard had a heck of a game too. Second year player, Kelenna Azubuike scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He will give this team another reliable scorer with a touch of speed and energy. Golden State thrives off transition and fast breaks. The Mavericks can't match them in that department.

Last night the Warriors were without guard Stephen Jackson who was serving a suspension and forward Mickael Pietrus. Going with a small lineup at times put Golden State at a disadvantage. They fall to 0-5 still in search of their first win while Dallas bumps up to 4-1. Up next on the schedule for the Warriors are the Pistons and Clippers. With a short bench due to injuries they'll have to accelerate their game with their up-tempo high energy style of play.

Paul Byrd gets contract renewal despite HGH use

The Cleveland Indians had plenty to be proud of in reaching the ALCS against the Red Sox. Yet the shame in baseball resurfaced when Indians pitcher Paul Byrd admitted to using Human Growth Hormones. MLB found out he purchased close to $25,000 worth of the drug from a Florida medical facility on aging (Maybe players will stay in the league until they're in their 50's to 60's with this HGH). For his trouble, Byrd actually was granted a $7.5 million contract renewal. Where the hell is the justice in that?

The veteran right-hander turns 37 in a month, and owns two wins in the 2007 playoffs and 15 for the regular season. Of all the players on the Indians he would the least suspected of doing any type of performance-enhancing drug (though chewing tobacco and the occasional cold beer, yes). Commissioner Bud Selig has shown time and again he doesn't give a crap about illegal drug use and cheating. All he's concerned about is sitting back like a lazy old bastard and collecting revenue. I also see the steroid investigation has come to just about a screeching halt again.

With the list continuing to grow of busted steroid, HGH, and other illegal performance enhancing drug users the future integrity of MLB looks bleak. To show players how they really feel fans shouldn't buy season tickets or attend home games to support their favorite teams. Attendance should be as low for any MLB stadium as it is every year in Florida, if not worse. With such a vast drop in ticket sales for just a few months it will cause owners to panic (except George Steinbreiner).

I can't get over how baseball players are so damn lucky. They break the rules, deny everything, and always receive weak punishment. Paul Byrd has got off easy as well as this past season's offenders: outfielder Mike Cameron, relievers Guillermo Mota and Juan Salas. First of all, why are relievers becoming dependent on supplements and steroids? It's not like they pitch more than an inning or two. I think all these guys found guilty need to be sent to the Penal League or some second-rate Single A team where they'll stay until they stop using the juice. There they can choose to wise up or throw away their careers, get mad and pick fights with mascots. The ones who want to succeed will eventually come to their senses.

Bobcats squeeze past Heat in route to 90-88 victory

Those Bobcats will take any win they can get, no matter the opponent. They sure were lucky Sunday night, nearly giving up a 16-point lead heading into the 4th quarter. The main difference in the outcome was Dwayne Wade. It's clear the Heat are struggling without the superstar guard. Whenever he returns after having arm and shoulder surgeries Miami may be in a real unfavorable position in the East. With last night's victory the Bobcats are 2-0. Jason Richardson lead all scores with 29 points while Raymond Felton finished the game with 19.

If it weren't for a few last minute defensive stops and forced turnovers by Richardson I'm sure the game would have resulted differently. Charlotte still has a young, inexperienced team. Their new coach is experimenting with the lineup now. Primo Brezec got the start last night, but many feel Emeka Okafor is right guy to be the regular starter at Center. I have to agree because Okafor is a better defensive player and rebounder than his teammate. Mixing up players in the power forward position as Gerald Wallace is able to play at the 3 or 4 spot.

With the new star acquisitions in the East it's still not going to be an easy road for the Bobcats again this season. They must build upon their young talent and utilize their up-tempo, run-and-gun style offense. This week they face the Suns at home before going on the road to meet the 76ers and Pacers. I don't like their chances in the first game because Phoenix still has quite the potent offense. The early season streak may be short-lived, but the Bobcats have plenty of talent to showcase and tight games to play this year.

Hornets sink Trail Blazers, off to 2-0 start

For a team that just missed cashing in for on a playoff birth last year the New Orleans Hornets want to kick the 07-08 season off right. Last night they blew out the Trail Blazers 113-93 at home. The Hornets drained 11 3-pointers in the game as Chris Paul finished with 19 points and 6 assists. The leading scorer though for the game was Brandon Roy with 23 points. It looks as if the Hornets have finally found a permanent home in Louisiana after dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Tyson Chandler returns to the team as a key starter in the lineup. He pulled down 11 rebounds in last night's win. Desmond Mason has left, which really hurts when it comes to having another reliable scorer. They have added Morris Peterson from Toronto and forward Ryan Bowen. Still New Orleans needs another good shooter off the bench as well a sound strategy to tighten up their defense. Everyone knows it's going to difficult to stay within reason in the West, have I think they have legitimate shot at the playoffs.

With Chris Paul leading the way as Sunday the Hornets face the Denver Nuggets on the road. It will a tough game for them and will test their depth. If they want to win they will have to find a way to interfere with Iverson and Carmelo's offensive attack. David West can pick up the scoring for New Orleans and can be used to clog up the middle on defense. The game will put the Hornets to the test. The sky is the limit for them this early in the season.