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Wayne Ellington doesn't need that heat pack as much he did a few weeks ago. The Timberwolves' rookie shooting guard wears the device during games to keep his leg and back muscles loose while sitting on the bench. Ellington has been too busy lately to get much use out of it. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis is bringing him off the bench much sooner and playing him longer — even in the fourth quarter. In the past three games, Ellington has been one of the Wolves' more effective players. He's averaging 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds and shooting a startling 64 percent from the floor (16 of 25), including 6 of 11 from three-point range (54.5 percent). Two months ago, Rambis said Ellington looked "nervous" on the court. Today, Ellington is calm and confident. He's getting more quality minutes, which is helping him develop into the Wolves' best outside shooter. He always had it in him but just had to give him time to become that guy.
Coach Don Nelson had a special request for Stephen Curry."He told me he needs me to make plays," Curry said. What his aggressiveness has done is prevent guard Monta Ellis from always initiating the offense and creating against a set defense. It also forces the defense to respect Curry, resulting in less help opponents can provide on Ellis and forward Corey Maggette. Considering his struggles on defense, especially against bigger guards who post him up, Curry's offensive production is that much more important to the Warriors."The last two games," Curry said, "I tried to get in the middle and tried to make plays, dishing to the wings and get guys shots. The more aggressive I am, I think the more plays I'll be able to make and help my team instead of being that fifth man out there just running around in the lane and not being involved in the offense."
Sacramento coach Paul Westphal handed Steve Nash the best compliment anyone has given him this season. "I don't think I've ever seen him play this well and he's got two MVPs," Westphal said. "He's unbelievable." It's hard to argue. Nash's 54 percent shooting is the best of his 14-year career and better than any other NBA point guard or wing player. For the fourth time in six seasons, Nash is the NBA assist leader with more games of 14 or more assists (nine) than the rest of the league's players (eight). He is on pace to have a fourth season in which he shoots at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Larry Bird is the only other player to ever do it twice. Nash is also close as ever to Mark Price for the NBA career free-throw percentage record. Price shot 90.39 percent over his career and Nash's best career free-throw game Tuesday (13 for 13) put him at 90.21. Keep tabs on Nash he may go for 3 MVPs.
In the Oakland game, Willis McGahee has proven to be a potent weapon. McGahee seems to be in the best health and shape of his career but yet the Ravens may release McGahee next year. Ravens are willing to pay McGahee the kind of money his contract warrants to be a backup. Basically, every team needs two good backs, but you don't want to overpay. I'm sure McGahee would like to move on and play for a team where he is the No. 1 starter as well. It took him a year, but McGahee has found his niche and accepted his role. But he still has plenty of juice left and can be a prime-time starter.
New details emerged about the locker-room confrontation between Arenas and Javaris Crittenton. A Wizards teammate that suggest a potentially far more volatile incident than was originally reported by Arenas.
According to two first-hand accounts of the confrontation, Crittenton responded to Arenas's action -- which included laying the four unloaded weapons in Crittenton's cubicle with a note that read, "Pick One" -- by brandishing his own firearm, loading the gun and chambering a round. Two of the five people in the room that morning, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Arenas had originally not disclosed Crittenton's action to protect the little-used guard from prosecution and had told Crittenton he would assume full responsibility for the actions of both players that day.The dispute between Arenas and Crittenton began on the team plane during a popular card game between players called "Boo-ray." Crittenton lost roughly $1,100 to JaVale McGee, a Wizards center, in the game, according to a player who watched the game and who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Crittenton, already angry over a dispute over the game's rules, became irate when Arenas began needling him. Their barbs escalated to a point where Arenas, smiling, said he would blow up Crittenton's car, according to two players on the flight, who requested anonymity. Crittenton replied that he would shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired knee.Walking into the locker room two days after the dispute on the team plane, according to two witnesses, Arenas laid out the guns in Crittenton's locker. Two other teammates eventually sauntered in and, while Arenas was writing the note in front of Crittenton's cubicle, in walked Crittenton, according to their account. Asking Arenas what he was doing, Arenas replied, "If you want to shoot me, I'd just thought I'd make it easy for you." As other teammates laughed, Crittenton crumpled up the paper, tossed one of Arenas's guns across the room, where it bounced in front of a team trainer, and said he didn't need any of Arenas's firearms because he had his own, according to the witness accounts. Crittenton then drew his weapon, loaded it and chambered a round, the witnesses said. Neither witness said the gun was ever pointed at Arenas, but both said Crittenton began singing as he held the gun.
This is not a funny situation and I stand behind the commish on this one. It was unclear Wednesday when Arenas's suspension might be lifted. I also feel that Crittenton should get the same punishment as Arenas if he gets ban. That is definitely nothing to play with.
Schwartz said Monday that he thought the Lions were in pretty good shape at running back when they were healthy. Came to the conclusion that he was probably lying. Kevin Smith, even when healthy, does not have the burst to be a starting running back for a good team. So Lions will "likely" look for a new starting running back this offseason. Kevin Smith is coming off a torn ACL, and potentially more knee damage the team hinted at but never revealed. Despite his injury, he wrote he wants to “get back into the race” next year with the other running backs in his draft class: Chris Johnson, Rashard Mendenhall, Matt Forte, Tim Hightower, Ray Rice, Jonathan Stewart, Darren McFadden, Steve Slaton and Felix Jones. But Lions "like (Smith) and Aaron Brown in backup roles," and both should be on the 2010 roster. But this is still a 2-13 team that does not feature a lot of talent on either side of the football.
NFL Network’s Steve Wyche is ‘hearing’ that Clinton Portis will be the next Washington Redskin to be out of a job. During newly minted Executive Vice President and Head Coach Mike Shanahan’s introductory press conference, he seemed to be talking directly to Portis when he stated that veterans would need to prove themselves to earn a role on this team. Shanahan emphasized organized team activities (OTAs) as an integral factor, especially for running backs, in his judgement on what players will be on his Redskins roster. Portis, who was successful in Denver under Shanahan, has a history of negativity towards OTAs.
Via FNN
Titans were also an underachieving team, one that will undergo plenty of changes heading into 2010. Eleven players are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. LenDale White, expected to a restricted free agent, will not be offered a long-term deal by the Titans. White could be used as trade bait, but the Titans wouldn't get much in return for their former goal-line back. Chances are White will return as the backup, with Javon Ringer also mixed in. I don't know anybody that would want to trade for him though. I mean he was just a goal-line back. "It is definitely going to be a different team next year," running back LenDale White said. "Hopefully the organization or whoever is out there making the calls makes the right calls and brings back the people who will help this organization.'' I am glad he knows that he might not be coming back.
It is crazy how funny the NFL season can turn. Just a few weeks ago, everybody was bashing on Sanchez because he was losing games and they didn't think they would make the playoffs. Now look at him. But Sanchez will face his most difficult challenge yet, becoming the first Jets rookie quarterback to start a playoff game. Of course the comeback wasn't in part of him but more of the defense and him being able to control his turnover ratio. The Jets rely on their ability to stop the other team more than they need Sanchez to carry them. But Gang Green does need the rookie to avoid the kind of mistakes that plagued him in almost all of their seven losses. Ryan, however, was more confident in the rookie quarterback, saying: "Next year probably, we are going to all be talking about how he's the strength of our team and not look at him as a negative." But stats do not lie, Jets were 5-2 when he went without an interception. Speaking of Rex Ryan though, he declared that the NY JETS were the team to beat in the playoffs. He has more confident for a team that barely got into the playoffs than I have ever seen. These are the Jets, who finished 9-7 to claim the fifth seed in the AFC. They should be glad that the Colts didn't want to go undefeated. That's another story all in itself but more than likely they will be one and done.
I guess its official now. Wes Welker's season officially ended on when the New England Patriots placed the receiver on injured reserve. At least he got some advice from Tom Brady who suffered a similar injury last year. Welker was running after making his 123rd catch on Sunday when his left leg buckled as he planted it to make a cut. He fell to the ground, grabbed his knee and was helped off the field. The Patriots have had a full week for Brady to practice with rookie Julian Edelman, Welker's backup, for Sunday's playoff game. It doesn't matter how much practice they have, nothing will replace Welker. He's one of the league's best at running after the catch. And teams have a tough time double teaming both him and Randy Moss. His absence could make it tougher for Moss to break free. The Pats just may have seen their chances at a Super Bowl run go down with Welker.
