Nets Finish Regular Season with Win Over Pistons

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 17th, 2013

Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets

Final Score: Pistons 99 Nets 103

The Brooklyn Nets finished up their first regular season in their new home on a positive note by beating the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The Nets finished their first season in Brooklyn with a (49-33) record, which gave them home court in the first round, as they are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Positives:

Interim Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo did a pretty solid job for Brooklyn after filling in for the fired Avery Johnson. Carlesimo finished the season with a (34-19), and that record is the best start for any coach in Nets franchise history. Carlesimo’s future with the Nets is unknown, as the Nets front office has made no commitment to him, but he’s got them ready to go for a big playoff series with the Chicago Bulls, and he’s done a great job getting the Nets to their regular season expectations.

Hafner Powers Yankees Past Dbacks

rantsports.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 17th, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Diamondbacks 3 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were trailing for most of this game, and it looked like they weren’t going to be able to get a win in this one, but some late-inning hitting got the job done for the Yankees, as they won their third straight game.

C.C. Sabathia was able to pick up his third win of the season, but there has to be some concerns about the velocity of his pitches, which has dropped a good amount from last season. In all of his starts velocity has been down, and this one would be no different for Sabathia, as his fastball never got above 90mph, and his slider was down to 77mph, which is about a three to five mph drop from his normal. Sabathia despite having his velocity down was able to go eight innings allowing only three runs on six hits, and one walk.

New York Giants Draft Preview: Running Backs

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, as we get closer to the primetime opening round April 25^th.  This will be the first part in the series where I will discuss the current outlook and needs for the upcoming NFL Draft for the New York Giants.

The second position I will take a look at is Running Back.

At Running Back, the depth chart for the Giants goes David Wilson, Andre Brown (restricted free agent tender), Henry Hynoski, Da’Rel Scott and Ryan Torain. The Giants let two running backs from last season go in Ahmad Bradshaw, who was released and is still a free agent, and Kregg Lumpkin, also a free agent.

Knicks End Regular Season on High Note, Drop Hawks

Jesse D Garrabrant/Getty Images

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 17^th, 2013

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Atlanta Hawks: 92 New York Knicks: 98

The Knicks ended their most successful season in 16 seasons with a win against the Hawks Wednesday night giving them some momentum heading into the playoffs. It was a tough game to watch at some points as the Knicks only had seven players appear in the game tonight, ending with only six available. The Knicks finish the regular season with a 54-28 record, going 31-10 at Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks will head into the playoff series against the Celtics, which starts Saturday night, on a roll winning 16 of their last 18 games. 

-Positives

W2W4: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

www.goldstar.com

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 17^th, 2013

Pre-Game News and Notes

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

Wednesday night will be the last regular season game for the Knicks and Hawks before heading into the playoffs, but will be taking different approaches into the finale.  The Knicks have literally nothing to play for, as their seed is locked in and are just looking to get to the playoffs without suffering anymore injuries.  As for the Hawks, they are playing for the fifth or sixth seed.  If they win tonight they will face off against the Nets in the first round, if they lose and the Bulls win they will face off against the Pacers. This will be third time that the Knicks and Hawks faceoff this season, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.

-New Face, Same Place

Nets Beat Wizards Without Big 3

espn.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 15th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards

Final Score: Nets 106 Wizards 101

The Brooklyn Nets were able to have a comeback win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, as despite resting the Big 3 along with a few others, Brooklyn’s normal bench players stepped into the starting lineup, and played good games.

Positives:

With the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference already locked up, with no way of moving up or down in the standings, Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo had the luxury of resting some of his core players. Carlesimo sat four normal Starters in Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Reggie Evans, and Brook Lopez. He also gave Keith Bogans, whose been dealing with a sore back, and Jerry Stackhouse the night off.

Yankees Win First Interleague Game Against Diamondbacks

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16th, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Diamondbacks 2 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were able to pick-up their first win against a National League team in the Arizona Diamondbacks much earlier than usual in the season due to the Houston Astros moving to the American League West, which forces Inter-League play throughout the season.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova wasn’t great by any means, but he wasn’t bad either, as he gave the Yankees exactly what they need from their fifth Starter. In Nova’s first win of the season he pitched a season-high five innings allowing just two runs, but he did give up seven hits, and two walks. He never let the Diamondbacks break thru for a big inning, but Nova was in trouble in almost every inning.

Yankees Win Rubber Game of Series with Orioles

espn.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 14th, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Orioles 0 Yankees 3

The Yankees were able to take the rubber game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday Night Baseball, as Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda was sensational in the win.

Kuroda pitched went the distance in the complete game shutout, which was his fifth of his career. Kuroda only gave up five hits in his nine innings of work, and was able to striking out five batters. The win moves Kuroda to (2-1) on the season, and helped his ERA go from a 6.75 to a 2.87.

The Orioles Start Wei-Yin Chen also pitched very well, but was out dueled by Kuroda in this one. Chen went six innings allowing only three runs on six hits, and one walk. Chen was matching Kuroda until the fifth inning when the Yankees were finally able to strike first.

Brennan Boesch getting the start in Right Field went two for three at the plate, and was able to score the first run of the game on a Jayson Nix sacrifice fly. Boesch in his limited time has played well thus far for the Yankees, as he is batting .313.

Overall the bottom of the Yankee order did very well, as Boesch, Francisco Cervelli, Lyle Overbay, and Jayson Nix combined for five hits, and one walk. The production from the bottom of the order was a real difference maker for the Yankees with the heart of the order not getting a hit.

Leadoff hitter Brett Gardner provided the pop in this one in the fifth inning with a moon-shot off the top of the foul pole, which scored Cervelli. For Gardner, who isn’t known as a power hitter by any means it was his second homerun of the season.

The Yankees will be starting their first Inter-League series of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a re-match of the great 2001 World Series, as Ivan Nova (0-1, 7.71) will be facing Brandon McCarthy (0-1, 7.71).