|
Mavs Drop Final Preseason Game To Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma City Thunder took some satisfaction in sweeping Dallas during the NBA’s shortened preseason –– even if it wasn’t the Western Conference finals. James Harden had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Russell Westbrook added 12 points and the Thunder beat the Mavericks for the second time in three days, winning 87-83 on Tuesday night. Oklahoma City won 106-92 at Dallas on Sunday, although Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd didn’t play for the Mavericks in that game. Both saw action Tuesday but mostly struggled. READ MORE
At least the Mavericks are done with the faux games - The Mavericks were down 74-53 after three quarters against the Thunder and clearly were ready to flush away the preseason and start getting ready for the real games. In spite of what they looked like. Their interest level waned through the middle quarters and while Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd saw their first action of the preseason, they weren't in any kind of a sense-of-urgency mood. READ MORE
From Yao to Pau and back to now: the 2011-2012 Houston Rockets season preview - I’m not completely sure where to start. Whereas the front page should be littered with discussions ranging from “how many good years does Pau have left?” to “is our big man duo better than Randolph and Gasol?”, instead, cold silence. I still don’t think we’ve completely overcome the collective shock that was last week. Yes, this essay should have entailed a sincere look into the Rockets’ odds at winning the West in the next three years, during the duration of Pau Gasol’s contract. Instead, we scramble to assess what we have and what our objectives should be during this challenging season. READ MORE
Rockets inquire about Chuck Hayes' status - The Rockets on Monday made inquiries about the prognosis of former Rockets forward Chuck Hayes to determine if his medical condition might allow him to be a free-agent option again, a person with knowledge of the talks said. The Kings voided Hayes' $21.3 million, four-year contract on Monday, days after Hayes failed a team physical. The team had announced last week that an abnormality was found during a heart examination. No additional information was made available at Hayes' request. Hayes broke into the league in 2005-06, the season after his predecessor at power forward for the Rockets, Juwan Howard, was sidelined because of a heart condition. READ MORE
It was H-E-B filming day Tuesday at Spurs Central - It happens about four times a year when a small army of technicians and gofers descend on the Spurs Training Facility for their H-E-B commercial shoots. As befits one of the Spurs’ largest advertisers, the group basically gets the run of the facility on their shooting day. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili again are the stars. I got to park two blocks away as there were about three times as many people in place today as for a normal day of practice. READ MORE
Duncan hopes to see full crew against Houston - After getting the night off along with Tony Parker for the preseason opener against Houston, Spurs captain Tim Duncan would like to get some work in Wednesday’s preseason finale at the AT&T Center along with the rest of his team. Manu Ginobili said after Monday’s scrimmage that he would like to see the Spurs’ entire roster play against the Rockets. Duncan agrees. “I would hope so,” Duncan said. “It’s our final preparation for the season and it will come like a blur. There will be so many games so quickly, you’ll look around and it will be 20 games in. “We need to get in as much time as possible together and start the season on a roll. We can’t wait.” READ MORE
Darvish's former club not counting money yet - The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will pick up $51.7 million if the Texas Rangers workout a contract with righthander Yu Darvish. The club is holding off on plans for the windfall. ``We still have not received the money, and there is no guarantee that we will,'' team representative Toshimasa Shimada told reporters in Sapporo, where the club is based. The Rangers bid $51.7 million for the exclusive negotiating rights to Darvish. Hokkaido Nippon Ham gets the money only if the Rangers sign Darvish. ``Personally, I think it was good that it was the Rangers,'' Shimada said. ``(Yoshinori) Tateyama is there as well. ... Of course, if things do not work out, he will be signing with us.'' READ MORE
Rangers, Napoli talk long-term deal - Add Mike Napoli to the list of players the Rangers have talked to about a long-term contract. The club has had several conversations with Napoli's representatives about a multi-year deal, according to a source, though it’s early in the process. Napoli is slated to become a free agent after the 2012 season. Despite the financial commitment to sign Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Monday that his organization still wants to try to keep key members of its “core” group. “We’ve had some conversations with several guys on the club at this point and some are further along than others,” Daniels said in a conference call following his team’s winning bid for exclusive negotiating rights with Darvish for the next 30 days. “We’re not at a point where we get into specifics, but our mentality stays the same. We would like to keep this group together.” READ MORE
Would you re-sign Roy? - So apparently Roy Oswalt has been convinced that a multi-year deal isn't a great idea right now, and he would be open to a one-year deal. The question is: Would he make sense for the Astros? Answer (for me, anyway): Yes. But only if it's on the condition that Wandy or Myers is traded. Why? Let's examine, shall we? Yeah. Oswalt gets hurt. He has a back like my grandmother, and he'll be 34 in 2012. On the surface, he doesn't exactly fit what the Astros are trying to do. But if his goal is to re-establish value, then he really only needs to put together a solid half-season in Houston. READ MORE
Astros have hope as they kick off new era - Since 2000, many ownership changes have led to success. After a season in which the Astros lost 106 games while trading two impact outfielders, Houston fans haven't had to wait until 2012 to feel newfound hope. Sure, through those midseason trades, the club acquired high-ceiling players, but no doubt the biggest impact during the offseason has been the change of ownership led by Jim Crane's investment group and the hiring of new general manager Jeff Luhnow. Of course, any change -- whether it be a front-office shakeup or roster move -- doesn't necessarily mean it's for the better. And with such a young roster, change likely won't happen overnight. READ MORE
Super Bowl to be streamed online for first time - The Super Bowl will be streamed online and to phones in the United States for the first time, the NFL said Tuesday. NBC's broadcasts of wild card Saturday, the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl will be available on the league's and network's websites and through Verizon's NFL Mobile app.The service will include additional camera angles, in-game highlights and live stats -- and replays of those always popular Super Bowl ads.NBC has been streaming its Sunday Night Football telecasts for four seasons, and what the network has found is it's not just being used by fans who can't get in front of a set. Many of the page views come from people using the service as a complement to watching on TV. READ MORE
Managing the game not enough for Texans - One of the silly phrases which entered the football vernacular over the past few years is that some quarterbacks need only to "manage the game." "Managing the game" is code for "the guy can't play but hopefully he won't completely screw things up." Coaches manage the game. Players, including the quarterback, make plays. At least they do on winning teams. Show me a team that hopes its quarterback just "manages the game" and I'll show a bad team. Or, at least, not a very good one. READ MORE
Johnson ruled out; Daniels sits out with sore knee - Another week, another game for the Texans without Andre Johnson. The All-Pro wide receiver was unsurprisingly ruled out of Thursday’s game at Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon. He missed practice because of a left hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last two weeks. “Of course you’d like to play, but we’re going to do what’s best for the team and whatever we feel is best for me,” Johnson said. “If I had to go out and play the game today, I could go out and play. That’s pretty much it.” The Texans would like Johnson to return for the regular-season finale against Tennessee on Jan. 1. Johnson ran with Texans director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan on Tuesday. READ MORE
Unlike Jerry, Cowboys show no fear of Eagles - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said all you need to know about his petrified mindset heading into Saturday's showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium.As much as Jones believes the Cowboys can win their next two games to clinch the NFC East title, he is admittedly fearful of the Eagles -- especially quarterback Michael Vick and their potent offense.He can't forget the 34-7 blowout loss to the Eagles in October when the Cowboys trailed 24-0 at halftime and were rendered helpless.Vick passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns and added 50 more yards on the ground while running back LeSean McCoy had a career day with 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns.Jones is very afraid it could happen again. READ MORE
Cowboys monitoring Felix Jones' hamstring after he misses practice Tuesday - Felix Jones has had consecutive 100-yard games for the first time in his career. It's meant the most carries in back-to-back games.Tightness in Jones' hamstring prevented him from practicing Tuesday, though the Cowboys are hopeful he'll be fine for Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles."He feels good," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He just had this tightness in his hamstring, so we didn't think it was a good idea to have him practice. We're hopeful he'll be back out there [today] and be ready to go for Saturday's game."Dallas already has lost rookie running back DeMarco Murray for the season. Murray fractured his right ankle against the Giants on Dec. 11.Jones has carried the load the past two weeks, with 38 carries for 214 yards and nine catches for 54 yards. On a warm night in Tampa, Jones needed an IV at halftime and cramped late in the game. READ MORE
Stars-Flyers Preview - Philadelphia Flyers at Dallas Stars - Wednesday December 21, 6:30 p.m. TV: Versus/Radio: KTCK-1310 (AM). About the Stars - The Stars (19-12-1) opened a three-game homestand with a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks Monday night. It was the fourth win in the last five games for the Stars, who won despite blowing a 3-0 lead in the game. About the Flyers - The Flyers (20-8-4) opened a stretch of five straight on the road with a 3-2 shootout loss at Colorado Monday. The Flyers did manage to get a point out of the game and force overtime, tying the game with 18.1 seconds remaining on a goal by Wayne Simmonds. READ MORE
Texas Stars Report: Lacking Finish - Trailing behind many of their conference foes in games played, the busy past week was a great chance for the Texas Stars (12-14-0-1, 25 pts, #14 Western Conference) to catch up in the points race. With a 2-2 record on the week, the Stars missed their chance to get back to .500 on the season with a loss to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon. It was really an up and down week for the Stars. After losing to the OKC Barons (Edmonton Oilers) last week, they went to their house and kicked their teeth in in the first and eventually won 3-2. It was a strong win against the #1 team in the league. Then, they played a 3-in-3, losing 2 of 3, both against division foes. The only win on the weekend was at home against the Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres), a team that Texas had never played before that night. READ MORE
---Staff and Wire Reports contributed to this story
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
