The Battle for the Belt: Will the Spurs Defend The Belt Against the Struggling Knicks?

NEXT BATTLE FOR THE BELT

 NYK @  SAS

Sunday, 2013-11-10

The Current Championship Belt Holder:

San Antonio Spurs
5 - 1 Season Record
1 - 0 as Challenger

0 - 0 as Defender of the Belt
Took the Belt from GSW on 11/8/2013

The Challenger:

New York Knicks
2 - 3 Season Record

0-0 with Belt on the line

h/t to reddit for the header image
*kudos to Timothy Lee for the "Keep or Weep" Slogan

Noteworthy: 11/9/2013

Balllin: Kyrie Irving with 39, 12 assists and 5 boards nullifying a really impressive game by Michael Carter-Williams.  Check out the clutch three by the rook and Kyrie countering with a smooth left-handed lay-up for the win.

Also tonight, Jeff Green with the most difficult of game winners.

From the inbounder using up almost all of the 5 seconds to pass the ball, to the fadeaway-corner-horse-type shot, this was kind of unbelievable.

C'mon now:  Jazz still winless, but tonights loss was in spectacular fashion.  The Raptors led the whole way, were up 26 at the half and played so much of their bench that someone named Dwight Buycks got minutes.

Almost:  Commentators said that Joe Johnson was 9 out of 10 in one possession 'tie or go-ahead' shots last year.  Tonight he had a chance to tie the game at 94-91, but hit the back rim and the Pacers ended up winning by 5, 96-91.

Shut down:  After putting up 137 at Staples Center on Monday, the Clippers whooped on the Rockets tonight in Houston 107-94.  Lots could be said here about what the difference is, but the fact that James  Harden is struggling against the defensive schemes by the Clipps or by the defensive tenaciousness of JJ Redick/Jared Dudley (probably not the latter) has got to be a big reason why the Rockets are struggling against that other team from LA. Against the clipps this year, Harden is 10-31 from the field and a ice cold 1-13 from three point land.

Other:  Roy Hibbert taking a selfie on NBA TV...Kyle Korver is now tied for number 2 all time in consecutive games with a three pointer in the 2nd quarter of tonight's game against the Magic (he passed Dennis Scott and is now 10 games away from Dana Barros' record).

Video: Joakim Noah Used To Be Called "Baby Lungs"

For context, this is portion of this week's episode of 'Inside Stuff' that was cut out about how Noah does unconventional water workouts to help him get through the grind of the NBA season.  Personally, I think this is gold and the producers should have included this in the episode because I'd love to know what other nicknames the Bulls veterans gave to their younger colleagues.  I imagine Brad Miller calling Taj Gibson 'putback champ' or maybe Derrick Rose "Dead Serious".

Noteworthy: 11/8/2013

Almost triple doubles for the Kevins:

Durant scored 37 points on 15 shots which sounds like he must have made a whole lot of his points on free throws.  He did, making 17 out of 19.  Plus, Durant had 8 boards, 7 assists, 3 steals and a block.

Love continuing his hot streak with 32 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists and a block.

Breakout:

Anthony Davis had his career high with 32 points along with 12 rebounds, 6 blocks and a steal.  No sign of a sophomore slump for the brow.

Off the Bench: Markeef Morris had his second good game in a row as a sub for the Suns scoring 23 and grabbing 10 boards. Among his many highlights from this game was perhaps the first NBA pick n roll involving twins.  

Not a historian, but i'd venture to say that the Morris brothers are the first twinsies to do this in the League.

Whoa.  Nice to meet you, Joe freeland.  


The Trailblazers, since the days of Joel Pryzbilla and Theo Ratliff and to a certain extent although in far fewer games, Greg Oden, always seem to have these guys who have highlight reel blocks at the rim.  I'll keep looking out for insane 2 handed block attempts from Freeland.  

Maybe boxout, Nets.

Whoops too late, Nene got the tip in.  Then, Wizards outplay the Nets in overtime.  Someone definitely should have boxed out #42.

A night of chasedown blocks.  Who did it best?

Rudy Gay spikes Paul George's layup

Kemba Walker soars in with the block on Pablo Priogini

or my personal favorite

Not bad, Thad.

Other: A portland trailblazer fan video about them replacing the chalupa give-away at Blazer games...Some JJ Barea highlights with Super Mario music as accompanyment(thanks Gabe for noticing this on Grantland)...Patty Mills and Boris Diaw singing 'killing me softly...Patrick Ewing coached his first game as an NBA head coach as a temporary replacement for Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford.