July 16th, 2009 Picks

(toggle)

(skip to picks)2-4-0 today. Ran my all-star game streak out to 4 with the Argentine women's field hockey team, but then I got suckered into the `freebie' WNBA pick and lost by 1 point along with the Mystics. So with nothing to lose I got jibbered by Stabæk IF who were (ugh!) pleased with their 1-1 draw in Albania. Then Jodie Meeks fell short on the points followed by DeMar DeRozan scoring too many. Finally I managed to get back to the green with Joey Dorsey's surge of rebounding and scoring in the fourth quarter. Yesterday just confirmed what we all already know: guessing is generally as effective as researching the pick. And so, on to the picks!

Recaps

Las Leonas Rise To The Top With Third Consecutive Win

Argentina 3 - 1 England

I suppose England could have won, but I'm not sure they ever have in this tournament. Against anyone.

``After England’s lead Argentina pressed them deep and gained the equaliser scored by Soledad Garcia. Argentina was able to take the lead after Aymar won possession in a brilliant way, defeated a couple of English defenders and passed to Carla Rebecchi who waited already for the ball and scored. “It was a tough game as it normally is against England. We’re very glad to get the three points. We defended and attacked very well tonight", Rebecchi said. Noel Barrionuevo increased the lead in the second half by scoring another penalty corner goal. With the confident lead in the back Argentina slowed down the pace. England really wanted to score, gained the opportunities for it but were just too unlucky to defeat goalkeeper Maria Belen Succi again."

Read more....Box ScoreNotesPhotos

Alana Beard Fouls Out As Silver Stars Strip Mystics Of Final Chance

San Antonio Silver Stars 79 - 78 Washington Mystics

Washington nearly gave up a 12 point lead before winning in San Antone two weeks ago. This time it was the Silver Stars who nearly gave up the lead.

``The Silver Stars (6-6) nearly blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and gave the Mystics a chance to win when Hammon committed an offensive foul with 3 seconds. Washington tried to set up for the winning shot, but Lindsey Harding's inbounds pass was stolen by Belinda Snell to seal the game. The Mystics trailed by as much as 12, relying on the play of Harding, who poured in 18 points, and Alana Beard, who scored 18 points, despite playing much of the second half with four fouls. Matee Ajavon was key to the Mystics' comeback, scoring 14 points, including a 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining that moved the Mystics to within one point."

Read more....Box Score

Tirana Captain Mukaj Makes Knudsen Pay For Mistake

KF Tirana 1 - 1 Stabæk IF

Japanese off-season acquisition Daigo Kobayashi scored first for Stabæk, but KF Tirana's captain Devis Mukaj equalized five minutes into the second half. Stabæk keeper Jon Knudsen failed to clear the ball with a block and Mukaj ended up with an open net shot from up close. Of course those Norwegian dogs are happy to be all square heading home for the second leg, hah!

``Etter pause presset Tirana på for utligning og fikk tellende resultater etter 50 minutter fa Devis Mukaj scoret på åpent mål. Jon Knudsen klarte ikke å holde et skudd fra skrått hold, og Stabæk-forsvaret maktet ikke å markere Mukaj, som fikk stå alene foran mål og pirke inn returen. På overtid hadde Daniel Nannskog en stor mulighet til å avgjøre kampen. Svenskens lobb gikk imidlertid like utenfor. `Det var et godt forsøk, og den gikk nesten inn. Både Daniel og Fredrik gjorde en god jobb her nede.' mente Jönsson."

Read more....Brief English ReportMinutesLineups

Joe Alexander Leads Bucks To Fourth Consecutive Summer League Victory

Milwaukee Bucks 87 - 72 Chicago Bulls (J. Alexander 18, J. Meeks 16)

Jodie Meeks' 60% shooting percentage regressed to the norm a bit and Joe Alexander did the same with his 33% field goal percentage. Without as many free throws the result was Alexander by two.

``The Bucks led for nearly the entire game going coast-to-coast for all but half of the second quarter. The teams traded the lead on four occasions before Joe Alexander put Milwaukee up for good at 35-34 on a jumper with 3:44 remaining in the half. Alexander’s bucket initiated a 14-6 run by the Bucks to end the half with a nine-point cushion at 47-38. Milwaukee kept things revving for the final 20 minutes of the game, as they held a double-digit lead for most of the period, including two 15-point leads. Alexander was the game’s top scorer with 18 on 7-of-16 shooting. Amir Johnson followed Alexander’s hot hand with 17 of his own. Jodie Meeks and Brandon Jennings rounded out the quartet of the Buck scorers with 16 and 14, respectively."

Read more....Box ScorePlay-By-Play

DeRozan Leads The Way With 20 Points As Ibekwe Denies Suns

Toronto Raptors 74 - 73 Phoenix Suns (DeMar DeRozan, 20 pts. on 9/16 shooting)

DeMar DeRozan was shooting 73% from the field (8-for-11) until a string of misses in the fourth brought his percentage down to mortal levels.

``The Raptors rallied in the final 7:28 and got the game-winning basket via alley-oop from DeRozen with 46 seconds remaining in the game. The Suns’ Goran Dragic went coast-to-coast with seven seconds remaining and put up a running jumper that was swatted away by Ibekwe. Unfortunately, Ibekwe landed awkwardly and had to be taken off the court via stretcher. DeRozan led all scorers with 20 points off 9-of-16 shooting. Roko Ukic joined DeRozan and Douby in double figures with 10 of his own. Phoenix was got a double-double from Earl Clark, who had a team-high 13 points and 12 boards. Robin Lopez notched 11 points to round out the 10-point scorers for the Suns."

Read more....Box ScorePlay-By-Play

Rockets Rally To Remain Unbeaten In Summer League Play

Houston Rocket 87 - 82 Portland Trailblazers
J. Dorsey 9 pts., 11 reb. (20); J. Bayless 13 pts., 0 stl. (13)

Dorsey nabbed 6 boards in the last 6 minutes of the game and added a couple of baskets down the stretch as well.

``The Rockets trailed 80-77 with 1:23 remaining in regulation before mounting their comeback. Chase Budinger began the rally with five consecutive points that started with a three pointer and quickly followed by two made free throws. The team’s final five points were made from the charity stripe with Garrett Temple scoring one and Maarty Leunen knocking down the next four."

Read more....Box ScorePlay-By-Play

Picks
1) Tiger Woods vs. Lee Westwood or Ryo Ishikawa - Woods cards a lower first round score
2) Tony Martin vs. Bradley Wiggins - Wiggins has a better finish
3) Jim Furyk vs. Padraig Harrington - Harrington cards a lower first round score
4) Hammarby @ BK Häcken - BK Häcken
5) Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 159 points or fewer
6) Chicago Cubs @ Washington Nationals - Washington
7) Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds - Milwaukee
8) Philadelphia Phillies @ Florida Marlins - Florida
9) United States vs. Netherlands - U.S.A. allows 4 hits or fewer
10) David Beckham vs. Landon Donovan - Beckham records more or equal goals and assists
11) BC Lions @ Edmonton Eskimos - 53 points or fewer
12) Los Angeles Angels @ Oakland Athletics - Oakland
13) Colorado Rockies @ San Diego Padres - Colorado