they can add playoff teams, but not before

Posted in IYH Forums by lavender123456 at 01:18, Jun 28 2014

NEW YORK -- Paul George and the Pacers were down and just about out, seconds away from consecutive losses. Once a late foul call gave him a chance to tie it, he wasnt letting Indiana lose it in overtime. "I wanted to attack," he said. George made three throws to tie it with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, then scored nine of his season-high 35 points in the extra period as Indiana pulled out a 103-96 victory Wednesday night over the New York Knicks, who dropped their sixth straight at home. New York scored the first 13 points, but this settled into a playoff-type game between teams that met in the post-season last May. And it again went to the Pacers, who bounced back from their first loss after a franchise-record 9-0 start. "Heck of a win for our guys," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "A grind-it-out kind of game. Thats sometimes when were at our best. The offence wasnt really flowing but our defence really buckled down." George Hill added 23 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who beat the Knicks in six games in last seasons Eastern Conference semifinals. Just as in the clincher of that series, Roy Hibbert had a pivotal block on Carmelo Anthonys drive to the basket. Anthony had 30 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for the Knicks, who looked completely deflated after they couldnt score following the free throws George made when Iman Shumpert was called for fouling him. George then put away the Knicks in overtime, keeping them winless at home since beating Milwaukee on Oct. 30 in their season opener. "I thought we had the game won," Anthony said. "And in overtime, I dont know, they just walked away with it." J.R. Smith had 21 points, and Beno Udrih scored a season-high 19 for the Knicks, including a go-ahead shot with 1:21 left in regulation when he appeared to just throw it at the rim when Anthony couldnt get free. The Knicks protected the lead through a couple of missed 3-pointers by Hill, and Anthony made two free throws for an 89-86 lead with 9.2 seconds left. Shumpert was then called for the foul on George, with replays showing what appeared to be perhaps just a slight touch to Georges arm. The All-Star sank the free throws, and Anthony missed on the other end, and Smith was off on a tip attempt. "It dont really matter what I think or what happened," Shumpert said. "They called the foul." The stunned Knicks walked back to the bench as if they had just lost -- and pretty soon, they had. George followed Hibberts block with a 3-pointer, and answered Anthonys basket with four straight points to put the Pacers in control. Last seasons winner of the Most Improved Player award said he would have deferred in similar situations in the past. "I would have looked to have someone else to be in that position or that role," George said. "This year, this time around I want to be more aggressive." The Knicks were again without injured starters Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. Amare Stoudemire also didnt play on the second night of the back-to-back. They now go on a four-game road trip, perhaps what they need with their inability to win on their home floor. George was two shy of his career high, bouncing back well from a season-low 12 points on 3-for-14 shooting in a 110-94 loss at Chicago that ended Indianas perfect start. The Knicks jumped to a 13-0 lead while Indiana missed its first seven shots. The Pacers were only 5 for 20 in the first quarter, but one of the makes was Hibberts ugly, banked 3-pointer that beat the buzzer and cut it to 19-14. New York was ahead 42-37 at the half and never trailed by more than four until overtime. The teams were evenly matched last season, only minutes from heading to a Game 7 until Hibberts sensational, momentum-shifting block on Anthonys dunk attempt late in Game 6. Indiana went on to force Miami to seven games in the East finals and is intent on doing better this season. As for the Knicks, they are 3-8, unable to match their strong start last season, certainly not able to keep pace with Indianas blistering start. This was a much better performance from the Knicks, who had been critical of their own effort and were coming off a loss in Detroit a night earlier, but not good enough. Notes: Metta World Peace returned, saying he had fluid drained from his left knee twice in recent weeks. ... Danny Granger is with the Pacers on their trip that concludes Friday at Boston, but Vogel said Granger is still experiencing soreness in his left calf and wont practice until that is gone. cheap jerseys . With England leading a tight game 1-0, Ukrainian striker Marko Devic saw his deflected shot cleared from the goal line by England defender John Terry. cheap jerseys from china . That was fine with the Detroit outfielder -- especially once he was smiling and celebrating after hitting the winning single. http://www.cheapnfljerseyfromchina.us/. City showed its title credentials with a devastating rout that maintained its perfect home record this season. Down at Craven Cottage, United scored three times in the space of 13 minutes to dispatch Fulham 3-1, courtesy of goals from Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. cheap nfl jerseys . In his 105th match for Madrid, Ronaldo curled in a free kick in the 24th minute and then reached his century from the penalty spot in the 70th after being fouled by Mouhamadou Dabo. "I didnt expect to score my 100th goal so soon," he said. wholesale jerseys . The six-foot, 195-pound Parker was an East Division all-star last season after registering a career-high 57 tackles with a forced fumble and interception.TSNs Dave Hodge sounds off on all the hockey issues of the day in Hodgemail. Write in to answer Daves weekly question and watch the NHL on TSN tonight to see if he reads your response. Earlier this month, Major League Baseball turned a few heads with the announcement that it was expanding its playoff format to 10 teams this season by adding a wild-card club to each league. A grand total of ten teams (out of 30) will make the postseason, relatively increasing the chances of a club winning the World Series. So should the National Hockey League add a couple of more teams to the playoff picture as well? Back in the 1990-91 season, only five of the NHLs 21 teams missed the playoffs. And with the addition of nine more teams over the next decade, just over 50 percent of the clubs end up playing hockey in the spring. So heres Daves question to you was: "Major League Baseball has added two playoff teams. Should the NHL increase its playoff membership?" And here are the answers that Dave liked best: Tony says: "Sure. More late-season interest in more cities, more money generated by more teams, more playoff opportunities for more players…everybody wins." Jonathan writes: "Ill make the same case for hockey that I made for baseball. Whatever helps Toronto get into the playoffs." (we heard the same sentiment from Winnipeg and Edmonton, and.....) We heard this from Harold, a fan in Calgary: &quoot;Now that the Flames are in eighth place, I can say we dont need it, but check with me next year.dddddddddddd." Steve offers this logic: "if and when they add expansion teams, they can add playoff teams, but not before." Murray states flatly: "No. The playoffs are long enough as it is.....any longer and Ill be divorced." (You mean, go back to the 90s when you made the playoffs unless you were Hartford?) Larry says: "If there were more playoff teams, there would be more buyers and fewer sellers at the trade deadline." (ah yes, its all about the trade deadline). And Daves Reply to All: For as long as the NHL has allowed 16 teams into the playoffs, it has heard the criticism that post-season participation is too easy. But all it takes for someone to suggest it should be made easier is a team that misses the playoffs by a point or two and a general manager who tries to sell the idea that 90-plus points should be rewarded somehow. Heres an idea, a new system that has 20 playoff teams. The bottom eight in a short first round, the winners joining the other 12 in the second round. That number is hard to stomach, as its only 10 less than the nutty idea of Islanders owner Charles Wong that all 30 teams should make the playoffs. Baseball can sell two more playoff teams because two more only makes 10. The best you can say for 16 is that hockey fans are accustomed to it--the number is not going down and it shouldnt go up. ' ' '