Monday News and Notes

Monday, May 15, 2006

 

America’s greatest sports service the Dream Team at Godspicks.com goes to 5-1 our last six NBA by nailing our only Wise Guy play on the Clippers.  We are 24-13 in the NBA playoffs, a notch off our usual pace and several below a typical March Madness, but much better than 87 percent of the industry.

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NBA

Pistons-Cavaliers

Associated Press

One day after an 86-77 loss to the Cavaliers cut Detroit’s series lead in half, forward Rasheed Wallace, the irrepressible motor mouth from the Motor City, boldly declared the Pistons would win Game 4. On top of that, Wallace proclaimed the best-of-seven series over. The Pistons, up 2-1 in the series, will have to take better care of the ball and do more to contain LeBron James or they’ll have make another trip to Ohio. For the second straight game, the Cavaliers will be without guard Larry Hughes. He remains with his grieving family following the death of his 20-year-old brother, Justin, from heart failure on Thursday.  The Pistons are 6-0 in Game 4s the past two seasons.

 

Spurs-Mavericks

 

Associated Press

Since Tim Duncan's arrival in 1997, San Antonio has never rallied when trailing after three games. One thing the Spurs can think about is seeing Dirk Nowitzki in Game 4. The Mavericks forward said Sunday that he expects to play Monday despite swelling on the right ankle that he twisted in the closing moments of Saturday's thrilling 104-103 victory.

Nowitzki only shot free throws during practice on Sunday and said he's put ice on the ankle every two hours. He said the feeling remains stiff and that the pain is "up there" with other ankle injuries he's endured. But asked if there was any way he would miss Game 4, Nowitzki said, "If I lose a leg." Game 4 comes after a short break in the series after a three-day lull between Games 2 and 3. Game 5 will be Wednesday in San Antonio and Game 6, if necessary, will be back in Dallas on Friday. It's a pace the Mavericks prefer. Guard Jason Terry, who's averaging 16.3 points in the playoffs, said the shorter time has kept mistakes fresh and made correcting those problems an easier task.

 

Dallas Morning News

San Antonio is 3-12 this season when allowing opponents to score 100 or more points. The Mavericks have broken that barrier three times against the Spurs and won every time. Dallas has averaged 108.5 points in winning the last two games of the series. The Mavericks have outscored the Spurs in transition, 34-15, and have gone to the free throw line 93 times in those games.

 

MLB

 

Giants-Astros

 

Houston Chronicle

Taylor Buchholz (2-2, 3.82) starts for the Astros in the opener of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Minute Maid Park. Buchholz, who tossed three innings in relief against the Giants on April 13, is coming off his worst career start in which he allowed 12 hits and eight runs Wednesday in Los Angeles. Righthander Brad Hennessey (2-1, 3.08) will start for the Giants.

 

Padres-Diamondbacks

 

Scorephone.com

After starting the season with consecutive no decisions, Webb has ripped off six straight wins, including a victory in his last outing on May 10 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He held the Bucs to three runs on 10 hits in six innings with six K's and no walks. San Diego, which is 3-9 on a nine-game road swing, will send Chan Ho Park to the mound in Monday's opener. Park got the win in his last start on May 10 against Milwaukee. The righty tossed six shutout innings and improved to 1-0 over his last three starts. He faced the Diamondbacks this season on April 24 and was handed the loss. Park, who gave up four runs on nine hits in 8 2/3 innings, is 7-4 lifetime against San Diego with a complete game and a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts. Arizona swept a three-game set against San Diego from April 24-26 this season.