Missing: Melo Meshing

Carmelo Anthony and the new-look Knicks were crushed by Cleveland 115-109 at Quicken Loans Arena Friday. The dreadful but diligent Cavaliers bested New York in Anthony’s second game since being traded from Denver. The Cavs won for just the 11th time this season behind five double digit scorers. Veteran forward, Antawn Jamison, led the way with 28 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Hickson scored 24 to go along with a game-high 15 boards in the win. Anthony tallied 27 points, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. New York’s A’mare Stoudemire led all scorers with 31 points and contributed five blocks. The 6’10” Stoudemire is still adjusting to life with Anthony on his side. Both players undeniably excel at succeeding individually, but are unfamiliar with playing together. It could take a while before the Knicks begin to mesh. Last night, New York took Cleveland too lightly and paid for it.
Baron Davis was sidelined during the second half for Cleveland, but the Cavs still scored 62 in his absence. Cleveland took advantage of New York’s confused defense and utilized their scrappy roster to put up 115 points overall. Anthony scored 14 first quarter points as the Knicks led 30-28 heading into the second stanza. The home team rebounded to post a 25 point second quarter that tied the game at the break. Jamison’s offensive rebounds proved the difference in the second half. Ramon Sessions added 12 buckets, including nine free throws for the Cavs, who shot 70% from the foul line. New York quickly fell behind, scoring just 22 to Cleveland’s 30 in the third quarter.
Chauncy Billips pocketed 20 fourth quarter points for the Knicks and finished the game with 26. Billips’ jumper with two minutes to play cut the Cavs’ edge to 103-101. The short-handed Cavs would not be denied. Instead, they canned the Knicks by working the shot clock down and relying on swift shooting Daniel Gibson to hit a late three. Gibson’s launch made it a five point Cleveland lead with thirty ticks and was the real dagger for New York’s comeback hopes. Anthony came through with a layup to trim the lead to three, but missed a free throw and was fouled out on the next play. Anthony notched just 11 points through the last three quarters and left with a numb elbow. Stoudemire ironically seemed to do his best scoring with Anthony on the bench. Cleveland held the edge on the boards 62-42 and was able to outwork New York for their second win against the Knicks this season.

Parting Points: Yankees’ Spring Training opener today!

Thursday Take-Twos (Tattoo edition)

Reports out of Columbus about a possible investigation into the Ohio State football team have Sugar Bowl implications. During last night’s game between Boise State and Utah, OSU alum and ESPN reporter, Kirk Herbstreit indicated the university is meeting with officials regarding allegations about players’ participation in receiving tattoos for autographs. According to the report, as many as nine football players are being charged with allegations of trading undocumented autographs and memorabilia for tattoos. Herbstreit reported the IRS raided a tattoo parlor, where the memorabilia was discovered. The investigations were apparently an offshoot of another probe by law enforcement agencies of unlawful behavior by the parlor owner, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The NCAA is looking into the charges of illegal benefits. All players remain eligible at this time for the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Alabama. Several starting players are being named in the tattoo allegations and their status for the bowl could be in jeopardy if the committee takes action. At the very least, the allegations are a distraction to the team as they prepare to beat an SEC school in a bowl game for the first time.
Speaking of tattoos and athletes, is Carmelo Anthony headed to the New York Knicks? Anthony has a “live now, die later” tat on his left arm. The Knicks should adopt that motto and go hard for the Denver superstar. Melo told the Nuggets he will not sign a three year contract extension unless he is traded to the Knicks. If Anthony remains in Denver for the rest of the season, he will become an unrestricted free agent. A trade to Manhattan would be ideal for the upstart Knicks, who added a top flight player in Amare Stoudemire this off-season. Danilo Gallinari and Landry Fields are among the players the Knicks could swap in exchange for Melo. The Nuggest have interest in rookie Fields, who has starred in every game and been a huge reason for New York’s surge this season. The NBA trade deadline is February 24th. Anthony, a former Syracuse standout, would be a nice fit for New York. Fans are split on adding Anthony to the lineup because the Knicks are so hot right now. Defensive-minded and one of the best pure scorers, Melo would boost the Knicks to serious title contenders if he was traded. Sympathy and prayers go out to the 26 year old Nuggets’ All-Star who recently lost his sister to a pre-existing medical condition.

Parting Points: I wrote this blog this morning…so here is the update. Five OSU players have been suspended for five games in 2011. Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron and Devier Posey are among the players listed. Totally unfair, when you consider Cam Newton was able to suit up the entire season, win the Heisman and participate in the national championship game for doing FAR worse than the Buckeyes.

Carmelo's Clamp at Clock

Carmelo Anthony dialed up 31 points and delivered a block at the buzzer as the Nuggets held off the Lakers 98-96 in Denver. The Western conference-leading Lakers dropped their fourth game in five tries but played Thursday without Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Pau Gasol carried L.A.’s offense with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Lamar Odom matched Gasol in rebounds and Ron Artest added 22 points in the Pepsi Center road loss. The Lakers failed to clinch the top seed in the conference when Derek Fisher’s 3-point attempt was blocked by Anthony as time expired.
MVP Bryant sat out with nagging injuries for Phil Jackson’s 55-23 Lakers. L.A. is tied with the Orlando Magic for the second best record in the league. Denver dove a full game ahead of Utah for the Northwest division lead with the win. The Nuggets clung to a one point advantage with 18 ticks on the clock. L.A.’s Shannon Brown grabbed a rebound off J.R. Smith’s shot and passed to an open Fisher in transition. Denver’s Chanchey Billups swooped in to break up the pass to give the Nuggets possession. Billups led all players with six assists on the night. The Lakers got the ball back following a Smith free throw and being down by a bucket. Fisher’s last-ditch shot went for naught as Anthony’s outstretched arms prevented the tying basket. Smith finished with 26 points and Billups landed 12 as the Nuggets outlasted the slumping Lakers.
The Lakers were out-scored in every quarter except the third, but made a game of it despite key injuries. Denver raced out to a 15 point lead in the third quarter but the Lakers came roaring back to reclaim the edge. Seven year star, Nene Hilario, made a pair of free throws to give the Nuggets the lead for good with just over a minute remaining. Hilario tallied 11 points and 7 rebounds, while notching 7-of-10 from the line. The Nuggets were just too swift and smooth from the field. Smith was on target with 5-of-11 shots from long range to move into first place on the franchise’s all time 3-point list. Denver made 11 baskets, finishing 44% from the arc. Anthony contributed three from downtown and blocked three shots. The former Syracuse standout committed just one turnover and went 10-of-20 from the field. The Lakers were a sure-handed and accurate 84.8% from the charity stripe. Gasol knocked down 10-of-11 free throws. There has been speculation that Jackson is resting Bryant with the playoffs looming. It’s unknown whether Bryant will play Friday against Minnesota. Sasha Vujacic started in place of Bryant. Vujacic’s slow first half prompted Jackson to replace the Yugoslavian with Brown. Brown grabbed a dozen points. Jordan Farmar hit a trey and Vujacic returned to score six points to give L.A. a lead in the fourth quarter. The Lakers would get as close as two points before losing the game to 52-win Denver.

Parting Points: Take home pay. Brad Stevens is rewarded with a 12 year extension at Butler.

Walk-off win in Cincy. Jonny Gomes goes yard as the Reds top the Redbirds.