BACK! With News and Notes From the Playoffs and Lone NBA Game

The NFL has got to give itself some wiggle room for playoff times. I mean, why does it have to alternate year-to-year which Conference title game comes first and second? I understand that the ratings are going to be through the roof either way, but isn't the point to make as much money as possible without hindering the game-play and allowing the audience to enjoy the game to a maximum? If so, then the Packers/Giants should be playing in the 3:00 pm Eastern Time slot and the Pats/Chargers should be in the primetime (6:30 pm eastern) slot. Who thinks that the Packers and Giants playing in sub-zero temperatures is going to be fun for the players and fans? Honestly, these fans are paying ridiculous amounts of money to freeze their tails off. New England won't be warm either, but it sure as hell isn't Lambeau Field at the coldest time of year. With that said, I am hoping the NFL will change its ways and switch it up. I get trying to be fair to both conferences by doing this, but it's a little ridiculous. Before I get to the game(s) in both leagues, I wanted to mention the little vertical notes on the left. I'll gradually put more of my "Fav 5's" up as my entries grow, with this "NBA Players" one being the 1st.

Now to the NFL:

The Pats are now 18-0, beating the Chargers 24-12 in a decent game. The Chargers started both Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson, but it wasn't enough. Surprisingly enough, this was a battle of the defenses. Rivers threw 2 picks, while Brady threw 3 (with also 2 TDs). LT only got 2 carries for 5 yards the whole game as he watched most of this one from the San Diego sideline. San Diego looked to threaten in the 3rd when Antonio Cromartie intercepted Tom Brady (3rd INT) in the end zone from within in SD 10 yard line. It was a huge momentum turner, but the Pats overcame it, like they've overcome every obstacle this season. Moss was held without a single catch in this one, but the 2 running backs, Kevin Faulk (8 catches, 82 yards) and Laurence Maroney (25 carries, 122 yards and a TD) were huge in this game to help the Pats reach another Super Bowl. The Pats failed to cover the spread (-14) in this game again. I believe it’s been 9 straight games without a cover now, but clearly they don't care about those sorts of things.

On the NFC side, a replay of the "Ice Bowl" was in the making, as this Green Bay game was the 3rd coldest in NFL history (-1 degrees, -23 with wind chill). The Packers and Giants both opened the game throwing the ball and Brett Favre, the messiah, was wildly ineffective with his small passes to both his running backs and wide receivers for small gains. The game was close throughout and actually needed OT for another Giants road win (+8 in this one). I thought coming in that a huge factor would be the Giants running game versus the Packers. The Pack feature their lone back, Ryan Grant, who played for the Giants and came out of nowhere in the middle of the season, while the Giants used their 2-headed running attack with both Brandon Jacobs, a beast, and Ahmad Bradshaw, a quick and deceptive back. Grant only got 13 carries for 29 yards in this one, while the Giants' duo combined for 37 carries, 130 yards and 2 TDs. It was clearly a game-changer. Brett Favre threw the ball 35 times for 2 TDs, but the Giants controlled the ball better with their running to give Eli Manning 40 throws. Favre looks to have gotten a better line, but he had 2 INTs, while Eli is still perfect this postseason with ZERO picks. The Giants move onto Super Bowl XLII to meet the Pats for a rematch of the final regular season game, which the Pats won in the 4th quarter 38-35. Good Luck getting a ticket for this one.

One game in the NBA tonight and it was in Phoenix. I don't understand why they would even have a lone game tonight, but whatever. It was a loss by the Nets (who have lost 3 straight against the Knicks in ONE season). Nothing was too much out of the ordinary. Phoenix was clicking on all cylinders in a home beat down of a bad team. Boris Diaw had a solid game, still starting for Grant Hill, with 14 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assts, 2 stls with no TOs. I guess he'd be a decent starter for a couple of weeks, since he's been solid in the past with some PT, but I personally don't believe he's a good player with a better post player on the floor with him. He's shown in this game that his fantasy game is sweet if he's on.