![[SPORTS] KNICKS LOSING STREAK HITS SIX AFTER TOUGH LOSS TO TRAIL BLAZERS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8624-1.jpg?resize=896%2C504&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 21, 2018 | SPORTS
Blazers Duo Too Much To Overcome
Which players are going to step and take advantage of the moments and opportunities to help the Knicks win games is the question David Fizdale had for his young group as they returned back home not remembering what victory looked like.
They still don’t.
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New York Knicks 118-114 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden to extend the Knicks losing streak to six games.
The backcourt scoring duo of C.J. McCollum (31 points, four rebound, two assists) and Damian Lillard (29 points, eight assists, six rebounds) led the way late as New York were once again unable to finish.
The New York Knicks (4-14) led for much of the game and held a 10-point third quarter lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, who are off to a stellar start to beginning of the season.
They would be unable to hold that lead as the Blazers used a strong third quarter push to take a 89-85 lead into the fourth. While the Knicks kept it close by doing an effective job of defending the Blazers perimeter players as well as they could.
Still, there were missed opportunities for New York, who were particularly sloppy with the basketball with 15 turnovers on Tuesday night.
Noah Vonleh will certainly have a tough night sleeping as he had a tough night shooting free throws. His four consecutive misses in his two trips to the line kept New York from closing the gap completely on Portland as the Knicks faithful moaned after each miss at the line.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a game-high 32 points while collecting five rebounds and four assists. It’s his third straight 30-point game and his sixth of the season to this point.
Trey Burke was also strong off the bench for New York with 19 points, continuing his streak of strong games as he’s averaging 24.7 PPG over New York’s last three games.
David Fizdale went with a four guard lineup over the final minutes and that would prove costly on one of the biggest plays of the game.
Following a miss from Damian Lillard with New York trailing 116-114, Jusuf Nurkic would tip the ball in the air over Noah Vonleh and Evan Turner would score on the follow on the other side of the paint uncontested to put Portland up by four with 9.5 seconds to go.
Fizdale’s starting lineup carousel continued tonight, and it may be the Knicks best lineup yet, one that gave the Trail Blazers all they could handle at the Garden.
The bench saw a spark of energy out of Mitchell Robinson with six points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 18 minutes, the kind of effort and production New York needs out of him now that he’s back to the reserves.
As agonizing as each loss becomes, New York played a fine game, all things considered, something that can be used as a boost moving forward.
The New York Knicks will have a quick turnaround as they visit the struggling Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at the TD Garden Arena.
What are your thoughts on the Knicks new starting lineup? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 12 POWER RANKINGS: EVERY TEAM’S DIVISION RECORD](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8599-1.jpg?resize=920%2C606&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 20, 2018 | SPORTS
Colts Rise In Power Rankings After Huge Win
It’s almost Turkey time!
It’s my favorite time of the year as it pertains to the regular-season as this is the time where the division races heat up and of course macaroni and cheese and yams get passed around at the dinner table on Thursday.
In all seriousness, with six weeks remaining in the season, the time is now for a number of fringe playoff teams that are at or below the .500 mark as their window to make the postseason is closing.
If you’re one of five 5-5 teams in the AFC, you may think the window to get in is as open as ever as five teams are sitting right in reach of the sixth and final playoff spot.
In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings are holding firm on the last playoff spot, but with their upcoming schedule they may not have much reason to feel safe about their playoff chances as their next two games following a home game vs the Green Bay Packers are road games in New England and Seattle.
Ouch.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are moving up while the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons are moving down.
We will be looking at all 32 teams and their divisional records this season. The top teams in the NFL take care of their divisional foes, but quite surprisingly you’ll find that a number of the teams in the top 10 have tasted defeat already within their own divisions.
Let’s get started!
1. New Orleans Saints (9-1)
The New Orleans Saints are 1-1 in the NFC South, with a home game coming up on Thursday night vs the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans edged the Falcons 43-37 back in Week 3 in Atlanta.
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
The Los Angeles Rams are 4-0 in the NFC West, having already swept their top competitors for the division coming into the season in the Seattle Seahawks already.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)
The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 in the AFC West, having already swept the Denver Broncos. They have yet to play the Oakland Raiders, who sit at 2-8 this season.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-1-1 in the AFC North. After starting 0-1-1 in the division, they are 3-0.
5. Chicago Bears (7-3)
The Chicago Bears are 2-1 in the NFC North, with their two wins coming in the past two weeks vs the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings at home.
6. New England Patriots (7-3)
The New England Patriots are 2-0 in the AFC East. They’ll look to improve to 3-0 with a road date with the New York Jets this Sunday.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
The Los Angeles Chargers are 2-2 in the AFC West, with disappointing home losses coming to the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. They have swept the Oakland Raiders.
8. Houston Texans (7-3)
The Houston Texans are 2-1 in the AFC South. They will look to avoid a season sweep on Monday night when they host the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium.
9. Carolina Panthers (6-4)
The Carolina Panthers are 1-1 in the NFC South. They’ll play the division leading Saints twice in a three-week span at the end of the season.
10. Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1)
The Minnesota Vikings are 1-1-1 in the NFC North. They host the Green Bay Packers this Sunday night in a must-win game if they want to stay in the division race with the Chicago Bears.
11. Washington Redskins (6-4)
The Washington Redskins are 2-0 in the NFC East. They have a heavyweight matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, whom they have already defeated this season, set for Thanksgiving in Jerry World.
12. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
The Dallas Cowboys are 2-1 in the NFC East. Dallas will look to vault into first place this Thursday when they host the NFC East-leading Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium.
13. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
The Baltimore Ravens are 2-3 in the AFC North. Their lone divisional game left to play will be in Week 17 when they host the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium.
14. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
The Indianapolis Colts are 2-1 in the AFC South. They are coming off a 38-10 drubbing over the Tennessee Titans last season and each of their past two wins have been to divisional rivals.
15. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
The Seattle Seahawks are 1-2 in the NFC North. Both of their losses have come at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams this season.
16. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
The Tennessee Titans are 2-1 in the AFC South. They could do without facing the Indianapolis Colts this season, but they’ll have to turn their attentions to the Houston Texans on Monday night.
17. Green Bay Packers (4-5-1)
The Green Bay Packers are 1-1-1 in the NFC North. They’ll visit the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday looking to save their season.
18. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
The Atlanta Falcons are 2-1 in the NFC South. They’ll look to even the season series with their bitter rival New Orleans Saints this Thursday night in the Bayou.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-1 in the NFC East. Philadelphia will look to find something at home after losing three out of their past four games when they host the last place New York Giants this season.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-2 in the AFC North. They’ll get their first crack at the Cleveland Browns this Sunday in Cincy.
21. Denver Broncos (4-6)
The Denver Broncos are 2-2 in the AFC West. Their two losses this season in the division have come against the Kansas City Chiefs.
22. Miami Dolphins (5-5)
The Miami Dolphins are 2-1 in the AFC East. Both of their division wins this season have come against the New York Jets.
23. Detroit Lions (4-6)
The Detroit Lions are 1-2 in the NFC North. They’ll host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on Thanksgiving in their second matchup in three weeks.
24. Cleveland Browns (3-6-1)
The Cleveland Browns are 1-1-1 in the AFC North. They’ll face the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time this season on Sunday when the visit Paul Brown Stadium.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
The Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-3 in the AFC South. They have lost to all three of their divisional rivals so far this season.
26. New York Giants (3-7)
The New York Giants are 0-3 in the NFC East this season. They will look to change that trend this Sunday when they visit the skidding Philadelphia Eagles.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1-2 in the NFC South this season. Their lone win in the division also represents the only loss the New Orleans Saints have had this season.
28. Buffalo Bills (3-7)
The Buffalo Bills are 1-1 in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills will likely start three different quarterbacks this season vs divisional opponents as Derek Anderson and Matt Barkley have made starts in place of an injured Josh Allen, who returns this Sunday.
29. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)
The San Francisco 49ers are 0-3 in the NFC West. They have been swept by the Arizona Cardinals this season.
30. New York Jets (3-7)
The New York Jets are 0-3 in the AFC East this season. They are 0-2 at home vs divisional opponents and welcome the New England Patriots into MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
31. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)
The Arizona Cardinals are 2-2 in the NFC West this season. They have swept the San Francisco 49ers.
32. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
The Oakland Raiders are 0-3 in the AFC West. They have been swept by the Los Angeles Chargers and have yet to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
What are your thoughts on this week’s NFL power rankings? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GOFF, RAMS WIN LEGENDARY SHOOTOUT VS CHIEFS IN L.A.](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8602-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 20, 2018 | SPORTS
Holy S***!!!
The NFL at its very best is when two of the best teams show up to the game and leave it all on the field, and that’s what millions at home were witness in a marathon for the ages.
If you blinked you may have missed a touchdown or a huge play made by not just the two high-scoring offenses on display Monday night, but the defenses as well.
The Los Angeles Rams were expecting a hellacious battle on Monday night in Los Angeles with the Kansas City Chiefs and the team in red wouldn’t disappoint them or anyone watching.
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 54-51 on Monday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a battle of 9-1 football teams.
Jared Goff hit Gerald Everett on a game-winning 40-yard touchdown after the two minute warning and the Rams defense sealed the game with two interceptions over the final 1:49 as the Rams moved to 10-1 in dramatic fashion.
Goff finished the game with 413 passing yards and four touchdowns as he out-dueled Patrick Mahomes, who finished with a career-high 478 passing to go with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Each quarterback lost a pair of fumbles.
The Rams defense was gashed by one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses in recent memory, but that didn’t stop Aaron Donald, Marcus Peters and others from making plays for the team to win this game.
Donald knifed in for two sacks on the night, both strip sacks, with one being recovered for a touchdown by Samson Ebukam, who became a star on the night.
The 23-year-old linebacker scored on a fumble recovery and a interception return on the night while sacking Mahomes in a breakout performance.
In a moment of truth for the Rams struggling defense, the defense created just enough pressure to force Patrick Mahomes into under throwing a poorly thrown ball right into the hands of Marcus Peters for a late interception and then another by Lamarcus Joyner to end the game.
A highly anticipated showdown which had an over/under set at 64 points and was expected to be the game of the year, broke a number of records on a historic night.
It’s the the highest scoring Monday Night Football game in NFL history and the third highest scoring game in NFL history at 105 combined points.
The game featured six lead changes and two ties. A total of three lead changes occurred in the fourth quarter alone.
The Kansas City Chiefs — who trailed early on 13-0 in the first quarter — battled back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to take a 44-40 lead early in the fourth after a 73-yard touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to Tyreek Hill and a fumble recovery touchdown by defensive end Allen Bailey in less than one minute.
Tyreek Hill finished with 215 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the night for Kansas City as he continued to light up the NFL.
The Los Angeles Rams exploited the Kansas City Chiefs pass defense throughout, but the most surprising aspect of the game offensively was the Chiefs ability to slow star running back Todd Gurley, who finished with just 55 rushing yards in the game.
The Chiefs ability to contain Todd Gurley — who finished without a touchdown — allowed the front four to come after Jared Goff as they sacked him five times and forced him into two fumbles that led to touchdowns for Kansas City.
Mahomes’ three interceptions on Monday night are a new career-high and after not throwing an interception after the first four games, he has thrown 10 over Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) blew an opportunity to end the game on a dropped an interception on a 2nd and 9 pass play as Orlando Scandrick was unable to come up with a ball intended for Josh Reynolds on Los Angeles’ eventual game-winning drive.
Their inability to make “the play” on defense and the Rams’ ability to make far more of them was the difference in a wild and wacky game, but rest assured, this game only proves the Kansas City Chiefs are as good as most coming in have been led to believe.
While neither team turned in a pretty game, Kansas City hung in there with the game in their hands despite several turnovers and a penalty plagued first half. That’s frustrating for Andy Reid, but also gives Kansas City more self-confidence when playing in these big games vs elite competition.
For the Los Angeles Rams (10-1), its a win that keeps them on pace for a first-round bye at worst with the New Orleans Saints owning the tiebreaker over them after a 45-35 win over Los Angeles back in Week 9.
With a trip to play the Chicago Bears at cold Soldier Field in Week 13 coming up following their bye, a loss here could’ve changed the trajectory of their season as the Bears going into that game may have had an opportunity to take control of the number two seed.
There’s plenty to clean up, but Sean McVay and the Rams will enjoy this win as they head into their bye week.
What was your takeaway from the Monday night thriller in L.A.? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] YANKEES BOLSTER ROTATION WITH TRADE FOR MARINERS’ PAXTON](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8598-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 19, 2018 | SPORTS
Yankees Trade Prospects For Mariners’ Ace
Not a moment too soon if you’re the New York Yankees, who begin the Winter looking to close the gap on their hated rivals from Massachusetts.
The New York Yankees have acquired Seattle Mariners’ ace left-hander James Paxton in a blockbuster move.
New York will send three prospects to Seattle, one of those prospects includes highly touted right-hander Justus Sheffield, according to multiple sources close to ESPN.
James Paxton finished the 2018 season with a 11-6 mark in 28 starts and a 3.76 ERA in 160.1 innings pitched. He also struck out 208 batters.
The season before Paxton finished 12-5 in 24 starts with a 2.98 ERA, but he was better in getting opposing batters out by strikeout with a career-high 11.7 K/9 rate.
The Yankees weakness in 2018 was their starting rotation which saw disappointments, injuries and inconsistency, namely Sonny Gray, who the Yankees acquired from the Oakland Athletics back in 2017.
Gray finished the season 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 23 starts this past season and did not make it to the postseason roster.
The Yankees would acquire Lance Lynn and J.A. Happ in an attempt to bolster the rotation, but saw both moves blow up in smoke as Happ was rocked in Game 1 of the ALDS by the Boston Red Sox and Lance Lynn turned in a dubious outing in Game 3 as the Yankees lost in four games to the eventual World Series champions.
What are your thoughts on the New York Yankees acquiring James Paxton? Leave your comments below!
![[MUSIC] ARTIST OF THE WEEK: B.ABLE](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/C062B660-C67A-4065-B2C7-BB135E8F8564.jpeg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 19, 2018 | ARTIST OF THE WEEK, MUSIC
Hey Indo!, the Golden Boy, sat down with B.Able saxophone player, rapper and singer from Morristown, NJ. In an exclusive one on one interview he sat down with Indo to talk about his come up in music, and the challenges he faces as an Austic person.
Indo: What made you change your name?
B.Able: What made me change my name is the fact that I actually got a new job outside of my music industry and that’s a big full time accounting job and I want to make sure that when I change my name it has to be something that relates to me, and it can’t be connection with my real name.
Indo: How did you get started in creating music?
B.Able: I um… ever since I was nine years old I actually learned how to play Clarinet, step up to bass clarinet, switch to Tenor Saxophone. I just recently played Saprano Saxphone earlier this year and what I been doing is I was just playing in bands local groceries, near my school bands and marching bands. When I was 15 I begun writing songs, I started rapping. I didn’t take it seriously until I was about 23.
B.Able: With that being said I think what really changed my perspective of was the best Essex competitions and which I saw all these rappers performing and at best Essex’s I actually wrapped for the first time and that feedback I got inspired me to keep going and really take it seriously professionally.
Indo: So you really begin making professional music professionally for about a year. How has that year been for you?
B.Able: Blessing…truly been a blessing because I never thought that I would be close or know so many people in this NJ arts underground community. I am overly greatful for the friends I made, the people I created with, and network with.
Indo: Who are some of your musical influences?
B.Able: My most musical influences are the Notorious B.I.G, Bow Wow those are my influences. Bow wow was my favorite rapper growing up when I was a kid. And biggie small and I been recently getting into his flow of style of music. I love all classical music but Frank Sinatra is a big influence..
Indo: Does that influence your own music?
B.Able: Definitely, my second song was actually based of my love bora Latin music. Because I’ve taken Spanish in highschool and college so I learned a lot.
Indo: What inspires you to be an artist? Where do you find your passion?
B.Able: The reason why I find my passion, was because I wanted to show that people with austim, people that have disabilities can do possibly anything that they want to do, and that’s the reason behind my stage name…is that although I am disable I am in fact able to do anything my mind puts me to.
What do you have going on now? What song do you have out?
B.Able: Avatar! Have you ever heard last day of bender and avatar legend of Cora those songs are based on that. One of those trap songs that get stuck in your head, it’s a song I really like. It was influence by actually by another Artist I really like… my friend Glen.
Indo: Is it on iTunes?
B.Able: It’s on Soundcloud not iTunes yet. It was named by a producer. But definitely will be streamed on souncloud.
Indo: What’s next for BeAble?
B.Able: What next for me on the horizon… performing on more showcases, doing more songs. I want to be an Artist. I definitely like being in the studio.
Indo: Is there anything that you want to leave your fans with? What would you tell them?
B.Able: There will be new music out, definitely coming soon… and the other the thing I want to say to all my fans is thank you. Thank you for supporting me and my career, thank you for following my message, thank you for believing my message and I promise you that I will keep working, and that I will keep performing and I will keep being humble.
Short Clip of B.Able performing at BOE.
Don’t forget to check more of his work on instagram @B.Ableofficial
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpW0Z0nluYn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=5ljgq9n6ubge
