Dour Denver defence drains Kobe-less Lakers

Published Fri, Apr 09 10 01:50 PM

A stifling defensive effort and 31 points from Carmelo Anthony lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 98-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

The Nuggets overcame a seven-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter by forcing three critical turnovers in the final minutes and blocking Derek Fisher's three-point attempt as time expired.

"That felt just as good as hitting the game-winner," Anthony said of his game-ending block.

"Tonight it was meant for me to be out there and play defence on that last play. I made the block and saved us tonight."

Denver (52-27) won its fourth straight game to move into second place in the crowded Western conference playoff race, half a game in front of Dallas and Phoenix.

NBA champions Los Angeles (55-23) played without the resting Kobe Bryant, leaving Pau Gasol to take the lead with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Tuning up to defend their title in the playoffs, the Lakers have appeared out of sync in losing four of their last five games.

They trailed by 10 to the Nuggets at halftime and by 14 in the third before a big 20-4 run turned the game around.

The Lakers' own 87-80 lead slipped away in the fourth, though, when three-pointers and three straight free throws gave Denver a 97-94 advantage with 44 seconds to go.

J.R. Smith bolstered the Nuggets with 26 points off the bench, bouncing back from a 4-for-13 shooting performance the previous night.

Ron Artest chipped in 22 for the Lakers, who were already without centre Andrew Bynum, who is out with a foot injury.

Coach Phil Jackson said that Bryant was given the option to rest and made a late decision to sit the game out after he had struggled in his previous two outings.

"I don't anticipate (him playing on Friday at Minnesota) but I'll let him make that decision," Jackson said. "He knows exactly what he needs to do to get himself ready."

Source: Web Search

Liverpool players must push for Champions League return: Rafa

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 01:40 PM

London, Apr.9 (ANI): Coach Rafa Benitez has said that Liverpool's players must push for a Champions League return after entering the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Fernando Torres scored twice after the interval to add to the first-half strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Lucas as Benfica wilted.

Benitez said: "It was a very good performance. Now we must look to win every game for the rest of the season. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Messi the greatest? Not just yet, says Ardiles

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 01:10 PM

To crown Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time would be a little premature, says 1978 World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles, but the coronation is not far off.

In the week the 22-year-old's four-goal haul against Arsenal in the Champions League had everyone from team mates, opponents and media searching for new superlatives, it was left to his fellow Argentine to put Messi's achievements into perspective.

"Messi's so good that comparisons with other players currently playing football are simply not valid," a sweating Ardiles told Reuters after a coaching clinic on Singapore's historic Padang.

"So in that sense, it is right that people are comparing him with the greats of the past, like (Diego) Maradona, Pele and (Johan) Cruyff.

"He's still only 22 and you have to maintain this level for many years to earn the right to be considered better than these giants."

Of these three, Ardiles believes the most apt comparison, at least in terms of technical ability, should be made between Messi another diminutive Argentine, Maradona.

"There are a lot of similarities between them," the 57-year-old Ardiles smiled.

"Both are small, left-footed and have a low centre of gravity. I think Messi is probably a touch quicker but I think Diego was a touch more skilful."

MARADONA "INSPIRATION"

For Ardiles, a one-time room mate of Maradona, the comparisons end there -- at least in terms of playing style.

"The big difference is their temperament," continued the man who won the FA Cup with Tottenham Hotspur in 1981 and was wearing the club's kit on Friday.

"Everything with Diego was a fight and he had so many problems off the pitch. Despite this, he was still able to cross the line and put these problems to one side and be the leader, the inspiration for his team mates and his country.

"Messi, on the other hand, is much more focused on his game and a much calmer man, obviously. He is very settled and is well protected by his family.

"You'll never see him in a nightclub, so in many ways, he is the perfect boy."

There was no suggestion from Ardiles that Messi might have achieved too much too soon, despite already having three La Liga titles to his name as well as the Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.

The former Yokohama Marinos coach Ardiles does believe, however, that disappointment and heartbreak can act as the spur to drive a player on to great things.

"Diego missed out on the 1978 World Cup in Argentina after being picked in the 25-man squad," recalled Ardiles.

"The coach had to let three players go and he was one of them. I was his friend and I know how hard that hit him. It hurt him, it really did. But I think it also made him fight harder in future.

"I don't think Messi will become complacent because he has a good family and support, but it will be interesting to see because he has achieved a lot already.

"It's an awesome thought to imagine what he could achieve in the future."

Source: Web Search

IPL-DLF tramples on 'India'

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 12:24 PM

An angry Sports Ministry has shot off letters to Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi and title sponsor of the tournament DLF, asking them to stop "misusing" the word India and comply with an Allahabad High Court order.

At the centre of the controversy is the "Building India" tagline in the DLF logo and the objection is to having it on the bowler's run-up area and on the passage leading to the presentation ceremony as well where players frequently trod on them.

"Please appreciate that the matter in question involves deep public sentiments...with players running over it (the word India) hurts public sentiment and also tantamount to showing disrespect to the name of the country," the Ministry said in its letter to DLF chairman KP Singh.

"I, therefore, sincerely call upon DLF, the title sponsors, to respond to the strong public sentiments in the matter and take urgent action to stop such misuse...failing which, we will take up the matter with the Trade Mark Commissioner for appropriate action," the letter signed by joint secretary Injeti Srinivas read.

The writ petition filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had alleged that placing the logo on the ground violated the Prevention to Insults to National Honour Act 1971 and the State Emblem of India (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.

In its letter to Modi, the Ministry also flayed BCCI for its casual approach in the matter.

"This matter was taken up with BCCI in pursuance of directive received from the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench)...BCCI was expected to take up the matter with IPL Commissioner and DLF and submit a comprehensive response to the Ministry. However, we are yet to receive any comprehensive response from them.

"Since the court directive is very specific and requires this Ministry to call up on IPL to take appropriate steps for the forthcoming matches...you are advised to take appropriate steps for immediately stopping the misuse of the DLF trademark/logo," the Ministry told Modi in a separate letter.

"I therefore sincerely call up on the IPL Commissioner to respond to the strong public sentiments in the matter and take urgent action to stop such misuse...failing which we will take up the matter with the appropriate authorities for appropriate action," the letter added.

Source: Web Search

Qadir hails Waqar's appointment as head coach

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 12:12 PM

Lahore, Apr.9 (ANI): Former Pakistan chief cricket selector Abdul Qadir has hailed the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to appoint former fast bowler Waqar Younis as the national team's head coach.

Expressing his dislike for appointing a foreign coach, Qadir said teams like Bangladesh and Kenya should have become world champions in that case, as they had been acquiring the services of coaches from foreign countries for a long time.

Commenting on Pakistan's chances in the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies, he said Pakistan is a strong squad, but said players like opener Imran Nazir and fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan would have added to the firepower.

Qadir pointed out that spinners would play a crucial role in the tournament, The News reports. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

NBA results

Published Fri, Apr 09 10 11:50 AM

REUTERS - NBA results on Thursday (home team in CAPS).

CHICAGO 109 Cleveland 108

SACRAMENTO 116 LA Clippers 94

DENVER 98 LA Lakers 96

Source: Web Search

Crumbling Kumble blames bowlers

Published>Fri, Apr 09 10 11:46 AM

The 184-run score was defendable but the bowlers let the side down today and the team will have to pull up the socks in this department in the matches to come, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble said today.

Riding on T Suman's 57-ball 78 and Andrew Symonds' 24-ball 53, Deccan Chargers comfortably defeated RCB by seven wickets in an Indian Premier League match here.

And Kumble said it is his bowlers were to be blamed for the defeat.

"184 was a good score, it was defendable but unfortunately the bowling did not stand up to scrutiny today. The bowling department needs to look inside and find answers," the RCB captain said.

"It was a good chase by Deccan but 184 was defendable," Kumble insisted.

Source: Web Search