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CLEVELAND -- After he dressed following another disturbing loss, Carmelo Anthony was asked about his injured right thumb, the all-stars newest ailment.Nike Free TR 5.0 Flyknit . "Its messed up," he said. So are the Knicks. One night after finally getting its offence to flow as designed, New York made 23 turnovers and never mounted a serious comeback in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, falling 91-81 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks seventh loss in eight games. Anderson Varejao had 16 rebounds, a powerful dunk down the stretch and outhustled Anthony and Amare Stoudemire to help the Cavs end a four-game losing streak. Antawn Jamison added 15 points for the Cavs, who won their ninth straight at home over New York. The Knicks havent won in Cleveland since 2006. As the game was slipping away in the closing minutes, Anthony, blocked from a clear path to the basket by several Cavaliers, threw a pass to the wing for Stoudemire. But the ball went right through Stoudemires legs and out of bounds, another costly error for the Knicks who may be the NBAs most disappointing team this season. "Weve got to find a way to score," coach Mike DAntoni said. "Were not scoring the basketball." Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the sloppy Knicks, who had six turnovers and just 17 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony scored 15 points -- 14 more than he had in a win Tuesday night over Charlotte -- but he had another poor shooting night, going 5 of 14. New York scored just 36 points in the second half and failed to get closer than six points in the fourth. Anthony cant pinpoint the Knicks problems. "I cant really put my finger on it right now," he said. "I cant figure it out. Last night, guys got going early and tonight we were waiting for it to come to us rather than go get it. We just couldnt figure it out." Anthony hurt his thumb against the Bobcats, another hindrance to go along with a sprained left wrist and sprained right ankle. He didnt use his injuries as an excuse, but the damage is preventing Anthony to play his game. "Theres no frustration," he said. "Im thinking about my body. Theres a lot going through my mind right now and Im trying to figure it out. Ill get it figured out. Its a tough situation right now due to the circumstances, but Ill get it figured out. Ill tell you that." The Cavs led by five entering the fourth and stretched it when reserve Alonzo Gee made a steal and went in for a windmill dunk to put Cleveland ahead 75-66. At that point, the Knicks seemed to pack it in. They got within 81-73 on a drive by Anthony, but Tyson Chandler stopped New Yorks momentum when he picked up a technical foul for elbowing Varejao while going for a rebound. "That shouldnt have been a technical," Chandler said. "He was running up my back every play. On the free throw, Im trying to get him off so he doesnt get an offensive rebound. I get a technical. Hopefully, the league sees what really happens." Daniel Gibson made both free throws following the technical to put Cleveland up 84-73 before Stoudemire scored on a baseline dunk. After Anthony missed again, Jamison fed a streaking Varejao for his dunk to make it 86-75 with 3:05 left. "Hes a stat-sheet stuffer," Cavs coach Byron Scott said about Varejao, who had eight offensive rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. "Thats the one thing about Andy, hes going to do a little bit of everything." Twice in the final minute, Gee got loose for breakaway dunks, leaving the Knicks to watch. He missed one, but Jamison was there to clean up for a layin. With the game out of reach in the final seconds, Anthony nonchalantly walked the ball up the floor as the Knicks accepted defeat. It wont get easier as New York visits Miami on Friday night. "Im not worried playing against anybody," Chandler said. "We have enough talent on this team, but we have to figure out how to play with one another and what its going to take to win games. Were inconsistent with everything we do. To be an elite team in this league, you have to be consistent every night and we lack that right now." Clevelands Omri Casspi scored 13, but did not return after having his chin split open and getting six stitches. Anthony missed all seven of his field-goal attempts on Tuesday, failing to make a field goal for the first time since Nov. 28, 2005. He needed just 2:15 to get his first bucket, got fouled and completed a three-point play. His only point against Charlotte came on a technical foul in the third quarter. But the Cavs never let Anthony get into the flow and Gee did a nice job defending him in the fourth, when New Yorks most lethal weapon went 1 of 3. "Every time we play them they try to do a good job of getting the ball out of my hands and not let me do anything out there," Anthony said, "and tonight they did that. They kind of forced it out of my hands and made other guys try to win the game." Notes: Knicks G Baron Davis has yet to play because of a herniated disk in his back and wont be back until the weekend -- at the earliest. Davis was released in training camp by the Cavs, who were ready to turn their team over to rookie Kyrie Irving. "I wasnt surprised," Davis said. "They had an opportunity to move in a new direction with these young dudes and this young talent they have. I could tell the first day I was here thats what that was going to be the move." ... The Knicks picked up G Toney Douglas fourth-year team option, keeping him under contract through 2012-13. Wednesday was the leagues deadline for options and extensions. ... Cavs rookie F Tristan Thompson missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Nike Free 3.0 Online Store . The Canadiens accomplished both. Alex Galchenyuk scored the only shootout goal, and the Canadiens got their fifth win in six games, 2-1 over the Bruins on Monday night.Nike Roshe Run Donne Nere . The Anaheim Ducks announced on Thursday that the centre agreed to a three-year contract extension.SURREY, B.C. -- B.C.-born kicker Paul McCallum had no intention of shopping his services. The Surrey, B.C., native and oldest CFLer at 42 signed a new contract with the Lions, signalling stability in the kicking game as B.C. seeks to defend its Grey Cup title. "I didnt want to go anywhere else," said McCallum, who doubles as a realtor in the Vancouver area. "This was where I was born and (have) grown up, and my familys here. "I want to retire here, so (re-signing) just made a lot of sense." A year after his future with the franchise was precarious, McCallum now holds a lock on the position as he enters his 20th CFL season. "Im having fun, Im still feeling well and Im feeling strong, so Im just going to keep on going," said McCallum. After B.C. traded a much younger Sean Whyte to Montreal, McCallum played a huge role for the team as he booted a record 30 straight field goals and helped the Lions overcome a 1-5 start en route to their unlikely run to the crown. He also set a new league record for field goal percentage (94.3) while capturing the CFL special teams player of the year award. "(McCallum) had a great year for us last year," said general manager Wally Buono, who felt the kicker also should have been named top Canadian. "When you look at his consistency over the years, its not diminishing as hes getting older ... He was a tremendous asset to the football club." Buono praised McCallum for his strong off-season training regimen and said the kickers consistency brought a great deal of confidence to the Lions. Now, the question is not how soon McCallum should retire, but rather how long he can keep going. "Footballs a young mans game -- unless youre a quarterback or a kicker," said Lions coach Mike Benevides. "So Paul being the oldest player in the league, I think only he can determine (when he retires.) Hes been fortunate injury-wise. He takes care of himself. Hes kind of that unique freak of nature." McCallums signing also gives the Lions more time to develop 22-year-old Hugh ONeill, who spent all of last season as an understudy to McCallum and is destined for a similar role in 2012. McCallum has no problem assisting ONeill if he asks questions, but he does not see himself as a mentor to his possible replacement. Sometimes, said Buono, mentoring just involves a young kicker watching and learning from a veteran. ";My view on developing kickers is like quarterbacks," said Buono. Nike Free 5.0 Grigie. "Youve got to get them, youve got to groom them, youve gotta cultivate them, youve gotta test them. And then, eventually, youve gotta put them out there to see if they can handle it, because the pressure is usually the most difficult thing to deal with." The GM said it is not part of McCallums job description to tutor ONeill, but the situation has the potential to help the Lions in the long run. "Sometimes (kickers) hate each other," said Buono. "Sometimes they love each other. Youd prefer that they love each other." McCallums new contract was partially overshadowed by the loss of two important parts of the championship team. The Lions announced Friday that defensive line coach Randy Melvin has left unexpectedly for an undisclosed new job in the U.S, while offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye signed with the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. Buono and Benevides have plenty of affection for Melvin, who molded a defensive line that helped the Lions overcome their horrendous start while tormenting opposition quarterbacks. As a result, the GM and new coach had no problem letting Melvin out of a contract the same week the team announced he had signed on for another season. Melvin stayed just one season with the Lions after joining them from Rutgers University. He has also made college-level stops in Wyoming and Eastern Illinois, toiled in the NFL with Denver, New York, Cleveland and New England where he won a Super Bowl in 2001. "This is something that just came about within the last, say, 48 hours," said Buono. "Obviously, it is a tremendous opportunity for him." Buono will leave it up to Benevides to hire a replacement. Benevides indicated the search process has already begun and things could happen quickly. Olafioyes departure was anticipated after the tackle led a dominant offensive line and earned CFL all-star honours in his third CFL season. The six-foot-six and 325-pound North Carolina Central product had worked out for several recently before opting to sign with the Rams. Although Buono was "sad" to see Olafioye go, he took "a tremendous amount of pride" in helping him achieve his NFL dream. Nick Hennessy, a 25-year-old Colgate product who signed with the Lions as a free agent in October 2010, has been slotted into Olafioyes starting spot. Cheap JerseysWholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' ' |
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