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Jan 26 2013, 12:47 PM
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Sure, basketball is a team sport, but NBA games are often won and lost by individual matchups. Scott Tolzien Jersey . Here are five to watch in the first round of the playoffs. ___ LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony Anthony averaged 29.8 points in April for the New York Knicks, but that was largely against power forwards he had quickness advantages on. Now he has to deal with James, his longtime friend and Olympic teammate who held him to only two baskets in the fourth quarter of the Miami Heats 93-85 victory at Madison Square Garden on April 15. What theyre saying: "Carmelo Anthony is the best scorer in the NBA, but LeBron James is arguably the best defender in the NBA. (James) can shut (Anthony) down to where he wont be getting 30 or 40 a game against LeBron." — TNT analyst Charles Barkley. ___ Kevin Garnett vs. Josh Smith Garnett is now playing centre for the Boston Celtics, so technically Brandon Bass would line up against Smith. But Garnett is still one of the NBAs elite defenders and will need to take his turns on the versatile Atlanta Hawks standout who really like no other forward in the NBA. A more mature Smith is playing some of the best basketball of his career. What theyre saying: "He is one of the few guys in this league who has the ability to impact both ends of the floor." — Hawks coach Larry Drew on Smith. ___ Kobe Bryant vs. Arron Afflalo. Afflalo and the Denver Nuggets have defended Bryant well. The Los Angeles Lakers All-Star shot only 27.5 per cent against Denver this season, his lowest against any team. Bryant missed seven of the last eight regular season games with a sore shin, but is expected to come out firing against the Nuggets. What theyre saying: "Hell be ready when the playoffs start." — Spurs guard Tony Parker on Bryant. ___ Zach Randolph vs. Blake Griffin. Randolph is a double-double machine for Memphis and was the star of the Grizzlies post-season run last year. But he was never known to be very nimble and has lost some quickness after a knee injury. That could spell trouble against the explosive Griffin. What theyre saying: "I cant wait to see that matchup, Zach Randolph going up against Blake Griffin. Thats going to be one of the marquee series in the first round." — TNTs Greg Anthony. ___ Russell Westbrook vs. Jason Kidd. The young, athletic Westbrook is as fast as they come, certainly faster that 39-year-old Kidd. But count on the crafty Kidd and the defending champion Dallas Mavericks to try and force Oklahoma Citys shoot-first point guard into one of those 3-for-16 nights that make Thunder fans cringe. What theyre saying: "Hes a big part of our heart and soul. When were without him, we can win some games but were not the same team." — Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle on Kidd. Aldon Smith Authentic Jersey . This week, they discuss the Saints Jonathan Vilma, ex-Capitals coach Dale Hunter, Didier Drogba and Chelsea, and the retirement of Kerry Wood. Carlos Rogers Womens Jersey . -- Joey Logano had wasted enough shots at winning Dover to feel like he was on the brink of doing it again. http://www.superbowl49ersproshop.com/aldon-smith-jersey . The recently signed Pittsburgh Pirate says hell even add fielding grounders to his winter training program in case Canada manager Ernie Whitt opts to use him in the infield. Frank Gore Authentic Jersey . CFL commissioner Mark Cohon says the move is a major step towards the return of pro football to the Canadian capital. Delanie Walker Jersey . The 23-year-old played for Minsk Dynamo of the KHL last season. He had one goal and 11 points in 39 games and led the team with a plus-12.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- For a team that hadnt won a single playoff game in eight years before last week, the St. Louis Blues sure are getting the hang of winning in the post-season. Brian Elliott made 24 saves, B.J. Crombeen and Andy McDonald scored and the Blues moved one win away from the second round of the playoffs, beating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in Game 4 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 series lead. After losing Game 1 at home in double overtime, second-seeded St. Louis has won three straight, including back-to-back games at the Shark Tank. "I would have never thought that in a million years," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "This has been such a graveyard for most teams in the playoffs. Were learning a lot." Patrik Berglund and David Perron each assisted on both goals for the Blues, who can win a playoff series for the first time since 2002 by beating the Sharks in Game 5 at home Saturday night. "Its never easy," McDonald said. "They got a good hockey team over there and theyre battling hard. I thought they even stepped up their intensity tonight. Were handling it well I think. The inexperienced guys are learning along the way." San Jose played well for long stretches, especially in the second and third period, but once again struggled to score against St. Louis stingy defence that allowed the fewest goals ever in an 82-game season. Joe Thornton broke the shutout with 1:07 remaining, but the Sharks couldnt get the equalizer. "I thought this was our best 60-minute effort in the series," coach Todd McLellan said. "But if you look at it that way, you cant take consolation in playing well, not in the playoffs." The Sharks are in danger of being knocked out in the first round after making it to the Western Conference final the previous two seasons. They need to win three straight games against a team they have beaten once in eight tries this season. "Weve put ourselves in a corner and now we have to fight our way out," Thornton said. We had good looks again tonight and just snaked it for whatever reason." St. Louis withstood a desperate charge by San Jose early in the third to preserve the lead and then took control when Patrick Marleau was called for interfering with Kris Russell in the offensive zone with San Jose on the power play. The Blues made the Sharks pay when Berglund did a good job tipping Perrons shot, and McDonald beat Brent Burns to the bouncing rebound in the crease to knock the puck into the empty net for St. Louis sixth power-play goal of the series. McDoonald has three goals and four assists through four games. Donte Whitner Womens Jersey. "Obviously in this type of hockey, in playoff hockey, you have to be around the net and the hard areas," McDonald said. "Thats what Im trying to do, just get to the net." That goal took the life out of the Sharks and the frustrated fans in the sellout crowd who might have seen their final home game of the season. McLellan shook things up to try to spark his team following two straight losses. He dropped Marleau, who had no points in the first three games, to the second line and moved him to centre, moving Logan Couture to the top line. McLellan also suited up Michal Handzus and Brad Winchester in place of Dominic Moore and TJ Galiardi. It failed to turn the momentum of the series as the Blues scored first for the third straight game. Both goalies traded tough saves early with Antti Niemi stopping McDonald with a sprawling save at the side of the net and Elliott stoning Couture with his pad on a breakaway. But Niemi couldnt stop Crombeens shot from the slot off a pass from Patrick Berglund that opened the scoring midway through the first. The Sharks started much faster in the second period but were unable to get one past Elliott, who has been outstanding since taking over when Jaroslav Halak left with a lower-body injury in the second period of Game 2. Elliotts best save might have come after he was pushed back into his net with the Sharks on the power play but managed to make a kick save on a shot from his college teammate at Wisconsin, Joe Pavelski. "Our goaltending has been fantastic all year," Crombeen said. "Its kind of our team defence. Our whole mentality is defence first and checking leads to offence. Its something that Hitch really brought on board when he came here and its something weve had success with." The Sharks, who allowed three power-play goals in a Game 3 loss, killed off two penalties in the second to keep the deficit at one goal heading into the final period despite giving up a few good scoring chances late in the second. Notes: The Sharks have won nine playoff series since St. Louis beat Chicago in the first round of the playoffs in 2002. ... The Blues killed all four power-play chances and have allowed only two goals on 15 power plays for the series. ... Crombeen hadnt scored since getting his only goal of the regular season on Jan. 21 against Buffalo. ... Sharks F Marty Havlat turned 31 Thursday. ... Winchester played in just four of the previous 21 games, and Handzus suited up for three of the past 18. ' ' '
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