By Marvin A Azrak
NY sports edition is officially in full swing as we wind down 2021, and things are looking up for some, while others are in for a long and pitiful winter.
KNICKS: 11-9
They went 2-1 this week, defeating a James and AD-less Lakers squad 106-100
At a raucous MSG, where Evan Fournier dropped 26 points, and Immanuel Quickly provided a spark with 12 of his 14 points coming in the fourth quarter. But a 118-97 loss to the surging 17-3 Phoenix Suns, who’ve won 16 straight, followed. However, the sour taste would be immediately replaced by a 99-90 revenge win over the Hawks in the Atlanta contest where Alec Burks dropped 32 points.
NETS 14-6:
The Nets are 12-3 in their last 15 games and are 14-6, which is good for first in the Eastern Conference and don’t even have KYrie Irving yet. Although their losses were at the expense of the 14-8 Bulls(118-95), 18-2 Warriors(117-99), and white-hot Suns (113-107), Brooklyn is a team you don’t want to mess with when wholly healthy and are showing it at the moment minus one of their superstars.
RANGERS: 13-4-3
The Rangers went into the UBS arena and deprived the Islanders of their first win in their new home 4-1. Chris Kreider and Kevin Rooney had two goals apiece. Two days later, They overcame a 2-1 deficit against a gritty Boston Bruins squad at TD Garden and erupted with a three-goal third(Artemi Panarin, Alexi Lafreniere, Jacob Trouba Empty netter) in addition to 34 saves by Igor Shesterkin for a remarkable 5-2 victory. The red-hot Blueshirts have won 7 of 8 since their 6-0 loss in Calgary on November 6 and are currently fifth in the NHL with 29 points.
ISLANDERS 5-10-2
They’ve lost eight straight as home defeats at the hands of the Rangers(4-1) and Pittsburg Penguins(1-0) didn’t help the fact the team has eight players on the COVID list, two more injured, and saw their rematch against the Rangers at MSG postponed due to all of this.
GIANTS: 4-7
The season was saved with a 13-7 victory over the Eagles, with New York within a game of the last wild card spot in the NFC.
Per Giants fan Twitter, The Giants (4-7) will be tied for the final NFC wild-card playoff spot if they beat the Dolphins on Sunday, AND …
The Cowboys(8-4) beat the Saints(5-6)
The Raiders(8-4) beat Washington(5-6)
The Bucs(8-3) defeat the Falcons(5-6)
The Lions(0-10-1) beat the Vikings(5-6)
The Jets(3-8) beat the Eagles(5-7)
JETS: 3-8
Gang Green celebrated a 21-14 win in Houston over the 2-8 Texans in Zach Wilson’s return to action, but it didn’t come easy. Zach threw for 145 yards and ran for a touchdown that put New York ahead for good. Houston had one last chance in the fateful moments, but Bryce Hall batted away Tyrod Taylor’s pass in the end zone to wrap up the win.
BILLS: 8-4
Buffalo feasted on the hapless Saints with Josh Allen throwing for four touchdowns in a 31-6 Thanksgiving thrashing that allowed the Bills to remain tied with New England atop the AFC East ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup in week 13 down in Western NY.
SABRES: 8-11-3
It hasn’t gotten much better, as the offense has been there, but the defense and goaltending have not.
METS:
Here’s what they’ve done over the past few days.
•Signed INF/OF Eduardo Escobar to a 2 year $20 million deal
- Agreed to a 2 year $26.5 million contract with OF Mark Canha
- Acquired OF Starling Marte via free agency on a 4 year $78 million deal.
- Signed three- time CY Young award winner Max Scherzer to a record setting three year $130 million contract where Max sets the bar for AAV to a pitcher with $43 million per season.
Saving the best for last…
YU:
Yeshivah University is world NO 1 for the first time! The news is on the heels of a historic 51 point performance by NBA draft prospect Ryan Turell in the Macs 78-56 come from behind home win over Manhattanville College, which extended the winning streak to 44 games.
