Das Feller-Forum » running hard, Carroll explained. Lynch has an NFL-best

NEW YORK -- Jason Collins started walking from the bench to the scorers table, fans rising out of their seats all around Barclays Center. He committed a foul five seconds after entering. His only shot barely hit the rim. Collins performance may not have been pretty, but everything else was great. Collins played the final minutes of a winning home debut with the Brooklyn Nets, who cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 96-80 victory Monday night. "It was cool. It was a lot of fun to go into the game," Collins said. "The most important thing was that we got the win. Chicagos been playing really well as of late and for us to come out and really be -- I think we played more physical than they did tonight." Finally playing at home more than a week after returning to the NBA as the leagues first openly gay player, Collins checked in to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 17,732 that included former NBA Commissioner David Stern with 2:41 remaining. He grabbed a rebound and had one of the Nets NBA season high-tying 19 steals in their third straight victory. Deron Williams scored 20 points and Joe Johnson had 19 for the Nets (29-29), who got back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2 after beating Utah on Nov. 5. D.J. Augustin scored 16 points off the bench for the sloppy Bulls, who turned it over 28 times, leading to 30 Nets points, and had their four-game winning streak snapped. The Bulls had a franchise-low three turnovers in their 109-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday and had won nine of 10. But the Nets were too good in this one, building a series of comfortable leads and making the only intrigue down the stretch whether Collins would get in during his first home appearance for the Nets since Jan. 29, 2008, against Milwaukee in East Rutherford, N.J. A chant of "Jason Collins! Jason Collins!" broke out while Williams was shooting a free throw with the Nets leading 90-73 with 3:27 remaining. Fans finally got their wish less than a minute later -- though not because coach Jason Kidd was listening to them. "No, the game was out of hand, so I wanted to get those guys some rest," he said. "D-Will was shooting free throws. Couldnt put Twin in at that time, so I told him after the free throws that he would come in." Collins original 10-day contract will expire Tuesday and the Nets plan to sign him to a second deal on Wednesday. A Nets player from 2001-08, he has appeared in all five games since he signed on Feb. 23. Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston each scored 14 points for the Nets, who were without starting centre Kevin Garnett for a second straight game because of back spasms. "Mentally, the Bulls have really had our numbers," Pierce said. "To be honest, if I was them Id feel like when they come play the Nets, they feel like they could beat us every time. I think the guys really had pride tonight to say, You know were tired of getting pushed around by the Bulls." Joakim Noah managed just 10 points, six rebounds and one assist for the Bulls, a day after finishing with 13 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in his fifth career triple-double. The All-Star centre rolled his right ankle early in the second half of that game and said it hurt after the game, but he was determined to play Monday in his hometown. The Bulls had dominated the first two meetings and beaten the Nets four straight times, but Brooklyn controlled this one most of the way in improving to 12-2 at home since Chicagos rout here on Christmas Day. "We smashed them in the mouth twice, its never going to be easy to come in to tough-minded team and do it again," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. The Nets scored the first eight points, the last one on Williams free throw after Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau screamed his way to a technical foul after calling time. Their lead grew to 15, but the Bulls trimmed it to 27-18 by the end of the first quarter. Brooklyn led 50-42 at halftime, and Chicago started the second half just as bad as the first. The Nets scored the first seven to take a 57-42 lead when Williams set up Mason Plumlee for a dunk. "I think we had all intentions to play hard, but like I say, it didnt show," Augustin said. "Being down early, you cant come start the game down, you cant start the second half down, so that was our big mistakes, and then the turnovers killed us." NOTES: The Nets 19 steals were their most since finishing with 20 against Indiana on March 21, 1989. ... Brooklyn hadnt scored more than 23 points in a period against Chicago this season and surpassed that in both the first (27) and third (26). Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . -- Top-seed Shahar Peer and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the second round of the inaugural WTA Citi Open. Cheap Athletics Jerseys . Bookies were offering odds of 13/1 before kickoff that the home team Houston Dynamo would prevail by three goals to nil. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . Both sides of the deal have formally announced acquisitions: TFC introduced Jozy Altidore as a designated player on Friday, while their counterparts announced a three-and-a-half-year deal with Jermain Defoe. Oakland Athletics Gear . Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, president of the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company), will be leaving her post but will remain as an advisor, a city hall statement said Tuesday. Athletics Jerseys 2020 .com) - Coming off a pair of tough losses last week, the Syracuse Orange will try to put an end to their first losing skid of the season when they pay a visit to the Maryland Terrapins at the Comcast Center on Monday night in Atlantic Coast Conference action.(SportsNetwork.com) - Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll knows a lot about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez. Carroll coached Sanchez when the two were at USC and will face his former pupil when the Seahawks visit the Eagles Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. I think hes playing fast, Carroll said. Hes playing with a lot of confidence in the system. Its obviously a system that helps the quarterbacks perform at a high level. The fact that Marks come off the bench and performed at a high level is really a statement about the program as well as the players. I think thats what were seeing. Sanchez, of course, replaced Nick Foles (broken clavicle) under center in a win at Houston on Nov. 2 and has started the last four games (3-1). The Eagles have won two straight and four of the last five games, and took sole possession of first place with a 33-10 road win over the rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Sanchez threw a touchdown pass and ran for another, while LeSean McCoy eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with a season-high 159 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 25 carries. McCoy has cleared the 100-yard rushing mark in each of the past two games and is making it easier for Sanchez and the pass attack. In his last eight home games, McCoy has rushed for 825 yards and six touchdowns. McCoy (6,491) needs 48 rushing yards to break Wilbert Montgomerys team record of 6,538 yards, which he has held since 1984. He ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards (1,018) and second in carries (242). Jeremy Maclin had eight catches for 108 yards in Dallas and rookie wide receiver Jordan Matthews found the end zone for the fifth time in the last five games. Philadelphia amassed 464 yards to Dallas 267 and improved to 9-3. The Eagles will face a much-improved Seattle defense, which is first in total yards allowed (285.8), third in both passing yards (199.4) and points allowed (18.4) and fifth against the rush (86.3). Seahawks talkative, talented and confident cornerback Richard Sherman is arguably the best at his position. We certainly have a healthy respect for the fact that (Sherman) is one of the finest corners in the league, Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said Tuesday, but I do think weve got some good receivers who can go out and match up. Shurmers offense went just 1-for-5 in the red zone against the Cowboys, so its important to come away with touchdowns on Sunday if the opportunity presents itself. The Eagles are fourth in both scoring (31.2) and total yards (416.2) and fifth in passing (286.0). It will be tough sledding for the Eagles against this defense. The Seahawks have recorded back-to-back 19-3 wins over Arizona and San Francisco, and have won five of their last six games to erase a 3-3 start. The Seahawks also played on Thanksgiving and recorded a 16-point victory on the road against the 49ers. Sherman picked off two passes and has three this season for the Seahawks, who have allowed just 204 yards the past two weeks. Every win is important, Sherman said. This win is no more important than any other win this season. Sherman was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Since entering the NFL in 2011, Sherman has 23 interceptions, the most in the league during that span. His 23 picks are the most by a player in his first four seasons in the past 25 years. Seahawks dangerous running back Marshawn Lynch posted 104 yards on 20 carries and is nearing his fourth straight 1,000-yard season at 956 yards. Lynch should reach that mark easily against Philadelphias 12th ranked run defense, which is allowing 107.7 yards per game. However, the Eagles held NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray to a season-low 73 yards. Lynch has rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns in two meetings against the Eagles, and needs one touchdown for 10 or more in the last four seasons. The man known as Beastmode has 17 TDs in the past 16 games, including the playoffs. The Seahawks are 8-4 and one game behind Arizona for the NFC West lead. They will try to stop Philadelphias 10-game winning streak at home and trail the all-time series, 7-6. Seattle has won three of the last four meetings between the teams and is 2-0 at Lincoln Financial Field. In a 31-14 Seahawks victory at home on Dec. 1, 2011, Lynch ran for 148 yards and two scores and the defense recorded four interceptions. Seattle is unbeaten in its last three trips to the Ciity of Brotherly Love.dddddddddddd WHAT TO WATCH FOR Besides trying to contain Lynch, the Eagles have another challenge in Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson has a strong arm and can run, two perfect traits for Carrolls offense. He is second on the team in rushing with 679 yards and threw for 236 yards and a TD against the 49ers. Wilson hasnt thrown an interception in the each of the past three games and is focused on keeping the Seahawks in control of their own destiny. If the Seahawks win out theyll capture a second straight NFC West title. They will play the Cardinals on the road Dec. 21. We want to keep building and keep growing, said Wilson, who is 8-2 in the month of December. Were going in the right direction. We have a lot more left and a lot more to do. Its one game at a time, one practice at a time, one day at a time, one step at a time. Were looking forward to that. Wilson makes plays with his ability to escape the rush and has great pocket awareness. When hes scrambling for an open receiver, defenses tend to break down and fall behind. Unless you live in or are from the Emerald City, Seattles receivers are not a household name. But that doesnt mean the Eagles can take them for granted. Doug Baldwin (519 yards, 2 TD) leads the team in yards and catches with 48. Jermaine Kearse (414 yards, TD), Luke Willson (190 yards, TD) and Robert Turbin (159 yards, 2 TD) match up well with Philadelphias secondary, which is allowing 258.6 yards this season. For how poorly the Eagles defensive backfield has been, its playing better in recent weeks. Cornerbacks Cary Williams and Fletcher Bradley can make it easy on the defense if they shut down Seattles pass attack. Lynch leads the team with three receiving touchdowns and is dangerous on screens. The Eagles will need to apply pressure up front and not let Wilson out of their sights. Wilson has been sacked a lot this season because of his elusiveness and went down seven times against Arizona and four more times in San Francisco. He has been sacked at least twice in each of the last four games. Philadelphia is second in the league with 42.0 sacks and linebacker Connor Barwin is second with 12 1/2. Barwin was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Month and posted 6 1/2 sacks, 24 tackles and a forced fumble in five November games. Barwin is the first Eagle to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Month since former safety Brian Dawkins won the award in December of 2008. Barwin has 10 1/2 sacks in the past four games at home and will be one of 11 guys focused on stopping Lynch. Hes not just power, Barwin said. He is a complete player. You have to account for him in every phase of the game. He will make you miss, too. He really does it all. Eagles defensive back Nolan Carroll said Lynchs feet are always moving after contact, so its important to get him down immediately. Watching him on film, you can tell that he runs hard, but when you feel that first pop, and it kind of goes through your entire body, then you know hes really running hard, Carroll explained. Lynch has an NFL-best 1,113 yards rushing since 2011. McCoy is right behind Lynch with 1,029 yards on the ground. The Eagles are hoping linebacker Emmanuel Acho will return from a groin injury to stabilize Phillys defense. Casey Matthews did an admirable job as his replacement, but Acho is more talented. Defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan, and linebackers Trent Cole and Brandon Graham have to cover tight and apply pressure so the secondary doesnt get buried. OVERALL ANALYSIS Its tough for a team to make a cross-country flight and have enough energy to burn on the field. The Seahawks, though, are a different breed and things are beginning to click for the defending Super Bowl champions. Seattle faces a daunting task in south Philly and can change the playoff landscape with a victory. In what should be a low-scoring affair, which features two of the leagues top running backs, the Seahawks have their sights set on another NFC West title and will move closer to that goal. You just want to keep winning, one game at a time, Wilson said. Go 1-0 every week and have a championship mindset. You just want to keep building, one week at a time. Seattles championship mindset has accrued 28 wins in the last 36 regular season games. Sports Network predicted outcome: Seahawks 24, Eagles 20 ' ' '