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TSN basketball analyst Jack Armstrong is back to cap the weekend with five quick thoughts on the struggling Blake Griffin, Stan Van Gundys decision to cut bait on Josh Smith, Jeremy Lins quietly effective year in Los Angeles, Kemba Walkers huge Saturday night and the tantalizing talent that is Boogie Cousins. FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1. BLAKE GRIFFIN (Clippers): Just my opinion, but this guy has fallen in love with his jump shot. For a guy who should be looking to dominate folks in the paint and live at the foul line, hes spending way too much in suburbia. Griffin needs to develop a few go-to post moves and kick tail. Hes a wonderful talent. Play to your strengths. 2. STAN VAN GUNDY (Pistons): A gutsy call in releasing Josh Smith with a lot of money left on his deal and nothing coming back. Sometimes, you have to bite the bullet and make hard decisions. You do whats right for the long-term development of the group. Not an easy call to make, but he made it. Houston might end up being a good fit for Smith, but it just wasnt working out in Detroit. 3. JEREMY LIN (Lakers): Averaging 10.2 PPG and 4.8 APG for a struggling team, Lins a solid pro who has come back to earth after Linsanity and handled his departure from Houston with class. Lin does his job in a quiet and steady fashion. He likely will be a back-up more so than a starter as he goes along in his career, but a solid guy to have on your team. 4. KEMBA WALKER (Hornets): Walker put up 42 points on Saturday in a losing effort versus the Magic. When he came out of UCONN, there were doubts whether he could be a top-line NBA guard - you dont hear that anymore. I love his competitive streak. Walker leads by example and is one of the few good consistent stories in Charlotte this season. 5. DeMARCUS COUSINS ( Kings ): Against the Knicks on Saturday, Boogie put up 39 and 11. Sure, he drives you nuts with some of his decisions and histrionics, but the man is an amazing talent. The question is, can he be a guy to lead you to a playoff berth? Only time will tell. Hes matured and improved, yet we need to see more in the intangibles area. They keep changing pieces around him, but there will come a point where hes either gotta do it or you need to explore your options. Dave Henderson Jersey . Messis 75th-minute goal answered some of the criticism the clubs all-time leading scorer had received for his lacklustre performances in the teams recent losses in the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey final. Khris Davis Jersey . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday. http://www.athleticsrookiestore.com/Athl...er-Kids-Jersey/. - The Oakland Athletics have finalized an agreement on a 10-year extension to play at the Coliseum through the 2024 season. Terry Steinbach Jersey . - The infectious smile was missing from Nam Nguyen last week. Andrew Triggs Jersey . The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. PHILADELPHIA -- There are no secrets to Hunter Pences approach to hitting in crucial situations. His simple strategy worked again. Pence drove in all of San Franciscos runs with a double in the ninth and Madison Bumgarner pitched eight scoreless innings to lead the Giants to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. "Just go up to compete, try to see the ball and hit the ball," Pence said. Bumgarner (12-7) gave up five hits while striking out six and walking none in a pitchers duel with A.J. Burnett. "It was good to get quick outs tonight," Bumgarner said. It was the sixth win in seven games for first-place San Francisco, which moved two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants will look to sweep the four-game series on Thursday. One night after blowing just his third save in 26 chances, closer Jonathan Papelbon (2-2) took the loss. The Phillies offence, which ranks near the bottom of the NL in several categories, managed just seven hits. They lost their fourth straight and seventh of eight. "Its really been the problem weve had the last three games, stranding guys out there," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "And it came up big tonight." Pence broke a scoreless tie with a softly hit blooper down the right-field line off Papelbon on a full count with two outs. "Pence is the guy you want up there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has the knack of putting the ball in the right place. . Pence is amazing. He has so much energy and hes relentless. Were lucky to have him." Whether the last two games have an effect on Papelbons trade prospects remain to be seen. The Philadelphia closer recently has been outspoken about his interest in moving to a contender. "Whatever happens happens," Papelbon said. "I have no control over it." He dismissed the notion that his value would be diminished by his last two outings. "If you were to put the entire season into two games, it would be pretty dumb," he said. Marlon Byrd drove in Philadelphias run in the ninth off Santiago Casilla, who converted his seventh save in 10 chances. The ggame was delayed for 59 minutes by a thunderstorm.dddddddddddd Following resumption in the top of the fourth, the game was played in a persistent drizzle that got heavy at times until the rain finally stopped for good in the eighth inning. Burnett pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out six, walking four and allowing four hits, in a performance that had to have impressed the scouts seated behind home plate. The right-hander has been a rumoured acquisition for contending clubs as the Phillies are looking to sell at the trade deadline to get younger. Bumgarner and Burnett allowed the relievers to rest following Tuesdays 5-hour, 46-minute marathon in which 16 pitchers were used in the Giants 9-6, 14-inning victory. "What a job he did," Bochy said of Bumgarner. "He saved our skin tonight. He gave us everything we needed and more. And Burnett too. They were both locked in." Some small puddles formed on the left side of the infield, but second base umpire Bill Miller never halted the game again after the first stoppage. Pence was involved in a strange play in the eighth. After leading off with a walk, he took off for second but overslid the bag. He popped up and rather than try to go back to second, he darted toward third as shortstop Jimmy Rollins chased him in a scene reminiscent of tag on the school yard. About halfway to third, Rollins tossed to third baseman Andres Blanco who applied the tag for an unusual 2-6-5 caught stealing. It was the second caught stealing in as many attempts for the Giants, as Ehire Adrianza overslid the bag in the sixth and was tagged out by Chase Utley. NOTES: Burnett moved to 48th all-time in strikeouts, passing Dwight Gooden, with a first-inning fanning of Tyler Colvin. ... Philadelphia activated Ruiz (concussion) from the DL. Ruiz had been out since June 26. To make room for Ruiz, the Phillies sent C Cameron Rupp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Philadelphia also recalled RHP Phillippe Aumont from Lehigh Valley and designated RHP Jeff Manship for assignment. ... The teams conclude the four-game series on Thursday with Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (4-5, 2.83) facing RHP Tim Hudson (8-6, 2.78). 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