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NBA Loud - by Arnold

A losing franchise in the Mecca of basketball, poor leadership, overpaid players and a massive sexual harassment payout, you’d be forgiven in thinking that the New York Knicks franchise wouldn’t be worth that much these days. In fact, it would be safe to believe that the team from Gotham wouldn’t be worth anymore than the Reykjavik curling team. If you held that belief, you’d be wrong.

According to Forbes, who compiled a list of the most valuable NBA franchises, the New York
Shawn Marion dunk.
Please, give Shawn Marion some much needed hugs. He needs the love. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner)
Knicks have become, believe it or not, the first pro-basketball franchise to be worth $US600 million! The average NBA franchise is worth $US372 million, which is a rise of six percent in a year.


Basically speaking, basketball is serious business.

Pro-hoops is arguably the third most popular sport in the U.S. but it is generating more cash due to larger gate receipts, a huge television deal, and the fact that the spending on players is tightly regulated.

Although, the Knicks are the most valuable team in the NBA, they also have the largest operating losses due to big spending on players, and an $US18 million buyout of former coach, Larry Brown’s huge contract.


Still, the Knicks suck.

Now, onto the actual game of basketball. Well, at least the the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons game, and, also, the Utah Jazz battling the Phoenix Suns, which funnily enough, were the two games on television today.

Somehow. Against all odds. The Houston Rockets managed to defeat the Detroit Pistons, 80-77. So, what’s the big deal from this game that has necessitated such a dour introductory sentence? Well, Houston was horrible from the free-throw line and almost blew the game. They stunk! It was a painful performance of futility from the charity stripe.

The team collectively began their shooting ‘streak’ by missing 14 of their first 15 free-throws. It got slightly better from there when they ended up making 6-for-22 (6 percent) from the line for the night.

It was u-g-l-y, but the Rockets still managed to beat an excellent Pistons team!

Yao summed up the sentiments of his team perfectly: "Oh, man. We can lose a game because of that," Yao said. "Tomorrow, I'm going to come here and shoot at least 100 free throws. It's almost like you give away free points and give away a game." (Duncan, AP, 2007)

Performance of the Day.

The Knicks might be overrated and overblown, but you cannot say the same thing about Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns. Steve Nash may have been the toughest mofo on the court today after chipping a tooth, but it was the Matrix who had the Suns humming. Plus, Stevie Wonder already gets enough love from the public and this space.

Shawn Marion was all over the place, scoring 26 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking five shots. The Suns broke a two game losing streak, beating the Utah Jazz, 103-98.

In honour of the Matrix, here is a highlights clip of the most underrated player in the NBA.


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News Flash: Stephon Marbury is actually playing great basketball!
Stephon Marbury layup.
Deron Williams looks as shocked as the rest of us that Stephon Marbury played well today. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Whoa, has this world gone topsy-turvy? Should we expect the President of the United States to sign the Kyoto Protocol now and embrace same sex marriage? Anything can happen now that Starbury is actually once again a semi-decent basketball player.

The New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz faced off against each other and the team from Gotham sent shockwaves throughout the league by beating off the squad from Salt Lake, 113-109. Who would have thought a franchise that is the epitome of dysfunction, overcome a solid Jazz team? And, Marbury led the way too with 28 points and six assists.

However, it wasn’t all Starbury, with fellow Knick, Zach Randolph also kicking ass with 25 points and 14 assists. If things continue along in this manner the Knicks are in danger of becoming mediocre!

In another shock result, the Washington Wizards, sans, Gilbert Arenas, actually beat the Dallas Mavericks! Holy, cardiac arrest, Batman! What on earth is with these supposedly inferior teams beating their more storied rivals?

Washington’s other two all-stars, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler filled the void left by the missing Gilbert Arenas, scoring 27 and 35 points respectively. Butler was on fire to such an extent that he made all of his 3-point attempts.

Dallas also suffered their first home loss to at the hands of Washington. Respect.

Keeping up with the upset theme, the Sacramento Kings smacked the San Antonio Spurs, 112-99.

Baron Davis makes an assist.
Le Baron shoots down the Suns. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was former Spur, Beno Udrih who stole the show pwning his former teammates with a superb 27 point performance, whilst locking down, Tony Parker to boot.

Ron Artest also continued with his good play of late scoring 20, with Brad Miller adding a further 17 points, 10 boards and seven dimes.

But it was all about, Beno.

Performance of the Day.

Ah, we’ve now left the best upset to last – Golden State beating Phoenix, 129-114. This was a great game! High scoring and high octane.

Monta Ellis for the Warriors was on fire in the fourth when he scored 15 consecutive points, with Stephen ‘Action’ Jackson joining in the festivities scoring a season high 32.

However, it was Baron Davis who was the performer of the day with 28 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Better yet, he had to face-off against Steve Nash and although the plucky Canadian got his, B-Dizzle was the shizzle.

Today’s clip is a highlight reel from all of the aforementioned upsets. The best part of this video is that it is hot off the presses!


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'Jesus' Saves the Celtics!

November 5th 2007 10:21
‘Ray Allen has the ball, and there is only three seconds left in this
Chris Paul.
Chris Paul is saving basketball in New Orleans. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images)
enthralling contest between the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. The game is now into overtime…Ray-Ray shoots from downtown…he scores! Celtics win! Celtics win! Boston overcome the Raptors, 98-95! Oh, I’m hoarse, give me a whisky…”

If NBALOUD were commentating this contest, that would probably have been the call. Also, throw in some flatulence from both the mouth and bottom.

Boston’s ‘Big 3’ are proven clutch performers, but Ray-Ray is the obvious choice in this scenario, with Paul Pierce stating as much: "That was the play we drew up, for Ray to come off," Pierce said. "We had second and third options but the first option was open. We got the ball to him and executed our play." (AP, 2007)

There you have it. Thanks, Paul for reinforcing the above statement.

Boston’s superstar trio were once again performing like a Ferrari engine with all players firing on all cylinders – Allen scored 33 points, Kevin Garnett had a double-double, while The Truth dished off six dimes.

Well, we can envision that the Celtics will get plenty of love from this space, so we won’t bore you with any further details. As the final score would suggest. This was an electrifying contest.

The Celtics are a team on the up, while their Eastern Conference counterparts, the Miami Heat are on a slippery downward spiral. Today, the Charlotte Bobcats inflicted another loss on the team from South Beach, 90-88.

It must be said though, that the Cats almost choked on a pretzel by surrendering a 16 point lead on some awful, awful, basketball. What mattered though was what transpired at the end of the game and they were perfect. Clamping on the Heat, the Bobcats forced a couple of crucial turnovers and ended up with the win!

Jason Richardson, Charlotte’s gun new recruit led the way with 29 points, while Shaquille O’Neal had a better game with 17. Ultimately, the Heat fell short once again.

The New Orleans Hornets are back home and how sweet it is! It mustn’t be easy in, er, the Big Easy, post-Hurricane Katrina, but at least their basketball team is alleviating the pain somewhat with some stellar basketball.

New Orleans latest victims were the Denver Nuggets who lost to the team from the south, 93-88.

It was a horrific start for both teams when the two squads combined to miss 20 of their first 24 shots. Ouch! Yikes! Poke my eyes out due to the ugliness!

Luckily for the Hornets they recovered, with Chris Paul leading the way for Nawlins scoring
Steve Nash
'Isn't he lovely...isn't he wonderful...' Does anyone think that Steve Nash sings that to himself in the morning? (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
15 points, dishing off 11 dimes and snatching eight boards. Watch out for the kid because he is for real.

Performance of the Day.

Phoenix is still playing shoddy basketball, but at least they’re winning. Cleveland is also not up to scratch yet either, and they lost to the Suns, 103-92.

So, all you regular readers out there must be wondering who our performer of the day is? Well, hold your breaths a bit longer because here are some clues. He is on the pale side with the skin tone, runs the show for the Suns, probably loves maple syrup, and is a two time MVP.

No, it’s not Shawn Marion you smartasses but Steve Nash! The formerly floppy haired Canadian had 30 points and 10 assists.

Stevie Wonder got some righteous help from his cohorts, but there can be only one man for the day and it was Nash.

Today’s video is of Ray-Ray’s game winning basket!




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Steve Nash and his MVP Night.

March 15th 2007 12:45
The proof is in the pudding – whatever the hell that means – Steve
Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki
Steve Nash can't be stopped. Even by 7-foot players named Dirk. (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nash has reaffirmed his MVP credentials, while Dallas, although suffering a loss at the hands of Phoenix are legit title contenders.

In what proved to be an extraordinarily thrilling contest between the two top dog teams of the NBA saw the game go into double overtime and Phoenix winning, 129-127.

Amare Stoudemire may have led the scoring binge with 41 points but it was Stevie Wonder who was the standout, especially in the clutch. Nash ended the night with 32 points, 16 assists and eight rebounds while being ice cool down the stretch to help his team get over the Dallas hump.

The Mavs could have iced the game much earlier if they had managed to hit their free throws with any semblance of a team that could shoot from the stripe, but key misses at vital stages helped Phoenix’s cause immensely. Although, Jason ‘the jet’ Terry was in sparkling form for the Mavs in the first overtime period hitting the game tying 3-point basket over Nash with 4.5 seconds to go the second OT period ultimately belonged to the Suns. Here come the Suns, doo-doo-doo-doo…

It was Phoenix all the way, baby!

LeBron James’ back wasn’t bothering him as much today and it showed, with the King leading the way for the Cavs scoring 29 points, while seven of his teammates also hit double digit scoring. The final result ended with a Cavs win over the Grizzlies, 118-96.

Gilbert Arenas and his hot hands.
Gilbert Arenas and his hot shooting hands. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
This contest wasn’t even close. Bron-Bron was in a vicious mood and the rest of his teammates decided to finally hit their baskets as well, causing a major headache for the woeful Grizz.

New York’s recent good form was halted by their Atlantic division rivals from Canada with the Raptors beating the Knicks, 104-94.

T.J. Ford had a blinding game with 18 assists while Chris Bosh was his usual excellent self hitting 22 points to help their team overcome a not-as-bad-now Knicks.

Gilbert Arenas was Gilbert the Great today scoring 28 of his 35 points in the second half to layeth the smackdown on the Indiana Pacers, 112-96.

Jermaine O’Neal for the Pacers played strong through an injured knee with 24 points but it wasn’t enough to overcome Gilbert and the rest of the gang from D.C.

Indiana must be desperate for a taste of victory because their last win came on February the 21st – which is a long time ago in professional basketball circles.

The only advice that NBALOUD can give to the Pacers is that it will happen it just won’t happen overnight. Advanced hair, yeah, yeah (the Aussie readers would get this joke).

Today’s clip is the top 10 plays from yesterday. If you love dunks watch this video because there are some outright hostile jams to wet your whistle.




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Moderated by Arnold
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