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NBA Loud - by Travis

I know the site says NBA Loud, but I'm going to have to throw a bit of WNBA content in here just this once. I was watching the replays of Candice Parker's WNBA debut the other day and it got me thinking. She dominates the game in a way that makes me believe that she could handle herself in the men's game. I've never really been interested in Women's basketball but Candice could do for the WNBA what MJ did for the NBA. If their games are televised more often, I might have to tune in to catch up on what I've been missing out on all these years. But back to the topic; will women ever play in the NBA? I'm going to say no...

I don't think the NBA will ever become a co-ed league because we have the WNBA. Having a separate league for the women is pretty much saying that the NBA is a men's only league. It is not a superior league that women can move up to. In theory, the leagues are equal as men and women are equal beings on this planet. But for reasons that I'll refrain from going into depth about, the men's game has elevated to a level (in terms of popularity) far above that of the women's game. The fact that the NBA has been established for a longer period of time is one of the main reasons why. One of the obvious reasons is the fact that more people would rather watch the men play.

From the little WNBA ball I have watched over my time, I have noticed a few differences between the two games. The women's game is deliberately more slow-paced, and in my opinion, they focus more on strategy as opposed to sheer athleticism. It also seems as if they play with more of a chip on their shoulder than the men do. A couple times a game, you'll see a few guys in the NBA giving up on a play or lagging back on defense; I don't think I've ever seen that in the women's game. They're out to prove something, and I think it's obvious what it is.

I think it's safe to say that the men's game has the better basketball players (hope I don't come under fire for that one). It's not because the men train harder or anything like that, I think it's purely physical. Obviously, men and women are built differently, and I think that difference allows most men to be more physical than women. This physicality can be seen when the guys are seen driving to the hoop, elevating up for the dunk, going for the big block, etc. You don't see this stuff to the same extreme extent because most women just aren't physically capable of doing such things. When it comes to shooting, I think the playing field is a bit more even, but men still have the advantage because of their size, elevation and range. With that said, I could see a woman as a sharpshooter in the NBA. They could come off the bench and provide that long-range threat as Steve Kerr did back in the day. But unfortunately, it won't ever happen... at least not in our lifetime.

I think we would more likely see a woman in the MLB or NHL because as far as I know, they don't have professional womens leagues. But since we have the WNBA, the women will be expected to play there and not "betray" their fellow women by moving to the men's game. So, it's purely political, if you want to call it that. I don't think it would have much to do with skill because I believe that there are women out there who are better basketball players than some of the guys in the NBA. You couldn't possibly believe that the top 600 basketball players in the world are all men, could you? I know I don't.

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Introductory Post

May 2nd 2008 18:00

Hey all. I'll be taking over the NBA Loud blog from now on. My name is Travis and I'm from the Toronto area. My favourite basketball teams are the LA Lakers and Toronto Raptors. I've been a fan of both teams as long as I can remember... I guess I started liking the Raps when they came to town in the mid-90s. My favourite current player is Kobe Bryant. I like his determination and work ethic towards the game. My favourite retired player would have to be Magic Johnson; I find him fascinating in terms of how he played the game and how he handled himself off the court.

I do quite a bit of writing in my spare time. I used to spend a lot of my time writing music, but I took a break from that and a while later, I began writing sports-related pieces. Just recently, I decided to get a blog and now here I am. I mostly stick to writing basketball, since that is what I know best, but I've been known to drop a line or two about hockey, baseball, football, etc. With the rest of my spare time, I like to play the aforementioned sports, with the exception of hockey... I'm just no good at hockey. I'm also known to get some gaming in every once in a while on the 360.

Well, thanks for reading. Hope I can keep this place running smooth.

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Goodbye NBALOUD.

February 19th 2008 04:43

With a heavy heart and much sadness – I am saying goodbye to NBALOUD after two years of writing for this wonderful space. Firstly, I would like to thank the Orble admin guys for putting in the work for NBALOUD, and without you, all of this wouldn’t be possible. Writing about a sport I loved so much proved to be of great catharsis – a wonderful escape from the rest of my life. It truly was a great two years.

I have loved the sport of basketball and this space with a passion. Hopefully, some of my enthusiasm has rubbed off on some of you readers because basketball truly is a great sport.

Sadly, my time is up, for I am unable to dedicate the time and effort necessary to live up to the high standards that I demand from myself. Real life sometimes makes an intrusion to our cyber entities, and I am no exception. The demands of studying law and gaining a new journalism job in an actual magazine have made writing for this page impossible.

However, never fear, Sports Insider and Spennies will more than make up for my absence. Please, give them your support.

Although, I may not be able to write for NBALOUD anymore, you can be sure I’ll still make regular visits.

See you all on the flipside!

Stan.

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Australia's Potential NBA Draft Picks

February 11th 2008 16:40

There was a time when softness was produced in Australia when it came to basketball. Andrew Gaze and Chris Anstey made Keon Clark look like Karl Malone. The younger players now are a bit bigger, and better. Especially keep a watch out for Nathan Jawai, he is large.

A.J. Ogilvy
6-10, 250
center
Player comparison: Andrew Bogut

He knows how to score already, and is just a freshman. Has good hands and the offense can be run through him. Will improve a lot in the next few years too, so he could be a star.

Aleks Maric
6-11, 270
center
Player comparison: Radoslav Nesterovic

A large body to fill up the paint. Maric is a strong rebounder and has improved many other parts of his game in his senior year.

Martin Iti
7-0, 240
center
Player comparison: Steven Hunter

Mainly a shotblocker, although fouls and a lack of offense keep him from lage minutes and showing that skill. Iti is also an effective offensive rebounder.

Patrick Mills
Height: 6-0, 175
point guard
Player comparison: Kyle Lowry

A very quick point guard, sometimes he scores a lot and in other games he passes more. Is only in his first year of college so he should be able to refine his game so he balances his shooting requirements with that of his teammates. Isn’t afraid to take, and make, the shot in the final seconds of a big game.

Aron Baynes
6-10, 270
center
Player comparison: Nick Collison

Another large body. Didn't do a lot in his first couple of seasons in college but has really improved in his third year.

Joe Ingles
6-8, 195
shooting guard/small forward
Player comparison: Mike Miller

A tall shooting guard prospect. Could develop into a very versatile player as he has shown he can pass and rebound as well as score.

Nathan Jawai
6-10, 285
forward/center
Player comparison: Kendrick Perkins

Jawai is going to be able to throw his weight around at any level of basketball.

Jawai and Mills, one brings thunder dunks and the other is lightning quick.

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Nets Might Be Kidding About Trading Their Point Guard

February 8th 2008 23:20

The big talk a few weeks ago was about New Jersey moving Jason Kidd, since then Gasol and Shaq have found new teams but nothing has happened with New Jersey except for the minor Swift for Collins swap.

Kidd could still go before the trade deadline, and here are some possible deals.

Jason Kidd, Darrell Armstrong and Antoine Wright to Cleveland for Drew Gooden, Sasha Pavlovic, Shannon Brown, Ira Newble and Damon Jones.
The Cavs get some help for James and Ilgauskas while the Nets get an inside scorer and a couple of young shooting guards.

Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Darrell Armstrong and Malik Allen to Dallas for Devin Harris, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devean George, Jose Juan Barea, Eddie Jones, Maurice Ager and Trenton Hassell.
If something like that happened they might need to find another team or two to help the salaries match. The Mavericks could have an all-star team of Kidd, Terry, Carter, Nowitzki and Dampier. The Nets would get a lot of youth, with Harris and Howard the main parts.

Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to Denver for Kenyon Martin, Steven Hunter and JR Smith.
Kidd, Iverson, Anthony, Kleiza and Camby would run and gun. The Nets bring back Martin, adding size inside.

Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to Golden State for Monta Ellis, Patrick O'Bryant, Mickael Pietrus, Al Harrington and Matt Barnes.
Kidd and The Baron in the backcourt for the Warriors. The Nets would get some ending contracts, as well as Ellis who can score.

Jason Kidd to New York for Stephon Marbury, David Lee and Nate Robinson.
The Knicks always try to get into the trade talk. Marbury might be finished, so Lee and Robinson would be the players the Nets would want. A better idea might be Zach Randolph to New Jersey in a Kidd deal.

Jason Kidd to Washington for Gilbert Arenas and Etan Thomas.
This one might make sense, even though some of the players involved may not. Arenas says he will become a free agent, so maybe Washington can get something for him in case he leaves and with New Jersey he could be used to clear cap money or be signed to be their new point guard star.

Kidd and Carter couldn’t win a title and now the Nets might have to rebuild.

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Big Daddy Shaq Joins His Suns

February 7th 2008 01:14

Maybe you read the post on this site in December called Heat Could Be On Miami To Trade Shaq. One, odd at the time, suggestion was that Miami trade Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion. Surprisingly it has happened. Miami finally figured out that they are in trouble and needed to make a big change, and the Suns decided that they have to do everything they can to win a title.

To Phoenix: Shaquille O'Neal

To Miami: Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks

Why Phoenix did it: If you look at the players they have had in the middle over the years the Suns have always been a bit short. Alvan Adams, Larry Nance, Amare Stoudemire, Oliver Miller, none of them were tall centers, although Miller brought the beef. The Suns in the past have talked, and talked, about trading for someone like Dikembe Mutombo but they never went through with it. They have finally acquired a franchise center, and that is a good thing. The Suns never had a chance in the playoffs because they were playing small-ball while the other teams, and their big centers, were built for playoff basketball. That has changed now, and with Shaq at center and Amare at power forward the Suns are now the big boys.

A lot of places are saying that Shaq doesn't fit with what the Suns do, but that is the reason why the trade is great for Phoenix. What the Suns were doing wasn't winning them titles, and they now bring in Shaq who has won a bunch of titles. In the past, as soon as Amare had a couple of fouls he had to go to the bench and all of Phoenix's inside offense went with him. With Shaq added, not only will Phoenix have a scorer in the paint on the floor all the time but they will be causing a lot of foul trouble for the teams that have to defend the two power dunkers.

Marion is not a big loss, as they have Hill and Diaw who can do a lot of the things that he did. Marion also wanted more money so the Suns were either going to overpay him again or watch him walk as a free agent. The Suns had previously signed Banks to a large free agent deal, they get away from that contract now too.

The Lakers added Gasol, so Phoenix went out and found someone bigger and nastier. Those two teams will battle to win their division, and Shaq will give the Suns the advantage and he will also scare a few people on the Lakers. When the Lakers traded away Shaq they sent him as far away as they could, now Shaq is back.

Why Miami did it: They are in last position, so things had to be changed around. Marion will either join Wade in a new, faster Miami team or he could be moved after the season, with a sign-and-trade or just as a free agent leaving and opening up cap-space for Miami.

Miami could undergo a very quick rebuild if Marion does leave as a free agent. The only big contracts they would have are Wade, Haslem and Blount. Jason Williams, Ricky Davis and Alonzo Mourning all have expiring contracts. The Heat next season could have Wade, Elton Brand and Roy Hibbert, or Wade, Gilbert Arenas and Michael Beasley.

Fantasy NBA Analysis:

In Miami, Blount is now their starting center and has some skills for fantasy leagues. Marion might start at small forward, with Haslem at power forward, but Marion will also play a bit of power forward too. This could be important as Marion's rebounding numbers seem to be better when he is at power forward. Not that it really matters because he will always bring in a variety of stats. The other Heat players might also improve their stats if the Heat decide to run all the time. Scoring 110 points, while giving up 120 points, would entertain the fans a bit as they play for the number 1 pick in the draft.

Things may not slow down a lot with Shaq in Phoenix, one part of starting the fast break is getting the defensive rebound and Shaq will help there. Shaq also can open up opportunities for outside shooters, so Nash, Bell and Barbosa will continue to accumulate 3-pointers.

With Shaq, Phoenix will get what they wish for.

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Mid-Season All-Rookie Team Picks

February 7th 2008 01:09

Many rookie players in the NBA are making a big impact in their first season. Here are some all-rookie teams, at the end of the season the NBA will pick two all-rookie teams so a few exciting players will miss out.

Durant should be the rookie-of-the-year. Al Horford looks like the second best rookie. Scola and Navarro were stars in Europe and didn’t have any trouble adjusting to the NBA. Second round pick Glen Davis and undrafted Jamario Moon show that there is always talent found outside the NBA lottery.

SF Kevin Durant
PF Luis Scola
C Al Horford
PG Mike Conley
SG Juan Carlos Navarro

SF Jamario Moon
PF Yi Jianlian
C Joakim Noah
PG Aaron Brooks
SG Corey Brewer

SF Al Thornton
PF Glen Davis
C Sean Williams
PG Rodney Stuckey
SG Daequan Cook

Luis Scola is a good fit beside Yao in Houston.(Picture from nba.com)

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NBA Prime Time Players - Week 14

February 5th 2008 20:22

L. Powe, Celtics 117 - Heat 87
25 points and 11 rebounds.
He took over when Garnett, Ray Allen and Shaq didn't play.

J. Noah, Bulls 96 - Timberwolves 85
13 rebounds and 10 points.
Noah put together some useful games when he was starting for the Bulls.

Y. Ming, Rockets 111 - Warriors 107
36 points, 19 rebounds and hit 14 of 15 free throws.
He might be the greatest ever center for shooting free throws.

A. Stoudemire, Suns 125 - Hawks 92
24 points on 10 of 11 shooting.
He shot, he scored.

B. Diaw, Suns 125 - Hawks 92
16 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds.
Diaw can help the Suns a lot when he gets plenty of minutes.

K. Durant. SuperSonics 88 - Spurs 85
26 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
A big win over the reigning champions.

S. Vujacic, Lakers 120 - Knicks 109
20 points, hit 5 of 11 3-pointers.
The Lakers have a lot of outside shooters, with Vujacic, Fisher, Radmanovic and Farmar.

A. Bargnani, Raptors 122 - Wizards 83
19 points, hit 3 of 4 3-pointers.
His shooting slump could be over.

A. Jefferson, Timberwolves 83 - Bulls 67
20 rebounds and 26 points.
He is the new superstar in Minnesota.

E. Najera, Nuggets 106 - Grizzlies 102
11 points, hit 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Najera is one player who is always ready to play off the bench.

L. James, Cavaliers 84 - Trail Blazers 83
37 points and 14 rebounds.
He hit 3 3-pointers late in the game to get them close, and then had the game-winning layup.

K. Bryant, Lakers 121 - Raptors 101
46 points, shooting 19 for 28.
He will need to let Gasol have some of those shots.

C. Smith, Timberwolves 104 - Clippers 83
21 points, shooting 9 for 11, and 7 rebounds.
Smith is always ready to battle in the paint.

H. Turkoglu, Magic 121 - Pacers 115
23 points, shooting 10 for 16, and 8 assists.
His outside game, and good passing skills for a forward, is a good compliment to Howard's inside game.

J. Childress, Hawks 104 - Nets 92
Shot 10 for 11 from the field, for 23 points.
Childress actually does this often.

Z. Ilgauskas, Cavaliers 98 - Clippers 84
22 points, shooting 9 of 11, and 13 rebounds.
He is a consistent number 2 option for the Cavs.

T. McGrady, Rockets 91 - Bucks 83
33 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Yao-Yi matchup didn't produce a lot of highlights, but McGrady produced some stats.

B. Miller, Kings 105 - Bulls 101
20 rebounds and 22 points.
Miller had a 20-20 against one of his former teams.

H. Turkoglu, Mavericks 107 - Magic 98
13 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
Turkoglu is having his best ever season.

J. Smith, Hawks 96 - 76ers 91
9 blocks and 9 assists, also had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.
Very few players have the ability to get assists and blocks.

R. Bell, Suns 118 - Bobcats 104
24 points, hit 7 of 12 3-pointers.
The Suns run, and also hit a lot from outside.

L. Barbosa, Suns 118 - Bobcats 104
30 points, hit 5 of 9 3-pointers.
The Suns run, and also hit a lot from outside.

K. Korver, Jazz 110 - Hornets 88
20 points, hit 6 of 8 3-pointers.
The trade for Korver seems to be working out well for the Jazz.

B. Wallace, Bulls 118 - SuperSonics 108
7 assists and 7 points, also had 8 offensive rebounds.
Passing like that isn't something Wallace usually does.

Josh Smith is more than just a dunker.(Picture from Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

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Nets Faster, Or More Swift, After Trade

February 5th 2008 12:14

The Nets went looking for an athlete, the Grizzlies just wanted to change things and start rebuilding.

To New Jersey: Stromile Swift

To Memphis: Jason Collins and cash

Why New Jersey did it: This will depend on whether Kidd stays, as Kidd would be a point guard that would get the most from the athletic Swift. Swift is a big player who can keep up with Kidd, Jefferson and Carter. The Nets want to run, and Collins couldn’t do that.

Krstic is supposed to be coming back from injury, big Magloire is still on the roster and young players Boone and Williams have been useful so Collins wasn't needed.

Why Memphis did it: Swift was never a good fit with the Grizzlies. When they originally drafted him they didn't have a spot for him on the floor, with Abdur-Rahim there. Swift waited until his rookie deal expired and he left as a free agent. But then he was traded back there to match salaries in the Battier trade. He has been waiting again to leave and it was finally granted.

Cash might be the biggest part of the trade for the Grizzlies. Collins is a solid player in a halfcourt game, but Memphis won’t be the right spot for him. In Utah, San Antonio or Detroit he might be a better fit.

As the video shows, Swift can jump over anyone and dunk.

Fantasy NBA Analysis:

Collins won't do anything useful for fantasy stats. Although other players at Memphis may start to improve their numbers with Gasol and Swift both gone. Milicic should be a solid player for blocks and rebounds. Lowry has been getting minutes at point guard, but when Conley returns he should be the starter again.

One of the bigs for the Nets might be solid for fantasy stats. Wait a few games to see who the minutes go to.

Stromile Swift is probably happy to be out of Memphis, again.(Picture from nba.com)

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Lakers Step On The Gas With A Huge Trade

February 1st 2008 23:28

Teams need to be big to win in the playoffs, and the success of Duncan and Shaq has proved that. After a trade with Memphis, the Lakers could go into the playoffs with a frontline of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.

To LA Lakers: Pau Gasol and a second round pick

To Memphis: Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and two first round picks.

Why the Lakers did it: The Bulls could have been one of the top teams in the NBA if they had used PJ Brown's expiring contract to trade for a star, like Gasol. The Lakers had the high-priced expiring contract of Kwame Brown and instead of letting it disappear to save money they traded it for an all-star big. It was a bargain buy by the Lakers.

Gasol will not only give them 20 points and 10 rebounds, but he has become one of the best passers among forward/centers too. He should be a good fit in their offense.

Why Memphis did it: Salary cap. They will clear a lot of money as they start a rebuild. The Grizzlies have always been a team with problems, their only real highlight was when they originally traded for Gasol, and now the team has decided they once again have to start over. Something a bit strange by Memphis, wanting the other Gasol in the trade.

They won't be great picks, somewhere in the 20s of the first round, but Memphis do have the chance to find some useful players with the picks they acquired for 2008 and 2010. Javaris Crittenton probably wasn't a good fit at point guard for the Lakers, as he wasn't a shooter like Farmar and Fisher, and he may need to change his game to help the Grizzlies. Conley and Lowry are a good point guard combination for Memphis so Javaris Crittenton might need to develop into a shooting guard to get playing time.

Fantasy NBA Analysis:

Gasol will still get his stats, especially with Bynum out injured. The real impact from this trade for fantasy NBA leagues is what happens in Memphis. Milicic or Brown could become much better fantasy players. Stromile Swift would too, but he could be on his way to New Jersey.

If he beats you, you can trade for him, the Lakers made a great trade.(Picture from Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images)

They will combine now for 50 points a game for the Lakers.(Picture from Lance Murphey, The Associated Press)

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NBA Prime Time Players - Week 13

January 30th 2008 06:40

S. Nash, Suns 114 - Bucks 105
37 points and 10 assists, he hit 5 of 9 3-point attempts.
The Suns can do this in the regular season, but the playoffs are a different story.

R. Artest, Kings 128 - Nets 94
27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.
The now-healthy Kings team is very impressive, as was Artest's offense here.

Z. Ilgauskas, Cavaliers 121 - Wizards 85
Shot 10 for 10 from the field.
Ilgauskas is a very good shooter for a big center.

J. Calderon, Raptors 114 - Celtics 112
24 points, shooting 8 for 10 from the field, and 13 assists.
He also won the game with a 3-point play in the final seconds.

H. Turkoglu, Magic 112 - Grizzlies 85
26 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, he hit 6 of 8 3-pointers.
He is even outplaying big free agent signing Rashard Lewis.

A. Jefferson, Timberwolves 117 - Suns 107
39 points, in only 35 minutes, added 8 offensive rebounds and 7 defensive.
The Timberwolves can beat the Suns, but lose against most other teams.

A. Stoudemire, Timberwolves 117 - Suns 107
33 points, shot 14 of 16 from the field.
Having Nash pass him the ball does make things a bit easier.

K. Hinrich, Bulls 108 - Pacers 95
38 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.
Hinrich will need to keep playing at a high level to get Chicago winning again.

J. Smith, Nuggets 107 - Hawks 100
22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks and 7 turnovers.
The only people busier then Josh Smith were the statisticians.

M. Camby, Nuggets 107 - Hawks 100
21 rebounds and 4 blocks.
He is having a huge season, and is going to be very important in the playoffs.

R. Hamilton, Pistons 101 - Magic 93
32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
Often considered to be just a scorer, he also helped in other areas in this game.

C. Butler, Wizards 104 - Grizzlies 93
19 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals.
Butler for Kwame Brown, safe to say that trade was a win for the Wizards.

P. Stojakovic, Hornets 111 - Clippers 92
26 points, shot 6 for 9 on 3-pointers.
They have a good structure, with one of the best passers in the NBA teamed with one of the best shooters.

E. Okafor, Bobcats 90 - Bulls 77
21 points, shooting 10 for 13, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks.
If he keeps improving his offense then the Bobcats will be a playoff team.

C. Boozer, Jazz 127 - Kings 113
33 points and 10 rebounds, hit 15 of 19 field goals.
Imagine how good the Cavs would be if they still had Boozer.

A. Kirilenko, Jazz 127 - Kings 113
25 points, 4 blocks and 6 assists, he also hit 3 3-pointers.
He suddenly became their point forward, his passing this season has been impressive.

D. Wade, Heat 98 - Pacers 96
35 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Heat actually won a game.

H. Turkoglu, Magic 96 - Celtics 93
27 points, shooting 3 for 7 for 3-pointers and 8 of 9 on free throws.
He also one the game in the last quarter.

L. James, Cavaliers 98 - Lakers 95
41 points in 44 minutes.
He outscored Bryant who had 33.

C. Butler, Bucks 105 - Wizards 102 OT
40 points, hit 4 3-pointers and was a perfect 10 for 10 on free throws.
He also had 5 steals, showing he played hard at both ends of the court.

A. Jefferson, Timberwolves 98 - Nets 95
40 points and 19 rebounds.
It seems they actually got good value for Garnett.

A. Biedrins, Warriors 106 - Knicks 104
26 rebounds and 11 points.
Impressive work, but they might be signing Webber who will take some minutes from him.

A. Kirilenko, Jazz 97 - Spurs 91
23 points, shooting 9 for 10, he also had 4 steals.
A big win for the Jazz over one of the best teams in the NBA.

Caron Butler might be the best player Washington have.(Picture from Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images)

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NBA Awards Watch

January 27th 2008 05:48

Most Valuable Player - Yao Ming
It is coming up to the halfway point of the season, and a lot of people are announcing their midseason award picks. There are a number of MVP candidates, and big Yao deserves as much attention as any other player. A 20-10 center who shoots 85% at the free throw line. Add in 50% from the field and a couple of blocks per game, Yao is a superstar.

Rookie of the Year - Kevin Durant
Easily the top rookie, as expected after Oden went down injured, but picking who is the second best rookie is difficult. It is probably Horford, but in Memphis they are getting production from Conley and Navarro, Yi continues his solid play in Milwaukee and Al Thornton or Corey Brewer could increase their stats in the second half of the season if their playing time increases.

Most Improved Player - Al Jefferson
He could be the player to win this award, and other awards in the future. Jefferson has become an elite player in the paint, averaging a 20-10. He is also scoring at around 50%, something that isn't easy to do on a struggling team.

Defensive Player of the Year - Josh Smith
3.5 blocks, 2 steals and 8 rebounds, numbers nobody expects from a small forward. He is also top 10 in the NBA for turnovers, although he does get close to 4 assists per game, so when Josh Smith is out on the floor expect something to happen.

While Josh Smith is an excitement machine at the defensive end, here is a player who was a foot taller than Smith and also enjoyed blocking shots, Manute Bol.

6th Man of the Year - Manu Ginobili
20 points off the bench, he is producing just a bit more than Terry or Barbosa, some of the other 6th man award candidates. Manu often plays 5 or 6 minutes fewer per game than other star swingmen around the NBA, but he does as much in 30 minutes on the floor than others do in 36 minutes.

The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired a player to build their team around when they traded Garnett for Jefferson, as well as a number of other draft picks and players.(Picture from nba.com)

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NBA Prime Time Players - Week 12

January 23rd 2008 01:14

J. Crawford, Knicks 105 - Wizards 93
29 points, hit 6 of 7 3-pointers.
Expect Crawford to score a lot with Marbury out.

R. Hamilton, Pistons 103 - Raptors 89
39 points in 38 minutes, hitting 5 of 6 3-pointers.
He doesn't usually take a lot of 3-pointers, or hit them so well.

A. Walker, Warriors 105 - Timberwolves 98
26 points in 26 minutes, shot 10 of 15 from the field and hit 4 3-pointers.
Maybe the Miami Heat miss him, and his versatility at the forward spots.

L. James, Cavaliers 132 - Grizzlies 124 OT
51 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and hit 6 of 12 3-pointers.
He played a total of 47 minutes in this game.

S. Cassell, Clippers 97 - Suns 90
32 points, shooting 15 for 21.
He is old but can still produce.

S. O'Neal, Bulls 126 - Heat 96
24 points, shot 8 of 12 on free throws.
Miami are the worst in the East, they probably didn't expect that to happen.

C. Bosh, Raptors 116 - Kings 91
31 points, went 11 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 at the free throw line.
Only missed twice from the combined 22 attempts, that is efficient scoring.

C. Delfino, Raptors 116 - Kings 91
26 points, 4 steals and 5 3-pointers.
He is one of several players there who can score a lot off the bench.

G. Wallace, Bobcats 99 - Magic 93
36 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.
Wallace and Richardson might get the Bobcats into the playoffs.

J. Crawford, Knicks 111 - Nets 105
35 points and 8 assists, shot 6 for 10 on 3-pointers.
The passing was a good stat for him, as the Knicks need more ball movement.

R. Allen, Celtics 100 - Trail Blazer 90
35 points, 12 of 20 from the field and hit 4 3-pointers.
He was in a small slump but is back scoring at his usual rate.

T. Chandler, Hornets 123 - SuperSonics 92
21 rebounds, shot 7 of 9 from the field for 14 points.
He did miss all 4 free throws he took, but the rebounding more than made up for that.

L. Kleiza, Nuggets 120 - Jazz 109
41 points and 9 rebounds.
It looks like he could become their third scorer, helping out Iverson and Anthony.

B. Diaw, Suns 106 - Lakers 98
19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 3-pointer.
With Hill out, Diaw does a lot more.

P. Stojakovic, Hornets 112 - Bobcats 84
17 points, went 5 for 7 on 3-pointers.
Missed the only 2-pointer he took, but hit lots of 3-pointers.

B. Jones, Grizzlies 124 - SuperSonics 100
20 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
Bobby Jones was just signed as a free agent, they started him and he had a huge game.

K. Martin, Kings 100 - Pistons 93
24 points and 7 rebounds, shot 8 of 14.
Kevin Martin, Artest and Bibby all came off the bench in this game.

S. Nash, Suns 115 - Timberwolves 95
Shot 6 for 6 from the field, had 17 points and 13 assists.
Amazing shooting numbers for a point guard.

B. Davis, Warriors 119 - Bulls 111
40 points, hit 6 3-pointers and was 8 for 8 on free throws.
Still healthy and still producing.

M. Moore, Kings 110 - Pacers 104
22 points, shooting 9 for 12 from the field, and 11 rebounds.
Moore is giving the Kings more.

J. Richardson, Bobcats 105 - Grizzlies 87
38 points and 14 rebounds, he also hit 6 3-pointers.
They are paying him a lot, but he is doing more than they would have expected.

A. Harrington, Warriors 119 - Bucks 99
27 points, hit 5 of 10 3-pointers.
Harrington is a player that is a good fit for a Don Nelson team.

B. Gordon, Bulls 97 - Pistons 81
33 points, shot 9 of 17 from the field and hit all 13 of his free throws.
He is playing for a new contract, so he will want to keep producing like this.

W. Szczerbiak, Mavericks 111 - SuperSonics 96
26 points, shot 9 of 15 from the field and hit all 8 free throws.
He is available in trade, and Seattle won't want more than a pick and an ending contract.

C. Maggette, Clippers 120 - Nets 107 OT
31 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
He can score very quickly, the passing was something new.

B. Diaw, Suns 116 - Nets 92
14 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
His trade value must be going up, and the Suns might try to trade him for a big center.

C. Butler, Wizards 102 - Mavericks 84
25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 assists.
Butler and Jamison might be more important than Arenas.

T. Outlaw, Trail Blazers 111 - Hawks 109 OT
23 points, shooting 9 for 14.
Portland have a deep bench.

S. Rodriguez, Trail Blazers 111 - Hawks 109 OT
16 points in 16 minutes, shooting 6 for 7, and adding 4 assists.
Portland have a deep bench, and Rodriguez is their third point guard behind Blake and Jack.

K. Rush, Pacers 110 - 76ers 103
25 points, hitting 5 3-pointers.
The Pacers are going small and having some success.

Y. Ming, Rockets 96 - SuperSonics 89
30 points and 17 rebounds.
He would be a deserving MVP winner.

T. Chandler, Hornets 106 - Bucks 92
Shot 9 of 11 and finished with 20 points, also had 15 rebounds.
Chandler was a great acquisition by the Hornets.

R. Gomes, Timberwolves 109 - Warriors 108
35 points and 11 rebounds, he hit 11 field goals and 11 free throws.
Along with Jefferson, and others, Gomes was acquired from the Celtics in the Garnett deal.

Few can stop Yao.(Picture from ESPN)

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NBA Prime Time Players - Week 11

January 15th 2008 21:29

J. Kidd, Bobcats 115 - Nets 99
13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
That was his third consecutive triple-double.

K. Durant, Cavaliers 95 - SuperSonics 79
24 points, shot 10 for 20.
One of his better-shooting games.

L. Head, Rockets 92 - Wizards 84
24 points, hit 4 of 6 3-pointers.
A great compliment to Yao as Head can hit plenty of outside shots.

D. Fisher, Lakers 117 - Grizzlies 101
26 points, went 10 for 11 from the field, hitting all 5 3-pointers he attempted.
Fisher is having a big year with the Lakers.

E. Curry, Knicks 105 - Bulls 100
29 points, shooting 11 for 14, as well as 8 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The scoring is good, but it is the rebounding and shotblocking that the Knicks want from him.

A. Horford, Hawks 90 - Cavaliers 81
10 points and 15 rebounds, also blocked a couple of shots.
The second best rookie in the NBA.

C. Bosh, Raptors 109 - 76ers 96
21 points, shot 8 for 10 from the field and 5 of 6 on free throws.
He started the season missing mroe shots than expected, he is now shooting much better.

A. Parker, Raptors 109 - 76ers 96
22 points, shot 8 of 11 from the field which included 4 3-pointers.
The Raptors made a great move when they signed him from Europe.

Y. Ming, Rockets 101 - Knicks 92
36 points and 11 rebounds, shot 14 of 21 from the field and 8 of 9 on free throws.
The tallest center is also the best free throw shooter for his position.

J. Richardson, Bobcats 95 - Celtics 83
34 points and 9 rebounds, went 14 of 22 from the field.
His offense has improved with his new team.

J. Petro, Nets 99 - SuperSonics 88
22 points, on 10 of 15 shooting, along with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Seattle need to figure out who their center is, maybe Petro can win the job.

A. Bynum, Lakers 109 - Hornets 80
Shot 8 of 10 for 17 points.
Bynum was having a huge year, but will now miss a couple of months.

M. Williams, Bucks 98 - Heat 92
35 points, shot 10 of 22 from the field and hit all 12 of his free throw attempts.
Williams played every minute in this game.

R. Bell, Suns 129 - pacers 122 OT
27 points and 9 rebounds, he hit 6 of 11 3-pointers.
Hill was out but the Suns had 4 players score 23 or more points.

S. Blake, Trail Blazers 109 - Warriors 91
24 points, shot 8 of 10 which included 5 3-pointers.
Usually a passer, Blake had his shot going in this one.

R. Wallace, Pistons 90 - Spurs 80
23 points and 15 rebounds.
Teams need a star inside to defeat the Spurs, Wallace was performing in this game.

B. Udrih, Kings 116 - Grizzlies 113
25 points, shot 10 for 17.
Bibby is on the way back, but maybe they should trade him as Udrih has point guard under control.

M. Okur, Jazz 108 - Suns 86
22 points and 17 rebounds, hit 3 of 9 3-pointers.
He hit outside shots and also brought in 5 offensive boards.

S. Dalembert, Bulls 100 - 76ers 97
21 points and 20 rebounds, shot 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 5 on free throws.
Dalembert isn't far off being a worthy all-star selection.

J. Boone, Celtics 86 - Nets 77
14 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The Nets are looking to their younger players to help in the paint, Boone is playing well for them.

A. Jamison, Wizards 102 - Hawks 98 OT
22 points and 17 rebounds.
Maybe Arenas wasn't their most important player, Jamison and Butler are still getting plenty of wins.

A. Horford, Wizards 102 - Hawks 98 OT
8 points and 19 rebounds.
Not the tallest center, but that isn't stopping him getting a lot of rebounds.

L. James, Cavaliers 113 - Bobcats 106 2OT
31 points and 19 rebounds.
He also had 8 assists but balanced that with 8 turnovers.

C. Bosh, Raptors 99 - Knicks 90
40 points and 11 rebounds.
A big game for Bosh, but it was against the Knicks who struggle to defend in the paint.

B. Jackson, Hornets 114 - Heat 88
25 points, hit 7 3-pointers as he shot 9 of 9 from the field, only played 25 minutes.
The Hornets scored 42 more points than the Heat when Jackson was on the floor.

C. Landry, Rockets 113 - Timberwolves 82
15 points, shooting 7 for 7, and 11 rebounds.
The Rockets have power forward production from Hayes, Scola and now Landry too.

P. Gasol, Warriors 116 - Grizzlies 104
43 points, shooting 17 for 25.
The Bulls, and other teams, might be seeing if they can trade for Gasol.

B. Davis, Warriors 116 - Grizzlies 104
20 points and 19 assists.
As long as he stays uninjured the Warriors will have a good season.

A. Kirilenko, Jazz 119 - Magic 115
16 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
Before the season he didn't want to be there, now he has become a star point forward for the Jazz.

A. Bogut, Suns 122 - Bucks 114
Shot 14 of 16, scored 29 points.
He was scoring more than a point per minute, but scoring does come easy for teams against Phoenix.

S. Nash, Suns 122 - Bucks 114
35 points, went 13 of 17 from the field, hitting 5 3-pointers.
Nash and the Suns just outscore people.

K. Martin, Pacers 111 - Kings 105
25 points, shot 7 of 9 from the field and was perfect on his 10 free throws.
Kevin Martin's first game back from injury.

J. Johnson, Hawks 105 - Bulls 84
37 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Big production from Johnson as the Hawks keep improving.

L. Deng, Hawks 105 - Bulls 84
28 points, shot 10 for 15.
Deng returned to action after missing a few games.

Z. Randolph, Knicks 89 - Pistons 65
25 points, shot 11 of 18 and also hit a 3-pointer.
The Knicks need any win they can get, but a win over Detroit was unexpected.

M. Camby, Bobcats 119 - Nuggets 116
23 rebounds, 6 blocks, 6 assists and 20 points.
Some amazing numbers from Camby, but surprisingly they didn't get the win.

G. Wallace, Bobcats 119 - Nuggets 116
40 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 3-pointers, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
A big result in every statistical category from Wallace.

K. Bryant, Lakers 123 - SuperSonics 121 OT
48 points, on 44 shots.
There are a few extra shots available with Bynum out.

K. Martin, Kings 122 - Mavericks 120
39 points, shot 14 of 16 from the field.
He has been amazing in his two games after missing a long time with injury.