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NBA Loud - by Travis

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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Suns and Spurs players fight.
Did someone say 'Royal Rumble'? (Photo by Getty Images)


LeBron James bought the sexy back into basketball today, while New Jersey’s big three failed to fire which ultimately proved costly for their playoff aspirations. Cleveland obviously won today, 87-85, and is now just one win away from progressing to the next round.

It was all Bron-Bron for the Cavs, scoring 30 points, snatching nine rebounds and handing off seven assists – one might say that this was a Jason Kidd-esque type performance. The real Jason Kidd failed to stand up though with an atrocious shooting night managing to only score five points, which was not tempered by the fact that he had a career playoff-high 17 boards.

New Jersey’s other two superstars didn’t fare any better with Vince Carter shooting 6-for-23 from the field, whilst Richard Jefferson joined the brick-fest with a 3-of-12 shooting night. U-G-L-Y. What does that spell? Well, NBALOUD readers are a smart bunch so we don’t need to insult your intelligence by giving you the answer to this no-brainer of a question.

Shockingly for the Nets they still could have won this game as the scoreline would suggest, but they could only manage a paltry three field goals in the final quarter, and fumbled their final shot which would have tied the contest. Just imagine what might have been if they played competent basketball?

This loss would sting for the Nets because it was there for the taking, even when the team
Steve Nash wants to fight Robert Horry.
Steve Nash wants to get physical with Robert Horry, but not in the way that Olivia Newton-John sang about. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
played the most horrendous basketball imaginable.

Game 4 of the Phoenix/San Antonio series ended with fireworks when with 18 seconds left in the game Robert Horry for the Spurs decided to foul Steve Nash hard. The formerly floppy haired Canadian didn’t appreciate this treatment one bit and decided he’d try and physically charge ‘Big Shot Rob’. Stevie Wonder didn’t need to worry because Raja Bell had his back and was already doing the mob hit on the Godfathers behalf.

This series already had a lot of tension to begin with as evidence by the cut on Nash’s nose from Game 1, Manu Ginobili copping a black eye in Game 3, and finally Amare Stoudemire calling out the Spur’s as a dirty team. The hate is palpable on both squads, which means a great basketball spectacle for NBA fans! Huzzah!

Here is Stevie Wonder’s reaction to the forearm that sent the little Canadian flying into the scorer’s table: “I know you have to roll with the punches literally a lot of the time," Nash said. "I felt like that was uncalled for. It's hard to always take the high road.” (White, AP, 2007)

Horry was sent packing after the foul and there might be more suspensions in order when a number of Suns players left the bench during the final second fracas. Leaving the bench to get into a bit of slap and tickle is a big no-no in the NBA.

Oh, in case anyone was wondering the Suns won, 104-98, and the series is now tied at two-a-piece. Game on!

Today’s video illustrates how combative the Suns/Spurs series has been with the blood of Steve Nash being spilled, literally. Watch how Stevie Wonder scored that rather attractive cut on his nose.


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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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