Donyell Marshall: Where's my jersey!?

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Donyell Marshall hasn't played in so long...he forgot to wear a uniform!

Tayshaun Prince downs the Lakers

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Tayshaun Prince downs the Lakers with a clutch three pointer.

Chauncey gets rough with Fisher

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Chauncey Billups gets ticked at Derek Fisher.

Al Thorton flies!

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We heard Al Thorton was being injected with fluids to stay hydrated. And just check out what he does to All-Star Josh Smith the Atlanta Hawks!

Elton Brand on-court footage

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Elton Brand is back on the court, and looking really good.

Deron Williams crosses Collins

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Deron Williams makes Mardy Collins look silly, well sort of.

Ref hit in the face

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This ref gets one in the face ouch!

UPDATE: The good people (or person) at Hardwood Paradoxism linked up this video! Holla HP!

Balkman major elbows Vujacic

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Rendalo Balkman deserved a flagrant foul for this ridiculous elbow to Sasha Vujacic's face.

UPDATE: Balkman later got a Flagrant Two and a one game suspension. What did I say?

UPDATE: This video is linked up on DIME Magazine. Check it.

Houston mascot injured!!

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A mascot collision not worth laughing at...too much. She was okay, if you're wondering.

UPDATE: Fellow hoops blog boy, Fear The Beard (awesome stuff) has something to say about the fiasco. Check it, please!

UPDATE, again: Fellow hoops blog boy, Awful Announcing (awesome stuff as well) has something to say about the fiasco. Check it, please!

Andray Blatche gets hit in the nuts

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The price of good defense.

Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams BANG!

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Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams don't looking where they're running.

Parker pushes OT

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Anthony Parker sends the Raptors and Wizards into overtime with a clutch three.

Clippers' empty bench

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The Clippers had nine active players. You have to feel for the lonely Sam Cassell.

This is pathetic.

Josh Powell power dunk

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Josh Powell posterizes Gerald Wallace. This man is finally feeling comfortable with his game. It must feel odd for Wallace to be on the receiving end.

Chris Paul cross overs (3x)

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Chris Paul dominates Anthony Carter not once, not twice, but thrice! Rarrrrrrr!

Chris Paul misses open layup

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Chris Paul misses a wide open layup against the Nuggets. I think he confused himself at the last second if he wanted to dunk or lay it in. Thankfully, he was able to get the ball quickly back and pickup his 14th assist.

J.R. Smith dunks on Pargo

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J.R. Smith takes a really hard fall after dunking over Janero Pargo.

Reggie Miller look-alikes

With all the talk about Reggie Miller and Barack Obama being separated at birth and all, we thought it appropriate to do Reggie a favor and find out who he REALLY looks like.

Yes, be thankful MyHeritage didn't bring up a picture of a rhinoceros (but I'm sure he'd look 'G'ed up' in a nice suit as well). Let's go through the Top 8 matches for Reggie Miller. Only one of the eight is American. We'll let you find out who that person is for yourself.

1. Mike Leigh (70 percent match): English film and theater director most known for his films Secrets & Lies (1996) and Vera Drake (2004)...Best known quote is: "Given the choice of Hollywood or poking steel pins in my eyes, I'd prefer steel pins"...Vera Drake was is known as a predecessor of Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain.

2. J.K. Rowling (64 percent match): To wit, Time Magazine's 2007 second runner up for Person of the Year...Author of the Harry Potter series, now a global brand worth an estimated $15 billion...Subject of a number of college-student podcasts and a recent ITV documentary film.

3. Konrad Adenauer (64 percent match): 27th German Chancellor, and the 1st Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, whatever that is...Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1950 to 1966...Time Magazine Person of the Year 1953. You go man.

4. Reggie Miller (62 percent): Retired American professional basketball player...Doesn't cooperate with media...Likes short shorts...Thinks Barack Obama "is good looking."

5. Valdus Adamkus (61 percent match): Current president of Lithuania...Lived in Chicago for 49 years from 1949 to 1998.

6. Boris Becker (61 percent match): Former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Germany...Posed nude with ex-wife for the cover of Stern Magazine...Attended 2007 NBA All-Star game.

7. Bob Marley (60 percent match): Jamaican singer, songwriter, guitarist, and activist...performer of reggae music....prophet

8. Pierluigi Collina (59 percent match): Italian former soccer referee...Lifelong supporter of Fortitudo Bologna, one of Europe's leading basketball clubs.

Brad Miller throws Kurt Thomas

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Can the Kings play a game without loosing their temper?

Brad Miller loses his temper after not getting a foul called. So what does he do? Complain to the referee? Bit his tongue? Imagine that he wasn't touched at all (you know, pretend reality is real)?

No BMiller decides to pick up Kurt Thomas and throw him out of the way. This could've cost the Kings the win.

I feel sorry for good people like Kevin Martin who what to make a game winner because of guys like Artest and Miller.

Davis ready for All-Star game

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If it wasn't for this Baron Davis, the Warriors wouldn't even be in the game against the New York Knicks!

This guys is ready for the All-Star game. Isn't this the average distance they shoot from in that contest, anyway?

And since there's no defense on the part of the Knicks, it might as well be an ASG exhibition.

TMac injures finger

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Tracy McGrady, playing fairly well against the Jazz, was holding his finger after falling into the crow. It's only a matter of time before he's missing games again.

The piece of glass wanted to come out of the game, but had to got to the line to shot his free throws. He was visibly shaken by the finger injury and missed both shots.

TMac still finished the game. Yet as soon as Yao Ming returns, that means it's a green light for McGrady to go back into perpetual rehab.

TMac wants a foul

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Tracy McGrady wants a foul called on Kyle Korver...but drains the jumper anyway. Hilarious!

Mo pulls an Arenas against Washington?!

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Does anyone else see a little bit of Gilbert Arenas here?

Yeah, Mo Williams and Arenas are about the same size, team captains and sport goatees, I know. But look at the GW 3-pointer action! That's clutch!

The only thing that would've made this more freaky is if Arenas was defending Williams on this shot. One can only dream, though.

Harpring "not bullied" by Artest

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Matt Harpring plays with a football player mentality. If a "bully" comes to play, he's going to "bully" him back.

Of course, that bully is Ron Artest. The teacher had to separate the two an put them both in the corner. Little Ronnie got a longer time in the corner than Young Matty because he was disrupting other kids in teh class as well.

Totally acts and talks like a father of two youn children. That's right Matt, keep that language PG.

Steve Smith does palates

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Steve Smith makes a confession about his softer, more feminine side.

I love the Atlanta broadcast duo. While Steve Smith isn't joking here about palates, he's been full of jokes all season long. Only a handful of teams can boast broadcasters like Smitty.

Hilarious Deron Williams commercials

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Deron Williams needs a little help moving his stuff.

I have to admit, these are some fairly clever commercials. They're no Mars Blackmon or anything, but for a moving company in Utah, this is pretty great. I love how all Deron's boxes are in his kitchen.

Here's another Deron commercial. It begins the same, but the second features him calling all his teammates, and this time a little surprise at the end.


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Illinois represent!

Salim Stoudamire is a vegan!

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We knew there was a reason Salim Stoudamire was sitting on the bench still. Get this man some protein!

I remember back in his college days at Arizona there was always something peculuar about this guy. He was an obsessive compulsive and a super neat freak. The only thing about him that wasn't neat was his face and hair.

While he face and hair are all clean now, I guess he's got a new diet going for him. I don't think there's anything wrong with being a vegan, but it's interesting to know there now is a pro athlete who doesn't eat animal products. I wonder how much the team chefs hate him for it.

Well, it's done at least one thing for him...and that's help shed some pounds.

UPDATE: Apparently the WSJ is reporting that Tony Gonzalez is also vegan. So it can be done.

Daily Dime reactions

I tend to agree that Paul is the MVP. You look at what he's done with his team this year, now that he's fully healthy, and you see the tremendous impact he's had. A huge win against the defending champions last night also is telling. The difference between Paul and Garnett is the caliber of team on which they play. The Cs have two other HOF players, the Hornets...none.

LBJ's stats are the best in the League, no doubt. But, yeah, somehow a team's record plays a immeasurable bias in the MVP voting. I totally agree with your assessment that the Cavs need to be first in their division (or at least a close second behind the Pistons) for LeBron to merit any sort of consideration for the award. It's just interesting to see how much record plays a part, especially when one's opinion about it can be so subjective.

***

Garnett's production is still the same. He's just playing less minutes...which lowers his overall numbers. Yet, he's still deadly effective when on the court.

***

Dirk and Mavs won 67 games. C'mon now...and Nowitzki was playing lights out all seasons long. He was thrown into an early season funk premeditated by his offseason sabbatical and lack of training.

The Celtics are on a similar pace this year. KG clearly is the difference maker and should win the award if the current trends continue. I think Paul's still too young to win the award. I know it's trite to say, but age also seems to play a role -- whether a cat's earned his stripes long enough.

The Cavs need to land a fourth or fifth seed this season, otherwise they have no hope of playing the Celtics for rights in the East. If the Cavs land a sixth of seventh spot (which they probably will), they've got no chance beating Orlando and Detroit to get to Boston in the Eastern conference finals. No chance whatsoever.

***

I feel like you all are hating on some of the best players to ever play the game -- Kobe, KG, Dirk? Wow.

For one thing, I'd much rather put the ball in any of their hands than Paul or LeBron at the end of a game because of their massive experience. They all know how to get to the line in those situations and stop the clock. You need to look at their ability to lock it down and Odenize themselves at the times of extreme pressure.

LBJ and CP3 have not proved their ability to Odenize and make the right play when it really comes down to it. They haven't learned how to lead a team with their heart and sole.

***

If the Lakers do NOT fade, and play over .500 ball, then there's no question Kobe's the League's most valuable, regardless of how many shots he puts up and how well he shoots. A team without key cogs Ariza and Bynum is nothing, and to carry that on your back for two months is Atlas-esque.

***

The only thing the Lakers were predicted to do was trade Kobe to the Chi or trade Bynum to the Nets. Somehow they didn't do either, and overcame all the diversity to become an elite team. What a story. You have to recognize this with an award for Kobe, who was the key person in the 180 turnaround.

***

The MVP this season may be the most debated selection in recent history. That said, there's still a half a season to consider after this. How players' team's perform will without doubt play a large role.

That said, here's who I project to be the top three MVP candidates at the season's end: 1) KG, 2) Kobe, 3) Paul

I'm not trying to diminish LeBron's game in any way. I'm just saying that playing .540 ball in the East is not good enough.

***

Yes, I think the big three really play as a unit -- helping each other out and complimenting each other's game. Still, Garnett is the piece that makes it all work. There's no saying how good the team would be without Garnett (because they theoretically would still have Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson...and Gerald Green...and Sebastian Telfair), but I'd wager it wouldn't be anywhere near 60-65 wins at the end of the season.

Garnett's the key to the Celtic's resurgent season. That's why he's the MVP.

***

I'd totally disagree about the career achievement. Steve Nash, when he won his first MVP, was an All-Star, but certainly not deserving of the League's best player award in Dallas. He came into his own when he signed with Phoenix, and the NBA rewarded him for his spectacular performance during those seasons.

On the other hand, I do think a player needs to have played at least a couple years in the League before he wins the MVP. I can't think of an MVP in recent times who's won an the award in his first three seasons. Or am I wrong? I think you have to earn your stripes in the NBA before you can be seriously considered for the award. That's why Paul's not winning anything but an First Team selection this season...which is no chump change by any means.

***

Not only are the starters in New Orleans playing more minutes than other teams, they're also young. There's two things going on here, in my mind: 1) They're young and they can handle the burn, and 2) They're young and don't have the experience to "pace" themselves for when it comes playoff time.

It's a long season and I definitely agree that the Hornets most likely will not make it to even the Western Conference Finals. However, if they do make it that far, I'll be leading the NOH bandwagon with the rest of Bayou.

***

The younger a player is, the less likely he'll be given the reigns to a team. The only exceptions would be poor, rebuilding teams who have no other choice but to let their young guns play (I.e. Seattle this season).

However, in those instances, when a young player is a main option, only very rarely will that team also be also a factor in the playoff picture. Most of the time, these young teams don't even make the playoffs.

***

If teams are blowing people out the majority of the time (Hornets recently, Celtics not so recently), there's no need to "close out" teams. I guess being a good closer implies that you're not doing enough during the first three quarters to be comfortable going into the final period.

***

Howard and Paul are different. Paul's a small guard and very prone to injury. Whereas, Howard is about one of the League's biggest (most muscular) players in the NBA. Howard's never missed a game in his career. Not only that, but he's played one year longer.

***

Sometimes I get caught up looking to the numbers for answers to these questions. Still, nothing substitutes for watching a player play the game to really assess how valuable he is.

Clippers comeback and demise

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Kyle Lowry was getting the lane all night. Chris Kaman was out because of a bad shinny that's more frail than my grandmother's...who slides around in a plastic tube device, thing.

Yet, all of a sudden, the Clippers got a little bit of Captain Marvel in themselves, and decided to pull off a stop on the Griz. They busted out heir suppreme defender, Brevin "The Dark" Knight who put the stop on Lowry....finally.

Without their patented pattern of points (sorry, y'all), the play got really sloppy.

Lowry loses the ball on a key possession down the stretch to turn the tides in the Clippers favor. Corey Maggette dunk off a fast break.

108-108. Tied for the first time in 48 minutes of play.

O-T, BABY!

So then guess who turns the tides?


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It's the man, K-Low, with a ridiculous rebound over Sammy Cas.

Final 125-120. Great game...even without the big name bigs Kaman and Pau "The Gassy Spanish Fly" Gasol.

Gerald Wallace can't dribble

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Instead of hitting a big-time shot, G-Force makes a big-time turn over behind-the-back style. I don't know why he made this turnover like a French breadmaker does while making dough in the morning.

It was a two shot possession, and while the Cats needed a quick score, there was no need to put on another highlight. However, as G-man found, his attempt at making SC again would turn into a definite loss and...another for the super stingbean rubber band jumping man Andre Iguodala on the other side.

So Gerald passes the ball behind his back to the other team. The other team throws the baseball outlet...

Iggy flushes it home unclogging the rim for your viewing pleasure.

It seemed like the Bobcats had a bit of momentum up until this fatal error.

Iguodala comes out with a better dunk than he's performed in any dunk contest. I guess he had to put a little bit of flare into the Sixers' first win in the Bobcat's stadium.

Heat snap losing skid

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WOOOOO CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!

The way a 15-game losing streak ends, especially when at home, is a laughable matter. Both for the team that celebrates like it just won a chip (Heat) and the team that sunk so low to have lost the game (Pacers).

The Pacers put together a sizeable lead coming into the second half, but stopped working inside against Heat who have NO ONE in their frontcourt. And when the game ended with an errant half-court bomb from Andre Owens, the Pacers looked like Little Red Riding Hood caught sleeping with a wolf.

How did this happen? How could we loose?

Travis Diener is now the world's best "Gimme a career night" defender. Kirk Hinrich, Michael Redd and Dwyane Wade all lit him up for 35+ points in the last three games. The Pacers are injured as well, without Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley, but still...

Don't tell me they're any good, even when healthy.

You can't trade JO for a pair of used Cuba Gooding Jr. whittie tighties!

Praise Jesus! The losing streak is over!!! Everyone get out those rally caps! The Heat are on top of the planet! Everyone gets a "Winner" sticker. Goodbye.

Artest ejected 01/25/2008

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Ron Ron was just asking for it against the Utah Jazz. I was getting worried about Tru Warrior starting another brawl with Matt Harpring.

There were a series of things that really got me on edge. They should've tossed dude sooner. Reggie Theus was jawin' at the refs, Jerry Sloan almost got a T. But in the end, getting rid of Artest calmed it all down. Artest literally caused the entire brouhaha himself.

What a dick.

It's not hard to tell when Artest's head is out of the game. He gets all up in everyone's dome and starts playing truely sloppy defense. It's only a matter of time before Artest is out of the game when he's mad.

Quite bluntly, he's dangerous. The look in his eyes is of pure malice and hatred like a bull seeing red.

All you can do is hope he's not coming after you.

J.J. Putz: "Keep the Sonics in Seattle"

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Seattle Mariner star closer J.J. Putz supports the Supersonics staying in Seattle. Is there anyone who doesn't want the Supes to stay?

You just have to love athletes supporting other sports teams in their city. Putz, though, wasn't the only one. He mentioned the entire Mariner bullpen was at the game.

Unfortunately the Sonics had 31 points on 31 percent shooting at the half! Ugly game. You wish it wasn't a rebuilding year.

Yet, with strong support through tough times, you know this team would do fine if it was to stay.

Garnett injury 01/25/2008

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A look at a possible Kevin Garnett injury in tonight's game.

This from a report in the Toronto Star:

"It felt like I got sniped from the rafters or something," Garnett said. "I just had a sharp pain come from my stomach and I just wanted the doctors to look at it. They looked at it and said I was fine, so I came back out.''

The doctor said Garnett could go back in, but the trainer said no, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, holding one thumb up and one thumb down. Eventually, Garnett begged his way back on to the court."

While it could have been a bad cramp, the sideline reporter said Garnett went "onto one knee for about a minute before preceding into the locker room." This was a very painful thing for Garnett. Hopefully, it won't turn into something lingering.

Have the C's gone to great lengths to conceal pain in their fearless leader? Is this a reoccurring problem for Garnett that's been pushed under the table?

It's quite certain Garnett has been getting less minutes this year. Might it be to save his ailing health?

Well, probably not, but it's fun to guess.

Al Jefferson: What's PF mean?

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Al Jefferson doesn't understand the stats sheet. This may explain why he never gave college a second thought.

Tough loss for the Wolves, who have been playing far better than their 35 losses might dictate. KG, Ryan Gomes, Jeff, and dunk contestant Gerald Green all seemed to enjoy themselves. How can you not when the Garden has the revived atmosphere that it has this season?

We're just really glad Kendrick Perkins was kind enough to divulge this great Al Jefferson moment...at Jefferson's behest, of course.

Reggie and Barack: Separated at birth

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Marv Albert: "This is my all-time favorite, the so-called Separated at Birth. They just put it up on the video screen, and the crowd went bizerk! You and Barack! And a chant of REGGIE followed!"

Reggie Miller: "Hey, I've been compared to worse. To be with Barack, a presidental candidate..."

MA: "I don't know if that's a compliment - I've been compared to worse."

RM: "Barack is a good looking guy. So to be compared to someone like that, that's great because I've been compared to other people who are not so..."

MA: "You're looking at the aesthetics of it."

RM: "I look better than Barack. I'll tell you that right now. And my suit is Ged up!"

EXCLUSIVE: Blazers just coasting

Yet another exclusive expert team opinion from Dave at BlazersEdge.

I emailed him last night and received a fast and very insightful response.

I’d recommend reading the following carefully.

"The chances that the Blazers will make any moves before the trading deadline are very small. For one thing they have a good rhythm and chemistry going. Second they don't want to take on any extra salaries with cap room coming along after next season.

"Finally and most importantly they're awaiting the second coming of Greg Oden. They know that's the key acquisition.

"Nothing done this year is going to make or break the season--they won't stink and they won't win a championship. Next year and beyond matter far more. Any potential moves will come then."

I enjoyed most his candidness about the 2007-08 campaign. Dave tells us the Blazers are not in the championship mindset.

In fact, they're just coasting until they’re full strength.

While some might be angry at the notion of not “trying” for a chip, I implore you to look at the facts. They’re in a conference containing powerhouses Lakers, Mavs, Spurs, Suns, and Hornets. Not to mention those pesky favorites in Boston. New Orleans beat them handedly last night. They’re still very week in the frontcourt.

Although the Blazers may certainly win 50 games this year, a championship will remain far outside their grasp. And they know it.

But for a team that’s coasting to win 50? Now that’s something you don’t mess with.

Watch out Larry O’Brian, 2009’s the time!

EXCLUSIVE: Bulls will not trade

Tell me your team couldn’t use one player from the Chicago Bulls.

The mere fact that Chi-town hoards young talent like a grain elevator hoards, well, grain has put the Bulls in the middle of just about every trade rumor.

Well, there’s no way this deal would work unless we could somehow through in Andres Nocioni from Chicago.

Or…

This will work perfectly if we could clone Joakim Noah and trade him to both of us!

With the Bulls’ season being such a disappointment thus far, it often follows that a trade is necessary to turn things around.

I asked Bulls reporter Mike McGraw what the Bulls' deal was in terms of making any trades.

You won't like it, but you probably won’t be surprised either about the Bulls expert's response.

“I think the most likely scenario right now is the Bulls do nothing before the trade deadline.

“Obviously, Paxson is exploring the options, but there are too many issues working against the Bulls making a major deal. If anyone is likely to be traded, it might be Chris Duhon, since he's about to become a free agent and may not be back next year anyway.”

Chris Duhon!? I’m not trading if I can’t get at least Tyrus Thomas.