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Knicks Beat Celtics And No I'm Not High

By Jon Eiseman | January 6, 2009 | Father Knickerbocker

So how is everybody? Did everyone have a pleasant Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/L. Ron Hubbard worshipping day? Mine was good, as evidenced by the lack of postings here at Father Knickerbocker, which I apologize for. I spent my holiday season away, and since I've been back I've been too drunk/lazy to get into the routine of uptating, but I've forced myself into opening the computer and not going straight to pornography sites in order to bring everyone the news about the Knicks. I'll take my medals later.And speaking of news, how about this: THE KNICKS BEAT THE CELTICS! Holy Shit! Can anybody believe this!? Cause I certainly can't. There must have been some sort of black magic or something going on that night. Wilson Chandler put up 31 points. 31 points! That's double his average on the year. This was the Knicks second win in nine games, and their first win against the...

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NBA Power Rankings: New Year, New Number One

By Joe Boikess | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Dwight Howard - Keith Allison/Flickr.com

It's been two weeks since the last edition of my power rankings, where the East's mighty trio of Boston, Cleveland and Orlando took the top three spots. But that was last year, and now that 2008 has come and gone, it's time for a new leader: the Lakers. There was plenty of repositioning elsewhere as well, including the Detroit Pistons re-entering the top-10 for the first time since mid-November.1. Los Angeles Lakers (27-5) - Technically the Lakers are still a half-game behind the Celtics for the NBA's best record, but after L.A. beat Boston pretty convincingly on Christmas Day, then downed both Utah and Portland by double digits, there's no question who should be #1.2. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-6) - LeBron couldn't rally the Cavs past the Heat last week on his birthday despite dropping 24 of his 38 in the second half, and I can forgive him for that. But...

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Week 11 Power Rankings

By Zach Harper | January 6, 2009 | Talk Hoops

This week, I had Brandon Gallawa rank the teams and I split the comments with him. Usually, we average out our rankings, come to an agreement on the ties and then comment but with being sick, I put the responsibility on him. Here are the Week 11 Power Rankings:Week 11 Power Rankings1. Los Angeles Lakers | Record: 27-5 | Previous Rank: 2nd | Last Week: 2-0 Upcoming Schedule: NOH, at GS, IND, MIAComments: Lakers fans will disagree but it almost feels like they took back the top spot in the power rankings by default. A 4-0 week will change that feeling. -- Zach Harper2. Cleveland Cavaliers | Record: 27-6 | Previous Rank: 3rd | Last Week: 1-2 Upcoming Schedule: CHA, BOS Comments: LeBron is the MVP front-runner. Their defense is allowing less than 90 PPG and their point differential is the best in the league. Throw out 77 points against...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

Marbury Potential Is Hard for People to Give Up On

By Zach Harper | January 6, 2009 | Talk Hoops

What is it about potential, skill sets, and athleticism that makes us all clamor for those who don't deserve the attention? Is it because not even one percent of the world can accomplish the things that we see on the hardwood/parquet floor every night? Is it because we can make anybody in NBA 2K9 a threat to be great?(First side note: It really is true that NBA 2K9 is the Matrix for anyone that we want to turn into Neo and give them free reign on the pixilated battle ground that resides in my XBOX 360. I have seen Kevin Ollie and his mustache drop 62, Steve Francis play like he actually still existed, and Earl Watson perform like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas settled their difference, had a love child, and named him after Earl Monroe and Matt Watson to show his greatness. I've seen all of these guys...

Read more | 5 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, New York Knicks, Stephon Marbury, Upside Potential

Eight-Second Violation: Tuesday, December 6, 2009

By Zach Harper | January 6, 2009 | Talk Hoops

By Zach HarperMarbury Potential Hard For People To Give Up OnWhat is it about potential, skill sets, and athleticism that makes us all clamor for those who don't deserve the attention? Is it because not even one percent of the world can accomplish the things that we see on the hardwood/parquet floor every night? Is it because we can make anybody in NBA 2K9 a threat to be great?(First side note: It really is true that NBA 2K9 is the Matrix for anyone that we want to turn into Neo and give them free reign on the pixilated battle ground that resides in my XBOX 360. I have seen Kevin Ollie and his mustache drop 62, Steve Francis play like he actually still existed, and Earl Watson perform like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas settled their difference, had a love child, and named him after Earl Monroe and Matt...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Boston Celtics, Caron Butler, Crab Dribble, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Marbury, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

Eight-Second Violation: Monday, January 5, 2009

By Zach Harper | January 5, 2009 | Talk Hoops

By Zach HarperCeltics Free FallNearly two weeks ago, the Boston Celtics were 27-2 and threatening to tear down the doors to the exclusive 70-win Club that was founded by the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls. Now, thirteen days later and the Celtics would be ecstatic to just put together two straight wins. The Celtics have faltered from their Christmas time road trip that has featured four losses in six games and now has the Celtics barely hanging on for the second best record in the league. 70 wins is nearly a mathematical impossibility and home court advantage throughout the playoffs is something they'll have to work for. The Christmas Day loss to the Lakers in the Staples Center was excusable because the Lakers are a good team with a deadly superstar. And the following loss to the Golden State Warriors in Oakland seemed to be the product of a back to...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Boston Celtics, Both Teams Played Hard, Denver Nuggets, Dwight Howard, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland Trailblazers, The Basketball Jones

NBA Stock Market: Stuckey Has Pistons Pushing Forward

By Joe Boikess | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Tayshaun Prince is Detroit's most consistent player (Photo via flickr.com/Jeffrey Simms Photography)

Every week here at NBA Outsider we look at which teams and players are hot and who's not from the Association. Here's the contenders for the first week of 2009...Rising:Detroit Pistons - Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess have all missed time recently for Detroit, yet the Pistons have somehow found a way to win seven in a row. Their latest win came on Sunday night when a last-second Allen Iverson floater was goaltended by the Clippers' Al Thornton to give Detroit the 88-87 win. A big part of their success has been the play of Rodney Stuckey, who is averaging just under 23 points per game during their seven-game winning streak. The Pistons are 13-3 with Stuckey as the starting point guard, and it clearly seems obvious at this point that he'll be sticking around.Kevin Martin (Kings) - Martin had missed 22 of Sacramento's first 24 games with...

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Ilgauskas Out For a Month; Cavs Cruise Past Bulls, 117-92

By Amar Panchmatia | January 3, 2009 | Cavalier Attitude

Highlights ll BoxIf the Cavs thought that ending 2008 with a 104-95 loss at Miami was a setback, then they had to brace themselves for the news that awaited them on Friday.No, it wasn't the Chicago Bulls, all 14-18 of them. It was the news that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- who is already on pace for an All-Star season -- will miss up to a month of action with a fractured bone in his left ankle. It's the recurrence of the same injury that Z suffered on December 10th at Philadelphia when he accidentally stepped on Cream Puff's foot in a 101-93 Cavs win.An MRI and x-ray confirmed the injury on Friday, and the Cavs have purposely not set a definite timetable for his return (as per Brian Windhorst of the CPD).And now it's time for Anderson Varejao to become unplugged. Varejao stepped in for Z at center, as he...

Read more | 11 Comments | Tags: Anderson Varejao, Ben Wallace, Boston Celtics, Brian Windhorst, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Plain Dealer, J.J. Hickson, Larry Hughes, LeBron James, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

NBA Power Rankings: New Year, New Number One

By Joe Boikess | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Dwight Howard - Keith Allison/Flickr.com

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NBA Stock Market: Stuckey Has Pistons Pushing Forward

By Joe Boikess | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Tayshaun Prince is Detroit's most consistent player (Photo via flickr.com/Jeffrey Simms Photography)

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, NBA, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz

NBA Power Rankings: East on Top

By Joe Boikess | December 23, 2008 | MVN Outsider

So much for the 1 vs. 2 matchup of Celtics-Lakers on Christmas Day. The Lakers' two losses dropped them below the Cavs and Magic to their lowest spot in these rankings all season, but that could change if the Lakers manage to end the Celtics' incredible streak when they visit L.A. on Thursday. The Hornets and Rockets both moved up after last week, while the Nuggets and Mavericks dropped. There's also a new team occupying the dreaded #30 position in MVN Outsider's last power rankings of 2008.1. Boston Celtics (26-2) - A win tonight at home against the Sixers would mean that the Celtics would be heading to L.A. on a 19-game winning streak. Has there ever been a more anticipated NBA game during the month of December?2. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4) - Q: What's scarier than the fact that LeBron is only averaging 36 minutes per game? A: How he'll...Read more

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NBA Stock Market: Rondo Keeping Celtics on Record Pace

By Joe Boikess | December 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Rajon Rondo surveying the floor (Photo via culhanen/flickr.com)

Note: We at MVN Outsider have re-organized our posting schedule in an effort to make our sports coverage more well rounded and timely. For those of you expecting to see the NBA Power Rankings today, that post has been moved to Tuesdays. With these changes, get ready to see more fresh content every day on every major sport. Thanks, and enjoy!Rising:Boston Celtics - Honestly, this team has been on the rise this entire season, piling up wins at a rate that we haven't seen since the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. They now have won 18 in a row and have tied the league mark for the best start (26-2) for a team with two losses. Their recent success has been due in large part to the play of point guard Rajon Rondo. When the team needs him to score, he does it (as we saw on Sunday in the C's win...Read more

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Chances Are That Brandon Roy Has Made a Fool Out Of You, Too

By Amar Panchmatia | December 19, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Most of America slept while Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy was busy dropping a career-high 52 points on the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night as chants of "M-V-P" rained down from a packed house at the Rose Garden. Of those who were either sleeping or simply not paying attention, at least 105,345 believe that Dallas' Jason Terry, who doesn't even start for his own team, is more deserving of an All-Star starting spot than Roy. Just ask them: They casted a vote to prove it. Another 332,222 will tell you that Tracy McGrady deserves it more despite the fact that T-Mac has been in and out of the lineup and is averaging 16.5 points and 4.6 assists to Roy's 22.3 and 5.2, respectively. Still another 162,286 will tell you that Jason Kidd and his 9.3 points for a terribly underachieving Dallas team deserve it more than the leading scorer...Read more

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Brandon Roy, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Manu Ginobili, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Tracy McGrady

NBA Week 7 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | December 15, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The Celtics were perfect last week once again, cementing them at number one for the second straight week, while the Lakers slipped up in Sacramento, opening up the door for Cleveland to move up to number two. But Atlanta ended the Cavs' hopes for jumping L.A., and thus our top three remain unchanged from last week. Portland dropped out of the top 10 after losing three in a row, while the Spurs, winners of six straight, moved up to number six.1. Boston Celtics (22-2) - With the way that the Celtics are easily dispatching every foe (the latest victims being a tough Hornets team), you have to wonder if they will start to become complacent. It's on Doc and KG to make sure that doesn't happen.2. Los Angeles Lakers (20-3) - The Lakers end their four-game homestand against the Knicks on Tuesday before beginning the four-game road trip that precedes...Read more

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Is the NBA Season Over Already?

By Nicolas A. Lewis | December 14, 2008 | MVN Outsider

I understand that it is a rather bold assertion to make at the quarter point of the season, but it seems that the NBA regular season is already, as the phrase goes, all over but the shouting. At least it certainly appears that way in the once-again weak Eastern Conference, as both the Celtics and the Cavaliers are already far outpacing the rest of the conference. Cleveland's loss to Atlanta tonight was the first in three and a half weeks for either team, a stretch during which Boston and Cleveland have posted a combined 23-1 record. It hasn't been close very often, either, as 19 of the wins have been by 10 or more points, and eight by 20 or more. To take it a step further, three games into the season these two squads were a combined 2-2 (excluding their game against each other in the opener), and since...Read more

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA

NBA Week 6 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | December 8, 2008 | MVN Outsider

We have a new #1 this week, as the green and white has risen back to the top. L.A.'s loss at Indiana dropped them down a spot below Boston, which got wins against two other top-five teams in addition to a pair of wins over the Pacers. The Mavericks and Spurs also made their season debuts in my top 10, while the Suns, Jazz and Pistons took a fall from last week's rankings.1. Boston Celtics (20-2) - Let's see. Boston has won 12 in a row, they have the league's best record, the most efficient defense (according to John Hollinger), and wins over almost every relevant team. But can they keep it going against the Wizards, a team that Boston went 1-3 against last season, and the surging Hornets?2. Los Angeles Lakers (17-2) - Despite Kobe's down numbers across the board, Sunday's win over the Bucks meant L.A. has tied...Read more

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers

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