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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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Big Win...Bigger Loss?

By Jamie Lucas | January 6, 2009 | Solid Gold

I thought I would sleep peacefully tonight. After the last two games ended in emotional fashion (a last second victory over Oklahoma City and a near collapse against New Orleans), the Nuggets doled out a lopsided 135-115 beat down on the Indiana Pacers and came away with a huge win. Unfortunately, they may have suffered a gigantic loss. Carmelo Anthony had a big night, scoring 21 points and adding 6 rebounds and a season high 9 assists, but it may be his last showing on the court for some time. Early in the third quarter, Melo had the ball slapped away but his hand seemed to take the brunt of the impact. He remained in the game but was in obvious pain, often grimacing and holding his hand. Melo reluctantly went to the training room halfway through the fourth quarter and never returned. While the extent of the injury...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, J.R. Smith, NBA

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

Ranking the top ten players 6'0" tall and under

By Stu Holdren | December 27, 2008 | NBA Noise

The NBA is a league of giant men, but it is the little guys who we often find the most endearing. Maybe is that us "average Joes" can relate to being the little guy, or even live vicariously through the short players in the league. Some of everyone's favorite absurdly small, but productive Lilliputians included the 5'3" Mugsy Bogues and the 5'7" Spud Webb - a former Slam Dunk Contest winner. Currently, there are 17 players on active NBA rosters who are 6'0" or less. While I don't even believe that many of these guys are as tall as they say they are, let's take a look at the top 10.1. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, 6'0" CP3 is undeniably one of the best players in the whole league. Even at only 6'0", people generally don't associate him with his diminutive stature. Maybe that is because of the diverse skill...

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Aaron Brooks, Allen Iverson, Charlotte Bobcats, Chris Paul, D.J. Augustin, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Jameer Nelson, Jose Barea, Kyle Lowry, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, Sebastian Telfair, T.J. Ford

Another Statement: Cavs Dump Rockets, 99-90, in "Playoff Atmosphere"

By Amar Panchmatia | December 24, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

Highlights ll BoxTrack of the night: Zion I - Silly Puddy (f. The Grouch)What you saw from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night should convince you that this team is ready to win a championship - a championship that has eluded this franchise in its 38-year existence and a championship that has eluded the city for 44 years and counting.Beating the Houston Rockets is no small task for the Cavs. Every team has that one team out there that gives them all sorts of trouble and is a thorn on their side no matter what. For the Cavs, it's Houston."That was a heavyweight fight," said LeBron James afterward. "It felt like a playoff game."The Rockets are a mirror image of the Cavs. Both clubs are based on the principles of a tough team defense with players who know their roles on both sides of the floor inside and out. Both...

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: Anderson Varejao, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Mike Brown, Mo Williams, Orlando Magic, Rick Adelman, Ron Artest, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Washington Wizards, Yao Ming, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

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 | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Outsider, New York Knicks

Cloud Nine

By Chris Scheeren | December 21, 2008 | Pacers Pulse

The Pacers dressed only nine players Saturday in Phily, but that didn't stop them from grabbing a much needed win. Danny Granger, Marquis Daniels and Troy Murphy missed their second straight game with "viral infections" (Pacers word, not mine...) but TJ Ford picked up the slack, dropping 25 points.The game was tight throughout, with the Pacers showing resiliency all night despite being severely short-handed. TJ Ford's jumper with 3.8 seconds remaining proved to be difference in the 95-94 win over the Sixers.The Pacers also got surprising contributions from Travis Diener and local boy Josh McRoberts who added 12 and 10 respectively. The Pacers will hopefully be back to full strength when they host the Nets Tuesday night....

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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

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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)

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Outsider, New York Knicks

NBA Fantasy Tracker: Look to Mason for points, threes

By Michael De Leon | November 19, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Every Wednesday, I'll highlight players who you should either add to your fantasy team if you need the help or put on your watch list. I'll also list a few players that should have their bags packed and may be on their way to free agency in your league.ADD/WATCH LISTRoger MasonMason was asked to step into a bigger role with the injuries to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, and so far he's been up to the challenge. In the Spurs most recent game against the Clippers, he had 21 points, including the game-winning three-pointer. Mason has shown he is not hesitant to shoot, and you should not hesitate to pick him up if he is a free agent in your league.Marquis DanielsDaniels has been a nice surprise for the Pacers. He's getting a lot of playing time and plenty of shots, averaging close to 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2.7...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Fantasy, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Outsider, San Antonio Spurs

NBA Stock Market: Ford's play has Pacers soaring

By Joe Boikess | November 13, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal (flickr.com)

A week ago I tabbed the San Antonio Spurs as the team on the rise after Tony Parker led them to their first win of the season. Then Parker went down with a badly sprained ankle, sidelining him for about a month, and the Spurs have since managed only one win. This only proves that things can change in an instant in the NBA. Here's my risers and fallers for this week...Rising:Indiana Pacers - Indiana's schedule to begin the season was about as tough as it gets: games at Cleveland and at Detroit, and two home meetings with the Celtics and Suns. But after starting out 1-3, the Pacers have won their last three after notching a couple wins over the Nets and one against the lowly Thunder. T.J. Ford has carried much of the load during this latest win streak, getting within a few rebounds or assists shy of...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Andrei Kirilenko, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Tracy McGrady, Utah Jazz

NBA Expansion and Franchise Movement 2.0- The City Game

By Bijan Bayne | October 2, 2008 | MVN Outsider

NBA Commissioner David Stern has received plenty of credit for expanding the league into Canada, and scheduling exhibition games in Europe and China. Under his watch, the Vancouver Grizzlies moved the Memphis, the Seattle Supersonics have become the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets played part of a season in Oklahoma City. Charlotte- original home to the Hornets, was awarded Bob Johnson's Bobcats. Though the aforementioned Grizzlies had to vacate trendy Vancouver (and could now use a new name), the Raptors�have drawn�upwards of�18,000 fans a night (2007). What does the future hold for Stern's league, in terms of its geographical nature? And why is pro basketball more successful in some metropolitan areas than others? Here's a breakdown. Major league U.S. cities without teams: For years, since the old New Orleans Jazz relocated to Utah, New Orleans was on this list. The Superdome...Read more

Read more | 9 Comments | Tags: Indiana Pacers, NBA, Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Spurs

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