Real Deal

The New York crowd was cheering for LeBron more than anyone else, including their own players.

Point is, you didn't own them every game...and the Thunder are now a better team, and Houston is without Yao and a healthy McGrady.

"Under." - Rajon Rondo

No Bynum, probably no Gasol. It's Kobe time.

Orlando had a lot of trouble beating the Lakers in the NBA Finals last season when those games were close. In fact, the Magic were 2-4 in playoff games decided by two points or less, two losses against the Sixers, one against the Celtics, one against the Cavs. I'd say it's much more difficult to win close games. In blowouts, it's usually because a superstar is failing to produce, or a bench (for the opposition), and it lasts all night. In close games, you have to stop him.

You almost lost to them back in January (won by two), and it was Durant and Westbrook that had pretty good games.

Harder to win games by one than by 10, especially games on a back-to-back, road games, both overtimes.

The Pistons won the first meeting, but it was at home. I don't see how they can beat the Magic on the road, even if Carter is out. Orlando has the defense to stop the Pistons, but the big concern would be Gordon's three point shooting, which can change a 10-point lead to just one after three shots. Against Nelson, Stuckey could start chucking, and that'll change the pace of the game in Orlando's favor, because the Magic really don't have a problem playing fast, especially with Howard at the five. Orlando should win, but it could be close. Is Prince playing?

The Hawks are allowing teams to shoot almost 47% from the floor, which is ugly. That has to change. Charlotte doesn't have much to offer on the offensive end, though, so this game could be a blowout, as Atlanta has enough scoring from 1-5 to get the job done by the end of the third.

Houston could struggle. The Thunder are essentially a bunch of guards and small forwards packed into a starting five, the way they play, and that takes Chuck Hayes out of this game as a defensive player. The problem with that, though, is that the Houston frontcourt (namely Scola and Landry) should be able to have their way tonight. I wouldn't be worried about Durant, though, as much as I would be about Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Both of those guys are going to attack the rim. If Durant was smart, he would drive in with Battier on him, but I'm not sure if that's going to be the case.

After ten days of the NBA regular season, there are multiple questions, injuries, surprise performances, and disappointments. For those first ten days, here are the top ten teams in the league. 1) Boston Celtics (6-0), wins versus CLE, CHA, CHI, NOH, PHI and MIN The Celtics have started off hot, injury-free, and ready to win the East. Despite a mediocre performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, Boston has to be on top of everyone's power rankings to start the season off. Next five: vs. PHX, @ NJN, vs. UTA, vs. ATL, @ IND 2) Denver Nuggets (5-0), wins versus UTA, POR, MEM, IND and NJN Carmelo Anthony is playing like an MVP candidate, and the Nuggets remain undefeated through five games. Something to note: rookie Ty Lawson is very good, and JR Smith has yet to return from his suspension. Next five: @ MIA, @ ATL, @ CHI, @ MIL, vs. LAL 3) Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) wins versus LAC, ATL, OKC and HOU The Lakers have arguably the easiest schedule among West teams for the first half of the season, and the toughest in the second half. Without Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant has been in attack mode, and the Lakers have won two consecutive road overtime games, on a back-to-back, nonetheless. Next five: vs. MEM, vs. NOH, vs. PHX, @ DEN, vs. HOU 4) Orlando Magic (4-1) wins versus PHI, NJN, TOR and PHX After a beating of the Phoenix Suns, who also hold a 4-1 record, the Magic are just too deep, even with an injured Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis' suspension. When healthy, they are easily a top three team in the NBA. Next five: vs. DET, @ OKC, @ CHA, vs. CLE, vs. NJN 5) Phoenix Suns (4-1) wins versus LAC, GSW, MIN and MIA The top four scorers for Phoenix are all shooting over 50% from the floor, Channing Frye seems to be a legit candidate for the most improved player award, and Steve Nash is playing like an MVP once again. Even more exciting for Suns fans? Amare Stoudemire is back. Next five: @ BOS, @ WAS, @ PHI, vs. NOH, @ LAL 6) Miami Heat (4-1) wins versus NYK, IND, CHI and WAS While Jermaine O'Neal isn't the 20 points per game scorer he was in Indiana, he's still giving Miami a 14-point, 58% shooting average for the season. Combined with Dwyane Wade's production and Udonis Haslem's selflessness off the bench, Miami looks solid after their first five games. Next five: vs. DEN, vs. WAS, vs. CLE, vs. NJN, vs. OKC 7) Atlanta Hawks (4-1) wins versus IND, WAS, POR and SAC With six players averaging double-digits in points, the Hawks offer a balanced offensive attack from both the starting five, as well as the bench (also known as Jamal Crawford). The bad? Atlanta is allowing teams to shoot almost 47%, which could catch up to them in due time. Next five: @ CHA, vs. DEN, @ NYK, @ BOS, vs. NOH 8) Dallas Mavericks (3-2) wins versus LAL, LAC and UTA The Mavericks are a big question mark at eight, but with wins over the Lakers on the road and a Jazz team that surprised the Spurs Thursday night, a Dallas squad containing Josh Howard should be a force in the Western Conference this season. Next five: vs. TOR, vs. HOU, @ SAS, @ MIN, @ DET 9) Houston Rockets (3-2) wins versus GSW, POR and UTA Houston gets the nod over the 41% shooting Chicago Bulls, and Trevor Ariza is fitting in nicely with his pick and roll teammates, Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola. Teams should be aware that Chuck Hayes is no Shane Battier on defense, but both are on this Houston roster. Next five: vs. OKC, @ DAL, vs. MEM, @ SAC, @ LAL 10) Chicago Bulls (3-2) wins versus SAS, MIL and CLE Beating Cleveland on the road would be an amazing task last season, but we know the story this year. Nevertheless, Chicago is playing decent without Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng's 17 points and almost ten rebounds per game is the biggest reason for their winning record at this time. Next five: vs. CHA, vs. DEN, @ TOR, vs. PHI, @ SAC http://www.alldaynba.com/nbageneral/the-nbas-top-ten-after-ten

If this isn't any indication that the MVP award has little to nothing to do with the individual player, I don't know what is.

Sells the information they get from you, like your answers to their questions.

I could try and make sense of this, but I won't try too hard. Memphis has three young players in Mayo, Gasol and Conley that are in the starting five. Rudy Gay isn't exactly a veteran, either. Technically, a rebuilding team really has no shot at making the playoffs, so in a way, you could say that if Memphis does have a shot at that eighth seed, they aren't really rebuilding (they already have the pieces, just not the age). I still think that Iverson needs to start, though. He's better than Conley. As far as this topic, though, I really don't know how to approach it, because I don't know how Iverson defines rebuilding. However, if he thought for one second that he could win a ring with this team, he's sadly mistaken.

Rooting for the Heat here. I hope Wade drops 40+ points.

That wasn't a shot clock violation. Brad Miller should've had that board, Bulls ball with 3.3 seconds left. And LeBron lost the ball on his own, but there was contact, and that was a foul. One bad call deserves another, I guess.

Cleveland just can't pull away, and they are at home. Kind of odd.

Mary Carey? WHAT? Wow.

Haha, yeah. I was driving to the rim, went up for a layup and was undercut. My elbow had started swelling within five minutes, and I had to wear a sling for a week, couldn't bend it all the way in or out for two weeks, couldn't raise it above my chest for a week and a half without it hurting.

Took me two weeks to get over my sprained elbow, but according to the doctor, it was a severe sprain for me. Just putting that out there, of course. I couldn't raise my arm past my chest.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing the Kansas City Chiefs lose every game they ever play, even though they are considered local here (but are in Missouri).

I actually don't care about baseball as much as everyone else. While I started supporting the Lakers the day Kobe was drafted (since I had to hand-pick a team myself), I followed teams in baseball based on just one player: Ken Griffey Jr. When his career went down the toilet, I took the second guy I liked from the old Mariners duo, A-Rod, and ran with him. I would support the Yankees even after Bryant leaves...but I could care less about teams like the Rangers, who A-Rod doesn't play for anymore. I've supported the Yankees since they picked up A-Rod, and that's it. That was after the dynasty that Jeter, Posada and the others built. People around here have a hard time distinguishing between a bandwagoner and a casual fan. Nobody cared to think that, just maybe, I was picking a team to root for. They automatically assumed I was a Yankees fan. That's not the way sports works. I'm sure you and plenty of other people were rooting for the Magic in June. That didn't make you bandwagon Magic fans, though.

Memphis @ Sacramento Iverson: 11 PTS on 5-9 FG (55.6%), 1 AST, 2 TO, 18 MIN Conley: 13 PTS on 5-11 FG (45.5%), 6 AST, 2 TO, 36 MIN Memphis @ Golden State Iverson: 18 PTS on 8-12 FG (66.7%), 3 REB, 7 AST, 4 TO, 28 MIN Conley: 8 PTS on 3-10 FG (33.3%), 6 REB, 6 AST, 5 TO, 30 MIN And neither of them play defense, so numbers tell most of the story. Iverson needs to play more.

Yeah man, I think Miller screwed up. He shouldn't have kept playing. That could be the difference between missing 1-2 games and 2-3 weeks or more. Why haven't you guys tossed Stevenson aside yet? That dude sucks. He was never good defensively, and all he does is hit wide open shots (and now, he can't even do that). You have enough talent in your backcourt to get rid of him now.

Yeah, I flipped over and watched a bit, figured the Knicks had it in the bag and changed the channel to another game. New York has to practice sustaining those mini runs they go on, and preventing other teams from doing the same. That's what gets them in trouble.