Built Ford Tough

It really isn't a surprise that he went down with an injury considering how much Casey has been riding him and the shortened season. It is one thing if it was a guard who was out there playing 37-44 minutes a night, but this is a 7'0, 250 pound player that is playing 45 minutes in the first game of a back-to-back-to-back. Guys his size just aren't meant to log these kind of heavy minutes, especially in such a strenuous schedule. I understand that with DeRozan playing like ass the Raptors have to play him more than they would ideally like because he is the only player on the team who can create his own offense, but you have to find a happy medium. Running the guy into the ground for a few early season wins is counter productive when you end up having to put him on the IR.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/01/11/schanowski-could-noahs-struggles-stem-from-boozer/ Also, from Sam Smith: It is interesting to see that, despite their excellent start, there seems to be some resentment between certain parts of the team and Boozer seems to be at the forefront of it all. Do you see this escalating into a possible move that will see a major shakeup to the Bulls core?

I would guess the Leafs had both Sundin and Kaberle make a team at some point post lockout. I really don't care enough to check but I know for a fact they both played in the same game pre lockout, I'm just not sure if they did post or not.

My bad. I knew that they played the Lakers in Miami next Thursday and just assumed that was the only meeting like most East/West matchups. I didn't even look at their schedule, which I probably should have, haha.

Since it is the only Miami-LA game at Staples, I'd go with 100%. Unless you think that we will see an LA-Miami Finals.

Miami really shot themselves in the foot in this game, though. Give credit to the Clippers for making the shots they needed to and getting the stops they needed to, but Miami kind of blew this game, in my opinion. Just brutal execution offensively down the stretch and the missed free throws really were the difference in this one. Miami was probably the better team between the whistles (at least during the first 48 minutes, they were kind of a disaster in OT), but once the whistle went they just froze up at the line and it was the difference in this game.

If Blake was whining, so was Battier. Spo just blew a gasket at the refs because his team was scared to put Billups or Paul on the line. That was awesome.

Griffin handed that off to Billups in time. There really isn't any argument about that if you ask me. EDIT: Nevermind, it didn't matter anyways since they weren't in the penaltyy and allowed Mutombo to get a wide open dunk.

You can't go up with a weak ass shot like that with Dikembe around. Come on Bosh, you should know better.

I love how Billups passed up that terrible 3 he was so close to jacking up, only to take an even more contested three later in the shot clock.

Awesome pass from Butler to find Jordan. Great job of spinning away from the trap and finding the open man.

Butler's jumper has been money since the 2nd half started.

Yeah, a pretty blatant one too. Great fake by Paul. Too bad he couldn't finish as that would have been very nice.

Lol, James can't buy a free throw.

Huge play by Wade to throw that off a Clipper. Battier gets away with a loose ball foul there, too. Clearly held Griffin there.

Clearly off BIllups.

And Mr. Big Shot even though he misses 90% of his big shots!

Billups gets bailed out after he attempts a 3 that you just knew had no chance of going in.

And yet all we hear about the guy is how he has such a high basketball IQ, is a great game manager, awesome leader, etc.. It really is hilarious how bad he is and yet so many still believe this is 2004.

Make up call for that gift they gave to Wade.

Billups is so bad and takes the dumbest shots. He will be the undoing of this team.

Wade screams and jumps around, refs give him the call instead of a technical foul, like 90% of the league would get for doing something like that after a call.

What a pass. Jesus. Jordan with another monster block as well. This game has been awesome.

Just wait for when Reggie Evans grabs a handful of his nuts, he will probably start swinging based on how they have battled in this game.

This game is getting very chippy. Haslem/Evans got into it. Wade/Paul get into it a bit (although Paul flopped). Cole/Williams with a pretty big collision going for a loose ball. I love it.