Built Ford Tough

Utah wins 95-86. Top performers for Utah were: Deron Williams - 22 points, 11 assists Al Jefferson - 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks Paul Millsap - 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals Top performers for Milwaukee were: Andrew Bogut - 19 points, 9 rebounds John Salmons - 18 points, 3 assists Keyon Dooling - 14 points, 5 assists

Josh Selby made his debut tonight after serving his suspension and it was an impressive one, at least based on his box score. He had 21 points and 5 rebounds on 5-11 FG (5-8 from three) in 27 minutes. He only had 1 assist and 4 turnovers, which is the knock against him as a point guard, but you can't really complain considering this was his first game in a while. If Brandon or BasX see this, did either of you watch the game? If so, any chance of giving me a quick recap of how he played? EDIT: Might as well post other top prospects numbers from tonight. Jared Sullinger - 30 points, 19 rebounds on 10-19 shooting Harrison Barnes - 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists on 5-10 shooting (hit a game tying 3 with 12 seconds left) Corey Joseph - 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists on 8-14 shooting (hit game winner with 1.2 seconds) Perry Jones - 19 points, 8 rebounds on 8-15 shooting Terrence Jones - 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks on 5-10 shooting Brandon Knight - 14 points, 4 assists on 5-13 shooting

What are you talking about? Whether they buy Stojakovic out or not, it won't have any effect on what the Raptors are able to do in free agency this summer. If anything, this gives them more flexibility because by buying him out, they won't have his entire salary against their cap this season if they want to make a deal at the deadline or something. As for buying him out, does this come as a surprise to anybody? He has missed like 10 games because of a "swollen knee" that didn't seem to hurt him one bit in the two games that he played for the team. It is clear that he isn't going to be dressing for the Raptors again and it was only a matter of time before he was bought out or traded. With expiring contracts not having nearly te same amount of value this year compared to last year, buying him out seems like the much more realistic option.

Don't know about YouTube, but if you to: http://www.mmalinker.com/ and search for Ben Henderson or Anthony Pettis, you will be able to find plenty of links to it, just find one that works for you.

This was from tonights WEC Lightweight Championship match between Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis. I was literally left speechless after seeing this. Check it out: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zz3p63WSXZE/TQrst99qWTI/AAAAAAAAA-4/pduzoiHqZww/s1600/12.gif What makes it even better is the fact that it was done 24 minutes into a 5 round war. The WEC couldn't have asked for a better final card and main event (this was the final card before the merger with the UFC).

Not sure if it is just the franchise record or if it is an NBA record, but the linup that the Raptors had yesterday was probably younger than any lineup that the Clippers started that year considering McCinnis and Olowokandi started every game for them that year and they were 26 and 25 respectively and the Clippers never sent out a starting lineup consisting of Odom, Kandi, Q-Rich, Miles and Maggette, which would've been the only lineup that they could've sent out that would've had a younger average age than the Raptors group last night. I could be wrong, though. There was one game that McCinnis didn't play in and for all I know they could've sent that group out to start the game, but I doubt it considering Keyon Dooling had one start that year and I imagine it was at the point in the game that McCinnis missed. Not that it is a bid deal or anything.

Well the Bobcats are the ultimate treadmill team, so they might as well get the ultimate treadmill player in Hamilton. He isn't good enough to make a difference but isn't bad enough to make you a top 5 lottery team and he does all of this while making just enough money to make it virtually impossible to add any legitimate pieces. Sounds like the perfect move for the perfect treadmill team.

Why should he be? What makes him a better prospect than any of DeRozan, Bayless or Davis? He has been in the league for 5 or 6 years now and is basically still the same player that he has been since coming into the league. He is a solid player, but he doesn't have the ceiling of any of these three because he isn't as gifted athleticially, posses the raw talent of these three or the basketball instincts, which is evident by his horribly high foul rate. Don't get me wrong, he is a solid player and he definitely has improved his game since last year by becoming reliable from the line and being able to hit an 18 footer somewhat consistently, but what do you see in him that would make you consider him a better prospect than the three of Davis, Bayless and DeRozan?

Manu GInobili is finally healthy and playing like a top 3 point guard. Somebody said it in another thread, I think it might've been Brandon, but Ginobili really is the X-Factor for this team. Without a healthy Manu the Spurs are still a good, bordering on great team, but with a healthy Manu they are elevated into that elite class. It also helps that Jefferson is playing a lot better than he was last season. I know the only numbers of his that are substantially better are his three point shooting which is up from 31% last season to 44% this season, but you can tell that he is more comfortable with the system and his role on the team. His improved play has definitely been a major reason for their improved play. Parker and Hill are both playing at high levels as well, but it really is the emergance of RJ and Ginobili being healthy that has made the Spurs so great to start of the season.

How different would the Raptors be right now if the trade with Charlotte went through and the Barnes signing wasn't completely botched? For arguments sake, lets say that Kleiza was never signed and the Raptors signed Barnes using the MLE instead, as it wouldn't be possible for the Raptors to have both of them. Would the team be better off in the present, but worse in the future? Better in both long term and short term? Worse?

Which one of these three players do you think is the best prospect on the Raptors roster? DeMar DeRozan 12.4 ppg / 3.5 rpg / 1.8 apg on 46.3 FG% in 31.4 mpg at 21 years old (2nd season in the league) Jerryd Bayless 12.7 ppg / 3.5 rpg / 4.5 apg on 45.4 FG% and 48.4 3PT% in 22.5 mpg at 22 years old (3rd season in the league) Ed Davis 5.3 ppg / 5.4 rpg / 0.6 bpg on 51.4 FG% in 17.4 mpg at 21 years old (1st season in the league) I know that it is a bit early to make any judgements on Davis considering he has played 9 games in his career, but if you had to pick one player from these three to keep moving forward, who would it be? PS: The numbers don't reflect the game against Chicago.

Injuries have really put a halt to the early momentum that he was building up. At this point in his development, his game is so dependent on his nasty physical attributes that he isn't nearly as effective when his mobility is hindered a bit by injuries like the knee/ankle/foot ones that he has been battling for most of the season. I believe I've also said it before on here, but I hate Flip as the coach of a rebuilding team. He has always been a bit of an overrated coach if you ask me, but he is solid when he has a team of veterans around him like he had in Minny and Detroit. He isn't good at player development and coaching a non playoff team, though. I can't really comment on whether or not he has had a direct result in slowing Wall's development or not because I haven't paid enough attention to the Wizards. If Saunders is actually taking this approach to Wall's injury, it is pretty laughable. Why would you take this approach to recovering from an injury when you can just sit him down for a couple of days or a week and he will realistically be completely recovered? Doing this will just make sure that the injury is constantly lingering.

Gotta love Thibs intensity. He burned 2 timeouts and ripped into his team for their defensive effort, yet they only gave up 18 points and held the Raptors to 40% shooting in the 1st. He would absolutely murder the Raptors if he was coaching them. EDIT: That last defensive sequence by Toronto would probably make him pull out a gun and go on a killing spree. That was pitiful.

Wow, Joakim Noah has his hair in a bun. Just when I thought his hair couldn't be any worse. And Amir Johnson already has one foul....

Noah is playing, but even if he wasn't, you still think that Toronto has a realistic chance of beating the Bulls without Bargnani or Calderon playing? Sure, they could pull a huge upset off because anything is possible in a single game, but I wouldn't bet on it. Also, forgot to mention in my other post that Alabi may be getting his first real taste of NBA action tonight. I completely forgot about him and without Bargs in the lineup and having 3 players who have a high probability of getting in foul trouble, he may be getting some minutes tonight. Too bad I have an exam in 2 hours so I probably won't see much of him, assuming he does in fact get some burn tonight.

I don't see how Toronto wins this game. They don't have Bargnni and will be running with a interior rotation of Davis/Johnson/Dorsey against a very physical Bulls front court. Both Dorsey and Johnson are foul prone and you can expect that to be a major issue tonight going up against guys like Boozer, Noah and Gibson. Expect to see quite a bit of small ball from the Raptors today with Kleiza and Wright playing some 4, or if all three of those guys get in foul trouble, which is a good possibility, maybe even some 5. Even if Rose doesn't play or is playing hurt, I don't see how they win this game. They are going to be dominated down low.

1) Exactly, today is the 15th of December so, again, why isn't the deal done? Murphy can be traded now and you agreed with me that the two sides agreed to the main framework of the trade months ago. The trade could now be official, yet there is no deal. It may be because of what you say in your 3rd point, but I think it is much more likely that New Jersey won't be willing to acquire him without the guarantee of having him for multiple seasons than Denver holding out hope that he will suddenly change his mind and re-sign with the team when he has already turned down their extension one more than one occasion (correct me if I am wrong). 2) Fair enough, this is a valid opinion. I don't agree with it, but I won't say it is wrong because it is plausible. I think it is more likely that the Nets aren't willing to give up the assets that Denver wants (Favors and multiple draft picks) unless they know that Melo will be with the team long term. Why cripple yourself for the next 5 years for only a half season of Melo? That is the logic that I believe they are using and that is why I believe no trade has been reached. 3) Again, very possible, but I think they have come to terms with the fact that Melo has no desire to stay in Denver. He has rejected their contract extensions, their team is not a contender, they are capped out and they don't have the necessary assets (whether it is trade pieces or draft picks) to acquire the necessary pieces to catapult themselves to the contender level. I don't think they have any false notions of retaining Melo. Basically, it comes down to this, at least in my opinion. Denver wants to trade Melo to New Jersey for this package. New Jersey wants to trade for Melo with this package, but only if Melo signs an extension. Melo wants to sign an extension with New York and not Jesery, but Denver doesn't want what New York is offering. They are holding out hope that Melo will change his mind and will agree to an extension with Jesery because of their package being more appealing. At least that is my opinion on things. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows.

Why is it wrong? Because it conflicts with what you believe? If the Nets don't care if Melo signs an extension and would make the trade regardless, then why isn't he a member of the Nets yet? After all, you just agreed with me when I said that the Nets and Nuggets have probably had an agreement for a while now so shouldn't that mean Melo should be a Net by now? You may be right and New Jersey would be willing to go ahead and trade for Melo without the guarantee of him signing an extension, who knows, but somebody isn't "wrong" because they think that a team wouldn't be willing to give up the kinds of assets that the Nets are supposedly giving up in any Melo trade without the guarantee that he isn't more than just a half season rental.

I'm sure that the Nets and Nuggets have agreed to a Melo trade, but the real question is whether or not Melo has agreed to the trade. The Nets and Nuggets have probably had this deal on the table for months now (not the exact deal as the Nets will probably be moving the two picks they acquired earlier today, but the framework), but it will never be completed until Melo agrees to sign a long term extension with the Nets. This was basically reported late in the summer. Nothing new has developed here.

Stop posting pictures of players other than Irving!!!!! In a related note, this was basically the perfect night for the Tank Nation. Raptors lose to a team behind them in the standings, Detroit wins and Philly wins as well. Raptors go from 9th to 11th in one night.

Do you guys think this game is worth 15-20 bucks (can't remember which one it was)? I was buying some used books at a local second hand store today and noticed that they had this game for pretty cheap. I haven't played a wrestling game since about SVR2007 or 06 because I lost interest in wrestling, but I did always enjoy these games. Also, do they still have that GM Mode thing in the newer games? I loved that game mode and would play it for hours on end when I was younger.

How dare you insult me by posting a picture of anybody other than http://sports.chronicleblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Irving-Kyrie-741384-767988.JPG.jpeg

Meh, I'm ok with that. He definitely played like dog poo down the stretch, but at least it was because he was being over aggressive instead of completely passive like Calderon usually plays. He had a pretty good game all things considered, he just tried to do too much down the stretch, which I can live with. Can you really blame him, though? Bargnani was awful all night, Johnson is a garbage points/hustle guy on offense, DeRozan is too passive to look to take over and Weems is too much of a blackhole to give the ball to late in games. Taking Barbosa out was just a horrible move on Triano's part because it basically put all of the offensive pressure on Bayless to create for everybody while still looking for his own offense. He isn't developed enough at the point guard spot to do both of those at the same time, especially in the late stages of a close game.

This team is pure gold. No matter what happens, they always hilariously [expletive] up at the end of games. Even when something good happens, they find a way to royally screw it up, like Bargnani grabbing an offensive board and then proceeding to throw the ball out of bounds immediately afterwards even though he could've just went up and dunked it.