Built Ford Tough

Since entering the starting lineup for the T'Wolves 12 games ago, Pekovic is averaging: 16.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg on 60.9 FG% in 31.6 mpg This includes games that saw him put up: 27/11 23/10 21/13 21/11 30/12 Him and Love have combined to be arguably the most productive big man duo in the league over this time period and Pek and Rubio have developed a solid chemistry. On the season he is averaging: 12.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 0.8 bpg on a 64.7 TS% in 24.4 mpg Just thought it was worth mentioning how well he has played for the T'Wolves as he doesn't seem to get much attention despite his excellent play.

Same procedure as he had a month or so ago, but on the other knee. EDIT: As mentioned in the thread, he is actually having another microfracture surgery, not just an arthoscopic cleaning as the surgeon found more damage: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-trailblazers-oden

Here is a video of the play: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/19/2810873/rajon-rondo-ejection-video-throws-ball-at-ref

For the future I could agree with that, although I've made it well known that Curry's ankles scare me in regards to him ever becoming the player he can be. For this season or the immediate future (next two seasons)? Eh, can't say I agree with Curry, Jennings or Lawson. I'd still rather have Parker than Lowry, but it can be argued. Irving is the only one of that group that I'd take over him.

Yeah, the Sixers got shafted at the end there. That would've been a questionable foul call at best in the 1st quarter, but to make that call to all but decide the game? Wow. It really is a shame that the game, which was a hard fought game throughout was decided by the refs at the end.

I'd probably have him 7th. In no order, I'd have Rose, Paul, Nash, Westbrook, Rondo and Williams ahead of him. However, based on this seasons play alone, I'd be fine with him ahead of Rondo and Williams, maybe even Rose since he has been out with injuries. The only point guards in the league that I can comfortably say have played better than Parker so far this season are Paul and Westbrook. Personally, I think Nash has outplayed him as well although I could understand having Parker ahead of him based on how well he has carried the Spurs without Manu and Ford, who are really the only other players on the roster who can create shots consistently. So yeah, going off this season alone I'd agree that he has been a top 5 point guard and could possibly even get on board with him being top 3.

Durant is going to get most of the attention for dropping 51, being the first player to do so this season as well as it being his first 50 point game, and righftully so becasue he was fantastic, but Westbrook was just as good. He was making some nice passes to Durant for some open 3's, came up with a huge offensive rebound, dropped 40 of his own and took much, much better care of the ball. This really was a fantastic performance from him. No need to really comment on Durant. Guy was lights out this game. The 3rd quarter that Westbrook and Durant put together was brilliant. The two of them were so much fun to watch all game long, but especially in that 3rd where they scored OKC's first 21 points of the quarter. Miller really struggled in overtime. Those two traveling violations really killed the Nuggets and the loose ball turnover was the dagger. The 3 turnovers from him in OT was really the turning point. WIth Durant and Westbrook playing like they did, you can't afford to give them those 3 extra possessions because they will bury you with them and, sure enough, they did just that. Great game, though.

Hey man, Jennings busted his ass out there tonight. He actually shot 40% for the first time this month.

60th pick > 1st pick. Isaiah Thomas - 23 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds on 8/16 shooting Kyrie Irving - 23 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds on 8/21 shooting. Although Kyrie did hit two free throws with 0.4 seconds left to give the Cavs the 93-92 win. He played pretty lousy down the stretch, though. He was 6/9 with 17 points at the end of the 1st half and went into chucker mode in the 2nd going 2/12. Speaking of the end, I have no idea what Evans was thinking with that foul. Did he think the Kings had one to give or something? That really is the only explaination for why he played defense like he did. Just a terrible play from Tyreke there. The Cavs other rookie, Tristan Thompson, was solid tonight. 15 points and 12 boards for him including a huge tip in off of an Irving miss in the final minutes. He did a nice job battling with Cousins on the glass and actually outplayed him in that area, which isn't an easy thing to do considering Cousins' size, strength and rebounding ability.

It is an impressive streak, no doubt about it, but it is hard to compare to the past considering both the Bruins and Flyers teams that won 20 straight home games played in different eras. The shootout plays a huge role here, just like other factors played huge roles in the Flyers and Bruins streaks.

Delfino with the dagger 3 to pretty much ice this one. Bucks with an 8 point lead. Ilyasova fouled out with 29 points and 25 rebounds with 13 of them being offensive.

Lowry went off from 3 tonight. 6-7 from 3 and 8-12 on the night. 27 points and 8 assists as well. Pretty damn good night for him.

Ilyasova had a 20-20 game by the end of the 3rd quarter. He has 24 points and 21 rebounds in 28 minutes.

Pistons beat the C's by double digits for the 2nd time in a week. Boston really is awful without Garnett in the lineup.

Has anybody else noticed just how well Parker has played against some of the more well known point guards this season? Against Kyle Lowry/Houston 22 ppg, 6.7 apg on 47 FG% Against Chris Paul/LAC 22 ppg, 9.5 apg on 58.5 FG% Against Brandon Jennings/Milwaukee 22 ppg, 8 apg on 55.6 FG% Against Russell Westbrook/OKC 42 point, 9 assist on 55.2 FG% game (although he struggled in the other meeting, scoring just 4 points) Against Jrue Holiday/Philly 37 points, 8 assists on 50 FG% Against Ty Lawson/Andre Miller/Denver 19 points, 6 assists on 50 FG% Against Jose Calderon/Toronto 34 points, 14 assists on 47.3 FG% Against Raymond Felton/Portland 20 points, 9 assists on 50 FG% Against Jameer Nelson/Orlando 25 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists on 52.2 FG% Against Steph Curry/Golden State 21 points, 8 assists on 44 FG% The only team with a well known point guard that he has really struggled against so far this season is Dallas. He has had some poor games against Memphis and Minny as well, but he has also had a good game against them as well. He wasn't great against Deron Williams either, but he only played 25 minutes in that one since it was a blowout win. I find that he doesn't get the recognition he deserves a lot of the time. I'm not saying he is a top 5 point guard or anything like that, but you don't ever even hear him mentioned when talking about great point guards anymore.

Why exactly did that surprise you, Flash? That is literally all the Magic do. It is either throw it into Howard or jack up 3's. They've done it for, what, 5 years now? It is what makes this team able to beat anybody on any given night, but also makes them a perennial contender because of their inconsistency. EDIT: I meant perennial pretender, not contender.

I could watch Barnes shoot jumpers all day long. His shoot is so smooth. There really is no defense for his one dribble pull up jumper. It is nearly automatic. Clemson made a nice run to cut the lead to 6 earlier in the half, but they couldn't break through and take advantage of UNC going 5 straight possessions without scoring. Since then, Carolina has taken over and put this game out of reach.

Henson really is an awful offensive player when you push him outside of 10 feet. It makes you wonder about what is going through his head out there. With his length and athleticism, there isn't a player in the ACC that can stop him when he gets the ball 5 feet from the hoop, yet he takes crazy fadeaway jumpers or hook shots that play right into the defense's hands. Case in point, he takes a brutal turnaround hook that hits the side of the backboard and then the next possession he gets the ball 5 feet from the hoop and gets an easy dunk. Him shooting below 50% against this Clemson frontline is really inexcusable if you ask me.

I don't understand why Narcisse keeps on trying to fight over screens and really pressure Marshall. You want him to stay on the outside shooting jumpers. You don't want him getting into the paint where he can create for others or get open layups. That is three plays this half where Narcisse either fought over the top of a screen or got right up on Marshall and all 3 times he has gotten into the paint for either a layup or found a teammate for an open shoot. Just bad defense. You have to realize who it is your are guarding out there. Marshall is literally 0 threat from the perimeter.

I didn't realize this when watching the game last night, but Dirk equalled the entire Sixers team's scoring output in the 2nd half last night. Dirk had 24, Philly as a team had 24. So yeah, as Phightins said:

Davis goes to the bench with 2 fouls and Ole Miss goes on a 9-0 with him on the bench to tie the game. Just goes to show how much of a presence he has on the floor. Miller just had a nasty throw down for Kentucky. Meanwhile, over in Chapel Hill, Harrison Barnes has 10 points and 5 boards against Clemson. He could easily have 16 as he had two 3's that went in and out. He does have 2 turnovers after forcing passes inside on his drives, but he has played a pretty solid game so far.

Davis' presence on defense is just stupid. Ole Miss guards are just throwing the ball as high in the air as possible to avoid getting their shot blocked. The worst thing about it, Davis is still blocking these high arcing floaters as he already has 3 blocks. Witjler also showed a pretty nice move in the post a little while ago. I haven't seen that from him so far this season as basically everything I've seen from him consists of him bombing from distance.

I figured a Philly fan would shoot him by then, so I left the last 2 years off. ^_^

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120217_GS@OKC

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120217_WAS@UTA