Nitro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAB5lOIl-2U One of my favorite videos of all-time. Can't wait to have Stephen A and his cheese doodles back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z4xkOHSG_E

I was really surprised Durant actually tweeted that. I think he's off-base because Bosh is the last guy I can think of that acts tough; I mean, he's the guy that doesn't want people diving for the ball when standing players are in the vicinity, and he just had a Maxim photo shoot like a week ago. He may talk a little trash or whatever on the court, but I don't consider him to front as a tough guy. But, I am surprised Durant tweeted that because it's really out of character for him. I don't mind it, but it's just odd.

Ginobili is the most consistently awful flopper, although AK47 probably has the worst individual flops I've ever seen.

Honestly, with all the attention this little incident is getting, I'm sure the ballboy is really happy it turned out the way it did. KG probably signs thousands of autographs every year, but to get a punchline thrown at you that receives national attention? That, my friends, is priceless.

Depends on the situation. In an iso set, it's easily Kobe. Running off a screen, it's a tossup between Reggie and Allen...I'd probably go with Allen since he has a slightly quicker release.

One of these PG's; Kidd, Nash, Paul, or Williams. Kobe is also really high up there, although his shot selection kind of hurts his case IMO, and naturally those PG's have a better understanding of how an offense is supposed to be ran. I'd probably go with Kidd overall; his IQ is way off the charts.

Getting a ticket to the NBA Jam Session ain't that expensive lol, and I can tell that stuff cost quite a bit, even if off E-Bay. I went to the NBA Jam Session back in '98 (I think) when it was in NY, and it was pretty cool, although the lines to do anything were huge. The few hours my parents and I spent there were largely spent waiting in a line to do something stupid, like take 5 free throws or some [expletive]. I was pretty young, though, so there is lots of stuff that was going on that I probably don't remember. I do remember being able to see bits and pieces of the celebrity game live which was pretty cool. Honestly, I had more fun at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where they have an NBA court that you can play on (although I was like 13 when I visited there).

Haha same, the accent's a little much for me. It sound like Tim Westwood rapping. But seriously though, those lyrics are very impressive.

Damn, she's got a Van Exel jersey?!? Legit.

No, no they aren't. Even though he's individually played like crap with the Magic, he actually makes a pretty big impact on the team. Just the fact that he pushes the tempo, something Jameer almost never does, gives the Magic a huge boost.

Rose is a great player, and his ability to hit the outside jumper and drive to take over games has really pushed him to the elite level this season. However, LeBron is still a much better player. He's a better scorer who does it on much better efficiency (because he gets to the FT line a lot more, and shoots better from the field), is a FAR better defender, better rebounder comparably for his position, IMO a better playmaker, more proven in clutch situations, and offers a lot more versatility in regards to playing positions. Even if Wade offers much of the same, LeBron still is required to produce about as much as he did with the Cavs for the Heat to win, and more than ever he's being relied on defensively. I don't know how you can argue Rose being as effective as LeBron, even if we are talking strictly offensively. That's a joke. The Heat also lost Miller for pretty much half the season, Chalmers didn't play the first month, and 3/4 of the team was brand new to kick the season off. It's not just Wade missing a few games and Haslem being done for the season. If Miller wasn't injured to kick the season off and the team was in its 2nd or 3rd year together, the Heat would be pushing 70 wins. I also would like to hear why LeBron's on/off numbers are so much stronger than Rose's, despite having 'so much more talent.' Since they lost to Dallas and had a player's only meeting, the team has won 22 of 23 with the entire trio healthy for the full 48min. In that stretch they've beaten the Thunder (in OKC), Lakers (in LA), Hawks, Jazz (in Utah), Knicks (in NY when they were playing their best basketball of the season), etc... The only loss that this brand new team has had since they gained some chemistry was against Dallas by 2pts, before they lost Butler. I don't hold the Bulls' schedule against them because they don't choose the schedule, but if you are going to bring up Miami's record against whoever, it's a fitting counter-arguement. Both arguements have holes.

It'll be a cold, dark day when Walt 'Clyde' Frazier stops doing commentary for Knicks games.

No. Now that Bynum is back, cut his minutes a bit. He'll have most of All-Star weekend to rest, and right now there is a pretty significant gap between them a SA, and them an Dallas (the 3rd seed). I expect that trend to continue, so Gasol should be able to have the luxory of sitting out a game or two at the end of the season to refuel for the playoffs.

This season? He'll probably get to 6th, assuming no injuries. By the end of his career, I expect him to pass Jordan and finish somewhere between MJ and Malone.

Too much Kobe at the end, and the Lakers bigs played like pussies.

Kobe's taking over, playing some great basketball. Right now the Lakers need Gasol and Bynum to get big, grab some boards and take some of the pressure off Kobe offensively.

I think the fact that Deng has been an 18PPG player this season and their best wing defender, along with the fact that the Bulls' role players have clearly played better the Heat's kind of makes up for that. As I said, not completely, but the difference isn't as big as people make it out to be. LeBron is the Heat's best offensive player who is producing more than Rose, and is clearly their best defensive player (while Rose is far from that on the Bulls, although he has definitely improved). On/off court stats are strongly in favor of LeBron, which I do think has some substance. I'm not completely ignoring the fact that Rose has been so consistent, but bottom line is for the season LeBron has been the better player and produced more, while being the more effective and valuable defensive player. Also, give me a break with the Heat's struggles in close games and whatnot. Look at the last month or so and all the crappy teams the Bulls have feasted on to shoot up the standings. Doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.

Shaq got screwed out of one award because of the AI season, and the next season 3 seasons he missed 15 games a piece. He was also playing in years where there were stronger candidates than the likes of Rose and Amare. As for 2008, Kobe and Paul simply deserved it over KG. Not just based on value, but because they were the better players who produced more (KG's 19/9 or whatever he had in 2008 just doesn't cut it with voters). He also wasn't the team's closer. LeBron is still producing at a ridiculous rate, moreso than his peers, is the best defender on one of the 2-3 best defensive teams in the league, and he flat-out is the best player in the league. He also leads the Heat in clutch points, clutch assists and shoot 90% from the FT line in those situations. He has a far stronger case than Shaq did before 99 and after 01, and same with KG in 08.

I disagree. Yes, the Bulls have had injuries, but when Noah was playing he was playing better than Bosh, and when Boozer has played he has been better than Bosh. Deng has played very well this season, and their role players (Brewer, Korver, Thomas, Gibson) have been better than the Heat's role players. And take it for what it's worth, but when LeBron is on/off the court, there is nearly a 10pt difference, while with Rose there is only a 4pt difference. As I said before, Rose is probably more valuable than LeBron is, at least offensively, but I don't think the difference is as big as people think it is. If the Bulls finish with a better record, then Rose will have a much better case, but I doubt they will finish higher than Miami. Mixed those factors in with the fact that LeBron is the much better player who is producing more, and I just don't think Rose should win the MVP over LeBron.

Amare won't win it because the Knicks won't have a good enough record. Nowitzki has already missed quite a few games, and without Butler they've dropped in the standings and probably won't finish with a top 5 record. Rose you could make a case for, although with LeBron producing more and being the far better defender, the idea that he is so much more valuable than LeBron is kind of off-base IMO. Also, with how Wade struggled so much the first 20 or so games, with how Bosh struggled to fit into the team the first 10 games or so, with Miller and Haslem (their 4th and 5th best players) being injured, with their gaping holes at important positions, and with the fact that they put veteran minimum guys and 2nd rounders around the Big 3, I really do think James has comparable value to his team as Rose does to the Bulls. Maybe not quite as much, but certainly comparable. Couple that with the fact that LeBron is the much better player and is producing more, and I have a hard time giving the MVP to Rose over LeBron.

I think O'Brien's a good coach, and I'm a little disappointed they canned him, but it's not surprising. The team was underachieving, and in that offense they weren't utilizing Collison as well as they should have. I think if they give him more responsibility, the Pacers will start to pick it up going forward.

I think he deserves it. Generally speaking it goes to the best player on one of the 2-3 best teams in the NBA, and LeBron fits that description. He is easily the best player in the NBA, once again putting up crazy stats (26/7/7 on strong efficiency), is one of the 2-3 best perimeter defenders in the league (could make a case for him being the best), and the Heat are going to end up with a 1/2 seed assuming none of the Big 3 goes down for an extended period of time. In a year or two, when they get more role playing talent, I will buy that he isn't comparably valuable as other candidates are to their teams, but this year they have surrounded the Big 3 with veteran minimum contracts and 2nd rounders. Now that Miller is healthy that has gotten better, but for the first half of the season I think without James they would have struggled mightily. Maybe not quite as much as the Bulls would without Rose, but I think the huge gap between LeBron and Rose's abilities, as well as LeBron's advantages in the stats department, make up for the difference in value to their respective teams (which is something that's a lot harder to measure and is based off assumptions).

LMAO House with the big balls.

Spo is a robot and likes to use traditional lineups; it's why Arroyo, a traditional PG, started the majority of games this season. I think Spo is finally starting to open himself up to change, and in the last few weeks has used some lineups that are out of his comfort zone. As long as Wade is fine defending PG's, which I think he can do better than Chalmers/Arroyo/House, then that lineup should see the lionshare of minutes, even if they don't necessarily start.