NBA 2K23 - The Kobe Era Reimagined

[the_kevstaaa]

2009 NBA Free Agency/Trade News
• The Pistons have seemingly looked to move on from their current team, trading Chauncey Billups to Cleveland for Jay Williams and a 2012 1st round pick. This makes Detroit younger and gives Cleveland a big playmaker alongside Dwyane Wade. Cleveland also added Shane Battier (3yr/$17.83M) to shore up their defense as the starting SF.
• After he was a defensive liability in the playoffs, the Hawks have shipped off high scoring Jason Terry and two 2nd round picks to Chicago for Jamal Crawford. Atlanta also inked Hedo Turkoglu (3yr/$9.80M) to add to their bench scoring.
• Kevin Garnett has departed the Bulls, choosing to join T-Mac in Orlando for 2yr/$41.19M.
• Memphis re-signed their two stars Pau Gasol (4yr/$85.55M) and Michael Redd (3yr/$39.01M) while also adding Beno Udrih (3yr/$9.12M) and Ricky Davis (3yr/$32.70M).
• Indiana re-signed Dwight Howard (5yr/$109.20M) and added Sebastian Telfair and Royal Ivey to their bench.
• After a huge disappointment in last year’s playoffs, Portland responded by signing Shaquille O’Neal (2yr/$35.42M), JR Smith (3yr/$39.34M), and Kirk Hinrich (3yr/$25.04M).
• The Spurs gave Tony Parker a 5yr/$101.59M extension.
• Kenyon Martin left the Nets to sign with the Warriors for 4yr/$48.68M.
• The Knicks made a splash by signing Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3yr/$45.39M), Adin Durmanenko (2yr/$9.22M), and Anderson Varejao (3yr/$9.56M).
• Not to be outdone, the Nets signed former Knicks big man Al Jefferson (3yr/$34.84M), Al Harrington ($2yr/$17.69M), and Eddie House (2yr/$1.76M).
• Sacramento signed Ron Artest (3yr/$32.73M), Mikael Pietrus (2yr/$5.35M), and Ben Gordon (3yr/$24.16M).
• Phoenix signed Quentin Richardson (3yr/$32.63M), Marcus Camby (2yr/$4.68M), and Jarvis Hayes (3yr/$16.66M).
• Denver made moves, re-signing Devin Harris (4yr/$32.14M) and Jamal Mashburn (2yr/$11.50M) while also adding JR Bremer (3yr/$11.97M), Jonathan Bender, Keith Bogans, Etan Thomas, and Nicholas Alexander.
• Dallas retained Andre Miller (2yr/$23.55M) and added Emeka Okafor (3yr/$20.16M) and Morris Peterson (2yr/$4.28M).
• The Pistons re-signed Tayshaun Prince (4yr/$24.19M) and added Darko Milicic (2yr/$16.81M) and Rasheed Wallace.
• Houston re-signed Stephon Marbury (4yr/$41.35M) and James Posey (3yr/$8.52M) while adding Larry Hughes (3yr/$16.63M).
• In need of shooting, New Orleans signed Mike Dunleavy (3yr/$24.41M).
• The 76ers re-signed budding star Kevin Martin (4yr/$37.24M) and added Jason Williams (2yr/$3.46M) to run the point.
• Jameer Nelson remained in Toronto for 3yr/$29.13M.
• Seattle re-signed Josh Smith (3yr/$32.32M).
• Kevin Durant has a new backup in veteran Bonzi Wells (3yr/$17.14M).
• Boston added DeShawn Stevenson ($2yr/$3.48M) and Trevor Ariza (3yr/$20.22M) to boost their bench.
• The Clippers re-signed Shaun Livingston (3yr/$23.62M) and Delonte West (4yr/$22.93M).
• Miami added Bobby Simmons, Keyon Dooling, and Chris Andersen to their bench.
• Milwaukee inked Desmond Mason (2yr/$9.23M) to lead a revamped bench that also includes Luke Walton, Michael Olowokandi, and Luke Ridnour.

[the_kevstaaa]

2009-2010 NBA Season Preview

Philadelphia 76ers (25-57)
The 76ers managed to re-sign Kevin Martin but lost Beno Udrih. They replaced him with another pass first guard but a much older one in Jason Williams. Also out is Andrew Bynum, who has disappointed and is being moved to the bench for high draft pick Hasheem Thabeet. Time will tell if these moves pay off and the growing pains will be aplenty this season.

Projected Record: 24-58
Projected Starters: Jason Williams/Kevin Martin/Wilson Chandler/LaMarcus Aldridge/Hasheem Thabeet

Charlotte Bobcats (43-39)
Once again, the Bobcats found themselves in Playoff contention and they continue to grow. The main core of the team returns but they’re going to need someone to break out into the next level for them to really progress. Paul Millsap seems to be the most poised to do so, which should boost Charlotte.

Projected Record: 45-37
Projected Starters: Deron Williams/Andre Iguodala/Jeff Green/Paul Millsap/Nikola Pekovic

Milwaukee Bucks (19-63)
The forecast in Milwaukee is still not bright though there is hope. Kyle Lowry is developing well, Boris Diaw was a standout rookie, and Rodney Stuckey can pour it in. He’s being moved to a 6th man role to make room for versatile rookie Tyreke Evans, while Desmond Mason pairs with him to form a formidable bench duo. Expect some improvement, though not too much.

Projected Record: 23-59
Projected Starters: Kyle Lowry/Tyreke Evans/Wally Szczerbiak/Boris Diaw/Jason Smith

Chicago Bulls (52-30)
The Kevin Garnett era is over and it provided pure disappointment. They blew a 3-1 second round lead and got eliminated in the first round in his two years there. With him gone, the team is looking to rebuild, trading Jamal Crawford for Jason Terry and likely looking to move Terry along with Jalen Rose at some point this season. The bench is also probably the league’s weakest with former 6th Man of the Year Nick Collison becoming a starter.

Projected Record: 31-51
Projected Starters: Mo Williams/Jason Terry/Jalen Rose/Nick Collison/Channing Frye

Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30)
After making the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs made moves to take the next step and try to win it all. Chauncey Billups and Shane Battier are veterans who have won before and can play shutdown defense. They can also hit big shots just like Dwyane Wade has proven, while Rashard Lewis can quietly fill it up. They should contend for a title this year.

Projected Record: 55-27
Projected Starters: Chauncey Billups/Dwyane Wade/Shane Battier/Rashard Lewis/Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Boston Celtics (36-46)
That Derrick Rose guy is very good. The Rookie of the Year is the official leader in Boston and he’s so good that the expected rebuild will likely be shorter than expected. They didn’t add much outside of their bench but they did get good pieces like Trevor Ariza, DeShawn Stevenson, and rookie Darren Collison. They should be in potential competition or the 8th seed.

Projected Record: 39-43
Projected Starters: Derrick Rose/Mike Miller/Joe Johnson/David West/Chris Kaman

Los Angeles Clippers (30-52)
Wild to think the Clippers were in the Western Conference Finals a few years ago. Elton Brand left and now so too are Lamar Odom, Steve Francis, and Quentin Richardson. They’re starting from scratch but Eddy Curry is a high scoring center who is still just 26, Shaun Livingston has loads of potential, and rookie DeMar DeRozan could be a sleeper Rookie of the Year pick.

Projected Record: 28-54
Projected Starters: Shaun Livingston/DeMar DeRozan/CJ Miles/Drew Gooden/Eddy Curry

Memphis Grizzlies (44-38)
One of the few teams to keep its impending free agents, the Grizzlies are giving it another go (for a few years) with the Pau Gasol/Michael Redd pairing. They got younger at point guard with Beno Udrih and added Ricky Davis but it ultimately feels like they’re kind of in the same place in the crowded West.

Projected Record: 47-35
Projected Starters: Beno Udrih/Michael Redd/Ricky Davis/Marreese Speights/Pau Gasol

Atlanta Hawks (51-31)
There’s no doubt that the Hawks were killed by Vince Carter in the Playoffs. While they didn’t replace Jason Terry with a stout defender (and that side of the ball remains their weak point outside of Noah), they did get bigger and more versatile with Jamal Crawford. Adding Hedo Turkoglu to the bench is big, while Carmelo Anthony remains in the conversation for the league’s best player.

Projected Record: 56-26
Projected Starters: Steve Nash/Jamal Crawford/Carmelo Anthony/Antawn Jamison/Joakim Noah

Miami Heat (40-42)
This team is an enigma. They made the move for Steve Francis to contend but still missed the Playoffs and now they’re kind of just a mish-mash of players. They have three point guards in Francis, Rubio, and Gibson and no reliable bigs on the bench. Meanwhile, Korver and Butler have sort of plateaued in recent years. They feel like the definition of a team hovering around .500.

Projected Record: 38-44
Projected Starters: Steve Francis/Kyle Korver/Caron Butler/Yi Jianlian/Andrew Bogut

New Orleans Hornets (43-39)
The Hornets may not have made the Playoffs but they had the same record as the #6 seed, showing how tight the West is. They keep getting better and Brandon Roy is frighteningly good so soon. He’s not the kind of guy who is going to let them miss the postseason again. They should focus on adding some help down low and they could go far.

Projected Record: 48-34
Projected Starters: Mike Conley/Brandon Roy/Mike Dunleavy/Thaddeus Young/Kendrick Perkins

Utah Jazz (35-47)
Following a horrendous start to the year, the Jazz improved greatly over time and were better once at full strength. However, the loss of Ben Gordon and JR Smith left a hole in their wing players, which will need to be filled by rookies like Jodie Meeks and Wayne Ellington. It’ll be interesting to see how that pans out.

Projected Record: 32-50
Projected Starters: Travis Ball/Jodie Meeks/Danny Granger/Andrei Kirilenko/Andrea Bargnani

Sacramento Kings (60-22)
The Kings were the toast of the league until a broken wrist took out Kobe Bryant in the Playoffs and they couldn’t recover. He’s back at full strength and the only major differences come from Ben Gordon as the next sixth man and Ron Artest replacing Shane Battier in the starting lineup. Expect them to scare the rest of the league again.

Projected Record: 58-24
Projected Starters: Mike Bibby/Kobe Bryant/Ron Artest/Carlos Boozer/Jermaine O’Neal

New York Knicks (28-54)
New York brought in Ray Allen and he didn’t even last a year that ended in turmoil. There is reason for hope though. Michael Beasley impressed in the back half of the season, Raymond Felton continues to improve and they reeled in Shareef Abdur-Rahim while drafting promising scorer James Harden. They’re moving in the right direction but it’ll take a while.

Projected Record: 31-51
Projected Starters: Raymond Felton/James Harden/Michael Beasley/Shareef Abdur-Rahim/Adin Durmanenko

Los Angeles Lakers (24-58)
Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin. Whether they win many games or not, it should be a lot of fun in Hollywood this year. Two of the most exciting prospects in recent memory will team up and the Lakers have some legitimate building blocks. That could be the foundation of more titles in Tinseltown.

Projected Record: 33-49
Projected Starters: Goran Dragic/Martell Webster/Kevin Durant/Blake Griffin/DeAndre Jordan

Orlando Magic (51-31)
When they lost the Finals two years ago and got bumped in the first round last season, many believed Orlando’s title window slammed shut. Enter Kevin Garnett. After two missed opportunities in Chicago, the Big Ticket signed with Orlando to join McGrady, Rondo, and Marion. They could very well win the East but the same was said about Chicago the last two years.

Projected Record: 59-23
Projected Starters: Rajon Rondo/Tracy McGrady/Shawn Marion/Kevin Garnett/Marcin Gortat

Dallas Mavericks (46-36)
Dallas turned a lackluster regular season into Playoff success, winning the NBA Title despite just 46 victories. Shaq and Hinrich departed but they still have a lot of core pieces while adding shooting in Morris Peterson and defense in Emeka Okafor. A healthy Dirk all year could mean 50+ wins.

Projected Record: 51-31
Projected Starters: Andre Miller/Rashad McCants/Peja Stojakovic/Dirk Nowitzki/Emeka Okafor

New Jersey Nets (54-28)
The champions in 2003 and 2007, New Jersey found themselves back in their 2002 position of coming off of a Finals loss. The big change is that Kenyon Martin has signed elsewhere, meaning this team will look very different. A pair of Als (Harrington and Jefferson) step in, and Eddie House helps the bench but Kidd is 36 and their title window may have closed.

Projected Record: 47-35
Projected Starters: Jason Kidd/Vince Carter/Richard Jefferson/Al Harrington/Al Jefferson

Denver Nuggets (43-39)
Denver shocked many by sweeping the Blazers but the combo of Ray Allen and Marc Gasol is as good as it gets. Add in Maggette, Harris, and Maggette, and this starting five is lethal. Their bench needed help, especially after Jarvis Hayes left but J.R. Bremer is a good addition. A full season of Allen show vault them up the standings a bit.

Projected Record: 48-34
Projected Starters: Devin Harris/Ray Allen/Corey Maggette/Jamal Mashburn/Marc Gasol

Indiana Pacers (49-33)
The Allen Iverson/Dwight Howard duo worked out well as Indiana made it to the second round and Howard won Most Improved Player. They didn’t do much to their roster other than losing Bonzi Wells and adding Sebastian Telfair but another year together and Gerald Green as a starter could do wonders.

Projected Record: 51-31
Projected Starters: Marcus Williams/Allen Iverson/Gerald Green/Lamar Odom/Dwight Howard

Detroit Pistons (46-36)
It’s the end of an era in Detroit as Chauncey Billups is out and they’re reportedly shopping Ben Wallace, changing their entire identity. That said, they can’t do a full rebuild as they want to remain competitive and re-sign Chris Bosh. Their record is hard to predict since they’re likely making major moves but it probably won’t be as a Playoff team.

Projected Record: 41-41
Projected Starters: Jay Williams/Richard Hamilton/Tayshaun Prince/Chris Bosh/Ben Wallace

Toronto Raptors (41-41)
Toronto went from a basement dweller to a Playoff contender. They basically bring back the same team but with everyone a year better. Rumor has it they’re shopping Serge Ibaka as while they like his defense, they feel they need a #1 option on offense. Without that, expect .500 again. With it, watch it.

Projected Record: 41-41
Projected Starters: Jameer Nelson/JJ Redick/Thabo Sefolosha/Serge Ibaka/Brook Lopez

Houston Rockets (43-39)
The Rockets were on the verge of being a colossal failure before turning it on and making the Playoffs. Still, a first round exit when you have four All-Stars isn’t a good thing. The team decided to go for it again, giving declining guard Stephon Marbury a four-year deal and signing Larry Hughes. It doesn’t sound like a good move but there’s only one way to find out.

Projected Record: 45-37
Projected Starters: Stephon Marbury/Larry Hughes/Paul Pierce/Zach Randolph/Yao Ming

San Antonio Spurs (57-25)
San Antonio was a hot Mavericks team away from possibly claiming a third title in five years. They did the important thing of giving Tony Parker a new deal and they replaced Mikael Pietrus with Tim Thomas, who doesn’t fit their defensive scheme. That could make things interesting but the Spurs will seemingly be the Spurs as long as Duncan and Pop lead the way.

Projected Record: 55-27
Projected Starters: Tony Parker/Stephen Jackson/Tim Thomas/Tim Duncan/Spencer Hawes

Phoenix Suns (32-50)
Phoenix lived up to the hype as an exciting team because Westbrook and Stoudemire were a blast to watch. They looked to be more than just fun in the offseason, making serious moves to improve the team. They added Quentin Richardson, Marcus Camby, and Jarvis Hayes while drafting DeMarre Carroll. Could they be in the hunt for the 8th seed out West?

Projected Record: 41-41
Projected Starters: Russell Westbrook/Quentin Richardson/DeMarre Carroll/Amar’e Stoudemire/Marcus Camby

Seattle Supersonics (43-39)
A big jump in wins gave the Supersonics the 8th seed and they made history by becoming the rare team to upset a #1 in the first round. Granted Sacramento had no Kobe after Game 2 but still. This talented team returns most of its key pieces and with added experience, they could be a threat.

Projected Record: 48-34
Projected Starters: Chris Paul/Courtney Lee/Josh Smith/Kevin Love/Al Horford

Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46)
The Gilbert Arenas era in Minnesota has produced high scoring games and highlights but no Playoff appearances. His scoring average has gone up each year of his career (peaking at 24.2 last season) and Tyson Chandler is a very good big man to pair him with. Alas, this season looks like more of the same for this painfully mediocre squad.

Projected Record: 37-45
Projected Starters: Gilbert Arenas/OJ Mayo/Josh Howard/Stromile Swift/Tyson Chandler

Portland Trail Blazers (47-35)
The league’s biggest disappointment, Portland paired up LeBron with Elton Brand and promptly got swept. They give it one more shot before James’ impending free agency. To do so, they added again, bringing in Shaq and Kirk Hinrich from the champion Mavericks, JR Smith from Utah, and hand the point guard reins to rookie Jrue Holiday. It’s do or die in Portland or they may lose a generational talent.

Projected Record: 53-29
Projected Starters: Jrue Holiday/Kirk Hinrich/LeBron James/Elton Brand/Shaquille O'Neal

Golden State Warriors (41-41)
The perpetually .500 Warriors finished…41-41 again. To rectify that, Marcus Fizer is back as the 6th man along with Aaron Brooks and Randy Foye to solidify a strong second unit, while Kenyon Martin signed and Leon Powe moves into the starting lineup. Still, it feels like another .500 finish or so.

Projected Record: 43-39
Projected Starters: Baron Davis/Monta Ellis/Jason Richardson/Kenyon Martin/Leon Powe

Washington Wizards (19-63)
There’s finally true hope in Washington after they drafted highly touted guard Stephen Curry. He and Rudy Gay could light up the league, while Greg Oden mans things on the defensive end down low. Their focus needs to be on acquiring a bigger shooting guard though because Curry and Barbosa are going to get killed defensively.

Projected Record: 27-55
Projected Starters: Stephen Curry/Leandro Barbosa/Rudy Gay/Ryan Anderson/Greg Oden

[studbucket]

Thanks for the preview. My predictions for the top 3 in each conference.
East

1. Magic
2. Cavaliers
3. Hawks

West

1. Kings
2. Trail Blazers
3. Grizzlies

[the_kevstaaa]

10/27/09
(0-0) Chicago Bulls @ (0-0) Cleveland Cavaliers

Bulls
Mo Williams (13.2ppg, 6.1apg, 48FG%)
Jason Terry (14.9ppg, 7.7apg, 1.1spg, 52FG%)
Jalen Rose (16.2ppg, 6.0apg, 45FG%)
Nick Collison (10.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.0spg, 50FG%)
Channing Frye (11.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 45FG%)
6th Man: Kareem Rush (9.1ppg, 48FG%)

Cavaliers
Chauncey Billups (14.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 8.4apg, 45FG%)
Dwyane Wade (22.2ppg, 4.9rpg, 8.7apg, 2.2spg, 1.3bpg, 53FG%)
Shane Battier (10.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.3spg, 54FG%)
Rashard Lewis (17.9ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.0spg, 54FG%)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (13.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.5bpg, 45FG%)
6th Man: Ronald Murray (13.5ppg, 47FG%)

[the_kevstaaa]

Cleveland opened their season on a high note with a 114-99 victory over a Bulls team that has a lot to figure out. The Cavs used a strong 2nd quarter and 13-2 early 3rd quarter run to build a 26 point lead. Chicago cut it to nine in the 4th behind Jason Terry (20 points, 7 assists) and Nick Collison (17 points, 11 rebounds) but then Dwyane Wade (25 points, 8 assists) sealed it. Seven Cavs scored in double figures including three reserves in rookie Ty Lawson (11 points), Ronald Murray (12 points), and Roy Hibbert (11 points, 13 rebounds).

[the_kevstaaa]

11/16/09

Around the League
• The Pacer lead the East at 8-2, followed by the Magic (8-3), Raptors (6-3), Cavaliers (6-3), and Nets (7-5).
• The West is led by Seattle (8-2), with Sacramento (6-3), Phoenix (6-4), Denver (6-4), and San Antonio (6-5) following suit.
• Scoring Leaders: C. Bosh (29.4), A. Bargnani (27.3), C. Anthony (26.7), C. Paul (26.4), T. Duncan (25.8), G. Arenas (25.0), K. Durant (24.6), P. Stojakovic (24.5), T. McGrady (24.2), and K. Bryant (24.1).
• Rebounding Leaders: P. Millsap (13.4), K. Love (13.0), M. Gasol (12.8), C. Boozer (12.1), J. Noah (11.9), A. Bogut (11.4), T. Duncan (11.1), K. Martin (11.0), Y. Ming (11.0), and D. Jordan (11.0).
• Assists Leaders: T. Parker (12.3), C. Paul (10.6), B. Davis (10.2), K. Lowry (10.0), S. Livingston (10.0), R. Rondo (9.8), D. Williams (9.8), A. Iverson (9.8), M. Bibby (9.7), and Jason Williams (9.5).
• C. Paul leads in stelas (2.5), while K. Martin leads in blocks (3.1).
• Stephen Curry scored 34 points in his NBA debut. Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett put a triple-double in his first game with Orlando. LeBron James is off to a shockingly slow start, averaging just 19.8ppg.
• The Lakers believe they can contend for a Playoff spot and they made a move to bolster the roster. They shipped young players in Hilton Armstrong, Patrick Beverley, and Tyler Hansbrough to Miami for Steve Francis and Jaime Singleton.
• 11/6/09 – New Jersey’s Jason Kidd (11.3apg) has high ankle sprain; out 4-6 weeks.
• 11/10/09 – New York’s Michael Beasley (11.0ppg) has hairline fracture in his arm; out 4-6 weeks.

Players of the Month for October
DET – Chris Bosh (32.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.5bpg, 45FG%)
DEN – Marc Gasol (29.3ppg, 16.0rpg, 6.3apg, 1.3spg, 2.7bpg, 58FG%)

Rookies of the Month for October
WSH – Stephen Curry (26.3ppg, 6.0apg, 1.7spg, 51FG%)
LAC – DeMar DeRozan (17.5ppg, 5.0apg, 1.0spg, 42FG%)

Players of the Week 10/27/09-11/1/09
DET – Chris Bosh (32.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.5bpg)
DEN – Marc Gasol (29.3ppg, 16.0rpg, 6.3apg, 1.3spg, 2.7bpg)

Players of the Week 11/2/09-11/8/09
DET – Chris Bosh [2] (27.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg)
SAS – Tim Duncan [1] (28.6ppg, 11.3rpg, 7.0apg, 2.0spg, 1.6bpg)

Players of the Week 11/9/09-11/15/09
CLE – Dwyane Wade [1] (27.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 6.6apg, 2.3spg, 1.0bpg)
NOH – Brandon Roy [1] (33.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 8.6apg, 2.0spg)

(4-6; 11th in East) Boston Celtics @ (2-9; 15th in East) Philadelphia 76ers
[1-4 on the road; Lost 2 straight] [2-3 at home; Lost 1 straight]

Celtics
Derrick Rose (23.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 6.2apg, 2.1spg, 46FG%)
Mike Miller (12.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.1apg, 40FG%)
Joe Johnson (9.8ppg, 5.1apg, 1.0spg, 52FG%)
David West (6.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.9apg, 1.0spg, 1.3bpg, 39FG%)
Chris Kaman (16.1ppg, 7.4rpg, 3.9apg, 51FG%)
6th Man: Darren Collison (10.1ppg, 45FG%)

76ers
Jason Williams (7.8ppg, 9.5apg, 1.0spg, 27FG%)
Kevin Martin (17.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, 40FG%)
Chris Douglas-Roberts (9.5ppg, 52FG%, 1st start due to Wilson Chandler’s struggles)
LaMarcus Aldridge (21.1ppg, 8.4rpg, 47FG%)
Hasheem Thabeet (4.7ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.6bpg, 40FG%)
6th Man: Eric Gordon (15.2ppg, 51FG%)

[the_kevstaaa]

Derrick Rose (31 points, 6 assists) and LaMarcus Aldridge (28 points, 15 rebounds) showed why they are both part of the NBA’s bright future. They showed out but it was Rose’s Celtics who came through, winning 94-89 after hitting bit free throws. Kevin Martin (20 points) missed a potential game-tying three before Darren Collison (12 points) and Trevor Ariza (11 points), sealed it with free throws. They are part of Boston’s improved bench. Meanwhile, Chris Douglas-Roberts (15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) played very well as Philly’s new starting small forward.

[the_kevstaaa]

11/25/09

Around the League
• Houston has taken over the West with a 10-3 record thanks to 6 straight wins. The Blazers (9-5), Kings (9-5), Warriors (9-6), and Supersonics (9-6) round out the top five.
• The East is led by the Pacers (11-3), with the Magic (11-4), Knicks (10-3), Cavs (10-4), and Nets (10-6) next up. New York has won 8 in a row.
• Scoring Leaders: A. Bargnani (30.1), C. Bosh (28.2), C. Anthony (27.6), R. Hamilton (24.9), P. Stojakovic (24.8), D. Rose (24.6), T. Duncan (24.4), G. Arenas (23.9), T. McGrady (23.9), and A. Stoudemire (23.3).
• Rebounding Leaders: M. Gasol (13.4), P. Millsap (12.7), D. Howard (12.4), A. Bogut (11.8), K. Love (11.7), J. Noah (11.6), N. Collison (11.6), C. Boozer (11.1), K. Martin (11.0), and A. Jefferson (10.9).
• Assists Leaders: T. Parker (11.7), C. Paul (10.5), B. Davis (10.1), D. Williams (10.0), S. Livingston (9.9), M. Bibby (9.8), A. Miller (9.8), R. Rondo (9.5), A. Iverson (9.4), and K. Lowry (9.3).
• D. Wade leads the league in steals (2.4) while K. Martin leads in blocks (2.8).
• 11/18/09 – San Antonio’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (11.8ppg) has broken hand; out 4-6 weeks.

Players of the Week 11/16/09-11/22/09
ATL – Carmelo Anthony [1] (30.3ppg, 11.3rpg, 8.0apg, 1.6bpg)
POR – LeBron James [1] (21.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 9.6apg, 2.3spg, 2.3bpg)

(3-13; 15th in West) Minnesota Timberwolves @ (4-11; 14th in East) Washington Wizards
[1-7 on the road; Lost 4 straight] [3-5 at home; Lost 2 straight]

Timberwolves
Gilbert Arenas (23.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 8.4apg, 1.7spg, 52FG%)
OJ Mayo )8.5ppg, 4.9apg, 1.0spg, 38FG%)
Josh Howard (14.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.1apg, 1.8spg, 43FG%)
Stromile Swift (13.2ppg, 8.0rpg, 1.4bpg, 52FG%)
Tyson Chandler (12.3ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.1bpg, 46FG%)
6th Man: Robin Lopez (10.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 58FG%)

Wizards
Stephen Curry (22.7ppg, 6.4apg, 1.5spg, 45FG%)
Leandro Barbosa (11.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 5.5apg, 1.5spg, 45FG%)
Rudy Gay (21.4ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.7apg, 1.0spg, 48FG%)
Ryan Anderson (13.9ppg, 6.9rpg, 40FG%)
Greg Oden (6.3ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.1bpg, 28FG%)
6th Man: Marvin Williams (13.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 42FG%)