NBA Twilight Zone

srijeda, 28.02.2007.

PREPOROD ŠIROKOG: new coach Joke Vranković...NCAA Roundup by Yazid

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JOKE VRANKOVIĆ, nekadašnji košarkaš Cibone i hrvatske reprezentacije, preuzeo je trenersku poziciju Širokog, kluba u čijem se dresu i oprostio od aktivne košarkaške karijere.

Upravni odbor bosansko-hercegovačkog kluba na izvanrednoj sjednici održanoj u nedjelju navečer razriješio je dužnosti sad već bivšeg stratega Edija Dželaliju, obzirom da je procijenjeno da je izgubio konce u vođenju momčadi. Ljubav je definitivno pukla prošli vikend u Trnskom, gdje su Zagrebaši glatko došli do nove pobjede u NLB ligi.

Iako je Vranković iste večeri uočen na tribina u Trnskom, njegovo ustoličenje stiglo je iznenađujuće brzo, ali se nametnulo i kao jedino logično rješenje, pišu kolege iz mostarskog Dnevnog lista. 38-godišnji Splićanin odlično poznaje momčad s kojoj je nekad dijelio sudbu i na parketu. No, s druge strane, kao olakotnu okolnost treba uzeti da Vranković zapravo debitira u trenerskom poslu i to u vrlo nezgodnom trenutku, u samoj završnici prvenstva BiH.

U klubu vjeruju kako je Vranković idealan trener za Pecaru, sposoban da svojim autoritetom razdrma momčad i popravi sadašnji neslavni skor od 7 pobjeda i čak 15 poraza u okviru regionalne lige. Na Joki je također da momčad kroz završnicu BiH prvenstva ponovo odvede do participacije u NLB-u sljedeće sezone.

Klupsko je rukovodstvo povuklo još jedan potez; za šefa stručnog stožera mlađih uzrasta izabralo je proslavljenoga hrvatskog stručnjaka Ivana Sunaru, koji je prije dvije sezone na Pecari bio trener prve momčadi.



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (28/02/07)..


Dželalija: Ljudi u Hrvatskoj iznenađeni su raspletom

Splićanin umjesto Šibenčanina. Nakon sedam mjeseci, Edi Dželalija tvrdi da odlazi uzdignuta čela. I krivnju preusmjerava na upravu, zbog nedostatka kvalitetnih igrača...

"Došlo je sve iznenada i nenajavljeno. Mislim da još uvijek nisam probavio to da sam dobio otkaz u Širokom." - prva je reakcija bivšeg izbornika mlade hrvatske reprezentacije.

Od njega se, naime, očekivalo da dođe što dalje u završnici prvenstva, ujedno i sačuva NLB status, te eventualno obrani naslov u kupu. Dželalija se ne može pohvaliti, ali odlučno tvrdi kako je napravio sve što je bilo u njegovoj moći.

"Nisam dobio priliku ni braniti Kup niti pokušati osvojiti naslov prvaka BiH. Ne mogu reći da nisam ništa napravio. Napravio sam selekciju mlađih igrača i kada se pogleda minutaža Baraća ili Brkića, može se lako vidjeti da su ove sezone puno više igrali. Međutim, uprava je postala nestrpljiva i nervozna zbog lošeg BiH koeficijenta i zato su i donijeli takvu odluku."

"Da smo konstantno gubili po 20 ili 30 koševa razlike, onda bih se i zapitao. Ovako, ovo je maksimum što se moglo učiniti s ovakvim igračima. Otkako sam došao, zahtijevao sam da mi se dovedu dva ili tri kvalitetna igrača koja nisam dobio. Platio sam danak nekvalitetnoj momčadi. Učinio sam koliko sam mogao i odlazim uzdignuta čela." - dodao je Šibenčanin, uz napomenu da još uvijek nema izglednih ponuda za daljnji anganžman.

"Ponuda još nema. Ljudi iz Hrvatske su iznenađeni ovim raspletom u Širokom tako da ću malo pričekati na eventualne ponude za posao."

D.R.
Index.hr
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NCAA ROUNDUP: March Madness Ahead

U atletici bi se reklo: stvari u NCAA ulaze u posljednjih 150 m. Pri kraju je regularno natjecanje u 30 konferencija - preciznije, u 6 od njih je posljednjeg dana veljače već počeo konferencijski turnir pobjednik kojeg će direktno u prvo kolo March Madnessa - a već imamo jednog kvalifikanta za turnir.

Riječ je o skupini uvjetno rečeno elitnih sveučilišta Ivy League u kojoj nema turnira nego tko je u regularnom dijelu najbolji ide dalje a to je ovog proljeća Pennsylvania koja u unutarkonferencijskim mečevima ima 10-1. U istoj ligi se natječu i prestižni Yale (9-3), Harvard (4-8) i Princeton (2-9) -



daleko su dani kad je senator i član Knicksa s početka 1970ih Bill Bradley nastupao za posljednje navedene. Ukratko, Ivy League je možda prestižna po naobrazbi, ali po košarci su za debelom začelju, od nje je možda jedina gora America East.

Zadnja kola su donijela i par zanimljivih rezultata u moru utakmica. Tako je prvak Florida izgubila kod Tennesseeja 76-86 (treći poraz u posljednje 4 utakmice), Syracuse dobio vodećeg Georgetowna 72-58 a dva dana prije u gostima Providence 71-67, Kansas jedva svladao Oklahomu 67-65 u gostima kao i Texas dva dana prije 68-58.



U velikom konferencijskim derbijima Maryland je s 89-87 svladao superjaku North Carolinu, Ohio States pola koša razlike Wisconsin 49-48, Creighton kući ispratio Wichitu State sa popudbinom 71-54 dok je UCLA još uvijek jača od Stanforda 75-61 kao i Nevada od ljutog rivala Boise State 95-81. Michigan State je izgubio Agera i Browna u korist grijanja klupe u NBA, ali su još uvijek nezgodni - Indiana je od njih kući izgubila 58-66, dok je Oregon bio bolji od Washingtona 93-85. Konferencijski turniri će, vidimo, biti vrlo izjednačeni.



Posebne individualne dosege tijekom vikenda su imali:
- vodeći asistent u Div I i play Marista Jared Jordan: 24p/14a/7s protiv Siene
- krilo Texas Longhornsa Kevin Durant: 32p/10s/2ol/3bl i 5-6 za 3p protiv Oklahome;
- play Cal Statea Fullerton Bobby Brown: 26p/6a/2ol protiv Cal Poly
- play Oregona Aaron Brooks: 30p/6a/3ol protiv Washingtona
- krilni centar Providence Friarsa Herbert Hill: 29p/15s/8bl protiv Syracusea
- krilo Boston Collegea Jared Dudley: 23p/11s/2ol/3a protiv Clemsona

Stanje u šest vodećih konferencija (poredanih po abecedi, ne po snazi) je slijedeće:

ATLANTIC 10
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
North Carolina 10 4 24 5
Virginia Tech 10 4 20 8
Virginia 10 4 19 8
Boston College 10 5 19 9
Maryland 8 6 22 7
Duke 8 6 22 7
Georgia Tech 6 8 18 10
Florida State 6 9 18 11
Clemson 5 9 19 9
North Carolina State 4 10 14 13
Wake Forest 4 10 13 14
Miami (FL) 4 10 11 17

BIG 12
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
Kansas 13 2 26 4
Texas A&M 12 2 24 4
Texas 11 3 21 7
Kansas State 9 6 20 10
Texas Tech 7 7 18 11
Oklahoma State 6 8 20 9
Missouri 6 8 17 10
Oklahoma 6 9 15 13
Nebraska 5 8 16 11
Iowa State 5 9 14 14
Baylor 3 11 13 14
Colorado 2 12 6 18

BIG EAST
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
Pittsburgh 12 3 25 5
Georgetown 12 3 22 6
Louisville 11 4 21 8
Notre Dame 10 5 22 6
Syracuse 10 5 21 8
Marquette 9 6 22 8
West Virginia 8 7 20 8
DePaul 8 7 17 12
Villanova 7 7 19 9
Providence 7 7 17 10
Connecticut 6 8 17 11
St. John's 6 9 15 14
Seton Hall 4 10 13 14
South Florida 3 11 12 16
Rutgers 3 12 10 18
Cincinnati 1 13 10 18

MISSOURI VALLEY
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
Southern Illinois 15 3 25 5
Creighton 13 5 19 10
Missouri State 12 6 21 9
Bradley 10 8 20 11
Northern Iowa 9 9 18 12
Wichita State 8 10 17 13
Drake 6 12 16 14
Illinois State 6 12 15 15
Evansville 6 12 14 16
Indiana State 5 13 12 17

PACIFIC 10
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
UCLA 14 2 25 3
Washington State 12 4 23 5
USC 11 5 21 8
Oregon 10 7 22 7
Arizona 9 7 18 9
Stanford 9 7 17 10
Washington 6 10 16 12
California 6 10 14 14
Oregon State 3 14 11 19
Arizona State 1 15 7 20

SOUTHEASTERN
KONFER. UKUPNO
W L W L
East
Florida 12 3 25 5
Vanderbilt 9 5 19 9
Tennessee 9 6 21 9
Kentucky 8 6 19 9
Georgia 8 6 17 10
South Carolina 4 10 14 13
West
Mississippi 7 7 18 10
Mississippi State 7 7 16 11
Alabama 6 8 19 9
Auburn 6 8 16 13
Arkansas 5 9 16 12
LSU 4 10 15 13

Eto, i kladioničari tu imaju mali vodič, pažljivo proučite tabele i eto dobitka. Savjet: igrajte na sastave iz Missouri Valley, nevezano protiv koga igraju u prvom kolu vrlo lako mogu iznenaditi jer je riječ o najsnažnijoj mid-major konferenciji unutar koje sastavi imaju 15ak neizvjesnih utakmica. Da ne govorimo da im i novija povijest ide u prilog: Southern Illinois je bio ugodno iznenađenje 2002. a Bradley i Wichita State prošle godine.

Toliko od nas,
Ivica Ž aka Y
nba.blog.hr



28.02.2007. u 08:20 • 1 Komentara • Print • #

utorak, 27.02.2007.

72-77: Celticsi fokusirani na Odena/Duranta prizemljili Van Gundyeve Rakete fokusirane na Prstenje...


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (27/02/07)..


PR N°9: Draw of the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship live on www.fiba.com!


GENEVA (FIBA U19 World Championship) - FIBA, in cooperation with the Serbian Basketball Federation, will host tomorrow Tuesday, 27th February, in Novi Sad, the draw for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship for Men.

The 8th FIBA U19 World Championship will be played from 12th to 22nd July 2007 in Novi Sad (Serbia) with 16 teams comprised of players born in 1988 or after.


AMARE vs. HAWKS..

FIBA cordially invites all those interested to follow the Draw of the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship live on www.fiba.com… The draw will start at 12:00 hours (CET), tomorrow Tuesday, 27th February.

In addition, the complete schedule of games for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship will be displayed on www.fiba.com about half an hour after the draw has finalized.

FIBA.com

27.02.2007. u 07:23 • 2 Komentara • Print • #

ponedjeljak, 26.02.2007.

SURVIVOR: Miami?



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (26/02/07)..


Last week, when Pat Riley decided to return to the sidelines after a 23-game absence due to hip replacement surgery, he was asked about the state of his Miami Heat team.

"We're in great shape," he said with a smile. "We've got Dwyane."

Unfortunately, Riley only had "Dwyane" – as in Dwyane Wade – for less than one full game before the Heat's All-Star player suffered a major injury: a separated left shoulder in a loss to Houston Wednesday night. After that, everything changed for Riley and the Heat.

With just under eight weeks to go in the season, Miami holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. What Riley had hoped would to be a run for the Southeast Division title has turned into a struggle for survival. So for Miami to survive without Wade, it will need two key players to emerge.

The obvious member of the Heat who must play well is Shaquille O'Neal. The Big Fella has been mostly nonexistent all season, suffering from a knee injury that has kept him out of 39 games. Even when he has played, Shaq has looked nothing like the Hall of Famer who has dominated the league for so long. He has lacked the energy and activity of years past, as Father Time continues to creep up on him.


GOOD WADE, BAD WADE GATORADE COMMERCIAL..

UPDATE: WADE TO SEEK SECOND OPINION ON SHOULDER INJURY


Riley was encouraged Wednesday by Shaq's 20-point, 16-rebound performance in the loss to Houston. On Thursday against the Mavericks, O'Neal again looked as active and nimble as he has in a long time. He made quick moves in the post, fought for position and worked for offensive rebounds, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes. On a night when Miami got blown out by Dallas, O'Neal was one of the few bright spots.

If Shaq is going to provide the interior offense, then Jason Williams must create on the perimeter. With Wade out, Williams is the only member of the Heat who can effectively run the screen and roll, and his penetration will create offense for his teammates. Williams has missed 20 games this season with injuries (most recently a strained abdominal muscle), and if he gets hurt again, Miami will be in huge trouble.

If Shaq and Williams can stay healthy and play well, the Heat can survive Wade's absence. They have solid role players – Eddie Jones, Udonis Haslem, Alonzo Mourning and James Posey, among others – but all of them depend on others to get them shots. O'Neal and Williams have the ability to make them all better, and if they do so, the Heat can still make the playoffs.

If Miami does manage to hang on and win enough games to qualify for the postseason, there's a chance Wade will be ready to return. And at that point – even as an eighth seed – the Heat can be dangerous. Why? Because Pat Riley can once again say, "We've got Wade."

By Steve Kerr
Yahoo! Sports

26.02.2007. u 07:54 • 2 Komentara • Print • #

nedjelja, 25.02.2007.

ONE WEEK AGO: Cibona II featuring Franko Kaštropil...NBA on OBN: Chicago @ Detroit @ 22.30...



CIBONA II FEATURING FRANKO KAŠTROPIL (5 MIN/55 MB): Cibona II usual croatian B-league showcase enforced with Frano Kaštropil. Music score by Dolapdere Big Gang (Turkey).

Kvaliteta slike nije nešto, ali što je, tu je. Kupio sam nove kazete za Haklerovu kameru i iduće snimke će biti itekako kvalitetnije, that's a promise.

Inače što se prikazane tekme tiče bili smo Ja, Bedrina, Starbury i Marijan (KK Sv.Petar). Uobičajeni cro-B-league show Cibone II protiv odlascima oslabljenoga Don Bosca. Šakić je sve bolji i opasniji, Kruška se vraća u formu nakon ozljede, Zubčić je za one koje to zanima ovu utakmicu prosjedio na tribinama zbog ozljede noge.

Na njegovoj poziciji startao najnoviji Cibos Franko Kaštropil koji bi se mogao pokazati itekako korisnim za seniore Cibone iduće sezone. Mora još poraditi na low post moves, ovako je djelomično limitiran s loptom u napadu, iako ima shot range. Ameri bi rekli: "poor man's Stojko Vranković with huge upside".

Inače sjedili smo ispred Šakićeve mame koja je uvijek zaista veliki navijač svoga sina i ekipe. Katurin tata je bio oduševljen nakon alley oopa, niti sam ne znam kako sam izašao iz dvorane s kazetom u kameri.

Inače originalni remix itekako bolje kvalitete postoji na CD-u, koji će neki od sudionika gornjeg košarkaškog događanja uskoro imati u svojem vlasništvu.

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

___________________



BEN WALLACE - EX-"BEAST" OF DETROIT..

Ben Wallace had a friendly reunion with his former team last month, but he isn't so sure the welcome will be as warm at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday.

Wallace returns to Detroit for the first time since leaving the team in the offseason when his Chicago Bulls take on the Pistons.

"The Palace will be rocking," Wallace said on Wednesday. "They know I'm coming."


Wallace spent six years in Detroit, where he helped the team win a championship in 2003-04 and was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. However, his age, money demands and declining relationship with coach Flip Saunders factored into his departure in July, when the Bulls signed him to a four-year contract worth $60 million.

Wallace said he isn't sure what to expect from the fans in Detroit (35-19) on Sunday.

"Those are Piston fans and I'm a Bull," he said Friday after his team beat the Washington Wizards 105-90. "If they cheer it will be great. If they boo it will be great. As long as I get some type of reaction."


It might not be the most positive reaction, considering a story on the Pistons' official Web site regarding Wallace's return included many Detroit fans expressing bitter feelings toward their former All-Star.

In Wallace's first game against his former team, the Bulls (32-25) won 106-89 on Jan. 6, though the Pistons were missing star guard Chauncey Billups. Wallace had 12 points, 14 rebounds, six blocked shots and three steals in the game at Chicago, where the reunion with his former teammates and Saunders was uneventful.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (25/02/07)..

"It was just exciting to be out there, to have an opportunity to play against those guys, talk a little trash," Wallace said after the win, which snapped the Bulls' five-game losing streak to the Pistons. "It brings a lot of excitement."


Rasheed Wallace was among the Pistons who enjoyed seeing their former teammate.

"It was fun. We were out there talking our little junk," he said.

Ben Wallace has been inconsistent since joining the Bulls, averaging 6.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks -- all worse than any season while with the Pistons -- but said he doesn't regret the move.

"I'm comfortable," he said. "I feel like, you know, I made the adjustment."

Wallace and Chicago are looking to extend a three-game winning streak. The team will be without Andres Nocioni, who has missed eight of the last nine games with a foot injury and told reporters after Friday's win he might miss three more weeks.


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (24/02/07)..

The Bulls are looking to win four straight for the first time since a five-game stretch between Dec. 11-19. Chicago is 3-13 in Detroit since the 1997-98 season.

The Pistons have won three straight and 10 of 11, including a 94-89 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday.

The Pistons are in first place in the Central Division, 4 1/2 games ahead of the Bulls. Cleveland is in second place, one game ahead of Chicago.

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

25.02.2007. u 09:48 • 1 Komentara • Print • #

subota, 24.02.2007.

R.I.P. Dennis Johnson...MARKOTA UPDATE: 21.8min/7.5pts/5.0rebs


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Dennis Johnson (September 18, 1954 - February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player and coach.

Born in Compton, California, Johnson was drafted out of Pepperdine University by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976. He quickly established himself as one of the best all-around guards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Easily recognizable by his unique appearance for an African American (reddish hair and freckles), he was widely regarded as one of the fiercest defensive players in professional basketball. He was also a smart and precise passer and could score, despite a somewhat unreliable jump shot. Johnson's success in the NBA was not a sure thing as he was hardly a standout player in high school, although his tenacity playing street basketball was enough to impress a recruiter at a junior college. After success in junior college, Johnson was recruited by Pepperdine, and Johnson was once again surprised when he was recruited for the NBA in the second round of the draft.


13 JOHNSONS PLAYING THE GAME VIDEO (1984.)..

Johnson won a title with the SuperSonics in 1979, beating the Washington Bullets in the Finals. Johnson was named MVP of the 1979 Finals after averaging 22.6 points, 6 rebounds and assists while adding 1.8 steals and 2.2 blocks. After a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns, during which he was selected once to the All-NBA First Team, he joined the Boston Celtics who needed a point guard capable of defending Magic Johnson. In Boston, he teamed with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge and Robert Parish on the Celtics teams of the 1980s, winning two NBA championships (1984, 1986). In his career, Johnson played in five NBA All-Star games, and was named to the All-Defensive First Team six times and the All-Defensive Second Team three times.

He was hired as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002, replacing Alvin Gentry, but was fired after an 8–16 record. In 2004, he became the first head coach for the Florida Flame in the then-named National Basketball Development League. He resigned after one year in the job with the Flame finishing the season in last place. Johnson then became the head coach of a new NBA D-League team, Austin Toros, a position he held until his death at age 52.


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (23/02/07)..

Basketball legend Larry Bird viewed him as one of his favorite teammates, probably due to Johnson's unselfishness and intelligence on the court. Bird even called Johnson "the best I've ever played with."

The two players connected on a very special occasion. During Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics were in a difficult position when the opposing Detroit Pistons had a one-point lead and the possession with few seconds remaining to play. However, Bird managed to steal Isiah Thomas's pass to Bill Laimbeer and fed a dashing Johnson, who made a difficult lay-up to give Boston a decisive lead. Boston eventually won the series in seven games.


1987 CELTICS vs. PISTONS GAME 5 - BIRD'S STEAL..

“...and, now there's a steal by Bird...underneath to DJ who lays it in...and there's one second remaining...what a play by Bird! Bird stole the inbounding pass...laid it up to DJ and DJ laid it up and in, and Boston has a one point lead, with one second left...OH MY, this place is going CRAZY!!!” - Johnny Most.


On February 22, 2007, at the Austin Convention Center, Johnson had a heart attack and collapsed at the end of the Toros' practice. He could not be revived and was later pronounced dead. Johnson is survived by his wife, Donna, sons Dwayne and Daniel, and a daughter, Denise.

Wikipedia

24.02.2007. u 09:10 • 5 Komentara • Print • #

petak, 23.02.2007.

T-DEADLINE: Juan Dixon u T-Raptorsima, Fred Jones u T-Blazersima...Dennis Johnson dies at 52


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (22/02/07)..

Dear Member:

This is to notify you that we have removed or disabled access to the following material as a result of a third-party notification by National Basketball Association claiming that this material is infringing:

NBA All Star Game 2007. @ Las Vegas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwvAp-QB8vs

Please Note: Repeat incidents of copyright infringement will result in the deletion of your account and all videos uploaded to that account. In order to avoid future strikes against your account, please delete any videos to which you do not own the rights, and refrain from uploading additional videos that infringe on the copyrights of others. For more information about YouTube's copyright policy, please read the Copyright Tips guide.


HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO DENNIS JOHNSON..

If you elect to send us a counter notice, please go to our Help Center to access the instructions.

Please note that under Section 512(f) of the Copyright Act, any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification may be subject to liability.

Sincerely,
YouTube, Inc.

23.02.2007. u 07:25 • 2 Komentara • Print • #

četvrtak, 22.02.2007.

IN MEMORIAM: Nikola Brainović, KK Zagreb


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Neka mu je vječna slava i hvala!

Marjan Crnogaj
Nba.blog.hr

22.02.2007. u 07:33 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

srijeda, 21.02.2007.

NETS MAY PULL THE TRIGGER: Kidd u Lakersima, Carter u Orlandu??



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (21/02/07)..


Fantasy Newsletter: 21/02/07


Still hunkering for more tasty nuggets and fantasy tidbits that give you some insight into potential post-All Star Break breakouts for 2006? Of course you are. What if I told you that there were still some current chunks of coal that could help boost you to a fantasy championship run? Is that something you might be interested in? The answer to all of these questions is of course, “yes”, because as we all know, being able to correctly predict—ahead of time—when a player’s stats are about to take a huge jump is what wins rings.

First let me say thank you to the fake Bob Ryan of Entourage fame for providing the ultimate column intro—it’s amazing how it works for almost any situation. Second, let me acknowledge that Brian McKittish has already written a column about “Second Half Sleepers” – but let’s get serious here…there are a lot of guys that can bust out after the All Star Break and help fantasy teams win rings. These particular players tend to run the gamete of the talent level, including disappointing superstars to rookies finally receiving playing time and all the way down to out-of-nowhere performances that can boost players’ value.

What causes these increases in production? Tons of factors really but we’re going to focus today specifically on motivation as a key—whether it be the motivation of the front office, the coach or the player himself. For instance, it’s well documented that players who are snubbed for All Star selections tend to have monster second halves as a method of retribution; others still receive a huge boost in playing time when coaches and/or the front office folks feel motivated to give them playing time in an effort to check out their investment.


Snub Me, Shame You…

Let’s briefly breeze through the already big names that will likely be motivated by All Star Weekend factors, with Carmelo Anthony leading the list. Yes, I know he is the league’s leading scorer but if you get the chance to go after him in any possible trade, do so immediately. Even if David Stern adds him to the list of Western Conference players, expect him to have a monster second half and easily capture the league’s scoring title while upping those board and assist numbers. Ray Allen is another guy that seems incredulously stripped of mid-season honors—no doubt Tony Parker is having a nice season, but better than the former Husky? And if injury is an excuse, look no further than Tracy McGrady’s inclusion for an answer. “He Got Game” has already been pouring it on lately and with more passing responsibilities falling his way plus Rashard Lewis’ presence taking away double teams, expect a very large second half.



MICHAEL JORDAN 1990: 44PTS vs. DAVID ROBINSON & SPURS


I’m Just An Ol’ Chunk of Coal

Who are the most valuable post-break additions to fantasy teams? Those would be the ones that you get either cheap or “OTH” (On the House), a.k.a. free. And you land these guys by being able to recognize when either their performance or playing time is about to take a significant spike. Two notorious reasons for such a spike are either injury or a team’s playoff chances fading quickly. Now, we can’t exactly predict the former, but we can certainly take calculated gambles, like with Tyrus Thomas, who may be in line for some additional PT in Chi-town. With Andres Nocioni possibly out for a lengthy time and Ben Wallace having already shown his age through performance and minor injuries, it’s entirely possible that GM John Paxson can move past Thomas’ poor choice of words and work with Scott Skiles to get the freakishly athletic talent some more playing time.

Someone that seems like much less of a calculated gamble—with the bonus of the freaky talent and funky production—is Rajon Rondo who has been heating up as we approach “mid-season”. Rondo really looks like he could be a triple-double threat every single night he’s on the floor and with the Celtics having lost nearly 15 straight games and counting, Doc Rivers ain’t exactly gonna be afraid to give the rookie some running room, even when Paul Pierce returns. Rondo has recently seen his minutes get a lot closer to 40 a game while averaging almost 16 points and nine assists over the last week while dropping his turnover per game numbers under two - all clear signs of some maturation.

Want another safe bet? How about the oft-neglected Smush Parker (owned in 80 percent of NBA.com leagues but started in much less than half that many)? Parker makes for an ideal “toss-in” (wink-wink) for a trade right now and over the last two weeks has been averaging over 14 points with a three and a half per game and over three steals a game. Both literally and figuratively a thievery if you can go out and nab him for cheap, as his second half this year should look a lot more like his first half from 2005-06.

The Hawks have been playing much better recently but the fact of the matter is they will not be making the playoffs—another fact is that they are very much committed to developing Marvin Williams even though they’re flat out stacked at the swingman “position”. The “Joshes” (Childress and Smith) are the guys you recognize but expect Marvelous Marvin to get some more PT as the second half wears on. His stats haven’t hit a huge spike yet but I expect them to climb as he sees more playing time in the ATL, and he’s only owned in slightly over half of all NBA.com leagues as of right now.


NAKON JEZIČNIH LEKCIJA KOBEU, V-RAD JE POSTAVIO ULTIMATUM..

Likewise, the Trailblazers are within striking distance but most likely won’t be seeing the postseason, and a guy that’s a nice deep flier to take might be Sergio Rodriguez. He recently sprained his ankle and won’t be back until after the break, but before he got hurt he was averaging over six points and four dimes a game in under 16 minutes. Not that we can fairly extrapolate those numbers over 40 minutes or anything, but once the Blazers run out of playoff hope and Jarrett Jack starts running out of gas (these things will happen), Sergio should see enough run to make him fantasy relevant.


Will Brunson
www.nba.com


21.02.2007. u 07:38 • 1 Komentara • Print • #

utorak, 20.02.2007.

CEDEVITA S OKUSOM CHICAGA: stiže A.J. Guyton...HAPPY B-DAYS: Sir Charles 44th, Starbury 30th


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A.J. GUYTON U EPIZODI "ARTESTOVI MIRNI DANI U CHICAGU"..


Sharpshooter Guyton Answers All Doubts


Often in life we are faced with challenges that at first-look, seem insurmountable. Self-doubt easily creeps into the mind and takes root with a blink of an eye. However, there are those who feed off the opportunities placed before them to prove the naysayers wrong. A.J. Guyton is one such person - a man who refuses to recognize the words can't, impossible and unlikely. Tell A.J. Guyton he's incapable of doing something, and you'll be proven wrong - every time.

Throughout his entire athletic life, Arthur James Guyton had been questioned as to whether he possessed the necessary skills to be successful. As a child, Guyton was small in size and quiet in demeanor. Easy to overlook when it came time to choose up sides on a playground, young A.J. quickly developed an inner competitive fire, determined to establish the wealth and depth of his abilities. On the court of athletic competition, he proved to be everything but a wallflower. Overcoming countless trials and tribulations with the undying support of his family, A.J. Guyton has reached the pinnacle of professional athletics - the NBA.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - PART I (8MIN/90MB)

"Always being labeled an underdog and being surrounded by doubters can wear on you," says Guyton. "But I knew everything would be alright because my family was always on my side, encouraging me and pushing me to never give in. Their support and confidence gave me all I needed to continue to push forward and do things that a lot of people said I couldn't."

Growing up in Peoria, Illinois, Guyton first looked doubt in the eye as a fifth grader at Sterling Middle School. At the time, he had trouble convincing his basketball coaches that he was big enough and capable of holding his own against the competition. To his coaches and anyone else who would gaze upon him, Guyton was a nice, quiet, short, skinny kid. What they all failed to recognize was that inside his chest beat the heart of a fierce competitor. It wasn't until sixth grade that Guyton was able to showcase an uncanny shooting ability that would help establish him as an uncommonly good basketball player.

As Guyton played basketball though junior high, his skills as a shooter began to flourish, and he started to develop into a dangerous scorer.

As he entered high school, questions once again arose, but as before, his family was there and ready with keen support. On the first day of tryouts, his mother cautioned him with the traditional "don't be upset if you don't make the team" speech that all mothers everywhere have perfected. But young A.J. proved to be greater than the odds; his performance on the court placed him on the sophomore team as a freshman. Still, that wasn't enough to satisfy the naysayers, as, once again, questions continued to be asked regarding Guyton's ability to survive. And, once again, A.J. Guyton answered those inquisitors emphatically.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - PART II (8MIN/90MB)

Guyton's school scoring records at Peoria Central High School went largely unnoticed outside of the school's hallways, due in part to the high-flying tricks of another local hardwood hero, Mike Robinson, of rival Peoria Riverwoods, and the success of cross-town adversary, Peoria Manual High School, which dominated Illinois prep play in capturing three state crowns during Guyton's high school tenure. Many observers wondered if Guyton would be lost in the shuffle among the area's outstanding talent and if he could hook up with a national program. Inquiries also began to creep up as to whether Guyton, at 6-1 and 165 pounds, was a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body, something he would hear several times over his collegiate career.

After shattering all the school records at Central, Guyton was off to Indiana as one of the least-known members of legendary coach Bobby Knight's heralded recruiting class, which included future NBA first-round pick Jason Collier. College basketball on-lookers wondered aloud - who was the quiet, unassuming sharpshooter from Peoria, Illinois?

Guyton quickly and soundly answered them, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and being named a freshman All-American. In his rookie season as a Hoosier, Guyton averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 assists, shooting .435 from the floor and .386 from three-point range. He also became only the second Indiana freshman and the eighth player in school history to score 400 points, grab 100 rebounds and dish out 100 assists in a season.

The questions were answered again when Guyton was a sophomore. He continued to blister Indiana opponents, averaging 16.8 points, shooting a career-high .468 from the floor and scoring 20 points or more on nine occasions. Guyton also began to earn a reputation as a clutch player, averaging 20.0 points and 3.5 assists in two NCAA Tournament games.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - PART III (8MIN/90MB)

When he was a junior, the questions about his abilities continued to creep to the surface. His overall scoring average dipped to 16.0 ppg as defections from the Hoosier team made Guyton the main focus of the offense. The only player to start all 34 games for Indiana, Guyton scored 20 or more points 12 times, averaging a team-high 18.1 points in Big Ten Conference action. For the first time, Guyton had to answer questions as to whether he could make the jump to the pros. The doubters often remarked that an injury or a weak senior season would kill his chances to reach the NBA.

This time, Guyton answered them in spades. His senior campaign saw him named the Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American. Guyton averaged a career-best 19.7 points, shooting .419 from beyond the three-point arc. At times, he seemed on a mission, torching the eventual NCAA National Champion Michigan State Spartans for a career-high 34 points on national television. Playing at Indiana also gave Guyton the family-like atmosphere he had been so accustomed to in small town Peoria.

"Playing at Indiana, I learned how to be mentally prepared for each and every game. It gave me a edge - an advantage, in terms of how I approached everything I do."

Following graduation, the questions about professional basketball that had begun earlier in his college career were brought to the forefront. Pro scouts wondered aloud about his ability to play point guard after he acted mainly as a shooter at Indiana. Those in charge constantly debated whether he would be able to run an NBA team offensively while handling the likes of perennial All-Stars Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Mark Jackson and John Stockton defensively.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - PART IV (8MIN/90MB)

"I wasn't worried. I always knew I could play," said a confident Guyton. "With the right opportunity, I knew I could convince those who doubted me that they were wrong. It would be just a matter of time."

Guyton went to the NBA pre-draft talent camps and, excuse the pun, proved his point, by showing outstanding passing skills while displaying his customary feathery shooting touch. His play earned him MVP honors at the 2000 Nike Desert Classic in Phoenix, where he averaged a tournament best 15.7 points per game.

"[At the camps] I tried to keep everyone involved," Guyton recalled. "I constantly talked to the guys on my team. I made sure to get them the ball. But I also looked for my shot. I'm not a gunner or anything, but I also understood what I did best and what would get me noticed in a positive way."

The inquiries as to whether Guyton would get drafted were answered when the Chicago Bulls picked him with their first second-round pick - No. 32 overall.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - PART V (8MIN/90MB)

"I went to the team I wanted to go to, so it worked out for me in the end," said Guyton. "Because I'm playing for the Bulls, my family gets the chance to see me play. I didn't know what to expect from the NBA Draft, but to be able to play so close to home is great."

"A.J. has done a fine job of staying in front of his man defensively," Bulls Head Coach Tim Floyd remarked. "He has been someone we can rely on to provide a good, solid effort on the defensive end of the floor."

Questions about his offense have come up, but Guyton answered those with some early blistering shooting exhibitions, including an 18-point, 4-three-pointer eruption in only 17 minutes off the bench versus the Orlando Magic.

"He came to the one team that could really use his strengths," one NBA veteran scout said. "As a shooter, he will be able to fill that John Paxson, Craig Hodges role that the triangle offense demands."


With a refreshing commitment to family and basketball, Guyton seems to be poised for a big splash into professional basketball.

"Living and getting the opportunity to play pro basketball in Chicago is great," said Guyton. "I feel like this is just like home to me."


WWW.NBA.COM/BULLS


20.02.2007. u 07:57 • 6 Komentara • Print • #

ponedjeljak, 19.02.2007.

VIVA LAS VEGAS: West 153, East 132, MVP Kobe Bryant...


ANDREW BOGUT NBA Australac hrvatskih korijena


Nema bolje zabave od narodnjaka


Centar Bucksa Andrew Bogut drugi put nastupio je na All-Star Weekendu. No, ni ovaj put australski Hrvat nije promijenio mišljenje o All-Star utakmicama. Uz briljantnu igru razigravača Hornetsa Chrisa Paula (17 asistencija) i MVP predstavu Knicksa Davida Leeja (30 koševa), selekcija druge godine pregazila je novake. Unatoč visokoj pobjedi Sophomoresa nad Rookiesima (155:114), Bogut je negodovao:

- Uh, bogme sam se natrčao gore-dolje, ali se naigrao nisam. Ne volim ovakve neozbiljne utakmice u kojima dominiraju braniči, a puca svatko tko s loptom prijeđe preko centra. Da sam bio doma, ja bih ugasio svoj televizor.


ALL STAR SUNDAY: WEST 153, EAST 132..

Uz 11,9 koševa i 8,8 skokova po utakmici, Bogut ima solidnu, ali oscilirajuću sezonu, a žali se i na to da u svlačionici Bucksa nitko više ne govori hrvatski. A on želi što više pričati na materinskom jeziku.

Kukoč se ostavio igranja, a Markotu su poslali u Tulsu. Šteta što nisam s Tonijem igrao kad je bio na vrhuncu, no i ovako mi je bio nesebičan suigrač i prijatelj, mentor i uzor. On je vrlo duhovit tip, stalno smo se zezali.

Za bivšeg cibosa kaže da njegov ritam izvan parketa ne može pratiti.


CIBONA CONNECTION: ŠAKIĆ-TO-KATURA ALLEY OOP..


Bešlić i Thompson

- Kad god mogu s Damirom (NBDL: 18.0min/5.7p/4.7s/1.0b) pričam hrvatski, s njim mi je zabavno, no za mene je odveć luckast. Izlazili smo van prije sezone, ali sam ja od zajedničkih izalazaka odustao. Ne mogu pratiti njegov ritam, moram paziti na svoj režim života. On voli izlaziti, ostati i do sitnijih sati, no nije igrao puno pa se nije ni morao pripremati za utakmice kao ja. Ovo što su ga prebacili u Tulsu, u NBDL ligu, za njega je dobro jer će tamo više igrati.


Prema riječima Tonija Kukoča, Bogut je budući All-Star igrač, no on je NBA zvijezda koja odudara od uobičajene slike. Umjesto hip-hopa, Andriji su uhu najdraži narodnjaci.


TORNEO DE BALONCESTO"JUNIOR L'HOSPITALET: CIBONA - CAJA

- Moji roditelji su slušali tu glazbu kad sam ja bio mali, a ja sam se tada to stidio slušati. No, sada mi se sviđa pa imam na svom iPodu oko 4000 pjesama, ponajviše skinutih s nostalgija.coma.

Slušam Halida Bešlića i Halida Muslimovića, ali i Pejakovića, Olivera, Thompsona. Zapravo, s Thompsonom je to sve nekako počelo, a danas mi nema boljeg, nego otići u kavanu, sjesti i uz jednu rakijicu slušati narodnjake. Dakako, samo izvan sezone.

Andrija voli ljude, ambijent, ali i jela s prostora bivše države.


Na ćevape i u SAD-u

- Našao sam u Milwaukeeju jedan srpski restoran u kojem ima ćevapa, bureka, sarme. No, sad će mi doći mama pa će kuhati. S roditeljima se često čujem jer u Australiji, u jednoj otkupljenoj tvornici, radimo na opremanju privatne dvorane da bih mogao trenirati kad poželim.

Dražen BRAJDIĆ
VEČERNJI list

19.02.2007. u 07:37 • 4 Komentara • Print • #

nedjelja, 18.02.2007.

VIVA LAS VEGAS: Greenu zakucavanja, Kaponou trice...WEST SIDE: Zapad vs. Sv.Petar @ 18.00

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NEW SLAMDUNK KING: GERALD GREEN, CELTICS..Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)..

2007 SLAM DUNK CONTEST RECAP: I tako je Gerald Green ušao u Povijest unatoč određenom fizičkom hendikepu koji se sada savršeno uklapa kao dio najnovijeg Poglavlja Legende o Letu..

When he was 11, Green was playing in his Houston home, where he had put up a makeshift hoop over a doorway. While wearing his mother's class ring, he caught the ring on a nail that was holding up the basket. "I was trying to see how high I could jump,'' he said.

Almost a decade later, Green's father, Gerald Sr., still cringes when talking about the accident. "They couldn't re-attach it,'' the elder Green said. "So they had to shave off part of his finger. I had nightmares about it.''



2007. ALL STAR SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS..

2007 3-PT. SHOOT OUT & SKILLS CHALLENGE RECAP: Facing defending champion Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Washington scoring machine Gilbert Arenas in the finals, Kapono made 19-of-25 shots, including all five "money" balls - the final ball in each of the five racks worth two points each. He came up one point shy of Craig Hodges' record set in the opening round in 1986.


2007 D-LEAGUE ALL STAR GAME RECAP, MVP: POPS MENSAH BONSU, FORTH WORTH..

NBA All-Star Tekma noćas u 01.45 LIVE na OBN-u..

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

18.02.2007. u 10:41 • 5 Komentara • Print • #

subota, 17.02.2007.

JORDAN'S 44TH BIRTHDAY, PIPPEN'S COMEBACK?...NCAA UPDATE by YAZID...



CLASSIFIED: THE SCOTTIE PIPPEN PROJECT..


Say it ain't so, Scottie


LAS VEGAS – Here was Scottie Pippen in the big room off the entrance to the Palms Casino, sitting at a table as part of an All-Star weekend skills competition promotion, and the living, breathing league legend was reducing himself to something so beneath his stature.

"I'll sit back and let (NBA executives) call me," Pippen said Friday. "I know this is a stage that I can use to get my name back out there."


Yes, Pippen has thrust his name out there, throwing out his candidacy for a comeback in the NBA. Out of basketball for 2˝ seasons, the 41-year-old Pippen somehow still holds out hope that there's a market for him. As one of the 50 greatest players in league history and a six-time world champion with the Chicago Bulls, he's unnecessarily set himself up for a public embarrassment.

"It's a SHAME that he's out there selling himself to people this way," one Eastern Conference executive said.


Said another league official: "I know it only takes one team, but it's kind of sad to see him doing this. He had too great of a career to put himself out there like this."


ROOKIES vs. SOPHOMORES 114:155, MVP: DAVID LEE, KNICKS..

Pippen insists that his body feels better than it has in five years, but of course, it does. It hasn't been subjected to the grind of a sport that slowly, surely eroded his prodigious talents in the final, fruitless seasons of his 17-year career.

He's been working out in Fort Lauderdale where Pippen became convinced that he could be useful to a contender. Someone mentioned the Cleveland Cavaliers, where, after all, everyone keeps saying that LeBron James' championship aspirations require a Pippen-esque running mate.

Well, the real thing is threatening to climb down out of the trophy case and get back into the game. Of course, it would be a good decade too late to truly help LeBron.

"I feel there are some strong opportunities out there for me," Pippen said. "I'm basically looking for a contender. I look at teams like Miami, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio – I just feel like if you're those teams, I can go in and help. Whether I'm able to get into the roster in the next month or so, I definitely feel like I can break in and make some contributions."


Around the room, the next generation of NBA stars were polite in responses to Pippen hypothetically joining them as a teammate. Kobe Bryant insisted that there's always a spot in Phil Jackson's triangle offense for Pippen, LeBron said that he could bring "leadership" to a team and Dwyane Wade decided that, well, it would be interesting to play with another teammate that he marveled over in childhood video games.


ZAR JE ZABRANJENO IMATI STAV? TIM HARDAWAY MIX by KBLAZE..

"I know it's hard when guys leave the game," Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said. "They're sitting there analyzing and they're getting itchy."

If Pippen is so determined to play again, he could've had his agent quietly check around the league, gauge interest and report back to him. The fact that Pippen didn't handle matters that way tells you this revelation of a possible comeback has been as much about him reaching for attention as much as it is an opportunity.

When All-Star weekend should've been about today's stars, it turned out that two of yesterday's – Pippen and Tim Hardaway – made much of it about themselves. Of course, you can easily forgive Pippen for it. He's having a hard time letting go, and hey, it happens in sports. Pippen happens to be one of the most unique and versatile talents to ever play the game, one of the forefathers of the point forward. But this isn't going to end well.

Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine that this long of a layoff into his 40's leaves Pippen with enough game to upset a roster and rotation for his arrival. What's more, the idea of Pippen as the sage presence in Portland never worked out that way. The Bulls brought him back for the final few games in 2003-2004, but his body had broken down, if his spirit hadn't. It's hard to bring leadership to a basketball team when you're no longer bringing any game.


MICHAEL JORDAN ALL-STAR REMIX by KHALID (SOUTH KOREA)..

For a time, Pippen had been one of the players leery of Michael Jordan's reincarnations with the Wizards that pushed past his 40th birthday. Now, Pippen sounds like he's drifting a little himself, unsure what's next in life, saying that outside of some cable television work he's mostly been "just watching the game, just working out."

Pippen says he's going to contact some teams that interest him. Remember, it only takes one to give him a shot. At this point, you'd have to wonder: What would turn out to be potentially more embarrassing for Scottie Pippen.

If no team will give him a chance to come back and play, or, maybe worse, if one does.

By Adrian Wojnarowski
Yahoo! Sports

__________________________


NCAA UPDATE by YAZID

Prije svega, lipo je opet biti tu na najjačem košarkaškom blogu u Hrvata a i šire. Sad, jel bolji blog ili čitatelji, to je teško odrediti jer jedno drugog motiviraju na djelovanje.

Anyway - kako to već govore nadobudne hr wannabe glumice u sapunicama – krećemo s pregledima događanja u NCAA i svemu ostalom okolo. Sredina je veljače, još ima nekoliko kola za odigrati i nakon toga slijedi March Madness koji u SAD ima podjednak značaj kao Superbowl.

Dosta ljudi pohađa visokoškolske ustanove te se ostatak života identificiraju sa svojom ekipom, pa se može kazati kako osim nekoliko tisuća u dvorani ima još i kojih desetak tisuća košarkaških zaluđenika (i sami smo takvi) ispred malih ekrana.



Zahvaljujući uvedenom NBA pravilu o starosti igrača profitirala je NCAA, jer je sigurnih 5 izbora prve runde prošlogodišnjeg drafta - i još barem toliko eventualno izabranih u drugoj rundi – završilo u studentskim momčadima i učinilo natjecanje posebno zanimljivim. Prošlogodišnja srednjoškolska klasa se pokazala iznimno talentiranom, te ponukala medije da skrenu osjetan dio pozornosti s Lige na Division I.



NCAA liga je ove godine posebno zanimljiva, jer ima pet sastava koji s pravom pretendiraju na titulu te još desetak favorita iz sjene. Prošlogodišnji prvak Florida na čelu najsnažnije konferencije Southeastern je u novu sezonu ušao s četvoricom glavnih igrača iz prošlogodišnjeg pohoda na titulu Noahom (13p/8s/3a/2bl), Horfordom (13p/9s/2a/2bl), Taureanom Greenom (13p/4a) i Coreyem Brewerom (13p/4s/3a/2ol), i prvi je među jednakima.

Otišo si Džordane ostala je tuga, uvek će te voleti jusielejci sa juga mogli bi zapjevati prekodrinski navijači finalista UCLA koji je izgubio Lakera Jordana Farmara i centra Ryana Hollinsa ali su njihove role uspješno nadomjestili mladci predvođeni povratnikom Aaronom Afllalom (17p) te prošlogodišnjim novakom Darrenom Collisonom (13p/5a).

North Carolina je lani preživjela gubitak sedam igrača iz pobjedničkog sastava 2005, uspjela u Tyleru Hansbroughu (19p/8s) dobiti najboljeg freshmana i vođu na parketu te vse opet oplemeniti dobrom freshman klasom u kojoj se učinkom i zrelom igrom ističu krilo Brandan Wright (15p/7s) i bekovi Wayne Ellington (12p/3s/2a) te Tywon Lowson (10p/5a/3s).

Priča godine ipak pripada Fab Five 2K6 sastavu tj Ohio Stateu za kojeg osim prvog izbora drafta čim se odluči na izlazak Grega Odena (15p/9s/3bl) igraju igrači prve godine po kvaliteti usporedivi s onima Michigana iz 1991/92 (Webber, Howard & Co) Daequan Cook (12p/5s) i Mike Conley Jr (10p/6a/3s), inače sin uspješnog istoimenog troskokaša otprije 20ak godina.

Stare kosti iz Wisconsina predvođene swingmanom Alandom Tuckerom (20p/5s/2a) - početkom tjedna nedostajalo mu je 98 poena za srušiti rekord u broju postignutih poena kojeg drži Michael Finley - i bekom Kammronom Taylorom (13p) su javno obznanile kako im je cilj Final Four pa što košta da košta.

Kansas je lani na iznenađenje svih izgubio u prvom kolu unatoč dobroj freshmen selekciji bek Brandon Rush (14p/6s/2a) – play Mario Chalmers
(11p/3s/3a/3ol) – post Julian Wright (12p/8s/2a/2ol/1bl), koja je uspješno nadograđena proteklog ljeta i s pravom pucaju na nešto više.

Razočaravajući nastupi na predraft kampovima i slijedom toga odustajanje od NBA snova na godinu dana rezultiralo je stečenom zrelošću u igri playa Mustafe Shakura (13p/7a/4s), što je očito bio faktor X u uspješnim nastupima Arizone za kojeg uz krilo Marcusa Williamsa (17p/7s/2a) zapažene nastupe bilježe novak Chase Buddinger (16p/6s/2a) – vjerojatno najeksplozivniji bijeli igrač od Boba Sure naovamo – i srbijanski post Ivan Radenović (16p/8s).

Na popisu favorita su i perjanice do prošle sezone najsnažnije konferencije Big East Pittsburgh, Georgetown i Marquette - nakon zapaženih nastupa Flasha sveučilište iz Milwaukeeja postalo je jedna od traženijih destinacija za nadarene srednjoškolce.




Tu su još i Texas predvođen Kevinom Durantom, koji bi u bilo kojoj drugoj klasi u kojoj nema Odena bio daleko najpraćeniji igrač budući drži konstatan nivo igre od čak 25p/11s u prosjeku a dobro mu pomaže drugi novak DJ Augustin s 14p/7a; Texas A&M je lani bio neželjen protivnik za većinu snažnijih sastava a ove godine su im ambicije vrlo izražene, isto kao i Washingtonu u čijim redovima igra dugi najbolji centar među novacima Spencer Hawes te Oregonukojeg predvodi play Aaron Brooks(17p/5s/4).

Na visok plasman pucaju mid majori (srednje jaki košarkaški programi koji opet imaju određen nivo kvalitete i koštaju neko jako ime dubljeg ulaska u turnir) Virginia Tech, Butler, Air Force, Nevada, Creighton, Southern Illinois i Washington State – njihov motiv je u činjenici da pojedinačnom kvalitetom možda mogu zaostajati za velikim programima ali s druge strane umjesto 10 jakih utakmica u regularnoj sezoni oni zbog međusobne izjednačenosti sastava u konferencijama poput Missouri Valley ili Western Athletic odigraju barem dvostruko više takvih susreta i steknu prijeko potrebnu rutinu za neizvjesne momente.

Pored Tuckera, Duranta, Odena, četvorke s Floride i Hansbrougha, kandidati za studentskog igrača godine su još i



•krilo Jared Dudley (20p/9s/3a/1ol) koji i bez pomoći sadašnjeg profija Craiga Smitha uspijeva voditi Boston College na ruti prema glavnom turniru;



•180 cm visoki play Dominic James s Marquettea (15p/5a/3s) čije je obilježje igre ultrabrzina i eksplozivnost, za sada ga uspoređuju s Jameerom Nelsonom s laganom prednošću za studenta po pitanju atleticizma;



•211 cm visoko krilo Nick Fazekas s Nevade (21p/12s/2a/2bl i 49% za 3p), budući poor man's Nowitzki;



•krilo Florida Statea Al Thornton (19p/7s/1bl), igrač za velike utakmice – protiv Floride 26p/9s, te Marylanda 27p/8s, North Caroline 29p/12s i Virginia Techa 27p/13s



•undersized krilni centar (201 cm) Mario Boggan s Oklahoma Statea (21p/8s), koji je mnoge scoute natjerao na razmišljanje nakon učinka protiv Texasa s 37p/20s;



•swingman Morris Almond s Ricea, pure shooter (28p/6s, 49% ukupan šut i 46% za 3p)



•NCAA's Best Kept Secret bek šuter Rodney Stuckey s Eastern Washingtona (25p/5s/5a/3ol);



•play Virginije Sean Singletary, čiji sastav dobro brodi u zeznutoj konferenciji Atlantic Coast (tu su još i NC te Boston College uz uvijek opasnog Dukea) u prvom redu zahvaljujući ovom treneru na terenu (18p/5a/4s/1ol);



• centar Aaron Gray s Pittsburga, koji uz dobru građu (213cm/122kg) kao temelj za uspjeh u NBA – stara je maksima You can't teach height - posjeduje i evidentan talent (15p/10s/2bl uz 59% šuta).




Zasad toliko, da vas ne udavim za prvi put nakon povratka. Kako bi rekao Sir Mix-A-Lot: Baby's Got Back.

Pozdrav iz STa,

Ivica Ž aka Y
nba.blog.hr

17.02.2007. u 09:03 • 4 Komentara • Print • #

petak, 16.02.2007.

WWW.HOOPS4LIFE.COM presents WADE_FLASH...VIVA LAS VEGAS: Viewer's guide by Steve Kerr



TOP 10 PLAYS OF THE WEEK 15 (2006/07)..


Vegas viewer's guide

The NBA's All-Star weekend descends upon Las Vegas this Friday – as if the event needed any more glitz and glamour – and it promises to be one of the most star-studded affairs our country has seen in quite some time.

Celebrities from across the board will be on hand – hip hop artists, pop culture icons, movie stars, professional athletes, etc. – and most of those in attendance will be there for the parties instead of the basketball.

Still, the league is offering up plenty of action for the hardcore basketball fan, with a schedule that runs from Friday through Sunday. Here's a look at the weekend's events:



DEFINITION OF HIGHFLYERS by WADE_FLASH


FRIDAY

Rookie Challenge. This contest has been perennially dominated by the sophomores and this year figures to be no different. A relatively weak rookie class will be represented by top overall pick Andrea Bargnani, Brandon Roy, Adam Morrison and Jordan Farmar, among others. They'll face a tough task going against a strong sophomore squad led by the point guard duo of Deron Williams and Chris Paul. A pair of 7-foot Andrews – Bynum and Bogut – will patrol the paint for the sophs, who also feature the high-scoring Monta Ellis of the Warriors. This game is usually dominated by guards because they have the ball first and rarely give it up, and it will not please a lot of basketball purists because the defense and ball sharing suffers. But from a standpoint of showcasing some of the league's future talent, it's an intriguing contest. Look for Ellis to go nuts and put up big numbers for a victorious sophomore squad.



THE DYNASTY OF SKYWALKERS by WADE_FLASH


SATURDAY

D-League All-Star game. The inaugural game will involve the NBDL's best players as they hope to make names for themselves (literally). Have you ever heard of Quemont Greer or Renaldo Major? How about Clay Tucker or Pooh Jeter? Me neither. But they can all play, and they'll get their moment in the sun playing in front of the stars at Thomas and Mack Center. Dreams of playing in the NBA will become more vivid in this setting for these guys, all of whom are gifted and working towards making the big leagues. I'll take the West to win. Why? The Eastern team will be suffering from jet lag. (I had to come up with something.)

Slam Dunk Contest. Nate Robinson won the competition a year ago in a decision that was only slightly less controversial than Bush/Gore in 2000. Robinson edged Andre Iguodala for first place despite missing 13 dunks in a row in the finals. (The rules inexplicably allowed for it.) Because of the relative uproar that followed, the league modified the rules for this year, sparing the crowd from witnessing another deflating 10-minute miss-fest. The changes figure to hurt Robinson, who at 5-foot-9 has a much slimmer margin for error than the other contestants. Gerald Green, Tyrus Thomas and Dwight Howard round out the field, with Green most likely to come away with the title. While both Howard and Thomas are high fliers, big men are generally penalized by judges for having an unfair advantage. Green is a spectacular leaper, and as a first-timer, he'll be pumped for the event. I'll take the young Celtic to win in a runaway.

Three-Point Shootout. Dirk Nowitzki will try to defend his crown against a smooth-shooting field led by the NBA's three-point percentage leader, Jason Kapono. Gilbert Arenas, Mike Miller, Damon Jones and Jason Terry will also fire away for the title. Having taken part in the event four times in my career, I know that experience is a factor. Shooting 25 balls off five different racks in one minute is not a normal basketball act, and it is a disadvantage for those players who haven't been through it at least one time. The newcomers tend to rush through the process, losing their groove pretty quickly while worrying about time running out. That would give the advantage to Nowitzki, a veteran of the competition who is most likely to relax, which is key. Still, I'll predict that Nowitzki's Mavericks teammate Terry will come away with the crown. He's just the sort of big-game shooter who can get hot at the right time.

Skills Challenge. After withdrawing from the field due to his shoulder injury, Steve Nash said, "They might as well have a dunk contest now with the other guys." The "other guys" are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Nash is right – those three would make quite a splash in a dunk contest. Instead, they'll be joined by Nash's replacement – Chris Paul – in an event that requires participants to run a circle around the court that involves passing, dribbling and shooting. The player who completes the course in the fastest time wins the title. I'll go with the point guard – Paul.

Shooting Stars. I believe I'm the first player in the competition's brief history to back out due to injury. After all, the contest only requires contestants to shoot a handful of unguarded shots. Still, back spasms will keep me from helping Tony Parker and Kendra Wecker defend our crown from last year. (I know – they don't make 'em as tough as they used to.) Replacing me on Team San Antonio is the legendary "Iceman" – George Gervin. Gervin and company will try to outshoot teams from Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. I'll be on the sidelines, icing both my back and my ego. (By the way, I'll take Team San Antonio in a repeat.)



SOUL OF THE GAME by WADE_FLASH


SUNDAY

56th All-Star game. Many of this year's participants are unable to play due to injury – Nash, Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer and Jason Kidd – but there are plenty of stars to go around. Nowitzki and Wade will be on opposite sides of the court again, although the stakes won't be quite as high as they were in last season's NBA finals. Still, after their recent verbal exchange, it will be interesting to watch Nowitzki and Wade go head to head. Normally, this is a game that is an exhibition for three quarters before picking up steam in the fourth, and this year will most likely be no exception. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if the game comes down to a Wade/Kobe duel. I'll take the East in this one, with Wade doing what he always does – taking over in the clutch.

By Steve Kerr
Yahoo! Sports


16.02.2007. u 07:12 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

četvrtak, 15.02.2007.

THE COMEBACK Hrvatske Košarkaške Lige na Velika Vrata...i Male Ekrane??...VIVA LAS VEGAS: JJohnson IN, ZRandolph OUT...



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (15/01/07)..


Udruženje košarkaških prvoligaša za jedinstvenu Prvu ligu


ZADAR - U Zadru je održan sastanak Udruženja klubova A-1 muške hrvatske košarkaške lige s glavnom temom rasprave prijedloga za osnivanje jedinstvene prve hrvatske košarkaške lige uz sudjelovanje klubova koji participiraju u NLB ligi.

Sastanku su se odazvali tek Zadar, Cibona, Borik Puntamika, Dubrava i Cedevita.

Od nazočnih predstavnika tek se Zadar očitovao protiv prijedloga udruge za jedinstvenom, sponzoriranom i besplatnom ligom od početka sezone, bez sudjelovanja hrvatskih predstavnika u ULEB kupu i Euroligi, što je u ovom trenutku tek Cibona.

"Pismeno su se za ovaj prijedlog očitovali Alkar, Osijek 2006 i Split CO, dok do sada nemamo odgovor Šibenika, Kvarnera NR, Svjetlosti, Dubrovnika i Zagreba", izvijestio je na konferenciji za novinare predsjednik Udruženja Ninoslav Brčić.


VINCE CARTER'S REACTION TO MVP CHANTS FOR CB4 (FEB. 14/07)..

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"S obzirom da su se na našem prošlom sastanku svi aktualni A-1 ligaši očitovali za jedinstvenu ligu, uz protivljenje regionalnih ligaša, ohrabruje da su sada za prijedlog Cibona i Split CO", kazao je Brčić dodajući: "Vjerujem da ćemo u slijedećih 8 dana dobiti očitovanja preostalih klubova kako bi prijedlog uputili HKS-u".


Direktor Zadra Jure Košta protivljenje prijedlogu obrazložio je željom da deklarativno svi klubovi u Hrvatskoj igraju jedinstvenu ligu, uključujući i Cibonu.

Predsjednik Brčić, ujedno čelnik Cedevite, istaknuo je da će ukoliko prijedlog bude odbijen, od strane HKS-a, Cedevita u slučaju plasmana u NLB ligu slijedeće sezone, HKS-u poslati molbu da igra i hrvatsko prvenstvo.


HOKIES WIN IN THE DEAN DOME..

Na krnjem sastanku predloženo je i da se četvrtfinale hrvatskog kupa igra značajno prije final four turnira, te da se vrati bodovanje ULEB-a za hrvatski kup, koje je ove sezone ukinuto.

Predloženo je i osnivanje jedinstvene kadetske i juniorske hrvatske lige.

Zatražen je i novi sustav javnog delegiranja sudaca za utakmice, kao i mogućnost da prvoligaši u budućnosti sami vode A-1 ligu, po uzoru na ULEB i regionalnu ligu.

HINA

15.02.2007. u 07:51 • 5 Komentara • Print • #

srijeda, 14.02.2007.

VIVA LAS VEGAS: West backcourt without Nash/Iverson...PERAS UPDATE: iz bolnice za 3 dana...


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (14/02/07)..


Ukratko..


Jučer..

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
..sam na ceduljicu zapisao 3 igrača koja igraju u strašnoj formi: IGOUDALA/ROY/A.PARKER. In fact Brandon Roy (Portland) u veljači igra sasvim u skladu sa svojim imenom: ROY - Rookie of the year..

Sjetite se gdje ste prvo pročitali gornji redak za koji mjesec, naravno ako se iz zimskog sna ne probudi Grizzlie Gay (13.2p/50.8% šuta u veljači..


Danas..

..je Valentinovo, moram Ženi kupiti koji Cvijet na Cvjetnom trgu..


Sutra..

Nije baš sutra, već u subotu. Div iz Pule ima rođendan u Pivnici. E kada bi još znao koji po redu..


Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

14.02.2007. u 07:19 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

utorak, 13.02.2007.

NCAA UPDATE: DRIVE TO 65, Duke ispao iz TOP25 nakon 202 uzastopna pojavljivanja..


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (13/02/07)..

LITTLE SOMETHING za sve one koje zanima tko je tko u NCAA ligi..

A ima nas..with compliments from my cousin Željko from Ashville..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

______________________



KEVIN DURANT, TEXAS TECH


Bigger than big


AUSTIN, Texas – By the time the best player in America was pulled from the game after only 21 points and only 12 rebounds, the Erwin Center crowd almost had to force itself to its feet, remember to cheer and realize Texas was well on its way to humiliating Oklahoma State.

That's how absurd the Kevin Durant Show has become.

"I hope they weren't disappointed," Durant said. "I had a double-double and we won. But I know what you mean …"

When you're 18 years old and you had three 37-point games, two 34-point games, a 23-rebound game against Texas Tech that left Bob Knight shrugging his shoulders, when you've become something that college basketball hasn't seen in a long, long time – a must-see event even though his team isn't even ranked – people start to expect it all.

They want to see the circus. They want Pete Maravich or something. Just beating the 17th-ranked team in the country 83-54 isn't enough.

"I mean, look at his night," Texas coach Rick Barnes laughed. "That's a great night for anybody. People would like that. But expectations …"

Durant isn't going to go No. 1 overall in June's NBA draft – Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden will. He might not even be named national player of the year – there is a good chance old-school voters will favor an upperclassman, say Wisconsin senior Alando Tucker or Florida junior Joakim Noah.

But it hardly matters.

This is the winter a long, lanky mega-talent deep in the heart of Texas put on awe-inspiring performance after awe-inspiring performance to the point where he practically was apologizing for 21 and 12.

"The only guy that I can remember like him is Carmelo (Anthony) in 2003," said Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton, who's been either a player or coach in college hoops since 1988. "And Kevin is more difficult to defend than Carmelo was at this stage. He's a little quicker and the range of his jump shot makes him a special talent. And he doesn't get frustrated."


This is what has captivated America and turned 18-7 Texas into Team TiVo. Watching Durant right now is to witness greatness blossoming, a kid still growing into his limbs, still smiling and eager to learn the game yet still capable of delivering the spectacular at any moment.


KEVIN DURANT or GREG ODEN??

And it has spawned the sports debate of the year – Oden or Durant. It's not a fair question because they play different positions, have different skill sets and are used differently by their teams.

Oden, the freshman big who's still hampered by a wrist injury, doesn't handle in the open court and thus is reliant on his teammates to get him the ball. His numbers – 15.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks a game – are not indicative of his ability, potential or even current impact on the game.

The NBA team that wins the draft lottery almost has to draft Oden first because it is centers like him who win championships. He's the Tim Duncan or Hakeem Olajuwon of this class. He is the no-brainer No. 1 selection.

Durant is Tracy McGrady or Kevin Garnett – obscene talents who never attended college – and only his outrageous play has made the top pick debate a talk radio obsession 4˝ months before the draft. But it probably isn't a real debate.

That said, Durant is better, more exciting and more valuable right now than Oden, which isn't to take anything from the Buckeye. But it is Durant who has given college hoops the shot in the arm the way no big, tough, traditional center ever can.

For his part, Durant won't bite on who'd he pick first – "I'll take my team over his team. I'll say that" – but he will say a freshman should be player of the year as long as they earn it, which is something Barnes has been pushing all year.

"I told him before the season started, 'You know, you've got a chance to be national player of the year,' " Barnes said. "Obviously, I had a selfish motive in that because if he is the national player of the year, we're going to be pretty good.

"But to do that, you have to improve defensively (and) you're going to have to rebound the ball. You can't just sit out there and shoot threes."

And so the Maryland native bought into the plan. The coaching staff here spends as much time marveling at Durant's attitude and hunger for knowledge as the open-court moves that make even grizzled eyes stop and rewind game film.


KANSAS STATE 73 x 72 TEXAS (03.02.2007)..

Earlier this month, Durant struggled a bit scoring after contact in the paint at Colorado. He still had 37, mind you. And 16 rebounds. And UT won. The team had the next day, a Sunday, off, leaving Durant to enjoy big man on campus status. Instead, he was calling assistant coach Russell Springmann at 11 a.m., asking if he could come in and work on finishing after contact.

"He wants to find ways to be challenged," said Springmann, shaking his head at the thought. "After the Tech game, where he had 37 points and 23 rebounds, the first thing he says to me is, 'Coach, how was my defense tonight?' "

On Monday night, it was very good. Just one reason why Texas won a huge game, why the Longhorns are peaking and Durant was celebrating with his teammates.

At the Erwin Center and on televisions around the country, of course, it was a different story.

They don't watch to see the Kevin Durant Show feature help-side defense or to see the best player in America manage just 21 and 12 – as absurd as that sounds for this most absurd of talents.

Dan Wetzel
Yahoo! Sports

13.02.2007. u 07:54 • 3 Komentara • Print • #

ponedjeljak, 12.02.2007.

HUNTINGTON H.S.: O.J. Mayo suspended for 3 games...D-BLAZERSI: Arenas uštopan na DEVET poena, šut 3-15, trice 0-8...


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (12/01/07)..

Evo da se ukratko dotaknem naslovljenih tema..

"Next LeBron" je zbog svojeg prebliskog susreta sa sucima kažnjen sa 3 utakmice nenastupanja u srednjoškolskoj konkurenciji. Inače O.J. će svoju jedinu NCAA sezonu najvjerojatnije odigrati za USC..

Slibe.com - Free Image Picture Photo Hosting Service - Click to enlarge
..u konkurenciji u kojoj bi Gilbert Arenas, kako (pre)samouvjereno tvrdi na svojem nba.com blogu, "mogao zabijati 80-85 poena po susretu". A jučer je Gilbert imao exceptionaly BBBBBad night i to s itekakvim razlogom kako sam danas kasnije poslijepodne saznao na stranicama najnovijeg cro-košarkaškog mjesečnika..


NAJBOLJE JUČERAŠNJE AKCIJE (11/01/07)..

Idući broj "Hrvatske Košarke" biti će još bolji, Ekipa još Ekipiranija..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

12.02.2007. u 07:49 • 4 Komentara • Print • #

nedjelja, 11.02.2007.

KUP KREŠIMIRA ĆOSIĆA: Zadar 6 PUT/16 POKUŠAJA...NBA on OBN: Spurs @ Heat



PREVIEW: Image Hosted by ImageShack.us (33-17) @ Image Hosted by ImageShack.us (24-26)


The San Antonio Spurs blew out the Miami Heat by 20 points in the teams last meeting nearly three months ago, and Miami is just now starting to show signs of a possible turnaround to its season.

Despite his team's recent struggles, Dwyane Wade still believes that the Heat (24-26) won't suffer a similar fate against the Spurs when the teams meet on Sunday in Miami.

The Heat are two games under .500, but they have played better of late and entered Friday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on a season-high five-game winning streak. Miami couldn't get competitive, however, scoring only 33 first-half points in a 103-79 defeat.


ZAGREB vs. CEDEVITA - Part 1 (90MB!!!)

Wade had 27 points and seven assists, while center Shaquille O'Neal - playing just his 11th game this season - added 14 points and seven rebounds.

"It was a sluggish game for us," Wade said. "I don't know why. All of us were a little sluggish and Cleveland took advantage of it."

O'Neal missed the first game against the Spurs (33-17) - a 106-86 loss on Nov. 22 - while recovering from knee surgery. Wade was held to just 18 points in that game, and the Heat couldn't recover from a 19-point halftime deficit.

"We're a different team," Wade said of the difference between Miami then and now. "We're going to play better."


TOP 10 CAREER DUNKS: VINCE CARTER

The Heat will have to win both of their remaining games to reach .500 before the All-Star break. Miami hasn't begun the second half of the season with a losing record since the 2003-04 season, when it was 22-32.

"We're two games under .500 and we've got a very important game coming up Sunday against San Antonio at home," Wade said. "We want to go and play well."

O'Neal's addition to the lineup Sunday should provide Miami the boost it lacked during its November meeting with San Antonio. The center is averaging 25.1 points in 35 games against the Spurs. He has played just three games against them the last two seasons, but averaged 24.3 points in those games.

The Heat also face a San Antonio team currently in its toughest stretch of the season. The Spurs are 2-3 during their eight-game "Rodeo" road trip, and trying to bounce back from Friday's 106-104 loss to the Orlando Magic. The Spurs shot 50.6 percent from the field but squandered an 11-point halftime lead.


ULTIMATE COLLEGE PISTOL PETE MARAVICH MIX: Only highlights of Pete's record-setting career at LSU. Brought to you by the new book MARAVICH and the Pete Maravich Memorial Basketball Camp. Pete averaged 44.2 points per game. That remains an all-time NCAA record. But it was HOW he played that burnished his legacy. Welcome to the show.

San Antonio still led by six with 1:54 left to play, but Orlando tied the game with 5.9 seconds left. Magic forward Dwight Howard blocked Parker's potential go-ahead shot with 0.8 seconds left, and after a timeout, completed an alley-oop inbounds pass from Hedo Turkoglu by dunking over Tim Duncan for the game-winning basket.

"Dwight had to go up and touch clouds over Timmy and get it one-handed and put it in," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "It was a remarkable play."

The Spurs have shot a combined 52.2 percent from the field the last two games after shooting just 38.2 percent in the previous three.

They have won nine of the last 10 meetings against the Heat, with their only loss coming in Miami on Feb. 13, 2005.

By KATE HEDLIN
Yahoo STATS Writer

11.02.2007. u 11:05 • 6 Komentara • Print • #

subota, 10.02.2007.

NOVI KOŠARKAŠKI MAGAZIN: "Hrvatska Košarka"...MRAVI NAPALI 'BOSE: 'Zula vs. Čanković...

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"HRVATSKA KOŠARKA" BR.1 - NA KIOSCIMA OD PETKA..

Kup K. Ćosića (Zadar, Cibona ili netko iz drugog plana)

Zoran Planinić (Vrijeme je za nešto veliko)

A-1 liga (Zahuktala se predigra Ligi za prvaka)

Luka Žorić (Vodeće ime A-1 lige za košarkaše)

Mario Dundović (Ključ za pobjedu)

A-2 liga (Tko su glavni takmaci za najviši rang)

Ženska košarka (A-1 Powerade, Waba, EuroCup)

Rok Stipčević (Za košarku mogu ne spavati noćima)

HR gastrajbajteri (Košarkaši iza medijskog zastora)

NLB liga (Cibona naplaćuje dug iz 2004.?)

Široki Prima pivo (Širokobriješki divivi na kušnji)

Splitska promenada stranaca (Od Lestera do Ayusa)

Intervju (Neven Spahija)

Toni Kukoč (Sakupljač prstena, medalja i priznanja mahnuo košarci)

Matej Mamić (Trijumf u utakmici života)

Arvydas Sabonis (Dokaz da se košarka igra glavom)

ULEB kup (Tomas, Golemac i Pašalić kroz sito u nokaut-rundu)

NBA All-Star (Las Vegas 2007.)

NBA raport (Sezona bukti, Hrvati daleko od vatre)


ALLEN IVERSON PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Not everybody knows that Iverson, actually, was a BETTER football player than he was a basketball player in High School. He was better than Mike Vick AND Aaron Brooks in High School. Had it not been for that bowling alley incident, Iverson may have ended up in the NFL. Maybe even at QB.

NBA profil (Allen Iverson)

Bogati i hiroviti (Mark Cuban)

Old stars (Željko Kosanović)

Škola košarke (OKK Dražen Petrović)

Predstavljamo (KK Belišće)

Predstavljamo (KK Omiš)

Korisne košarkaške vježbe (Kako razviti skočnost)

Pravila igre (Nesportska pogreška)

Streetball (Ulični basket u Hrvatskoj)

Košarkaške ozljede (Uganuća gležnja)

Navijački kut (Tornado Zadar)

Košarka na webu (Kosarka.hr)

Košarka i mladi (Svijet natjecanja mladih košarkaša)

Niže hrvatske lige

Akademija HKS-a (Prvenstvo županijskih selekcija)


Kud koji, mili moji!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

_______________________


FIGHTHING FOR FOURTH


The Suns and Mavericks (not necessarily in that order) have left no doubt about who is best in the West this season. Though the Spurs have slipped - their 32-16 record entering the week was six games off last season's pace - they're still a clear third. But the race for No. 4 - and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs that goes with it - likely will go down to the wire. The four teams that will duke it out:


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (10/02/07)


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Losing Carlos Boozer until March hurts, but at least it could open up a spot on the All-Star team for Mehmet Okur, who has become the league's second-best outside shooter among bigs (after Dirk Nowitzki). With Boozer out, Andrei Kirilenko will get more shots and rookie Paul Millsap will get more minutes; the latter of those developments will please coach Jerry Sloan. Better news: Of the Jazz's eight remaining February games, half are at home against Eastern Conference teams. If Utah wins all four, it will remain the favorite to finish fourth.


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Those who doubted Jeff Van Gundy (yes, that would include Sporting News) should turn pasty white and have permanent bags implanted below their eyes. The Rockets lead the league in scoring defense and won 13 of their first 19 games after Yao Ming broke his leg. Besides Van Gundy's coaching, credit goes to Tracy McGrady's chiropractor and Dikembe Mutombo's newfound youth. But with the Rockets' luck, when Yao returns in mid-March, it will be about time for McGrady's back to act up again. No way Houston can finish No. 4 without both stars on the court for the season's final month.


TALLEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN ACTION..


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L.A. is the league's biggest surprise for numerous reasons: improved athleticism, the emergence of Andrew Bynum and, most important, Kobe Bryant's willingness to be a good teammate. The Lakers entered the week 10 games over .500 and still have not reached their stride. If the Jazz and Rockets slip just a little, watch L.A. pass them by.


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Since his return, Carmelo Anthony has been getting the same number of shots (though he hasn't been making quite as many) he did before Allen Iverson showed up and has been as dazzling as ever. But something is not right. The Nuggets lost four in a row late last month, including three against decidedly inferior opponents. Anthony was preaching patience, and rightfully so. Only one problem: patience won't help Denver make up a 6 1/2-game deficit in the race for No. 4.

Stan McNeal
SportingNews

10.02.2007. u 08:19 • 4 Komentara • Print • #

petak, 09.02.2007.

KUP KREŠIMIRA ĆOSIĆA: Cibona vs. Zagreb, Zadar vs. Split (HRT Plus, 19.55)...



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (09/02/07)..


NAJBOLJE PROŠLOTJEDNE AKCIJE (WEEK 14 - 2006/07)..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

09.02.2007. u 07:46 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

četvrtak, 08.02.2007.

ZBOGOM TULSO: Markota u Bucksima...ZBOGOM ZAGREBE: Andrija Stipanović u Splitu!



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (08/02/07)..

Air Jersey je sa čak 2 pojavljivanja zaradio objavljivanje svojih career highlightsa..


MAXAMILLION711 PRODUCTIONS: TOP 100 VC DUNKS..

'Nough said; idem doma montirati jubit-kirin.snimku Zagreb vs. Cedevita, gledati Sampsona vs. Lakers i igrati se sa Klarom & njezinim najnovijim ljubimcem Eeyoreom..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

08.02.2007. u 07:56 • 2 Komentara • Print • #

srijeda, 07.02.2007.

NBDL UPDATE: Tulsa 84, Idaho 91 - Šveđo 16minuta/3 poena/8 skokova...MVP NASH: Happy 33rd Birthday!!!


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (07/02/07)..

Jučerašnja snimka je (za sada) ispod tepiha. Dok se ne smire strasti novih gradskih Rivala..

Kako danas mijenjam broj na dresu iz 31 u 32 odlučio sam se počastiti sljedećim jubit-kirin.videom:


LK-47 Presents: 20 Years of Lakers Basketball..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

07.02.2007. u 07:27 • 6 Komentara • Print • #

utorak, 06.02.2007.

KUP KREŠIMIRA ĆOSIĆA: Zagreb vs. Cedevita (Trnsko, 19.15)...


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (06/02/07)..

Naravno da idem u Trnsko, vjerujem da će jubit(Kirin).snimka biti dostupna na ovim blog prostorima nešto kasnije večeras ili sutra rano rano ujutro..

KK Cedevita u reverse lay-up raspoloženju..

Kud koji, mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

06.02.2007. u 07:08 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

ponedjeljak, 05.02.2007.

RUMOR MILL: Mike Bibby pored Flasha Wadea, Lenny Wilkens novi trener Seattlea??


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The Flash Factor


MIAMI – For three quarters on Thursday night, the Miami Heat's play against the Cleveland Cavaliers "was like pulling molars," according to Miami interim coach Ron Rothstein.

Even with Shaquille O'Neal back in the lineup, the Heat couldn't get anything going offensively, missing shots and throwing the ball all over AmericanAirlines Arena. Their star, Dwyane Wade, fumbled the ball so many times that the numerous NFL stars in attendance looked away in embarrassment.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (05/01/07)..

The Heat couldn't find an effective lineup, rotating players in and out but never finding a groove. And they failed to excite the home fans, who groaned with each mistake as their team fell behind by as many as 12 points. In essence, Miami's play in the first 36 minutes of the game served as a microcosm of its entire season: The Heat looked like a team heading for the lottery rather than a franchise ready to defend its NBA title.

But if that was the case, then the final 12 minutes of the game served as a reminder of why Miami is still a championship contender despite its 21-25 record.

That "reminder" is named Dwyane Wade.


NAJBOLJE AKCIJE MJESECA SIJEČNJA..

The Heat superstar shook off what had been one of the worst performances of his career to that point – he had already committed 10 turnovers by the end of the third period – and completely took over the game. Miami abandoned its offense, instead opting to hand the ball to Wade, spread the floor and and let him attack from the top of the key.

The results were spectacular, as Wade set a team record with 24 fourth-quarter points to finish with 41. He scored at will by taking the ball hard to the rim, hitting pull-up jumpers and drawing fouls. Combined with the fact that the Heat turned up their defense and shut down the Cavs down the stretch, Wade's efforts were enough for Miami to pull out a 92-89 win.

The Heat still have an uphill climb ahead. They're currently a half-game behind eighth-seeded New Jersey in the Eastern Conference and have yet to build any momentum this season. The players and coaches acknowledge that now is the time for the team to mount a charge if it is serious about repeating. For that to happen, Miami needs to get healthy.


DA SE NE OSJEĆATE ZAKINUTO: Jason Williams "Excitando"..

Jason Williams didn't play Thursday due to an abdominal strain – the 14th game he's missed this season – and his absence puts a lot of pressure at the point on Wade, who committed a career-high 12 turnovers (also a team record) against Cleveland. Both Williams and O'Neal are critical to the Heat's success, and Shaq will have to regain his health and conditioning, too.

O'Neal played relatively well against Cleveland, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight boards in 28 minutes, but he's clearly not the same player he once was. And at his age, he can't count on consistent health anymore. (After missing 39 games following knee surgery, O'Neal returned to action and promptly strained a calf muscle last week, sending him back to the bench.) Still, if Shaq can find a way to stay in the lineup, Miami can at least play a consistent rotation and find the groove that's been missing all season.

The ingredients are there if everyone is healthy. The Heat are good defensively and they rebound well. Shaq still draws double teams, which opens up the floor, and Miami has even improved its outside shooting thanks to the emergence of Jason Kapono, the league's top three-point shooter. But most of all, the Heat are feared because of the presence of Wade. As long as he is around, Miami has a chance to win every game. He proved that against Dallas a year ago in the NBA finals, he proved it Thursday against Cleveland and you can bet he's itching to prove it come playoff time this spring.

Now the Heat have to take care of business and give him that opportunity.

By Steve Kerr
Yahoo! Sports

05.02.2007. u 08:02 • 1 Komentara • Print • #

nedjelja, 04.02.2007.

NBA on OBN @ 22.30: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons...

PREVIEW

LeBron James is trying not to let a toe injury slow him down. He'll have enough trouble against the Detroit Pistons' defense.

With James feeling better, the Cleveland Cavaliers look to end a four-game losing streak to the Pistons in the regular season and avenge one of their worst offensive performances of 2006-07 when the teams meet on Sunday.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (04/02/07)..

James, slowed by a sprained right big toe that might bother him all season, had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers (27-20) in a 101-81 win over Charlotte on Friday night.

James was able to rest his toe, which recently caused him to miss two games, during some extended garbage time.

"It felt good the last two nights," said James, who had 17 points in a loss to Miami on Thursday. "It was great to see that it didn't bother me at all coming off a back-to-back."

The star forward had 26 points against the Pistons (27-18) on Dec. 21, but the Cavaliers were held to 34.2 percent shooting in an 87-71 loss. Cleveland, a game behind first-place Detroit in the Central Division, hasn't beaten the Pistons in the regular season since a 97-84 victory on Dec. 31, 2005.

The Cavs took a 3-2 lead over Detroit in the second round of last season's playoffs before the Pistons rebounded to win two straight and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.


JUST A FLAGRANT FOUL: Lebron James clotheslines Dwayne Wade..

James is shooting just 40.1 percent from the field -- his lowest against any team he has played at least 10 games against -- in 13 regular-season contests versus the Pistons, but most of his struggles came early in his career.

James averaged 18.3 points on 36.1 percent shooting in his first six appearances against the Pistons, but has posted 27.4 points and shot 42.9 percent in his last seven contests against them.

He scored 26.6 points in the playoff series between the teams last season, but was held to two points on 1-of-9 shooting in the second half as Cleveland lost 79-61 in Game 7.

The Pistons continue to be one of the league's premiere defensive teams, holding opponents to 93.7 points and 44.1 percent shooting from the field.

Detroit held an opponent under 90 points for the 18th time this season Friday night, beating Milwaukee 96-86 despite losing some key big men.

The Pistons' problems started before the game, when Dale Davis was put on the inactive list for missing the morning shootaround. Things got worse in the third quarter, when Rasheed Wallace benched himself to avoid being ejected.


SHOOTING CONTEST: Gilbert Arenas vs. DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards..

NO COMMENT: Arenas je jučer u porazu protiv Lakersa trice šutirao prejadnih 3-15!!! (Muraya, 14:15, 04.02.07.)


Wallace picked up his 14th technical foul early in the third quarter, and will get an automatic one-game suspension after two more. Antonio McDyess, meanwhile, got his second technical foul and was ejected shortly after Wallace's departure.

"It's a joke," said Wallace, who asked coach Flip Saunders to take him out because of his anger with the officials.

Wallace has been ejected 28 times in his 12-year career.

"He was frustrated, but he's learning what to do," Saunders said.

Davis, who is frustrated after losing most of his playing time to Chris Webber, said that he didn't sleep through his alarm clock.

"I didn't set it," he said before the game.

Detroit has won two straight and six of eight, while Cleveland had lost seven of 10 before Friday's win.

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer/Yahoo.com

______________________________


Prijenos na OBN-u će završiti taman oko 00.30, pa ako Vam nije dosta U.S. Sporta na Z1 možete uživati u super-bowl izdanju Peytona Manninga...

Damir Markota se jučer prvi put pojavio na NBDL rosteru Tulsa 66ersa. U uvjeljivoj 112-105 pobjedi svoje ekipe usred susjedne Dakote nije sudjelovao. Poznatija imena na rosteru Tulse uključuju ex-Kanađanina Connecticuta Denhama Brownea, ex-Bobcata Alana Andersona, te ex-Poljaka Giričekovih Grizzliesa Cezarya Trybanskog.

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Jedinstvena prilika Šveđi da postane najbolji cro-NBDL scout!!

Gle čuda, za Dakotu potpuno zdrav nastupa Curtiss Stinson, ex-play Splita sa početka sezone. Ah, ti šoldi..Larry Ayuso je jučer debitirao u porazu Splita od posložene podgoričke Budućnosti; 10 poena, trice 1-7 u 29 minuta akcije..

Za ovo doba godine gotovo savršeno vrijeme za Hakl. Ajmo van ljudi...

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

04.02.2007. u 10:13 • 6 Komentara • Print • #

subota, 03.02.2007.

CIBONA ZAGREB: Jučer! Danas. Sutra?...BOSTON CELTICS: rekordnih 14 poraza u nizu...


SOUL OF THE GAME; scored by wade_flash of hoops4life.com, assisted by bballvideos.blog.hr..


Svi Van na Ples!! Upravo sam bio iza škole, odigrao par Haklova s Cveletom/Lešom/Mudrim. Prvi Hakl prekinula je legenda Cvjetnog naselja Ivan "Đuka" Hundrić koja se upravo vratila iz Misije spasavanja vlastitog Života. Nisam mogao vjerovati da ga vidim u šetnji s Radetom, te sam na njegovo inzistiranje morao zabiti jednu s Markotine distance..



NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (03/02/01)..


Vrijeme je da se osvrnemo na Cibonu, iako to svojim neočekivano slabim izdanjem u četvrtak definitivno nije zaslužila.

Zula je utakmicu najavio kao jednu od onih zbog kojih se košarka trenira. Na terenu se to treniranje i nije baš vidjelo. Reakcije medija: Prava antička tragedija (Jutarnji list/Čutura), Nedostatak kemije (Kosarka.hr/Petrinović)..

Bivši izbornik Aleksandar Petrović Cibonin je poraz u današnjem izdanju Večernjeg lista okarakterizirao nedostatkom lidera i mentalne snage..

To be continued..


BILL LAIMBEER MIX..

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

_______________________

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IMA LI JOŠ ŠTO ZA DOKAZATI? Carmelo Anthony bi zbog ovakvih kontroverznih odluka Lige mogao krenuti ratničkom starom Poštara Malonea koji je jednom prilikom početkom 90-tih nezadovoljan neizborom na all-star u idućoj utakmici Bucksima zabio cca. 68 poena..Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)


Anthony snubbed, 3 Suns picked for All-Star game


NEW YORK (AP) - One bad night may have overshadowed all the good Carmelo Anthony has done this season.

The NBA's leading scorer was not among the seven reserves announced Thursday night for the Western Conference team that will play in the NBA All-Star game.

Denver teammate Allen Iverson was chosen, extending his streak of consecutive All-Star appearances to eight. He started the last seven games while playing for Philadelphia. Anthony, who is averaging 31.3 points but missed 15 games while suspended for his role in the brawl at Madison Square Garden, was the most obvious omission.

Earlier Thursday, Anthony said he hoped his suspension wouldn't prevent him from earning his first All-Star spot.

"I hope no one holds that over my head over anything," he said. "Things happen. One incident like that is held over one person's head, life ain't fair.

"I did my punishment. I could've easily kept my name out there by appealing it and doing other stuff about it, but I just did my 15 games suspension and hopefully put that behind us."

Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were all chosen from the Phoenix Suns, the league's highest scoring team. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni will lead the West.

"It will be great to be able to go with our coaches and teammates," said Nash, the two-time NBA MVP. "It will be great to have them there and have them be recognized, too."


STAR WARS: Manu @ Amare, Koljenom u Genitalije, najnoviji "Let 3" ofenzivni izum..

Stoudemire, averaging 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, made it after sitting out most of last season because of knee surgery.

"It was a goal of mine," he said. "I told you guys that before the season started, back in training camp, that I was planning on making it. So I was really striving for it.

"The past two years have been tough for me and it's definitely paid off. There may be people who doubt you but you can never doubt yourself."

Dirk Nowitzki was the only player picked from the Dallas Mavericks, who have the league's best record. The Mavericks had been hoping Josh Howard would be selected as well.

"I think Dallas having the best record and only one guy, I thought that was surprising," D'Antoni said.

Detroit and New Jersey had multiple reserves picked for the Feb. 18 game. Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, who both made their first appearances last season, are going back, and Jason Kidd and Vince Carter will represent the Nets in the game at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.

"I'm happy that Rip made it, too, because he's having a career year," Billups said. "If I only made it, a piece of me would've been disappointed. I've always felt like we're a package deal."

Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and first-timers Dwight Howard of Orlando and Caron Butler of Washington round out the East reserves.

The seven reserves were voted on by the head coaches in their respective conferences. Coaches couldn't vote for their own players, and had to select two forwards, two guards, a center and two players regardless of their position.


LAKERS vs. SPURS @ OBN: I ManuG je dobio svoju Porciju za ovaj tjedan..

The remainder of the West reserves were San Antonio guard Tony Parker and Utah forward Carlos Boozer.

The starters were announced last Thursday. LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Gilbert Arenas were picked in the East. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant were voted in by fans to start for the West.

Anthony still has a chance to play in Las Vegas. NBA commissioner David Stern will choose a replacement for Yao, who is still recovering from a broken bone under his knee, and Boozer also could be unavailable because of a hairline fracture in his left leg.

He's expected to miss a few weeks, but said Thursday he hopes to return in time for All-Star weekend. He doesn't know when he would need to resume running for that to happen.

"Hopefully if everything works out, it will be right on time," he said. "I'll put it like that."

Anthony and Josh Howard are the most likely replacement choices, but could face competition for those spots from Seattle's Ray Allen, Portland's Zach Randolph, the Clippers' Elton Brand and another Denver player, Marcus Camby.

Stern said he expected to make his decision in the next few days, and that when doing so he wouldn't consider the suspension he gave Anthony for the punch the Denver star hit the Knicks' Mardy Collins with on Dec. 16.

D'Antoni will lead the West squad because Dallas coach Avery Johnson is ineligible after coaching last season. The same three Suns were chosen as reserves to the 2005 game.


EMANUEL GINOBILI TRANSMISSION..

"I'm sure they'll be out there at some time but I haven't thought about it," D'Antoni said. "I'm thinking about San Antonio and Utah and everyone else in between."

Washington's Eddie Jordan clinched the East's coaching spot on Thursday night when Cleveland lost to Miami. That ensured the Wizards will have the East's best winning percentage through games of Feb. 4.

Butler's career year has been key to Washington's success. The forward is averaging 20.6 points and 8.0 rebounds, both career highs.

"Coach Jordan gave me more and more freedom and I really thought I had a chance," Butler said. "I dedicated my time last summer and look what came out of it. I couldn't be happier with this, but I know there is still work to be done."

AP Sports Writers Pat Graham in Denver and Doug Alden in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer

03.02.2007. u 10:31 • 0 Komentara • Print • #

petak, 02.02.2007.

1st ŠVEĐO MIX & TRANSFER: Markota Assigned to PLAY for Tulsa 66ers of NBDL League...


1st MARKOTA NBA MIX EVER by BIG AL, Hoopcapital.com..

Damir odlazi u Tulsu, kao što smo i mislili. Sigurno bolje za njega, treba sada iskoristiti priliku poput Ilyasove, raditi na sebi da bude spreman za sljedeću sezonu. Trener Bucksa jako rijetko daje priliku mladim igračima pa je Damiru sigurno bolje da igra u Tulsi nego da odsjedi sezonu ko Šundov i ne napravi nikakav napredak..

Thursday, February 1, 2007 -Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the team has assigned rookie forward Damir Markota to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Tulsa is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer and has served as the Bucks D-League affiliate since the 2005-06 season.

“Damir is a young player who will get the opportunity to play and further develop his skills in Tulsa,” said Harris. “Last year, Ersan Ilyasova made significant progress in Tulsa and we think Damir will benefit as well. Being assigned to the Development League will give Damir invaluable time on the court under game conditions that he wouldn’t necessarily receive in Milwaukee.”


ERSAN ILYASOVA SHOW: 2006 World Championship, Turkey vs. Lithuania..

Markota, 21, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. The Bucks acquired his draft rights from the Spurs on June 28, 2006, for the better of the Milwaukee’s two second round draft picks in the upcoming 2007 NBA Draft. The 6-10, 225-lb. native of Zagreb, Croatia, has appeared in 20 games for Milwaukee this season and has averaged 1.4 points in 3.8 minutes per game.

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TULSA, OKLAHOMA: poznatija kao rodno mjesto Šerifa Johna Starksa..

In addition to the Tulsa 66ers (Okla.), the NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Worth Flyers (TX), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA) and Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.).


Iggypop
Hoops.bloger.hr

02.02.2007. u 07:58 • 8 Komentara • Print • #

četvrtak, 01.02.2007.

GLADNI VUKOVI S TUŠKANCA U RIMU: Dobar i poraz sa 17 poena razlike!!


Starring Five

Stat Rat position based on 2006-07 ratings through Wednesday, January 31.


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Marcus Camby, C, DEN (Stat Rat Rating: 23)

Camby is putting up more blocks than a daycare center full of toddlers. My dedicated readers (love you, Mom) may recall that line from a previous write-up about Emeka Okafor, but it certainly applies to Camby as well. In his last 14 games, he's averaged an astonishing 3.4 blocks. He's also averaging 14 boards during that span. And in this season of untimely injuries, the perpetually banged up Camby is on pace to appear in 72 games, which would tie a career high. Yes, Camby could get hurt again, but it just seems like he's in the right situation at the right time. Denver has awesome talents in Carmelo Anthony and Iverson as well a crying need for someone to clean the glass and serve as a defensive presence. Why not see how secure the Camby owner in your league is with the 32-year-old's durability? And by 32-year-old, I mean feel free to play the age card in your trade negotiations.


Ron Artest, SF, SAC (32)

So is Artest staying or going? Don't know if he's staying in Sacramento, but he's going strong. In January the 27-year-old averaged 21.1 points, 2.1 steals and 50.4 percent from the field. He even made 42.3 percent of his three-point attempts -- not bad for a guy who's a 31.4 percent shooter from behind the arc for his career. Don't count on him for percentages, but Artest can help you in most every other category.


NAJBOLJE NOĆAŠNJE AKCIJE (01/02/07)..


Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, CHI (42)

In 11 games since January 10, Hinrich is averaging 22.7 points, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 three-pointers. Three possible reasons for the 26-year-old's recent success: One, he likes Gordon, who's started with him in the back court for the past nine games. Two, he doesn't like the idea of playing for Memphis. Like most Bulls, Hinrich has been snared in the Pau Gasol-to-Chicago trade rumors. And three, he's shooting the ball better -- he's at 48 percent during this hot streak. Reason three may be the most plausible explanation. It's also a bit vexing for fantasy owners. While Hinrich is only a 40.8 percent shooter over his four-year career, his field goal percentage has improved each season -- it stands at 44.3 percent for 2006-07. So does this make him a sell-high or buy-low? Since I was pitching him six weeks ago, I'll stick to my guns: Hinrich is headed for his best season.


Chris Bosh, PF/C, TOR (51)

No. 51? Sure seems like the Rat is undervaluing Bosh. In 15 games since returning from a left knee injury, he's averaged 25.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 54.7 percent from the field. Toronto is a team on the rise (10-5 in January), and it centers around the 22-year-old who's about to make his first All-Star start. Expect great things from here.


NAJBOLJE AKCIJE XIII TJEDNA SEZONE..


Ricky Davis, SG/SF, MIN (55)

Let's see: In the last two weeks, the Timberwolves have fired their head coach and doled out a one-game suspension to Davis. Upheaval. Conflict. And improvement. Each month this season, the 27-year-old has upped his points-per-game and three-pointers made totals, along with his field goal percentage. And those 4.4 assists are a nice bonus from a non-point guard.


Movers and Shakers

Trend-spotting with the Stat Rat: Here's who's running hot and cold in the last month.


Fantasy find: Paul Millsap, SF/PF, UTA

The Louisiana Tech product may have attended the same college as Karl Malone, but the Boozer/Millsap connection is a bit more meaningful at the moment -- as in Boozer's injury is Millsap's opportunity to get major court time for the first time during his rookie season. Despite playing just 16 minutes a night to this point, Millsap is averaging 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks. He's also approaching 55 percent from the field. You needn't be a math whiz to understand how much Millsap can help you in the hustle categories playing 30-plus minutes. While he misses his share of free throws (70 percent from the line) and makes more than his share of turnovers (11 in his last three games), there's lots to like here. So hustle to the waiver wire and claim the kid.


Fantasy fizzler: Troy Murphy, PF, IND

When the Indiana/Golden State trade went down, it seemed like Murphy, as much as any of the eight players in the deal, would benefit from a new environment. But so far, not so good. In his first six games with the Pacers, the 26-year-old is averaging just 9.7 points, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. Murphy is also struggling from the line, making just nine of his last 23 attempts. At least he's been busy on the boards with the Pacers, averaging 10.5 per game so far. In retrospect, playing for a defensive-minded coach like Rick Carlisle, 10 points and eight to 10 rebounds a night sounds about right for Murphy. That sort of production can still help fantasy owners of course; just don't expect too much here.

Neil Tardey

________________________________________________

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Obavijest svoj Rodbini i brojnim Prijateljima:

Cibonino Gostovanje u Rimu gledati ćemo na HRT+ (20.15) u klubu Ferax (Cvjetna Cesta), bez Tiramisua..

Kud koji, Mili moji!!

Muraya
Nba.blog.hr

01.02.2007. u 07:29 • 5 Komentara • Print • #

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EUROHOOPS.COM
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CRO LINKS

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SPLIT
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CROHOOPS.COM
CROSARKA.COM



Total of 18 Croatian players were selected
on NBA Draft throughout the last 30 years
Year-Player-Position-Round-Pick

1972 Kresimir Cosic C Portland 10 144
1973 Kresimir Cosic C L.A. Lakers 5 84
1986 Drazen Petrovic SG Portland 3 60
1987 Franjo Arapovic C Atlanta 7 159
1989 Dino Radja PF Boston 2 40
1990 Toni Kukoc F Chicago 2 29
1991 Zan Tabak C Houston 2 51
1998 Bruno Sundov C Dallas 2 35
1999 Gordan Giricek SG Dallas 2 40
2000 Dalibor Bagaric C Chicago 1 24
2000 Josip Sesar SG Seattle 2 47
2002 Mario Kasun C L.A. Clippers 2 41
2003 Zoran Planinic PG New Jersey 1 22
2005 Roko Ukic PG Toronto 2 41
2006 Damir Markota PF Milwaukee 2 59
2007 Stanko Barac C Indiana 2 39
2008 Ante Tomic PF Utah 2 44
2011 Bojan Bogdanovic G/F New Jersey 2 31
2012 Tomislav Zubcic F Toronto 2 56



TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL INDEPENDENT NBA TEAM BLOGGERS

Forum Blue and Gold – Los Angeles Lakers
Posting and Toasting
Hot Hot Hoops – Miami Heat
Need4Sheed – Detroit Pistons
Stepien Rules – Cleveland Cavaliers
Eight Points Nine Seconds – Indiana Pacers
Blog-A-Bull – Chicago Bulls
Raptors Republic – Toronto Raptors
The Knicks Wall – New York Knicks
Knicks Journal – New York Knicks
source: www.sportsoverdose.com



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