San
Antonio at Denver

It’s hard to believe that I’m picking this one over a
Suns/Mavericks tilt.

Dallas and Phoenix matchups have provided some of the best
basketball games we’ve seen over the last half-decade, whereas the Spurs and
Nuggets seem to meet every year in the playoffs, and every year the pairing
results in some of the most boring basketball of the postseason. And that’s
counting other Spurs games, as well. No sliding scale, here.

But we don’t know where Steve Nash’s stomach is at, or if
the Suns will be running. Shocking to say, but a team coached by Rick Carlisle
might be pushing the ball more than the one with Steve Nash and/or Leandro
Barbosa at the helm.

The Spurs and Nuggets, meanwhile, are in a state of flux.
Good flux. Funflux 2008. The Spurs just returned to relatively good health,
with Tim and Tony and Manu back on the floor, along with sparkplugs like Roger
Mason Jr. and rookie George Hill filling out the rotation. This is a fun team
to watch.

And while the Nuggets of old could be fun to watch at times,
the squad’s offensive issues were sometimes so frustrating that it didn’t
matter if they were running at every chance and putting up a hundred shots a
game. Now, with Chauncey Billups around, things have slowed, but the team
doesn’t make you want to throw things at your TV, even if you’re an impartial
observer.

If I’m wrong? Well, you’ll have already seen a Suns/Mavs
classic by the time this one tips off, so what’s the diff?

Denver Nuggets:
13-6, 94.6 possessions per game (6^th-most in the NBA), 107.5 points
scored per 100 possessions (12^th-most in the NBA), 102.6 points
allowed per 100 possessions (7^th-most in the NBA). Shootout at the Fantasy
Factory.

San Antonio Spurs:
9-8, 87.4 possessions per game (29^th), 104.8 points scored per 100
possessions (20^th), 104.9 points allowed per 100 possessions (11^th).
Paper Sun.

Read full article…

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: The News & Observer. Former NBAer Rodney Rogers — he of one of the greatest comebacks ever — fell off an ATV last week and suffered a spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Get better, Rodney.
PF: FanIQ. The Houston Chronicle is not a fan of Tracy McGrady.
SF: The Good Point. An open, heartfelt letter to Greg Oden’s neck beard.
SG: 48 Minutes of Hell. Should Pop and the Spurs try playing Tony Parker off the ball?
PG: Hornets Hype. IMPORTANT and FRONT PAGE NEWSWORTHY about the Hornets’ team chemistry.
6th: Oregon Live, via Dime. Brandon Roy wants a piece of the Celtics. I love it.
7th: Empty The Bench. Dearest, PJ: Kevin Durant is doing just fine at forward. XOXO, Gossip Scotty.
8th: Game On. Speaking of Peej, on this day in ‘97, the NBA suspended Latrell Sprewell for "the choke."
9th: YouTube. LeBron James‘ loud one-handed m80 power dunk.
10th: Mouthpiece Sports. Great headline: "Knicks Named Most Valuable NBA Franchise, Reports Center For Counterintuitive Studies."

Read full article…

Jordan Towers, one of the enterprising gents at World Star Hip-Hop, has hooked up with Rockets forward Ron Artest to create some sort of Internet reality show. The results, albeit long, are something awesome.

Highlights include: Artest making fun of his Toyota Sequoia (5:15), popping out his fake front tooth while driving (7:30), struggling to assemble a tent for his daughter — indoors (13:55), recording a new rap song while his nanny cleans around him (17:20), and a hilarious exchange with his son about getting his own shoe deal (20:00).

Between this and his new vlog, Ron Artest has officially taken over the Internet.

Read full article…

Bill Simmons once wrote that Raptors fans might be the single craziest group of fanatics on the Web other than the 9/11 Truthers, and compared them — ahem, us — to overbearing Little League parents. "What do you mean my kid isn’t good enough? He’s one of the best hitters on this team! You just don’t like him, that’s the real problem here!" Well, Simba was right. They/we are clinically insane. Case in point: FireJayTriano.com. It’s been — what — 18 hours since Triano took over? (Thanks, Steve)

Read full article…

Rajon Rondo recorded his first career triple-double last night with 16 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds in a redemption win over Indiana. Needless to say, Kevin Garnett was impressed: "He was amazing. It was like there was three Rondos. I looked up and it came off the rim and he is grabbing a rebound, then I got back on defense and he beat me back. He was everywhere tonight." Ah, KG hyperbole, you got to love it. Anyway, best caption/conversation wins a ShawWow. Good luck, folks.

After the jump, "Wes" Batista watches the Wizards.

Winner, David Noel Fan Club:
Kill + Mode = $uplex

Co-runner-up, The Thrilla in Vanilla:
So, Batista was a Bullets fan? Guess we know why his theme song is "I Walk Alone"…

Co-runner-up, Matt C:
"You think a steel chair is hardcore? DeShawn Stevenson throws bricks!"

Read full article…