Indiana
at Toronto

Two last-place teams! Alright!

Seriously, though, it’s been battered to death and it’s time
to see some payoff: the Pacers appear to be better than their record.

And the Raptors? They want us to believe that they’re better
than their record.

Well, tonight’s a good put-up or shut-up chance for both
outfits. Topping that, with Jay Triano now in charge up in T-Dot (see? I’m
hip), the Raptors are going to run more, which should mean a pretty
entertaining up and down contest. And the Pacers have had, far and away, the toughest schedule
in the NBA thus far. So, here ya go, cupcakes …

Big NBA Wednesday night, so comment away down below.

Toronto Raptors: 8-12, 91.8 possessions per
game (16^th), 104.6 points scored per 100 possessions (20^th),
110.7 points allowed per 100 possessions (26^th).

Indiana Pacers: 7-13, 95.2 possessions per
game (4^th), 103.5 points scored per 100 possessions (22^nd),
105.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (14^th).

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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: Bust A Bucket. CDub and co. track down a classic Blazers song from the early 90s. Well done, gents.
PF: SLAM Online. Delonte West needs his own show. Yep. I’ll second that.
SF: GMTR. The All-Bench Fantasy Team, which includes players who, well, usually come off the bench.
SG: Talking Points. Kawakami: "Corey Maggette will be very difficult for the Warriors to trade."
PG: The Playboy Blog (NSFW), via Game On. Jordan Farmer likes mash-ups of rap mixed with rock.
6th: At The Hive. A Shocking Dialogue-like conversation between Jeff Bower and Don Nelson.
7th: Cuzoogle. Seven NBA/Christmas flicks that will make any hoops fan happy to get out of the house.
8th: The Hoop Doctors. Create-a-Caption, win a Steve Nash jersey. Sounds simple enough.
9th: 48 Minutes of Hell. Is Matt Bonner in the same class as Przybilla, Horford and Okafor?
10th: From Deep. Grange: "The Cavaliers aren’t awesome, but LeBron certainly is and the team around him seem confident in their roles and their approach. They remind me of the 2001 Philly team, except LeBron is better — significantly better — than Iverson ever was and the role players around him might be a little better too. Deeper anyway."

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‘Phenomenal Swag’ searches high and low across the Internets for
NBA-related goods you never knew you needed. E-mail us any quirky
products you find here.

Darko Milicic’s Torn Jersey From Grizz vs. Rockets
Cost: TBD, Grizzlies Online Auction Series

This one-of-a-kind swag is epic. The Memphis Grizzlies are auctioning off the actual game jersey Darko Milicic turned into a cardigan against the Houston Rockets on Monday night.

You know, his AAAAAAAARRRGH!!! moment.

Darko Milicic did his best Incredible Hulk impersonation during the third quarter of the Grizzlies second consecutive home victory last night. The remnants of the jersey, which include a rip down the center that is more than a foot and a half long, will include a personalized autograph from Milicic addressed to the highest bidder.

All proceeds from the online auction benefit the Memphis Grizzlies House at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Grizzlies House has the capacity to serve up to 100 families each night and provides a free, safe and comfortable alternative to staying in a hotel.

Thanks to 3 Shades of Blue and Basketbawful for the heads up.

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Well, it’s Wednesday, Hump Day, and in what’s becoming a little BDL tradition, KD and I are hosting a live chat from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern time. So ready an NBA-related question or seven, hit the jump at the top of the hour, and let’s do this. No e-mail or password is required. Just a keyboard, Rudy. Yeah!

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Lakers forward Pau Gasol reacts after losing the ball (and game) out of bounds against the Sacramento Kings last night. Best caption wins two imaginary cantaloupes. As always, good luck. I’m counting on you.

After the jump, Boom Dizzle gets his Ceballos on.

Winner, tmic23:
Aye matey! I be Blackbeard the pirate! I’ve come to steal ye cap space,
loot yer locker rooms, plunder endorsements and sink the Clipper ship!
ARRRR!!!

Runner-up, Andrew Norris:
Baron: See, I told you if I signed with the Clippers I could make $65 million blindfolded.

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