NBA

[brod]

From ESPN.com

Most Improved Player Of The Year Watch

1. Kevin Love, Timberwolves: Too bad the Timberwolves have only five victories, because a case can be made for K-Love to be in the MVP watch. The league leader in double-doubles and rebounds is averaging 20 points and 15.3 rebounds a game.

2. Roy Hibbert, Pacers: The key to Hibbert becoming one of the East's best big men? Apparently it's mixed martial arts. Watch.

3. Michael Beasley, Timberwolves: While Kevin Love does all of the dirty work in Minnesota, Beasley is the leading scorer and go-to player for the Wolves.

4. Eric Gordon, Clippers: If he played for another team he would be a virtual lock to be an All-Star, but he is stuck in Clippersland, where the little bit of media attention the team gets is usually focused on ROY front-runner Blake Griffin.

5. Luis Scola, Rockets: Whether Yao Ming is in the lineup or not, Scola, who is averaging 20.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, has emerged as Houston's top player.

[brod]

Defensive Player Of The Year Watch

1. Dwight Howard, Magic: D12 is third in the league in rebounds, fourth in double-doubles and field goal percentage, and fifth in blocks. Oh yeah, and the Magic have the league's No. 1 defense.

2. Joakim Noah, Bulls: How did the league's second-best rebounder fail to grab a board in Carlos Boozer's season debut?

3. Kevin Garnett, Celtics : Talk about turning back the clock. KG is averaging a double-double and leading a Boston defense which is yielding just 92.1 points per game.

4. Tyson Chandler, Mavericks: The Mavericks are among the league leaders in defensive rebounds, field goal percentage defense and points allowed and it starts and ends with the man in the middle.

5. Chris Paul, Hornets: A lot of point guards play as hard as CP3 on the offensive end, but few, if any, can match his effort defensively. He anchors the perimeter for New Orleans.

[brod]

Rookie of the Year Watch

1. Blake Griffin, Clippers: He has posted a double-double in nine straight games. With averages of 20.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, not only should he be the NBA Rookie of the Year, but he deserves an All-Star spot, too.

2. John Wall, Wizards: Raise your hand if you predicted that Wall, who is averaging 17 points and 8.7 assists per game, would lose Rookie of the Month honors in the East to New York's Landry Fields.

3. Landry Fields, Knicks: He is the league's best rebounding guard, pulling down more than seven boards a game.

4. DeMarcus Cousins, Kings: When it comes to Cousins, you have to take the good with the bad. One day he is getting thrown out of practice, the next night he is muscling inside for a career-high 20 points. Regardless, the on-the-court ability is apparent.

5. Eric Bledsoe, Clippers: He scored 15 points and posted 3 rebounds and 3 assists Monday night and watched as Baron Davis suffered a hamstring injury. More playing time could be on the horizon for EB ... again.

[brod]

Does anyone think Derrick rose has a serious chance of winning the MVP. He is on fire

Most Valuable Player Watch
1. Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
19 34.9 .579 .000 .541 1.2 2.4 12.1 1.1 20.9 24.5
The Eastern Conference Player of the Month for November missed two games last week with a virus, but that wasn't enough to knock him off his lofty spot in the rankings. (Last week: 1 | Team record: 15-6)
2. Deron Williams
Utah Jazz G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
22 37.8 .471 .337 .860 1.4 0.2 4.2 10.0 21.8 23.7
Unlike the past two seasons, when you could simply put LeBron James at the top of the MVP list, there is no clear-cut favorite this season. D-Will is playing as well as anyone. (Last week: 5 | Team record: 16-6)
3. Derrick Rose
Chicago Bulls G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
18 38.8 .454 .361 .780 1.2 0.6 4.3 8.2 24.9 21.4
The league's third-leading scorer held it down until Carlos Boozer was ready to return. The Bulls, who are three games above .500, lead the Central and have Rose to thank. (Last week: 4 | Team record: 11-8)
4. Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
20 36 .553 .368 .855 0.6 0.7 7.7 2.3 24.9 24.7
The Mavs have the pieces in place to be the top team in the West, and Nowitzki, who is shooting a career high from the floor, is the glue that holds everything together. (Last week: 6 | Team record: 16-4)
5. Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City Thunder G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
22 37.4 .437 .240 .872 2.2 0.4 5.5 8.6 23.7 25.2
The Western Conference POW has been sensational, but he slid due to his failure to take care of the ball (5.8 turnovers in his past five games). OKC has lost two of three. (Last week: 2 | Team record: 14-8)
6. Manu Ginobili
San Antonio Spurs G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
20 32.6 .458 .382 .908 1.9 0.4 3.7 5.0 20.6 24.9
The Spurs have the best record in the league, and Ginobili has the fifth-highest PER and has transformed San Antonio from a half-court team to a running team. (Last week: 9 | Team record: 17-3)
7. Amare Stoudemire
New York Knicks G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
22 36.9 .530 .556 .777 1.0 1.9 8.9 2.3 25.3 23.4
The East POW has turned out to be some consolation prize for the Knicks after not getting LeBron this summer. He's averaging more than 34 points and 11 boards in his past five. (Last week: NR | Team record: 13-9)
8. Pau Gasol
Los Angeles Lakers G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
20 38.7 .536 .000 .826 0.7 2.1 11.6 4.1 20.2 24.8
Despite the Lakers losing four in a row, it is hard to overlook the effort Gasol has been forced to put in on a nightly basis with Andrew Bynum out of the lineup. (Last week: NR | Team record: 14-6)
9. LeBron James
Miami Heat G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
22 37.1 .457 .297 .776 1.5 0.6 5.7 7.3 23.7 24.3
Miami's so-so record was the only reason LeBron found himself missing from this list, but the Heat's current five-game winning streak has taken care of that problem. (Last week: NR | Team record: 14-8)
10. Carmelo Anthony
Denver Nuggets G MIN FG% 3P% FT% STL BLK RPG AST PTS PER
19 34.5 .432 .333 .834 1.2 0.6 8.0 3.4 22.8 21.3
The Nuggets are streaking, winners of seven in a row. Maybe instead of looking to trade its superstar, Denver should keep him and try to win the NBA championship. (Last week: 8 | Team record: 13-6)

[brod]

What Im seeing in the NBA-

- Heat keep the Hornets to 9 fourth quarter points to win 96-84 with Dwayne Wade again leading the way, 32pts (8/13FG, 14/17FT)
- Welcome back Carlos...Bulls smash the Pacers (who shoot 35%) 92-73 with Boozer contributing 22pts, 18reb, 4ast
- Blazers still cant win away (5-10) going down 73-86 in Memphis as Zach Randolph expolded for 25pts, 20reb, 3 steals
- GState continue their horror roadtrip losing 95-108 in utah where CJ Miles continues to excell off the bench with 20pts (9/14FG) and 6reb in 28 min
- Blazers snap the Mavs 12 game win streak and get only their third road win (3-8) 103-99 in Dallas. Dirks 30pts werent enough as Bogut 21pts, 14reb amd Jennings 23pts, 10ast, 5reb lead the Bucks
- The Mavs loss broke their winning streak of 12, and also finished the first occurance of four teams having 8+ win streaks at the same time

[brod]

AUSSIES IN ACTION

Andrew Bogut (W 103-99 v Dallas)
- 42min, 10/12FG, 1/6FT, 14reb (4off/10def), 2 ast, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 21 points
Patty Mills (L 73-86 v Memphis)
- 4 min 1/1Fg, 1/1 3ptsFG 1/12FT, 1 ast, 4pts
David Andersen (L 84-96 v Miami)
DNP-CD

[RoosterMarty]

Bulls are rolling at the moment. Rose hurt himself (twice) against the Pacers so is in doubt for the game against the Raps tomorrow. Wouldn't mind if he had a rest and C.J. Watson stepped in. Last time he did that he had 33 points in Denver.

[brod]

What im seein in the NBA-

- Lakes win 109-94 in Indiana behind another great game from the MVP hopeful...PAU 28pts (10/17FG), 8 reb, 4 ast, 2 blocks
- Big numbers for NY, Stoudemire 39pts, 10 reb: Felton 26pts, 14ast...Celtics just had more in 118-116 win, where they outscored Knick 35-26 in the fourth, Peirce 32pts, 10reb, 4ast: KG 20pts, 13reb, 3st: Allan 26pts: Rondo 10pts, 14ast
- SHOCK..Griffin (20pts, 18reb, 5ast) and Gordon (16pts) were not the two high scorers for the Clippers (Baron Davis had 18pts)....REALITY..they lose 91-105 in Philly (now 0-11 on the road)
- Bulls outscored by 10 in the fourth, but still win in Toronto 110-93 with Boozer having 34pts (13/17FG) and 12 reb. rose scored only 6 points on 3/9Fg but dished out 11 assists to go with 5 turnovers
- No real interest in Cavs v Heat II with the standard Clevelend have put out this season. Miami win 101-95 with Wade again starring 28pts (10/18FG) and 6 reb, while LBJ did a Kobe and kept shooting 21pts (5/15FG) , 13 reb, 5 ast
- Thunder win 117-105 against Houston as they put on a shooting display (58% FG, 64% 3ptFG, 98% FT)
- Mavs bounce back from shock loss to the Bucks to beat Blazers 103-98. Patty Mills manages in 13min to have more shots than three starters (Roy, Miller, Camby)..pit he was only 2/7FG
- SPURS KEEP WINNING, 92-90 v Milwaukee behind 26pts (9/13FG) from Manu Ginobli
- Suns win 128-122 at home v Twolves, as Steve Nash shows how to impact a game while taking only four shots (11 pts, 19 ast) KEVIN LOVE WATCH - 38min, 23pts (7/15FG, 16reb, 5 ast)

[brod]

AUSSIES IN ACTION

- David Anderson (W 94-91 v Sacramento)
5 min, 1/2 FG, 1/1FT, 2 reb, 3pts

- Patty Mills (L 98-103 v Dallas)
13min, 2/7 FG, 0/3 3ptFG, 1 reb, 3 ast, 4pts

- Andrew Bogut (L 90-92 v San Antonio)
36min, 7/11FG, 1/2FT, 7 reb, 4 ast, 1 steal, 7 blocks, 15pts

Bogut now leads the NBA in blocked shots

[brod]

What Im seeing in the NBA

- Spurs overcome 37pts from the Nuggets in the first quarter to get their 7th straight win, 113-112 in Denver. Duncan showed that he is still a force when the big games come along with 28pts (12/18FG) 16reb, 4 blocks, 4 ast in just 33 min
- Celtics win 12th straight 102-90 against the Hawks without Rondo (out for up to 2 weeks) or Shaq, KG picked up the slack with 17pts (8/10FG) 14reb, 3 ast, 2 steals
- Nets won for the first time in 8 games 97-89 v Washington as John Wall continues to sit out with knee tendonitis

[Pup]

Bulls are rolling at the moment. Rose hurt himself (twice) against the Pacers so is in doubt for the game against the Raps tomorrow. Wouldn't mind if he had a rest and C.J. Watson stepped in. Last time he did that he had 33 points in Denver.

Bulls lose to Clips today with Rose missing a free throw to go to OT.

Missed Noah a lot.

[RoosterMarty]

Very disappointing loss today, upsetting that Rose was the guy who missed the FT too as he has been huge this season.

Noah out for 8-10 weeks, just as Boozer is getting into the groove we lose Noah.

[Gozu]

A couple of big trades today involving the Magic.

The Magic sent Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 1st round pick & cash to Phoenix for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu & Earl Clark. The Magic then sent Rashard Lewis to Washington for Gilbert Arenas.

[mighty hounds]

Very disappointing loss today, upsetting that Rose was the guy who missed the FT too as he has been huge this season.

Noah out for 8-10 weeks, just as Boozer is getting into the groove we lose Noah.

That was a massive loss espec to team that had 5 wins the Bulls need to win as many games as they can with Noah missing, just when the Bulls where putting it togother they loss Noah for a long period.

[mighty hounds]

A couple of big trades today involving the Magic.

The Magic sent Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 1st round pick & cash to Phoenix for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu & Earl Clark. The Magic then sent Rashard Lewis to Washington for Gilbert Arenas.

That is a massive trade Orlanda just got a bit stronger!

[Freo HeaveHo]

Just bought NBA league pass the other night ..... best 30 dollar investment for the xmas period. Goodbye social life.

[Freo HeaveHo]

Good move by orlando moving on vince and lewis. Front runners IMO . Vince is just lazy . Carmelo embarrased him the other night. And on lewis how the hell he is the second highest paid player in the league is rediculous. I could pick 100 players in the league id want on my side before him

[RoosterMarty]

Just bought NBA league pass the other night ..... best 30 dollar investment for the xmas period. Goodbye social life.

Totally agree, League Pass is amazing. All in HD too so it can chew your bandwidth a bit but it is great to be able to watch a replay of the games when you get home from work or whatever.

[RoosterMarty]

Very disappointing loss today, upsetting that Rose was the guy who missed the FT too as he has been huge this season.

Noah out for 8-10 weeks, just as Boozer is getting into the groove we lose Noah.

That was a massive loss espec to team that had 5 wins the Bulls need to win as many games as they can with Noah missing, just when the Bulls where putting it togother they loss Noah for a long period.

Clippers were back to back on the road as well which makes it even more embarrassing.

I am disappointed I will not get to see J Rich do his thing for the Suns anymore but Orlando must be glad they got rid of Shard Lewis, it is insane how much that guy is earning. He has only produced in a couple of games this year.

[Freo HeaveHo]

do you have any dramas with yours rooster . the first night i got it it worked a treat . But last couple days its struggling to keep up . The full game replays seem to run smoother than the compressed highlight ones ??? Im no computer wizz