Nba High Five

1. Big Z sets big mark

Zydrunas Ilgauskus place in folk lore was officially cemented last night as he became the all-time Games played leader of the Cavaliers. Z's Cavs game mark of 724 eclipses the mark set by former player, and now general manager, Danny Ferry. No wonder Ferry flirted with trading him.

Big Z's career has been one of perseverance - showing promise at an early age and then struggling with a series of foot injuries that saw many wonder whether he would effectively play basketball again. But the Cavs sure did, and they stuck by their big man, with Zee rewardng them with some solid years of play. He's also been a key friend of LeBron James. With both Z and James' contracts expiring could they both fly the coop?

2.  Hawks sticking with the Magic

While I under-estimated Orlando's talent pre-season (perhaps due to me praying that the Lakers don't win the title this year), they have been the premier Eastern Conference team. And they have done all this with a number of key injuires. Make no mistake about it Orlando are deep.

Equally deep and perhaps even more suprising has been the play of the Atlanta Hawks. These guys led the Eastern Conference for a while, and after dipping briefly are still soaring alongside the Big 3 in the East. Are the Hawks deserved of inclusion in the big 4? Well all-signs point to yes. They are consistently beating teams on their home floor and waltzed into the Boston's TD Garden and showed that they are a team not to be taken lightly.

This team used to only have one star. A youthful Joe Johnson, who while not technically an all-star at the time, had the talent to elevate his game to carry the offensifve load. The Hawks have continued to bring in talent eah year, smart draft choices and good development has seen the Hawks rise to new heights. Al Horford is quietly going about the best year of his young career, Josh Smith seems to have settled down hi9s game too.

The big addition for this eam is Jamal Crawford. He's had a petty negative stigma attached to him over his time with Golden State and the Knicks. Off the bench he sparks the offense, much in the same way a Jason Terry does for the Mavericks.

However, despite all these positives I'm still putting the Hawks just outside the big 3. I can see any of the other three winnning a title, but I jsut don't see the Hawks winning it all - this year at least. So in short don't expect the Hawks to win it all this year, but don't be suprised if they make the conference finals either.

3. Jerry Sloan resigns with the Jazz for season 23.

While his Hal-of-Fame status has already been granted, yu can be sure that Jerry will only feel the Hall-of-Fame admission is validated is if he wins an NBA title. For years the Jerry Sloan led Jazz have been a top-calibre team - his career mark 1137-751 (as of the end of the 2008-09 season) is a testament to his success and resiliance. He's even seen the coming and going of over 240 coaching changes throughout the league.

All tat remais for Jerry Sloan is the thing that will in his mind justify his Hall-of-Fame induction - an NBA Championhsip. he would have already had one or possibly two if it wasn't for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I'd love to see him win one, but unfortunately I don't want the Utah Jazz win anything. Bit of a pickle huh?

4. The 2009-10 Dunk Contest

Lebron James during the 2008-09 Dunk Contest - Yes! You will see me in Dallas next year throwing some down in the dunk contest"
Lebron James Dec 02 2009 - "Meh - I'm 50-50 on this dunk contest thing'

What the....? - Good thing he has not publicly committed to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 10-11 season. This guy really needs to start putting up or do some serious shutting up. He's the heir apparant for the NBA and needs o produce. Much in the same way that the NBA ha become a marketing juggernaut under David Stern - all positives so has Lebron James. His brand has grown through endorsements and promises of things to come. Start fulfilling on your promise. Win something! Dunk something! Are you signed on with Nike? If so. Just DO IT.

5. Andrew Bogut's 6th man squad

Andrew Bogut is becoming qjuite the philanthrapist. Having already donated money to the Australian Basbetkall leauge to ensure the compeititn's survival, he's committed to shelling out $100,000 fo the season which equates to 100 tikets every game. Bogut donates these tickets to hardcore fans who in return for a fee basketball game must cheer the Bucks on like hell, stand, chant and wear Bucks Merchandise. Any fan not doing there job does not get to go to the next game.

Bogut was sick of seeing the Bradley Centre sound more like the State Library, and after seeing a bunch of fans singing in Huston decided to implement his '6th man idea'. hats off to Bogut for shelling out 1% of his sallary to donate something back to the fans of Milwaukee - and improve the culture of their home-floor. My only question. Why didn't the team owner do something like this?

Mr Bogut you continue to suprise me.

Top Performers

Andre Igodula - 28 pts (8-15), 3/5 3ptrs, 6 rebs, 5 asts, -9 rating
Tyreke Evans - 26 pts (7-14), 12/14 FT, 5 rebs, 6 asts, +1 rating
Dirk Nowitzki - 24 pts (9-15), 7 rebs, 8 asts, +30 rating
Jason Kidd - 16 pts (5-6), 2-2 3ptrs, 8 rebs, 10 asts, 5 stls, +24 rating

The MAYNE MAYNE is

Kevin Durant - 33 pts (10-21), 5/7 3ptrs, 5 rebs, 3 stls, +4 rating

A lock for the all-star game. Could even make the starters.

NBA High Five

1. Philly has 'The Answer'

After announcing his retirement not more than 2 weeks ago, Allen Iverson's brief basketball hietus is over. Coming to terms on a one year deal with the Sixers, Iverson will suit up on Monday in Philidelphia against the Nuggets.

It appeared Iverson's services were not needed by any team, but the Sixers (the team for which he has played the majority of his career) are missing Lou Williams, and are languishing near the bottom of the ladder. Put it this way..it can't get any worse for the Sixers - so bringing in a one man offense should improve a team who is not winning anyway. Sure his game is not suited to championship winning team basketball, but currently the Sixers are no where near a playoff calibre team.

It's a good fit for everyone, the ony other possible team, the Knicks, made their intentions clear that Iverson wouldd not be part of their plans. So the circle of basketballl is complete. Iverson returns to the place where he made a name for himself, rejuvinating the franchise after the post-Barkley era and ensured his entry into the Hall of Fame. On Monday he'll dust off his ol' number three jersey and take on the team he was traded to as part of the deal for Andre Miller. Iverson helped bring the Nuggets into the playoffs but they could not make it out of the first round.

Not only that, but he'll match up against Chauncey Billups, the player Denver traded A.I for as part of a deal that sent Iverson to the Pistons and brought Billups to the Mile High City. The Nuggets have flourished wiwth Billups while the Pistons went south quicklly with Iverson in the lineup - creating the stigma that team's are better off without Iverson in their line-uo.

To say this game on Monday night vs the Nuggets  and Billups means something to A.I is a massive under-statement.

2. Andrew Bogut's impact

I am an Australian. Therefore I should love Andrew Bogut. Do I love him? Yes. I hope he becomes an all-star and wins a championship. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. But my oh my would i love to see it and that is why I'm so critical of the man.

For an Australian to be drafted number one is a massive deal. Not only faced with the pressure of being a key franchise guy, Bogut has to break, what I call, 'The Luc Longley Assumption'. That is that Aussies only make it to the NBA if they are big, they don't need to have any coordination and are just required to play solid defense, put back a few missed shots on the boards - and are supposedly excellent passing big-men becuase of their international experience.

Bogut is slowly but surely breaking that trend. While I'm still not convinced of his overall athletic ability - although compared to Luc Longley Bogut looks like Kobe Bryant, Bogut is beginning to demonstrate how valuab le he is. Without Bogut in the line-up the Bucks lost all of their games. Bogut comes back early from injury and immediately his impact was felt. Not only did was he key to the Bucks win vs the Bulls (most importantly), he also put up some big numbners - 24 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks.

What this clearly demonstrates to me is that Bogut can play. He just needs to be given the ball in better spots and needs to be integrated into the offense more effectively. That is why I['m all for a Michael Redd trade. I'll take anyone. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Redd is too much of a one man offense - a shoot first volume shooter. While I think his play is more adaptable then Iverson's and I think he'll succeed and help a team if put in the right situation, it's pretty clear that Redd is no longer a good fit for the Bucks.

Brnadon Jennings and Andrew Bogut are a great combo for the two man game. Both feed off each other and look comfortable on the floor together. Redd on the floor causes everyone to look uncomfortable. Is it a pho-par to suggest a Ray Allen for Michael Redd trade? What about sneding him to the Pacers for Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy? Meh. maybe not. But there has to be a deal that the Bucks can work. Move Michael Redd, build around Bogut and Jennings, bring in some role players and look to have some cap room to make a play on a free-agent this summer.

3. Records are made to be broken

Tonight could be the night.

The New jersey Nets, currently tied for the worst start in the history of the NBA at 0-17, tonight host the Dallas Mavericks. If they lose they will be the sole holders of the record.

 While it's not a 'oh that's awesome' someone broke Wilt's scoring record kind of deal it is still a record. And I'll still be thinking 'oh, awesome!' closely followed by a 'Man they suck!'.

Truth be told the Nets aren't that bad a team. Don't be suprised if they set two records in two years. Firstly this year for the worst start to an NBA season and possibly the worst season record ever, but next year they could set the reocrd for the biggest turnaround - eclpsing the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.

The Nets have a lot of parts, have been decimated by injuries and have major salary cap space. Imagine this team next year with Devin Harris (insert James, Wade, Bosh here), Brooke Lopez, Courtney Lee and Yi Junlian as a starting five.Thats a good team. In fact - better than good - you could say it could be th ebest starting five in the league. Then you have Rafer Alston as the backup PG and Douglas-Roberts to provide a scoring punch off the bench.

So remember this moment NBA fans - the New Jersey Nets - perhaps embarking on the beginning of history, Everything for them starts tonight. Pity Lawrence Frank, won't be around to see it.

4. The All Nba Drunk-stars

In celebration of Ron Artest admitting he used to drink at half times in his early Chicago Bulls days let's roll out the all-time best.

PG - Jamal Tinsley
SG - Vernon Maxwell
SF - Ron Artest
PF - Carlos Boozer (haha)
C - Vin Baker


5. The All Nba Weed-stars

PG - Allen Iverson
SG - Josh Howard
SF - Rasheed Wallace
PF - Chris Webber
C - Charles Oakley

Top Performers

Antawn Jamison - 30 pts (12-22), 12 rebs, +15 rating
Danilo Gallinari - 27 pts (10-19), 6/12 3ptrs, 10 rebs, 2 blks, +19 rating

The MAYNE MAYNE is

Ray Allen - 27 pts (6-9), 5/6 3ptrs, 10/10 FT, 5 rebs, 5 asts, +20 rating

All hail Jesus Shuttleworth!

NBA High Five

1. The rise of the 07 Draft Class
Kevin Durant (#2) is looking like a monster. Greg Oden (#1) already looked like a monster, but now he's starting to play like one. Al Horford (#3) has added post moves and a solid 16 foot jumper to his impressive inside game. Then you have the suprises - Joakim Noah (#9) has become on the best hustle big-men in the game, Thaddeus Young (#12) can fill fill up the box score on any given night.
Even down lower you have two promising point guards - Rodney Stuckey (#15) and Aaron Brooks (#26) have cemented their spots as team playmakers for teams looking to rebuild.
Oh yeah - and I forgot to mention Big Baby Davis taken 35th and Jarrod Dudley taken 22nd who is having a fantastic season on a rejuvinated Suns team.

2. A slice of Allen Iverson Anyone?

Wouldn't A.I be the perfect Thanksgiving gift. Or is now just a big fat turkey who'll put ihs teammates to sleep? Maybe teams like the Knicks are worried about picking him up because they are already tanking, but if you remember the A.I in Detroit experiment. I say to any team wanting a high draft pick. Pick Iverson up, let the rest of the team take the season off and let him play 1 on 5. IT sure as hell will be entertaining and you'll still get your draft pick in June.
3. The Rose-Hendrix Garden Experience

Portland is by no means the largest city in the United States. Considering what the supporters have ednured over the years, The Bowie draft pick, falling just short vs the Pistons and the Bulls and nearly toppling the early 2000's Lakers juggernaut and the still to be decided 'hit-or-miss' Oden draft choice, you really have to hand it to the supporters and the city. This place gets packed out.

Its seemingly like any typical stadium on the outside, situated just across the river from Downtown, it has all the hallmarks of your typical modern day arena. Its all Rip City though baby.The colours, the lights, the pumping heart-beat of the backing music. This is their house.

A unique tradition to Portland is the ceremonial game ball passing. Each game a section or row of seats gets chosen and the ball gets trasferred from the prominade level and is passed down person-by-person until it gets to the court. Its's a nice touch and really amps everybody up. it kind of makes you feel that basketball is something to be treasured and that it is a sport not just for the mere mortal.

The announcing for the most part is just on the right level. Too often court announcer's are asking everybody to 'get on your feet and make some noise'. If this happens maybe twice a game fair enough, just don't tell us when and how to support our team ok?

Portland do make good use of all the facilities a modern areana can provide - personalised sound bites for each player (We love L.A - for Lemarcus Aldridge etc), fun graphical stuff on the prominade ring, and funny animations on the scorebaord. I particularly liked the Flinstones - Bam Bam! for the Defense chant.

Different stadiums hanlde in game music in their own way. I personally enjoyed the Celtics homecourt the best. It's very understated with no in-game music - it does have the occassional 'Loud-o-meter' but for the most part it's a very traditional presentation. If you ever go to TD Garden just hope and pray that the Celtics are blowing out their compeition. If so you may spot 'Gino' busting out some disco moves on the big screen,

Portland's presentation was like a dance party. Not loud, but you really got a cool kind of electrified feeling from the bass-beat that gave the arena its own flavour. This was used only for the first 5 minutes of the game. A nice touch that possibily locals haven't noticed and are then found wondering why they are so involved in the game halfway through the first period.

The only thing I really hate about some arena presentations is the dropping of streamers after a regular season win. C'mon. If you are that desperate to celebrate your team shoudln't even win the championship. Leave the celebrating and falling tinsel until then. Portland do it, the Lakers do it. Just stop it.

4. Streaks

Pro Sports are a fantastic thing. There are so many things we can look at and turn into a story - a player putting up some big numbers, trade rumours, betting scandals, fantasy teams, singular highlights, trash talking, and a team's winning or losing streak.

This year we have a chance to make history. In what should more be in my 'Down Low' article i guess, the New Jersey Nets have a chance to get to the 0-17 mark which is the worst starting record in NBA history. What a great way it would be for the Nets to end their tenure in Jersey.

5. Top Performers

Kobe Bryant (Lal) - 34 pts (14-20), 4 asts, 5 rebs, 3 stls, +25 rating
Monta Ellis (G.S) -37 pts (15-29), 8 asts, 4 rebs, 4 stls, +8 rating (11 turnovers)
Danny Granger (Ind) - 36 pts (11-27), 7-13 3ptrs, 5 asts, 9rebs +/- 0 rating

The MAYNE MAYNE is...

Antawn Jamison (Was) - 32 pts (13-23), 3 asts, 14 rebs, +7 rating

The whily vet is back in action for the Wiz. This guy gets down and dirty but has the outside touch to boot. With Jamison back holding court the Wiz are set to rebound from a less than impressive start.

NBA High Five

In the words of George Costanza after eating some peaches 'I'M BACK BABY!!'

I've spent a week up in Portland checking out Voodoo Donuts, Mt. Hood, spawning salmon, sturgeons, a huge book store and, oh yeah, a Blazers game.

I also ventured down to San Jose to check out the Sharks play the Flyers and then headed north to San Francisco for some Golden Gate Bridge-Alcatraz-China town-Dim Sum-vampire tour action.

1. Is Brandon Jennings being hyped up too early?

Hmmm. B.J is doing the job for the Bucks leading his team to a 8-4 record (currently good for 5th in the East), but I think it has more to do with the type of player he is than his overall ability. Asides from a win against the Denver Nuggets  the Bucks have had a pretty light schedule. Every team they have played has no defensive first philosophy - maybe asides from the Bobcats, and the style of play has really been conjusive for putting up points in bunches. I'd say the Bucks look like a 7th-8th seed at best though. They haven't beaten anyone asides from a depleted Nuggets lineup who were playing the 2nd game in a back-to-back, the first a gruelling contest in Chicago.

All the hype has been around Jennings and his unique story - a man who left the States to play in Europe, sruvived and matured, and came back to be taken in the middle of the 1st round of the 2009 dradft and put up 55 points in a game, the 5th best ever by a rookie, the best since 1968, and the best ever by a Buck (even usurping Kareem Abdul-Jabaar - at that tim Lew Alcindor).

Look. just throttle back everyone. Sure it's a sexy story but the NBA and the media are too eager to crown a rising player as the next big star. Ten years ago we were all talking about Vince Carter and looked what happened to him. Sure he's a decent player but he certainly didn't turn into the next Michael Jordan torch carrier. Despite Vince falling short, he has had a great career with numerous all-star performances and any young player such as Jennings would be lucky to have a career as good as Vince's.

Jennings has been annointed more due to circumstance. Asides from the schedule being nice, Jennings had to pick up the scoring load as the Bucks have absolutely no other creators on their team. Michael Redd's injury is the best thing that could have happened to the team in actual fact. Redd is a good player, but he's got Allen Iverson disease - he's a scorer, a volume shooter who removes every other player on the team from the offense.

The best evidence of this is the play of Andrew Bogut. Despite playing with Redd for 3 solid seasons, he always looked lost on offense - possibly feeling that he'd be more productive munching on some chili fries while riding the courtside seats on offense. Now with Jennings running the offense, Bogut looks so much better.

This is what Jennings provides the team and is the reason why they are winning, not because he can score and has put up some big numbers on the scoreboard. Any player playing poor competition with the ball in their hands 95% of the time on offense can put up those kinds of numbers. Just relax everyone - let the kid settle into the season, which we all know usually sees rookie's effectriveness dip after the all-star break.

To sum up: Brandon Jennings is a good player that still has a long way to go. He is only been annointed as a star due to circumstance. Let's hope this helps make him better and doesn't crush him.

2. Kobe Bryant - the finest cut of all the Bryant's

I have a fond memory of watching a Sun's telecast with Dan Majerle behind the mic as the analyst. As a time-out was called and they replay the defining score for the last 2 minutes and they cut to commercial Dan Majerle yells out in Wedding Crashers style 'MAA! THE MEATLOAF!!!'

Kobe Bryant is anything but meat loaf. Kobe is still the finest slab of meat on the block, his daily massages loosening him up and enabling him to maintain a standard of play that so few are gifted to demonstrate..

Against the Thunder on Sunday night it was vintage Kobe. If you haven't seen the game make sure you jump on Youtube and check out some of the higlights packages that have been put together. He put together so many highlights he could have filled out a monthly Top 10. He'd have them all if Dwayne Wade had not have exploeded over Anderson Varejo.

This season Kobe seems to really be evolving his game so that he can still be a dmoninant force for years to come. If you remember one Michael Jordan, he used to be considered a ball hog in the late 80's, costing him a couple of MVP trophies - but he was playing on a team that was developing and he had the ball in hands just so much, Kobe's story has followed Michael's to a tee. Jordan became a low post force later in his career and Kobe has now taken over that role in the triangle offense. Another 3 peat anyone?

3. Thanks for the tickets Rich!

A massive high five has to go to Rich in Portland who shouted me a couple of tickets for the Blazers-Pistons game. Awesome seats, centre court ten rows from the front on the players side. Rich has been following Portland and a season ticket holder since the Blazers first entered the league in 1970.

A great night was had by Sherry and myself. Despite the game being sub-par, it was great to see Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and Lemarcus Aldridge doing their thang. Ben Gordon and Charlie V. also looked pretty comfortable in their new Piston duds.

4. Don't jump ship too early sailor!

I dont know why everyone is so quick to jump off teams who have been consistently doing it for the past 4 years. Sure the balance of power does change over time but I can't believe how teams like the Spurs, Hornets and Jazz have been rankede so poorly recently.

The Spurs know how to get it done and are a playoff team. Gee Pop knows that the regular season counts for little (despite possibly menaing more this season than in any other) due to his aging lineup. The Spurs are yet to play with a fully healthy roster. If the Spurs are 100% healthy come April watch out for this team. Imagine if they fniish 8th, take on the Lakers and win the first game of the series. How quickly will everyone change their tunes then?

The Hornets and Jazz are not top 4 teams, but they will still make the playoffs. Chris Paul and David West are just too good a tandem to not make it. Same goes for any team run by Deron Williams. Boozer has been ordinary, but the Jazz have been severly hit by the injury bug. They willl be back in a big way as the season settles in.

Washington's ranking really blows my mind, they are ranked down near the bottom yet they defeated the Cavs. Sure they may not grab back my pre-season predicted 4th spot in the East. But they are still definitely a playoff team. A new coach, injured players, returning stars still finding their way - it's going to take time for the Wiz but they will be in the mix come playoff time. Trust me.

5. Top Performers

Tyreke Evans (Sac) - 28 pts (10-18), 7-7 FT, 4 asts, 4 rebs, -12 rating
Rudy Gay (Mem) - 24 pts (10-17), 8 rebs, 3 stls, +15 rating
Tim Duncan (S.A) - 24 pts (9-17), 12 rebs, +12 rating
Lemarcus Aldridge (Por) - 24 pts (10-16), 13 rebs, +16 rating
Matt Bonner (S.A) - 23 pts (7-10), 6-8 3ptrs, 6 rebs, +26 rating
Al Thornton (Lac) - 31 pts (11-16), 9-9 FT, 10 rebs, +6 raing

The MAYNE MAYNE is...

Greg Oden (Por) - 24 pts (7-8), 10-12 FT, 12 rebs, 2 blks, +7 rating in 27 minutes

Has Greg Oden turned the corner? Recent numbers suggest so. Maybe picking Oden over Durant wasn't such a bad thing after all.

San Francisco Day 2

It was a bit of a walk down to Pier 33. Pier 39 was only 15 minutes from our Hotel, but Fisherman's Wharf is just huge. Down at Pier 39 they have heaps of seals which Sherry hates to see because they remind her of me burping.None of the shops were open and with the grey mist that was lingering the place had a kind of eary feel to it. We then walked down to Pier 33 which was where the boat to Alcatraz was to depart.

The ride over was pretty uneventful. We couldn't see much due to the mist, but we could see Alcatraz nicely as we got closer to it. Funny that.

Upon disembarking, we had to hear some safety information and we then walked up to watch an introductory video. Seeing the island was amazng. I just had images of 'The Rock' movie, and the Tony Hawk game on NDS going around in my head so I had multpile reasons to be intrigued by he place.

It would have been frustrating for SHerry, who had already been here twice, as I was taking so long just looking at some of the officers quarters, the cannon that was used if invaders came up the pathway in a landrush.

After wanderinr around the outside for a bit we ventured into the cell block area. Here you get headsets which act as the guided tour. Pretty good stuff here hearing about the inn mates. Al "Scraface" capone stayed here after being caught. Before he came here he had it pretty easy in another prison, but once transferred here was treated just like everyone else. I still wonder why the guards here could not be corrupted where as they could be in the other prisons.

Apparantlyone of the cells in cell block D is haunted. This was mentioned by a girl on last night's vampire tour. I went into that cell - the ghost must have been out in the yard excerising as I did not sense anything.

After the self guided tour we then walked around the remainder of the island where we saw swome good views of San Francissco and the Bay Bridge which connects Oakland to San Fran.

After purchasing a harmonica and a replica aluminium coffee mug we caught the ferry back to the mainland. We hasd alook around the shops, Sherry bought a few christmas gifts at the Leftorium shop. Then it was a mad dash to the airport.

It was crazy because the GPS couldn't direct us exactly and the road directions to the car rental return place were rather ordinary. We firstly ended up heading away from the airport - then turned around and drove their but then the return area was way awayfrom the airport. We parked the car and the guy then took about 20 minutes to process our car return - fully checking out all the details - the only thing he didnt do was dismantle the engine and check the wear on the pistons. Time consuming as - I'm glad we werent th people behind us who looked to be in even more of a hurry.

Our flight took us via Phoenix - I think I spotted Copper Square on our flight out of Phoenix. We arrived back in Santa Barbara at around 9.30pm.