30 Dec 10 All-NBA Teams: Let The Arguments Begin

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesEach year, the NBA names 15 players to its three all-NBA teams. With half a dozen games left, Ill indicate whom I would pick. I know that people will disagree with some of my picks. That fine. I will not spend much time discussing the no-brainers. Ill focus on the close calls. But first, a couple of preliminary explanations:No David Lee: In terms of his individual statistics, David Lee belongs somewhere on the three all-NBA teams. Just last night he had an incredible line of 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
assists! In a losing effort. To the Golden State Warriors. The point is, it is extremely difficult to evaluate a player production on losing teams playing meaningless games. Would Lee average 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds on the Cavaliers or the Lakers? Not a chance. Hed play, of course, and no doubt be a valued contributor, but it impossible to tell at what level. My all-NBA teams will strongly reflect the league best and winningest teamsthey will consist in the players who did the most to make those teams among the best and the winningest. No one makes my list whose team isn currently projecting to a minimum of 45 wins. Sorry David.No Denver Nuggets: But there are a few teams who make that mark who aren represented, namely Denver, Portland, and Milwaukee.People will scream about Carmelo. Well, sorry, but Melo is only second on his team in overall production, in terms of season totals (he behind the steady Nene). He missed 13 games, yet Denver has managed to cruise along without him. In fact, Denver has managed to cruise along in spite of Melo 13 missed games, Chauncey 9 missed games, Kenyon Martin 21 missed games (and counting), J.R. Smith 7 missed games, and Ty Lawson 17 missed games. It a remarkable testimony to George Karl coaching skills, as well as to Nene and Chris Anderson, whove basically been the steady reliable guys.But the result is that Denver, who project to 53 wins and the 7th best record in the NBA, do not have one guy who has the overall numbers (season totals, not averages) to justify, in my mind, a spot on one of the all-NBA teams. Similar factors apply to Portland. Milwaukee just barely makes the cutoff of the best teams, in any case, and they have been a very balanced team rather than a team led by one standout player.OK, then why does Pau Gasol make your list, who has missed 17 games? The Lakers have won more than Denver, and Gasol contribution has been significant enough to warrant his inclusion.How can you have Tim Duncan as a center? Because he plays center. In fact, San Antonio has no other centers on their roster. They persist for some reason in listing McDyess as their center and Duncan as their power forward, but Duncan jumps center at the beginnings of Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
games, he defends the other team center, and he is defended by the other team center. A rose by any other name is still a rose.I have allowed myself some flexibility in positions, with the focus on choosing the best five players for 1st team, the next best five for 2nd team, etc. Josh Smith plays the four for Atlanta, but I think we can all agree that he can play the three without any difficulty, so if I can make a better all-NBA second team with Smith at the three, that where Ill put him.One last note: I do not necessarily consider that the players listed below are the best players at their positions. I believe they are the players who have earned their spots on the 2010 all-NBA teams based on their contributions to their teams success. Thus, I believe that Brandon Roy is a better player than Joe Johnson, but I have Johnson at 3rd team all-NBA because Roy has missed 15 games and because the Hawks have been better than the Trailblazers. OK, so here are the teams:1st TeamF: LeBron JamesF: Kevin DurantC: Dwight HowardSG: Kobe BryantPG: Steve Nash*2nd TeamSF: Josh Smith*PF: Dirk NowitzkiC: Pau Gasol*SG: Dwyane WadePG: Deron Williams*3rd TeamSF: Lamar Odom*PF: Carlos BoozerC: Tim DuncanSG: Joe Johnson*PG: Rajon Rondo* The asterisks indicate the choices where I expect some contention. I have already discussed Joe Johnson and Josh Smith (also Tim Duncan at center). Ill talk about the other controversial choices.I assume that for almost everyone, four players are a lock for 1st team (James, Durant, Howard, and Bryant). I don care that James and Durant both play the three. A team with Howard, James, and Durant on its front line would have no rebounding problem, nor any problem defending the other team four. Im betting that people will not like the choice of Nash on 1st team. Let me say, first of all, that for me Nash is barely ahead of Wade, Deron Williams, and Rondo, and that the last half-dozen games could scramble the places of those four entirely. Is Wade the second best guard in the NBA? Certainly, but I feel that, as of right now, Nash has earned the 1st team spot, by a slight margin.For now, the fact is that the Suns are tied with Dallas for 2nd best record in the tough Western Conference, they project to win 54 games, they do it mostly with offense, and like it or not, Steve Nash (not Amare Stoudemire) is the key to their offense. Nash is one of the most efficient and productive offensive players in the NBA, and throwaway players from other teams (Frye, Dudley, even Grant Hill) come to Phoenix and suddenly look like top-notch offensive players, because of Nash.If Amare ever does finally go somewhere else, I think we will see a different player without Nash to get him the ball in those pick-and-rolls. Does Nash suck on defense? Pretty much, but the Suns are able to cover enough for his weaknesses that they still average 4.7 points per game more than their opponents. Should Nash have won back-to-back MVP awards? No, but we can keep punishing him for that. He is a great offensive player. Im also guessing that some folks in Laker nation will actually object to Gasol being 2nd team, and Odom being 3rd team (and Im Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
aware Odom mostly plays the four, but it a given that he can play the three equally well). All I can say is that without their production, L.A. would not have the second best record in the league. Is Odom better than Carmelo? No, but he's done as much to maintain L.A. at the top as Carmelo has done to maintain Denver near the top, but not quite. I guess some folks will object to Rondo, but again, without Rondo, there no way the Celtics would be where they are. That about it. Let the carping begin! Release the Kracken!

30 Dec 10 All-NBA Teams: Let The Arguments Begin

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesEach year, the NBA names 15 players to its three all-NBA teams. With half a dozen games left, Ill indicate whom I would pick. I know that people will disagree with some of my picks. That fine. I will not spend much time discussing the no-brainers. Ill focus on the close calls. But first, a couple of preliminary explanations:No David Lee: In terms of his individual statistics, David Lee belongs somewhere on the three all-NBA teams. Just last night he had an incredible line of 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
assists! In a losing effort. To the Golden State Warriors. The point is, it is extremely difficult to evaluate a player production on losing teams playing meaningless games. Would Lee average 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds on the Cavaliers or the Lakers? Not a chance. Hed play, of course, and no doubt be a valued contributor, but it impossible to tell at what level. My all-NBA teams will strongly reflect the league best and winningest teamsthey will consist in the players who did the most to make those teams among the best and the winningest. No one makes my list whose team isn currently projecting to a minimum of 45 wins. Sorry David.No Denver Nuggets: But there are a few teams who make that mark who aren represented, namely Denver, Portland, and Milwaukee.People will scream about Carmelo. Well, sorry, but Melo is only second on his team in overall production, in terms of season totals (he behind the steady Nene). He missed 13 games, yet Denver has managed to cruise along without him. In fact, Denver has managed to cruise along in spite of Melo 13 missed games, Chauncey 9 missed games, Kenyon Martin 21 missed games (and counting), J.R. Smith 7 missed games, and Ty Lawson 17 missed games. It a remarkable testimony to George Karl coaching skills, as well as to Nene and Chris Anderson, whove basically been the steady reliable guys.But the result is that Denver, who project to 53 wins and the 7th best record in the NBA, do not have one guy who has the overall numbers (season totals, not averages) to justify, in my mind, a spot on one of the all-NBA teams. Similar factors apply to Portland. Milwaukee just barely makes the cutoff of the best teams, in any case, and they have been a very balanced team rather than a team led by one standout player.OK, then why does Pau Gasol make your list, who has missed 17 games? The Lakers have won more than Denver, and Gasol contribution has been significant enough to warrant his inclusion.How can you have Tim Duncan as a center? Because he plays center. In fact, San Antonio has no other centers on their roster. They persist for some reason in listing McDyess as their center and Duncan as their power forward, but Duncan jumps center at the beginnings of Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
games, he defends the other team center, and he is defended by the other team center. A rose by any other name is still a rose.I have allowed myself some flexibility in positions, with the focus on choosing the best five players for 1st team, the next best five for 2nd team, etc. Josh Smith plays the four for Atlanta, but I think we can all agree that he can play the three without any difficulty, so if I can make a better all-NBA second team with Smith at the three, that where Ill put him.One last note: I do not necessarily consider that the players listed below are the best players at their positions. I believe they are the players who have earned their spots on the 2010 all-NBA teams based on their contributions to their teams success. Thus, I believe that Brandon Roy is a better player than Joe Johnson, but I have Johnson at 3rd team all-NBA because Roy has missed 15 games and because the Hawks have been better than the Trailblazers. OK, so here are the teams:1st TeamF: LeBron JamesF: Kevin DurantC: Dwight HowardSG: Kobe BryantPG: Steve Nash*2nd TeamSF: Josh Smith*PF: Dirk NowitzkiC: Pau Gasol*SG: Dwyane WadePG: Deron Williams*3rd TeamSF: Lamar Odom*PF: Carlos BoozerC: Tim DuncanSG: Joe Johnson*PG: Rajon Rondo* The asterisks indicate the choices where I expect some contention. I have already discussed Joe Johnson and Josh Smith (also Tim Duncan at center). Ill talk about the other controversial choices.I assume that for almost everyone, four players are a lock for 1st team (James, Durant, Howard, and Bryant). I don care that James and Durant both play the three. A team with Howard, James, and Durant on its front line would have no rebounding problem, nor any problem defending the other team four. Im betting that people will not like the choice of Nash on 1st team. Let me say, first of all, that for me Nash is barely ahead of Wade, Deron Williams, and Rondo, and that the last half-dozen games could scramble the places of those four entirely. Is Wade the second best guard in the NBA? Certainly, but I feel that, as of right now, Nash has earned the 1st team spot, by a slight margin.For now, the fact is that the Suns are tied with Dallas for 2nd best record in the tough Western Conference, they project to win 54 games, they do it mostly with offense, and like it or not, Steve Nash (not Amare Stoudemire) is the key to their offense. Nash is one of the most efficient and productive offensive players in the NBA, and throwaway players from other teams (Frye, Dudley, even Grant Hill) come to Phoenix and suddenly look like top-notch offensive players, because of Nash.If Amare ever does finally go somewhere else, I think we will see a different player without Nash to get him the ball in those pick-and-rolls. Does Nash suck on defense? Pretty much, but the Suns are able to cover enough for his weaknesses that they still average 4.7 points per game more than their opponents. Should Nash have won back-to-back MVP awards? No, but we can keep punishing him for that. He is a great offensive player. Im also guessing that some folks in Laker nation will actually object to Gasol being 2nd team, and Odom being 3rd team (and Im Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
aware Odom mostly plays the four, but it a given that he can play the three equally well). All I can say is that without their production, L.A. would not have the second best record in the league. Is Odom better than Carmelo? No, but he's done as much to maintain L.A. at the top as Carmelo has done to maintain Denver near the top, but not quite. I guess some folks will object to Rondo, but again, without Rondo, there no way the Celtics would be where they are. That about it. Let the carping begin! Release the Kracken!

29 Dec 10 Five Reasons Why LeBron James Might Not Come To New York or New Jersey

Chris Graythen/Getty Images1) No City Clause in His Nike ContractWithout comparison, LeBron biggest source of income comes from his Nike contract, which he recently re-signed without a city clause in it.Many athletes have included city clauses in their contracts in recent years to ensure that they get fairly Philadelphia Eagles jersey
compensated if they expose a company brand to a larger number of people as a result of playing in a major market. LeBron wasn interested in this, which begs the question, why not? 2) He Will Be 26 This DecemberIf LeBron decided to sign with the Knicks or the Nets, it would probably be at least two years (and most likely longer) before he had any chance at winning an NBA title. LeBron knows that there only one way to achieve basketball immortality, and that to win NBA titles. Do you think he wants to wait until he 29 before he has another reasonable chance at winning an NBA title? The Cavs just won the Eastern Conference.3) He Does Not Want To Be Painted With the Alex Rodriguez BrushThings started to go downhill for Alex Rodriguez when he signed a $200-million contract with the Texas Rangers.Prior to that deal, Rodriguez was simply viewed as an unbelievable talented young ball player.After that deal he was viewed as a money-hungry prima donna.Had Rodriguez stayed in Seattle and signed a very high yet Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
not overly excessive contract, one could only assume that his image would be less tarnished than it is today.4) Other Teams Also Have Money To SpendThe Knicks and the Nets have a ton of cap space this offseason. But theyre not the only two teams with cap space.Miami, Chicago, and Oklahoma Cityall of whom have made the 2010 playoffswill also have a large amount of cap space.And what about the Cavs?They will have plenty of money to VERY fairly compensate LeBron throughout the duration of his next contract. 5) How Do We Know if He Likes New York? Many people are simply assuming that LeBron likes the New York/New Jersey area, but how do we know that for sure?Not everyone likes New York or New York sports fans.For all of the players that have signed with theSan Diego Chargers jersey
Yankees and Mets in recent years, there have been many more that have had no interest in playing in New York.LeBron has spent his entire life in Ohio. In New York the atmosphere is different, the people are different, and the culture is different.Some people like that difference and some don.

28 Dec 10 Celtics Need The Bench to Stop LeBron

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesLet's start by stating the obvious, the Celtics are an old team by NBA standards at least.The Celtics went on a downturn at the end of the season, that had analysts and fans all accepting the end of the Celtics current run of domination. Then, the Celtics found their NBA Playoff Fountain of Youth, beating the Miami Heat in five games.Not many people thought the Celtics could make the Cavaliers series competitive. The Celtics fed those doubts Saturday night. After game 1, the Celtics let a late lead slip away. The New York Jets jersey
claims of old legs led the headlines.Last night the Celtics repeated their impressive performance, this time completing the victory and evening up the series at 1 -1 .The start of the series has everyone wondering if those old legs of the Celtics can last long enough to win the series. The key may not be the old legs, but the young ones coming off the bench.In game 1 of the series, the Celtics starters played a total of 196 of a total 240 minutes. Game 2 the story changed, with the Celtics starters only playing a total of 180 minutes. That's a difference of 16 minutes, a little more than a full quarter. The Celtics closed out the game strong, winning by 18 points.The difference doesn't stop with just the number of minutes played. The Celtics bench only put up 12 points in the first game of the series. The Oakland Raiders jersey
Cavaliers back-ups more than doubled that total with 26 points.Game 2, the benches canceled each other out with 27 points each. The benches will be crucial. By giving the 'Big Three' an opportunity to sit, the Celtics keep their ability to win down the stretch. It also puts the pressure back on the Cavaliers.Unlike many on the Celtics bench, the Cavaliers lack real playoff pressure experience. Mo Williams carried the pressure of high expectations into the post-season, after a disappointing performance against the Orlando Magic. Jamison must deal Philadelphia Eagles jersey
with real championship expectations for the first time.Now that LeBron reportedly must deal with an injured elbow, the pressure increases.Game 3 will be critical to winning the series. With a win, the Celtics would be in position to take control of the series with another game in the TD Garden. In order to accomplish that, the Celtics bench, will have to continue it's winning ways.

27 Dec 10 Pau Gasol Delivering Spectacular Postseason Quietly, Efficiently

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesPau Gasollacks the forceful personality and handsomefeatures that made Magic Johnson such an icon in Los Angeles.What Johnson didn't have, though, was Gasol's wonderful post game.Gasol may not be George Clooney in a jersey, but his interior offensive playoffers Houston Texans jersey
alesson inbeauty.Gasol laid his skills outfor all to see in the fourth quarter of LA'sWednesday night victory over Phoenix. Just as the Suns seizedthe tempo, Pau and Kobe Bryant went to work.Their two-man pick-and-roll game caused fits forthe Phoenix defense. The scorekeeper should have prematurely awardedLA two points, just to save everyone time, whenever Gasolshowed the high screen.Pau made the right move on each offensive series, either rolling off the initialcontact and beatingthe defensive switch by at least a step, or flashing to the bucket after recognizing that Phoenix hadovercommitted to thepick.His signature post move, where with the ballslightly abovechest level he shows left, spins right, and shoots with the left hand high, also worked wondersin Game Two.Gasol clinched the contest with an array ofuncontested lay-ups and baby left hooks. He benefited from a handful of Bryant's spot-on passes. But Gasolconsistently found the right spot.It's a recurring theme in his game.With his stellar performance on Wednesday, Gasol finally enjoyed the solo spotlight for the first time in his Lakers tenure. While he's always received justified credit for pushingLA from a run-of-the-mill club to a championship contender, Pau has rarely dominated the closing minutes of a close game in such a primetime atmosphere.Blame Kobe for being too good of a closer, I guess.As the Lakers closed to within two games of their third consecutive Western Conference championship, all with Gasol roaming the low block, the national viewing audience finally observed a loud showing from the passionate player. It was a showcase worth discussing around the office, or at the gym, or on campus the next day.Damn, that Pau Gasol can play basketball, theyd say. Truth is,throughout the headline filled 2010 NBA playoffs, the man has softly been plugging along at an MVP-caliber pace.Gasol basketball IQ on a given night is better than most point guard on a career night. If you cloned his brain, and sent four other position players with the same mental makeup on the floor, hardwood fans would never turn the channel.Itd be a lovely show, filled with a smorgasbord of crisp passes to backdoor cutters, leading to effortless bucket after effortless bucket. The back to the basket play and splendid ball movement would make any coach, from pee wee to the pros, rewind the action and hit record on the DVR.You couldn teach such precision without a visual aid.Gasol is a superstar, though his team Indianapolis Colts jersey
oriented game sometimes fails to get the point across. There no stat line for the heady passes and great positioning that make life easier for other scorers.Paunever misses a slasher and rarely forces the issue with the ball in his grasp. He an interior jack of all trades-calculated but often flashy, patient but quick to spot the open cutter. While the talent is pure, his postseason play has been even richer.Gasol second season stat line, 21-12-4 on 58 percent shooting, looks pretty darn good from the outset. Dig deeper and youll find that he posted four straight double-doubles going head-to-head with Carlos Boozer in LA lopsided, second round series sweep over Utah.He shot under 50 percent in just one of the Lakers 12 playoff games. He made up forthat rocky 47 minutes and 59.5 seconds by tipping in a Bryant miss, in the right position once again, for a series clinching win against Oklahoma.The general public knew Gasol, along with fellow tree Andrew Bynum, caused nightmare problems for opposing coaches. The public also knew that Pau could play.But they didn know he could dominate. Surprises can be fun to witness.The bullet points of his excellent 2010 playoff resume (series clinching bucket, manhandling Boozer, and picking apart a Suns team everyone had come to fear) Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
stacks up well against any ball player recent body of work.If not for Rajon Rondo well-rounded masterpieces and Bryant consecutive scoring flurries, Gasol would be the toast of the playoffs.If he keeps up this extremely high level of play, Gasol could hoist a Finals MVP trophy sometime next month. As part of the honor, hell have to give a postgame speech on the platform as confetti showered the court.Pau will probably make that look easy, too.

26 Dec 10 Fountain of Youth: Rivers' Plan Keeps Celtics Healthy and Fresh

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesHe not the best coach in the NBA, and he not the best coach remaining in the playoffs (both of those honors go to Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers.)He isn some master whiz with X and O, and he not the new coach on the block looking to make a name for himself.But he isReebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
exactly what the Boston Celtics needed.Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has proven to be the valuable piece that Boston has needed to ensure that the Celtics Big Three didn go out on a down note.After Christmas, as Boston struggled to a 27-27 record and losing seven of 10 games down the stretch heading in to the playoffs, the basketball world had conceded that the window had closed for Boston and that the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett was over the hill and that their NBA talents were now no longer sufficient to compete for a title.In many ways, those fears and concerns were valid, as Boston could never maintain any consistency, and home losses to teams such as the New Jersey Nets had the Celtics closer resembling the 2007 debacle rather than the 2008 championship team.Rivers is not the greatest coach to walk the planet. He not the coach that can come in and totally alter a franchise that is down and is filled with young, developing players.If you want proof of that, just look at his track record with the Celtics prior to the 2008 season.It was a team filled with talented, young players such as Kendrick Perkins, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and others like them.But, once he was equipped with a veteran team, the wins for the Celtics began piling up and the Celtics hung championship banner number 17 from the rafters of the TD Bank Garden.Looking back, Rivers was a mere side note on the 2008 squad, as the common belief was that anyone with a basic fundamental understanding of the game of basketball would be able to win with a roster that featured three future Hall of Famers.However, as Boston Big Three aged and injuries caught up to the them, it was Rivers who proved to be arguably Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
the most important piece for Boston as the team looks to grab its second national title in three years.Unlike many coaches in professional sports, Rivers has a firm understanding and appreciation for all 15 of his players, and he not only understands how they all fit into his system, but he also understands how each and every one of them functions.Rivers understood as the Celtics struggled through a dismal second half of the season that, as long as his team was healthy, he could develop a game plan that his starting five would execute, and he knew that his starting five, when healthy could matchup with any team in the league.While the rest of the world doubted, Rivers stayed the course, believing that, at some point, all of the regular season struggles were going to pay off and that the Celtics had what it took to make noise come playoff time.I thought it was the right plan, Rivers said. But it didn look right because we were losing. But guys were resting and conditioning, and I thought that was the only chance we had.Rivers knew what he had, and he knew what needed to be done to extract the best out of his squad.According to Allen, even when the superstar laden Celtics resisted the idea of fewer minutes and reduced roles, all in the name of getting healthy, Rivers insisted that the team would stay the course and would not falter.As players, we kind of fight a little bit, Allen said. We need to do this, we need to do that. Doc would come in to the locker room and say were not changing anything. He stuck to the script the whole time.Even though Boston stars wanted to play and they wanted to experience the immediate success on the court that teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic were experiencing, Rivers knew that by forgoing playoff positioning and regular season wins for health and fresh legs, his team would be far better equipped to compete come playoff time.In many situations, NBA players would revolt, fight back, and reject their coach if he suggested limited roles, especially of the team was losing like the Celtics were down the stretch.But Doc Rivers is a master motivator, and even when there seems to be nothing left, he knows how to pull every last bit from his players, a talent that only Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
a handful of NBA coaches have.His steady hand, his motivating speeches, and his thorough understanding of the players on his team enabled Rivers to put the Celtics in a situation to achieve something that most NBA fans never thought possible.Following the Celtics Game Six win over Orlando that propelled the Celtics to their 21st NBA Finals appearance, Rivers said that, as a unit, his starting five had never lost a playoff series, and he knew that, when healthy, he had one of, if not the, best team in the league.While he is not the best coach patrolling an NBA sideline, Rivers is one of the best coaches in the league.Had it not been for Rivers, Boston would not be where it is today.Just maybe, as the Celtics prepare to play for their league-leading 18th NBA title, Rivers is the most important piece Boston has.

25 Dec 10 Los Angeles Lakers Favored Big Over Los Angeles Clippers Tonight

Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Lakers will open their seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. With both teams playing at the Staples Center, it may look like an away game for the Lakers, but it certainly won't feel like one. The current NBA odds have the Lakers favored by eight points over the Clippers with the over/under sitting at 206.The Lakers have now won two straight since losing four in a row and could be primed to go on another big run. With the return of Andrew Bynum to the lineup, Pau Gasol Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
and Lamar Odom will not have to continue playing long minutes, which will be beneficial as they have looked a little worn out early in the season. Gasol, who is averaging just under 15 points over the last five games, surprisingly looked fresh in the Lakers' win over the Wizards last night, scoring 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks.Kobe Bryant went for 32 points on 12-23 shooting last night against the Wizards. It was his best shooting performance since Nov. 17th when he went 11 of 20 against the Suns. However, he was just 1-6 from three-point range and has really struggled from downtown lately, only making two of his last 15 attempts.Tonight will mark the first game for the Lakers against Blake Griffin, who has really been outstanding to start the Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
2010 season. Griffin has been a highlight waiting to happen, averaging 25.6 points and 13.6 rebounds so far. He will face a tough challenge, however, going up against the sizeof the Lakers.The Clippers will be a little light on the depth chart tonight, as center Chris Kaman re-injured his ankle, Brian Cook is serving the second game of his suspension, and Baron Davis is a game-time decision. The Clippers beat the Spurs at home last Wednesday without Kaman and with little help from Cook and Davis, but are going to need a monster game from Griffin and Eric Gordon to take down the Lakers at less than full strength, especially with all the size the Lakers have down low.I think the tempo of this game will decide who wins. I believe the Clippers have to play at a fast pace to win this game. The Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Lakers are a bit of an older team and don't always handle playing well on back-to-back nights, but if they can slow the game down and avoid getting into a shootout, I think they will easily take home the win.Can't decide who to take against the spread? Check out what our experts have to say in their highly rated NBA picks.