Portland Trail Blazers dominating the West

Even after losing All-Star Brandon Roy to an injury-induced early retirement, look who's on top of the Western Conference early on this NBA season: The Portland Trail Blazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and eight rebounds and Portland clamped down on Oklahoma City in the second half to knock the Thunder from the top spot in the West with a 103-93 victory on Tuesday night.
The Blazers are the only team in the West without two losses this season.
"We've got a lot of players that can do a lot of different things," said Wesley Matthews, who added 16 points.
"You can't replace Brandon Roy, with all of the things that he did for this organization and the community itself. But we've got a lot of guys that can play and are willing to."

LA Clippers have great O, but no D?

New Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul made the playoffs three times in his six seasons as a New Orleans Hornet, never winning fewer than 37 games or more than 56.

Things changed offensively each year, Paul recalled -- sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. But the other side of the ball didn't waver.

The lone constant in the three seasons that featured playoff runs: defense.

"The thing about those teams was always our defensive intensity," Paul said Sunday, after the Clippers' 93-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. "Even last year. It's all about defense, and that's the thing that we've been preaching to each other day in and day out."

According to his new teammates, Paul's been doing a lot of that preaching.

Rookie Norris Cole...Something to look at?

Last Tuesday night, rookie Norris Cole stepped to the foul line with 9.3 seconds left, set to clinch the game as cries of "M-V-P" rained down upon him from the sold-out stands.
No, this wasn't a scene from his days at Cleveland State.

Taking over in just his second NBA game -- and with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all on the floor, no less -- Cole scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including three huge jumpers down the stretch to save the Heat in a 115-107 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

Rose leads Bulls past Hawks in 74-76 victory

     With Derrick Rose having a big fourth quarter for the Chicago Bulls, everyone expected the reigning NBA MVP to take the final shot with the score tied. Instead, it was Luol Deng who got the game-winner in the closing seconds. Deng's layup with 3.7 seconds left lifted the Bulls to a 76-74 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

     Rose scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Bulls from a 19-point deficit. Coming out of a timeout, Deng cut along the baseline and took a feed from Joakim Noah to put Chicago ahead. Turns out the play was designed for Rose after all.
     Coach Tom Thibodeau said they were obviously tring to get the ball to Rose. But they took that option away. Deng made a good cut a Noah made a good pass.

The NBA is back!!

The league posted an outline of what the schedule would look like on its Twitter pages Sunday. The plan is a 66-game regular season, ending about 10 days later than usual. The last possible day of the NBA Finals would be June 26, two weeks later than the cham
Teams would play 48 games within their conference and 18 outside their conference. Teams will not visit every NBA city.
pionship series ended last season.

Duke's Coach K record's 903 carreer wins

Tuesday was about 903, but Mike Krzyzewski's,( also known to the world as "Coach K") career is so much more than numbers. Tuesday night the Duke Blue Devils played against the Michigan State Spartans. At this game was a lot of hype and emotion the legendary Mike Krzyzewski was coaching against his former coach who as well has over 300 wins .Cheek to cheek, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight hugged, a player and his coach celebrating a big win. Coach K became Division I's winningest coach when No. 6 Duke beat Michigan State 74-69 on Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic.

Who is UCONN's new star?

Shabazz Napier was battling a fever, had just one assist and six turnovers while watching an 18-point Connecticut lead shrink to eight on Monday night.

Then he decided to take over.

Napier scored seven points in an 11-2 run that put the game away and the fourth-ranked Huskies went on to beat Wagner 78-66, the 13th consecutive victory for the defending national champions.

Napier, who finished with 21 points, said his teammates were slowing the game down, and he decided enough was enough.
Jeremy Lamb added 20 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies (2-0), who have never lost a game at Gampel Pavilion during the months of November or December.

Harrison Barnes graces ESPN magazine cover

In a normal year, he would have been snatched up in the lottery and signed to an NBA team. But this is not a normal year. The NBA lockout has assured that he'll donate at least one more year of pro bono highlights, going against the flow of one-and-dones and returning for his sophomore year. And he's not alone. Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, Kentucky's Terrence Jones and Baylor's Perry Jones III are among the other second-year stars who delayed their draft entries.

No rookies on NBA 2k12?

Due to the NBA lockout, no rookies will be included in the video game "NBA 2K12." If/when the lockout ends, an online roster update will put everybody into the lineup, but for now, the only number one picks that are going to end up on virtual courts are going to be the ones created by gamers in 2K's popular My Player mode.

Whos the better foward? Durant or Melo?

Despite being two of the most natural scorers in the game, Kevin Durant and Carmello Anthony use entirely different physical skill sets to put up huge numbers. Their bodies are completely different, and as a result so are the ways they are defended.
Neither Durant nor Anthony is perceived as a tremendous leaper, but each player's hops are an essential part of his game. Durant actually needs to jump very high. With a standing reach of 9-foot-6, his fingertips are just inches from the rim without ever having to leave the ground, allowing him to power home dunks with minimal effort. Despite an excellent vertical that measures at about 33 inches, the 6-8 Anthony is highly susceptible to getting his shot blocked. When he plants with two feet, his mechanics can be a little slow and telegraphed. He also is not the quickest leaper. He led all small forwards in getting his shot rejected last season. But Melo is at his most effective with a running start from outside the lane.
On a rate from 1 to 10 ( 10 being the best) : Melo= 8.5   Durant= 9

NBPA to file antitrust action?

The NBA players feels the Ultimatum made by the league  is completely unfair and it's ridiculous that they would even give an ultimatim. They are going to file an antitrust action suit againt them feeling that this is all wrong. Litigation is better than negotiation.

The proposal

Joined by superstars Kobe Bryant and Carmello Anthony, player representatives from NBA teams gathered to meet Monday to discuss the league's proposal for a new labor deal.
If the player reps endorse it, it would go to a vote of all players. If approved by players and then ratified by owners, the lockout would end, and a 72-game season would start Dec. 15. NBA superstar for the Dallas Mavericks, says, "If we can't reach a decision, we are willing to give up the entire NBA season," according to ESPN.

Where will Dwight Howard land, if he leaves Orlando?

It's the biggest question about the biggest guy in Orlando's lineup: Will Dwight Howard re-sign with the Orlando Magic or continue his quest for an NBA title elsewhere?
In an interview with Esquire magazine, the Magic center, who becomes a free agent next summer, said he feels "stuck in a tough position" between his love for Orlando, where he has played his entire career, and his desire to play in a larger market.
Dwight Howard still remains unsure about where he will end up, and is not sure if he wants to leave Orlando.

Is Kevin Durant better than Kobe Bryant?

You can not put Kevin Durant ahead of Kobe Bryant. OKC's star is the best scorer in the league and at 23 still oozes potential, but Kobe is a better distributor and defender, and at his position is a better rebounder.

Denver Nuggets going Overseas?

DENVER -- Wilson Chandler will have some company in China this season. Fellow Denver Nuggets free agent J.R. Smith is following him overseas.
Another teammate, Ty Lawson is taking his game abroad as well, electing to play in Lithuania. Unlike Chandler and Smith, Lawson will be able to cut short his overseas adventure should the lockout end in time for there to be an NBA season.
The NBA owners and players are divided over a salary cap structure and have made no significant progress in talks to end the lockout. No more meetings are scheduled.

Even if the issues are resolved in time for there to be a 2011-12 NBA season, Chandler and Smith won't be able to return to play in the NBA until the end of the Chinese season, which runs through March.