It's Gon' Get Dirk Nashty Tonight

It's so refreshing to see players who are tight both on and off the court. It's like hearing how everyone on Friends were really friends. You don't hear it very often with ballers so when you do and it's actually true - unlike Carmelo and Lebron's Nike sponsored friendship ("Uhh yeah, we tight.") - it makes you feel all warm and toasty inside. It's too bad Nowitzki and Nash are no longer doing the Texas Tandem together, but then again, it's great to see each guy coming into his own and stepping his game up another level. Let's hope though that this time, Nash remembers to not pass the ball to his old pal Dirk (11.16.04 @ Dallas: 10 turnovers).

By the way, while I'm very glad to see 4 really good teams play tonight (well, more like 3 1/2...actually, just 3 and KG), I hope all those All Stars playing tonight and this weekend don't get hurt. That means YOU, Steve! And what's going on with KG's knee? All I've been hearing lately is how KG shouldn't be playing at all right now. I know he wants to get the T'wolves into the playoffs, but I hope he's thinking long term too. I admire his effort and tenacity more than anybody, but at 28, he's not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Grant Hill lost some of his and Tracy's best years playing when he shouldn't have and the premature loss of KG would be devastating for the NBA and its fans. Okay, maybe not devastating but it would suck. BIG time.

T'wolves' New Head Coach: Herman Munster

Oh Kevin, what is going on with that suit?? Are you wearing shoulder pads?!?!

I'm not going to hate on Kevin McHale though b/c I think he could teach all those former players/executives/wannabe coaches/Isiah Thomas a lesson. I love, LOVE that he doesn't want to be the coach. He wants to be exactly what his job title says, VP of Basketball Operations. Period. In the J.Lo era where the number of hyphens in your job title is deemed more important than say, how you perform each job (and if you saw the Grammys you know the performance ain't good), it's gratifying to see someone singularly focused on doing the job at hand vs. half-assing this, that, and the other thing.

Vlade, the Yugoslavian Brad Pitt

Did you just almost throw up in your mouth, too?

Game Over (Flip)

A tribute to newly "relieved" Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders (I added in some cues where I thought some of his players might want to join in):

[Intro]
FuryAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
[Chorus: repeat 4x]
Game over, Flip, Flip, Flip, Flip, Flip, Flip, Flip, Flip
[Verse One]
KG: Ah shit, y'all done f**ked up and let me in this bitch
Spree: I'm just your average hood nigga with dreams of gettin' rich (But you don't hear me)
My crib big like a football field (football field)
You might f**k around and think I signed a football deal (But you don't hear me)
I take 15 minutes to drop a track (yeah)
Olowokandi: I take half a minute to load my gat (But you don't hear me)
I make 'em gloss all across the globe
Wally: I'm a pimp, I got your hoe takin' off her clothes (But you don't hear me)
Kevin McHale: A franchise like a Houston Rocket (Houston Rocket)
Every eight months is when I usually drop it (But you don't hear me)
I got the streets on lock, I like my beats with knock
You know my heat stay cocked, niggaaaaa
[Chorus]
[Verse Two]
Spree: Look, I'm a Cristal nigga and you a red-winer
Cassell: You just an opening act, but I'm the headliner (But you don't hear me)
I'm 'bout to ship 3 mill' off top
Spree/Cassell pointing to McHale: You got your deal off your man, I got my deal off props (But you don't hear me)
I'm connected like dub and Mach-10 with ice cubes in my watch
And dubs on the black Benz (But you don't hear me)
Wally/Trenton Hassell: I'm getting' paid 'cause I do all the work
It's rainy days if we don't move all our work, we go bizirk (But you don't hear me)
I'm on the block fam, in the cream drop Lam
Spree/Cassell: Mostly our cats with deals, y'all ain't hot man (But you don't hear me)
I'm 'bout to do it again, you 'bout to lose it again
It's show and tell motherf**ker, I'm a prove it again
[Chorus]
Spree/Cassell: The game over, 'cause shit about to change over
It's 'bout time 'cause hip-hop need a make over (But you don't hear me)
If most producers want to charge too much
But around my way that's how you get f**ked up (But you don't hear me)
You might think we all beats and rhymes
Troy Hudson aka T-Hud: But way before this rap shit, nigga, the streets was mine (But you don't hear me)
I got that hot shit, that "Thug Life" 'Pac shit
That get hot shit, that B.I.G. "Ready to Die" shit

Don't cry, Wally, don't cry.

Words of Wisdom from the Pro Bowl

Interview between Suzy Kolber and Carolina Panthers OLB Mark Fields before the game:

SK: So Mark, which Panthers team are we going to see next year - the one on the cusp of a Superbowl victory or the one that started 1-7?

MF: Oh definitely on the cups.

I think he's my new favorite player behind Hines Ward and Rodney Harrison.

Countdown to Valentine's Day

Since it's nearly Valentine's Day and all, I decided to give some love to some let's call them underperforming teams (ie. Hawks, Hornets, Warriors).

Quick question though: Who are these guys? No seriously.

Latrell Sprewell, The Thinking Man's Player

(Click to enlarge)

Not only is Spree a baller, he's an innovator as well.

Notes on Spurs-Nets

Pepe Le Pew Parker. A face that only Eva Longoria can love.

Anyway, onto the game. You know, you'd think that with the Spurs coming to down, the focus of the Nets would be on...I dunno, the game. However, spotted at the Joseph Abboud fashion show at Bryant Park by Page Six: Richard Jefferson, Brian Scalabrine, Nenad Krstic, and Lawrence Frank. Now Lawrence Frank is someone who could definitely use some fashion guidance (Exhibit A: http://nbasfinest.blogspot.com/2004/12/name-that-coach.html), but during the middle of the season, the day before the League's best record comes to town hardly seems like an appropriate time. Bill Belichick may catch some flack for his sweatshirt but here are some other words that go along with him: genius, dynasty, champion. I can't imagine Belichick going out to dinner let alone a fashion show the day before the Colts come to town.

Yes, I realize a 16 game regular season is very different from an 82 game regular season, but you wonder why some NBA players have trouble focusing on the game when their coaches are even dazzled by the lure of celebrity.

Now, really onto the game.

Look at Vince. So tough. So emotional. So into the game. Where was all that the last 7 years in Toronto? If I was a Raptors fan, I'd be suing his ass for failure to deliver on paid goods or something, anything to get my money back.

Bruce Bowen. His new name is Jesus because if he can get that reaction, any reaction out of Vince, clearly he can wake the dead. Now normally I'd be siding with the shooting player in a situation like this, but I think Bruce Bowen brings more to the game than say a Danny Fortson. I don't think his intentions are to purposely undercut or injure other players. Plus it's Vince. You can only take his histrionics so much.

Stud of the Month: Kyle Korver

1. He's the NBA's latest heartthrob
2. He's going to All Star Weekend (albeit via the 3 point contest)
3. He hit the game winner over the Pacers
4. He got 1,446 people to donate coats for a chance to meet him.

5. He even got AI to rock one of the kids' jerseys he gave away.


It's good to be Kyle Korver.

Tomorrow night: Lebron vs. Carmelo

Remember when this matchup was two-sided? Look how cute lil' Spike looks.