Photo. MannionHow long before Dwyane Wade snaps? Flash had a monster line against Orlando last night: 48 points, 11 dimes, 7 boards, 3 blocks and 3 steals, and the Heat still lost. Granted, Shaq (hip) wasn’t available to help with the Dwight Howard (29 pts, 21 rebs) project, but Miami can’t waste a D-Wade career night like that … With is team down by three at the end of the fourth, Wade took the side inbounds and handed it right back to Daequan Cook, who stuck a man-sized triple to force OT. We’re assuming that was how the play was drawn up, so if Cook had missed, how many people would be questioning Pat Riley’s play call this morning? If that wasn’t how the play was drawn up and Daequan missed, D-Wade is getting flak for not taking the shot himself, even though we all know he’s not exactly Mitch Richmond with his long-range game … Earl Barron got the start in Shaq’s place. Barron didn’t score, only got 2 rebounds, didn’t block a shot and got beasted by Dwight, and yet his plus/minus (+14) was tops on the Heat. That’s why you can’t put too much stock into those stats … Kobe scored 31 on the Jazz and had his way with everyone Jerry Sloan tried to put on him: C.J. Miles took a few jumpers in his eye, then Ronnie Brewer and Memo played John Starks and Oakley to Mamba’s MJ on a play where he knifed through them to set up a fading finger roll … You knew nobody (except Camby) was gonna play any D in Nuggets/Warriors last night — Denver cracked 100 before the end of the third quarter, and GS ended the quarter with 97. Forget Warriors/Mavs, how crazy would a Nuggets/Warriors playoff series be? Remember when A.I. and Vince were trading 50-point games back in their ‘01 series? Denver vs. Golden State could get like that, with any number of guys capable of going off on huge scoring binges … Iverson dropped 39 last night, including the go-ahead bucket on Baron Davis when he skated past Boom Dizzle (29 pts, 13 asts) with a stutter-step and banked in a jumper … Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan moved Ben Gordon back to sixth man duty before his first game at the helm, and BG responded by dropping 31 on the Bucks in a win. Gordon was said to be a little salty about the “demotion” (no surprise), but we wanna know how Pete Myers feels after being teased by John Paxson with the interim job … Did you see the move Yi Jianlian put on Luol Deng? Yi got him with a fake-pass that had Deng running off in another direction before Yi pulled it back and hit a jumper. Shades of Duncan/Mutombo last year … Gerald Green finally got off the bench and threw down a nice windmill dunk on a breakaway against the Blazers. We’re assuming G-Money will get to defend his Dunk Contest crown in New Orleans in ‘08, which will probably be the most time he spends on a basketball court in front of a crowd this season … The Wolves lost, of course, becoming victim #12 on the Blazers’ win streak … Don’t sleep on the Hornets, who are ripping into everyone they’ve played over the last couple weeks (which, granted, has been some pretty weak competition). The Bobcats got the gas-face last night in what had to seem like a road game for them even though it was in Charlotte. Between Chris Paul (17 pts, 11 asts) being in his native North Carolina and the Wake Forest football team being in town for a bowl game this weekend, it was a pro-CP/Hornets crowd. We heard that Chris had to get about 500 tickets set aside for his people … Is it too late to put Nazr Mohammed (15 pts, 14 rebs) in the Most Improved Player discussion? Can you win the award if you started off not doing jack in the same season that you had your breakout? … Why do teams keep letting Sam Cassell get to that same spot on the left elbow where he makes about 97 percent of his shots? You can almost see the video game “hot spot” marker on the floor when Sam’s out there. He hit a few of those on his way to scoring 21 against Phoenix, but the Clippers lost … NBA TV’s Andre Aldridge after a Shawn Marion dunk: “The Matrix goes in with his love.” Whoa … Don’t accuse Jarvis Hayes of not being tough. The guy’s been sick for the last few days with food poisoning, came in during the second quarter against the Pacers yesterday and dropped 13 points, then got sick again at halftime and never came out for the second half. Jarvis was available for a post-game interview on the Pistons broadcast, though, and we were kinda worried for the safety of the interviewer’s suit … You know, instead of giving Walter Herrmann minimal PT, would it kill the Pistons to sign Jalen Rose and let him take up that spot on the bench? … Whether it was Manu’s absence or something else, the Spurs didn’t have it last night. They were turning the ball over way more than usual (Tony Parker had 7) and couldn’t knock down shots they normally hit. (Brent Barry’s absence also played a factor.) The Raptors capitalized on San Anton’s off night and held them to just 73 points while picking up a big road win … Raise your hand if you seriously thought Kris Humphries (14 pts, 11 rebs) would amount to a legit NBA player … Jason Kidd put up 20 points, 8 boards and 12 assists against the Wizards, and during the game passed Kerry Kittles for third place on the Nets all-time scoring list. Kerry was actually second on the list a few weeks ago, but RJ passed him, too. We didn’t even realize Kerry put up so many buckets in his New Jersey career … Roy Jones Jr. practiced with the Knicks yesterday, wearing a #4 jersey because he’s predicting a 4th-round KO against Felix Trinidad. (That was decent of Nate Robinson to give up his number.) Roy talked to the team about bouncing back from adversity, citing his own struggles after he lost to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. Of course, Roy was never the same after those losses and is hanging onto a career he should have ended a long time ago, but what does that matter? Tomorrow’s motivational Knicks practice guest: Ricky Williams … We’re out like Golden State’s defense …
December 29th, 2007 at 6:13 am
jimmy says:
first!!
December 29th, 2007 at 6:29 am
YOUNGFED says:
-Who knows who has the most Trey-dubs J-Kidd or Lebron?
-How many minutes is Nazr getting for the bobcats it must be like 40 cause he’s getting double doubles like crazy.
-Dime it would be crazy to sign Jalen just to sign him plus Herrman is pretty good we just don’t have a need for him now and the Pistons are playing quite good.
-Also How many points did Yi have last nite.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Dominique says:
I hope Ariza will remain LA’s SF starter once Walton comes back from his injury. And with Walton outside the lineup, Odom can create more…
The Nets should trade Kidd, VC & RJ for some promising prospects & good ending contracts (Kidd 4 Kwame), and tank their season for a good rookie next year.
A.Wright, S & M.Williams, Nachbar, Boone are decent young players.
The current Nets team is just struggling for its first round exit. Milwaukee, Memphis, Chicago should also shake their roster.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Kobeef says:
20 more losses and the heat are almost certain to miss the playoffs..count with me..
What’s with Kwame stealing Bynum’s PT in his return? Stick with the kid phil. Lakeshow is 5th best in the league now.
Apparently TJ guarantees he will be back (I wonder what the docs recommended?) and Bargs gets back to the starting lineup and but still can’t rebound much.
Grizz need to make some trades…but wait till the end of the season cause this one is already toast…might as well go for the lottery.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Oz says:
Turkoglu:
Strengths: Cold blooded big shots
weaknesses: Celebrations after cold blooded big shots…
December 29th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Dominique says:
What about Antoine Walker’s celebration?
December 29th, 2007 at 8:22 am
doc says:
What about Melo gettin his shit swatted by Baron. If Melo swatted Yao shit we wouldn’t hear the end of it.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Logan says:
Great action last night… a few thoughts:
Miami is bad. Is there any chance that Shaq actually plays out his contract? Let’s hope not.
The Nets are bad…. but Sean Williams is going to be a stud in the right system. Can you imagine him running with a younger J-Kidd? I’m looking for big things from him.
Finally, the Raptors aren’t really that good either. They front like they are - and they get a lot of love - but San Antonio played HORRIBLY last night and they only dropped 83 on them. I’m not sleeping on CB4’s game, but he needs something else than a mismatch of european talent around him.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:07 am
thamilan says:
Logan is a damn fool, if u had seen the Raps vs Spurs game, u would know that most of the missed shots were 3’s by Finley and Udoka. Raptors were playing great D. You can’t hate on their European players either, Calderon and Bargnani. Calderon is one of the best PG, he barely gets any turnovers. Bargnani is only 21, imagine in 5 years. You’s a sucka, u can’t judge a team on studying the box score bitch…
And Youngfed…J.Kidd obviously has more triple doubles than Lebron this year. Kidd is usually a few rebounds shy of a 3-2.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Who says:
Odom for Vince Carter? Help out both teams
December 29th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
jz_smoove says:
ummm, Nachbar aint that young baller no more and those other young playas they have are just plain garbage outside of Sean Williams. Kris Humphries would plain destroy those other fools easy. Still NJ should really start rebuilding.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
apollo 33 says:
way to put a lot of pub out for the raps taking it to san antonio on their home floor, giving them their second home loss of the season.
the raps played some serious d, survived a huge run by the spurs after they had been up by about 16, and hit the big shots when they needed to. bosh didn’t play the entire 4th quarter and they went with bargnani, calderon, humphries, delfino and kapono vs. spurs’ best minus ginobli.
clearly none of you watched the game or you would have seen them completely deny TD down low and the only person able to do anything for the spurs was tony parker on cuts to the lane.
man up and give some love to the raps, if that was any other team holding san antonio to 73 on their own floor you’d be on their jock like nobody’s biz. i’m out like your credibility.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
bron42 aka Global-4A-Reason says:
doc do wee need to point out again, yao is 7′5! so its alot crazier when small guys block him. and he doesnt get tip blocked, his stuff is sent.
I played ball with roy jones out in vegas back when he was still nice and gonna fight angel morales…hes actually pretty nice, how long before the knicks cut somoene and throw him a contract?
dime, do you forget in college kris was chirped as the “next karl malone” just like marcus fizer and any other 6′9 guy who bench presses.
no love for iverson crossin up stephen jackson and then puttin a step back in his eye?
boki nachbar isn’t young or a prospect, people forget hes been around for a while and almost got his career ended in houston when rookie gerald wallace banged on him from the foul line with the kings. also boone is a softy.
I think hedo might have the best swagger of any euro player since petrovic. hes def one of the guys you can see hittin up the club after the game like he was walt frazier.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Brown says:
It’s official, the Raptors fanbase has more pussies than any other team.
Stop whining like a bunch of bitches. Do you realize how fucking stupid you sound?
December 29th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
D says:
Brown, sounds like your the pussy.
Good game from the Raps last night.
Obviously we benefited from Manu being out.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Str8baller says:
How come when other people say first nobody bitches. When I say first it’s like I killed your first born. This site is about bball. Lets keep this shit that way.
And by the way, Happy New Year y’all.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
dagwaller says:
Yea, doc, you have to remember - for Dime to write about a block, it has to be on Yao. It’s in the rules somewhere. Dwight Howard is exempt from such rules.
Be a little cautious on the D-Wade being angry front. Remember how long Garnett and Iverson were on bad teams? Hopefully Wade will have a bunch of patience and not skip out on his team. MOST other superstars have to struggle for years to even GET to the Finals, rather than have one of the most dominant players in the history of the game gift wrapped to him in his 3nd or 3rd season.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
dquestion says:
The Magic should bench Jameer Nelson and play Carlos Arroyo… Arroyo is flat out outplaying Jameer Nelson and every time Arroyo gets more playing time than Jameer the Magic win
December 29th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
apollo 33 says:
hey brown, name the part of getting some dap for my team sounds stupid, and maybe i’ll get off your mom long enough to take a look at it.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Apollo - lol, that shit was cold….but Brown does sound like a bitch. If any american team had gone into San Antonio, been up damn near 20, let em tie it up, then put the clamps on Tim and TP, force 20 turnovers, hit big shots(Calderon, Kapono, even Humphries got that fadeaway in the paint), with their top dog on the bench the whole 4th quarter, there would be 100 posts sayin that this team played well. Instead, we get ” the raps caught the spurs on a off-night”……….ok
Who - “Odom for Vince Carter? Help out both teams”
I see how Odom helps Jersey…..cuz they suck and a versatile dude like Lamar can play the 3-4 out east.
umm…Vince in LA? You gotta repost and tell me how that helps my Lakers……or why we’d make a move right now when we the 2nd hottest team out west
December 29th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
K-Dizzle says:
One more thing - props to Greg Popovich, the only dude with heart last night. Dude gets a t and walks off, thinkin he was dismissed lol only to come back and make sure he got the 2nd one. Who’s the Spurs’ mvp THIS season? TP, TD or Manu? this season
December 29th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
jamesinva says:
wow such respect and great writing on the hottest team in the leagure, the trail blazers…”blah blah victim #12 blah blah”…
its not about pickin favorites or anything but damn, you guys are journalists for a magazine and for a website. least you can do is do a little more than what you did about portland. pretty shitty coverage you guys
December 29th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
bron42 aka Global-4A-Reason says:
dizzle, it has nothing to do with the raptors not bein an american team, i mean come on, theres american players on the team so thats not the case. the case is raptors fans bitch no matter what. if dime doesnt say anything, if dime doesnt say enough, if dime says enough but just not wat they wanted them to say…always cryin about someone respectin the raptors like respect on here from writers really changes anything.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
What is this!? says:
I remember looking at the box score lastnight and feeling sorry for D-Wade. When you look at his stats, they show that the guy is doing all he can. Watching him reminds me of Iverson in Philly… Philly was lucky that A.I put up with 10 years of their nonsense, same with the Timberwolves and K.G. Hopefully things won’t get too bad, remember D-Wade only signed a 3 yr. extension with the Heat, so they might want to step things up before its too late.
Speaking of Iverson, the guy is balling out of control. It makes no sense to be that crazy. I live 45 minutes away from Oakland, so the game was on local t.v, and the game was real fun to watch. Yes, I did see Baron Davis block Carmelo, it seems like Carmelo is always getting blocked though, Brandon Roy blocked him the last game. No biggie. But towards the end of the game when Melo didn’t pass the ball and it resulted in a turnover, the commentators ripped Melo a new one. They said something like “Carmelo’s stubborness to pass the ball has resulted to a turnover, he acts like he can’t pass the ball, remember that he doesn’t have any assists tonight”. LOL!!! But on the real though, good win by the Nuggets.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Ian says:
k dizzle
i have to say its manu (sorry bron)
and yes raptors fans it was an off night for the spurs
cuz u all know that if that game mattered the spurs woulda blown u out plus no manu.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:16 am
Coldchain says:
James (#22) — The Blazers played the Wolves. Why would anyone watch that game when there were so many other games on last night? Quit whining and take the W.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:04 am
kowtz says:
How come when DWade drops 48, Miami Sucks…
But if Kobe drops 40, he takes too many shots…
What? Odom is a better offensive option than Ricky “BUCKETS”?
Hope LA develops soon,so that we could see BOS-LAL next Christmas…
Kwame is getting some tick, because he needs to increase value for trade bait…
December 31st, 2007 at 3:18 am
jamesinva says:
cold chain #26 im talkin bout respect with the streak. who cares who they played? i dont care if yall talk about the other games, thats fine. all im sayin is give props to who its due. i mean lets be realistic. im a HUGE trail blazers fan for the past decade, and this year with oden out for the year and still with a young team, i expected one of the worst records in the league. but now after beating philly thats 13th straight man. NOBODY expected this from this team, so all im saying is PROPS man.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:04 am
Brown says:
I just don’t understand why when the Raptors win, no matter who they beat, their fans get on here and bitch and complain because Dime didn’t write a fucking exposé on how great the Raptors are. And how come their fans are nowhere to be found when they lose to teams they should beat easily? Answer: pussies.