Carmelo Anthony (photo. Mannion)They looked good for a half, but the Mavs eventually folded under Denver’s hailstorm of buckets and dropped another game to a playoff-contending team. (They’re 0-9 against above-.500 squads since the Jason Kidd deal.) You don’t want to harp on Dirk’s absence, especially when Josh Howard scored 30 and the Kidd-Terry-Stackhouse backcourt trio combined for 51, but when the Nuggets went on a huge run and started pulling away in the second half, the Mavs desperately needed someone like Dirk who will — assuming he’s hitting — get the tough baskets and just generate points when no one else can … Carmelo Anthony (32 pts, 10 rebs, 8 asts) went off during that second-half run. Avery Johnson tried a mix of Kidd and Howard on ‘Melo, but everyone was getting the business … Kidd finished with 19 points (3-for-5 from deep), 15 dimes and 5 steals. He’s not supposed to be able to shoot, but it’s easy for any NBA player to make a few when you (namely, Anthony Carter) don’t even pretend to guard them around the arc … Did you see the play where A.I. (32 pts) threw a lob for J.R Smith, who caught it and did a full 360 in mid-air after the catch (not during) before laying it in? If “The Prodigy” had been able to dunk that, it would have been the play of the year … With 1:17 left and the Nuggets just putting the icing on the win, Nene made his return after a lengthy absence while battling cancer. Great moment for Nene by the crowd and his teammates for showing him a lot of love. He’ll get a few minutes here and there this year (especially if Denver makes the playoffs), but the real target for Nene’s return as an impact player will be next season. Hopefully he stays healthy and in shape over the summer … When they were showing the fans holding up signs for Nene, there was one camera shot where a guy in the background looked like a young Giant Gonzalez. You might not have recognized him without the muscle suit … Brandon Roy is so good and knows the game so well, you forget he’s only in his second year. We say this because while his Blazers were looking overwhelmed against Golden State, we were saying the team was missing a veteran leader who would keep them focused in a hostile environment. The first person we thought of to fill that role is B-Roy, but he’s just a kid himself … If Stephen Jackson (24 pts) played a style that lends itself to becoming exhausted, i.e. Gerald Wallace or Shawn Marion, we’d be worried about him getting hurt with the way Nellie’s been running him. After playing every second of that overtime game against the Lakers, S-Jack played 42 minutes … It kind of hurts Isiah’s record as a good drafter when Channing Frye goes from Knicks building block to getting dunked on in garbage time by Austin Croshere in the span of three years … Brandan Wright had the green light to fire away in garbage time. He couldn’t hit a shot, but he did show some Antawn Jamison-like ability to get up near the rim twice in the time it takes most guys to jump once. The more we see of Wright, the more we like him … Earlier in the day, The Oregonian’s Jason Quick relayed a story about Greg Oden getting in trouble with Nate McMillan for playing pickup ball at a 24-Hour Fitness. “I know he is excited to be moving again, but as I talked to him about it, he said ‘Coach, I promise I wasn’t running hard,’” McMillan said. “And I was like - ‘I really don’t care.’” We get the feeling that no one around the Blazers would care if Darius Miles started balling at the gym with the regular folk … Forgive us for not paying attention, but when did Cheryl Miller become “Cheryl D. Miller”? After CDM interviewed Captain Jack after the final buzzer, he asked, “Where’s Reg at? Where’s Reg? He’s supposed to be here!” CDM said her brother couldn’t get a flight … Chris Webber was in the TNT studio and recalled a story about Nellie from his rookie year. One time Nellie wrote “125″ on the board and said, “If we score this, we’ll win.” … Sometimes you have to make an unappealing game appealing. Throughout the day at the Dime office we were coming up with all kinds of scenarios for the Pistons/Heat matchup. Could the Pistons win by 50? Could the Heat fail to crack 60 points? Could Chauncey Billups actually make Chris Quinn cry on the court? Could Ricky Davis put up a missed shots/turnovers double-double? Could Mark Blount become the first man to play an NBA game wearing flip-flops? Could there be a juncture when the worst Piston on the floor was better than the best Heater? (Really, they call them “Heaters”) … Turns out the game wasn’t nearly that interesting. The Pistons were down at halftime, but turned it on when they had to in winning 85-69 and clinching the Central Division in the process. Chauncey took it easy on Quinn, playing facilitator (11 asts, 13 pts) most of the time … Miami’s starting five: Quinn, Ricky Buckets, Blount, Kasib Powell and Earl Barron. Yes, this was an NBA game … Pat Riley is gonna miss Miami’s next two games on one of his scouting trips. Maybe Riles is doing the right thing, getting a jump on the other Lottery teams. Maybe Sam Vincent, Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Randy Wittman be taking some games off for the Big Dance … North Carolina 20-pieced Washington State in the Sweet 16, but their offense — which had been dropping triple digits on the regular — was held to just 68 points. Tyler Hansbrough put up 18 points and 9 boards … Louisville blew out Tennessee as Chris Lofton (3-for-15 FG’s, 2-for-11 3PA) went out like John Starks … Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee also had the ratchet out (7-for-29 FG’s), but Tyrone Brazelton (31 pts) kept WKU battling with UCLA despite Lee’s struggles. Oddly, the Bruins didn’t really pull away until after Darren Collison fouled out. Kevin Love put up 29 points and 14 boards. Forget athleticism; that kid is gonna be a good pro … The best game of the night was Xavier/West Virginia. Joe Alexander stuck a baseline banker plus the foul to tie things up with 14 seconds left, but bricked the free throw. In overtime, Alexander got the assist to open up the scoring, but then fouled out 30 seconds later. Without their star, WVU fell behind, and found themselves down by one with about 30 seconds left. Xavier was inbounding on their own end of the court, and just as it was reaching the five-second count, completed a super-risky crosscourt pass to B.J. Raymond, who stepped into a three that proved to provide enough cushion for the win … Yesterday on DimeMag.com we hit you with the second installment of “Bracket Tales.” This time Darvin Ham recalls his star-making dunk that shattered the backboard against UNC in 1996 … Did you hear that Stanford’s Robin Lopez is dating Michelle Wie? … Have you seen Tags: Brandon Roy, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, chris lofton, Greg Oden, J.R. Smith, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Kevin Love, Nene, Ricky Davis, Stephen Jackson and Tyler Hansbrough
| Posted in Smack | 
March 28th, 2008 at 5:09 am
YOUNGFED says:
Wasn’t Belineilli supposed to be that deal. I’m really gettin’ tired of these over hyped overseas players. STOP DRAFTING THESE LAMES SO HIGH.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:12 am
K-HOVA IS THE WACKEST NICKNAME EVER says:
Please retire it - now
- KB
March 28th, 2008 at 5:16 am
YOUNGFED says:
BREAKING NEWS:
Rapper T.I. pleaded guilty to two counts of of illegally possessing machine guns and silencers, and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm shortly around 1:30pm this afternoon during an Atlanta court appearance.
The rapper, born Clifford Harris, Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, 2009 at which point he will receive a sentence of one year and one day, so long as he meets all of the conditions of his plea agreement, ordered U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pannell, Jr.
Under the agreement entered, T.I. will also serve a total of 1500 hours of community service, divided in increments of 1000 hours before his sentencing, and 500 hours after he completes his prison sentence.
He will in part use the sentence as an opportunity to speak to “at-risk youth,” encouraging them to obey the law and avoid situations similar to those he has reportedly faced since 1997.
“We believe this resolution is in the public’s interest,” said U.S. Attorney David Nahmias following T.I.’s plea, adding that his agreement to speak to young people should prevent and deter some from committing crimes and ruining their own lives.
The Grand Hustle CEO was also fined $100,000. Once he begins his prison sentence sometime next year, T.I. could have his sentence reduced by about two months, or 15 percent of his total sentence, for good behavior.
T.I. remains on house arrest, where he has been since posting a $3 million bond in October 2007.
Should he fail to meet the terms of his agreement, he faces a sentence of up to 57 months in prison.
Additionally, if Judge Panell feels that the rapper has not accepted responsibility for his actions, he could face an additional 40 months in prison, for a total of 97 months.
YOUNG FIZZLE “your friendly neighboorhood reporter”
Keep yo booty tight TI. lol
Naw really best wishes to you son.
I’m out like TI’s rectal virginity. LMAO
March 28th, 2008 at 5:17 am
YOUNGFED says:
K-HOVA lives. Fuk all the lames. BITCHESSSSSS!!!!!
March 28th, 2008 at 5:56 am
YOUNGFED-TMZ says:
I …….am an idiot. I love telling stories of everything except basketball. Then I post weak nicknames and repeat them hoping they catch on, but they don’t. Then I call everyone bitchesssss and put a shout out to “all my haters” even though nobody gives a fuck. I will post 80 times an hour then pretend I have a job or women……but I don’t.Hopefully, I will just go away.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Younghovafed says:
My nicknames be da bomb sun. I do have’s a job I work as fry guy at MickD’s on da weekend hater. Hova be a great nickname. One.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Youngfed lost his anal virginity long ago says:
Yes Yes he did
March 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am
miamiVIS3 says:
I laughed so hard at “Maybe Chauncey will actually make Chris Quinn cry”
March 28th, 2008 at 6:59 am
YOUNGFED says:
BIGUP to allmy Haters looks like the copy cat is back.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:09 am
YOUNGFED says:
PS if you wanna say something to me or about use your own name cuz I already know who it is. YOU FUKIN’ LAME.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
s says:
Ricky Buckets - love that name.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Ronan says:
Chris Quin is actually doing a respectable job at the point. He can pass, shoot and hustle on D. Watch his steal numbers over the last two games. His shooting is streaky but if people actually watch the games they’d see he’ll hanging on in the league.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:55 am
word says:
alright back to ball.. WTF HAPPENED TO TENNESSEE??? holy fuck that was ridiculous, 90000 t/o’s, horrible shooting, it was painful to see. Well looks like UCLA and NC are in the finals, with NC probably taking it. I wonder if Curry going to make it rain tonight,
Could Ricky Davis put up a missed shots/turnovers double-double?
^^ lmao, he probably could.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:05 am
tobacher says:
u guys (rightly) criticize shaq for bashing quinn and then go on to bash the kid even worse urselves?
March 28th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Dennis Castro says:
I still think Belinelli can ball, it’s just he doesn’t fit this style of play I dont think. But the Warriors have a great young core with Ellis, Wright, Beindrins, Bellinelli.
Ellis is great to watch play. He can get to the rim anytime he wants and he has a decent mid-range game. I think Doug Collins said it last night that if he gets a 3 pt game, he could take his game to the next level.
But what was up with those crescent moon blowouts? That ish looked wack.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:37 am
YOUNGFED says:
Belinelli is a bum with a jumpshot…Period.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:45 am
You are lame says:
Youngfed, you are so lame it’s beyond ridiculous. Every time I read daily dime I am guaranteed to find your name among the first posts… and you add really nothing to the forum besides your professed homosexual love for kobe and the moronic name you gave him. I feel like you have no life so I’m not gonna hate anymore because you probably have no life (as witnessed by your multiple daily posts) so I don’t want to crush your feelings.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:53 am
dagwaller says:
Never saw Bellinelli play this season, kind of a shame. Him OR Wright, actually.
Sorry, Youngfed, but the imposter (and I think we all know who it is) is hilarious.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
dagwaller says:
Although that last one was pretty harsh.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
YOUNGFED says:
Naw Dagwaller, that shit don’t faze me cuzin. Plus dude ain’t even from America so no comment on someone who lives in a 3rd world country who’s Hatred for me is boderline ridiculous. Anytime someone is that fixated on what I’m doing, we call that stalkin’. He’s nothing but dirt on my shoulders and I handle him like Jigga.
PS. That shit is a lil to lame to funny son. Get money and stop hatin’ cause BALLERS don’t do the lame shit you doing kid.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am
GEE...How dare you touch the personage of a King! says:
Before spraining an ankle Monday, LaMarcus Aldridge had scored at least 20 in nine straight games. Even next year, Aldridge figures to be the team’s primary low-post option on offense, which would free Greg Oden to focus on rebounding and defense.
Now if Portland does that, then perhaps I can see them making the playoffs, but just don’t know about G.O.
Check this it’s just messed up the Heat are catching it from all sides:
There was a serious discussion in the FOXSports.com newsroom about how the Heat’s active roster last Wednesday (Chris Quinn, Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Daequan Cook, Earl Barron, Bobby Jones and Joel Anthony) would fare in the NCAA tournament. The consensus? Definite Final Four contender!
Dannnnng Homey!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:16 am
GEE...How dare you touch the personage of a King! says:
Houston up!
1,2,1,2 and I say…
I am rooting for Dallas to make it and hopefully oppose Houston, cause with Dirk or without I feel that is Houston’s best chance.
After that, perhaps Denver or Golden State, then Utah possibly.
Don’t want to deal with Lakers, The Suns especially, or San. An and now have to add N.O. to that list because Alston done went and pissed off / motivated West.
Still whoever Houston gets in the playoffs, I am rooting for the win and I expect Houston to go hard.
10
March 28th, 2008 at 11:52 am
High Release says:
youngfed = Sideshow lopez (minus the over-hyped golfing girlfriend, of course).
Speaking of robyn, how different the Marquette/stanford game could’ve been if he’d been T’d up as quickly as Louisville’s Knowles was for his single outburst at Tennessee last night. Would’ve shut that prick’s mouth up real quick. Now we all know what it’s like to have an obnoxious lame bitch screaming in our faces all night long.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
for real says:
I got Kansas over ‘Nova, Mich. St over Memphis, Davidson over Wisconsin (but only if Curry gets 33 or more) and Texas sending the Lopez Sisters back to the Sorority House for final exams.
Who you got???
March 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Brown says:
How can you comment on Belinelli without ever seeing him play? The Warriors are stacked at the 2-3 positions, and Nellie has a reputation for not playing rookies. Monta Ellis is a big-time player, which is why he got so much PT as a young player, but Nellie wasn’t even the coach in his rookie season. Belinelli is a rookie who can’t take time away from Jackson, Harrington, Ellis, Pietrus or Barnes. That’s not the easiest rotation to crack, especially for a guy drafted in the 20s.
Europeans are typically overrated though, look at Milicic, Tskitizvili, Korolev, Bargnani, etc. Danilo Gallinari is expected to be a first rounder this year, possibly even a top 10 pick. There’s no way I’d waste a pick that high on a European given the other players available, but some stupid GM will take that risk and set his team back another season or more.
Belinelli might fit into this category, but you can’t make that judgement yet.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
the kid says:
I think that YOUNGFED is hilarious. What makes him even funnier is the way people hate on him and then he says, “big ups to all my haters!” LOL…comedy. K-Hova!
Anyways. That Coach Don Nelson note is hilarious, but does he really think that the Warriors can win a chip with that style of play? I don’t know, but what I do know is that I love watching that team play…Imagine Don coaching the nuggets… “150. If we score this we’ll win.”
March 28th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
doc says:
If Jr woulda dunked that pass it definitly was POY material.I’m rockin with Nova tonight they repping Philly. And look out for my nephew Lik Waayns he gonna be Nova starting point in 2 years because he going to 12 next year. I like Memphis because Rose nice and I’m feeling Douglass-Roberts.Sixers gonna bust the Suns ass tonight.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Austin Burton says:
Doc, you know we did an article on Maalik Wayns a few issues ago, right?
March 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
Y’all really need to work on your replay watching skills, JR did a 180 after catching the ball, which would make it a 360 DURING the catch at BEST