Archive for December, 2009

Top 9 NBA Moments of 2009

The Year of the Rematch, until it wasn’t, proved to be full of many storylines. Here are the top 9 of 2009.

9. Portland Trailblazers make the playoffs.

After missing the playoffs for six years in a row, the Portland Blazers finally made it back. This wouldn’t be such a big story if it wasn’t a team that had made the playoffs 21 years in a row before this dry stretch.

8. The Oklahoma City Thunder are actually competitive.

One season removed from being the footstool of the league, the Thunder thus far have a winning record; which is excellent if you are Clay Bennett, and demoralizing if you are a Sonics fan.

7. Greg Oden gets injured. Again.

Out for the season. Again. Don’t worry, Blazers fans, it’s not entirely bad! Plus you still have Joel Pryzbilla …. scratch that, out for season too. Wow.

6. Brandon Jennings returns to America, drops 55.

Brandon Jennings, who was average playing overseas, awards the Milwaukee Bucks with stellar play and this fantastic box score.

5. Replacement referees used for exhibition games.

The NBA and the referee’s union couldn’t reach a deal before the exhibition games started, so replacement refs were used. Just days before the regular season started, the regular referees were back. And in two years, we get to do it all over again.

4. The penny-pinching owners.

From Okafor-for-Chandler to Maynor-for-some German guy, NBA owners are looking for all kinds of way to save. Good news, owners: David Stern may bail you out yet again!

3. Nobody wants Allen Iverson.

Allen Iverson, former MVP and career 27 ppg scorer, could barely find a gig when he signed with Memphis. Then his previous problems of riding the pine returned. Finally, he returns to Philly. And despite only playing only 10 games thus far, he is a leader in All-Star votes. Amazing.

2. LeBron misses the finals.

LeBron James finally had a supporting cast fit for a king, and an MVP award to boot. But en route to the championship parade, a little bully named Dwight Howard knocked him off his pedestal. Poor LeBron!

1. Kobe wins without The Big Diesel.

Ahh, a sigh of relief heard by Kobe fans everywhere. After last year’s miss against the Celtics, Kobe Bryant took it to the Orlando Magic and finally won an NBA title without Shaq. Crazy thing is that it might not be his last either.

Week 10 Game Count by NBA Team: Starting December 28

The majority of fantasy basketball leagues use weekly lineups. You can get an edge by starting NBA players with more games this week.

5 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Oklahoma City Thunder

4 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Atlanta Hawks
• Charlotte Bobcats
• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Indiana Pacers
• L.A. Lakers
• Miami Heat
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Hornets
• New York Knicks
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs
• Utah Jazz

3 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Boston Celtics
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Golden State Warriors
• Houston Rockets
• L.A. Clippers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Milwaukee Bucks
• New Jersey Nets
• Orlando Magic
• Phoenix Suns
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards

2 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Detroit Pistons

Week 9 Game Count by NBA Team: Starting December 21

The majority of fantasy basketball leagues use weekly lineups. You can get an edge by starting NBA players with more games this week.

4 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• L.A. Clippers
• Phoenix Suns
• San Antonio Spurs

3 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Chicago Bulls
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Detroit Pistons
• Golden State Warriors
• L.A. Lakers
• Miami Heat
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New York Knicks
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz
• Washington Wizards

2 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Charlotte Bobcats
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Jersey Nets
• New Orleans Hornets
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Toronto Raptors

Week 8 Game Count by NBA Team: Starting December 14th

The majority of fantasy basketball leagues use weekly lineups. You can get an edge by starting NBA players with more games this week.

4 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Charlotte Bobcats
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Detroit Pistons
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• L.A. Clippers
• L.A. Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Jersey Nets
• New Orleans Hornets
• New York Knicks
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• Toronto Raptors
• Utah Jazz
• Washington Wizards

3 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Chicago Bulls
• Golden State Warriors
• Miami Heat
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Phoenix Suns
• San Antonio Spurs

Week 7 Game Count by NBA Team: Starting December 7th

The majority of fantasy basketball leagues use weekly lineups. You can get an edge by starting NBA players with more games this week.

4 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Denver Nuggets
• Golden State Warriors
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Jersey Nets
• Portland Trail Blazers
• San Antonio Spurs
• Toronto Raptors
• Utah Jazz

3 GAME NBA TEAMS

• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Charlotte Bobcats
• Dallas Mavericks
• Detroit Pistons
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• L.A. Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Milwaukee Bucks
• New Orleans Hornets
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Phoenix Suns
• Sacramento Kings

2 GAME NBA TEAMS

• L.A. Clippers
• Miami Heat
• New York Knicks
• Washington Wizards