Partizan Loses First Top 16 Game to Panathinaikos

After leading at the half and playing and trailing by three at the end of the third quarter, Partizan’s game fell apart. The game ended 81-63 for Panathinaikos. The game was tipped the green way when Slavko Vranes fouled out, somewhere in the middle of the fourth. Up until then, it was a close game, certainly within the reach of Partizan’s sharp shooters. After that, Partizan’s inside defense became porous and Nikola Pekovic (a former Partizan player) dominated the paint. Jan Vesely couldn’t patch up all the holes and nobody else rotated in time to prevent Pekovic from scoring at will. He finished the game with 26 points and 6 rebounds, all offensive. Read more ->

Cibona Wins Their First in Top 16

Cibona won their first game in Top 16 of Euroleague. They beat Montepaschi from Siena, one of the best clubs from Italian league. Montepaschi lost only two games this season in Euroleague (Panathinaikos and Barcelona, both away) and stands at perfect 16-0 in Italian league.

For Cibona, Earl Calloway scored 23 points and had 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Davor Kus played a good game too (13 points, 7 rebounds). This puts Cibona into good place to reach Top 8, although there are a lot of tough games ahead.

The Drazen Petrovic arena was filled to the last seat and the fans carried their team to the win. Cibona has had issues with lack luster fans in the past. Continued fan support will give them wings for the upcoming home games.

A lot of credit also goes to the coach Velimir Perasovic, one of the golden boys of Croatian basketball. He clearly understands how to put the team together and make key decisions when needed during the game. This time, the victim was Montepaschi, lost in the Cibona zone defense in the second half.

Kevin Garnett – Passion of a Warrior

It happened way back this season, the game when Kevin Garnett taunted Jose Calderon while he was dribbling the ball across the court.

Some have called for a “taunting foul”, some have disparaged Garnett for being a “bully”, while others have talked about the great passion that Garnett has for the game.

To me, Garnett is just an overgrown kid who enjoys playing basketball above all and hates losing above all – the symbol of ultimate competitiveness. He, not Pierce, not Allen, stands alone on the top of the green pyramid which demolished the Lakers in the finals last year. His passion is contagious, and it never lets down. He’s the guy who kisses Rondo’s head when he’s playing well, and makes “Big Baby” cry when he doesn’t.

Talk about the big three all you want, it’s Garnett who transformed the Celts last year. I know, Pierce had great games against the Cavs and some against the Lakers. Allen had some great games too, despite his slump mid-way through the playoffs. I am also aware that both of them played consistently well throughout the season to earn the all-important top spot before the playoffs. But it is Garnett’s basketball exuberance summed up in his screams after Game 6 against the Lakers: “Everything’s possible,” and “What can you say now” which made Perkins a rock-solid center and Rondo one of the most exciting young point guards in the league; that same exuberance which had helped Pierce refocus on his defense and Ray accept being the third offensive option on the team.

What else can I say now? After you see Garnett talk about his feelings while playing the game all you can wish is to once, only once, feel the same while working for your living.

Chris Paul Piling Up Amazing Stats

Chris Paul: Ruining Stats for Point Guards Everywhere, robd, NBAMate.com – Probably Australia’s Best NBA Blog

Chris Paul already ruined my favourite and most-proclaimed statistic last season – the last player to average 20 points and 10 assists through a season.

But it doesn’t end there. For a long time the benchmark for little people in the NBA has been Isiah Thomas. Throughout the eighties Isiah put up some pretty crazy numbers. The peak of his offensive prowess coincided with the peak of his passing prowess, resulting in four-straight 20-10 seasons, two of which included 4+ rebounds and 2+ steals.

After averaging 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals last season Chris Paul put himself into that most elite of categories. And then he thought he’d go one better. Currently averaging 21.2 points, 11.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals, Chris Paul’s stats are now so ridiculous that John Hollinger’s computer explodes every time he tries to calculate his PER.

And then we come to even more rarified territory – the 25-15-10-7 game. Before today, no one had registered 25 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and 7 steals in a game in the last 22 years. To use a HP phrase, it’s serious nova territory – supernova territory.

Paul has triple-double, Stojakovic hits six 3-pointers in Hornets’ victory, Associated Press, ESPN

Paul had 27 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals for his league-leading fifth triple-double of the season, and the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 101-86 on Monday night.

It was the second time this season Paul came within a few steals of a quadruple double, but when asked about that, he could only critique the few times he mishandled the ball or unloaded an errant pass.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Maurice Garnett (born May 19, 1976 in Mauldin, South Carolina) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. After graduating from Farragut Career Academy, he was the fifth player drafted in 1995. He became the first NBA player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years. His accomplishments include being voted Most Valuable Player of the 2003-04 season, NBA Defensive Player of the Year of the 2007-08 season and being named to twelve All-Star teams and eight All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams, respectively. He is also the all-time leader in NBA seasons played with averages of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Read more ->