Thursday, 30 December 2010

THROUGH THE WIRE: FRIDAY (12/31/10)

Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett reacts after dunking against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at the Verizon Center in Washington on December 10, 2009. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo via Newscom

24. Kevin Garnett was injured Wednesday during a Boston Celtics road game against the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics feared the worst as the MRI read negative, however 'Da Kid's' injury is just a sprain. The tough competitor will miss around a fortnight however for a team in desperate need of some healthy news as top player Rajon Rondo is also out. G.M. Danny Ainge told press, "It's just a muscle – I say just – but it's a muscle injury, a strained calf. It's actually the muscle just off the side of the leg, just below the knee, and it's not anything to do with his knee, which is great news." So the Celtics sure are relieved but they'll need some strong bench play in his relief as the Celtics will miss Garnett's passion and all round game for two weeks.

Dec 8, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Clippers 87-86. Photo via Newscom

48. The second returns for the votes for the 2011 All-Star Game have been announced. The games (which will be played in L.A.) votes are right now led by Laker, Kobe Bryant. The legendary shooting guard has a whopping 1,153,694 votes. Out West Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant is right behind Mamba with 735,521 votes. Filling out the rest of the west Chris Paul (585,690) leads all points, while 602,516 fans want Carmelo Anthony at the other forward spot. Although he probably can't play due to injury, Yao Ming is still the fans (Chinese especially) favourite for the centre position with 637,527. Still however Kobe's Laker teammate Andrew Bynum isn't far behind with 376,283 returns. Lake Show star's Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are still in contention two. Out East Dwight Howard leads all centres with 988,572 votes, followed by his daddy Shaq with 410,663. Two-time All-Star MVP LeBron James, leads the forwards with 969,459 votes along with Boston's Kevin Garnett (712,555). LeBron's teammate Wade leads all guards in the east with 38,402 votes while Garnett's teammate Rajon Rondo is next with 777,310. I think it's safe to say that all these guys will make it to STAPLES.

48794, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Wednesday December 29 2010. Lil Wayne (red baseball cap) keeps a close eye on Lakers star Kobe Bryant as he watches his favourite team the New Orlean s Hornets lose to the LA Lakers at the New Orleans Superdrome. The Lakers beat the Hornets 103 to 88, breaking a three-game losing steak for the west coast team. Wayne real name Dwayne Michael Carter and also nicknamed Weezy grew up in the Hollygrove district of New Orleans and has returned home for the festive holidays following his recent stint in prison. Weezy s time behind bars doesn t appear to have harmed his recording career. 6 Foot to 7 Foot , his first single since his release, debuted at No 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and hit the No 1 spot on iTunes this month. It comes from his highly anticipated album Tha Carter IV , which will be released in February 2011. Photograph: Paul Harris, PacificCoastNews.com

(GAME RECOGNISES GAME: '6, 7' hit man Lil' Wanye watches the 6, 7 Bryant do his thing against his New Orleans)

82. Speaking of Kobe, the Lakers where in need of a post new year victory to close out a bad end to 2010. They found resolution in a 103-88 win over the New Orleans Hornets last night. The Lakers where in need of a change and potential All-Star and sixth man of the year, Lamar Odom came off the bench scoring a team high 24. This is the first time since former player's Tierre Brown 27 in 2005 that a bench player has led the Lakers in scoring. After a week of frustration the Lake Show's bench was seen giggling like school children when Odom got fancy in the paint and then missed a finger roll, only to put it back home with a jam. Odom himself was in high spirits two saying, "It's funny that a play like that happens in New Orleans, basketball is almost like jazz, right?" It sure is and L.O. and L.A. made sweet music in N.O. Kobe Bryant also notched 20 while Odom's starter replacement Andrew Bynum had 18. Pau Gasol was yet again double trouble for the opposition with 11 and 12. "We played much better. We executed much better. Our defense did an excellent job," Kobe said, putting the past week, critics and write offs behind him and his whole team.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki adjust the protective elbow pad on his right elbow against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the Pepsi Center in Denver on December 27, 2009. Dallas and Denver lead their respective divisions. UPI/Gary C. Caskey.. Photo via Newscom

O.T. Garnett's not the only star versatile forward out. Dirk Nowitzki will miss the Mavs Texan clash with San Antonio thanks to a sprained knee...Tyreke Evans may have had injury trouble but last night he played and played big, beating the buzzer, O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies with a halfcourt heave...Houston's Chuck Hayes is another player who will miss time for his Texan team. The talented player sprained his knee during practice, he could miss around a fortnight to a month...also Oklahoma's Cole Aldrich will miss some NBA play as the Thunder have assigned him back to the D-League. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

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