Friday 28 January 2011

THROUGH THE WIRE: FRIDAY (01/28/10)

BEIJING - AUGUST 20: Kobe Bryant #10 and Lebron James #6 of the United States look on from the sidelines during the men's basketball quarterfinal game against Australia at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

24. The starters for this years All-Star game in Los Angeles have been announced. Once again Kobe Bryant is the best in the league leading all the vote getter's. With 2,380,016 votes Kobe was the best in the West, while slam dunk, entertainer, big talent Dwight Howard left everyone else in the East least with 2,099,204 ballots cast. Kobe will lead his Western squad in his home court of STAPLES in L.A. The team will also feature other top vote-getter's, including the Hornets' Chris Paul (1,281,591), the Thunder's Kevin Durant (1,736,728), the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony (1,299,849) and also the Rockets' Yao Ming (1,146,426) who again draws a lot of votes from Asia but is injured. In the East joining Howard we have, LeBron James (2,053,011), Amar'e Stoudemire (1,674,995), Dwyane Wade (2,048,175) and Derrick Rose (1,914,996). As for the reserves they will be voted in by NBA head coaches who will vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players additional players but not their own teams players. Will the right players get picked? After our 'Odom A Favour' campaign, will the Lakers Lamar will be returned the favour he deserves? David Stern also will pick the replacement for any player who can't participate. With Yao sidelined will the other Lakers great Bynum be picked? He is one of the last true centres left and is playing strong amongst all the Hollywood stars. The 60Th All Star game will be broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages on Sunday, Feb. 20.. Super...what?

48. A waiver and a signing kept the league rotating this week. As if the Dallas Mavericks didn't have enough firepower they acquired pure shooter Peja Stojakovic from free agency after his short Toronto career was made extinct. In hoping to supplement the injured Caron Butler, Peja has been drafted in but the Mavs have to be patient. Stojakovic has been out with a swollen knee since November 12Th. Still as long as he comes back soon with him, Dirk, third all-time in three's Jason Kidd and their sharp shooting bench, the Mavs may be the best behind the arc team, locked and primed for a deep playoff run. Shoot!

82. New York really is the place to be right now. If you where told last year that the mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden would be a hoops hot-bed and the most sought after destination for the best of hip-hop through the ages you would laugh, but tell that to Kanye West, Q-Tip and Fat Joe. After Q-Tip got the MSG crowd going with his song 'Go New York' last year it was the turn for another N.Y. hip-hop legend to pump up the crowd and who better then DJ Grandmaster Flash on the wheels of steel. As the Knicks took on their rivals the Heat Wade may have wore tinted specs to play but no one looked cooler then New York. "There's an energy here. It's getting back to the way it was," Flash (the hip-hop Flash) told press. With the Knickerbockers and the Garden taking it back to classic times, maybe it's time for N.Y. to make a grand stand and put the Grandmaster on full-time. Time to get the message.

O.T. After violating the NBA's drug policy. The Memphis Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo's playing time will be garnished as he's set to miss 10 games...the Mavs almost blew out the Rockets, until Houston extinguished their lead, still after some soul searching, Dallas held on for the win in a Texan tight clash that was no piece of cake...Boston have started their West coast road trip by blazing Portland...Chicago's Derrick Rose's game may be hot but spicy food caused him ulcers, which have been irritating him like he does with defence...fellow Bull James Johnson has been assigned to the D-League...while Phoenix guard Dowdell is going to remain a Sun a little longer, signing a second 10-day contract...the All-Star game isn't going to be all fun and games as LeBron James is looking to attend the All-Star labor meeting to sort this lock out situation...league or no league next season Phil Jackson aint playing. This will be the (real) last season. So get ready to say goodbye to the greatest coach of all time and standby for the feature. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

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