Box Notes 1/30

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290130023

Really? 10 Assists? Thats pitiful. Sure, more likely when you suck in general, but c'mon. Not a good sign when your starting PG averages 4.4 dimes a game. Of course no big deal, you have a back up PG right...wrong. Bobby Brown goes 1-7 from the field with a beautiful clean line, full of zeros. I bet K Martin is lovin' it.

On the other side of the ball, the Bulls finally figured a couple of things out. For one there's the realization that playing Ty Thomas and Joakim Noah together gives you one of the quickest most athletic front courts in the A. Then there is the oh so necessary DNP Coaches Decision next to Laura Hughes' name(I forget who I am stealing that from, but thanks...). I know you've heard of addition by subtraction. They can't trade him soon enough.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290130007

Check out Raja, hes been puttin it on of late. Who knew he could still score...did Charlotte? Boris Diaw has been playing great for them too. Still the Bobcats...not that into you. Any win against the Lakers makes me happy though so thanks, but I'm not looking for any win streak from these guys.

Nene just ruined the Cats. 10-11 FG, 12 Rebs(3 0), 3 Asts, 2 Stls, 0 To's. Hard to beat a team when you have a big minute guy playing that efficiently. Makes the Camby trade look pretty good. When is MJ gonna realize that Emeka can't guard anyone, especially anyone that plays the center position. Hes a PF. He just doesn't play big enough.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290130026

D Will is better than you. Check out the shooting stats for the starters. Nasty. 35/59, Almost 60%. That'll win you some games. KD is a baller, but we went over that yesterday.

Pts+Rebs+Asts=Elite?

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/scoreboard?date=20090128

I say if you lead your team in all three 'major' categories in a given game(especially a win) then more often then not you are an elite player in the A. Sure, this is not entirely fair to guards and perhaps implies that on any given night Jason Kidd can still be considered 'elite', but more often them not it is indicative of elite swag. Scroll down to the Grizz -Team who may not be named(thanks bill) game and you will see three Durants next to Pts, Rebs and Asts leader. I argue this is a sign of someone straight ballin'.

Now, just a quick look back in the past two weeks. Who else has been filling out the box?

Durant
K Martin
CP3
Wade
King James
Timmy D
PP34
LBJ
Kobe
King Crab a third time
Kobe again

Not a bad list eh? Yes its wing player centric, but since CP3 came through with it recently I feel justified. The Kevins(Durant and Martin) are the only two likely to be left off most MVP lists but that is much to do with the fact that both of their teams more or less suck. They both need to learn to win(play D) but they can fill it with the best of 'em. Maybe the two best young shooters in the game along with Granger. One could argue that its alot easier to lead your team in stats when everyone else is busy eating turd sandwiches, but hey, its not their fault(atleast mostly not).

So to summarize, lead your team in all three major stats...you're probably ballin' pretty hard.

B Roy v. Tough Juice

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290124022
The ups and downs of reading the box score of your favorite team:
Up: Blazers win by 13, yes!
Neutral: Caron Butler dropped 31 and 10.
Down: Looks like he was the starting SG, so would've been matched up against Brandon Roy. I guess Butler got the better of Roy.
Up: B Roy had 22, 7, 6... and 10 steals!!
Upper: And Butler had 9 TO's, B Roy must have dominated him!

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290124026
In other news, LeBron barely misses out on another triple double, dropping 33, 14, and 9. Last night in my neck of the woods he had something like 18, 8, and 7 in the first half but finished with the single double somehow

Nate Rob: The New Little General

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290123018
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290121018

Check out the +/- the last two games for the Knicks. Led by one Nate Robinson, the Knicks' bench has blown the last two opponents out of the water. +36 for Harrington, +32 for Robinson against the Grizzlies when the Knicks starters all checked in around 0, then +24 against the Suns when the Knicks starters were in the -.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns game was a revenge game for Nate, who the Suns drafted and traded immediately to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas.

Speaking of Kurt Thomas, he has been a part of three weird trades in the last few years.
First the Knicks trade him for Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson. Big Advantage: team who gave up Thomas.
Next the Suns trade him and 2 first round picks to the Sonics for a second round pick. Huge advantage: team who got Thomas.
Finally, the Sonics move him to the Spurs for a first round pick and filler. Both teams come out well.
What a rollercoaster of value.
Furthmore, the Sonics got 3 first round picks for essentially laundering Thomas. Crazy.