MVN: Most Valuable Network

1. What's Going on in the Association
Injuries Around the League
By Brandon Gallawa

Tracy McGrady - McGrady loves taking time off around the holidays, and this year is no different.  He announced Tuesday that he will miss 3 weeks to rehab his sore knee.  McGrady has come out saying that he rushed himself back after arthroscopic surgery on May 6, and doctors have informed him that it hasn't fully healed.  He was apparently told it would take 6-8 months to rehab after the surgery.  Apparently doctors don't know that McGrady heals on a different timetable than most.  He would probably miss a month after a teeth cleaning.  McGrady has already missed the last three games, but seven of their next eleven games are against bottom-feeders (LACx2, GSWx2, Memphis, Sacramento, & Minnesota).  The Rockets should be able to keep their head above water while he is out.  The silver lining is that Luther Head is just as inconsistent as McGrady has been, so the Rockets may or may not get the exact same production.

Brent Barry - T-Mac's teammate Bones Barry will also be missing some time after suffering a muscle tear in his right leg.  He is expected to be out two weeks after he injured his leg against the Pacers on November 26th.  Barry wasn't playing major minutes thus far for the Rockets nor had he played particularly well in the early season, but they will miss his veteran presence and versatility and his injury compounds an all ready injury plagued team.

Chris Kaman - Kaman will miss one-to-two weeks with a foot injury that is being referred to as a strained arch.  I'm not exactly sure how you strain your arch, but apparently Kaman has done it.  The Clips already have way too much size on their front line with the addition of Zach Randolph.  Kaman and Marcus Camby haven't meshed too well through their first 11 games together, but Kaman has been the better of the two through the early part of the season.  It still feels like Kaman is on his way out, so we'll see if his sitting is just an audition for the potential Randolph, Camby, and Al Thornton front line.

Corey Brewer - It was announced Monday that Brewer would miss the rest of the season after he tore his ACL on Saturday night.  He should be undergoing surgery soon, so he can start rehab and be back by next season.  This injury leaves a gaping hole on the defensive end for an already poor defensive club.  It is almost as if the Wolves have pissed off someone upstairs because they can't catch a break.  They have gotten the short end of the stick in every trade they have made in the past 5 seasons.  Any rookie or draft pick they trade away ends up putting up phenomenal numbers.  This is just one more setback in the development of this franchise.  Hopefully Charlie Murphy can get back soon.

2. Game of the Night Recap
Indiana Pacers 118, Los Angeles Lakers 117 in Indianapolis
By Zach Harper

The Lakers were continuing their quest to go 81-1 Tuesday night when they entered the fourth quarter against the Pacers with a 15-point lead and 101 points already in the books. They looked to still be the most dominant team in the NBA and ready to show off their deep bench in some garbage time (not to be confused with the Garbage Time All Stars). Unfortunately, the momentum shifted, the threes started rain like Bynum in the club, and Troy Murphy played like the best player on the court. The Pacers dominated the fourth quarter against the best final period team in the league and gave the defending Western Conference champs their second loss of the year on a Troy Murphy tip-in as time expired.

The Pacers held the Lakers to 16 fourth quarter points, which was only the second time that they've been held under 20 in the final Q this season. After closing out the third quarter with a 17-0 run, the Lakers shot just 4-14 in the fourth and turned the ball over six times. Danny Granger and T.J. Ford each scored 10 points in the final 12 minutes and Troy Murphy made an improbable tip-in off the most poorly executed final possession in NBA history. Granger finished with 32 points despite shooting just 10 for 27 and Troy Murphy had his best game of the season with 16 points and 17 rebounds (six offensive). The nearly-botched final possession for the Pacers included a lot dribbling by T.J. Ford, Danny Granger not getting open to take the shot, Rasho Nesterovic being stripped of the ball only to recover, hit a cutting Marquis Daniels who threw up and wild reverse lay-up before Murphy saved the day. Chris Webber described the final play as, "debauchery at its finest."

For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant had a somewhat historic night ruined with their first road loss of the year. Bryant passed 22,000 points as the second youngest player (behind Wilt) in NBA history to do so. Kobe finished with 28 points but missed a crucial jumper that could have pushed the lead to three before the Pacers' final possession. The Lakers received great performances from Pau Gasol (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Andrew Bynum (17 points, 9 rebounds) but the Lakers were dominated on the boards and gave up 19 offensive rebounds in the ball game, including six in the final quarter. The offensive rebounding of the Pacers led to 23 more field goal attempts, which helped counter the fact that the Lakers went to the free throw line 45 times. The Lakers will now move on and win the final 66 games to become the first team in NBA history to win 80 games in a season.

3. What to Watch Tonight
Phoenix Suns (11-7) at New Orleans Hornets (9-6), 5:30pm PST
By Brandon Gallawa

I feel like picking this game is taking the easy way out, but really there are only 2-3 other games worth watching tonight (Miami @ Utah, Lakers @ Philly, New York @ Cleveland).  But none of the other games have the potential storylines of this game nor are the other match-ups really that great.

The first story line is Amare Stoudemire voicing his frustration with the Suns' offense.  He believes he is in the class of guys like Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard, but thinks the only difference is he isn't featured like them.  He feels that Shaquille O'Neal is getting way too much attention as the primary offensive weapon.  Might I point out that Shaq has won multiple championships, been the MVP, is in the argument for best centers of all time, etc.  There is also an MVP playing point for the Suns.  If anything Amare should be happy he gets to play around so much talent and that his team has one of the best records in the West.  Amare literally gave himself the nickname S.T.A.T. which shows you how much he is about winning.  He has also intimated that he is considering where he will go when he is a free agent in 2010.  Well I guess we know why Terry Porter isn't featuring a guy who isn't even focused on this season.

The other storyline is the Hornets' underachieving throughout the beginning of the season.  Every one of the players outside of Chris Paul and James Posey are having down years.  Peja Stojakovic is shooting the worst he ever has from the field since becoming a starter.  David West and Tyson Chandler are dealing with drops in scoring and rebounding.  They have losses to Charlotte and Sacramento on their résumé.  Their defense hasn't look nearly as sound as it did last season.  They need another win against a top-tier Western Conference team to right the ship.

Throw in the fact that the Suns have been fantastic on the road and the final storyline covered in the Key Match-Up section, and this should be a fun game to watch.

Key Match-Up: Steve Nash versus Chris Paul
It isn't often that we are treated with a point guard match-up as good as this one.  The best point guard of the past 8 seasons (Nash) against the best point guard for the next 10 seasons (Paul).  There aren't two better pure point guards in the league, and this could be the type of match-up that we tell our kids we saw like Bird vs. Magic, Bird vs. Wilkins, Jordan vs. Bird, Magic vs. Zeke, Olajuwon vs. Shaq, etc.  Paul has played the point better than anyone this season.  He is averaging 20.3 points, 11.6 assists against only 3.1 TO, 5.7 boards and 2.8 steals.  Paul has also essentially willed his team to a winning record and been the best player in the West this season (don't even try to argue it).  Meanwhile Nash's "down year" would be career years for many other guards around the league.  He is scoring 15.1 points, dishing out 8.1 assists, shooting 51.2% from the field, 43.6% from three and 92.2% from the line.  Trust me there about 25 teams that would take Nash over their current point guard.  Their head-to-head match-ups haven't disappointed in the past.  With Nash averaging 17.4 points, 9.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds and Paul averaging 21.6 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 3 steals, this should be no different.

Quick tangent: Why isn't Nash talked about as one of the best shooters of all time?  I know he gets a lot of attention for his ability to run a team, but he is up there as one of the best pure shooters of my lifetime.  He is 5th all time in career 3PT%, 3rd all time in career FT% and he has shot 49% from the field for his career.
Prediction: Hornets win despite the worst home court advantage for a contending team

4. Get Caught Up in Life Section
How about you get caught up in some Good Knowledge blog?
By Brandon Gallawa

There may not be a more fun losing team than the Golden State Warriors.  The Dubs have lost with more flare than any other team in the league.  Any time they suit up, you could be witness to a 120-point onslaught that will inevitably be countered with their opponent's 125.  It's almost as if Don Nelson hates defense.  Maybe defense murdered his father or picked on him at school because he has basically thrown his middle finger up to "D" for the past 3 years in Golden State.  Or it's also possible he is just so in love with offense that he doesn't care about hurting defense's feelings.  Either way, I know that I'm going to be treated to some Run-TMC era scoring when the 08-09 Warriors take the court.  Wins and defense be damned!

Speaking of the Dubs, how happy is Jamal Crawford right now?  He had to feel disheartened at first.  Getting traded away from D'Antoni's system is like your really fun, cute girlfriend breaking up with you.  Only this is like your ex-girlfriend saying that you should still be having fun and seeing other people so she gives you the number to her younger, hotter sister who is more "adventurous" and crazy.  You know it isn't going to lead to anything serious and your ex was marrying material.  You also still feel a little betrayed, but you won't complain with all the fun you'll be having for the next few years.  Basically what I'm trying to say is Crawford is playing for the Knicks' younger sister.

How has NBATV not turned this Stephon Marbury situation into a reality show?  They could have representatives from all 30 teams compete to be eliminated.  The GMs would have to do challenges like putting together sign-and-trades or setting up draft kits.  If you do well, you get to back to work for your team.  If you lose challenges, you have to stay.  The worst/last GM standing would have to take Marbury onto his roster.  That would be great original programming.  Plus MTV or VH1 could parlay it into their own program where they follow Marbury and film him living his life in his new city.  If this ever happens, let me apologize in advance to the city of Minneapolis and T-Wolves fans for getting Marbury back.

You can read the rest of Brandon's latest Good Knowledge Blog here.

5. Quote of the Night By Zach Harper
"You can call him whatever you want. I call him Lil Wayne." -- Danny Granger to Gary Payton after GP wanted to call Marquis Daniels, "Robin". Thanks to Both Teams Played Hard for this.

Not only was Gary Payton's voice so high that it made my dog's ears bleed profusely but he would have blown a .592 on a breathalizer if the cops had pulled him over for drunk analysis. Danny Granger seemed genuinely uncomfortable whenever Payton squeakily interjected over Chris Webber and the comatose Ahmad Rashad.

6. Three in the Key
Top 3 of the Night
1. Troy Murphy
16 pts, 17 rebs, 2 stls
He didn't have the best stats of the night but his play was spectacular in the fourth quarter. Throw in his game-winning tip that looked impossible to go in and he's earned the top spot for knocking off the Lakers for their second loss of the win.
2. Danny Granger
32 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts, 4-10 3fg
Granger was smothered at times by Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza and with making just 10 of his 27 shots, he could have easily finished with a bad night. But he kept chucking and made some big shots. But where was he on the final play of the game? He has to be more aggressive.
3. Chauncey Billups
24 pts, 14 asts, 8-12 fg, 5-6 3fg
Chauncey set the tone early for the Nuggets and absolutely dominated in his 32 minutes on the floor. He couldn't have played much better or more efficiently.

Bottom 3 of the Night
1. Baron Davis
22 pts, 10-23 fg, 0-6 3fg
His numbers weren't bad but with the final shot attempt that he took to win the game, he deserves this spot. He took a step back, three fading to his right with four seconds left in the game. THAT was the best shot you had against the Mavs? Really?
2. Anthony Parker
4 pts, 1 ast, 2-11 fg, 0-3 3fg
I don't know how to describe this other than it was one of the least inspired examples of play that I've seen in a long time. Raptors didn't show up tonight and Parker's line exemplifies that.
3. Michael Finley
5 pts, 2 asts, 2-8 fg, 1-6 3fg
The Spurs really choked this one away and Michael Finley didn't help the offensive futility that led to only 77 points on the night for San Antonio. Finley was probably worn out from old age and having to chase Rip and Tayshaun all game. But he has to shoot better for the Spurs to beat good teams.

7. Top Web Posts
Here are the Top Blog Posts from yesterday.

1. From Indy Cornrows-
Great Stuff on Athletes and Guns
2. From Basketbawful-
I'm not quite sure what is going on here but it's funny
3. From Slam Online-
Mutoni says that Nellie has already thrown in the towel


8. Media Fun
To check out Talkhoops.net's media fun, click this link and scroll down to Section 8.

Thanks for reading today's Eight-Second Violation.  Send your comments, criticism and words of praise to zharper@talkhoops.net.


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