Category: BASKETBALL

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer It hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s almost a foregone conclusion that Dirk Nowitzki takes home MVP honors this season. While that pick looks even poorer after the huge postseason let down, it’s not a catastrophically bad choice. But there are others who more deserving of the honors:…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Chicago Bulls (5) vs. Detroit Pistons (1) Notes: The Bulls made me look bad by easily handling a depleted Heat team but now have to face the best squad in the Eastern Conference. Expect the series to be more competitive than Game 1 suggested, but Detroit ultimately moves…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Utah: The Jazz are back in the playoffs for the first time since Karl Malone and John Stockton departed after the 2002-03 season. However, the team stumbled down the stretch, going just 4-6 over the final 10 games. Utah also relies heavily on…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer New Jersey (6) vs. Toronto (3) New Jersey: The Nets come in on a roll, winning four straight and eight out of the last 10 contests. No one in the NBA is hotter than Vince Carter, as he’s posted two triple-doubles this month and fell just one assist…

By Robby Wellington – Staff Writer I was already griping about March Madness brackets before the tournament started, and now that I’m sitting in the cellar (30th percentile) of all my pools, during one of the most predictable postseasons in recent memory, I’m going to go ahead and gripe some more. First and foremost, I…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Antoine Walker is shooting 38.6 percent from the free throw line this year. I’m fairly confident I could at least approach that number shooting them with my eyes closed. Shaquille O’Neal has really stepped up his game now back to health (and in better shape) and with D.…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Sweet Sixteen – (Midwest) Florida, Maryland, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech (West) Kansas, Virginia Tech, Duke, UCLA (East) UNC, Texas, Wash. St., Georgetown, (South) Ohio St., Tenn, Texas A&M, Creighton Elite Eight – Maryland, Notre Dame, Kansas, UCLA, UNC, Georgetown, Ohio St., Texas A&M Final Four – Maryland, Kansas,…

By Robby Wellington – Staff Writer A few folks have asked me for my March Madness picks. Since there are always so many upsets and the more thought you put into your picks the worse you do, I’m trying to avoid making any predictions this year and filled out my brackets in less than five…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer We interrupt the extensive baseball coverage for a quick look around the Association: The Warriors recently became the first NBA team ever to start five players who never went to college. Meanwhile, their long-running playoff drought does not appear to be in serious jeopardy. Anyone know what Tim…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer We’ll be ramping up the baseball coverage starting this week, but for now, let’s have some fun with NBA’s All-Star Saturday night. Foot race (Dick Bavetta vs. Charles Barkley) – Unbelievably, oddsmakers have placed Bavetta as the big favorite here (-300). I don’t buy it; Barkley wins it.…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer How about Jason Kapono? The guy is shooting 3-pointers at a ridiculous 55 percent clip this year, easily leading the league. He’s taking more than three a game, so the sample isn’t that tiny, and it’s not like Shaq has freed him up with wide open jumpers all…

By Robby Wellington – Staff Writer For whatever reason, I didn’t really care about the Super Bowl. I had little hope for the Bears and was burnt out by Tuesday on Super Bowl puff pieces. Do we really need two weeks before the game? Nevertheless, I’m not one to pass up free food and booze…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer If you’re in a deep head-to-head league and in good position in the standings, picking up and stashing guys like Brevin Knight, Speedy Claxton and Kwame Brown makes more sense than currently starting lesser talents. If you can still get decent value for Alonzo Mourning, go do it.…

Editor’s Note: The following article also appears on RotoWire. —–Original Message—– From: Chris Liss [mailto:liss@rotowire.com] Sent: Thursday, January 18, 7:08 PM To: Dalton Del Don Subject: Give and Go Dalton, first off, thanks for filling in for Mr. Zegers, who I believe is taking his kids to Disney World, or something like that this week.…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Editor’s Note: The following article was written for RotoWire. The Golden State Warriors haven’t made the playoffs in 12 straight seasons. Currently the No. 9 seed in the West but just 1.5 games out of the last playoff spot, the Warriors pulled off a recent eight-player trade that…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer If you’re in a keeper league, Andrew Bynum has to be toward the top of your list. While clearly still unpolished (he needs to learn how to stay out of foul trouble), Bynum is a future star. He’s even a fine short-term option with Kwame Brown sidelined. Speaking…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer Admittedly, the coverage on basketball has been a little weak around these parts, but without further ado, I introduce to you a spanking new article – Hoops Scoop. Before long, all the kids will be talking about it… Brandon Roy is an excellent buy low candidate right now.…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer I included the playoff seeding next to each postseason bound team, but remember the NBA switched to a new playoff format; the first four seeds in each conference will continue to be given to the three division winners and the team with the next best regular season record.…

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer There are many definitions for the term sleeper, but in this case it means players who will outperform where they are typically being drafted in fantasy leagues. The busts, on the other hand, are going earlier than their performance will justify. In other words, target the sleepers and…

ROUND 9 73. David West 74. Caron Butler – My Pick 75. Ricky Davis 76. Troy Murphy 77. Tyson Chandler 78. Steve Francis 79. Adam Morrison 80. Shane Battier 81. Pau Gasol My Pick: I was all set to take David West and then the owner right before me swoops. I’m fine with Butler, however,…