David Andersen to Rockets

The Houston Rockets have signed center David Andersen(notes) to a multiyear contract to help make up for the loss of Yao Ming(notes).
The Rockets acquired the rights to the 6-foot-11 Andersen in a trade with Atlanta on July 14. Houston scrambled to find a center after announcing in June that Yao was out indefinitely with a hairline fracture in his left foot.
Yao announced last month that he would have surgery to repair the injury, a decision that will likely keep him out all of next season. The seven-time All-Star underwent the procedure the following week.
Andersen was a second-round draft choice of the Hawks in 2002. He has spent his career in his native Australia and in Europe, most recently in the Spanish League with FC Barcelona, where he averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds last season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=As9ZctOlp9MgS27iCSEf_bmLvLYF?slug=ap-rockets-andersen&prov=ap&type=lgns

White of the Night: Jose Calderon

Beautiful night in Indiana, as the Pacers start three American Whites, and win a big one over the Rockets!

Interesting stat from NY: New York has outscored opponents by 53 points when Gallinari has been on the court during the four games since he returned from injury. Gallinari made our list of top performers again tonight, scoring a smooth 11 on 5, in only 17 min.

Sean Marks thrust into the starting C spot in N.O., and good to see him do well.

But, oh, J.C. Superstar! Jose Calderon, in his return from injury game, proves his worth, leading the Raptors to victory, and earning our White of the Night.


Top White Performers:

Nowitzki: 26p - 7 reb -- 36 min
Scola: 25p - 7 reb -- 38 min
Calderon: 23p (10 shots) - 10a -- 29 min
Bargnani: 22p (13 shots) - 5 reb -- 30 min
Turkoglu: 22p - 3 reb - 2a -- 38 min
Lee: 19p (11 shots) - 14 reb -- 34 min
P Gasol: 18p (12 shots) - 6 reb -- 28 min
Hinrich: 17p (11 shots) - 5 reb - 7a -- 32 min
Stojakovic: 17p -- 39 min
B Lopez: 15p - 8 reb -- 35 min
Nocioni: 15p (10 shots) - 6 reb - 3a -- 33 min
Murphy: 14p (10 reb) - 16 reb -- 33 min
Dunleavy: 13p - 4 reb -- 27 min
Vujacic: 13p (7 shots) - 2 reb - 3a -- 25 min
M Miller: 12p - 9 reb - 5a -- 29 min
Gallinari: 11p (5 shots) -- 17 min
Love: 11p (6 shots) - 5 reb -- 22 min
Marks: 10p - 7 reb -- 29 min
Novak: 10p -- 22 min
Szczerbiak: 10p (5 shots) -- 14 min
Radmanovic: 10p (5 shots) -- 13 min
Nesterovic: 9p (5 shots) -- 15 min
Pachulia: 9p (3 shots) - 6 reb -- 22 min
Najera: 9p (4 shots) - 6 reb -- 25 min
Foster: 8p - 7 reb -- 30 min
Barry: 8p - 8 reb -- 21 min
Ridnour: 7p - 4a - 5 stl -- 26 min
Gray: 7p - team high 7 reb -- 22 min
Biedrins: 6p - 13 reb - 4 blk -- 34 min

White of the Night: David Lee

Fantastic shooting nights for Dirk (30 on 16), Udrih (24 on 11), Scola (19 on 10), and Novak (14 on 7), but how can we not give the White of the Night to David Lee, for a monster 25p-16r game, leading Dantoni's squad in a vindication win over the sinking Suns!

David is having a banner year, and is currently second in the league for double-doubles. He is a sure lock on attaining All-Star status, and congratulations for him for bringing it strong every night, turning the Knicks around.





Nowitzki: 30p (16 shots) - 5 reb -- 36 min
Lee: 25p - 16 reb -- 35 min
Udrih: 24p (11 shots) - 3 reb - 3a -- 39 min
Stojakovic: 20p - 10 reb -- 39 min
Scola: 19p (10 shots) - 9 reb -- 34 min
Bargnani: 16p - 6 reb - 3a -- 40 min
Novak: 14p (7 shots) -- 24 min
Varejao: 12p - 8 reb -- 38 min
Walton: 11p - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 20 min
M Gasol: 11p - team high 6 reb - 3a -- 25 min
Collison: 11p - 7 reb -- 26 min
P Gasol: 10p - 6 reb - 3a -- 31 min
Gallinari: 10p (6 shots) -- 18 min
Alexander: 9p - 3 reb -- 11 min
Nash: 9p - 6 reb - 19a -- 38 min
Barry: 9p (4 shots) -- 23 min
Krstic: 9p - 5 reb -- 21 min
Fernandez: 9p -- 23 min
Szczerbiak: 8p - team high 10 reb -- 23 min
Przybilla: 6p - game high 15 reb -- 21 min
Anderson: 4p - team high 10 reb -- 16 min

The Synergy of White Basketball

It's a simple fact: White basketball players are better team players, and make those around them better. Chalk it up to better passing, more court awareness, less selfishness, better basketball IQ, and probably other reasons.

Look at the list of best 5 man units in the league, www.82games.com/0809/USORT13.HTM:

Denver's best unit includes Kleiza and Andersen.
Utah's best unit includes Korver, Kiriklenko, and Okur.
Portland's best unit includes Blake, Fernandez, and Pyzybilla.
Indiana's best unit includes Murphy and Foster.
Miami's best unit includes Quinn.
Chicago's best unit includes Nocioni.

So why is it that none of these guys starts?

Whites of the Night: Turkoglu & Nowitzki

Scalabrine starting at C seems to be just the thing the Celtics needed to get back on the winning track. Great for Brian, and great to seem him get more comfortable in his starting role, as his points are trending up!

The Italian rookie Gallinari (Knicks) finally gets back from injury. Can't wait to see him in regular action.

The co-Whites of the Night are Nowitzki and Turkoglu, for their equally spectacular offensive nights. Kleiza was also fantastic, and deserves recognition as well. Kleiza is a superb athlete and scorer, and deserves to be getting major minutes.


Nowitzki: 39p (20 shots) - 8 reb -- 39 min
Turkoglu: 31p (16 shots) - 4 reb - 5a -- 30 min
B Lopez: 28p (17 shots) - 10 reb -- 41 min
Kleiza: 26p (13 shots) - 5 reb -- 36 min
Okur: 23p (15 shots) - 11 reb -- 39 min
Ginobili: 21p (11 shots) -6 reb - 4a -- 31 min
Nocioni: 17p (8 shots) - 15 reb -- 31 min
Lee: 15p (9 shots) - 11 reb -- 39 min
Fernandez: 15p (11 shots) - 4 reb -- 33 min
Bonner: 12p - 11 reb -- 29 min
Kirilenko: 12p - 3 reb - 4a -- 34 min
Scalabrine: 11p (8 shots) - 4 reb -- 29 min
Rodriguez: 10p (7 shots) - 5a -- 21 min
Stojakovic: 10p - 6 reb -- 37 min
Alexander: 9p (6 shots) -- 9 min
Scola: 9p (5 shots) - 5 reb -- 26 min
Andersen: 5p (2 shots) - team high 9 reb -- 27 min
Przybilla: 2p (1 shot) - team high 10 reb -- 28 min

Whatever happened to... Kevin Pittsnogle

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — There is a middle school up the hill from the McDonald’s here, and behind it are several classroom trailers, the type that are added when space gets tight and are never taken away.

Kevin Pittsnogle has put aside his basketball career for a chance to help a high school team as an assistant coach and teach special education students in his hometown, Martinsburg, W.Va. Inside one of the trailers last Friday stood a tall man with a familiar face. He wore a Bugs Bunny tie and a gray dress shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows. Tattoos spilled to his wrists. He spoke kindly to two of his special education students, who called him Mr. Pittsnogle.

On the inside of the door was a sign: “You are who you choose to be.” For now, this is who Kevin Pittsnogle chooses to be.

Less than four years ago, he was a basketball star and a folk hero, a homegrown kid with a funny name, a bowl haircut, a 6-foot-11 frame covered in tattoos, and a baby-soft 3-point shot. During West Virginia’s unexpected thrill ride to the quarterfinals of the 2005 N.C.A.A. tournament, his name became a taunting verb: you’ve been Pittsnogled. His mother still has a box of the T-shirts in a closet. Less than three years ago, Pittsnogle was an all-American senior averaging 19.3 points who led West Virginia to the 2006 regional semifinals. He expected to be chosen in the N.B.A draft. He was not.

Now, at 24, he is a middle school teacher in his hometown. He is also an unpaid assistant coach for a high school basketball team. He bowls in leagues three nights a week and occasionally plays bingo at Big Bucks Bingo. His wife, Heather, is a bank teller. They have two children and live in a double-wide trailer, and together they wonder how much appetite they have for uprooting their lives again so Pittsnogle can have one more chance at a basketball career.

People approach Pittsnogle because he is both an icon and one of them. They excitedly review his exploits at West Virginia, maybe his 22 points and 8 rebounds in the 2005 tournament against Texas Tech or the 25 points he had in the overtime loss to Louisville in the regional final. They tell him that they wish he were still playing basketball. “I’ll say, ‘Me, too — sometimes,’ ” Pittsnogle said. He laughed his good-natured laugh, and sounded like someone who truly was not so sure.

In two years he played for nine teams, in the Continental Basketball Association, the N.B.A.’s development league, the N.B.A.’s summer leagues, in France and in Puerto Rico. Last summer, he suspended the chase. He just wanted to come home again. “I thought, I’m done for good,” he said.


As a player, Pittsnogle is a pure shooter whose body does not match his skills. Kelvin Sampson, then the coach at Oklahoma, once called him a “two-guard who grew to 6-11.” After college, Pittsnogle’s weight grew, too, by about 40 pounds, to 300. “I kept hearing, ‘You’re overweight,’ ” Pittsnogle said. “ ‘You can average 20 points a game, but we’re not going to bring you up until you lose some weight.’ ” Instead, he shed the burden of hoop dreams. His circuitous journey, usually with the family in tow (a son, Kwynsie, is nearly 3, and a daughter, Amyyah, was born in May), grew tiresome.

But something happened on the way back to an ordinary life. Pittsnogle learned last fall that he had a thyroid condition that slowed his metabolism. It helped explain his fluctuating weight, long trending upward. Medication has helped him lose 25 pounds and re-energize his playing hopes. He is pondering N.B.A. summer leagues, one last time. “If I look the way I’m supposed to look, and play the way I’m supposed to play, I think I’ll get a chance,” Pittsnogle said. “If not, I’ll come back and live my life here.”

His attitude is dipped in realism. A teacher at his level makes about $25,000. A four-month season in the N.B.A.’s developmental league pays about the same, but would keep hope for an N.B.A. career alive. An offer, though, would force a decision over whether to leave the family behind or have his wife quit her job.

Playing overseas can be far more lucrative but more discombobulating. “I’m open to anything,” Heather Pittsnogle said, holding 8-month-old Amyyah while speaking Friday night over the din of a high school game between Jefferson and Hedgesville, a rival of Martinsburg High, where Pittsnogle starred. “But I might have to bite my tongue if we go overseas.”

Pittsnogle whispered into the ears of players as they came off the court and cheered good plays. People in the stands occasionally pointed at him.

Long after Hedgesville won, Pittsnogle stood in the gym, dressed in his Bugs Bunny tie and gray dress shirt, rolled to the elbows. On a dare, he grabbed a ball and effortlessly flipped a shot from behind the 3-point arc. It hit the back of the rim.

He asked for the ball again. This time, nothing but net. He shrugged. Kevin Pittsnogle has chosen who he wants to be. But he wants one more shot at being who he was.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/sports/ncaabasketball/16pittsnogle.html?_r=2

Croshere bounces again, to the Spurs

The Spurs signed veteran forward Austin Croshere to a 10-day contract Friday.

Croshere was waived by Milwaukee on Jan. 6 after appearing in 11 games. He averaged 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 rebounds.

The 12th pick by Indiana in the 1997 draft, Croshere had his best season in 1999-2000, averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds as the Pacers reached the NBA finals.

The former Providence star has averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 656 career games. He spent nine seasons with the Pacers before one-year stops in Dallas and Golden State.

In 68 playoff games, Croshere averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds.

White of the Night: Steve Nash

Shocker in Cleveland: Pavlovic starts, and sees the most PT of any Cav tonight. Weird how erratic minutes can be in the NBA. But he performs spectacularly, scoring 19 on 10, in a solid all-around game. Wally Szczerbiak puts together a magnificent game at the same time, scoring 14 on 6 shots! Good work guys. As usual, our White athletes perform well when given the starting nod because of an injury ahead of them, making you wonder why they aren't getting more time to begin with...

White of the Night honors tonight to Steve Nash, for a very solid 20p-7r-14a game. Way to go MVSteve! The old man still gots it.

David Lee, 21 rebounds, wow. Perfect shooting game too, 6-6 for 15 points.

Dunleavy and Hinrich look to be coming on strong after their injury hiatus, great to see for us fans of the White America ballplayers.


Dunleavy: 22p (15 shots) - 3a - 2 blk -- 28 min
Nash: 20p (10 shots) - 7 reb - 14a -- 45 min
Bargnani: 20p (14 shots) - 5 reb -- 40 min
B Miller: 20p (7 shots) - 9 reb - 3a -- 31 min
Pavlovic: 19p (10 shots) - 6 reb - 2 stl -- 43 min
Kleiza: 18p (11 shots) - 4 reb - 3a -- 30 min
B Lopez: 17p (10 shots) - 6a - 2blk -- 32 min
Ridnour: 17p (11 shots) - 10a - 3 stl -- 37 min
Murphy: 15p (9 shots) - 15 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 41 min
Lee: 15p (6 shots) - 21 reb - 4a -- 42 min
Stojakovic: 15p - 6 reb -- 39 min
Radmanovic: 15p (9 shots) -- 15 min
Pachulia: 14p (8 shots) - team high 8 reb - 2 blk -- 30 min
Udrih: 14p (10 shots) - 2a -- 38 min
Szczerbiak: 14p (6 shots) - 4 reb -- 29 min
Bonner: 13p (8 shots) - 3 reb -- 20 min
Love: 13p - 14 reb (7 off) - 2 stl -- 25 min
Okur: 13p - 8 reb -- 30 min
Kirilenko: 13p (7 shots) - 6 reb - 4a - 3 stl -- 31 min
Turkoglu: 13p - 5 reb - 3a - 2 blk
P Gasol: 13p - 9 reb -- 20 min
Hinrich: 12p (6 shots) - 3 reb - 5a - 2 stl -- 30 min
Harpring: 12p (8 shots) - 2a -- 15 min
M Gasol: 12p (8 shots) - 10 reb - 3a -- 34 min
Nocioni: 11p - 6 reb - 2 stl -- 37 min
Biedrins: 10p - 9 reb - 2a -- 33 min
Przybilla: 4p - 11 reb (6 off) -- 21 min

White of the Night: Brad Miller

Overall, great night to be a White basketball fan! Seven of our guys scored 20 or more just tonight, topped off by Bargnani, who continues to impress in his starting role. But how can we not give the White of the Night to Brad Miller, for a monster 30p-22r game, leading his team to victory in triple overtime! Good work, Brad.

Newsflash: The Pacers start three White Americans! That is sweet enough, but then they go on to beat the Detroit Piston black-sketball team in a thriller! How sweet it is.

--Utah is fighting them for White Basketball standard-bearer right now, playing Whites for a full 63% of the minutes tonight.

--Ryan Anderson starting for the Nets, with Yi's injury. Man, this is his big chance, play like you belong big man!

--Breakout game for Joe Alexander too! Very nice. Play the man, coach!

Bargnani: 31p (14 shots) - team high 10 reb -- 39 min
B Miller: 30p (20 shots) - 22 reb - 2 stl -- 51 min
Lee: 30p (21 shots) - team high 10 reb - 6a - 2 stl -- 41 min
Ginobili: 27p (15 shots) - 3 reb - 2a - 3 stl -- 30 min
Ridnour: 25p - 9 reb - 4a -- 42 min
P Gasol: 21p (14 shots) - 5 reb -- 31 min
Nowitzki: 20p - 13 reb -- 38 min
Murphy: 18p (9 shots) - 13 reb -- 45 min
Udrih: 17p - 6 reb - 7a -- 56 min
Nocioni: 16p - 4 reb - 3a -- 30 min
Stojakovic: 16p -- 35 min
Korver: 14p - 4 reb - 2 blk -- 33 min
Koufos: 14p (9 shots) - 5 reb -- 27 min
Krstic: 14p (8 shots) - 11 reb - 2 blk -- 31 min
Collison: 13p (7 shots) - 11 reb -- 40 min
Alexander: 13p (8 shots) - 5 reb - 5a -- 17 min
B Lopez: 13p - team high 8 reb - 5 blk -- 31 min
Anderson: 13p (8 shots) - 4 reb - 2 stl -- 26 min
Hinrich: 12p (6 shots) - 5 reb - 6a -- 32 min
Biedrins: 12p (8 shots) - 14 reb - 4a - 5 blk
Dunleavy: 12p - 6 reb -- 33 min
Kirilenko: 12p - 4a -- 39 min
Bogut: 12p - 11 reb (6 off) - 2 blk -- 37 min
Foster: 11p (5 shots) - 7 reb - 4a -- 7 min
Harpring: 10p - 2 reb -- 17 min
Bonner: 10p - 5 reb - 4a -- 33 min
Okur: 9p - team high 9 reb - 4a -- 33 min
Scalabrine: 9p - 4 reb -- 27 min
Nesterovic: 8p - 5 reb -- 20 min

White of the Night: Dirk Nowitzki

Look at Birdman Anderson continuing his spectacular play, leading the team in boards and blocks, to go with 3 steals, in his 21 minutes. Oh yeah, and 15 points on 8 shots. The complete game!

Redick also continues his torrid pace, playing well, as usual, and trending up in minutes.

Nice game by Stevie Nashty, but his fellow MVP gets the prized White of the Night for his spectacular 44p-14r game! Monster game for Dirk!

Nowitzki: 44p (26 shots) - 14 reb -- 42 min
Nash: 23p (13 shots) - 5 reb - 6a -- 35 min
Turkoglu: 17p - 8a -- 35 min
Redick: 15p (9 shots) - 2 reb -- 26 min
Andersen: 15p (8 shots) - team high 10 reb - 3 stl - 2 blk -- 21 min
Hawes: 14p - 4 reb -- 27 min
Radmanovic: 12p (6 shots) - 6 reb -- 19 min
P Gasol: 11p - 7 reb - 4a - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 41 min
Pachulia: 10p - 11 reb (7 off) -- 31 min
Barry: 9p (5 shots) - 5a -- 17 min
Love: 8p - 9 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 24 min
Udrih: 8p - 2 reb - 3a -- 17 min
M Gasol: 6p - game high 11 reb -- 39 min

White of the Night: Mehmet Okur

What can we say about the White of the Night - Mehmet Okur! WOW An historic game, scoring 43 on only 19 shots.

Great display of White basketball in the game between the Jazz and the Pacers, with White athletes accounting for 48% of the minutes and 51% of the points for the Pacers, and 45% of the minutes and 63% of the points for the Jazz. It hardly gets any better than that!

Breakout game by Brook Lopez! He would have been the WotN on just about any other night. Beautiful.

Stop the presses: Scalabrine starts for Boston... Whoa

It is nice to see Ukic continue to trend upwards with his minutes and production. Hopefully he can keep it up even after Calderon returns.

And oh, yes, welcome back, Kirk Hinrich.

Okur: 43p (19 shots) - 9 reb - 3a -- 28 min
B Lopez: 31p (17 shots) - 13 reb - 2 blk -- 40 min
Lee: 24p (16 shots) - 9 reb - 3a -- 33 min
Bargnani: 23p - 8 reb - 3a -- 38 min
Kirilenko: 23p - 12 reb - 3a - 3 stl - 3 blk -- 41 min
Dunleavy: 20p (14 shots) - 7 reb - 2a -- 23 min
Bogut: 18p (12 shots) - 10 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 38 min
Ukic: 16p (12 shots) - 3 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 23 min
Blake: 16p - 10a - 3 stl -- 39 min
Ridnour: 14p - 3 reb - 10a -- 36 min
Krstic: 12p (8 shots) - 4 reb -- 23 min
Murphy: 12p - 10 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 31 min
Nesterovic: 12p - 4a - 2 blk -- ? min
Scalabrine: 11p - 2 reb - 2a -- 28 min
Foster: 11p (7 shots) - 8 reb - 4a - 2 stl -- 34 min
Humphries: 9p (5 shots) - 4 reb -- 20 min

White of the Night: Vladimir Radmanovic

Vladimir Radmanovic proves he is not ready to bury yet, taking advantage of his reinsertion into the starting lineup to earn the White of the Night!

Great to see Chris Quinn return to major action (31 min) down in Miami, let's hope to see more of that.







Turkoglu: 21p (12 shots) - 5 reb - 5a -- 37 min
Radmanovic: 18p (10 shots) - 7 reb - 2 stl -- 31 min
Ginobili: 18p (13 shots) - 3 reb - 4a -- 31 min
Belinelli: 17p - 3 reb - 2a - 2 stl -- 30 min
Bargnani: 17p - 9 reb - 3a -- 31 min
Udrih: 16p - 5 reb - 6a - 2 stl -- 35 min
Nowitzki: 15p - 8 reb - 2 stl -- 37 min
Nash: 14p (8 shots) - 5 reb - 12a -- 36 min
P Gasol: 14p - 18 reb (8 off) - 3a -- 39 min
B Miller: 13p - 7 reb - 5a -- 34 min
Quinn: 12p - 3 reb - 7a -- 31 min
Redick: 12p (9 shots) -- 28 min
Kapono: 12p (7 shots) - 2 reb - 2a - 2 stl -- 24 min
Biedrins: 11p - 9 reb - 3 blk -- 27 min
Dunleavy: 10p - 4 reb -- 22 min
Vujacic: 10p (5 shots) - 4 reb -- 19 min
Novak: 9p (3 shots) -- 12 min
Hawes: 8p - team high 8 reb - 2a -- 21 min

White of the Night: Nick Collison

Great game on Saturday night from Nick Collison, starting at C for OKC, winning the White of the Night recognition. Great to see Nick back in the lineup, with his thumb fully bandaged, but obviously still able to get the job done.



Top White game reports:
Okur: 22p (9 shots) - 6 reb -- 21 min
Collison: 21p (12 shots) - 9 reb (6 off) - 4a - 2 stl -- 35 min
Scola: 18p - 11 reb -- 27 min
Blake: 15p - 4 reb - 4a - 3 stl -- 38 min
Bogut: 14p (8 shots) - 7 reb - 2 blk -- 27 min
Lee: 14p - 11 reb -- 34 min
Ridnour: 12p - 9 reb - 6a -- 35 min
Fernandez: 12p (7 shots) - 6a -- 25 min
Morrison: 11p (6 shots) - 2 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 22 min
Nocioni: 11p - 2 reb -- 33 min
Kirilenko: 11p - 7 reb - 7a - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 31 min
Harpring: 11p - 2 reb -- 17 min
Biedrins: 10p (5 shots) - 6 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 33 min
Krstic: 8p - 2 reb - 2 blk -- 13 min
Love: 5p - game high 12 reb -- 22 min

Whites of the Night: Dunleavy & Murphy

White American basketball returns to Indiana! Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy combine for 46 points, very sweet, earning them both the White of the Night honors.

It is nice to see Novak earning more minutes for the Clips. Let's hope that trend continues, freeing up one of the best shooters in the league.

Alert, alert: Redick sighting in Orlando (sweet 15 on 7)!


Murphy: 24p (14 shots) - 6 reb - 3a -- 32 min
Dunleavy: 22p (14 shots) - 4 reb - 5a -- 23 min
P Gasol: 21p (13 shots) - 11 reb - 4a -- 41 min
Turkoglu: 21p (9 shots) - 6 reb - 4a -- 24 min
Bargnani: 21p (14 shots) - 8 reb - 2 blk -- 35 min
Hawes: 19p (11 shots) - 5 reb -- 28 min
Nowitzki: 19p (12 shots) - 7 reb -- 33 min
Redick: 15p (7 shots) - 4 reb -- 20 min
Novak: 14p -- 26 min
Scola: 14p (7 shots) - 6 reb -- 23 min
Varejao: 14p (10 shots) - 9 reb -- 35 min
Ginobili: 13p (9 shots) - 4 reb - 5a - 4 stl -- 25 min
Lee: 13p (8 shots) - 15 reb (7 reb) -- 37 min
Stojakovic: 12p - 4 reb -- 30 min
Bonner: 11p (6 shots) - 3 reb - 2 blk -- 22 min
Kapono: 11p - 2 reb - 6a -- 24 min
Nowitzki: 10p - 7 reb - 7a -- 38 min
Krstic: 10p - 3 reb - 2 blk -- 23 min
Ridnour: 10p - 3 reb - 5a -- 25 min
B Miller: 9p - 15 reb - 4a -- 40 min
Carroll: 9p (5 shots) -- 14 min
Nash: 9p - 12a - 2 stl -- 29 min
Collison: 8p - team high 10 reb -- 36 min
Amundson: 8p (3 shots) - 7 reb - 2 blk -- 29 min

White of the Night: Pau Gasol

Wow, some incredible games by our White athletes on Wednesday!

-- Awesome efficiency by: Bargnani, 25 on 9, Love 16 on 5, Okur 20 on 10!
--Biedrins with an insane stat line: 12p-17r-8a-3s-3b
--Amundson leads his team in rebounds, ripping down 14, including 9 on the offensive glass.
--Kleiza takes his starting opportunity to show off his skills, leading the Nuggets in scoring.
--Brook Lopez with 5 blocks to complement is 17p-8r night.

But how can we not give the coveted White of the Night to Pau Gasol for his monster 33p-18r game? Beautiful game by the Spaniard, yet again.

And let us not forget: welcome back, Mike Dunleavy!

P Gasol: 33p (21 shots) - 18 reb (8 off) - 2 blk
Bargnani: 25p (9 shots) - 4 reb - 2 blk -- 34 min
Kleiza: 21p (13 shots) - 7 reb -- 35 min
Turkoglu: 20p (12 shots) - 7 reb - 8a - 2 stl -- 37 min
Okur: 20p (10 shots) - 7 reb -- 28 min
B Lopez: 17p (11 shots) - team high 8 reb - 5 blk -- 31 min
Nash: 16p (9 shots) - 12a -- 43 min
Love: 16p (5 shots) - 15 reb -- 22 min
Szczerbiak: 15p (9 shots) - 5 reb -- 28 min
Korver: 15p (9 shots) - 6 reb - 4a -- 21 min
M Gasol: 14p (9 shots) - 10 reb - 3 stl -- 40 min
Varejao: 14p (9 shots) - 6 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Dunleavy: 14p - 4a -- 20 min
Belinelli: 14p -- 33 min
Kirilenko: 13p (10 shots) - 8 reb - 3a -- 27 min
Fernandez: 13p (10 shots) - 2 reb - 2a - 2 blk -- 30 min
Murphy: 12p - 6 reb -- 23 min
Kapono: 12p (8 shots) - 2 reb -- 25 min
Biedrins: 12p (8 shots) - 17 reb - 8a - 3 stl - 3 blk -- 38 min
Redick: 11p (7 shots) - 2a -- 19 min
Ridnour: 11p - 4a - 2 stl -- 22 min
Harpring: 10p (7 shots) -- 12 min
Nesterovic: 10p (6 shots) - 5 reb -- 16 min
Blake: 10p - 10a -- 33 min
Najera: 9p (6 shots) - 2 reb -- 14 min
Amundson: 9p - team high 14 reb (9 off) -- 25 min

White of the Night: Luis Scola

Weird news from Tuesday, Jan 6: Darius Songaila thrown into the starting lineup for the Wiz, then only gets to play less than half the game. Aaron Gray, Robert Swift, and Matt Carroll are stuck in the same "starting only to sit" routine. It is very weird.

Fantastic scoring night for Dirk, but the White of the Night award goes to Luis Scola for his monster game, pouring in 18 on 10 shots, and ripping down 17 rebounds. Nice job Luis!

Nowitzki: 34p (23 shots) - 4 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 38 min
Turkoglu: 22p (12 shots) - 5 reb - 7a - 3 stl -- 34 min
Scola: 18p (10 shots) - 17 reb (6 off) -- 36 min
B Miller: 18p (12 shots) - 12 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 34 min
Lee: 14p (9 shots) - 13 reb -- 35 min
M Gasol: 13p - 4 reb - 2 blk -- 29 min
Morrison: 13p (9 shots) -- 15 min
P Gasol: 10p - team high 8 reb - 5a -- 42 min
Redick: 8p (4 shots) - 3 reb -- 18 min

White of the Night: Mehmet Okur

Some very nice games in limited game action on Monday, Jan 5.

The Birdman actually led his team in rebounding in only 12 minutes of play, and Biedrins continues to rip down massive doses of rebounds, but the White of the Night goes to Mehmet Okur, for his efficient and high powered game manning the post for the Jazz.



Bargnani: 21p (13 shots) - 8 reb -- 36 min
Okur: 20p (12 shots) - 11 reb - 2 stl -- 33 min
Kirilenko: 15p (10 shots) - 5 eb - 3a - 2 blk -- 27 min
Murphy: 15p (10 shots) - 12 reb - 4a - 3 stl -- 31 min
Biedrins: 14p (10 shots) - 17 reb (6 off) - 3a -- 36 min
Bonner: 11p (7 shots) - 5 reb -- 31 min
Ukic: 11p (8 shots) -- 18 min
Koufos: 11p (6 shots) - 5 reb -- 19 min
Kleiza: 11p - 4 reb -- 21 min
Ginobili: 10p - 5 reb - 3a - 3 stl -- 26 min
Korver: 9p - 6 reb -- 24 min
Foster: 9p - 4 reb - 4a - 2 blk -- 16 min
Quinn: 8p (4 shots) -- 14 min
B Miller: 8p - 7 reb - 8a -- 32 min
Andersen: 6p (2 shots) - team high 9 reb -- 12 min

White of the Night: Vladimir Radmanovic

What a night for Radmanovic, making the most of his minutes, scoring 16 in only 18 minutes, on only 6 shots, enough to earn White of the Night for Sunday Jan 4.

Good to see Ukic and Novak in the top performers list, as well.

Nowitzki: 28p - 3 reb - 3a -- 34 min
P Gasol: 19p (9 shots) - 5 reb -- 28 min
M Gasol: 19p - 6 reb -- 28 min
Bargnani: 18p - 5 reb - 3a -- 36 min
Radmanovic: 16p (6 shots) - 4 reb -- 18 min
Novak: 15p (9 shots) - 2 reb 29 min
Fernandez: 14p - 5 reb - 3a - 3 stl -- 36 min
Lee: 14p - 14 reb - 2 blk -- 42 min
Blake: 13p - 3a -- 30 min
Ukic: 12p (6 shots) - 7a -- 23 min
Vujacic: 11p (7 shots) - 3 reb -- 25 min
Varejao: 10p - team high 10 reb - 39 min

White of the Night: Manu Ginobili

Great game by Manu Ginobili, taking the White of the Night award for Sat. Jan 3.

K-Love also deserves recognition for the noticable upswing in his game recently.

Ginobili: 21p (13 shots) - 3 reb - 3 stl -- 28 min
Stojakovic: 19p - 6 reb -- 40 min
Love: 18p - 12 reb -- 21 min
Scola: 16p (9 shots) - 11 reb -- 39 min
B Miller 13p - 9 reb - 6a -- 36 min
Nocioni: 13p - 3 reb - 3a -- 27 min
Murphy: 12p - 13 reb
Ridnour: 12p - 3 reb -- 29 min
B Lopez: 12p - 8 reb -- 30 min
Barry: 11p (6 shots) - 3a -- 23 min
Pachulia: 10p (4 shots) - 4 reb -- 17 min
Gray: 10p - team high 9 reb -- 32 min
Kleiza: 9p (5 shots) -- 10 min
Nesterovic: 8p -- 6 min
Alexander: 8p (4 shots) - 9 min

White of the Night: David Lee

What a way to start out the new year! Honestly, this has probably got to be the most solid overall night from our White ballplayers this year. Lots of high scorers, with some incredibly efficient games. Very sweet stuff, and very difficult to single out one guy for tonight's award.

Dirk led the night in PRA with 46, Varejao had an incredible game starting at C, Brad Miller was a monster on the glass and on offense, Pau led his team in rebounds and assists, Troy led his team in rebounds, assists, and steals, K-Love and Bonner shot the lights out... As I said, very tough to decide, but I have to give the White of the Night again to D-Lee for his sweet efficiency, hard work on the boards, and incredible 5 steals!

Tip of the hat also to Sasha Pavlovic, making our list of top performers for the first time this year.


Nowitzki: 31p - 4 reb - 5a - 4 stl - 2 blk -- 39 min
Varejao: 26p (14 shots) - 8 reb - 3 stl -- 31 min (starting C)
Lee: 26p (15 shots) - 11 reb - 3a - 5 stl -- 40 min
B Miller: 25p (18 shots) - 16 reb (8 off) -- 38 min
Okur: 21p (13 shots) - 13 reb - 2 blk -- 31 min
P Gasol: 21p (13 shots) - team high 11 reb - team high 6a -- 30 min
Love: 19p (9 shots) - 8 reb -- 25 min
Fernandez: 19p (11 shots) - 4 reb -- 36 min
Bargnani: 19p (12 shots) - 6 reb -- 32 min
Biedrins: 18p (12 shots) - 13 reb
Bonner: 16p (9 shots) - 29 min
Murphy: 15p - 18 reb - team high 5a - team high 3 stl
M Gasol: 15p - 11 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Stojakovic: 14p -- 36 min
Pavlovic: 13p (8 shots) - 5 reb -- 21 min
Ginobili: 13p - 6 reb - 6a - 5 stl -- 23 min
Nocioni: 11p (7 shots) -- 14 min
Belinelli: 10p - 6a -- 29 min
Przybilla: 10p (6 shots) - 7 reb -- 32 min
Kirilenko: 10p (6 shots) - 2 stl -- 11 min

White of the Night: Brook Lopez

Congratulations to Brook Lopez for a spectacular breakout game, starting at C for the Nets, earning the coveted White of the Night honors for the first time in his young career.

Barely beating out a very solid game from Andrea Bargnani, who performed spectacularly in his return to the starting lineup, including 5 blocks!

And let us not forget a tip of the hat to for Jose Calderon, continuing a very solid streak of play lately for the Raptors.

It is also really nice to see that Gortat has earned a spot in the regular rotation, after showing his worth while Howard was briefly down for the Magic.

Dec 31
Bargnani: 26p - 6 reb - 5 blk -- 41 min
B Lopez: 23p (13 shots) - 12 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 37 min
Turkoglu: 18p - 9 reb - 4a -- 30 min
Calderon: 18p (9 shots) - 11a - 5 reb -- 34 min
Biedrins: 15p - 13 reb (6 off) - 2 stl -- 35 min
Gortat: 14p (9 shots) - 7 reb -- 18 min
Ridnour: 11p - 7 reb - 11a -- 34 min
Bogut: 11p - team high 9 reb -- 40 min
Scola: 11p - team high 10 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Nocioni: 10p - 5 reb - 4a -- 29 min
Andersen: 10p - team high 10 reb -- 16 min
Kleiza: 10p -- 14 min
Davis: 8p (3 shots) - 3 reb -- 16 min

Nenad Krstic joins OKC

Nenad Krstic’s basketball journey didn’t begin with the luxuries that accompany AAU basketball.


Unlike most American-born players, he missed out on the exotic travel and the free apparel. Such treats didn’t exist during Krstic’s childhood days in Serbia.

Krstic’s unlikely NBA story started with pick-up games on cement-cracked playgrounds and inside underground gyms as a lanky teenager in Kraljevo, then a part of Yugoslovia. Basketball served as a much-needed diversion that helped take his mind off the battle that ripped apart his war-torn country in the early 1990s.

"It was always something in sports, especially in tough times during the war,” Krstic said. "So it was always being in sports rather than being in the streets.”

But Krstic, the Thunder’s newest 7-foot center, has come a long way since having to lace up a pair of worn-out Converse because his cash-strapped family couldn’t afford to purchase him a quality set of shoes.

The Thunder signed Krstic to a three-year, $15.6 million deal that launches a new chapter in his NBA career. Krstic will not be in uniform tonight against Golden State and cannot suit up until the final paperwork is completed on his work visa.

But he is eager to embark on his second NBA stint. After four seasons in New Jersey, he started this one in Russia. Krstic was one of a handful of players to flee to Europe when overseas clubs outbid NBA teams for talent.

"I know it’s just going to take some time,” said Krstic, who scored 13 points with 12 rebounds in his final game with the Nets on April 16. "Two weeks ago I played a game in Russia, and all of a sudden I’m in the NBA again in the middle of the season... I’m feeling great and I can’t wait to start playing again.”

Thunder general manager Sam Presti had his eye on Krstic as a potential free agent target next summer but finalized the deal 32 games into the season to bolster an injury-plagued and underachieving frontcourt.

While Presti was a front office executive in San Antonio, the Spurs were so high on the 19-year-old Krstic during the 2002 draft that they reportedly guaranteed they’d select him with the 26th pick. The Nets plucked him at 24.

"I think he’s going to bring a number of different things to our team,” Presti said. "First and foremost an ability to stretch the floor, and he adds another player to our roster with a high basketball IQ that understands how to play the game and play at a high level. Clearly we’re thrilled to have him.”

Four years ago, Nets coach Lawrence Frank said he would have been happy just to get anything out of his newest rookie. Then teammate Vince Carter said he didn’t even know who Krstic was before being traded from Toronto to the Nets.

But Krstic quickly turned heads.

He averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 34 minutes a game in the final month of his rookie season. Krstic then averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 56.3 percent shooting in four games against Shaquille O’Neal and the eventual champion Miami Heat in the first round of the 2005 playoffs.

Krstic seemingly was headed for All-Star status in 2006-07 before a knee injury limited him to 26 games. He was averaging 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 32.6 minutes before tearing his ACL in December 2006.

"You would hope that he’s going to be able to come in and help our team get over the hump in some of these games,” said Desmond Mason. "But you don’t want to put too much pressure on the guy like he’s supposed to come in and save the whole entire season.”

White of the Night: Steve Blake

Steve Blake and the newly starting Rudy Fernandez lead the Blazers over the suddenly reeling all-black Celtics! Sweet.

Paul Davis mans-up and plays a spectacular game, including 10-10 FTs, in his first start for the Clips! Way to go, Paul.

Hell if Pachulia doesn't put together another gem of an efficient night, as usual in spot minutes. Free Zaza!

Haddadi, who some of you might remember from the Iranian Olympic team this last summer, scored his first NBA points tonight. Good on ya, lad!

Nowitzki: 24p - game high 13 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 38 min
Blake: 21p (12 shots) - 3 reb - 3a -- 38
Ridnour: 21p (15 shots) - 5 reb - 6a - 2 blk -- 41 min
Bogut: 20p (13 shots) - 14 reb - 4a - 3 blk -- 44 min
P Davis: 18p (10 shots) - 5 reb - 3a - 3 stl -- 38 min
M Gasol: 16p - 13 reb - 3a - 2 blk -- 40 min
B Miller: 15p - 13 reb (6 off) -- 38 min
Lee: 13p - 16 reb - 38 min
Ginobili: 13p (9 shots) - 5a -- 25 min
Udrih: 13p -- 27 min
Foster: 12p - 12 reb - 3a -- 27 min
Murphy: 10p - game high 14 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Amundson: 10p (6 shots) - 8 reb - 18 min
Pachulia: 9p (5 shots) - 5 reb - 1 stl - 1 blk -- 14 min
Varejao: 2p (1 shot) - team high 10 reb -- 24 min

White of the Night: Jose Calderon

Some great performances for all us White basketball fans last night, but I've got to give the prestigious White of the Night to Jose Calderon for his 21-6-16 night! Belinelli come in a close second for his spectacular game. Commendations to Love (17 on 7) and Scola (16 on 8) also.

--Utah looking more and more like a White Basketball team, their White players getting 50.75% of the total playing time in their deletion of the all-black 76ers! Sweet! Kirilenko also looks rejuvenated back in the starting lineup for Utah, filling up the sheet like the old days.

--The best rebounder in the league continues to perform miracles in spot minutes, of course I'm speaking of Zaza Pachulia.

--The Birdman thrown into the starting lineup for the Nuggets, but takes only 1 shot in 31 min??? Come on, Chris, play like you belong! He did lead the team in rebounding, but we expect more!

--Swift got the start down in OKC, nice to see. Go Big Red!

Belinelli: 23p (12 shots) - 6a -- 37 min
Calderon: 21p (14 shots) - 6 reb - 16a -- 44 min
Okur: 19p - 10 reb -- 35 min
Love: 17p (7 shots) - 7 reb -- 31 min
Nocioni: 17p (10 shots) - team high 8 reb -- 24 min
Scola: 16p (8 shots) - 5 reb -- 34 min
Kirilenko: 16p (12 shots) - game high 13 reb - 3a - 3 stl - 3 blk -- 36 min
Turkoglu: 14p - 5 reb - 8a -- 42 min
Biedrins: 13p (8 shots) - 15 reb - 2 stl - 5 blk -- 30 min
Korver: 12p (7 shots) - 5a -- 25 min
M Gasol: 12p - 5 reb - 3a - 3 stl - 2 blk -- 37 min
Kapono: 11p - 3 reb -- 30 min
Humphries: 10p - 4 reb -- 10 min
Pachulia: 8p (4 shots) - 8 reb -- 18 min

White of the Night: David Lee

Wow, what a game by David Lee, earning the White of the Night for Dec. 28!

Murphy and Biedrins continue their monster rebounding ways as well.

Lee: 19p (9 shots) - game high 12 reb (5 off) -- 37 min
Barea: 17p (12 shots) - 4 reb - 4a -- 28 min
Vujacic: 17p (10 shots) - 6a -- 31 min
Murphy: 16p - 16 reb - 4a -- 39 min
Belinelli: 14p (11 shots) -- 28 min
P Gasol: 13p - 9 reb - game high 7a -- 30 min
Varejao: 12p (8 shots) - 10 reb - 2 blk -- 32 min
Stojakovic: 12p - 8 reb - 3 stl -- 37 min
Kurz: 10p (4 shots) -- 9 min
Ilgauskas: 10p - 6 reb -- 27 min
Biedrins: 8p - 17 reb (6 off) - 3 stl -- 25 min
Diener: 8p (4 shots) - 4 reb -- 16 min

White of the Night: Hedo Turkoglu

Dec 27

Spectacular night from Hedo, scoring 26 on 12 shots, leading the Magic, and good old fashioned stat stuffer from Kirilenko for the Jazz. Also nice to see Fesenko, Korver, and Koufos step up for the Jazz.

Turkoglu: 26p (12 shots) - 7 reb -- 37 min
Kirilenko: 20p - 10 reb (5 off) - 5a - 3 stl -- 49 min
Ginobili: 20p (16 shots) - 4 reb - 4a -- 40 min
Bogut: 17p - 10 reb -- 26 min
M Gasol: 15p - 10 reb - 4 blk -- 41 min
Koufos: 14p (9 shots) - 4 reb -- 20 min
Bargnani: 13p -- 21 min
Korver: 13p (10 shots) - 6a -- 40 min
Fesenko: 12p (8 shots) - team high 11 reb - 3 blk -- 34 min
Nocioni: 11p -- 22 min
Calderon: 11p - 8a -- 38 min
Scola: 10p - game high 14 reb - 4a -- 46 min
Pachulia: 10p (7 shots) - 7 reb -- 20 min
B Lopez: 6p - game high 13 reb -- 30 min
Love: 5p - game high 10 reb - 20 min

White of the Night: Dirk Nowitzki

Dec 25 & 26

Utah, looking like a very White team, starting Koufos and Kirilenko, with Harpring, Korver, and Fesenko dominating the second team, resulting in Whites playing a remarkable 46% of the total minutes that game for the Jazz, leading them to victory over the Mavs.

Nowitzki: 30p (18 shots) - 5 reb -- 34 min
Belinelli: 22p (17 shots) - 4a - 2 stl -- 43 min
P Gasol: 20p (14 shots) - 5a - 3 blk -- 35 min
Turkoglu: 20p (12 shots) - 6 reb - 5a -- 36 min
B Miller: 20p (10 shots) - 8 reb -- 34 min
Koufos: 18p (11 shots) - 8 reb - 2 stl -- 29 min
Nowitzki: 17p (10 shots) - 8 reb -- 29 min
Calderon: 16p (9 shots) - 7 reb - 6a -- 38 min
Bargnani: 14p (5 shots) -- 21 min
Blake: 14p (11 shots) - 7a -- 38 min
B Lopez: 14p - team high 7 reb - 2 blk -- 31 min
M Gasol: 14p (10 shots) - 5 reb -- 23 min
Milicic: 14p (7 shots) - 5 reb -- 17 min
Nesterovic: 14p (9 shots) - 9 reb -- 27 min
Fernandez: 13p (8 shots) -- 28 min
Varejao: 13p (7 shots) - team high 13 reb -- 30 min
Nash: 13p (8 shots) - 4 reb - 8a -- 38 min
Gray: 12p (7 shots) - team high 11 reb (5 off) -- 25 min
Lee: 12p - team high 13 reb (6 off) -- 33 min
Ginobili: 11p - 4 reb - 4a -- 26 min
Kirilenko: 9p - team high 14 reb -- 38 min

White of the Night: Joel Przybilla

from Dec. 23rd:

Joel Przybilla earns the White of the Night honors for his monster game on the boards, ripping down 19 rebounds for the Blazers.

Nice to see Robert Swift in the lineup for OKC. He was performing well before his injury, so hopefully he will be back in the regular rotation soon.

Indiana looked a lot whiter tonight, even with Murphy out, as four of our guys got good minutes, including McRoberts and Diener. Very nice trend there, especially if they can keep it up when Dunleavy and Murphy get back.

Kirilenko: team high 22p (13 shots) - team high 11 reb -- 29 min
Nowitzki: 21p - 8 reb - 4a -- 35 min
Kleiza: 20p (10 shots) - 4 reb -- 26 min
P Gasol: 20p (10 shots) - 7 reb - 3a -- 35 min
Nocioni: 18p (10 shots) - 8 reb -- 30 min
Blake: 17p -- 31 min
Nesterovic: 13p - 3 blk -- 21 min
Foster: 12p - game high 14 reb (7 off) - 2 blk -- 31 min
Fernandez: 12p (9 shots) -- 21 min
Ridnour: 11p - 11a - 6 stl -- 44 min
Scola: 11p - team high 8 reb - 3a -- 31 min
Ilgauskas: 11p - 3 reb - 2 blk -- 27 min
Diener: 11p (6 shots) - 4a -- 18 min
Przybilla: 10p (6 shots) - 19 reb -- 39 min
Bogut: 9p - team high 11 reb -- 37 min
McRoberts: 8p - 4 reb - 5a - 2 stl -- 25 min
Pachulia: 8p (4 shots) - 4 reb -- 17 min

White of the Night: Chris Andersen

Chris Andersen, 6 BLOCKS, in only 21 minutes of play, wow! Chris is currently third in the league in blocks, at 2.4 pg, while averaging only 17 minutes. Keep up the great play, Birdman, you will be free eventually.

Props to Kleiza for a beautifully efficient night, 17 on 8 shots, and to Pau Gasol, for leading his team in rebounds, blocks, and assists.

Other White games of note the last couple nights:

Nowitzki: 23p - 9 reb -- 35 min
Kleiza: 17p (8 shots) - 4 reb -- 28 min
Lee: 17p - team high 8 reb - 4a - 4 stl -- 43 min
P Gasol: 15p - team high 7 reb - team high 6a - 2 blk -- 33 min
Blake: 14p - 3 reb - 4a -- 29 min
Udrih: 13p - 4 reb - 4a - 6 stl -- 36 min
Belinelli: 12p - 6 reb -- 29 min
Turkoglu: 12p - 5 reb - 7a -- 29 min
Andersen: 11p - 3 reb - 6 blk -- 21 min
Milicic: 11p (5 shots) - game high 8 reb - 3 blk -- 33 min
Scola: 11p (7 shots) - 4 reb - 4a -- 28 min
Songaila: 10p (5 shots) - 3 reb -- 24 min
Ginobili: 10p - 5 reb - 3a -- 23 min

Analysis: First 1/3 of Season

The good news is, a number of our guys are having better years than ever. The bad news is, many of our favorite and most well-known guys are having down years.

On the rise (better stats than last year):
Nowitzki, Calderon, Okur, Lee, Murphy, Biedrins, Ridnour, Blake, Hawes, Kirilenko, Varejao, Kapono, Bonner, Pachulia, Swift, Andersen, Belinelli, Rodriguez, McRoberts, Amundson

Treading water (about the same as last year):
Pau Gasol, Bogut, Udrih, Bargnani, Ilgauskas, Foster, Scola, Nesterovich, Przybilla, Radmanovic, Redick, Gray, Kurz

Declining production:
Turkoglu, Kaman, Mike Miller, Brad Miller, Stojakovic, Ginobili, Collison, Hinrich, Nocioni, Kleiza, Korver, Milicic, Barry, Szczerbiak, Quinn, Oberto, Morrison, Songaila, Vujacic, Carroll, Pavlovic, Scalabrine, Walton, Diener, Harpring, Najera, Jaric, Croshere, Madsen, Cardinal, Mihm

Here are our top 40 contributors, calculated by adding up their average points, rebounds, assists, and minutes played:

name PRA+M
Dirk Nowitzki 76
Pau Gasol 65.4
Hedo Turkoglu 64.2
Mehmet Okur 61.7
Andris Biedrins 61.7
Steve Nash 61.3
Jose Calderon 60.7
Chris Kaman 60.7
David Lee 59.8
Troy Murphy 57.9
Andrew Bogut 55.3
Brad Miller 54.3
Mike Miller 52.7
Beno Udrih 51.2
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 50.2
Spencer Hawes 50
Luke Ridnour 49.2
Andrei Kirilenko 49.1
Manu Ginobili 49.1
Peja Stojakovic 49.1
Marc Gasol 47.8
Steve Blake 47.5
Brook Lopez 46.2
Anderson Varejao 42.7
Rudy Fernandez 42.3
Luis Scola 42.1
Andrea Bargnani 42
Jeff Foster 41.4
Kevin Love 40.4
Rasho Nesterovich 40.4
Andres Nocioni 38.9
Nick Collison 38.5
Kirk Hinrich 38.5
Joel Przybilla 37.7
Jason Kapono 37.1
Linas Kleiza 36.4
Matt Bonner 34.9
Kyle Korver 33.7
Darko Milicic 31.6

White of the Night: Luke Ridnour

News of note:
Josh McRoberts had his first significant minutes of the season, and played very well, blocking 4 shots, white scoring 10 with 8 boards. Let's hope to see more of Josh!
Steve Novak also makes our list for the first time this season, showing some aggressive shooting in his minutes.
Diener also gets some rare minutes, and performs well.
K-Love down to 6 minutes??? WTF...
Luke Ridnour wins White of the Night for his incredible efficiency, leading his team to a blowout victory.

Okur: 23p - 13 reb -- 40 min
Ridnour: 18p (7 shots) - 7a - 2 stl -- 26 min
Calderon: 16p - 4 reb - 4a -- 35 min
Nash: 16p - 11a - 2 stl -- 37 min
Nocioni: 15p - 8 reb - 3a - 2 stl -- 41 min
Novak: 14p -- 18 min
Turkoglu: 14p - 5 reb - 7a - 2 stl -- 42 min
Bonner: 14p - 3 reb - 3a -- 29 min
Belinelli: 13p - 4a - 2 stl -- 34 min
B Miller: 13p (8 shots) - 9 reb - 4a -- 28 min
Ginobili: 13p (8 shots) -7 reb - 3a -- 24 min
Bogut: 12p - 8 reb -- 22 min
Kapono: 12p -- 26 min
Diener: 12p (6 shots) -- 15 min
P Gasol: 11p - 7 reb -- 42 min
Kirilenko: 11p -- 29 min
Biedrins: 11p - 9 reb - 3a -- 34 min
McRoberts: 10p - 8 reb - 4 blk -- 28 min
Kleiza: 10p (3 shots) -- 16 min
Foster: 9p - team high 10 reb -- 33 min

White of the Night: Marco Belinelli

Belinelli breaks out, playing a team high 42 minutes, racking up a career high 27 points, and earning the prestigious White of the Night award.

Nelson had some kinda fit of temporary insanity, starting 3 Whites (Belinelli, Biedrins, Kurz). It looks like someone whispered in his ear right after the game started, though, as Kurz only played 12 minutes...

Chris Andersen lead the team in rebounds and swats 3 shots in his mere 23 minutes. WTF??? Somebody, please, free the Birdman!

For games Friday:


Belinelli: 27p - 6a - 2 stl -- 42 min
Okur: 26p - 12 reb -- 47 min
Nowitzki: 24p - 6 reb - 3a -- 36 min
Scola: 23p - 10 reb (5 off) -- 3 stl -- 30 min
Ilgauskas: 23p (14 shots) - 6 reb -- 27 min
B Miller: 17p (9 shots) - 11reb (5 off) -- 35 min
Nesterovic: 16p - 8 reb -- 35 min
Nocioni: 16p - 6 reb -- 33 min
Bargnani: 16p - 5 reb -- 28 min
Lee: 14p - 14 reb - 36 min
Biedrins: 14p - 15 reb - 6a -- 32 min
P Gasol: 13p - 11 reb -- 34 min
Kirilenko: 12p - 6 reb -- 37 min
Milicic: 11p (5 shots) - 2 blk -- 23 min
Collison: 10p (5 shots) - 9 reb -- 26 min
Carroll: 10p (6 shots) -- 16 min
Andersen: 6p - 10 reb - 3 blk -- 23 min

White of the Night: Steve Blake

White of the Night: Steve Blake, for putting together a solid 22-10, to go along with 4 steals, helping to power the Blazers in an exciting victory.

Varejao starting at C, continues to outplay the guy (Ben Wallace) who normally starts ahead of him at PF. Weird how that works.

Not quite as weird as Biedrins getting only 23 minutes. At least Belinelli continues to rise in Golden State!

Solid White performances for games Wednesday and Thursday:

Nowitzki: 27p - 10 reb - 4a -- 38 min
Okur: 23p - 9 reb -- 29 min
Blake: 22p - 4 reb - 10a - 4 stl -- 38 min
Nocioni: 22p - 4 reb - 3a -- 35 min
Belinelli: 21p - 4 reb - 4a -- 38 min
Korver: 18p - 9 reb -- 31 min
Ginobili: 17p - 9 reb - 5a -- 30 min
Biedrins: 16p - 10reb (5 off) - 2 blk -- 23 min
Nash: 15p - 11a -- 35 min
M Miller: 14p - 7 reb -- 34 min
Ridnour: 14p - 3a -- 32 min
Varejao: 13p - 11 reb - 2 slt -- 34 min
Calderon: 11p - 5 reb - 10a -- 37 min

White of the Night: Jose Calderon

Good news for Jake Voskuhl, getting the midseason call up, signing with the Toronto Raptors, who are again becoming a very White team.

--Gortat performs magnificently at C for Orlando, yet again. This guy is for real.
--Bonner continues to improve in his starting role for the Spurs!
--Belinelli continues to shine with good PT. Meanwhile, Kurz relegated back to the bench. Grrrr... Stupid Nellie.
--Ryan Anderson again explodes when given the PT. He Needs To Be STARTING!!!

Close for the White of the Night was Pau Gasol, leading his team in rebounds, assists, and blocks, second in scoring, powering the Lakers to victory.

But I have to give it to someone who performed even better: Jose Calderon, who shot a perfect game, scoring 22 on only 8 shots, schooling the diminutive Chris Paul.


Nowitzki: 27p (22 shots) - 10 reb - 2 blk -- 41 min
Biedrins: 23p (12 shots) - 9 reb (5 off) - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 31 min
Calderon: 22p (8 shots) - 7a -- 36 min (2 nights ago)
Anderson: team high 21p (11 shots) - 9 reb -- 32 min
Nash: 21p (18 shots) - 6 reb - 6a - 2 stl -- 39 min
Bogut: 20p (12 shots) - 11 reb -- 40 min
Belinelli: 19p (14 shots) - 4 reb - 6a -- 31 min
P Gasol: 18p (12 shots) - team high 11 reb - team high 6a - team high 3 blk -- 34 min
Kapono: team high 17p (13 shots) - 4 reb -- 40 min
Bonner: 17p (12 shots) - 8 reb - 2 stl -- 33 min
Gortat: 16p (13 shots) - 13 reb (7 off) - 3 blk -- 27 min
Lee: 15p (9 shots) - team high 12 reb - 2 stl -- 30 min
Calderon: 15p (10 shots) - 8a -- 38 min
Hawes: 15p (12 shots) - 10 reb - 2 blk -- 28 min
B Miller: 14p (9 shots) - 10 reb -- 26 min
Ginobili: 14p (10 shots) - 5 reb - 6a -- 30 min
Okur: 13p - 6 reb - 4a -- 39 min
Milicic: 13p (8 shots) - 5 blk -- 30 min
Nesterovic: 12p (6 shots) - 1 blk -- 17 min
Kirilenko: 12p (6 shots) - 3 reb - 2 blk -- 31 min
Barea: 12p - 9a - 4 reb - 2 stl -- 34 min
Turkoglu: 12p - 7 reb - 8a -- 40 min
M Miller: 11p (6 shots) - 9 reb -- 39 min
Bargnani: 10p (6 shots) - 2 blk -- 23 min
Collison: 10p (5 shots) - 8 reb - 5a -- 21 min
Foster: 9p - 11 reb (7 off) -- 29 min
Murphy: 8p (6 shots) - team high 12 reb -- 22 min
Love: 7p (7 shots) - team high 15 reb (6 off) -- 26 min
M Gasol: 7p - team high 7 reb - 4a - 3 blk -- 23 min


Games of Efficient Beauty:
Calderon (22 on 8), Nesterovic (12 on 6), Kirilenko (12 on 6), Collison (10 on 5), Kleiza (6 on 3), Songaila (8 on 4), Pachulia (4 on 2)

White of the Night: Dirk Nowitzki

After a long season with mostly DNPs, Rob Kurz gets the start for the Warriors tonight, and demonstrates the high quality of his game! There are so many White gems in the league, who shine when polished off and given the PT. God bless you, Kurz, here's hoping we see a lot more of you.

Chris "Birdman" Andersen is officially getting the shaft. Playing in only 9 minutes (WTF!!!), Chris blocks 4 shots, plus 5 rebounds, with 6 points (on 3 shots) . One of the best defensive players, one of the most athletic, and extremely efficient on offense, and he is the 10th man off the bench??? What universe are we living in?

Gortat gets the start tonight for the Magic at C, performing admirably. While hesitant on O (only 5 shots), quite the monster on D, blocking 4 shots in his 30 minutes.

Bogut puts up a very solid 20-20, but how can we not reward Nowitzki with the White of the Night? Way to go, Dirk, for an incredible game.


Nowitzki: 46p (30 shots) - 8 reb - 4a -- 39 min
Turkoglu: 23p (15 shots) - 5a - 3 stl -- 40 min
Bogut: 20p (11 shots) - 20 reb (6 off) - 2 blk -- 41 min
Kurz: 20p (11 shots) - team high 7 reb - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 32 min
Lee: 17p (9 shots) - 19 reb - 2 slt -- 35 min
Kirilenko: 17p (8 shots) - 6 reb -- 30 min
Korver: 15p (9 shots) - 2 reb -- 29 min
Belinelli: 14p (8 shots) - 6 reb -- 21 min
Foster: 14p (10 shots) - 5 reb (4 off) - 3a - 2 stl -- 25 min
Udrih: 13p (12 shots) - team high 6a - 4 stl -- 27 min
Ridnour: 13p (7 shots) - 6a - 3 stl -- 31 min
Okur: 12p (12 shots) - 6 reb -- 33 min
Varejao: 11p (10 shots) - 8 reb (4 off) -- 37 min
Biedrins: 10p (7 shots) - 7 reb - 2 blk -- 24 min
Murphy: 9p (10 shots) - team high 11 reb -- 34 min


Games of Extreme Beauty (at least 2 points per shot): Kirilenko (17 on 8), Andersen (6 on 3), Pachulia (8 on 4), Croshere (7 on 3)

White of the Night: Steve Nash

What am I missing up in G.S.? Biedrins puts up stellar numbers every single night, yet his PT has been falling to almost half-game levels. WTF is going on with Nellie? His limiting Biedrin's PT seems totally irrational to me, as he is one of the most productive centers in the league. What is going on?

--Varejao starts in Ilgauskas' absence and plays magnificently. Just goes to show, he should be starting ALL THE TIME!
--Milicic and Gasol both starting in Memphis, paying off in a nice win for the Grizz.
--Walton remains in starting lineup for the Lakers, and has apparently gotten the triangle working again, leading his team in assists (8), playing 24 min.
--Belinelli continues his upward arc, getting a full 30 min of PT for the Warriors! And being aggressive, filling the stat sheet while hoisting up 15 shots.

None of our guys stood out head and shoulders tonight, so Steve Nash gets the White of the Night award for the highest P-R-A total, leading the Suns to a 1 point victory over the Magic.

Nash: 21p (18 shots) - 5 reb - 10a -- 35 min
Scola: 19p (12 shots) - 7 reb -- 24 min
P Gasol: 18p (16 shots) - team high 11 reb - 4a -- 37 min
Biedrins: 18p (14 shots) - 12 reb (5 off) - 3 blk -- 25 min
Varejao: 17p (10 shots) - 7 reb (4 off) - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 35 min
Udrih: 17p (13 shots) - 7a -- 34 min
Kapono: 16p (15 shots) - 5 reb -- 32 min
Ginobili: 16p (17 shots) - 4 reb -- 28 min
Nesterovic: 16p (12 shots) - 3 reb - 2 blk -- 26 min
Milicic: 13p (11 shots) - team high 11 reb (6 off) - 2 blk -- 35 min
Turkoglu: 13p (18 shots) - 6 reb - 3a -- 39 min
Calderon: 13p (9 shots) - 3 reb - 3a -- 29 min
Bonner: 12p (7 shots) - 4 reb - 3a -- 24 min
M Gasol: 11p (7 shots) - 3 reb -- 31 min
Bargnani: 11p (10 shots) - 7 reb - 4 blk -- 28 min
Blake: 11p (9 shots) - 8a - 2 stl -- 38 min
Hawes: 11p (9 shots) - 6 reb -- 29 min
Ukic: 10p (2 shots) - 4 reb - 5a -- 19 min
Murphy: 10p (7 shots) - team high 11 reb - 3a -- 36 min
Kurz: 10p (4 shots) - 3 blk -- 15 min

Games of Extreme Beauty (at least 2 point per shot): Ukic (10 on 2), Kurz (10 on 4), Gortat (8 on 4)

White of the Night: Jason Kapono

A few surprise starts:
--Jason Kapono, liberated by his new coach in Toronto, blows the lights out, and earns our White of the Night award for his 25 points and 8 boards!
--Adam Morrison for the Bobcats started and played a team high 37 min (but took only 7 shots???).
--Luke Walton was thrown into the starting lineup for the Lakers on Wednesday night after a bunch of DNPs and played well. It has been a real disappointment to see him buried, so here's hoping he continues to get more PT.
--Milicic starts for the Grizz, although he his basically splitting time with Marc Gasol at this point.

Chris Andersen should be getting consideration for defensive player of the year, but his low minutes continue to hamper his stats. In only 23 minutes off the bench, Chris blocked 4 shots, with 2 steals, to go along with his 6 rebounds (4 offensive). Why he is not starting in Martin's absense, I have no idea. Pure travesty.

Games of Extreme Beauty (at least 2 points for every shot): Belinelli, P Gasol, Ginobili, Biedrins, and Vujacic

White Highlights:
P Gasol: 28p (14 shots) - 5 reb - 4a -- 38 min
Ginobili: 27p (12 shots) - 5 reb - 3a -- 28 min
Kapono: 25p (16 shots) - 8 reb -- 38 min
Murphy: 20p (15 shots) - 20 reb - 6a -- 37 min
Biedrins: 18p (9 shots) - game high 14 reb - 4 blk -- 27 min
Stojakovic: 17p (11 shots) - 3 reb -- 26 min
Belinelli: 15p (7 shots) - 3 reb - 2a -- 14 min
Vujacic: 15p (5 shots) - 19 min
Varejao: 15p (12 shots) - 8 reb - 3a -- 33 min
Love: 14p (9 shots) - 14 reb (7 off) - 3a -- 31 min
Ridnour: 13p - 5a -- 26 min
Calderon: 11p - 14a - 5 reb - 3 stl -- 38 min
Foster: 10p (7 shots) - 12 reb (7 off) -- 25 min
Collison: 10p (7 shots) -team high 8 reb -- 33 min
Bogut: 10p - 9 reb -- 28 min
Carroll: 10p -- 25 min

White of the Night: Pau Gasol

Portland lost a close one to the Magic tonight (losing on a buzzer-beating 3 by their white nemesis Hedo Turkoglu). The Blazers were kept in the game by the stellar play of their second unit, call it their "white" squad, anchored by Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, and Joel Przybilla. Their respective plus-minuses tonight: Rudy +7, Sergio +11, and Joel +15, and they logged heavy minutes, 29, 24, and 25, but obviously not enough. Here's a radical idea, coach: start them! And dust off Shavlik Randolph for use in the front court while you are at it, and give us a real reason to cheer. Despite rumors, if your white team is winning, you will not be fired!

The Kings started three whites tonight, and beat the West-leading Lakers. See!

Dirk, I just laugh every time I read his stats. 33 shots! Ha! And only 2 assists, in his 52 minutes??? Dirk, mein freund, you are a ball hog of supreme proportions.

Rising star JJ Barea was the story of that game:
J.J. Barea continued his inspiring play for the Mavericks, scoring 21 points before fouling out. He had a fourth-quarter stretch of 11 straight points created, eight by himself—including a drive at Duncan and another around Parker—and a drive-and-dish feed to Kidd for a 3-pointer. Down the stretch and throughout the overtimes, Dallas relied on its new three-guard lineup featuring Kidd, Barea and Terry. "It was weird for us," Parker said. "We never saw them play like that. (Barea’s) a little like Steve Nash, dribbling 100 times. Sometimes it’s tough to guard him because you don’t know what he’s going to do."

I'm giving Pau the White of the Night award, because he had the best overall game.

Nowitzki: 35p (33 shots) - 10 reb -- 52 min
P Gasol: 25p (15 shots) - team high 12 reb (7 off) - 3 blk -- 42 min
Turkoglu: 24p (16 shots) - 5a -- 39 min
Barea: 21p (16 shots) - 5a -- 39 min
Okur: 21p (17 shots) - team high 13 reb - 4a - 2 blk -- 39 min
Nash: 19p (8 shots) - 4 reb - 10a -- 31 min
Ginobili: 18p - 6 reb - 8a -- 41 min
Szczerbiak: 16p (10 shots) - 5 reb -- 26 min
Songaila: 15p (13 shots) - 5 reb -- 27 min
Bogut: 15p (9 shots) - 11 reb (5 off) -- 26 min
Rodriguez: 14p (9 shots) - team high 7a - 2 blk -- 24 min
Bonner: 13p (5 shots) - 4 reb -- 29 min
B Miller: 13p (7 shots) - 7 reb - 5a -- 33 min
Ilgauskas: 13p (9 shots) - team high 6 reb -- 23 min
Udrih: 12p - 6 reb - 5a -- 29 min
Scola: 12p - 10 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Hawes: 11p - team high 9 reb - 2 blk -- 33 min
Przybilla: 11p (6 shots) - 11 reb - 2 blk -- 25 min
Lee: 11p - team high 15 reb -- 35 min
Ukic: 10p (5 shots) -- 17 min
Fernandez: 10p - 4 reb - 4a -- 29 min
Ridnour: 9p - 10a - 2 slt -- 32 min
Love: 8p - game high 15 reb (8 off) -- 26 min

White of the Night: Steve Blake

Steve Blakes earns White of the Night honors tonight for his solid night overall, including hitting the game winner 3 pointer to lift the Blazers to victory.

Look for Calderon's assists to go way up as his new coach unleashes the Raptors into a Dantoni- style running attack.

Marc apparently played his way back into the starting spot, posting a very solid game for the Grizz, leading them in steals, blocks, and rebounds.

Belinelli finally breaks through? Getting a whole 18 minutes, Marco produces 13 points, on only 7 shots, and 2 steals. Free Belinelli!

A bunch of our guys down with minor injuries right now: Kaman, Barry, Diener, Quinn, Gortat, and Humphries.

Solid games this night and last:

Blake: 19p (14 shots) - 7 reb - 4a -- 32 min
Biedrins: 17p - 21 reb - 5a - 3 stl - 2 blk -- 40 min
Fernandez: 16p (8 shots) - 8 reb -- 26 min
Scola: team high 16p - game high 15 reb (6 off) -- 33 min
Alexander: team high 15p (10 shots) -- 24 min
Calderon: 15p (9 shots) - 13a -- 38 min
Murphy: 15p (9 shots) - 6 reb -- 40 min
Collison: 15p (10 shots) - 10 reb - 2 blk -- 23 min
Morrison: 13p (8 shots) - 6 reb -- 22 min
Lee: 12p (8 shots) - 19 reb - 3a -- 37 min
P Gasol: 12p (5 shots) - 9 reb (4 off) - 5a -- 29 min
M Gasol: 10p - team high 8 reb (4 off) - 3a - 3 stl - 3 blk -- 34 min

White of the Night: Jose Barea

Two solid games in a row for JJ Barea, earning the coveted White of the Night as he got even better in his second start. Barea's 18 shots highlights my oft-repeated point: White SGs take note -- shoot like you belong, if you want to stay on the floor.

The experiments continue in Chicago, with Aaron Gray getting the start, and ripping down 9 boards in his 21 min.

The Birdman Andersen continues to produce miracles in ridiculously few minutes, blocking 4 shots in his 18 minutes, to go with 8 points (on 4 shots) and 5 boards.

Marc Gasol responds to his benching with one of his best games of the season.

The solid White games tonight:

Nowitzki: 24p (17 shots) - 11 reb - 3a -- 35 min
Barea: 22p (18 shots) - 4a -- 31 min
M Gasol: 21p (9 shots) - 7 reb - 2 blk -- 26 min
Stojakovic: 20p (10 shots) - 27 min
Nocioni: 19p (11 shots) - 3 reb - 3a -- 26 min
Kirilenko: 17p (12 shots) -- 23 min
Bonner: 14p (9 shots) - 6 reb -- 19 min
Collison: 14p (8 shots) - 8 reb - 2 stl -- 27 min
Pachulia: 13p (7 shots) - game high 12 reb - 2 stl - 2 blk -- 34 min
Love: 13p - game high 15 reb -- 33 min
Okur: 12p - 13 reb (5 off) -- 33 min
Oberto: 12p (5 shots) - 6 reb -- 23 min
Nash: 12p - 9a - 5 reb -- 38 min
P Davis: 10p (7 shots) - 3 reb -- 15 min
B Lopez: 6p - team high 11 reb - 3 blk -- 26 min

Welcome Jose Barea

Jose "JJ" Barea announces himself to the NBA world, barely even six feet tall, yet playing along side the designated PG, Jason Kidd, and lighting it up for Dallas. Great job, JJ.

Nice news to see Kevin Love in the starting lineup for the Wolves.
Bonner is also starting for the Spurs.Darko Milicic also moves into a starting role, taking Marc Gasol's place as starting center for the Grizz, then leading his team in rebounds, blocks, and steals. Joel Przybilla also leads his team in rebound and blocks, in 24 minutes off the bench. Redick starts again for the Magic, but plays only 18 min. Injury for JJ?

Other nice games over these two night:

Nowitzki: 39p (25 shots) - 9 reb -- 37 min
Okur: 21p (13 shots) - 5 reb - 2 blk -- 29 min
Ginobili: 21p (11 shots) - 4 reb -- 29 min
Nash: 20p (11 shots) - 10a -- 29 min
Barea: 18p (14 shots) - 4a - 3 reb -- 30 min
Varejao: 17p (9 shots) - 7 reb -- 22 min
P Gasol: 17p (11 shots) - 10 reb (4 off) - 6a - 2 stl -- 36 min
Ilgauskas: 17p (15 shots) - 8 reb - 2 blk -- 27 min
Lee: 15p (8 shots) - 11 reb -- 34 min
Murphy: 15p (10 points) - 6 reb -- 34 min
Bonner: 14p (8 shots) - 8 reb - 2 blk -- 28 min
Harpring: 14p (9 shots) - 7 reb (4 off) -- 11 min
Ridnour: 14p (10 shots) - 6a - 2 stl -- 32 min
Turkoglu: 13p - 7a -- 38 min
Biedrins: 12p (7 shots) - 7 reb - 2 blk -- 32 min
B Lopez: 11p - 10 reb -- 25 min
Bogut: 10p - 10 reb (5 off) -- 33 min
Calderon: 10p - 8a -- 31 min
Koufos: 10p (5 shots) - 3 reb (2 off) - 1 stl -- 6 min
Scola: 8p - 10 reb (4 off) -- 23 min

Black-sketball at its worst

Tonight's game between the Pistons and 76ers saw White players get exactly zero minutes on the floor. Not a single White player appeared during the game, at all. What a joke.

Any White person who pays money to support this travesty should be beaten with a stick.

White of the Night: Pau Gasol

Give the White of the Night honors to Pau Gasol tonight, leading his team in rebounds and blocks and second in scoring, on a very efficient night for the big man from Spain.

Other notable White players tonight:

Stojakovic: 24p (16 shots) - 6 reb -- 35 min
P Gasol: 22p (12 shots) - 13 reb (5 off) - 3 blk -- 36 min
Turkoglu: 22p (16 shots) - 3 reb - 4a - 3 stl -- 39 min
Lee: 16p (12 shots) - 16 reb (6 off) -- 41 min
Love: 16p (10 shots) - team high 12 reb (8 off) -- 26 min
Blake: 15p (12 shots) - 5 reb - 5a -- 34 min
Ilgauskas: 14p - 10 reb (6 off) -- 23 min
Fernandez: 13p (6 shots) - 4 reb - 3 stl -- 25 min
Ridnour: 12p - 10a - 4 stl -- 41 min
Radmanovic: 11p (8 shots) - 4 reb -- 19 min
Murphy: 10p - team high 10 reb -- 27 min
Varejao: 9p - team high 10 reb -- 19 min

Sacramento Kings: White Basketball on Display

The Kings, last night, again went with 3 white starters, Udrih, Brad Miller, and Spencer Hawes. All three got lots of PT, 36, 38, and 34 minutes respectively, and each performed well.

The three of them scored 73% of the starting units points, 68% of the starters rebounds, and 73% of the starters assists, White basketball on display!

The Kings lost, but only because of their second unit. The plus-minus for Miller was +4, Udrih +8, and Hawes +17. A winning combination indeed! Hopefully their coach (Theus, colored himself) recognizes their winning potential and sticks with that lineup, and stops messing with Hawes' minutes and role.

White of the Night: Troy Murphy

Troy Murphy earns White of the Night for his strong game against the Lakers, winning the game for the Pacers with his buzzer beating tip shot, just one of his 17 monster boards.

Other solid games over the past two nights:

Nowitzki: 29p (27 shots) - 10 reb -- 2 stl - 2 blk -- 43 min
P Gasol: 20p (12 shots) - 9 reb (4 off) -- 36 min
Lee: 19p (11 shots) - 12 reb -- 40 min
M Miller: 19p (13 shots) - 10 reb - 5a -- 34 min
Turkoglu: 19p (16 shots) - 5 reb -- 40 min
B Miller: 18p (13 shots) - team high 9 reb - 4 blk -- 38 min
Fernandez: 18p (11 shots) -- 21 min
Biedrins: 17p (10 shots) - 15 reb -- 34 min
Udrih: 17p (12 shots) - 4a - 3 reb -- 36 min
Murphy: 16p (12 shots) - 17 reb (6 off) -- 37 min
Korver: team high 15p (9 shots) - 4 reb -- 28 min
Blake: 15p (9 shots) - team high 6 a - 4 reb -- 28 min
Barea: 15p (11 shots) - 6a -- 24 min
Hawes: 14p (12 shots) - 7 reb - 6a - 3 stl -- 34
Ukic: 13p (9 shots) -- 16 min
Ginobili: 13p (11 shots) - 3 reb - 3 a -- 27 min
Kleiza: 12p (9 shots) - 4 reb -- 23 min
Love: 10p - 8 reb -- 22 min
Przybilla: 8p - 14 reb - 2 blk -- 25 min

Many of our guys are out with small injuries right now, including Foster, Harpring, Kirilenko, Kaman, Barry, and Bogut. Not to mention the longer term injuries to Hinrich, Dunleavy, Gallinari, and LaFrentz.

White of the Night: David Lee

David Lee racks up career highs in points and rebounds in an offensive spectacle between the Knicks and Warriors. Woulda loved to have seen that game. God bless D'antoni. What a difference a good coach can make.

Also want to make a tip of the hat to Matt Bonner, whose minutes have been on the rise, and showed his worth tonight with 17 points on only 7 shots, to go with 5 rebounds, in his 22 minutes.

From the WTF!!! files:
-- Belinelli starts, plays 7 minutes.
-- Kirilenko: 9 min PT
-- Redick starts, plays 30 min, shoots only 4 shots. Come on, JJ, get your head out of your ass. As a rare White who starts at SG, if you don't shoot like you belong there, you will be riding the pine real quick.

Solid White games of Saturday night:

Lee: 37p (29 shots) - 21 reb (8 off) - 3 stl -- 38 min
Ilgauskas: 23p (17 shots) - 17 reb (7 off) - 2 blk -- 31 min
Turkoglu: 22p (10 shots) - 5 reb - 3a - 4 stl -- 39 min
Nowitzki: 19p (12 shots) - 8 reb -- 31 min
Love: 18p (9 shots) - 12 reb(6 off) - - 28 min
Bonner: 17p (7 shots) - 5 reb - 2 stl -- 22 min
Songaila 16p (8 shots) - 4 reb -- 23
Biedrins: 16p - 7 reb (6 off) - 3 a - 5 stl -- 29 min
M Gasol: 16p (8 shots) - 6 reb - 24 min
Ridnour: 15p (9 shots) - 6 reb -- 31 min
Kleiza: 15p (11 shots) -- 24 min
Murphy: 13p (11 shots) - 11 reb -- 31
Udrih: 13p - 9 reb ( 4 off) - 7 a - 2 stl -- 29 min
Scola: 11p (7 shots) -- 24 min
Okur: 10p - 11 reb -- 34 min

White of the Night: Memhet Okur

Okur playing very solid for Utah since rejoining the team, good for him.

Don Nelson is a total crackpot. Will somebody push him over, he forgot to notice he is dead. Playing Biedrins only 20 minutes? No, he was not in foul trouble. Add it to the WTF!!! file.

The most notorious Blacksketball teams, ie teams that play with no significant white contribution on a regular basis, to be boycotted by all White Basketball fans:
Philadelphia (never any whites at all), Boston (an occasional couple minutes for Scalabrine), Miami (rare and short PT for Quinn), Washington (a rare Songaila sighting), Detroit (an occasional Hermann explosion excepted). Add Atlanta to the list when Pachulia is out.

Speaking of Zaza, he yanked down 17 boards, including 8 offensive, in his mere 24 minutes. What a stud.

And Hermann, again proving his worth in the little and rare time he is alloted: pouring in 16 points on only 6 shots, in his whopping 18 minutes.

I dream of an all-White team with Zaza and Hermann starting, and logging starters minutes, leading the league in rebounding and scoring. Instead of rotting on the bench on racist teams in a racist league.

Sweet White players on Friday:
Ilgauskas: 21p (13 shots) - 19 min
Stojokovic: 21p (14 shots) - 3 reb -- 31 min
Okur: 20p (10 shots) - game high 12 reb - 3 stl -- 32 min
Nowitzki: 19p (15 shots) 12 reb - 4 a - 3 stl -- 36 min
Hawes: 18p (13 shots) - team high 6 reb -- 20 min
M Miller: 18p - 8 reb - 4 a -- 41 min
Hermann: 16p (6 shots) - 4 reb -- 18 min
Kapono: 16p (10 shots) -- 21 min
P Gasol: 14p - 7 reb (4 off) - 4 a -- 39 min
Blake: 14p (9 shots) - 3 a -- 28 min
Ginobili: 14p (10 shots) -- 20 min
M Gasol: 12p - 6 reb (4 off) -- 33 min
Kirilenko: 12p (5 shots) - 6 reb - 3 a -- 27 min
Murphy: 7p - 12 reb -- 37 min
Pachulia: 3p - 17 reb (8 off) -- 24 min


WTF!!!
Biedrins: only 20 min

White of the Night: Troy Murphy

Troy Murphy earns the honors tonight for a very solid game (21/14) , scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, leading his team to victory.

Other news for the night:

Sean Marks finally plays for the Hornets, logging a modest 6 minutes tonight, including a strong dunk.

The Birdman Andersen returns from injury, to lead his team in rebounding, in only 23 minutes off the bench.

Hawes, back to the bench for some reason, but swats an insane 6 blocks in his 35 minutes.

Okur: 21p (9 shots) - 10 reb -- 34 min
Murphy: 21p (11 shots), 14 reb -- 38 min
Nash: 20p (10 shots) - 6 a - 3 reb - 2 stl -- 27 min
B Miller: 20p -13 reb - 6 a -- 43 min
Turkoglu: 20p - 10 reb - 3 a -- 34 min
Lee: 17p (11 shots), 15 reb (4 off.) -- 44 min
Kirilenko: 17p (10 shots) - 4 a - 3 reb - 2 stl -- 30 min
Ilgauskas: 17p (9 shots) - 7 reb -- 13 min
Stojacovic: 17p (11 shots) - 3 reb - 3 a -- 33 min
Udrih: 16p (12 shots) - 10 a -- 43 min
Ginobili: 15p (8 shots) - 4 a - 3 reb -- 17 min
Kleiza: 15p (9 shots) - 3 reb -- 27 min
Hawes: 15p - 9 reb - 6 blk -- 35 min
Scola: 15p - 18 reb - 4 a -- 35 min
Szczerbiak 13p (6 shots) - 3 reb -- 24 min
Fernandez: 13p (10 shots) - 3 reb - 3 reb -- 18 min
Anderson: 13p (10 shots) - team high 8 reb -- 18 min
Turkoglu (last night): 12p - 7 a - 5 reb -- 38 min
M Gasol: 12p (8 shots) - 8 reb - 2 stl -- 32 min
Bargnani: 11p - 9 reb - 3 a - 3 stl -- 40 min
Calderon: 10p - 9 reb - 3 reb - 40 min