NBA RECAP 11/8/08

PACERS 98, NETS 80

STUDS
Vince Carter (NJN) 31 points (11-22 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-7 FT)
Troy Murphy (IND) 17 points, 10 rebounds (4-7 3PT)
Keyon Dooling (NJN) 17 points, 4 assists (Started in Harris' absence)
T.J. Ford (IND) 13 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
Jeff Foster (IND) 12 points, 13 rebounds

DUDS
Bobby Simmons (NJN) 6 points, 2 rebounds (1-5 FG)
Yi Jianlian (NJN) 2 points, 11 rebounds (1-10 FG)

SUMMARY
Harris sat out this one with an ankle injury, so Vince was left to fend for himself. Yi Jianlian is starting to remind me of a skinny Troy Murphy. Danny Granger had 23 points on a poor shooting night but the rest of his teammates provided enough firepower to deliver the victory. New Jersey only scored 27 points in the second half

MAGIC 106, WIZARDS 81

STUDS
Dwight Howard (ORL) 31 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks (11-13 FG, 9-14 FT)
Nick Young (WAS) 20 points (8-12 FG)

DUDS
Wizards starters: All five combined for 9 rebounds. Dwight Howard alone had 16.
Rashard Lewis (ORL) 5 points, 7 rebounds (2-11 FG, 0-5 3PT)

SUMMARY
It should be pretty clear that the Wizards are not going to survive without Arenas like they did last season. Haywood was a bigger part of that than people are willing to admit.

HORNETS 100, HEAT 89

STUDS
Dwyane Wade (MIA) 30 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 blocks (9-20 FG, 12-15 FT)
Chris Paul (NOH) 21 points, 13 assists, 4 steals (4-9 FG, 12-14 FT)
David West (NOH) 21 points, 9 rebounds (Welcome to the NBA Mr. Beasley)
Chris Quinn (MIA) 14 points, 2 assists (4-7 3PT)

DUDS
Michael Beasley (MIA) 10 points, 4 rebounds (4-13 FG)

SUMMARY
CP3 had his sixth consecutive 20/10 game to start the season, breaking Oscar Robertson's NBA record, in case you needed even more evidence that his MVP caliber season was for real. Speaking of MVP caliber, Wade would be heading there if his team had more talent.

CAVALIERS 106, BULLS 97

STUDS
LeBron James (CLE) 41 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists (13-29 FG, 4-7 3PT, 11-13 FT)
Ben Gordon (CHI) 29 points (10-19 FG, 8-9 FT)

DUDS
SUMMARY
Ben Gordon got the start as it was revealed Kirk Hinrich will miss the next three months due to thumb surgery. This is huge news for the Bulls for a variety of reasons.

Gordon is a much better fit next to Derrick Rose as he is more comfortable playing off the ball than Hinrich. And really, it's about time Gordon got to start after being the sixth man his entire Chicago career. The guy has something to prove regarding his next contract so they might as well just reap the benefits.

However, Hinrich was logging all the backup PG minutes and suddenly the Bulls are without a backup to their rookie PG for 3 months. My guess is they could stand pat and just let Larry Hughes fill that role when he returns in about a week. But this is also Larry Hughes we're talking about. Can't the team just go out and get an actual backup? The Bulls do have an open roster spot, so my guess is they'll bring in a serviceable vet like Eddie Gill in the meantime.

Oh, and LeBron scored 41 tonight. *Shrug* The LeBroniers are off to a 5-2 start, so maybe their underachieving regular season days are over.

SUNS 104, BUCKS 96

STUDS
Shaquille O'Neal (PHX) 29 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists (12-16 FG, 5-9 FT)
Amare Stoudemire (PHX) 24 points, 5 rebounds (3-8 FG, 18-20 FT)
Ramon Sessions (MIL) 23 points, 6 assists (6-15 FG, 10-14 FT)

DUDS
Luke Ridnour (MIL) 6 points, 7 assists (3-12 FG)
Charlie Villanueva (MIL) 0 points, 3 rebounds, 3 turnovers, (0-3 FG, 9 mins)

SUMMARY
Looks like giving Shaq periodic rest is a smashingly good idea. In other news, Scott Skiles really hates Charlie Villanueva. One of my friends used to chill with him so pleaseeeee trade him to NY. While you're at it, send us Ramon Sessions too since it's so obvious you hate him too Skiles. Malik Rose + Mardy Collins would probably be enough for you (sadly).


BLAZERS 97, WOLVES 93

STUDS
Al Jefferson (MIN) 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks (10-23 FG, 7-8 FT)
LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) 24 points, 13 rebounds (7 off), 3 blocks
Brandon Roy (POR) 24 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists

DUDS
Kevin Love (MIN) 2 points, 7 rebounds (0-7 FG, 2-4 FT)

SUMMARY
Guess which matchup LaMarcus Aldridge "Loves"?