??????????????????????????????????????????? ? The Houston Rockets will be minus one guard for the foreseeable future as the Associated Press reports that Steve Francis will be out indefinitely from what is described as “bi-lateral quadricep tendinitis”.? He had already been sidelined since December 20 due to a bout of the flu and is not expected to accompany [...]

????????????????????????????????????? ? When Gerald Wallace sets his mind to it, he can take over a game.? The Charlotte Bobcat swingman decided to take matters into his own hands Monday, as he scored 10 points in overtime, leading the Bobcats to a narrow win over the Indiana Pacers at Charlotte.? Bobcat coach Sam Vincent tried just [...]

To: Mr. Mark Cuban, Owner Dallas Mavericks From: Gregory Dix Columnist Slam Dunk Central Subject: How To?Get That Championship Ring Dear Mr. Cuban,? Some believe the Dallas Mavericks are a legitimate contender for the 2008 NBA Finals. The Mavs are currently 20-11. The record may indicate that they are a winning team but that is [...]

???????????????????????????????????????????????? ? The Portland Trail Blazers, during their current winning streak, have the good fortune of having youth and a different hero on any given night helping them win.? Tonight’s hero for the Blazers happened to be from off the bench – forward Travis Outlaw.? Outlaw scored 10 fourth-quarter points, leading Portland to a relatively [...]

?????????????????????????????????? If Houston Rockets center Yao Ming can produce like he did tonight while suffering from the flu, then perhaps the medical staff should hide his Vitamin C and antibiotics.? Ming scored 17 second-half points, leading Houston over the Toronto Raptors 91-79 Saturday night at the Toyota Center. One symptom which gave you the hint [...]

??????????????????????????????????????????? A lesson that should’ve been learned a long time ago when dealing with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard – if you play zone defense against him, then you know that someone else on the Magic will pick up the slack.? Tonight’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats validates that lesson.? While Howard was stymied on [...]

?????????????????????? Tonight’s game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers – a rematch from last night – could honestly be called a close game in every sense of the word.? Neither team shot especially well (Detroit at 43.8%, Indiana at 43.2%), and Indiana had a slight rebounding edge (44-38).? But balanced scoring by the Pistons, [...]

??????????????????????????????????????????? ? ???????????????????????????????????????????? Well, so much for the “love-fest” between Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan and embattled guard Gordan Giricek; SportsTicker is reporting that the Jazz on Saturday traded Giricek to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Kyle Korver.? The Sixers also receive from the Jazz a “protected” first-round pick – presumably in 2008 – [...]