KOBE BRYANT...Phils New Force 2 B reckoned with!

GRIZZLIES-LAKERS MATCH-UP GOT HEATED!

The Lakers-Grizzlies game last night was heated. In the third quarter, Mike Miller drove baseline and when Kobe came to help, Miller's left arm caught Kobe above the eye, opening up a nasty cut.
Bryant had to be taken to the locker room for stitches and on his way to the tunnel, he yelled at Miller, "I'm alright Mike," and then something to the effect of, "I'll be back mother f***er." He did come back and gave the Grizz 45, but the Lakers lost in OT. Kobe got his payback later in the game when planted an elbow in Miller's neck to earn himself a flagrant foul.
No one kept Damon Stoudamire in check. Damon stuck big shot after big shot, with many of them coming just by giving a head fake, waiting for a Laker to fly by and drilling a jumper.
Chris Mihm, you gotta go strong. He had a chance to win the game at the end with a point blank shot. Instead of trying to dunk it, or at least get fouled, he went with a hook that didn't go. There are lots and lots of reasons that Kobe has to shoot 37 times a game.
You can even admit that you're surprised that it took this long for Marcus Camby to go down. He broke his right pinkie finger and as of Wednesday night needs surgery and is "out indefinitely."
He has been absurd this season.
Remember his 33-point, 20-board night against the Suns? How about his 18-point, 22-board night against Minnesota? The Nuggets are not in a good spot without him. Without Camby in the lineup Denver was dominated on the glass by Philly — an atrocious rebounding team.
Giving Eddie Najera more burn isn't the answer.
One thing they can do is pick up Ron Artest. Everyone keeps talking about Denver as being the front-runner to land him in a trade and Ron was quoted in yesterday's Denver Post as saying that he'd like to go to Denver because "it has nice scenery."
You wouldn't think it, but the Hawks-Raptors game was fairly entertaining. The Raptors eventually won, and we're pretty sure that at least one Hawk probably thinks it would have been a different story if he got more run. Tyronn Lue had a great game, going for 21 points and six dimes in 25 minutes of work. He was rolling in the second half when Joe Johnson, who had been resting for a while, went to the scorer's table to check in. Lue saw him, recognized that J.J. was coming in for him, and just started laughing. He laughed on the court, he laughed when J.J. checked in, he laughed on the way to the bench and he kept laughing when he sat down.
By the way, Marvin Williams is going to be nice. He only had four points last night, but he does things that impress you. Last night he came from the other side of the court to catch a Chris Bosh drive at its height to start a fast break. Everyone kills the Hawks for taking Marvin over Chris Paul, but let's give it a few years before calling it.
Another night, another beating for the Knicks. Last night the Magic got ‘em, behind Grant Hill's 26 points, five boards, four dimes, and five steals.
Jeff Van Gundy literally can't afford to take T-Mac out the game, especially while Yao is out.
Against the Hornets last night, Van Gundy had to find some time in the second half to give McGrady a rest. On cue, the Hornets went on a run and the Rockets were never really able to recover. Stromile Swift turned Mihm-like and missed a short shot at the end.
Is this a bad sign for Blazers' fans? Portland's announcers were marveling the entire night because Zach Randolph was going after offensive rebounds against Philly.
They couldn't stop talking about it.
It was an L.A. reunion in Oakland last night with the Warriors and Celtics — Baron, Ricky Buckets and Paul Pierce all going at it. Baron ultimately won the game, despite a combined 52 from the Celtics' duo, including a Pierce dunk on Baron's face.
We're out like Camby.
Fantasy Smack
Eddie Griffin Griffin had far away his best game of the season Wednesday night and did everything he is capable doing on a basketball court. He scored, he hit a couple 3s, he boarded, and he blocked four shots. He also played 30-plus minutes because the Kandiman is out of action. There are, however, real factors that should go into your decision on whether or not to pick up Griffin.
The T-Wolves' victory Wednesday night was against a Seattle team without a legit center. That meant that the Kandiless Wolves could go with a front line of Griffin and Garnett, something that they can't get away with very often.
Will Griffin get consistent minutes? If Kandi is out for a long period of time, or is traded (rumored to be part of a deal with Indy for Artest) then Griffin gets his minutes. That being said, in Griffin's last 5 games, he has played a total of 75 minutes, and never more than 22 minutes. By the way, in those 75 minutes, he scored only 10 points.
Can Griffin really play? No doubt Griffin has legit talent. But he still shoots too many 3s and is still too inconsistent. If Griffin plays 30 minutes a game, he certainly will help your squad in the blocked shots category.
Kenny Thomas With Shareef out a minimum of two weeks (and perhaps longer) with a broken jaw Kenny Thomas will be the main benefactor. Thomas has had fantasy value before and has the ability to put up consistent double-doubles.
Ben Gordon Gordon has now been cut for the second time in our league. Is it the right move? At the end of the year, Gordon will have his numbers. He'll score and hit 3s — and that's why you own and play him. But if you're playing head-to-head and you own Gordon, consider that in his two games this week he has 11 points on 4-for-20 shooting. If you add in his last game last week, he has hit just six of his last 26 (shots) and has just 15 points. Ouch.
Top storylines for Thursday's games
Miami vs. Detroit. Of course the individual matchups are insane (Rip v. Wade, Shaq v. Big Ben, Rasheed v. 'Toine), but the bottom line is, these are the two best teams in the East. The Pistons are playing like they can't lose right now, and D-Wade is coming off what he called one of his best games of the year.
The Hornets beat the Spurs a couple weeks ago in Oklahoma City. They are playing in San Antonio, where the champs just don't lose and might have revenge on their minds; that doesn't bode well for any young team. The Hornets are coming off a big win Wednesday night against Houston, but to win on tired legs in the Spurs' house is asking a lot of a young team.