• Sports Radio Interviews – Dirk Nowitzki does not like Hamburgers… Unless it’s from In-N-Out
• NBA Playbook – As you all have heard, Carmelo Anthony is now sport the Orange and Blue. Now the question is; will Melo and Amar’e be able to co-exist? Our dude Sebastian Pruiti from NBA Playbook has the answer.
• NBA Fanhouse – What do NBA owners do whenever their franchise player wants out? Well they panic… Apparently
• USA Today – When you move from a small market team (Denver Nuggets) to a huge market team (New York Knicks) what happens? A reality T.V. show, that’s what happens.
• Dime Magazine – The King of LA (Kobe Bryant) might soon be dethroned by the Prince of L.A. Blake Griffin.
• Project Spurs – Not sure who George Hill and Gary Neal is? Well our dudes from Project Spurs can introduce these 2 “Super Subs”

Al is a contributor to Stacheketball. If you have any tips on ways to cook Bacon, and tips on how to get Jessica Alba and Keira Knightley to go on a date with him, then you should tweet him at @ahmong. Oh, and he now just realized Britney Spears is pretty.

Just awesome.

Not to be left out, here is the “Two Goal” dunk by JaVale McGee and DeMar DeRozan’s “Show Stopper” in slow motion.

videos via MidwestSportsFans.com

Nick is a contributor to Stacheketball, full time lover of all things roundball related, and once dunked it on an 8 foot rim after jumping over an Escalade Power Wheels. Follow him on Twitter because you know you want to. @Jubanator14

2011 NBA All-Star Game MVP = Kobe Bryant

Photo Credit: @Jose3030

Kobe Bryant won his 4th All-Star MVP as the Western Conference All-Stars held off a late run by the Eastern squad to win the 60th NBA All-Star game by the final margin of 148-143. Bryant had 37 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as he tied NBA Hall-of-fame forward, Bob Pettit for the most All-Star MVPs in NBA history.

“I feel like we have a sense of responsibility and we are voted in for what we do during the season, which is play hard,” Bryant said after the game. “And we come here, that’s what the fans want to see. They want to see us go at it and see us compete and that’s what I try to do and that’s what I try to tell my teammates to do.”

The West team did just that as they got off to a fast start as they led 21-10 at the first stop in the action with the East turning the ball over a bunch early, and generally looking disjointed despite the normal lack of defense we have come to expect in such exhibition games. Kobe, after a pre-game interview in which he downplayed the intensity he would later show on the court while claiming he would mostly shoot jumpers, showed early that he planned to have his imprint all over a hopeful victory by the West. His first points came on a baseline turn-around jumper and a reverse dunk on a baseline drive, and he continued to shoot early and often en route to 21 first-half points. Kevin Durant, his teammate, kept pace early with 15 points in the half when the West led 76-64.

The West continued their dominance into the second half, and they out-scored the East in each of the game’s first three quarters. It was the same lack of defense, however, that would later allow the East to make the game close in the final quarter. Although the West put up a hearty 31 points in the final quarter, the East team, led by LeBron James, bested them by putting up the 43 points in the highest-scoring quarter of the night. The highlight plays continued as James and Amare Stoudamire led the offense and their team to within three points on a Ray Allen 3PT FG. In the end, the lead that the West’s early dominance earned them proved too much for the East to overcome.

Had the East’s comeback been successful, James would’ve surely stole the show and the MVP from Bryant. He became only the 2nd player in NBA history (Michael Jordan was the other) to record a triple-double in the All-Star game with 29 points (10-18 FG), 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. James’ Heat teammate, Dwyane Wade, appeared to injure his ankle early in the 3rd quarter, and never returned. The much ballyhooed lineup that would include all four Celtics selected to the team checked into a smattering of boos at the 6:37 mark of the first quarter to take the court with starting center, Dwight Howard. Overall, they did not log much court time, as veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce played a game-low eight and 11 minutes, respectively. Hometown favorite Blake Griffin (whom many inside the STAPLES Center reported received the 2nd loudest cheers next to Bryant), played a surprisingly low 15 minutes; he did have several of his highlight-reel finishes on fast-break dunks and alley-oops.

In Kobe’s speech accepting the MVP, he acknowledged that this would be his last All-Star game in LA. His teammates and his coach were seemingly all behind him getting the honor as they looked to get him the ball, and he obliged by taking a game-high 26 shots (one shy of the record) in his 29 minutes (second only to Durant’s 30 minutes on the West). He was aggressive in the game’s other phases too – 10 of his 14 rebounds were offensive – and he was on the court during the East’s late rally to ensure that his team would win on his home court.

The game’s other highlights included the East starters all participating in a synchronized version of LeBron James’ powder-toss; a one-handed leaning dunk by Russell Westbrook on a fast-break; Ray Allen faking a pass behind his head and finishing a layup, as well as a statue-of-liberty dunk on the fast break; Kobe Bryant also slowed down on a fast-break to allow LeBron to catch up to him, and then dunked the ball with two hands before James’ could get one of his chase-down blocked shots.

Notes: The halftime show was certainly more appropriate for the audience than the Lenny Kravitz opener as pop-sensation Rihanna performed a medley of her hits, and she was joined by surprised-yet-expected cameos by rappers Drake and Kanye West…Bill Russell was honored during the 2nd quarter timeout for the Presidential Medal of Freedom he received from President Barack Obama earlier this week…and he appeared to be wearing the same thing he wore at the ceremony too #justsaying…Paul Pierce took his place atop the individual rankings in the STAPLES Center Booing Hierarchy as his player-introduction drew the loudest boos from the crowd, even louder than Garnett, but decidedly close to LeBron James.

It’s All-Star weekend time and you know what that means right? P-A-R-T-Y! If you’re a party animal like me (or used to be), you’re probably thinking – “Where are these player hosted parties going to be at?!”. Well you’re in luck because I did a little research and found most of them. I am pretty sure there are more but there are just so many that I probably missed a few. I will definitely update this as soon as I find more so check back often.

WHAT IS IT: I believe this event is a 4 day event through the whole weekend. If you’re a fan of LBJ then this is the party for you. Oh and Chris Paul will be there too.

WHERE IS IT: Cabana Club - 1439 Ivar Avenue Los Angeles CA 90028

WHEN AND WHICH DAYS SHOULD I GO:

• Feb. 17 2011 – Thursday 8PM -3AM: You have New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul and Miami Heat’s LeBron James.
• Feb. 18 2011 - Friday 8PM -3AM: Only LeBron James will be here on friday
• Feb. 19 2011 - Saturday 8PM -3AM: New York Knicks Amar’e Stoudamire will be hosting this party
• Feb. 20 2011 - Sunday 8PM -3AM: LeBron James will be the one hosting this party

WHAT IS IT: This party will be at Highland on Friday hosted by Dwight Howard. Apparently, Glen “Big Baby” Davis will be there too but he’s not on the flyer lol.

WHEN IS IT: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 9PM – 3AM

WHERE IS IT: The Highland - 6801 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 – Level 4

WHAT IS IT: This party will be a 3 day event. I believe the players that are attending are retired NBA player and now NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith, Kevin Durant, Ty Lawson, Michael Beasley and maybe Charles Barkley since they did say it’ll also be a Charles Barkley birthday celebration.

WHEN AND WHICH DAYS SHOULD I GO:

• Feb. 18 2011 - Friday 9PM – 2AM: Kevin Durant will be hosting the party
• Feb. 19 2011 - Saturday 9PM – 2AM
• Feb. 20 2011 - Sunday 9PM – 2AM – Kenny Smith will be hosting the party and will be celebrating Charles Barkley birthday

WHERE IS IT: La Vida – 1448 North Gower Street Los Angeles, CA 90028-8318

WHAT IS IT:  Myspace event and it’s going to be in the Conga room at LA live. Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, Baron Davis, and Trevor Ariza will be at the party. Definitely a star studded cast of players. Evidently there is also another Myspace event that has nearly the same Banner, with the same cast but trade Baron Davis and Trevor Ariza for Paul Pierce and Magic Johnson it’s going to be at the Playboy Mansion.

WHEN IS IT: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 10PM – 3AM

WHERE IS IT: Conga Room – 800 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles. Across the street from the Staples Center.

WHAT IS IT: Not much is known about this event but according to the banner, Derrick Rose and Shannon Brown will be attending the party

WHEN IS IT: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011

WHERE IS IT: 1600 Argyle Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028-6408

WHAT IS IT: D-Wade’s “South Beach Meets Hollywood” party.

WHEN IS IT: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 –  9PM – 2AM

WHERE IS IT: Supper Club - 6675 Hollywood Blvd.  Los Angeles CA 90028

Al is a contributor to Stacheketball. If you have any tips on ways to cook Bacon, and tips on how to get Jessica Alba and Keira Knightley to go on a date with him, then you should tweet him at @ahmong. Oh, and he now just realized Britney Spears is pretty.

AP Photo/Matt York

With the announcement of this years Foot Locker 3-Point Contest contestants I began thinking about players who I would like to see in the contest. The actual lineup of: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson, James Jones, and Dorell Wright is basically a must-watch as it is, but still there have got to be some other guys people would love to see in this competition. For example I’d love to see JJ Redick out there, as well as guys like Chris Paul and Steve Nash. Then I thought, the NBA is always trying to make improvements to it’s All-Star Weekend, so how about a 3-point contest for big men who never shoot threes?

Throw The Big Conductor, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Darko Milicic, Andrew Bogut, and DeAndre Jordan (just so we can have the same sort of teammate rivalry as Allen and Pierce) out there and who wouldn’t watch? Just the hilarity of the situation would make it must-see TV. Then better yet, mic up Shaq and let him commentate throughout the whole contest. Listening to Shaq heckle his fellow big-men while they shoot would be epic.

Now this does not mean that the NBA would have to bag the regular 3-point contest, because watching pure shooters go at one another is exhilarating to watch, instead this new 3-point contest would just be an addition to the weekend. To go along the contest the NBA could get a comical sponsor, like Mini Cooper. So now you have the contestants mentioned above duking it out for a brand new Mini Cooper. While the contest is going on the only song that can be played throughout the stadium is Big Things Poppin’ by T.I.

Wouldn’t you love to watch 7-footers run around the 3-point arc just trying to get off every shot within the time limit? The potential for ridiculous air balls would add to the excitement of the contest. The six big men I mentioned have made a combined 9 3-pointers in their careers. So the contest should almost always come down to the wire.

So looking at that statistic above, from Basketball-Reference, it seems that Blake Griffin would be the odds on favorite to win the competition, but it would be hard to actually believe in any one player. Given 25 shots though I don’t think that Shaq, Dwight, Bogut and the rest would only make one. My hunch is that these guys can all at least have a decent chance to make a couple threes, granted the players I chose barely have mid-range games, especially Dwight, DeAndre and Shaq. Regardless of whether or not shots are made, each time a shot goes up you would be enticed to watch it, just incase it actually does go in.

I’m sure we would all love to hear announcers predict this contest. Who knows, maybe one of these guys goes off and posts a number that could challenge the regular 3-point competition shooters. It would certainly give the media something to talk about the next day. If a player like Darko were to rain threes though it could potentially lead to a disaster for the rest of his season. This contest has the potential to fill players with a false sense of shooting ability, so would teams even want their players to be involved with this? I have no doubt in my mind that the players themselves would love to participate in this contest. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t like to jack up tre’s while shooting around? So it would really come down to the coaches, and if they would even give their player a chance to participate. For the sake of entertainment I certainly would hope that the coaches would let ‘em shoot.

It all comes down to this. One rack left, Shaquille O’Neal needs one to tie Darko Milicic, and two to win. Boom. The entire atmosphere of the stadium would be simply awesome. Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade and the rest of the guys sitting court-side laughing hysterically. Announcers not knowing whether to be serious or not. Every time someone hits a shot the entire crowd erupts. The hype surrounding this contest would be off the charts. I am getting giddy just thinking about this idea.

Commissioner Stern, please make it happen.

This is Matt’s first post for Stacheketball, in addition to Stacheketball he runs Momentum Three. If he is not crying about the state of his Wizards he will gladly like to hear from you on Twitter @Matthouston91

Photo Credits: Google Search

This is what happens when the awesome Tracy Morgan meets the NBA on TNT crew:

Video Credits to @nbamusing

Yup, apparently, even the mighty Chuckster is speechless after what Tracy Morgan just said. Let’s just hope this certain politician doesn’t create any unnecessary brainless issue about this. I mean, really… she’s not exactly known for her brains you know.

Al is a contributor to Stacheketball. If you have any tips on ways to cook Bacon, and tips on how to get Jessica Alba and Keira Knightley to go on a date with him, then you should tweet him at @ahmong.

• SB Nation – Tom Ziller talks about how Blake Griffin would be a target of idiotic columnists.
• Hot Hot Hoops – This post by Raul Takahashi makes us realize that Chris Bosh loves Carlos Arroyo more than Dwyane Wade. Kidding…
• Voice On The Floor – It’s a voice blog, a podcast of some sort but really it’s a voice blog. They invite bloggers from all over the NBA blogosphere to talk about good stuff. Pretty awesome if you ask me. Anyways, Zach Harper talks about the word “Hate.”
• Voice On The Floor – Tom Martin from the blog called “The Dream Shake” and talks about Yao Ming and what he means to this league.
• NBA Fanhouse “The Works” – Bethlehem Shoals and Eric Freeman of Fanhouse talks about the NBA’s worse players. Pretty hilarious stuff.
• Hoop Speak – Zach Harper untangles the mystique of NBA life through the unlikely vehicle of the Whoopi Goldberg classic, Eddie.–Beckley
• TrueHoop – You know I was going to add this to the list right?  Henry Abbott talks about Kobe’s unclutchness if that’s even a word.

Al is a contributor to Stacheketball. If you have any tips on ways to cook Bacon, and tips on how to get Jessica Alba and Keira Knightley to go on a date with him, then you should tweet him at @ahmong.

In an attempt to spice up the Skills Challenge for All-Star Weekend, the NBA is having fans vote for Chris Paul’s four opponents in this event.

Fans can choose four players out of this crop of point guards…

John Wall (Wizards)
Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Tony Parker (Spurs)
Baron Davis (Clippers)
Tyreke Evans (Kings)
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Derrick Rose (Bulls)
Derek Fisher (Lakers)

Really? Derek Fisher? Where are the other names like Deron Williams? Or Rajon Rondo?

In any case, the Skills Challenge is something I don’t exactly look forward to even though it ends up being more entertaining than I give it credit for. But what I would like to see is guys like Shaq and Chuck Hayes do this course. It would be entertaining to see Shaq shoot shots from the top of the key and lumber around the cones. That would be a thousand times more fun than seeing someone like Derrick Rose burn through.

I’ll say this: with Taco Bell sponsoring this event, it’ll guarantee to be, at least, 35 percent entertaining. Just kidding, Taco Bell. Don’t sue me.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.

Rey-Rey is the Editor of Stacheketball and founder of the L.A.-based NBA Blog, The No-Look Pass. I guarantee that it’ll take me 5 minutes to get through the Skills Challenge. Babble with him on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.

What is a Hot Link? Well, to most people, it’s a type of spicy hot peppery smoked sausages often found at barbecues in Texas and South America. Here in Stacheketball, it’s a list of links from this week’s best of the NBA Blogosphere

• Hot Hot Hoops: Raul Takahashi of HHH shows us how much LeBron James loves Big Z and how James Jones and Carlos Arroyo are both fighting for Dwyane Wade’s affection.
• Hoops Hype: Didn’t know Rod Benson a.k.a @boomtho contributes for Hoops Hype. He writes about Basketball and the lifestyle that comes with it.
• SBNation: Evan Dunlap of SBNation measures the efficiency of all the starting Point Guards in the league with charts.
• Basketball-Reference: Wanna know the best season of your team? The worst? Or Both? Well Basketball-Reference has those for you.
• ESPN Los Angeles: Neil Olshey lives 2 blocks away from Blake Griffin. Oh I mean, Neil will do everything in his powers to keep Blake Griffin in a Clipper uniform FOREVER
• Ball Don’t Lie: Kelly Dwyer’s Mid Season awards. He got Tyrus Thomas as his 6th man of the year
• The Basketball Jones: Apparently both teams are confused and weirded out about the Orlando Magic’s 4 point plays. If you ask me, I though it was something out of the twilight zone. And I am  an Orlando Magic fan.
• ProBasketballTalk: Got 14,999 dollars to spend? It might just get you a Blake Griffin rookie card.
• The Denver Post: New Jersey Nets backs out of the “Melo Drama”. So what happens now Denver?
• Tauntr: Remember when Ron Artest said that he wanted to get dunked on by Blake Griffin? Well apparently it hasn’t happened yet. Soon though, soon.
• Twitter: Kevin Durant is awesome. We seem to have the same taste in women.

Al is a contributor to Stacheketball, if you have any tips on ways to cook Bacon, and tips on how to get Jessica Alba and Keira Knightly to go on a date with me, then you should tweet him at @ahmong.