AK-47: European Basketball Player of the Year posted by kellex

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/02/ak-47-european-basketball-player-of.html

Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz has been named the European Men's Basketball Player of the Year after leading his native Russia to the 2007 EuroBasket Gold medal. The international governing body of basketball really had no other choice did they?

"It is a big honor," said Kirilenko, who won a vote of both fans and a panel of basketball experts, media and coaches from 25 different countries. "But I think it's an honor for our team in EuroBasket 2007.

"Nobody even (counted on) us and (they) deemed us underdogs," added Kirilenko, who averaged 18 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals and nearly two blocks per game in the tournament. "But we won the whole thing."

After having such a horrific season last year with the Jazz, this award should feel pretty good. His season ended with trade rumors and demands across the board and the EuroBasket event turned out to be quite the venting machine AK-47 needed.

His role has been defined this year with Utah, and Kirilenko has been instrumental in the early success of the team. The Jazz will enter the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in the entire league and you can give a ton of credit to your Euro-baller of the year.

Last year's winner, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, finished second, followed by Toronto's Jose Calderon of EuroBasket silver-medalist Spain, San Antonio's Tony Parker of France, and Lithuanian Ramunas Siskauskas of CSKA Moscow.

... [read more]

Sunday Recap Day! posted by kellex

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/01/sunday-recap-day_27.html

Another Sunday down and another amazing day of hoops! Check out the results: The Suns take down those poor little Baby Bulls. Hinrich even managed 31 points tonight; still not enough. 88-77 Phoenix.A KG-less Boston team gets dropped at the buzzer by H-E-D-O Turkoglu of all players! Boston just lost 5 of its last 10? Uh oh. 96-93 Orlando.Lebron just told the Lakers who he thinks the MVP should be, himself. Is it just me or can you see Kobe aging a little? A lot of miles on those legs. 98-95 Cavaliers.Caron Butler hands the Bucks a cool 40 points and the Wizards still manage to lose! Not saying they need Agent Zero back yet, but losses like this shouldn't be happening. 105-102 Milwaukee in OT.You think Brandon Roy wanted those votes for an All-Star bid? Well added him to their ballots today. Erasing a 19 point deficit, the Blazers roll! 94-93 Portland.Dirk plays like a former MVP, and the Nuggets surely needed Melo. 90-85 Dallas.Al Jefferson is REAL good. Career high good today. And the Nets are pathetic. Minnesota has won 3 of 4 and New Jersey just made it 9 losses in a row. 98-95 Timberwolves.The Utah Jazz are on fire at the right time, and the Rockets are really looking banged up. Yao out today and they lose. 97-89 Utah.The Warriors beat the Knicks and are looking forward to Chris Webber rejoining the team. 106-104 Golden State.Seattle is close to falling behind the T-Wolvesfor the worst record in the NBA. Well they lost another to the lowly Kings tonight. 103-101 Sacra... [read more]

Nuggets 120,Jazz 109 posted by Ondre Johnson

On Thursday January 17,th 2008 the Denver Nuggets Hosted the Utah Jazz in a battle til' the end,Speaking of the end I dont think anyone was surprised that the Nuggets held off the jazz in a 120-109 victory but I think everyone was surprised when the games leading scorer was not my favorite player Allen Iverson with 28 points or Carmelo Anthony with 23 points but it was Linas Kleiza who had an amazing 41 points in 41 minutes this kid was on fire but he also had alot of help from his teammates including Center Marcus Camby who only had 8 points but snatched up 24 rebounds to help get his team the home victory,Well even though some may say that the Nuggets dont have what it take to be a championship team I believe that they can with the numbers my boy Iverson is putting up as well as Melo and you can't forget Camby getting them rebounds for us,We just need to be in full force when a few of our players are back from injury and then who knows maybe we can get that ring...Up next 1-19-08 bring on the Timberwolves... [read more]

Balls out... posted by Jordan Ikeda
Happy New year to everyone. For the faithful few who check out my blog, thanks and sorry there hasn't been an update for a week.  Fashion statements. That's what we're going to focus on today. Over the holiday week, the Lakers made some serious statements. They told the Phoenix Suns that they are for real this year, that their beginning of the season win wasn't a fluke. They also upended a Utah Jazz team finally getting it together, finally looking like the squad that made it to the Western semis last year. Those were beautiful statements.  Of course, there was Phil's tie (which I personally liked). And then, curiously, there were the short shorts.  

So I wonder...Why in the world would the Lakers collectively decide to wear throwback shorts on the one night that the best Eastern conference team (the one who put a hurting on them the last time with a 107-94 spanking in Boston) came to town? And with a four game win streak on the line where they had just dispatched the Jazz and Suns (for the second time). It makes little to absolutely no sense. About as much sense as all black attire with a little red and white bowtie. 

Every single man out there, Kobe included, looked extremely uncomfortable. And they played miserably too. Kobe shot a putrid 6 for 25. Odom added a 6 for 17 night. Fish was 4 for 10 (though he did have that crazy last second shot at the end of the first half). And Bynum played only 22 minutes and fouled out.

Now, it's not like the effort wasn't there. I love how Odom was continuing to shoot shots in rhythm... [read more]

Jazz exercise option on F Millsap (AP)

The Utah Jazz exercised the team option on forward Paul Millsap and made a qualifying offer to shooting guard C.J. Miles on Saturday. Millsap has been a surprise contributor to the Jazz since they got him with the 47th pick in the 2006 draft. He has played in all 164 regular-season games and the 29 playoff games Utah has played in the last two seasons. [read full article]

Posted Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:26:28 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports