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The wait is over as the first two days of the 2009-2010 NBA season is over and done. We saw strong teams get beaten, players coming back (Mr. Arenas!), rookies who don’t play like one and more and more exciting plays. It’s just exciting isn’t it? So here are some of our thoughts from the first two days.

• The Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-2 after losing to the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. Lebron James has been fantastic in the first two games but we still think that their lineup isn’t that strong this year even with Shaq and new addition Anthony Parker around. The Cavs need to get things together or else…
• Gilbert Arenas is back! We know it’s just one game but if you saw how he played he had thing in control on his way to a 29 point game where he had 9 assists. He didn’t record any assists but he shot well,10-21 from the field. It looks like the 2 years did his body good as he tries to revive his career.
• We loved Andrew Bynum in his first game where he posted a line of 26 points, 13 rebounds while shooting 9-15 from the field and 8-10 from the line. We have a good feeling that he will stay healthy this year.
• The Philadelphia 76ers really had a hard time against the Orlando Magic and we don’t like what we’re seeing with Elton Brand. As for Marreese Speights, this guy really looks like he will battle Samuel Dalembert for minutes and he could end up being their starter by December.
• So much for Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saying that Dwight Howard can hit close to 75% of his free throw attempts. He started the year going 3-6.

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Marcin Gortat signs offer sheet worth 5 years, $34 million; Gortat says he’ll be happy whether he stays or goes to Dallas. Orlando Sentinel

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley wants to meet with Iverson and is seriously considering a one-year, $5 million offer, according to team insiders. Heisley’s renewed interest presents a sudden turn of events given the organization had all but decided to pass on Iverson. Commercial Appeal

Antonio McDyess, a 34-year-old veteran of 14 seasons, agreed Wednesday to terms of a free agent contract that will pair him with Duncan. Sources close to McDyess said the contract is for three seasons, starting at the full, mid-level exception to the NBA’s salary cap restrictions, $5.845 million. The third season is believed to be 50 percent guaranteed. MySanAntonio

The Bulls have agreed with free agent guard Jannero Pargo(notes) on a one-year deal worth approximately $2 million, a league source said Wednesday afternoon. Yahoo Sports

Center Zaza Pachulia agreed to terms with the Hawks on a new four-year deal worth an estimated $19 million, according to two people familiar with the situation. Atlanta Journal Constitution

Chris “Birdman” Andersen has reached a five-year deal to keep his high-flying, shot-blocking act with the Denver Nuggets. – ESPN

The 24-year-old Trevor Ariza agreed to join the Rockets last Thursday night, switching places with free agent Ron Artest, who left Houston to play for the Lakers. ESPN

Ron Artest signed Wednesday with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and received a five-year deal worth about $33 million, according to his agent, David Bauman. Yahoo Sports

Rasheed Wallace is officially a Boston Celtic. The Celtics signed the 34-year-old free agent to a two-year deal using the mid-level exception. Boston.com

The Mavericks have announced that they have signed 6-6, 193-pound guard Quinton Ross, a local who played at Dallas’ Kimball High School and SMU. Dallas News

The Toronto Raptors signed Andrea Bargnani to a new contract; a five-year, $50-million (US) extension that will kick in next season. The Globe and Mail

The Hawks agreed to terms on a three-year, $18 million deal with veteran point guard Mike Bibby. Atlanta Journal Constitution

It’s still early in the summer and the Houston Rockets have already announced last week that Yao Ming’s foot isn’t healing well and it also looks like that he might miss the whole of next season. This foot had been bothering him in the past and required three pins to be inserted but it cracked when they were against the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s playoff.

Initially the Rockets told us that Yao’s foot will be healed in 8 to 12 weeks but right now they don’t have an exact timeline when he would be able to play again. (more…)

Shaquille O’neal just knows how to get his name talked about even if his team is out of the playoffs. A couple of weeks ago, Louis Amundson pranked Shaq and he retaliated. This time Shaq’s did a video of him tempted by Krispy Kreme donuts while Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” plays in the background.

I’ve got mixed emotions on this video as it looks funny, creepy and weird but I love it because it’s Shaq. Another great work by the Diesel.

Dikembe Mutombo had his first double double in over a year scoring 10 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a win over Golden State. Yahoo Sports

Nets All-Star point guard Devin Harris left the game in the third quarter with a sore left shoulder and did not return. – Yahoo Sports

Monta Ellis has played his last game of the season for the Warriors. Jamal Crawford may have played his last game as a Warrior. – Contra Costa Times

Marcus Camby returned to the lineup and grabbed 11 rebounds but failed to score in 22 minutes of action.
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Jason Kidd passed Magic Johnson for 3rd All Time in the NBA’s career assist List. This came on a game where Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks crushed the Suns’ playoff hopes with a convincing 140-116 win. He was able to reach the milestone, 10,142, in the second quarter on a dish to Josh Howard.

He had 16 assists in the first half and finished the game with 20 giving him a running total of 10,148. He received a standing ovation from the Mavericks’ crowd together with commentator Mark Jackson who is second in the list with 10,334. John Stockton is the all time assist leader with 15,806.

Kidd has been one of my favorite players of all time and it’s surprising how he has taken care of his health even after having a major knee surgery. Remember this guy is already 36 and he is still outplaying some of the younger guards. He has also been a surprise this year fantasy wise and to everyone who got him in the third round, your team must be doing well this year.

Here’s a video of Jason Kidd getting his 10,334th career assist:

Basketball Image via flickr

Innovative basketball by benjieordonez

The NBA has been asking the question, “Where will amazing happen?” this year but before we know where that will happen since that will only happen in the playoff, we should first look at the individual awards. I like to take a look at the Most Improved Player award first since it’s nice to see players taking their game to another level from the previous year(s). So my question is who’s the Most Improved Player? So here are my candidates and my favorite to win the award for the 2008-2009 season. (more…)

LeBron Does Yoga (more…)

I haven’t been able to update this section lately but all is not too late since there are still a lot of players you can pick up to help your team reach first place or just enough to make to the playoffs. We are down to our last month so it’s important that you play close attention to the waiver wires and fix your roster everyday. So here are some of the fantasy basketball pick ups you may still find.

Chris Andersen, PF-C, Denver Nuggets (22% owned)

With Nene out, Andersen will get the bulk of minutes at the center position and he is a very good source for blocks and rebounds. When Nene comes back, as long as you’re in a deep league you can still hold on to him.

Marreese Speights, C, Philadelphia 76ers (10% owned)

He has been up and down mainly because he is a rookie but if you’re in a deep league you have to have this guy on your roster. Good source of rebounds, blocks and fg%.

Fred Jones, SG, LA Clippers (4% owned)

The Clippers are clearly struggling and they’ve had a hard time having able bodies to play on a nightly basis that’s why journeyman Fred Jones has been given a chance. He has scored double figures in four out of the last five games and is a decent source of threes and steals. Surprisingly, he has been giving a block in three straight.

Kyle Weaver, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (1% owned)

This guy has been under the radar of most people but he has been producing lately. 45% FG shooting for a guard with a three in the last five out of six games. An all around guy who will give you three rebounds and three assists, a steal and very good ft shooting. Surprisingly, his scoring has been up after the trade for Thabo Sefalosha to the Thunder.

Kurt Thomas, C, San Antonio Spurs (3% owned)

The veteran can still play that’s for sure as he has been playing well of late grabbing rebounds and with that occasional putbacks. The Spurs will try to be cautious with Duncan’s knee as we near the playoffs, Thomas is the only reliable big man off the bench for them. Grab him if you really need help in the boards.

Nicola Batum, SG-SF, Portland Trailblazers (2% owned)

He has been scoring double figures in three out of the last four games and has been hot shooting the three. An all around guy also who will give you steals and an occasional block. But this guy should only be grabbed if you’re in a deep league.

Michael Finley, SG-SF, San Antonio Spurs (14% owned)

He has been hot with the threes lately due to an increase in minutes when Manu Ginobili went down with an injury. He won’t be on fire every night but as long as he is getting minutes the points, threes and occasional steals will keep on flowing. Grab him now!

Brandon Rush, G-F, Indiana Pacers (3% owned)

You knew how he was capable of scoring 20 in a games in December when Dunleavy was out. Now that he is given minutes, it’s also a given that he will score in double figures in most games in the last month of the regular season. Just be sure you can take his 37% fg shooting.

Other players you may pick up:

Goran Dragic, PG, Phoenix Suns – A short term pick up if Nash will be out a little longer.
Antoine Wright, SG, Dallas Mavericks – Grab him if he is still in the waiver wires.
Francisco Elson, C, Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks are thin at the center position and he’s starting.
Travis Diener, PG, Indiana Pacers – No Granger. No Dunleavy. Ford is in and out of the lineup.
Keyon Dooling, PG, New Jersey Nets – Good source of points and threes.

The Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings made a trade with less than 24 hours left before the trade deadline where the Bulls got Brad Miller and John Salmons in exchange for Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons.

This will be Miller’s second stint in Chicago while Gooden is slowly being labeled as a journeyman.

With this trade happening, it sure will free up more minutes for Spencer Hawes unless Gooden plays the center position and Jason Thompson stars at the power forward position. Andres Nocioni can start at small forward and take the place of Salmons but this is the lineup I’d like to see out there.

PG – Beno Udrih
SG – Kevin Martin
SF – Jason Thompson
PF – Drew Gooden
C- Spencer Hawes

As for the Bulls, it looks like the they aren’t done trading yet as it is rumored that Kirk Hinrich will also be moved to Minnesota together with Thabo Sefalosha for Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. If this trade happens it would be made for financial reasons and for the Bulls to have financial relief.

This would also be a great trade for the Wolves as they get a combo guard who could play well beside Randy Foye. They also get a good defender in Sefalosha just in case Corrie Brewer doesn’t heal well for next year. As for McCants, he’ll have more DNP-CDs.