Dunk of the year, by far

Kobe Bryant's Grinch-styled shoes on X-Mas Vs Miami Heats

For an entire generation, Kobe Bryant has been appearing on national TV on Christmas afternoon or evening while an entire generation of fans has muttered under their breath while complaining about a family that has chosen the wrong words to describe (an entire generation's) choices in life, as it was for the entire generation that proceeded it, and the one that proceeded that one, and so on.

Kobe Bryant's latest choice in life? Via Trey Kerby, from The Basketball Jones? It's an Ecto Cooler-styled sneaker based around the brilliance of Theodor Geisel's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" fable. And he'll wear it on Christmas, in a game against the Miami Heat (natch) for all of us to behold.

Video: Injured McGee waves BYE BYE to ejected Brand after Brand knocks him down HARD

By Kelly Dwyer

We witnessed a major collapse from the 76ers Tuesday night, and perhaps the biggest surprise from the meltdown came late in the fourth quarter of Washington's overtime win, when all-time nice guy nearly sent Javale McGee three feet into the hardwood with a needless shove.

Brand was immediately tossed, handed a "flagrant two" foul which carries with it an automatic ejection.

Click this link >>>>>>>>>  VIDEO on Youtube

Billy Hunter: ‘In all Probability There’s Going to be a Lockout’

Just two months ago, both the Players’ Association and the owners characterized their meetings as cordial and productive. Today, however, things are considerably less jovial and optimistic.

Billy Hunter sounds like a man who’s ready to throw in the towel. The Union chief says that a lockout is all but guaranteed.

The NY Times has the quotes:

“I’d be 99 percent sure as of today that there will be a lockout,” Billy Hunter, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, said in an interview at his Harlem office. “I’ve said, ‘Save your money because in all probability there’s going to be a lockout.’ ”

It was the most dire prediction that Hunter has issued since the league and the union began discussing a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the deal that expires in July. Negotiations have been almost nonexistent. Each side has effectively rejected the only proposal made by the other. No meetings are scheduled, although the two sides have discussed meeting in late December.

Hunter, in full-court press mode, added that NBA team owners are being unreasonable in their demands. So, there’s that.

This is all just part of the negotiating gamesmanship between the two sides, of course, but should things reach a critical point and a lockout does indeed take place next summer, Hunter said the union has set aside a $175 million war chest to assist players in need.

Kentucky, Washington will settle recruiting rivalry on the court

Six months before Washington and Kentucky even arrived in Maui, Isaiah Thomas had already started campaigning for Maui Invitational organizers to put the Huskies and Wildcats on the same side of the bracket.

"I hope we play KENTUCKY nxt yr n the Maui classic," Washington's all-conference point guard tweeted in late-May. "All I gotta say is ITS BOUT TO GO DOWN ... A BARK over a meow ne day."

Video: Rising up, throwing down

Click this Link>>> Double Dose of Insanity - Griffin vs Knicks Video

Griffin's double-double debut put him in rare company with Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. Though it's technically his second year in the NBA, Griffin is still considered a rookie because he missed all of last season with a knee injury, which means he's eligible for the Rookie of the Year award.

Who would you pick as franchise player B-Griff or Stat??

Memphis Miracle

Memphis' Rudy Gay hit a buzzer-beater as the Grizzlies handed the Dwyane Wade-less Heat their fifth loss

Ron Artest wants a shot at the NFL when his NBA career ends SMH!!!!

Man, you go, Ron Artest. Dig this enthusiasm:

"... It's a fantasy of mine. It's an opportunity because I'm athletic. So if that fantasy can be fulfilled, and if it's something that can really be reached as far as a goal, I'm going for it."

That's right. You take that ball, and you run with it. More power to you.

Although, Ron, I should ask what you're actually talking about, here. Certainly not literally taking a football and running with it professionally, I'm hoping. What's the rest of that quote?

(From CBSSports.com:)

"God willing, after my NBA career, God willing I'm still athletic enough -- which I'm trying to take care of my body as best as possible and be prepared for this day, for this tryout of an NFL team," Artest said. "... It's a fantasy of mine. It's an opportunity because I'm athletic. So if that fantasy can be fulfilled, and if it's something that can really be reached as far as a goal, I'm going for it."

Ooh, boy.

Outside of, perhaps, Craig Smith, Glen Davis or Kris Humphries, Ron Artest probably has the most ready-made NFL body in the entire NBA. But there isn't a whole lot of precedent for good athletes in their mid 30s (Ron will be nearing 35 when his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers expires in 2014) who didn't play college football to strap on the pads and make an NFL team.

Though, it should be noted, Ron Artest on an Arena League team would just about be the greatest thing ever. Ken Berger nailed the original interview behind Artest's plans over at CBSSports.com, but if Ron Ron joins the San Jose SaberCats, I'm calling dibs on writing the book.

Fretting over Portland's depressing outlook

By Kelly Dwyer

Anyone who caught last night's press conference detailing Greg Oden's season-ending microfracture surgery clearly caught wind of just how beat to hell the Portland Trail Blazer franchise is, right now. Nate McMillan looked a ghost. Trainer Jay Jensen had to catch himself several times as emotion nearly got the better of him (and what an awful turn of phrase that is), while GM Rich Cho had little to offer in terms of answers and/or insight.

How could he? The Blazers, as we know them, will probably fall apart. Before we even got a chance to know them.

Cho's time at the press conference was best served answering a question about Oden's impending restricted free agency next summer:

"Greg is still a part of the team. He is going to be a restricted free agent this summer. I expect him to be a part of the team. He will be restricted, he will be able to look at other teams. As Jay mentioned, his right knee came out strong. If you ask Greg, his knee that he had microfracture surgery on is stronger than it was before he had microfracture surgery on it. So we expect him to still come back."

Yes, yes, of course. I was nodding my head while hearing this, looking forward to Portland eagerly matching some sort of four-year, $20 million deal next summer, or a three-year $19 million deal with two years guaranteed. Why wouldn't they? Even though Oden (at best) will likely miss nearly half of 2010-11 as well as this season, the payoff could be so, so huge.

Greatest Brawls Ever? What was NBA.com thinking...SMH

Hornets acquire Jarrett Jack in a five-player deal

By Kelly Dwyer

Sat Nov 20 05:30pm EST

Hardly a blockbuster, and certainly not a deal that will have fan bases on either end spinning with glee, but Saturday's deal between the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Hornets does make sense on a few levels.

Just a few. Because the deals (two separate deals, to ensure cap legality) that sent Peja Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless to the Toronto Raptors and Jarrett Jack, David Andersen, and Marcus Banks to the New Orleans Hornets could be a seen as a missed opportunity of sorts for the Hornets, and a miscalculation by the Raptors. To me, the swing behind this move lies in what the Raptors can do with Peja's massive expiring contract in a further deal. Because there will be another deal, right?

Until then, the Hornets save a little cash initially (Toronto saves more, in the long run) and take in a sound upgrade in the reserve combo guard position in Jack. I'm not entirely keen on any team paying five million a year for a guard that won't start and will have to find minutes relieving both the league's best point guard (that you want to keep on the court as much as humanely possible), and an already-crowded shooting guard rotation (with the reborn Marco Belinelli and the still-potent Marcus Thornton), but Chris Paul and Jack have been friends for years, and Hornets GM Dell Demps is being proactive in trying to make life as tenable as possible for CP3, who semi-floated a trade demand last summer.