Orlando's New Arena Lands 2012 NBA All-Star Game

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ Associated Press Writer

The NBA All-Star game is getting another Magic infusion.

Twenty years after hosting one of the most memorable moments in its history, the league's All-Star game and weeklong festivities will return to Orlando in 2012 at the Magic's new arena, NBA commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday.

Orlando also held the All-Star game in 1992, when Magic Johnson returned to basketball to win the Most Valuable Player award after his stunning retirement and acknowledgment he was HIV positive.

"It was an extraordinary and emotional time," Stern said. "To be able to hug him in front of a global audience and congratulate him, it was extraordinary."

The NBA clearly likes to take its midwinter break in sunshine.

Phoenix had the All-Star game last year, Dallas was this season's host — even though there was a large snowfall — and Los Angeles gets the game a record fifth time in 2011. New Orleans, Las Vegas and Houston had the game before that.

Rumours of Nash's Demise Greatly Exaggerated

By Michael Grange

Like a lot of folks of a certain age, Steve Nash has been having trouble with his hip.

But a little rest in the dry desert heat can do wonders for a point guard of his vintage, apparently.

Nash proved that rumours of his playoff demise - stemming as much from his limpy outing in the Phoenix Suns' ouster of the injury depleted Portland Trail Blazers in the first round as from the Suns' second-round meeting with the San Antonio Spurs, the team that has eliminated Nash and the Suns in three of their last four postseason appearances - have been greatly exaggerated.

With three days of rest between series, Nash looked like a floppy-haired pup as he bounded through the Spurs' defence to post 33 points and 10 assists in leading Phoenix to a 111-102 win and a 1-0 lead in their second-round series on Monday night, with Game 2 set for Wednesday night in Phoenix.

"I was fortunate to get some opportunities early to be aggressive and try to put some life into the building," Nash said. "You never know what the game is going to present."

The only thing basketball was supposed to be presenting Nash at this stage was a gold watch and an armchair.

Even his believers doubted Nash would be dictating the flow of a playoff game at age 36. In a league full of players badly overpaid based on what they might achieve, Nash has always been paid as if he had an expiration date.

Game 18: Mavs vs. Suns

The Phoenix Suns are 11-8 coming into this game against a Mavericks team that has won 7 of their last 8 games. Steve Nash is questionable due to him recovering from the flu. Should've had the flu shot, my friend. He tends to have a monster of a game against his former team. Last night, the Suns lost to the New Orleans Hornets by a score of 104-91. Would Nash have been good for a 13 deferential? Yes. He would've added defense and offense to make up that ground... and then some.

I think this is going to be like the game the Mavericks just had against the Clippers... a close one. Now, the Mavs have been beating some rather lowly teams. Are they good enough to just beat teams that don't have it together or are they for real? Tonight should answer that question.

Maverick Player Stats 08-09

Name	Dirk Nowitzki	Josh Howard	Jason Terry	Jason Kidd
Points Per Game	24.2	20.3	20.4	9.6
Rebounds Per Game	8.9	8.2	2.6	7.2
Assists Per Game	2.4	1.6	3.8	8.5
Blocks Per Game	0.8	0.7	0.3	0.5

I am not sure if Howard is going to be back in the lineup... everytime I think he will be, he isn't. He is practicing with the team, so he should be returning anytime now.

Suns Player Stats 08-09

Name	Amare Stoudemire	Steve Nash	Shaquille O'Neal	Matt Barnes
Points Per Game	22.1	15.1	14.9	12.3
Rebounds Per Game	7.8	2.9	8.5	5.8
Assists Per Game	1.8	8.1	1.7	2.4
Blocks Per Game	1.3	0.5	1.4	0.4

You want to know how bored I got... well, it was enough to bust out with some HTML. Anyway, I hope you like it. I maybe doing some more of it in the future. Again, Nash may be out with the flu again tonight, which would benefit the Mavericks a great deal.

Surprisingly, these two teams are fairly even matched. The Suns have lost their last three and are playing a back-to-back on the road. Even with Nash in uniform, the Suns will be scraping right now.

Forecast: I like the rested Mavericks in this one. If Nash does play, he is recovering from the flu and if you have ever had the flu, you know you're not 100% when you go back to work. Look for the Mavericks to put up a win with a score of 104-98.

Home Court

Some Picks to Start the Day

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

NBA
Spurs (16-4) vs. LA Clippers (14-6)
Spurs are coming off a loss to the Hawks, who snapped a 7 game loosing streak. The Hawks are easily the worst team in the NBA and the Spurs are the best team in the NBA. And the Clippers are for real this year. They are actually the best team in LA. The Spurs are the best team in Texas (did I say that?). The Spurs seem to have a problem winning on Saturday… not sure why that is. They take off the weekend, maybe? Anyway, this one is in San Antonio and the Spurs have a 9-1 record at home. This should be a good game, but still will go to SA simply because the Clippers have trouble on the road. The score, I will say 105-93.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2005

NBA
Rockets (7-12) vs. Golden State Warriors (12-8)
Rockets have a three game win streak right now, which should be in consideration. Coming into today, Golden State is on a two game slide, loosing to two respectable teams (Phoenix and Detroit). Seattle shouldn’t put up to much of a problem, although the Warriors are going to have to put up some points to take it away from them. The Warriors are slightly better at home than on the road, and Houston is pretty much even Steven wherever they play. My gut for whatever reason says Houston, since Golden State is playing back-to-back games, but logic says Warriors can beat Houston even under such conditions. And I will go with logic today. Maybe tomorrow, after gut proves right, will I go with that. 100-92.

Mavs (15-6) vs. Suns (13-7)
Ah, the whole reason for putting these picks together. So much grief and rig-a-ma-roo over one game in a 82 game season. Let me say it now – GO MAVS!! – and there you have it. So, let’s look at the stats which will justify my picking the Mavs, because we all know I will pick the Mavs, right? Mavs play hard on the road and at home, look at the records. Phoenix has barely been on the road thus far this season. I need I remind everyone that Phoenix started the season 0-1? The Suns had a 17 point lead and then lost… tisk, tisk, tisk. Mavs coming off a loss and Phoenix coming off of two. Phoenix can score points, but can’t tell that by the last three games. Dallas seems to lack “the put away” and when they get a strong lead, it diminishes. (Is this football or basketball?) So, I think being two quality teams, it will be a close one, at least in the fourth quarter and the Mavs will walk away a winner unless Phil Jackson hits Dirk in the head and walks away… OK, well he didn’t hit him in the head, but he walked away without showing concern. Very unprofessional in my mind and it caused his team to do the same, again unprofessional. Score: 108-103.

NHL
Stars (19-7-1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (19-10-1)
Do note, the Stars have won 11 of their last 13 and play as a team. A very solid team this year… even better than last year, in which they went undefeated, but winless as well. You know what bums me out, I tried to sign up my son to be a junior Star and they mailed me back a letter saying they don’t do that anymore. WHAT? A sport that is coming off a long work stoppage and not wanting to re-gather a fan base? I simply don’t understand that. Very well, I have only been to two games since they moved here, and maybe that will stay the case for a while longer. As far as points are concerned, these two teams are even. 39 points for each team. Dallas leads their division, Buffalo is second in theirs. Stars have won 5 in a row, Buffalo only 3, but the last loss for Buffalo was a 5 to zero shutout given from San Jose. Stars on average have given up 2 goals over the last 5 games, while scoring more than 3 ½ goals in the process. Buffalo has injuries and Dallas does not. Dallas will win and Buffalo win not. Houdini says the score will be 4-2.

Mavs Win Opener in Double OT

PHOENIX (AP) -- Coach Avery Johnson saw a bit of himself in his Dallas Mavericks on an opening night that didn't end until Wednesday morning.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and the Mavericks erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 111-108 in double-overtime.

``If I was out there on that court tonight, I wouldn't quit,'' Johnson said. ``I think this team really wants to have some of my personality. They talk to me a lot about that, and it's kind of flattering. But when you really see it, man, these guys, they battled.''

The late-starting season-opener Tuesday night ended just after midnight, local time.

Nowitzki sank a pair of long jumpers and Keith Van Horn made a 3-pointer in the second overtime. After Van Horn made one of two free throws with 23.7 seconds to play, Steve Nash missed what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer at the final buzzer.

``That was a special game,'' Nowitzki said. ``To lose this one in double OT would have been really, really tough. To grind it out in the end was great.''

Jason Terry added 23 points for Dallas, including the game-tying layup at the end of the first overtime. Josh Howard had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Van Horn scored 15 and Marquis Daniels 13.

Nash scored 30, the same he averaged against his former Dallas team in last season's Western Conference semifinals. He added nine assists and eight rebounds, but had six turnovers.

Raja Bell had 18 points in his first game for the Suns. Shawn Marion had 13 points and 16 rebounds, but was just 4-for-12 shooting overall. James Jones, another Phoenix newcomer, scored 13, including 3-of-6 3-pointers.

Dallas trailed 83-66 with 7 1/2 minutes to play in regulation and 101-96 with 36 seconds left in the first overtime.

``We let them back in it both times, and it hurts,'' Nash said, ``but I think that's going too happen when you have a new team and so little familiarity with that situation. You know, these are growing pains we're going to have to go through to become a good team.''

Phoenix was up 83-66 after a 9-0 run capped by Marion's dunk with 7:44 to play in regulation.

``That's when I started thinking, and that hurt us,'' Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

Marion and four reserves had built the big lead, but the coach decided to put Nash back in with the idea of closing it out. Instead, the rally ensued and Nash was weary at the end.

Nowitzki sank three 3-pointers in a row in a 21-3 outburst that forced overtime, then Marquis Daniels sank a 3-pointer with 29 seconds to go in the first overtime, setting up Jason Terry's layup at the buzzer that tied it at 101-101 to force the second OT.

But Van Horn made two free throws and a 3-pointer and the Suns turned cold from outside and sloppy with the ball.

``I think we just took a deep breath at the wrong time,'' Bell said. ``I think we just let our guard down, and they're a team you shouldn't do that against.''

Nowitzki's third 3-pointer of the run cut the lead to 86-85 with 1:44 to play, then Terry's layup put Dallas ahead 87-86 with 1:21 to go. Marion scored inside and was fouled but missed the free throw to give Phoenix an 88-87 lead with a minute remaining in regulation.

Terry followed with another layup to give Dallas a 89-88 lead. Nash missed a fadeaway, then Terry sank one of two free throws to put Dallas up 90-88 with 15.3 seconds to go.

Nash was fouled by Howard on a drive, and made both free throws to tie it at 90-90 with 4.4 seconds left in regulation. Nowitzki missed a tough jumper over Marion at the buzzer to force overtime.

Van Horn and Nowitzki credited the play of Darrell Armstrong, who brought energy to the floor when Terry and Devin Harris were both in foul trouble.

``He was really the key to winning this game,'' Van Horn said. ``He came out and really changed the game defensively. I think we all fed off his energy.''

It was a rematch of the teams that staged the high-scoring Western Conference semifinal series last season. But the Suns had just two starters, and four players overall, back from the team that won an NBA-best 62 regular-season games and lost to San Antonio in the conference finals.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday, November 1st

NBA
Mavs (0-0) vs. Suns (0-0)
Wow-E-Wow! The season begins. This one starts in the land of the hot sun. And with Nash attack, Captain MVP, who is going to take this one? Well, for the NBA title, I don’t there is much doubt that the Spurs are just in wait for the trophy, but getting there could be fun to watch. Stranger things, am I right? So, let’s see. Suns will try to score a ton of points. Dallas is going to try to slow things down. Both went 6-2 in pre. Amare is out for 4 months. That could be the edge Dallas needs, but I am skeptical at best on this one. Amare was the Suns leading scorer last year. And he is gone. Nash is a magician and this is his former team… Dirk is looking for redemption. AJ feels confident, but he is the coach and that is his job. I… will say the intangibles go to Dallas, but I am scared to say it. Mavs take this one on a squeaker, score: 95-92

Spurs (0-0) vs. Nuggets (0-0)
Spurs: doesn’t that say it all? This team could beat any Olympic dream team any day… OK, maybe not the first dream team, but they could give them a run for their money. Spurs win this one: 1,000,000-95. (Reality, 99-92)

Wednesday, November 2nd

NBA
Mavs (1-0) vs. Jazz (0-0)
Well, the Jazz just don’t play. 2-5 in pre is definitely nothing to brag about. In a word: rebuild. For the Mavs: cakewalk. Prediction: Mavs take it, 105-89.

Rockets (0-0) vs. Kings (0-1)
This should be a good game. I like Yo-Yo. I mean, Yao-Yao. Do you get the Ming of what I am saying? I mean the meaning? This is the opener for the Rockets. The Kings second game on the road, so with the Rockets at home against a back to back Kings, it could be interesting. Intangibles definitely go to the Rockets. Well, the Sheriff (Shareef) is going to be in town, and the Kings are picked for tops in their division. I’m not sold on it yet, though. They will make the playoffs, but won’t go far in my book. Being this is the first for Houston, home court, Kings going back to back road nights, Rockets will win this one. Score: 91-87.

NHL
Stars (6-4-1) vs. Kings (8-4-0)
The Kings play hockey, too? OK, let’s do it again… the Sheriff… oh wait, the LA Kings… gotcha. Again, should be a good game between these two, if you like hockey. Not a big fan, but doing this blog, I am gaining interest… LA is 6-3 at home, Stars are 3-1 on the road. Stars are better away from here… interesting. LA and Dallas are first and second, respectfully, in their division. Stars, even with a winning record, have given up more points than scored, whereas LA is killer. They have scored 11 more goals than their opponents. So, I don’t know if I really need to dig for more stats. That tells me pretty much the goods on this game. Kings take this one. Score: 4-2.