Welcome to the tenth edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. It's almost time for the playoffs. March Madness is over. Get ready for April Awesomeness.

• You're not Robinson Crusoe if you've noticed that the Los Angeles Lakers have been off-form lately. It's not uncommon for a team that has been dominant for a number of years to lose the passion when it comes to the dog days of the regular season. So perhaps the slump that the Lakers have been experiencing is not newsworthy. However, are they going to leave their run too late? Don at With Malice questions whether the Lakers care and wonders when that signature win will come?
  
  
• George Hill has played remarkably well for the San Antonio Spurs this season, taking advantage of his opportunities whilst Tony Parker has been out of action. Then Hill goes down during the Spurs' big win over the Lakers, putting things in limbo as the playoffs approach. But fear not, Parker is back. The Spurs take on the Sacramento Kings tonight in what should be a feisty, but relatively low-weight opponent in the lead-up to money time.
  
  
• The NBA has made a big deal about its Green Week initiative, highlighting the need for sustainability and care for the environment -- and rightly so. Of course, as with any NBA initiative, it brought a whole slew of uniform changes and merchandise opportunities. It also meant that a lot of clashing combinations were happening in the style department. Not lost on Sarah Moon in all of this mis-mash of headbands and lapel pins was the environmental cost of the week's activities. At A Stern Warning she asks whether Green Week was more style or substance?
  
  
• All of your Minnesota Timberwolves-related news at TWolves Blog.
  
  
• People in Cleveland weren't really feeling the way ESPN chose to launch their New York site -- with a LeBron to the Knicks mock-up, of course.
  
  

Welcome to the ninth edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. Are you enjoying the BLC? Then tell your friends, you greedy so-and-so! Tweet, email and facebook about the BLC -- you'll feel good for it.

• In an apparent attempt to hold more players from jumping to the NBA early, the NCAA has moved their declaration date more than a month earlier to May 8th. Don at With Malice doubts whether the change is a smart move at all. Rather than stopping collegiate players from leaving, Don believes that they will now leave just the same, with less informed decisions. In addition, NBA teams will be left more in the dark. What do you think?
  
  
• Rick Kamla at NBA TV does not like LeBron James' attitude. Has he become too arrogant for his own good?
  
  
• Before the trade deadline, there was talk of the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for Amar'e Stoudemire in a package that included JJ Hickson. Ultimately of course, the deal did not happen. Stepien Rules is of the opinion that this was a savvy move by Danny Ferry and that JJ is a star in the making. 
  
  
• Bust-a-bucket explores the possibility that the Portland Trail Blazers bench is not carrying their weight compared to the starters.
  
  
• The McDonald's High School All-American Game Dunk Contest -- was it better than what the NBA put on show this season? It certainly wouldn't be hard to top the 2010 pro version. Meanwhile, Stepien Rules will be in attendance at the All-American Game and takes a look back at past stars of the game.
  
  
• The San Antonio Spurs have just come out of what Project Spurs have termed "Hell Week" and they've looked pretty good, even if Tim Duncan has not lived up to his usually lofty form. PS take stock of the situation.

Welcome to the eighth edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. The past week has been a little crazy, hence no BLC in your daily diet, but pick up your knife and fork -- the BLC is back!

• It's a common gripe amongst sports fans: "my team wants me to come to the games when the going is tough -- they'll practically beg me to come -- but when things turn around and the team is a relative success, they forget about me!" Some say that it is good business sense to set your ticket prices based upon the old Keynesian economic model (supply and demand dictate pricing), whilst others will say that teams need to take a longer look at the long-term effects of their pricing decisions. Bust-a-bucket has a great piece today, voicing that fan perspective against the Portland Trail Blazers' apparent oversight of the fans who were there during the very tough times in Rip City.
  
  
• With the 8th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected rough'n'ready, athletic forward Jordan Hill. 24 games of court-time later, Hill was jettisoned to the Houston Rockets. It's extremely rare for a team to give up on a lottery pick with such haste, particularly one with the physical tools and workman like approach to the game. O&B at Knicks Fanatics analyses Hill's situation with a great, in-depth profile piece. Will the Knicks regret their move aimed at clearing cap space to chase the Summer of LeBron dream? That will be an interesting story down the track...
  
  
• The San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers had a watermark matchup on Friday. Stepien Rules and Project Spurs had a chat about both squads as we approach the playoffs.
  
  
• Carmelo Anthony hit the 13th game-winner of his career as he took the Denver Nuggets to a victory over the Toronto Raptors. The Nugg Doctor celebrates. 
  
  
• The Chicago Bulls won the type of game they simply can not afford to lose, against the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night. Da Bulls' Eye recaps. Speaking of the Nets, have you got a caption to add to this photo of Brook Lopez and Rodney Stuckey?
  
  
• Video: Charles Barkley's wife likes to vibrate.
  

Welcome to the seventh edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. Embrace the weekend people! (yes, I just made that phrase up...)

• As the NBA Playoffs quickly creep up on us, the writers of Bloguin have gathered around an electronic table (an electable?) to discuss what we can expect. Who will be the main contenders? Who will be the dark horse? Which teams will surprise and disappoint? Don at With Malice has brought together some of the responses to the first part of the discussion (I say some, as my commentary has somehow dropped off the electable!). So have a read and give us your thoughts on who you think the main contenders are in for the NBA title this season.
  
  
• You no doubt heard the news this week that the Portland Trail Blazers fired VP of Basketball Operations and right-hand man to Kevin Pritchard, Tom Penn. Wendell Maxey at Beyond the Beat takes stock of the situation.
  
  I hope you had a great St Patrick's Day. Patty Mills hopes you did as well.
  
  
• The plight of the San Antonio Spurs this season is a pretty hot topic, especially considering the fact that the Spurs are rarely a "hot topic" around the league. Every season they start out a little slowly and the assumption is that they'll be in the mix by the time the playoffs come around. Has their time slipped by, however?  Project Spurs has obviously been discussing this quite a bit -- read up on the Spurs' road to success/failure. While you're there, have a listen to Spurscast #199, discussing their loss to the Orlando Magic.
  
  
• Kurt Rambis returns to the land of the Lakers... TWolves Blog talks to With Malice about the HUGE matchup of two league heavyweights, Minnesota and LA. 
  
  
• How have the statistics of JJ Hickson and Anderson Varejao been affected by the absence of Shaq and Big Z? Stepien Rules has the answers.
  
  
• Pau Gasol recently got stalked by some sinister-looking paparazzi goons in Los Angeles. Take an exclusive look at the photos they took of the Lakers big man by the pool. While you're at A Stern Warning, re-live the wonder of FRIENDS and John Stockton's short shorts -- what better combo could you ask for?
  
  
• Talk Hoops has some Steve Nash video goodness.
  
  
• Thunder Treats has the news that Jeremy Tyler has bailed out on his stint in Israel after a disappointing run of play. Whilst I don't agree with the conclusion made by DiLo in the article, it certainly is interesting news.

Welcome to the sixth edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. Hump day!

• The NBA has got some real style issues going on when it comes to hair. Some good, some not so good. This is nothing new, think back to Dennis Rodman's many looks, or the classic flat-top fade that Dominique Wilkins sported. Today Sarah Moon at A Stern Warning takes a look at the Hairology of the NBA.
  
  
• Check out the first edition of Don's great new column, exclusive to NBA Base Line, where he talks about Matt Barnes' potty mouth and the follow-up to that game against Kobe Bryant.
  
  
• The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting goosey. Go figure. Just go and check out Stepien Rules to figure out what this is all about.
  
  
• Corey Brewer has not been a stranger to highlights this season (Derek Fisher says "hi!") and the latest addition to the reel is this dunk that he put over a streaking Robin Lopez. More on that game below.
  
  
• If the NBA Draft were held today, how would it pan out? With Malice has the lowdown for you -- and it may be different to what you expect... 
  
  
• The Minnesota Timberwolves got trounced well and truly by the Phoenix Suns last night, 152-114. Commiserate at TWolves Blog, if you're that way inclined.

• We have had some amazing point guards come into the NBA this season. The likes of Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Darren Collison, Jonny Flynn (and the list goes on...) have had their teams salivating at the future. Add to that the fact that the most lauded of all point guards, Ricky Rubio, didn't even make it this season, and the future is very bright for the floor generals of the league. Take a look at our Rookie of the Year rankings and you won't be shocked to find the top five stacked with point men.
  
  Meanwhile, the NCAA's March Madness is upon us. And the college ranks is still full of talented point guards, just itching to get a shot at entering the NBA. True Blue Jazz takes a look at who the top point guards will be on your television screen during March Madness.
  
  
• Wendell Maxey tells us about Portland Trail Blazers rookie Jeff Pendergraph's cancer scare.
  
  
• Don (With Malice) and Zach (Talk Hoops) had a twitter interview (= twintterview) about the Sacramento Kings v Los Angeles Lakers match-up.
  
  
• A two-win streak in New York is reason for excitement -- particularly when you consider the play of NYC-area NBA teams in recent history. So Knicks Fanatics is happy to report that the Knicks knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers last night to hit two on the trot.
  
  
• Matt Satten of Barkley's Mouth is podcasting his way through some fantasy basketball issues -- listen to the replay of last night's live blogtalkradio appearance. 
  
  
• Bustabucket alerts us to the fact that it's time to vote for the Portland Trail Blazers (as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs) in the latest edition of votes for players in the new NBA Jam.
  
  
• Project Spurs asks, who is the Spurs' MVP this season?

Welcome to the fourth edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. Happy Friday!

• This season the Chicago Bulls truly have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (yes, that was a Shakespeare reference -- pat on the back to you for picking that up). They started out the season in terrible fashion and by late December, there was talk that Vinny Del Negro would find his dismissal notice under the Christmas tree. Somehow of course, the Bulls turned things around, just to make things interesting. Now they find themselves in a battle with Miami, Charlotte and Toronto for a playoff spot.
  
  So what do they do? They once again have slumped into a rut after the all-star break. Derrick Rose has injured his wrist and it's all doom and gloom again for Bulls fans. Brand new Bloguin site Da Bull's Eye has a great breakdown of how the rollercoaster ride of a season has been.
  
  Meanwhile, despite the adversity, Kirk Hinrich is still finding ways to make fools of other people.
  Tags:

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Welcome to the third edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network. Today is a shorter edition of the BLC than usual.

• Project Spurs celebrated the San Antonio Spurs' Noche Latina by publishing Bloguin's first ever Spanish-language NBA article about the event.
• Hoops Manifesto has what could be termed the Daily Dunk of the Year, as JR Smith punishes the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 360 degree alley-oop.
• Oscar Schmidt and Drazen Petrovic were two of the best players to not see their best years played in the NBA, for differing reasons. Here A Stern Warning takes a look at their remarkable performances, including footage of a huge matchup between the two international stars.
• Nicolas Batum has been shooting at an amazing clip so far this season, from all three distances -- but do you know who the greatest shooters are of all time to achieve .500 / .400 / .900 shooting? Take a look at this NBA Base Line piece.

Welcome to the second edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network.

• Tim Duncan has done some amazing things in San Antonio -- no one will deny that. He has achieved practically everything there is to achieve as a basketball player. A recent NBA on TNT poll did not select him as the Player of the last decade; somewhat ludicrously he fell to fourth in that poll behind Kobe Bryant (runaway winner), LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal. We all have opinions and this is surely a subjective debate, but the stacked up achievements would seem to indicate that Duncan should have been a top two finisher in that debate.
  
  So, putting that to one side, how will Duncan's legacy be finalized in the NBA? Will he finish out his career with another championship, in the same way that David Robinson went out a winner? Or will this final run end in disappointment. Project Spurs has a thorough and interesting piece on this very question. The level of detail that PS goes into with Spurs content is remarkable. While you're there, have a look at the article on Manu Ginobili, discussing his potential re-signing with the Spurs.
  
  Tags:

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  • nuggets
  • raptors
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Welcome to the first edition of The Base Line Cut, otherwise known as the BLC. It's a bit like a BLT, but without the tomato. Here we'll be taking a look at what is popping around the NBA, with a particular focus on the quality sites across the Bloguin Network.

• It doesn't take a great deal for the denizons of Los Angeles Lakers fandom to start crying into their beer. The recent three-game skid the Lakers have experienced, including tight losses to the Magic and Heat, as well as a surprising dismantling at the hands of the Bobcats, has many asking questions.
  
  Don at With Malice, is taking stock of the situation, rather than jumping to panic stations. Despite the slump, he does not believe that the sky is falling. "Sure: a three-game losing streak isn't something the defending champion should be carrying around, but it's not like it's been forever since LA played well.  Only last week LA beat Denver, and then completely dismantled Indiana."
  
  Of course, Don is right. Currently the Lakers' longtime rivals, the Boston Celtics have a lot more to worry about. Sneaking by the Washington Wizards and being beaten by the New Jersey Nets for the first time in three years was not a good look. Despite this, the Lakers surely do need to prove that they can their main threats in the West. Losing twice to the Mavericks (from four) and twice to the Nuggets (from three) can't be doing good things for the team's psyche as the playoffs approach.
  
  Is the perfect confidence-building antidote a game against the Toronto Raptors in Los Angeles? Don believes so. Romy of Hoop Heads North had a Q&A over a nice seafood dinner with Don last night, talking about the Raps' chances against the Lakers and Hedo Turkoglu's low carb pizza diet that has the likes of Oprah Winfrey* raving. If all else goes wrong for the Lakers though,  they can rest assured in the fact that Kobe won an Oscar for Best Athlete in a Leading Role (Detroit 4 Lyfe).
• The Portland Trail Blazers have had the type of season that, if portrayed in a movie, would see patrons walking out ten minutes in with the unbelievability of the plot. The run of injuries has been ridiculously long and the team copped another blow this week with news that Joel Przybilla had re-ruptured his patella tendon, slipping over in the shower. I'll leave the jokes for you to make, as I can't stand to at this stage.
  
  Bust a Bucket, your source for all things Blazers (have you checked out their t-shirts?) tells us that the team is celebrating '90s Decade Night tonight, as Portland hosts the Sacramento Kings. With the current enslaught of injuries, it will be pleasant to focus on the likes of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Cliff Robinson and Arvydas Sabonis that made the '90s fun.
  
  In an exciting piece of Blazers-related news, you can catch Bloguin's own "Brother" Wendell Maxey on Courtside Video, live at 6PM Portland time, featured along with assistant coach Joe Prunty, Jason Quick of the Oregonian and hosts Mike Rice and Mike Barrett. Maxey writes at his blog, Beyond the Beat, among many other places and has a great piece today Behind The Morrison And Roy Story.
• Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers had a tight victory over the San Antonio Spurs, 97-95. Two great Bloguin blogs devoted to those teams, Stepien Rules and Project Spurs had a Post-Game Q&A Recap on the match. The Spurs have been unfortunate enough to lose Tony Parker (again) to injuries, with a broken hand that will see him out for the remainder of the regular season. With that in mind, Project Spurs have an Analysis of the Spurs without Parker.
  
  
• If you don't follow Zach Harper's work, you really should. He is all over the blogosphere, including at his blog Talk Hoops. Today he has Episode 82 of his Weekly Fix Podcast, fresh and toasty and ready for your listening pleasure. The guys talk about the Channing Frye vs Earl Watson incident, Matt Barnes playing games with Kobe, Rafer Alston and much more.
• If you've still got time in your day to read hoops (let's face it, who doesn't?), you should also check out:  the Knicks Fanatics recapping as the Knicks Stun the Hawks In a Thriller; new kid on the Bloguin block, Da Bulls' Eye with a look at where the Bulls are headed this season; the Pacers' side of the Frye v Watson scenario from Pacers Pulse; and this awesome collection of retro videos from A Stern Warning showing the old-school Reebok "Pump Up and Air Out" series, stabbing at Nike featuring Dennis Rodman, Dominique Wilkins, Bill Walton and others. That blog is pretty good (no bias).