CAVS GO 0-2, CELTICS HOLD BOBCATS TO 59!

Cavs lose to Raptors, 101-91.

Lebron James exploded with a triple double and it still wasn't enough as the Cavs fell to the impressive Raptors, 101-91. Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh was an explosive inside-outside Twin Tower combo for the Raps even as new recruit Hedo Turkoglu had a decent outing for Toronto. Mo Williams and Shaq, again, could not provide enough support for the King.

STUDS. Lebron James (23pts, 11 rebounds, 12 assists) was stellar for the Cavs while Andrea Bargnani (28pts, 5rebs) and Chris Bosh (21pts, 16rebs) delivered for the Raptors.

DUDS. Anderson Varejao (2pts, 4 rebs) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (4pts, 5rebs) continue their sucky play.

Celtics steamroll Bobcats, 92-59.

The Celtics roared to an 20point lead early on and then coasted to defeat the hapless Bobcats. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce starred for the Celtics once again as Gerald Wallace was the only Bobcats player to score in double digits.

STUDS. Ray Allen (18pts, 4 3pointers), Kevin Garnett (10pts, 7 rebs, 3 blocks) and Rajon Rondo (10pts, 11 assists) were noteworthy.

DUDS. The entire Bobcats starting 5. They combined for just 30pts all in all.

NBA 2009 OPENING DAY!

Four games were played today and all four were entertaining.

Celtics win over Cavs, 95-89!

It was the Big Three against the King and Shaq Fu. Paul Pierce started out on fire, Ray Allen and new recruit Rasheed Wallace kept the fire going and Kevin Garnett finished the Cavs off with a solid all around game. The Cavs kept the game close by virtue of a brilliant performance by the King but Lebron needed more support from Shaq, Mo Williams and Big Z.

STUDS. Paul Pierce (23pts, 11 rebs), Ray Allen (16pts, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Kevin Garnett (13pts, 10rebs, 3 blocks) seem to be in mid-season form already. Lebron James (38pts, 4 rebounds, 8 assist, 4bloclks, 2 steals) seemed to be the only Cavs player in similar form. 

DUDS. Kendrick Perkins had 9 points and ONE rebound in 25minutes of play. He's 7 feet tall, He should be able to get 2 rebounds by simply showing up. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 6points and 5 rebounds. Wasn't he a starter on a team playing for a championship just a couple of years ago? 

Wizards upend Mavs, 102-91

Agent Zero is back! The Wiz barely missed All-Star Antawn Jamison as Gilbert Arenas was hot in his first NBA game back from his most recent knee surgery. Caron Butler, Randy Foye and Andray Blatche also had good games. The Mavs were fueled by Dirk Nowitzki (and his hair) and Shawm Marion but couldn't get Jason Terry going.  

STUDS. Gilbert Arenas (29pts, 9 assists), Randy Foye (19pts, 2steals) and Andray Blatche (20pts, 7rebounds, 2 blocks) were the difference-makers. Dirk Nowitzki (34points, 9rebs, 2 blocks) was also in vintage form.

DUDS. Mike Miller (6pts, 8 rebs) was supposed to be a deadeye shooter. What gives? Jason Terry (12pts, 4 rebs, 4 assists) was also horrendous, hitting at a 4-15 clip.

Blazers top Rockets, 96-87!

The big question heading into this match up was, with T-Mac and Yao still sidelined, who was going to score for the Rockets? Aaron Brooks tried his best and so did Trevor Ariza but it simply wasn't enough. For the Blazers, it was old

 reliable Brandon Roy who went to town as well as designated gunner Travis Outlaw.

STUDS. Brandon Roy (20pts, 5 rebs, 5 assists) and Travis Outlaw (23pts, 4 rebs, 2 assists) were simply unstoppable. On the defensive side of things, Greg Oden (2pts, 12 rebounds 5 blocks) and Joel Przybilla (2pts, 10rebs, 2 blocks) were insurmountable.

DUDS. Luis Scola (3pts, 4 rebs) and Shane Battier (8pts, 4 rebs) need to step it up.

Lakers dump Clippers, 99-92!

The Lakers got their rings then tried to run rings around the Clippers.  Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum managed to build a lead, only to see their teammates almost lose it, so they went back in to make sure of the win. Clips showed amazing resiliency and drive to keep the game competitive throughout, led by standout supersoph Eric Gordon and veteran Chris Kaman.

STUDS. Kobe Bryant (33 pts, 8rebs) and Andrew Bynum (26pts, 13rebs) more than offset the loss of All Star Pau Gasol. Eric Gordon (21pts, 4 assists) and Chris Kaman (18pts, 16rebs) were the main men for the Clippers.

DUDS. Baron Davis (2pts, 4rebs, 8assists) bombed miserably in this first game, shooting a miserable 1-10 from the field.

RICKY RUBIO ROCKS!

Truly an incredible player. Too bad the T'Wolves couldn't get him to play in the NBA.

But he's gonna be special. You can see why.

WYNNE ARBOLEDA FOR THE KO!

Unbelievable. And I thought Ron Artest was crazy.

At least, Artest got hit by a cup of beer. Arboleda went berserk over nothing!

MAGIC STABS ISIAH IN THE BACK!

Here are some choice quotes from Magic's soon to be released tell-all "When the Game Was Ours" and some choice comebacks from Isiah Thomas.

One thing I can say about this is...Magic sucks! Larry Bird forever!

Magic on Thomas not making the Dream Team

"Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics. Nobody on that team wanted to play with him. ... Michael didn't want to play with him. Scottie [Pippen] wanted no part of him. Bird wasn't pushing for him. Karl Malone didn't want him. Who was saying, 'We need this guy?' Nobody.''

(But wait! Wasn't Magic supposed to be Isiah's best friend? Why didn't he stand up for Isiah? Why did Magic let the world think Jordan was the one who kept Isiah off the team?)

Isiah on Magic saying Thomas questioned his sexuality when he came out with HIV.

"What most people don't know is, before Magic had HIV, my brother had HIV. My brother died of HIV, AIDS, drug abuse. So I knew way more about the disease, because I was living with it in my house.''

Isiah on Magic finally admitting he kept Thomas off the Dream Team.

"I'm glad that he's finally had the nerve and the courage to stand up and say it was him, as opposed to letting Michael Jordan take the blame for it all these years. I wish he would have had the courage to say this stuff to me face to face, as opposed to writing it in some damn book to sell and he can make money off it.''

Thomas on Magic's 1992 All Star Game

"They weren't going to let Magic play in the All-Star Game; all the players were coming out [against him]. You know how that all got turned around? I had a meeting with all of the players -- because I was president of the players' association -- and I told them not only was he going to play, but we were going to shake his hand and give him a hug. And I was the first to shake his hand and hug him and give him a kiss, to let people know that's not how the virus is spread. And you can go back and check at the players' association. Call Charlie Grantham [the former union executive director and COO] and ask him how Magic got to play in the All-Star Game. Ask him who called the meeting.