THE ORIGINAL BEHIND THE BASKET SHOT!

Larry Bird started it all.

NATE ROBINSON SHOOTS AT WRONG BASKET!

Nate Robinson tries to be funny by shooting a three pointer immediately after the buzzer. He makes it and sets off coach Mike D'Antoni, who fumes, saying "What if they refs count it?"

 

KOBE MAKES BEHIND THE BOARD SHOT!

Larry Bird first did it in a preseason game in the early 80's. It was waved off then. The NBA changed the rules soon after and allowed shots made behind the backboard to count.

Kobe, give Bird a shoutout k?

Manu Ginobili snatches a bat out of mid-air. 

Said Ginobili: "When you can't dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news. So that's what I did. I grabbed a bat. I didn’t think it was a big deal."

Added Spurs coach Greg Popovich: "He never ceases to amaze me and he just did it again. The legend grows. It's incredible on Halloween night. You would call someone a liar if they told you that story."

Of course, he gets rabies shots after, which is very painful.

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.