Title Chaste is the diary of Matt Snyder in his season a virgin fantasy basketball player.
Well, that didn't take long. Thanks to Mo Williams, Danny Granger, Amare Stoudemire, Brook Lopez, Jason Terry, Andrea Bargnani and Shawn Marion, I won my first career fantasy basketball game. I should also point out I owe the scheduling for the victory as well, because my team checked in as the sixth-highest scorer out of 12. Really, it could have gone either way. This victory was a sign that being lucky is just as worthwhile as being smart in fantasy basketball, just as I already knew in fantasy baseball and fantasy football. On the other hand, skill is still paramount -- as the top scorer for the week was, not surprisingly, Tom Lorenzo.
ORLANDO -- Danny Granger has all the makings of a great player who may get lost for many years.
Playing for the Indiana Pacers already makes him look like he's standing alone on an island -- waiting to get rescued.
"It doesn't matter how many points you score. If you don't win games, no one really cares,'' Granger told FanHouse Wednesday night before the Pacers played the Orlando Magic. "I've proven I can score. Now I have to prove we can win.''
Granger averaged 25.8 points last season when he won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award, becoming the first player in league history to raise his scoring average by at least five points in three consecutive seasons.
Not long ago, the Indiana Pacers were said to have a character problem, what with players such as Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest and Jamaal Tinsley. That issue, we know, has been taken care of.
Now the Pacers have a talent problem. As in, not enough of it.
All NBA awards are completely subjective and usually debatable. None registers moreso (on both counts) than the Most Improved Player award. There are a million arbitrary, unwritten rules about who can be eligible for consideration. Some voters reject all All-Stars, others think second- or third-year players shouldn't be valid. It's a mess, really.
NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day.
-- "I haven't had a man crush," Cuban claimed. "Shaq and I and Phil Jackson, for that matter, always would have these fun verbal sparring matches. It was always just fun and entertaining, and I think people extended that with Shaq to think that we were madly in love. We haven't even dated." -- Dallas Mavericks Blog
-- "I really don't have a preference. I wouldn't mind staying and playing in Oklahoma but at the same time, I've been in Oklahoma my whole life, so getting out and trying something different wouldn't be too bad." -- Blake Griffin on potentially being drafted by the Thunder.
Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the "lig." Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.
David West took a bad step in the second quarter. A really bad step -- he could barely jog through the second half, limping heavily. Like it mattered.
West played nearly the entire second half on one leg, scoring 19 points in that span to finish with 40 on the game. He added nine rebounds and six assists, helping New Orleans remain in position to beat Sacramento, which it did on a Rasual Butler three at the buzzer. On the game-winner with the Hornets down two, West managed to screen off two Kings in the paint. An unbelievable performance from West at a time when his team (missing Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic) couldn't possibly survive another injury.
Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the "lig." Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.
Another loss during this downturn would have hurt Boston, no matter how much fans deny worry. Orlando lurks, pressing for the No. 2 seed in the East; the Magic desperately, I assume, want to avoid the Pistons ... which makes the Celtics pray the Magic meet the Pistons. (Sorry, playoff fever.) So a loss to Miami hurts. A loss to Miami with Dwyane Wadesitting out? Pain ain't the word.
When the Cavs lost to the Pacers last week in a game decided by two fouls in the final 0.8 seconds, Mike Brown complained, telling reporters after the game, "I cannot imagine another worse call than that" while suggesting the outcome was "predetermined" by the referees.
David Stern has never been one to take criticism of his referees lightly, and in the wake of Tim Donaghy, any comments from league personnel suggesting the fix is in are especially taboo. With that in mind, Stern did a huge favor for the Cavs by overlooking Brown's temper, telling reporters on Saturday that there would be no punishment.
The end to Tuesday night's Cavs - Pacers game was a bit unusual, so allow me to reset the situation. The Pacers were up 95-93 with just 0.8 seconds remaining, when the Cavs attempted an alley-oop lob to Lebron James. Somehow, the referees whistled Danny Granger for a foul, which allowed LeBron to tie the game at the free throw line. Bad call, but whatever. Next possession -- with just 0.4 on the clock now -- the Pacers run a similar play, and get the foul call, which allows Granger to win the game by hiting one of two at the foul line. Here's the video (beginning at the 1:31 mark); we'll discuss after the jump.
All-Star weekend is less than two weeks away, so the press releases are coming fast and furious as to who's going to be participating in all of the events. We told you about H.O.R.S.E. on Tuesday, and today, we bring you the field for the 2009 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.
Jason Kapono will defend his title and attempt to win the event for the third straight year, and he'll be facing a group of players that collectively have a total of zero three (and counting) prior appearances in the competition.
Title Chaste is the diary of Matt Snyder in his season a virgin fantasy basketball player. 
ORLANDO -- 
FanHouse 
All NBA awards are completely subjective and usually debatable. None registers moreso (on both counts) than the Most Improved Player award. There are a million arbitrary, unwritten rules about who can be eligible for consideration. Some voters reject all All-Stars, others think second- or third-year players shouldn't be valid. It's a mess, really.
Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the "lig." 
Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the "lig." 
When the 
All-Star weekend is less than two weeks away, so the press releases are coming fast and furious as to who's going to be participating in all of the events. We told you about 
