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Raw Like Sushi was the name of a Neneh Cherry album. It also could end up being the title for the Hasheem Thabeet rookie highlight video.
Of course, if you think this guy is green now, Memphis coach Lionel Hollins says you should have been around for his first workout after the Grizzlies took the 7-foot-3, 267-pound Connecticut center with the No. 2 pick in last June's draft.
"He was really bad,'' Hollins said. "Even though he's a shot blocker, he only had to stand in the paint in college. Now you've got guys attacking you and how you have to go meet them, he knew none of that. He had no footwork. He had no jump hook. He had nothing. And I can say that out of all the rookies in this draft, he probably has come the farthest. He has the farthest to go, and he still has a long ways to go.''
LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers held a seven-point lead over the Suns with about nine minutes remaining in their home opener, in a game that was the season opener for Phoenix.
But Steve Nash made sure that his Suns left with the victory, by scoring 15 of his team's 24 fourth quarter points, including the game-winner in a thrilling 109-107 contest at Staples Center.
As in comedy, all things fantasy basketball come in fives. In finishing my positional previews I now give you my list of the Top 50 point guards. There is very little surprise as to who sits at the top of the list. That honor goes to the potential number one overall pick -- Chris Paul. Thanks to his high assist and steal totals, Paul once again finished with fantasy MVP honors in '08-'09.
There is a premium price to pay for point guards this year. Only 14 players dished more than 500 total assists last season, two of whom are not eligible at the point. On the defensive side of the ball, 20 players posted more than 100 steals -- half were point guards. On the court they're leaders. Off the court they're freaks. Actually, I have no proof of that. What I do have is a list!
Fantasy Basketball Rankings: C | PF | SF | SG | PG
The 2009-10 Phoenix Suns are caught somewhere between the past and the future. But just because they don't know where they're going, and have one foot stuck in a place where they've already been, doesn't mean that the team can't win this season, while playing an entertaining style of basketball along the way.
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- For the second straight year, the Phoenix Suns hosted an outdoor preseason game at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. Only this time, the weather cooperated to make it a fantastic event in an atmosphere about as unique as they come by NBA standards.
PHOENIX -- Every team comes to training camp with a renewed sense of optimism. But the Suns might be as happy as any to begin this season with a clean slate.
Phoenix is trying to rebound from a season where it traded two rotation players, fired its head coach at the All-Star break, then had its best player suffer an eye injury shortly thereafter that kept him out for the rest of the season.
All that, and the team missed making the playoffs by only two games. But for the first time in a long time, there are virtually no expectations of success. And for a team that struggled with so many issues last year, they seem more than happy to enter the season pressure-free, while searching for consistency and a renewed sense of identity.
Steve Nash isn't the first person to parody those ShamWow infomercials, and he certainly won't be the last. But in his latest viral spot for Vitamin Water, Nash does a better job than most mocking the (now infamous) Vince Shlomi.
I'm not sure if it's the underlying anger or the slight physical resemblance, but Nash reminds me more of Frank T.J. Mackey in this clip than he does of Mr. Slap Chop. Either way, the video is hilarious, and can be seen after the jump.
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
We all know President Barack Obama is a basketball fan who likes the Chicago Bulls, but what team does outspoken Vice President Joe Biden cheer for? He tells us in this video. We also talk to Senator John McCain, long-time Phoenix Suns fan, about who he thinks is the best player in the NBA.
Shaquille O'Neal's reality television show, Shaq Vs., debuted on Tuesday. I did not watch it, but that's only because there was a rerun of the Fresh Prince rolling on another channel. Still, I heard good things. Like, for instance, "Ben Roethlisberger looks fat!" and "This certainly doesn't suck as bad as Terrell Owens' show!"
High praise indeed; but what might have gone unnoticed by many an eye -- although not the Arizona Republic's Paola Bolvin -- was a familiar name in the credits: executive producer Steve Nash.