Wesley Matthews Replaces Nicolas Batum in Starting Line Up

Portland Trailblazers head coach Nate McMillan has elected to move Wesley Matthews into the starting line up over Nicolas Batum. Matthews responded to the promotion with 26 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Matthews has been hot recently and that is likely why he's been promoted to the starting five. He's scored 20+ points in four of his last six games and he's even playing well with Brandon Roy back in the line up. Mainly known for his defensive prowess, Matthews is turning into a great all-around player now that his offense is picking up. Fantasy owners who took our advice last week and pounced on Matthews may have picked up a player who can be a major contributor for the rest of the season. He's now a must own in all formats while he's starting. Many team managers failed to show the patience we recommended and dropped Matthews after his 4-point game recently, leaving him available in over 60% of leagues. Be sure to snatch him if he's unowned.

As for Batum, this is a huge blow to his value. Nicolas was having a great season and putting up career-best numbers across the board. We doubt he can produce enough off the bench to be worth rostering in standard leagues. His value is strictly limited to deep leagues for the time being. Owners in standard leagues may still want to hang onto him a little longer if nothing worthwhile is available in your free agent pool. With Brandon Roy still dealing with his knee injury, he could miss a few games. The Blazers are even considering resting him in the second game of back-to-backs. Batum would likely see extended minutes when Roy sits out. Roy's knee troubles are obvious as he wasn't himself tonight, scoring just 10 points. Now it's looking like Batum's value will hinge on Roy's health.

Tim Duncan Registers Triple-Double

San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan recorded the third regular season triple-double of his career. His line: 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Breakdown
Although he didn't shoot the ball well, Timmy showed fantasy owners he's still capable of putting up big games. With such a great supporting cast around him that has the Spurs sporting the best record in the NBA, Duncan doesn't need to have big nights all that often anymore. After this performance, it may be a good time to find a taker for Duncan. Because Duncan is a big name, you may be able to pull off a deal for a player who you can rely on nightly. Also, consider that Duncan will lose a lot of value during the fantasy playoffs as the Spurs will rest him for a deep playoff run. Now is a good time to make a move. Duncan currently sits at #35 in our player ratings.

Carl Landry Moved to Kings' Second Unit

Sacramento Kings power forward Carl Landry has been replaced in the starting line up by Jason Thompson.

The Breakdown
Head coach Paul Westphal continues to shuffle his starters and the rotation, so this move isn't surprising. Landry, though, has thrived in previous seasons as a sixth man so this move doesn't necessarily hurt his value. Fantasy owners in standard leagues should wait a couple of weeks before making a move.

As for Thompson, he's a worthwhile speculative add in deep leagues. He has some value as long as he's playing over 20 minutes a game, but it's anyone's guess how long his stint as a starter will last.

Handmade Living - Blog Tour

Hopefully you have been following the Handmade Living book launch blog tour that is on in the lead-up to the big launch? If not get on board and enjoy a sneaky peak into this gorgeous book that will make a fabulous Christmas present!



I have written a guest post over at A Spoonful of Sugar today and you can see one of my creations (pictured above) on the lovely Thea & Sami blog from a couple of days ago. The purse pictured is the much coveted Oroton clutch that my Nanna gave me... sparkle, sparkle! It is raining for the 3rd day in a row - being the first day of summer it is not what I was expecting - have a great day anyhow.

Fala quem trabalha...

O site Planetabasket continua a conter alguns artigos de qualidade. Desta vez tem uma entrevista com o treinador sérvio Goran Nogic, Coordenador da Formação de Basquetebol do SL Benfica. 

Quem não a leu aproveite em http://www.planetabasket.pt/dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12856:uma-fabrica-de-jogadores&catid=95:treinadores-entrevistas&Itemid=293

Na parte que toca ao GT da ABL  agradecemos a nota :

"Em que nível te parece estar o Basquetebol português? Parece-te possível que, a médio prazo, possa aproximar-se dos melhores níveis europeus?
O basquetebol português está muito melhor do que há 11 anos quando eu cheguei a Portugal, mas, ao mesmo tempo, ainda está muito longe de poder fazer, em continuidade, histórias como fez a geração do Carlos Lisboa, Jean Jacques, Mike Plowden…, ou a Selecção Nacional no Europeu em 2007. No desporto moderno não existem termos “médio prazo”, ou “médio-curto prazo”… Existem objectivos, planeamentos, trabalho, muito trabalho, resultados (bons ou maus), análises e responsabilidades pelo trabalho feito. 

O melhor exemplo disso pode ser a AB Lisboa, que, no espaço de uma só época desportiva, mudou completamente a sua “posição” ao nível nacional. Se a ABL conseguiu fazer isso ao nível Nacional, acredito eu que também a FPB pode fazer o mesmo, ao nível Internacional. "

Five Most Added Players: November 24-30

1. Darko Milicic (9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks): Milicic tops our most added players list for the second consecutive week. We had previously noted that Darko should be owned in all leagues purely for his shot blocking, but fantasy owners only started taking notice now that he's come alive offensively and strung together five consecutive games in double figures. In addition to the shot blocking, he is also a decent source of rebounds, though he's inconsistent because Kevin Love is out there dominating the glass on most nights. While last week he was available in nearly 60% of leagues, this week he's unowned in just 7% of leagues.
2. Grant Hill (13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 53.2% FG%): We recently mentioned Hill as one of top fantasy producers that was under 50% owned. Ever so slightly, that is no longer the case as Grant is now owned in 58% of leagues. Hill's major contributions to a fantasy team come in the form of points and percentages, but he can also chip in rebounds with the occasional steal and block.
3. Kyle Lowry (8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists): Lowry's been given big minutes in the wake of Aaron Brooks' injury. As a starter, he's averaging 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 35 minutes of action. Be reminded that Lowry only has value in standard leagues while Brooks is out. Brooks is expected to return in early December, though, so don't drop a more reliable player for him. He remains unowned in 56% of leagues.
4. Landry Fields (11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 54.9% FG%): Fields is a player we've been urging fantasy owners to snatch up for weeks now. It's looking like team manager's are finally starting to buy in. Fields' value comes from his great rebounding from the wing position, along with a great FG% and his ability to help out in three-pointers, assists, and steals. He recently strung together back-to-back double-doubles and looks like a great play for the rest of the season. He's still available in just over half of leagues.
5. Jose Calderon (8.3 points, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals): In the aftermath of the Jarrett Jack trade to New Orleans, Calderon appears to be revitalized and he's playing big minutes as the team's starting point guard. In his four games as a starter, Calderon is averaging 10.5 points, 7.8 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, and two steals in addition to being one the NBA's top free throw shooters. He is a must own now that's he's back playing over 30 minutes a game. He's available in just over 12% of leagues.
   

Os 10 melhores documentários de Basquetebol

Para a quadra festiva que se aproxima, a DimeMag dá-nos dez alternativas ao Sozinho em Casa e ao Música no Coração:

- Gunning For That #1 Spot (de Adam Yauch, dos Beastie Boys; acompanha oito jogadores de liceu All-American; alguns deles, como Tyreke Evans ou Michael Beasley, tornaram-se estrelas da NBA)

- Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs The New York Knicks (da série 30 for 30, da ESPN; sobre a rivalidade de Reggie Miller com os Knicks - e Spike Lee - nos anos 90)

- Soul in The Hole (documentário que acompanha uma equipa nova-iorquina, os Kenny's Kings, durante um verão, nas Summer Leagues)

-Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (a história de rivalidade entre Magic Johnson e Larry Bird, desde os tempos da universidade até à NBA; a história de dois dos melhores jogadores de sempre e da rivalidade Lakers-Celtics dos anos 80)

- Without Bias (da série 30 for 30 da ESPN, é a história de Len Bias, o jogador escolhido no nº 2 do draft de 1986; era apontado como uma futura estrela da NBA e comparado, na altura, a jogadores como Michael Jordan, mas faleceu no dia a seguir ao draft e nunca chegou a jogar na NBA)

- More Than a Game (o documentário sobre a equipa de liceu de Lebron James)

- Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell (a história de Demetrius Mitchell, supostamente um dos melhores jogadores dos playgrounds americanos de sempre)

- Through the Fire (acompanha Sebastian Telfair no seu último ano no liceu; Telfair era o melhor jogador de liceu dos Estados Unidos, apontado como futura estrela da NBA)

- No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson (da série 30 for 30 da ESPN; a noite de 14 de Fevereiro de 1993 mudou a vida de Allen Iverson, quando se envolveu numa rixa num clube de bowling que acabou com a morte de um rapaz)

- Hoop Dreams (um trabalho épico que acompanha o percurso, e os sonhos de chegar a profissional, de dois miúdos americanos durante 5 anos de liceu)

Vejam aqui o artigo com a descrição mais detalhada de cada um dos filmes e escolham o vosso favorito. Ou, melhor ainda, vejam-nos a todos.

Chris Douglas-Roberts Returns With a Vengeance

After missing the team's first 15 games after being poked in the eye in the preseason, Milwaukee Bucks wing Chris Douglas-Roberts came out with his scoring guns blazing. In his first two games, CDR is averaging 15 points and 2 three-pointers on 50% shooting from the field.

The Breakdown
Much like Larry Sanders, CDR is taking advantage of increased playing time in the face of numerous injuries in Milwaukee. It remains to be seen what his role will be once Carlos Delfino and Corey Maggette are both healthy. For now deep leaguers will want to pick him up and ride him while he's getting extended playing time. Once the Bucks start getting healthy, we'll have to see what CDR's role is and decide whether he's worth keeping on your roster.

Olive Manna - Textiles and Paper goods

Hi my name is Rosalind and I have an addiction to paper, fabric and packaging!



I have to say I practice an awful lot of self control, not only because I also have a small home but I am trying desperately to stick to my 'use what I have first' before buying new 'stuff' - self imposed policy... I also don't like waste or excessive spending.



However, after saying that - knock yourself out! This gorgeous shop Olive Manna has so much eye candy it hurts.... enjoy!

Mais um afundanço para poster

Caso tenham perdido no meio de toda a acção deste Domingo, senhoras e senhores, Russell Westbrook:

Lil Kim's Nicki Minaj Diss "Black Friday"

Now y'all KNOW I'm a Nicki Minaj fan but uhhhhh.... KIM BROUGHT THAT ONE, LMAO! While I love Nicki, I will never take anything away from Lil Kim.  She was the originator and that's that!! I'm still confused as to why she's mad tho.  I've heard old interviews where Nicki gave props to Kim.  I just wish these two would stop with the beef. It's comical but damn, can't we all just get along" (Rodney King voice)?




That woman said "you hot air azz bish, you shoulda been deflated" HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!


SN: Kim needs not mention anything about fake body parts. #imjustsaying

New Music Video: Keri Hilson Ft. Rick Ross "The Way You Love Me"

Seriously.... For those of you that have been sleepin on Miss Keri Baby, it's about time to wake ya azz up. This chick is BAD!!! Love this video and the song is HOT. Her 2nd album "No Boys Allowed" will be in stores December 21st.

Aliens na NBA?

O que temos quando juntamos dois geeks da informática e basquetebol? Formas de apresentação estatística tão originais como esta:

Jason e Matt são irmãos e no seu blog Hoopism procuram novas formas de tratamento e apresentação de dados estatísticos. Nesta tentaram fazer corresponder categorias estatísticas a atributos físicos (mais desarmes de lançamentos correspondem a braços maiores, mais pontos correspondem a uma cabeça maior, as mãos correspondem aos roubos de bola, a boca às faltas técnicas, etc).

Vejam a fórmula completa aqui e a apresentação completa dos bonecos de cada jogador (da temporada passada), aqui.

Following Jack Trade, Jose Calderon Playing Heavy Minutes

Following the trade that sent Jarrett Jack to New Orleans, Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon is playing big minutes. In the four games since the trade, Calderon is averaging 32.3 minutes per game, up from the 23.4 minutes he was seeing previously. As a result, his stats across the board have increased.

The Breakdown
It appears that Bayless will only play a limited role and Calderon has locked down the starting point guard spot. Calderon's value is now very high and he should be owned in all leagues. Calderon has potential to be one of top assist men in the league and he's an excellent free throw shooter who can contribute threes and steals as well. He remains available in 14% of leagues.

J.R. Smith Erupts For Season-High 30 Points

After a shaky start to the season and a stint in George Karl's doghouse, Denver Nuggets sixth man J.R. Smith put up a season-high 30 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Smith also played a season-high 30 minutes, though the performance could be chalked up to Carmelo Anthony leaving the game in the early minutes due to an illness. With Smith averaging 29 minutes in Denver's last two contests, now may be the time to pick up Smith who had been dropped by many frustrated fantasy owners. He's unowned in about 60% of leagues.

Aaron Brooks Nearing Return From Ankle Injury

Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks is recovering from an ankle injury and could return within the next two weeks.

The Breakdown
Word is that Brooks is targeting Houston's game on December 4th, though he may actually return a few games after that. Some frustrated owners dropped Brooks, so he's available in 5% of leagues. Grab him now and stash him if he's available.

Joey Dorsey Starts in Place of Injured Reggie Evans

With Reggie Evans suffering a broken foot, the Toronto Raptors started little-used forward Joey Dorsey. He finished today's game with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Breakdown
The fact that Dorsey saw 20 minutes was surprising as we expected Amir Johnson to see the bulk of the playing time. Johnson only played 21 minutes. Dorsey is worth a speculative addition in very deep leagues in case he continues to play in the range of 20 minutes a game. Because Evans missed 51 games last season due to a foot injury, he could once again be sidelined long term and Dorsey could become a useful addition.

Deep leaguers will also want to keep rookie Ed Davis on their radar. Davis is scheduled to have a short stint in the D-League to work on his conditioning, but could see some minutes once he's called up to the Raptors with the team's lack of front court depth.

Vem ai a crise...

Falta de dinheiro põe clube em risco

O Juventude Basquetebol Clube está em risco de fechar as portas por falta de dinheiro, o que coloca uma centena de atletas em risco de paragem. O clube alega que a Câmara de Vila Real de Santo António lhe deve 46 mil euros, mas o presidente da autarquia, Luís Gomes, diz que o clube não está a cumprir o protocolo.

Macro Monday - Pansy

Teeny Tiny pansy from my Mum's garden. Beautifully rich in colour and so delicate, about the size of my pinky actually. I would love to try a little felt pansy - they are so cute. I hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine was full of family :-) which is extra nice when you don't live in the same city! My hard-working father and husband installed a heat-reflective alsynite (laser light) over the pergola frame. I am so grateful as it means no more standing in the rain to unlock the house with two kids, groceries and over-flowing nappy bag (you get the picture)... it also means Anya has somewhere else to play when it rains etc... I hope your weekend was fab... are you following the Handmade Living book tour?

Five Players on the Cusp Of Moving Into Our Top 150

152. Josh McRoberts (5.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals): While his stats are not particularly overwhelming, McRoberts is contributing in a number of categories and that is where he's deriving his value. He's currently outside the top 150 only because Indiana has played the fewest games in the league. McRoberts could be of help in category leagues if you can afford to take on his terrible percentages.

154. Shaquille O'Neal (12.3 points, 7 rebounds, 69.3% FG%): As we recently noted, Shaq has been coming on strong in recent games. He only sits outside our top 150 at this time because he missed five games in early November, but he's clearly producing like a player that should be owned in all standard leagues. Shaq is currently 65% unowned.

163. George Hill (9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals): We expected Hill to have a much better season thus far, but he's failed to significantly improve on his numbers. Although he's playing more minutes, he's giving us about the same per-minute production as he did last year. George is starting to see even more minutes of late and has a good chance of moving into our top 150 in the coming weeks.

166. Al-Farouq Aminu (7.6 points, 0.9 three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, 1 steal): The rookie has climbed up the player ratings after being a non-factor in the early going. He's failed to show consistency, as expected, but he's also shown he can have some big nights. He'll be sure to move into the top 150 as long as he continues to play around the 27 minutes a game he's been getting as a starter.

170. Marco Belinelli (12.7 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 2.3 rebounds): Like McRoberts, Belinelli ranks this low because New Orleans has played fewer games than most teams up to this point. While Belinelli can only help in points, three-pointers, and FT%, he is seeing nearly 30 minutes a night and has Chris Paul setting him up for open looks.

Player Ratings Updated

FBB's player ratings have been updated. You can check them out by clicking on the link below.

2010-11 Player Ratings

Bolo de basquetebol

Gostavam de ter um destes no vosso aniversário?

Podem ver o making of aqui.

Dorrell Wright Hits Nine Three-Pointers On Way to Career-High 30 Points

Golden State Warriors small forward Dorell Wright went off tonight against Minnesota. He hit a career-best and Warriors record nine three-pointers, finishing the game with a career-high 30 points.

The Breakdown
Dorell Wright remains the best free agent acquisition in fantasy this year. He was virtually unowned to start the season and now sits just outside the top 50 of our player ratings. Wright owners should feel fortunate to have found the proverbial diamond-in-the-rough because Wright will have value all season in Golden State's high octane offense.

Rookie Larry Sanders Making Best of Opportunity Amid Injuries

After struggling to get off the bench all season, Milwaukee Bucks power forward Larry Sanders has been given a chance to play big minutes in the team's last two games as a result of injuries to Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden. Sanders has responded with averages of 8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in those two games and replaced Jon Brockman in the starting line up tonight.

The Breakdown
Entering the season, we felt Sanders was one rookie who was ready to contribute right away. Now that he's had a couple of solid games, he may get an opportunity to play with more regularity. Deep leaguers will want to make a speculative addition and see what happens when both Bogut and Gooden return to action.

Nick Young Heating Up

In the wake of injuries to John Wall and Al Thornton, Washington Wizards guard Nick Young has stepped up his game. Young is averaging 19.5 points and 2.3 three-pointers in Washington's last four games.

The Breakdown
We're not sure if this production will last once Wall and Thornton both return, but Young is worth a speculative addition in deep leagues if you need help in scoring or three-pointers. Young, though, doesn't offer much else outside of those two categories.

Carlos Boozer Expected to Practice Monday

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer is nearing a return from a broken hand. He's expected to practice with the team for the first time on Monday and is projected to return in about two weeks.

The Breakdown
With Boozer nearing a return, Taj Gibson's fantasy value is about to plummet. He's currently ailing, but if you can find a reasonable deal, make sure you pull the trigger soon. Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng are going to play big minutes, leaving very little playing time in the front court for Gibson.

Contributo para a democracia.

Participei na qualidade de Delegado eleito pelos treinadores na Assembleia Geral da F.P.B.

Dei o meu contributo numa realidade nova (regime jurídico das federações) melhorando  assim a democracia no basquetebol.

A minha intervenção teve por base o Plano de Actividades. Critiquei, apontei pontos positivos e  dei sugestões.

Temo contudo que a lei de Murphy tenha também  aqui propriedade.

Russell Westbrook Goes Off For Career-High 43

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a monster night on Friday. His line: a career-high 43 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and a block while hitting 17 of 18 free throws.

The Breakdown
Westbrook has taken his game to another level this season, well above what even the most optimistic fantasy owners had anticipated. Russell's scoring has taken a huge leap up to 23.8 a game this season thanks in large part to his ability to get to the line nearly 10 times a game while hitting a career-best 90.3% of his attempts.

Westbrook had already established himself as a nightly triple-double threat even last season, but now that his percentages and scoring have risen, he could be a top 10 fantasy player for the rest of this season and a top 10 preseason pick entering next season. As of today, he ranks second in our player ratings. If he can sustain the great free throw shooting, which is almost 10% higher than his career average of 81.4%, he remains a strong candidate to finish at the top of the player ratings at season's end.

Bradon Roy Returns, Wesley Matthews Struggles

After missing a stretch of games due to pain and swelling in his left knee, Portland Trailblazers star Brandon Roy returned to action last night and scored 27 points.

The Breakdown
While Roy played well, the knee still remains a concern for the foreseeable future. The discomfort could return at any time, putting him back on the shelf. We recommend seeking out a trade while Roy is healthy and producing.

Roy's replacement, Wesley Matthews, returned to his bench role and scored just 4 points in 20 minutes. As we previously noted, Matthews' fantasy value hinges on Roy's health. If you're one of the owners who picked up Matthews in a standard league, you'll have to show some patience for the next couple of weeks before making a decision on whether to drop him.

Shaq Becoming a Viable Fantasy Option

Although he's playing only 22.7 minutes a game, Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal is putting up some good numbers. In his last five games, Shaq is averaging 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a block on a scorching 75% shooting.

The Breakdown
Shaq appears to be a viable option for owners in standard leagues in need of help at center. Snatch him up while he's playing well. Be ready to cut him loose, though, if he goes through a bad stretch. With only 22.7 minutes a game, we're not sure how long he can keep producing solid fantasy lines. The Celtics are trying to keep him rested for a deep postseason run, so the minutes are unlikely to increase.

Center Merrygoround Continues in Houston

This season, the Houston Rockets have used four different starters at center.

The Breakdown
With Yao Ming injured, head coach Rick Adelman has used all of his centers in the starting line up and is continually shifting minutes. Without any clear center rotation, deep leaguers should drop Brad Miller, Chuck Hayes, and Jordan Hill and find a more steady player to fill that roster spot. When Yao Ming returns, things will get even more muddled in Houston.

Rashard Lewis Improving Offensively

After a terrible start to the season, Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis has put together a nice stretch of games offensively. In his last five, Lewis is averaging 15.2 points and 2.4 three-pointers on 56.8% shooting from the field and a sizzling 63.2% from downtown.

The Breakdown
It's good to see Lewis upping his scoring and percentages. If he can keep it up, he can get back to the numbers he averaged last season. While his rebounding is just slightly better than last year, we're not sure if Lewis can stay around five rebounds a game for the season. His numbers in other stats are slightly down and his free throw shooting is at just 73.7%, down from his career mark of 80.7%. Lewis is looking like he's going to end up a major disappointment for fantasy owners this season unless he has a major turnaround.

Interestingly, we've observed that Rashard's numbers have dipped in each of his seasons with Orlando. This may be a sign his game is starting to decline if he doesn't significantly improve this year and is something worth noting for owners in keeper leagues.

J.J. Hickson's Fantasy Value Falling

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward J.J. Hickson has seen his value take a hit of late. He has failed to score in double figures in the team's last six games. With his low scoring output and modest rebounding totals, Hickson is just not worth rostering in standard leagues.

The Breakdown
Head coach Byron Scott has given the bulk of the playing time back to the veteran Antawn Jamison. Although Jamison is not putting up the numbers we expected out of him entering the season, he is the better option right now. He's getting the bulk of the playing time and putting up the better lines.

J.J. Hickson continues to start, but he's playing right around 20 minutes a night and he's just not producing enough to help most fantasy squads. Owners in standard leagues will want to start looking for an upgrade via the free agent pool. Hickson is still owned in over 70% of leagues, but that's still far too many teams hanging on to him.

Uma história sem twist no final

Era assim que todos os jogadores da NBA (e do mundo) gostavam que acabassem todas as histórias em campo. Torcer um pé a jogar basquetebol é uma história tão antiga como a história do próprio jogo e as entorses nos tornozelos são a lesão mais comum na NBA e no basquetebol em todo o mundo.

Por isso, quando uma marca diz que desenvolveu uns ténis que os previnem, merecem a nossa atenção.

Quem o afirma é a Ektio, uma nova marca de calçado para basquetebol, pensada especificamente para prevenir os entorses e lesões nos tornozelos. A apresentação contou com a presença e apadrinhamento de John Starks, ex-jogador dos Knicks.

Podem ver a notícia na Slam Magazine ou ir checkar o site da marca.

Sometimes......

You see something you just CANNOT pass up.. Something unique... Something ONE OF A KIND.. SOMETHING YOU MAY NEVER SEE AGAIN.. I was at a trade show today at lunch and met this incredible alpaca wool monkey that I fell head over heels for. I have no children, nieces, nephews or friends children but I loved it so much I could honestly see my children playing with it... I will put it in a special "hope chest" I have decided to create and here he is!!!! He is imported from a tiny village and he is a "fair trade" product. Fair trade is a market-based approach to help producers in developing countries. SEE?? Now I'm a philanthropist AND a pretty and smart individual.. BAHAHAHA

Here he is at the store... Lonely with no family to call his own.. And only at $39 for a fair trade imported alpaca handmade piece is pretty reasonable. HE IS SO SOFT!!! Unbelievably soft

And here he is in my office... He has been adopted and is very cited about this!

Sometimes..... You also find another piece that is just so darn cute and also made of alpaca wool and perfect for a gift!!! I found this chubby little prairie dog there as well! I LOVE HIM! I am going to gift him to James' cousin who just had a baby girl. They live on the coast and what better gift to receive from Prairie dwellers like ourselves?

Chubby gopher with a purse! I want to put something special inside her wittle purse tooooooo

"thank you for finding me a homeeee" :D ...

Wizards Deploy Three-Guard Line Up

With forward Al Thornton sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders used the three-guard starting line up of Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, and Kirk Hinrich that he deployed in the preseason.

The Breakdown
The move was inevitable whether Thornton was hurt or not. Arenas had been coming on very strong in recent games and deserved the starting nod. Thornton owners will just have to monitor what happens when Al returns from his ailment in the next couple of games. This could be a huge blow to his value, which was already going to drop with the eminent return of Josh Howard. If Thornton is moved to the bench, he may not be worth rostering in standard leagues.

John Wall owners should also closely monitor the situation. Arenas is a talented player who will take away scoring and assist opportunities from the rookie phenom. Wall had a poor game tonight while Arenas played well. If this trend continues and Arenas doesn't return to a reserve role, Wall owners may want to look into potential trades.

Baron Davis Practicing, On Verge of Returning

Los Angeles Clippers points guard Baron Davis has begun practicing with the team and could return in the next week.

The Breakdown
Davis' injury opened the door for rookie Eric Bledsoe to emerge as one of the biggest surprises of this year's rookie class. It will be interesting to see what happens when Baron returns to action. With Bledsoe's scoring and shooting percentage starting to cool, the rookie may be moved to the bench in favor of the experienced Davis, thought it's not certain.

Even if Bledsoe moves to a reserve role, fantasy owners may want to wait a few games before dropping the youngster. Davis has shown over the years that he's injury prone and it would not surprise us if he was sidelined again in the near future. He actually came back from his present injury for one game and then sat the team's next eight games. The Clippers are also likely to shop Baron around the league, though it's unknown whether many teams would be interested. The Clippers know they have their future point guard and are going to find a way to get him minutes.

O que devia Lebron fazer, parte 3

Primeiro foi o anúncio de Lebron, depois a resposta dos fãs de Cleveland e agora é a vez da mistura com um anúncio de Michael Jordan:

Parece mesmo que as palavras de His Airness foram feitas para Lebron, não parece?

Rookie Rankings Updated

1. Blake Griffin (19.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 51.1% FG%): With nine double-doubles, one amazing performance, and an injury to John Wall, Blake Griffin ascends to the top of the rookie rankings. He's a proven double-double threat every time he steps on the court and he's greatly outperformed his average draft position. Griffin has a good shot of being this year's top rookie. He's moved up to #14 in FBB's player ratings.

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America's Cornucopia of Recipes

America's Cornucopia of Recipes - Food columnist and cookbook author Molly O'Neill has spent the past decade traveling cross-country in search of America's recipes. Jeffrey Brown talks to O'Neill about the result of her travels: a cookbook.

RAY SUAREZ: Finally tonight, on this Thanksgiving holiday, what better time to think about the huge variety of food, recipes and cultures that comprise American cuisine?

Jeffrey Brown has just that in mind.

JEFFREY BROWN: You could make a meal of it, and what a meal.

From Biloxi, Mississippi, Molly Nguyen's (ph) Vietnamese shrimp pancakes, from Berkeley, California, Cathy Farly's (ph) grilled figs, from Provincetown, Massachusetts, Angela Albalar's (ph) Portuguese kale soup, from Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Maureen Walter's (ph) southern squash casserole, from San Angela, Texas, Francis Butler's (ph) tamale stuffed turkey. And for dessert, Faye Peterson's (ph) blue ribbon apple pie from, of course, Apple Valley, Minnesota.

These recipes, plus hundreds more from all over the country can be found in the new book, "One Big Table: A Portrait of American Cooking" by Molly O'Neill, the former food columnist for the "New York Times Magazine."

What does that mean, Molly? What were you after?
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MOLLY O'NEILL, author, "ONE BIG TABLE": I was trying to create the feeling and spirit and reality of this hugely diverse country that we have and how millions of different private lives come together around the table.

JEFFREY BROWN: And you didn't just collect recipes to do that, you traveled the country. You talked to lots and lots of real people?

MOLLY O'NEILL: I did. I spent about 10 years on the road, crisscrossing the nation. I tried to go to a lot of sort of off the grid places, and spent a lot of time collecting oral histories and food stories as well as recipes.

JEFFREY BROWN: So, give me an example of someone who perhaps knocked your socks is off, either personality or food-wise?

MOLLY O'NEILL: One of the most wonderful moments that I had was one in Alabama with a visionary artist, named Lonny Holly (ph). And Lonny was talking to me about how he learned to make gumbo. He had been in an orphanage as a very young child, ran away, went to New Orleans, and when he was 11 or 12, talked himself into getting a job in a restaurant. And he learned how to cook there.

And by learning how to cook, he learned that he was an artist.

And it was something so moving as he was making his gumbo and talking about these parallel tracks of making a gumbo and making art.

And that's was a real epiphany for me. It showed me Americans are making more than dinner when they're making dinner, they're making a life. They're a piece of their lives to share with other people.

JEFFREY BROWN: And, of course, it's interesting because you're doing this in what some think of as the age of the celebrity cook, right, or the celebrity chef. These people are decidedly not celebrities.

MOLLY O'NEILL: There are a few celebrities in this book, but most of these people are the glorious American amateur, they're every day people who spend a lot of time figuring out how to make a beautiful meal, and celebrate their place and their family, and their own personality, by what they cooked.

JEFFREY BROWN: Well, a lot of people worry these days about a more homogenous -- homogenized culture. You know, we traveled to different cities and we get off the plane and we see the same stores and a lot of the same chain restaurants.

Are you -- are you making case in this book that there is still a real diversity out is there and it can be accessed through cooking?

MOLLY O'NEILL: There's actually more diversity today than there was 10 years ago when I started this. The diversity has changed in America.

It's gone from the inner urban areas to the suburban areas -- from the sort of classic melting pot to the tossed salad, where they're separate was equal parts. And I saw a lot of that in the Midwest and in unexpected places.

In my home town of Columbus, Ohio, I went shopping at a Vietnamese grocery for ingredients to bring back to New York City.

JEFFREY BROWN: You know, another thing that people worry a lot about, of course, is the idea that most Americans don't cook at all, or we just heat up take-out food. Now, is that true in your experience or what are you seeing out there?

MOLLY O'NEILL: Well, contrary to popular belief, there are still kitchens in private homes and there's still grocery stores, and people still eat dinner.

I think we cook in different ways. I think our cooking has become more recreational. I think that people tend to cook on the weekends and make a few different dishes that they can eat off of during the week. I think we supplement with prepared food.

But there are still people who really want to take control of their dinner and really like to hang out in the kitchen and make something to eat, sit down, talk, eat, have fun.

JEFFREY BROWN: There was a line in your introduction that really jumped out at me. You said, "When cooks" -- these are the people out in the county you met -- "when cooks were conflicted about which recipes to offer to this project, I often said to them, which recipe embodies your life and times and your own personal America." Now, that's asking a lot of people through their recipe.

MOLLY O'NEILL: It is asking a lot of people. And sometimes, it would stump people. And then I would say, well, look here. If you could only give your daughter one recipe, what would it be? Or if your grandchild only learned one thing in the kitchen from you, what would that be?

That would bring people closer and closer to the one recipe that really expressed their lives.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right. Now, speaking of recipes, what about Thanksgiving? What does Molly MOLLY O'NEILL: do for Thanksgiving?

MOLLY O'NEILL: Oh gosh! I do something different every year. Last year, I deep-fried my first turkey. And I was so afraid of all of the reports I read about everything that could go wrong, I looked like I was in a (INAUDIBLE) uniform. I had on a coat and a hat and it was snowing, and a big apron and huge gloves. And it was the greatest turkey. I couldn't believe how delicious it was.

I tend to get my turkeys from Frank Reece (ph) out in Kansas, who has been saving heritage birds. And they're very different cooking birds than the modern bird. You have to cook them slowly. I wasn't sure how it would work in a deep fryer, but I plan to do it again.

JEFFREY BROWN: But you do something different every year. I mean, that's interesting, especially because you're sort of -- you're talking to people about their traditions and the way they cook for their family. But your case, you try something different.

MOLLY O'NEILL: Well, I'm a compulsive cook. But there are always a few things that stay the same. My pumpkin pie is always the same, and I always make one celery stuffing and one oyster dressing. So, no matter you I cook the turkey, the things around it tends to stay the same.

JEFFREY BROWN: And finally, when you add all this up that you've got in this book, is there finally such a thing as American cooking and in this American portrait that you're trying to build. What do you end up with?

MOLLY O'NEILL: I think we're a nation in search of a cuisine. And I think that we're getting closer and closer, and we're really only very, very young compared to some of the other great cuisines in the world. I think we're getting there, and I think that what's happening in food today is taking us there quickly.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right. Your book is "One Big Table." Nice talking to you, Happy holidays.

MOLLY O'NEILL: You, too.

Friday Favourites - Gold Vintage Handbags

I found these gorgeous vintage bags at Bowerbird Vintage. So pretty!


I have my Grandmothers Oroton crystal clutch similar to the pic above and I take it to all the weddings I attend. I do have a cute gold one she has given me also but I tend to favour the bling bag :-) I will take a photo of it one day and show you. Have a great weekend!

Top 100 Players That Are Under 50% Owned

Here are a few players sitting in the top 100 of FBB's player ratings that could very likely be free agents in your league:


75. Grant Hill (14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 52.5% FG%): The veteran small forward has been fairly consistent so far this season. He hasn't had many huge games, but he's a good source of points, rebounds, and percentages with the ability to contribute steals and blocks on occasion.

80. Landry Fields (10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 55.9% FG%): We asked why you hadn't picked up Landry Fields, but few listened. Fields has actually moved up in our player ratings since then. He's a great source of rebounds for his position and he won't hurt you in any category. It's a crime that he's still available in over 80% of leagues.

85. Kris Humphries (7.7 points, 8 rebounds, 63.3% FG%): Humphries continues to play well in the absence of Troy Murphy. Murphy, though, is expected to return in the near future, so it may not be worth picking up Humphries now as there's likely to be a battle for minutes between New Jersey's three power forwards that may hurt all of their fantasy values.

86. Matt Barnes (9.4 points, 1.2 three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists): While he's only playing about 21 minutes a night, Barnes is putting up viable fantasy lines on a regular basis. Like Hill and Fields, Barnes is another one of those players that doesn't wow you in any category, but instead gives you steady across-the-board production. He's still out there in over 95% of leagues.

90. Amir Johnson (8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks 58.8% FG%, 90.7% FT%): It's easy to see why fantasy owners have overlooked Johnson, who's playing just under 20 minutes a night. Still, he's ranked higher than starting power forward Reggie Evans (#93) because of his better all-around game. Much of Johnson's value is coming from his great percentages. His free throw shooting, though, is well-above his career mark and doesn't appear to be sustainable for the length of the season. Much like Humphries, there may not be enough minutes to go around in Toronto when rookie Ed Davis is ready to play in the next few games.

Podemos falar da NBA? Yes we can!

Até o líder do mundo livre discute a situação dos Heat:

E se tivéssemos um presidente que gosta de basquetebol? Imaginam o nosso venerável e respeitável professor Cavaco Silva a discorrer sobre o início menos bom do Benfica na LPB? Isso é que era!

Sem legendas...

O.J. Mayo to Come Off the Bench?

After Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo came off the bench for the second consecutive game tonight, it appears that head coach Lionel Hollins is planning to use Mayo in a sixth man role for the time being.

The Breakdown
Hollins told USA Today that he's looking for more scoring off the bench, so it looks like Mayo could be used as a sixth man for the foreseeable future. The move doesn't necessarily hurt his fantasy value unless his minutes drop, which they have over the last two games. Mayo owners will just have to stick out this rough stretch and hope Mayo thrives in his new role or returns to the starting line up.

O.J. has been replaced by rookie Xavier Henry as the team's starting shooting guard. Henry doesn't appear to be a player who's ready to make an impact, but owners in very deep leagues may want to make a speculative addition.

Matt Bonner Eating Into DeJuan Blair's Playing Time

San Antonio Spurs center Matt Bonner has been playing over 25 minutes a night in the team's last five games. In the same period, starting center DeJuan Blair's minutes have dipped to just 16 a game including a low of 6 minutes tonight.

The Breakdown
Head coach Gregg Popovich appears to be favoring the experience of Bonner and Antonio McDyess over the younger Blair and Tiago Splitter. Bonner's had a couple of good games since his return from a back injury, but he's been fairly inconsistent. With the minutes he's seeing, though, owners in deep leagues should jump on him. Be aware that Bonner's only real contributions are in scoring and three-pointers, with a few rebounds here and there. Bonner is available in almost all leagues.

Reggie Evans Continues to Dominate the Glass

Early in the season, we noticed Toronto Raptors power forward Reggie Evans had been a monster on the boards. Evans is still snatching up all loose balls in his sights, including a 22-rebound performance tonight.

The Breakdown
For a player in the top five in rebounding, fantasy owners have failed to jump on him. True, he doesn't give you anything but rebounds, but he remains a valuable addition in any category-based league. Because the players around him are such poor rebounders, Evans will put up big rebounding numbers for as long as he's getting starter's minutes. Our only worry is whether rookie Ed Davis will hurt Reggie's playing time when he returns shortly, though it's likely Davis plays limited minutes in the early going. Evans is unowned in nearly 90% of leagues.

Delonte West Fractures Wrist

Boston Celtics reserve guard Delonte West fractured his wrist in tonight's game against the Nets. Although no time timetable has been set for his return, he'll be out for at least the next six weeks.

The Breakdown
The news is unfortunate considering West was playing decently and getting nearly 20 minutes a night. For those that had picked up West recently, it's time to start looking for a replacement.