Russell Westbrook Had 32 Points And Thunder Won Their Fourth Victory

Russell Westbrook had 32 points and eight assists, Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth straight with a 109-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

James Harden added 21 points off the bench for the Thunder, who built a 65-47 lead by halftime and led by as many as 20 points.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and eight rebounds as Portland fell to 3-4 under Kaleb Canales, who took over as interim coach when the Blazers fired Nate McMillan at the NBA trade deadline.

The Blazers were coming off a 90-87 victory over Golden State on Sunday. Portland has not had back-to-back wins since Jan. 23-24 against Sacramento and Memphis.

The Thunder, who went 3-1 against the Blazers, were coming off a 103-87 victory at home over the Miami Heat. Oklahoma City heads to Staples Center to face the Lakers on Thursday before hosting the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

Rookie Nolan Smith got the start at point guard for the Blazers in place of Raymond Felton, who left the team to be with his mother while she undergoes a heart procedure.

Smith is the son of the late Derek Smith, who played nine seasons in the NBA and was a close friend with Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

Brooks said before the game that Nolan Smith was the ring bearer at his wedding.

“He was a feisty little guy,” Brooks said of the younger Smith, who went on to play at Duke before he was selected by the Blazers with the 21st overall pick in last June’s draft. Smith finished with three points in 25 minutes.

The Thunder beat the Blazers 111-107 in overtime at the Rose Garden on Feb. 6, a game that was controversial because of a goaltending call on Aldridge in the final six seconds of regulation. The NBA overturned the call the next day.

Oklahoma City went up 28-14 on Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer near the end of the first quarter. Fisher was playing his fourth game since he was picked up as a free agent by the Thunder last week.

The Thunder extended the lead to 57-40 midway through the second quarter on Westbrook’s fast-break layup, and led by as many as 21.

The Blazers narrowed it to 71-63 midway through the third quarter on Aldridge’s turnaround jumper, putting the crowd on its feet for the first time in the game. Wesley Matthews added a 3-pointer, pulling Portland within five points, and Nicolas Batum raised his arms to the crowd on the way back down the court.

Matthews’ 3 capped a 17-2 Blazers run, but Westbrook slowed the momentum a bit with a fast-break layup. Durant’s 3-pointer extended the margin back out to 82-72 and the Thunder cruised the rest of the way.

J.J. Hickson, acquired by the Blazers last week after he was waived by Sacramento, had 21 points off the bench.

Notes: The Thunder’s game Thursday against the Lakers marks Fisher’s first game against his former team since the Lakers traded him to Houston earlier this month. The Rockets bought out his contract and he signed as a free agent with the Thunder last week. ... The Thunder always draw a number of fans wearing Seattle SuperSonics jerseys. One fan behind the Thunder bench had a sign that read “Stolen” with the Sonics’ signature “S.”

Bulls Hold Magic To 59 In Record Romp

Derrick Rose is turning out to be more valuable on the bench than Dwight Howard and other NBA stars have been on the floor. With their defense setting a franchise record in an 85-59 win over the Magic on Monday, the Bulls improved to 10-4 this year in the absence of Rose, the injured MVP. Their winning rate of 71.4 percent without him is better than all but two teams -- Oklahoma City and Miami -- in the everyday standings.

In a league ruled by the most talented individuals, Chicago is transcendent. Howard (18 points, 12 rebounds and four turnovers) was easily the biggest talent on the floor, yet he was outplayed by Carlos Boozer, who finished with 24 points on 12-for-18 shooting to go with 13 rebounds and four steals. The Bulls have overcome the absence of Rose, All-Star Luol Deng (who has missed nine games) and shooting guard Richard Hamilton (31 absences) to enable second-year coach Tom Thibodeau (100-30) to win his 100th game faster than any coach in league history. It's worthwhile to point out that Phil Jackson started out 100-42 with Michael Jordan -- who, by the way, was rarely injured.

"He's the hardest-working guy I've ever been around and he deserves it," said Bulls center Joakim Noah of his coach. The coach, in turn, would say the same kinds of things about his team, and no one in the league would argue with either one of them.

The other day Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was mentioning to his assistants that the Bulls might be able to win games even if they were missing all five of their starters. "To me, they're the best team in the league as far as a team collectively playing together, being unselfish, being committed -- doing all of those things it takes to win," said Van Gundy before this game. "They're the best team.''

Then, without having to worry about Rose, Van Gundy watched the Bulls nonetheless control the pace and hold the full-strength Magic to 59 points, which is the fewest Chicago has ever allowed in a regular-season game. The Magic made 4 of 20 threes, provided Chicago with 25 points on 19 turnovers and shot no better from the free throw line than the Bulls did from the three-point line, as each went 7 of 18, respectively. When he wasn't acknowledging the superior teamwork of the Bulls, Van Gundy was criticizing himself. "Our offense was pathetic, and that's something that I have got to take a look at because we've got better players than that," he said. "I don't want to lay it on one or two guys, and I also don't want to absolve anybody. This is a team-wide thing."

A night like this raises intriguing questions for May and June. Might the Bulls be able to win a championship while overcoming the superior star power of the Heat, Thunder and other contenders? In the last week alone the Rose-less Bulls have beaten Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia, the other top seeds in the East. Rose should be in no hurry to push himself back from his latest groin injury because his absence generates opportunities for his teammates to grow more confident at the expense of their rivals. "Right now they're the No. 2 offensive team in the league and the No. 2 defensive team in the league," said Van Gundy. "You see those numbers, you're saying (they're a) championship contender."

The normal NBA thinking is to give a hard-driving team like these Bulls credit for their work in the regular season while asking whether they can raise their level of play in the postseason, which is something the stars of Miami should be able to do. But couldn't it also be true that the Bulls won't need to play any better or more efficiently than they have at their best this season? Or how about this one: If they can win as impressively as they have in recent days without Rose, then maybe they can yet elevate their overall game when he's at full strength when the real season starts in six weeks?

A team known for its point-guard play earned a clobbering victory on a night when its starting point guard, C.J. Watson, went 0 for 8 from the field with three assists and two turnovers. The Bulls are malleable and resilient. They pulled away at the end of the opening quarter on a trio of threes by aptly-named third-string point guard John Lucas III. He finished with 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench to outscore anyone in a Magic uniform, and each time Lucas made a shot the Chicago fans made the arena sound like it belonged to them.

"We've got a deep team," said Thibodeau, who is not one to exaggerate.

Someday soon enough, when Rose is healthy, we're going to find out if they have a championship team. There's no sense in saying they don't, because if they've shown a talent for anything, it's for creating splendid surprises.

The Big China Man Yao Ming

When Yao Ming finally announced his retirement, the big China man not only put an end to a glittering career, but he also left a gaping hole in the legacy of Chinese basketball. There seems to be no one to continue the legacy of one of the finest talents to have ever embraced the game. Yao Ming not only contributed to the sport of basketball in terms of his outstanding talent, he was also an excellent ambassador to the sport. 

If this is not enough, he caused the popularity of basketball in China to rocket and due to his contributions; China became the second largest country in terms of NBA viewership, and it is even now.

Keep in mind that China has an extensive and rigorous state-run athletics program to top the massive interest in the game.

Some pointers might help depict a clearer picture as to why this might be the case.  To start with, China's system is extremely demanding and overburdening for the players. Some critics believe that Yao Ming's career was cut short at the mere age of 30 due to the unreasonable levels of stress he had to endure as part of the Chinese national team.

This focus on winning at the expense of health indeed envelops a huge risk of career threatening injuries. Secondly, China seems to lay all the focus on recruiting tall players. It is worth noting that the NBA has done well in adapting players of all heights in to the game. Besides, if the 5 ft. 3 inch Muggsy Bogues can have a successful career in the NBA, then the Chinese better pay heed to the little master.

And then there is fact that Chinese have a tendency to search for a talent that shines at a young age. There appears to be no relaxation in terms of the time given for a player to develop and harness his potential. The Chinese need to pay attention to Michael Jordan in this scenario, who was dropped from his high school team and later went on to become the icon of basketball.

Last but not the least, there is a strong focus on education in China, a thing which has placed them at par with the Western powers. That in itself is a good thing; however, it can be destructive if it overshadows all other aspects of life, especially sports. Children generally tend to get very less free time to engage in sports as a recreational activity. But as they, to achieve something you have to lose something and unfortunately, it's the hoops  game that is suffering at the moment.

In truth, there are probably many potential future Yao Ming's roaming the streets of Beijing right now. However, it all depends on the state and how it plans to work towards identifying and grooming that talent. For Yao Ming's part, he has assumed the ownership of a Chinese basketball club and rest assured, there will be some stars emerging from that team. Probably at the moment, that is all he can do.

How To Plan Drills For Basketball

Almost all the people like footbal very much, no matter you can play football or not, no matter men or women, basketball attract all the eyes all over the world. If you are serious about basketball, you must see that basketball drills are extremely useful, even if nobody likes to do them. Just like if you want to be good at playing a musical instrument you have to practice playing the same notes over and over again, so you have to practice your skills to improve at basketball. Basketball drills, on the other hand, must be carefully planned according to where the team and the individual members need to improve. If you want to plant the perfect drills, you need to follow the techniques outlined below.

Basketball players need to engage in drills that perfect the fundamentals of the game, and on a constant basis, even if it's not very fun. If you don't do this, you will end up making the same mistakes on a constant basis, and that's not the way to get better.

The drills you plan, whether they are for you or they're for other people, need to be planned with an understanding of why drills are so crucial. There are players out there who feel that basketball drills are dumb and that they get enough practice when they're playing basketball for real.

One of the main goals of basketball drills are to ensure that the players are physically fit. In addition to practicing game skills, it requires a lot of discipline and coordination to play on the court. If the drills are not quick enough, they will not prepare the players for the real challenges of the game. It is for this reason that basketball drills should consist of a fast routine and have a lot of movement and conditioning exercises. This will also make players see that they should practice by themselves as well. It is a good idea to start practices with stretching exercises because these will help flexibility and avoid accidents.

In basketball, rebounds happen all the time so you need to practice these also when you're practicing drills. Players must also consider the fact that anytime they, any member of their team, or the opposing players shoot, they have the chance to miss, so they should be ready to capture that ball at a moment's notice. This is a mental and physical exercise that requires constantly alertness. To practice rebound drills by bouncing the basketball off walls and having the player get it, or you can use the backboard in the same manner. Rebounding is what makes basketball not like any other sport out there, and it is a very fast paced game, so players need to work on speed and conditioning, and they need to do this often.

Basketball drills are a part of the game that is essential for both beginners and professionals to know. Even talented players will not reach their potential if they don't practice regularly. Drills provide players a chance to learn how to do the right techniques and learn which things they have to improve. Don't forget these tips when planning your basketball drills so that your team can apply them and get the most from their practice sessions.

It's important to change the basketball drills players practice over time. When you do nothing but the same drills constantly, boredom will set in and you won't get any better than you are now. Every drill you engage in is designed to help you improve a skill and some drills help you improve more than one aspect of that skill, and so you need to give players variety when it comes to the drills they engage in. When you mix up the drills, the players won't get bored, they'll be extra motivated, and they'll get better than ever with more abilities. You should of course remain with one drill set for a while until everyone gets it, and then switch it up so that nobody gets bored.

NBA Trade Contract News 2012

Even before the 2012 NBA All-Star Special, names of several NBA athletes circulate the realm of online sports gambling. NBA addicts, and forum regulars of major sporting activities betting sites like bet365 sportsbook, are hooked on the NBA fever now that the trade deadline is now closing in.

Teams have until March 15, 2012 to consider and the quicker the teams make the changes they're looking for, the quicker some team chemistry can happen and that will assist them come playoff period. Big names that get popped out like daisies on the web for days include Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol together with Deron Williams. The player who's mostly been in the news is Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard plays middle and power forward for the Orlando Magic. There was a rumor that he might go for the LA Lakers, and the deal was even given a specific date. However, Howard has been open about his feelings towards not hoping join Kobe Bryant and play for the team Lakers. It could also be the reason why the Lakers has disengaged from the talks, saying they won't trade Pau Gasol and Bynum as a swap for him. Pau Gasol, a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, has also been in the info. Gasol was drafted through the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was rumored to be traded to the Houston Rockets and also the Los Angeles Lakers will have Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola in return for. And because the LA Lakers desperately requires a point guard, sports commentators see this deal as something that would benefit both teams and another that is very likely to be made. Meanwhile, it's also reported that the defending NBA Champion, Dallas Mavericks need to bolster their ranks in any manner they can. Reports say that the team could be considering obtaining All-Star point guard Deron Williams plays point guard for the Nets, and remains one of NBA's top five point guards. Deron Williams would likely choose to sign along with the Mavericks when he becomes a free agent, but his recent game along with the Nets have proven that the issue does not affect his performance in any way. He helped his group beat the defending champions within their own arena with the help of teammates, Brook Lopez together with Kris Humphries.

All these rumors via the internet in just a matter of days have been so crazy that it attracted even don't actually watch the NBA. Add the undeniable fact that the online sports betting world may be giving sports fans offers as exciting like NBA itself. Bet 365 now allows their customers to bet on the go, with their Mobile at Bet365 promo, where they're just offering a fantastic 100% Initial Match Bonus in the first bet. There is in addition the 50% parlay incentive promo, which has now been extended to incorporate even more leagues as well as markets. Bettors may earn as many as 50% more on their American and Canadian activities pre-game parlays, including usual and post-season football, basketball, hockey and baseball activities. All they have to do is place a pre-game parlay of 2 or more selections at any charge combining teams in NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NCAAF, CFL, NBA, NCAAB, MLB and NHL. It's a sure way to enjoy the rest of the NBA season and at the same time, get more from sports betting than just a sign-up bonus.

The rumors on the net have definitely rocked the world of NBA fans. The NBA trade deadline on March 15 will be much awaited by the fans of the athletes rumored to get picked or transferred. But wherever these players wind up, the NBA will still remain the most exciting league on this planet-and that's no rumor.