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Previous weekly reviews: 31.10 - 6.11. | 7.11 - 13.11. | 14.11 - 20.11 | 11/21 - 11/27 | 28.11 - 4.12 | 5.12 - 11.12 | 12.12 - 18.12 | 12/19 - 12/25 | 12/26 - 1.01

HERO OF THE WEEK

After Michael Jordan left basketball, it’s hard to recall someone who, at age 40, was able to seriously help the team. We forgot about Dickembe Mutombo , content with the role of a successor in the “Houston”. But as soon as Yao Ming broke down, the Congolese center recalled that it was not in vain that he was once considered the best defending basketball player of the league. And not at the time from Deck there is good: in the last four matches, the veteran scored an average of only 5.8 points, but made 15.0 (!) Rebounds, and even interception with a block shot.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

I would like to record here the invincible “Cleveland” and “Phoenix”, heroic “Lakers”, without the main “big” interrupted the winning streak of “Dallas”, but the achievement of “Minnesota” looks more beautiful. Last week, the “wolves” won overtime in three games in a row - until now only five teams in the history of the NBA have succeeded in this!

The successes of the Minneapolis, gradually getting out of the crisis, are explained by the progress of the center Mark Blount, pleasing the coaches with efficiency and distracting attention from Kevin Garnett. “They manage to build a very wide attack, because they have two throwing guys who are 7 feet (213 cm) tall,” complained one of the victims, Tracy McGrady. “Naturally, there is a much greater chance of an attack, because we have to chase all in defense "

And the "liberated" KJ receives the full right to create. As, for example, in the match against Philadelphia, which he ended with a victorious throw with a siren.



LEGIONARY OF THE WEEK

Kelenna Azubuyke - Have you ever heard of this guy? Hardly. But for the Golden State, he became the hero of the week. When Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis and Kate MacLeod dropped out of injuries due to injuries, he decided to try 23-year-old Kelenna, who starred in the NBDL farm league for Fort Worth (26 average points per match). Azubuyke burst into the squad rapidly, having received in four fights an average of 20 minutes and having managed to mark 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds during this time. The non-drafted defender with a British passport impressed Nelson so much that he even sacked another hope for Anthony Roberson's club to clear the line in payroll for Azubuyke.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

7.01.07. Lakers - Dallas. Luke Walton in the company of rivals - Devin Harris, Anthony Johnson and Greg Buckner: "Now guys, I will show you that in my family not only daddy can play."



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If I can’t get this team to the next level, then I think at the end of the season our paths will diverge ,” - Jermain O'Neill on the prospect of a relationship with Indiana.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

They seemed to know that this moment would come. Allen Iverson had just begun to settle down in Denver when his former club returned to the headquarters a man with whom Allen had the most problems when he was 76th. Only now, Larry Brown was in Philadelphia in a different capacity - his new position is called "Executive Vice President." As explained at a press conference, this means that Brown will assist President Billy King in carrying out basketball operations (read, staffing) and work on “special projects” (this term was left without comment).

With all the enthusiasm from King regarding the hiring of his great friend and a major basketball specialist, the authorities had to bombard the journalist microphones with assurances that the 66-year-old Brown is not an ax, which hovered over the drooping head of coach Maurice Cheeks. Cheeks, who worked as an assistant to Larry, is one of the favorites among colleagues in the NBA for an early dismissal. Maurice did not have the previous season with Iverson, and in the current team did not manage to win even a dozen matches in his first 33 attempts.

Brown, who has trained nearly half of the NBA over a long career and won the Detroit title in 2004, led New York last season. His contract with the Knicks, which provided Brown with $ 40 million over the next four years, was canceled after a short debate, and Larry received 18.5 million greenbacks.

CONFUSES OF THE WEEK

About the upcoming exchange of Ron Artest on Corey Maggetty spoke almost as a fait accompli. It seemed that everyone was happy with everything, Ron, when he left Indiana, said that he would like to move to Los Angeles, but ... the deal fell through. They say that the “Kings” did not like the payment for Artest (whose contract, by the way, expires in the summer). In addition, Ron himself said that he feels comfortable in Sacramento, where he is building a house. Obviously, Artest decided to stay here for a long time.

Chasing the week

The meeting of “Sacramento” with the “Lakers” on Thursday, at least the second half, brought a lot of pleasure to the audience. In the third quarter, the hosts conceded 21 points, and 4 seconds before the siren they already won “+4”. Thanks to Sasha Vuyachich’s “three”, Kobe Bryant’s cool discount to Smushu Parker and ugly execution of penalties by Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin (1 of 4), the guests transferred the game to overtime, where they achieved success.

FIGURES OF THE WEEK

In the same match (“Sacramento” - “Lakers”), the fans had a chance to watch the boring first half. It was recorded 38 fouls, including 26 in the second quarter, which included 47 free throws (Arco Arena record) and lasted 48 (!) Minutes. NBA record for the quarter - 50 “fines” ...

MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

What happened to the league? Either the New Year’s mood didn’t go away, or the old balls breathed such enthusiasm into the guys, but last week the most beautiful moments were pouring, as if from a cornucopia. You even have to step back from the principles and show you three at once.

Number 3 is Vince Carter , one against the helpless Chicago defense.



The second position in Jason Kidd - no luck to the same Chicagoans.



And ahead of the rest of the planet, as often happens, King James - his ball from 25.3 (!) Meters crowned the third quarter of the meeting, “Cleveland” with “Boston”. This hit was the third longest in league history after Baron Davis “three rubles” (27 meters, 2001) and “two”, then there was no three-point line yet - Norm Van Lear (25.6 meters, 1977).



See also: LeBronische (Zagday and Materansky's blog)

WAITING FOR THE WEEK

You can beat Dallas - it is proved by the Lakers. Is it possible to offend the leader of the league twice in a row? It will be checked today by Utah. It is interesting, of course, to see if Andrei Kirilenko can cope with Dirk Nowitzki. Or will the Russians be entrusted to patronize the second leader of the Mavs, Josh Howard? The 10-match suspension of J.A. Smith ended: on Wednesday, “Denver” can try a pair of defenders Iverson-Smith in a meeting with “San Antonio”. On Monday, the Ozerniks will wait for a return visit by Miami. And we will die: will the verbal duel of Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neill continue?

For the NBA, the week will bring two official dates. On January 10, all current contracts will be guaranteed, and on January 15, voting will end on the selection of All-Star Game starting fives. Hurry up to participate!

Nikolai TSYNKEVICH