The Global Top 10 is your weekly guide to NBA global news. In this week's edition find out who chipped their tooth, who made their season debut and who rejected nine shots in one game.
Manu Ginobili Scores 37 … Again
Friday night against the Jazz,
Manu Ginobili started the game ... on the bench. Yet, in the absence of
Tim Duncan, Ginobili poured in 37 points for the second consecutive game, guiding the Spurs to a 104-98 win over the Jazz. Scoring the most points in back-to-back games for the Spurs since Duncan in December of 2001, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told the
San Antonio Express-News, "I'm surprised by nothing Manu Ginobili does." So what is the sixth man's secret? Ginobili explained to
San Antonio Express-News, “I'm just trying to be aggressive and go to the rim.”
1. Manu Ginobili Scores 37 … Again
Friday night against the Jazz,
Manu Ginobili started the game ... on the bench. Yet, in the absence of
Tim Duncan, Ginobili poured in 37 points for the second consecutive game, guiding the Spurs to a 104-98 win over the Jazz. Scoring the most points in back-to-back games for the Spurs since Duncan in December of 2001, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told the
San Antonio Express-News, "I'm surprised by nothing Manu Ginobili does." So what is the sixth man's secret? Ginobili explained to
San Antonio Express-News, “I'm just trying to be aggressive and go to the rim.”
2. Samuel Dalembert Blocks Nine Shots
Samuel Dalembert made himself heard loud and clear, not by what he said but by the way he played. Patrolling the paint, six-year vet made it known to Minnesota that they were playing on his turf as the Sixers center matched his career-high nine rejections. The most noteworthy block of the night came with 7.9 seconds left in the fourth. With Minnesota down 96-94, Al Jefferson made an attempt to score but was rejected by The Haitian Sensation. In addition to nine swats, Big Sam registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. On the brink of receiving a new name, Sammy D's teammate
Louis Williams explained to the
Philadelphia Daily News, "He protected the goal. We're starting to call him 'The Godfather.'"
3. Steve Nash in a Chipper Mood
Despite chipping his tooth in the first half of the Suns' 103-98 win over the Jazz,
Steve Nash had plenty to smile about. Captain Canada posted a double-double with a game-high 29 points to go along with 11 dimes. With the chant of "M-V-P" echoing throughout the US Airways arena, Nash went 5-for-5 from the line in the last 11 seconds of the game (and was 6-for-6 on the night). After dropping the previous two matchups, the two-time MVP felt this win was crucial as he told the
AP, "I think it (the game) showed us a lot of positives. We're a good team," Nash said. "We're capable defensively. We've got to play with that energy and intensity that we played with tonight against everybody.''
Photo: Nash Plays Tough
Video:
Nash's Interview With Chipped Tooth
4.Yi Shows Magic an Improved Side
When
Yi Jianlian faced the Magic last, he was making his highly anticipated NBA debut. Taking center stage, the Chinese import scored nine points and fouled out in 25 minutes as the Magic walked away with a 102-83 win. In just a few months the tables have turned. Yi had a stellar performance Wednesday night against Orlando. Registering 18 points and seven rebounds, Yi played a major role in the Bucks' 100-86 victory. After the game the rookie told the
Milwaukee Journal Sentental, "After playing 20 games, there are a lot of things that are better than before," Yi said. "I've gotten used to a lot of things on the court." If you missed the seven footer's performance, NBA TV captured Yi's best moments in the matchup.
Video:
Yi Highlights
5. Dirk Nowitzki: Too Much to Handle
It was the Mavericks' only visit to New York this season, and the NBA's reigning MVP made the most of it. Dallas'
Dirk Nowitzki was too much for the Knickerbockers to handle as the German-born Mav scored a season-high 36 points to go along with seven rebounds. After the game, Nowitkzi told the
AP,"I was fortunate I was able to find the rhythm very quick,'' Nowitzki said."The last couple of weeks, my jumper didn't feel great, didn't really have a lot of good looks. But from the beginning on I stayed aggressive, had some good looks. Pretty much I was on attack mode all night long.'' Despite minimal production from a usually active Mavs' bench, Nowitzki led Dallas to a 99-89 victory at the Garden.
6. Anderson Varejao: Back in Action
Contract negotiations have ended and
Anderson Varejao has returned to Cleveland's bench. The Bobcats made a qualifying offer to Varejao, but the Cavaliers matched the offer, allowing for the reserve's return to Cleveland. On Tuesday night, Varejao made his season debut in the Cavs 118-105 win over the Pacers. Providing a breather for starter
Drew Gooden, the Brazilian athlete contributed six points and nine rebounds to the team's victory.
7. Andrew Bogut: Steal of the Night
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks'
Andrew Bogut played tenacious defense and aggressive offense in Sunday night's 117-113 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite registering 21 points on the offensive end, the Australian native was recognized and praised for his steal from Portland's
LaMarcus Aldridge late in the third. To finish off the play Bogut dished the ball out to
Mo Williams who found
Charlie Villanueva for the Alley-oop.
Video:
Bogut's Steal of the Night
8. Horford Visits Ford in the Hospital
Starting as a rookie,
Al Horford was the only player on the Hawks' squad to post a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in Atlanta's 100-88 loss to the Raptors on Tuesday night. During the game the former Gator knocked Raptors'
T.J. Ford to the ground. Ford was hospitalized after the incident. Concerned for his fallen opponent, the rookie center visited Ford in the hospital. The Dominican Republic native told the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution."Thank God he's doing better and he went home and everything," Horford said. "We spent some good time together and we just talked about the game and a lot of other stuff. He told me that he understood I didn't do it intentionally or anything like that. It was a really good visit."
10. Luol Deng Helps Bulls Get Win
With the entire Bulls team coming out aggressive from the game's start, it was no surprise that Chicago hit the century mark with 10 minutes and five seconds remaining in the fourth. Ben Gordon led the Bulls with 27 points and the United Kindom's Luol Deng mightily contributed to the 123-96 win logging 20 points, five dimes and four rebounds. Chicago's coach Scott Skiles told the Chicago Tribune, "We drove when we should drive. We shot our jumpers when we should have," he said. "We were good on the break. When we were covered, we put the ball on the deck and moved it quickly. We didn't fumble balls."
Photo: Deng Gives a Gallant Effort
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