Dishes & Dimes

Winning: With all of the intent watching of the box score, fantasy basketball games, and top Sportcenter highlights, it is sometimes easy for fans to lose sight of the ultimate goal within a team, victories and nothing else. Simply winning basketball games can alleviate the natural pressures of the pro game such as outside distractions or individual struggles. Playing winning basketball is exactly what Mike Conley Jr. & the Memphis Grizzlies have been doing in the month of December. The Grizz have won 8 of their last 11 games after a dreadful 1-8 start. The winning stretch can be attributed to improved play by Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo & Mike Conley, to go with the steady Marc Gasol.

In the last three games Lawrence North's Conley is averaging 11 points & 4 assists, he shot 50% from 3 point range over the course of those games, including a season high 20 point effort at Minnesota on December 2nd. Mike enjoyed perhaps his best moment of the season so far on December 8th when slipped past a switching Shaquille O'Neal to score the game winning bucket in overtime vs the Cleveland Cavaliers. I must say that it looked like the Grizzlies were already down and out after the early season losing streak. But credit must be given to Gay, Mayo, followed up by Conley & Coach Lionel Hollins for turning things around. Memphis (9-12) hopes to continue their winnings ways vs Oklahoma City tonight.

Conley's game winning heroics vs Cleveland

In contrast, Ron Lewis was not able to get into a flow in the Eurocup Round 3 contest vs Brose Baskets on December 8th. He did not score, and would only register one board in 16 minutes of play. But the good news is that Phillip Ricci & Ian Hanavan hooped out in leading CEZ to a huge 71-66 victory. Once again we see an example where a win is much bigger than any individual performance because it moves CEZ (now 2-1 in Eurocup play) one step closer to advancing to the next Eurocup grouping, thus giving Lewis and others more chances to shine. Nymburk plays Brose Baskets again next week in another pivotal Eurocup contest..something tells us that Ron Lewis won't go scoreless again. :)

Othello Hunter activated: We knew it would come, just not when. But Othello Hunter was finally activated for tonight's game against the Toronto Raptors after veteran forward Joe Smith suffered a hand injury. According to this Atlanta Journal Constitution article, Hunter will dress and could possibly receive backup minutes to starting power forward Josh Smith.

Estonian Block Party: Even with Greg Oden out, there is still a dominant professional Buckeye shotblocker out there. His name is Ken Johnson, and he is currently leading the Estonian Basketball League in blocks per game. Big Ken anchors the defense for Kalev/Cramo, a traditional league power who competes in the VTB league, and regional Baltic league, in addition to the national league of Estonia.

Video- Ken sending ish back in Estonia!




Lady Buckeye Update: Former Ohio Star All American, and current member of the Indiana Fever, Jessica Davenport, is playing her WNBA offseason with a club called Heilongjiang in China. Davenport is looking to carry the momentum from here game 5 WNBA Finals performance into her play in China and the next season here in the States. Late November Interview with Jessica.