Is that picture below a block or a foul?  Does Chris Paul palm the ball or is that just a cool hesitation dribble? As fans, sometimes we think we know better than the refs even if we don't know what they know.  Well, now the NBA has decided to let the fans and the media in on exactly what the zebra stripes, in their finite wisdom, should be calling as violations.  Everything you wanted to know about fouls, moving violations and technical fouls can be found in the new NBA Video Rule Book.  In 150 video clips, the NBA provides the technical information taught to its referees.  According to the league,

The NBA Video Rulebook website is intended to help explain the Rules of the NBA game to all interested parties - our teams, the media, and our fans.

The videos in each section illustrate examples of different kinds of fouls and violations, with detailed descriptions and explanations of each play. To find a specific type of play, hover your mouse cursor over the tabs at the top of the page and the drop down menus will take you to whichever play category you are seeking ! The site will be continually updated as we add new video examples, so please check back often to see what new plays have been added.

Jazz 95, Knicks 93

"I thought [Toney Douglas'] speed, athleticism and tenacity on defense really picked us up. He kind of broke the dam and everybody else was following him. Toney gave us a nice spark."-- Mike D'Antoni

"Third quarter was a better quarter for me but we had a group that had it going, by all means stay with that group to see if they can pull it off." --Chris Duhon

"Put a young guy in that position, he tried to make a play. You can't fault him for anything. The play was still developing. There's a chance I could've come out open, but he made a read and got off a shot."-- Larry Hughes

"You need to have energy when you get out there. And you need to be willing to learn. He does both things. He'll have games this year like tonight and games this year he has no idea what's going on. That's part of being a rookie. Tonight he had an unbelievable game, but he has to go back to practice focused." -- David Lee

Toney's Father Knows Best: An Interview With Harry Douglas, III

Knicks Revivalism (Part 2: Divine Numerology; Arm Chair Joe Questions; and to Hang Ten at the Tides Crest or Wipe Out Amidst a Tsunami of Immense Expectations)

(Good evening Fanatics, it looks like it may be a long season.  However, we intend to do more than bitch and moan about how putrid our home team is.  We know they are bad, but what distinguishes us from many other fans is that we are proactive and have no problem providing solutions to help make our team better.  Of course, we can't force  the Knicks, management or players, to heed our suggestions, but we will still provide options and solutions for their consideration. So we begin our focus on solutions with a discussion on leadership launched by this recent article by championship coach Roy Williams. Enjoy).

UNC Basketball Coach Roy Williams: Be Led By Your Dreams

Hansbrough, Lawson, Ginyard, and Hinrich were all leaders on the court

One thing that makes college basketball so enjoyable, yet at the same time so challenging, is that each year the team is different. There are new players, and you may ask the student-athletes who return from the previous season to play new roles. Team chemistry changes, and the attitudes and relationships that ebb and flow from wins and losses always take on a new life.

The constant is a need for outstanding leadership. It's important to identify leaders, then nurture, guide, and encourage leadership on and off the court. Some years, the best leaders are your most gifted players. However, sometimes the most effective leaders may not be the best scorers or rebounders but players who set great examples by their work ethic, or by being vocal, or by carrying out less glamorous roles that coaches know are critical to a team's success.

Knicks 87, Bucks 102

"I think we were all stunned. I've taken a licking before, but I don't know what's worse that that." -- Mike D'Antoni

“He had every right to take me out. That’s an easy play that I’m supposed to make and I didn’t make the effort.” --Chris Duhon

It is extremely difficult to analyze the obvious.  In the Knicks' case the obvious is the analysis. The Knicks suck and they allowed the Bucks to show us how much.

Via Taz a/k/a Peaceman,

Cavaliers 100, Knicks 91

Watch Replay 

"It's this building. This building's very special."-- LeBron James

This was not so much a recruiting trip for James as it was a bad mental trip for the Knicks, whose next destination might be a psychiatrist's couch.-- Howard Beck, NYT

"We know what the fans want, and he knows that, too. So he came in and put on a show for them. And I guess we'll wait to see what happens next summer." -- Al Harrington

"Honestly? All the press and all the hoopla about free agency that comes in July is starting to bother me. Because there's an innuendo I don't care about the players on this team. And that's simply not true. And this is not a throwaway season, and I never said it was. So no, I don't like it." -- Donnie Walsh

No one, not the MSM, not the Blogs, not the Yankees, wanted to talk about the New York Knicks' performance last night.  No one really wanted to admit there was a basketball competition, because many considered it a celebration and audition -- the celebration was for the Yankees and the possibility that LeBron James might choose to play for the Knicks.  The audition was the Knicks' fans and celebrities auditioning for James in an

LeBron James: Dear New York

Source: From Nike Basketball

06 November 2009

Dear New York,

Thank you for welcoming me back to New York City, one of my favorite places to play in the world. The Big Apple has always been good to me so I wanted to do something special to show my appreciation.

With this in mind, on November 7, 2009, I'm going to open seven gyms around NYC to host free open runs for high-school aged players. I remember being in high school and just wanting to play ball as the seasons changed from fall to winter. The Ohio winter made it tough to play outside so I always saw the opportunity to play in a nice gym as a gift.

It is in giving that I've found the most strength, whether it's on the court with my teammates or at home with my family. In giving this gift of the game to New York City, I want to share that strength with people who love the game as much as I do.

Peace,

LeBron James

• Long Island University Schwartz Center, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
• John Jay College 899 10th Avenue, New York, NY, (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
• Lost Battalion Hall 9329 Queens Boulevard, Flushing, NY (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
• Boys & Girls Republic 888 East 6th Street, New York, NY (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
• Ebbets Field Middle School 352 46 McKeever Place, Brooklyn, NY (2:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
• Hunter College 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY (2:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
• Asphalt Green 555 East 90th Street, New York, NY (2:00 PM to 4:00 PM)