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Knicks took on Chauncey Billups at midseason as a ‘throw in’ in the deal that brought Carmelo to the ‘Big Apple’ but they ended up getting a very valuable playmaker that provides valuable veteran leadership in their backcourt. On Wednesday, they ‘put their money where their mouth is’ and picked up Billups’ option for the 2011-2012 NBA season. New York had the opportunity to buy out his contract for $3.7 million but with the option will pay Billups $14.2 million for next year.

Billups missed the last three games of the playoffs with a strained knee tendon, but during the regular season averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 assists in 21 games for the Knicks. New York’s President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh had copious praise for Billups in announcing the decision to pick up his option:

“Chauncey, Amare and Carmello are a great nucleus, as we continue to look to improve our team going into the offseason. Chauncey is an extremely talented and experienced point guard — we are very happy to have him back.”

Billups insists that he’s got a lot of life left in his career and lots of plans on coming in to camp lighter next season:

“My health has been great. I’m 34, not 39. My first five years I didn’t play that much anyway, unfortunately, but my body is fine.”

Billups will be 35 years old in September and is a 15 year NBA veteran and a five-time All Star. He said he was motivated by the Knicks’ sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics to return to New York for another season:

“Getting swept in the first round, I don’t do this. This is not fine with me, so I like to play later in the season, I want another shot.”

The next off season question for New York that has to be answered is the future of the man who built the current Knicks’ roster-Donnie Walsh’s contract expires on June 30 and he’s got a team option on the fourth year of his deal. There have been rumors that the team is prepared to offer him a two year extension on that contract. Walsh is scheduled to meet with Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan later this week, and no formal announcement on his future is expected before that takes place. With Walsh’s status among the Knicks’ faithful at a high point after the acquisition of Carmelo and Amare Stoudemire, this would be a tough time for the team to cut him loose.

Michael Phelps is a freelance writer and noted authority on pay per head sports sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a giraffe. He is currently working on an autobiography of former Obama’s science advisor John Holdren.

There have been quite a few ups and downs in the world of basketball this season. This season has been an interesting one with plenty going on in the way of performance and with player news.

Let’s look at some of the highlights of the 09-10 basketball season thus far. We’ll cover some good, as well as some bad here.

The first thing we should recognize is some of the teams that have come out of nowhere and established themselves as very respectable basketball teams. There are two that stand out to me more than any others, and these were both two of the worst teams in the league last season.

The first of the two teams to mention is the Oklahoma City Thunder. No one imagined that they might become this successful in such a short space of time. The team can thank Kevin Durant for helping them to rise out so quickly from being one of the worst teams to being a successful team this season.

Although people had a slight hunch with the Thunder, when it came to The Memphis Grizzlies, no one had ever thought that they would make it this season or any season for that matter.

This team has now seen some great play on the court due to the team work of Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, OJ Mayo and Zach Randolph and as a result may even end up making the playoffs.

However, the incident at the Gilbert Arenas really brought down the reputation and image of the league itself with guns being pointed at teammates, the Washington Guard has now been suspended for the rest of the season.

It hasn’t been all bad in the world of basketball players though. Take the emergence of a few top rookies like Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, and others, all of who have proven that the league is full of promise with respect to the years that lie ahead.

Read more of this author’s articles about topics like best programmable thermostat and heating thermostat.

It is important for any serious basketball player to possess a good vertical jump. Most often than not, situation calls for it and possessing a good vertical jump can drastically improve a players game. However, the trick always lies in how to train so you can jump higher in the shortest time possible.

In this article, you are going to discover some very important truth when it comes to increasing and improving your vertical jump. And if you are a serious player, then, this article is going to prove to be alot more valuable than you think.

Remember that in order for you to jump higher fast in basketball, you need power.

Strength plus Speed = Power

As such, if you want to gain and reap the maximum benefit out of your vertical training, you have to find trainings that integrates a training of both your strength and speed. That way, you will be able to gain massive power off your jump without doing additional workouts or taking more rest time in between.

Listed below, you can find some hardcore training and workouts that targets both your strength and your speed at the same time. Yes, these workouts works in relation to building power off your jump and if you were to add these trainings into your workout routine, you will increase your vertical jump - period.

1) The Kettle Bell Swing - Simple, yet brutally effective. The kettle bell swing trains every single part of your core muscles needed for balance and jumping. This workout also helps to inject some tough, manly muscles into your arms and back. Because the nature of this workout is almost like a stimulated jumping motion, you will not only increase your vertical jump, but also improve your jumping form as well.

2) Power Lift - The power lift is another workout that you can use for your jump training. It is one of those workouts that trains every single inch of your muscles from your ankles all the way up to your hip. Because it is done in sudden movement, it also adds dramatic explosive power to your vertical jump. Before I forget, even Lebron James uses this workout… and its effectiveness can be seen by how explosive Lebron’s vertical jump is.

3) Full back squats - Full back squats is one of the most effective trainings that’ll help you jump higher in basketball fast. This vertical jumping workout is very effective because it adds massive strength to your quadriceps and hamstring. In other words, if you want a 40 inch vertical leap, you should never try to skip this traditional form of jump training.

Discover how you can increase your vertical jump using proven trainings and workouts. Click to uncover the secrets to 40 inch verticals and gravity defying dunks - Increase Vertical Jump

If you want to bet on sports, and you want to be good at it and maybe make it your living, then you are going to need the basic knowledge to do it right. You can bet on sports all over the world, and you can do it in the United States. The United States is a little less confusing when it comes to betting on sports, but, you still need the knowledge to do it right and not get yourself into trouble. You want American sports betting explained for you to do well.

To bet on sports properly and to be successful even on the smallest level, you need to have some basic background knowledge on how all this works. If you don’t want to have that and believe that you can pick teams to win and make some money, then go right ahead. If you do this and don’t have luck, you can get in trouble.

You are going to need to understand the betting odds. This is first and foremost. All sports are bet on, so this article is going to place an emphasis on the sport of American Football. This sports is America’s passion, and millions upon millions of dollars are bet on this sport each year.

Many people who are not professional betters look only at one thing, and that is called the point spread, or the line. The line of the game shows who is predicted to win and lose and by how many points. If there is a team that is favored to win by 5 points, the line will show a -5, if they are predicted to lose by 5 points, the line will show a +5. If they are favored that means you are giving the underdog, the team that is predicted to lose, 5 points. If you bet on the Cowboys and they are favored to win by 5 points, and they win by 6, you win your bet. If they lose, of course you lose your bet, and if they win by exactly 5 points, then you get your money back. This is a tie bet called a push.

Not only is there the betting on the point spread or line, but there are other betting odds called money lines. There are two kinds of these. One of these is when you are betting on the favored team, and the other is when you are betting on the not favored team, or underdog team.

For a favored team, if you see a -105 money line, that means you will have to bet 105 dollars to win the 100 and your 105 you had to put down. If you bet on the underdog, you will see a +105 and you will have to bet that much to win the 100 dollars. This is a little different than the point spread, and it is very exciting. You can make good money this way.

Betting on sports in America is a very exciting and lucrative way to make money. It is also a good way to lose money if you don’t know what you are doing. Going into sports betting, especially in America, without the proper knowledge of what the terminology is or the rules can lead to problems. Follow these American Sports Betting Explained rules and you will be a winner.

Now you can get all the tricks you will need to enjoy fun on line sports betting! When you learn about the benefits of participating in sports betting USA, you can start winning today!

So now we know where the King is headed….to South Beach! And with that decision there might no bigger hype around a sports jersey than a Lebron James heat jersey.

But beyond the sports talk radio buzz one overlooked bonus might just be the ability for that gear to score you points with the ladies.

Here are 3 reasons why a Lebron James heat jersey won’t just show off your admiration for the new empire of the NBA, but also increase your likelihood of getting a hot date.

Lebron James Heat Jersey Romance Factor No.1: Ultimate Icebreaker

In the world of sports there is no larger subject than the move of Lebron from Cleveland to Miami. So whynot use that buzz to your advantage?

Feel a little stumped by what to say to the girls? Well let your gear do the conversating. You’ll be shocked by what a conversation starter the jerey will be to help you break the ice, and probably get a phone number in the process.

Tip: If the girl is on the attractive side, and if she wasn’t would you be talking to her, suggest she’d look awesome in a no. 23 heat jersey. Girls love them some flattery.

Lebron James Heat Jersey Romance Factor No.2: Become Fashionable

Ever hear about girls checking out a guy’s shoes before she dates him? This is a chick’s way of seeing if he’s got fashion sense and some style.

Well let that jersey do all the fashion talking you need. Forget the ugly gold of a Lakers jersey, this heat jersey with its three bold colors of white, black and red will “go” with any ensemble you’re wearing.

Tip: Not sure what you’ll be wearing. Get all 3 colors for maximum options.

Lebron James Heat Jersey Romance Factor No.3: It’s Good to be Bad

Bad guys. Girls just love them. (Just ask my high school girlfriend Jenny Miller.)

And right now there may be no bigger villain in sports than Lebron James. (Just tune into any midwest sports talk radio for proof.)

So why not channel this sentiment and show the girls that yo’ure not afraid to align yourself to the dark side of the force.

Tip: If you are going for the whole bad boy vibe than buy a black Lebron heat jersey. Not only is it an excellent looking jersey, but it will for sure make you look edgy. And chicks dig edgy. So get that jersey, hit the clubs, and get yourself some lovin’.

Looking to find the best deal on a Lebron James Heat Jersey, then visit http://lebron-james-heat-jersey.com/ to find out how you can show your support for the “King” without breaking the bank.

Veteran point guard Jason Williams is returning to the NBA after a season away from basketball. Williams announced that hes re-entering the league this season, and will do so in an Orlando Magic uniform. Williams is tentatively slated to be the backup for starting playmaker Jameer Nelson.

Williams signed a one year NBA contract to play for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008, but walked away from it without playing a game. At the time, his wife was facing some complications during her pregnancy with their third child and Williams wanted to be able to spend time with her and his family. His attempt to be reinstated late in the season was rebuffed by the NBA, and he ended up sitting out the entire campaign.

When the Clippers relinquished their rights to Williams earlier this summer, he became an unrestricted free agent. Ultimately, he settled on Orlando due to its proximity to his home in nearby Isleworth, Florida and the role the Magic wanted him to play on a championship contender. Magic General Manager Otis Smith provided these comments on the signing:

“Jason provides depth and leadership to our backcourt. He is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal.”

When asked to reflect on his NBA and college career”marked by several suspensions and countless other controversies”Williams sounded a philosophical tone:

“Let me tell you this: If I could go all the way back [to the beginning], I wouldn’t do a damn thing different. I know I messed up here and there along the way, but those things I didn’t do right helped me become the person I am now.”

Williams played a crucial backup role during the Miami Heat’s 2005-2006 NBA championship run, and will be expected help the Magic win the sport’s ultimate prize. They’re expected to face a tough test in their own conference, with Cleveland, Miami and Boston all having upgraded their lineups during the offseason. Boston got an additional boost recently with the news that Kevin Garnett had returned to practice and is likely to be back in the lineup when the season begins.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Weighing under two hundred pounds, at six foot three, steve nash rookie card has become more of a player than in the past. He now has taken a place among other greats, as one of those in the NBA who has made Most Valuable player several times. Only 11 men in the history of the NBA has done this and now he has joined them.

In his first two seasons playing with the Phoenix Suns, things were not the best for him. It was in 1996 that he had arrived from Santa Clara and was met with Jason Kidd on the team, who did quite well at that time. Within this time he averaged less than 10 points a game and three assists.

In 1998, he was traded off to Dallas. While playing in Dallas, his game took a turn to all-star status. In 2004, listed as a free agent, he decided to go back with the Suns. The Suns now, would and could not imagine playing without him.

Steve Nash seemed to find what he needed, when working with the coach Mike D’Antoni. His game average took a turn for 19 points and 11 assists a game. He improved on his three pointers and layups, as well as getting himself the MVP status for two years in a row.

Additionally, it served to make the Sun’s one of the top NBA teams. In the first half of 2006-07, his scoring got even better. Despite all of this, his steve nash rookie card remains way undervalued compared to other greats of his time.

The value of his basketball card remains way undervalued for the accomplishments he has made. When his card will increase in value remains a mystery. Presently, people can enjoy purchasing his card for much less than it really is worth, until at least they realize that he deserves a much higher price value for his card.

Find more on Steve Nash website and Steve Nash wallpaper.

The Indiana Pacers had a very mediocre season in 08′-09′ season finishing 36-46. The bright spot for the Pacers was their home record, 25 -26. The Pacers were terrible on the road, 11-30.

The Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger had a breakout season, and put himself on the map as one of the best players in the NBA. Few people realize this, as the Indiana Pacers are a below average team that gets little coverage.

Granger’s scoring averages have increased every year since he has been in the league since 04′. 08′-09′ Granger was fifth in scoring at 25.1 points per game - look for another year similar this season as well.

The Pacers have a young team with a good upside. The defense was their death blow last season giving up more points then they could score. More emphasis needs to be put on defense; we know the team can score.

Guard T.J. Ford had one of his best seasons to date with scoring 15 points per game and 5 assists. If the Pacers ever expect to compete in the same division as the Cleveland Cavaliers, their defense must improve and improve fast.

The Pacers did draft former college player of the year Tyler Hansbrough - what impact he will have in his rookie year in unknown. What Hansbrough lacks in skill he makes up for it in hustle.

Unfortunately for Pacer fans, he can’t do it all on his own. He’s a great player to build the team around, but they need some serious help defensively. This team can score points, but there’s no way to go deep with a weak defense.

Head Coach Jim O’Brien has a good group of young talent that he would like to mold into a playoff team that can at least compete against the top teams in the East. If O’Brien manages another 36 win season his job could possibly be in danger. The President of Basketball Operations, Larry Bird, is a patient man - but he can’t tolerate another losing season.

For more on the Pacers, check out the Pacers forum at RootZoo Sports. Be sure to play their free trivia with over 60,000 questions.

The 08′-09′ season for the Atlanta Hawks was bitter sweet for the most part. While the team improved upon their previous season, the playoff perform against the Cleveland Cavaliers wasn’t what the Hawks team hoped for.

The Hawks finished second in the Southeast division behind the Orlando Magic with a 47-35 record and were swept in the second round of the playoffs. The first round win against the Miami Heat wasn’t that impressive either - every win and loss was in the double digits.

The 08′ playoffs against the Boston Celtics proved that the Atlanta Hawks were on the rise and should compete for the Eastern Conference Championship in the near future.

Johnson is a prolific shooter, especially from the perimeter, and Horford is an exceptional, multi-faceted basketball player whose presence has dominated the team greatly during his two seasons in the league. This is the man to build the team around for years to come.

Joe Johnson is - while a very good player - must be put in the same sentence as Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Dwight Howard as one of the best players in the game if the Hawks expect to do anything this season. Joe Johnson averaged 22 points per game - Johnson must be more aggressive and average 24-25 points per game because the Hawks go in scoring droughts.

One of the major concerns for the Hawks was the lack of scoring on offense - out of the 30 NBA teams the Hawks were the nineteenth in scoring, which for a playoff team isn’t acceptable. If the Hawks ever hope to reach the Eastern Conference Finals their scoring must improve.

The only concern I see is the lack of scoring for this team. They must improve on putting up bigger points if they want to make some noise.

The Hawks might be a playoff team once again but the chance of them reaching the Eastern Conference Finals with their current team is doubtful.

For more Atlanta Hawks chatter, check out the Hawks forums at RootZoo Sports, where you can also check out thousands of basketball trivia questions.

Veteran point guard Jason Williams”nicknamed White Chocolate earlier in his career for his flamboyant play”is returning to the NBA after a season away from basketball. Williams announced that hes re-entering the league this season, and will do so in an Orlando Magic uniform.

Williams signed a one year NBA contract to play for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008, but walked away from it without playing a game. At the time, his wife was facing some complications during her pregnancy with their third child and Williams wanted to be able to spend time with her and his family.

When the Clippers relinquished their rights to Williams earlier this summer, he became an unrestricted free agent. Ultimately, he settled on Orlando due to its proximity to his home in nearby Isleworth, Florida and the role the Magic wanted him to play on a championship contender. Magic General Manager Otis Smith provided these comments on the signing:

“Jason provides depth and leadership to our backcourt. He is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal.”

When asked to reflect on his NBA and college career”marked by several suspensions and countless other controversies”Williams sounded a philosophical tone:

“Let me tell you this: If I could go all the way back [to the beginning], I wouldn’t do a damn thing different. I know I messed up here and there along the way, but those things I didn’t do right helped me become the person I am now.”

Williams played a crucial backup role during the Miami Heats 2005-2006 NBA championship run, and will be expected to play a similar function as the Magic try to get over the hump and unseat the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Theyre expected to face a tough test in their own conference, with Cleveland, Miami and Boston all having upgraded their lineups during the offseason.