Dwight Howard went 21-39 from the FT line, the most free-throw attempts in NBA history and tied for the 3rd-most MISSED free throws in an NBA game. Only Wilt Chamberlain (22, 19, 18) has ever missed as many free throws in an NBA game.

Howard finished with 45 points and 23 rebounds, to propel the Magic to their third straight victory. It also marked the first time a player had at least 40 points and 20 rebounds since Shaquille O’Neal – another poor free throw shooter — had 48 points and 20 rebounds against the Celtics on March 1, 2003, according to STATS LLC.

This was Howards 1st career game with 40+ points, 20+ rebounds. He’s the only active player to accomplish that feat. Take that Kobe.

The Knicks began the night aggressive in the paint with Tyson Chandler getting good passes for easy dunks and layups. The rest of the Knicks played well on the offensive side of the ball, but Amar’e continues to struggle with his jumper.

Rookie Iman Shumpert made an immediate impact after missing the last four games with a strained knee, hitting a jumper, grabs 2 boards and providing another point guard option for Coach D’Antoni. Another surprise for the Knicks continues to be the play of Billy Walker off the bench. Walker teamed up with Douglas and Shumpert to provide the Knicks with a good second team but the lack of team chemistry was apparent. Diaw went 7-for7 in the quarter and the Bobcats won the first quarter 30-26.

The Knicks are going to have to learn how to play with each other on both sides of the court before things turn around for this team. At times the Knicks look perfectly in sync, but undoubtedly resort to settling for quick outside shots that get them in a hole. Tyson Chandler who is the vocal leader of this defense needs someone to tell him what to do when Melo gets the ball, 99% of the time expect a shot. Chandler finished the game with six rebounds matching Melo’s effort on the glass. The Garden voiced their disapproval of the Knicks defense after the Bobcats went on a 9-0 run and left the Knicks looking weak going into the half. Iman Shumpert led the Knicks in scoring going into the tunnel with 12 at the half.

The third quarter saw the Knicks come out with more authority, asserting themselves on the defensive side of the court. Every time the Knicks cut the lead to single digits, the Bobcats behind shooting from Gerald Henderson, Boris Diaw and Byron Mullens kept the Knicks at bay. Carmelo did his best as usual to keep the Knicks in the game with 32 pts on 12-for-24 shooting, but the rest of the team provided no help. Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker in his first game in the Garden since turning pro, finishing with 7 points, five assists and two rebounds. Walker admitted to being excited returning to the floor that witnessed him carry the UConn Huskies to the Big East Tournament title with five wins in five days last March. For the Knicks the 4th quarter saw the game slip away behind poor team defense and hot shooting by the Bobcats. The disappearance of Josh Harrellson’s play and the lack of production from Landry Fields is something to keep an eye on as the Knicks lost their second straight home game. Up next for the Knicks is a game in D.C. against the Wizards. Lets hope Coach D’Antoni can get his troops to work together soon than later.

Nu Sef Jones

Follow me @knicks247

ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not. ( same as last years resolution)

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to let Rondo shoot nothing but threes for an entire game, just to see what happens….

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Paul Silas resolve to survive the entire season.

CHICAGO BULLS

I, Derrick Rose resolve to continue dominating basketball, postgame interviews  and my acne.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to continue to be a horrible team until Dan Gilbert can finally complete the cloning of LeBron James, let the clone grow to 18 years of age, then draft him with the #1 pick in the 2030 Draft.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Lamar Odom will drive to Galveston Beach each off day so I can look at the ocean and remember what once was.

DETROIT PISTONS

We the Pistons resolve to find some food for Austin Daye, and to have Ben Gordons arms chopped off!

DENVER NUGGETS

We the Nuggets resolve to be extremely grateful that Coach Karl is back and healthy!

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

I, Coach Mark Jackson resolve to stop yelling “Hands down, man down” to everyone on the team, every possession.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

We the Houston Rockets resolve to continue pitting Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons against each other until they are forced to fight to the death.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to let Physcho T run into the stands at least once this season.

L.A. CLIPPERS

We resolve to keep our racist ass owner away from Chris Paul, and keep Chris thinking that Frankie Muniz is indeed the owner of the team.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to plant testosterone tablets in Pau Gasol’s drinks throughout the season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to get Tony Allen as far away from our team as possible.

MIAMI HEAT

We resolve to win the Finals, not for LeBron but for original man: Juwan Howard.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of signing of Mike Dunleavy Jr.!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to play in Brooklyn until Brooklyn realizes that the Nets play in Brooklyn, then we haul ass to Russia! #NYETS

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say!

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Carmelo Anthony resolve to remember that I, Carmelo am the only option, and I need to shoot every single time!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to do whatever we can to keep Russell Westbrook from becoming Stephon Marbury and eventually eating Vaseline on Twitter!

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard resolve to ask, demand, then say pretty please for a trade.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Steve Nash resolve to never leave the Suns, and continue playing until they can find a point guard better then I.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

We resolve to burn some Sage in the Rose Garden, because our team is definitely cursed!

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We resolve to remind all those fans that fought to keep the team in Sacramento that the team is still in Sacramento

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to remind the Jazz players that the sign that said “Team of Misfit Players” was not funny.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to let John Wall do whatever he wants to and to continue letting Glbert Arenas in the locker room so he can shit in Rashard Lewis’s shoes.

The Heat are 4-0 for the second time in franchise history, and first since 2004-05.  The Heat  have shown glimpses of both sides, the unstoppable force that flashed in last years playoffs, and a team that struggles when a 2-3 Zone is thrown in their face.  The two biggest improvements for the Heat was the drafting of Norris Cole, and the signing of free agent Shane Battier.  Norris Cole may not be the distance shooter that Mario Chalmers is, but he makes up for it speed, and confidence.

 ”Mentally you just have to be prepared for the worst,” Cole told reporters after his first practice with the team. “There’s going to be a lot of things thrown at me, but with me being in college for four years, I think I have a quick learning curve. I’m mature enough to be able to handle criticism. As long as we work hard and earn the respect of the veterans, I think everything will be fine. This team was already good without me being here. With me having a quick learning curve, [the] only thing I can do is make us better”

Shane Battier hasn’t done much on the floor this season, but will be LeBron’s Bundini Brown when it counts.

So far this season Wade and Lebron have attempted only one three-pointer and LeBron James notched his 38th career 30-point, 10-assist game on Friday. It’s the most among active players, one more than teammate Dwyane Wade.

Before I resign up for the Heat bandwagon I need to see CONSISTENCY, and more of this ridiculousness:

HIGHS:

• From Elias: Carmelo Anthony’s 37 points is the 3rd-most by a Knicks player on Christmas Day. Only Bernard King and Richie Guerin have scored more for the Knicks on December 25th.
• Rajon Rondo had 31 points, 13 assists and 5 steals, joining Larry Bird (on Feb. 18, 1985) as the only Celtics players with 30+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a single game.
• Brandon Bass had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his Celtics debut
• Only three forwards in the last 25 seasons have recorded at least 37 points and 10 rebounds in a season opener. LeBron James accomplished this in win over the Dallas Mavericks. The other two players to reach this feat are first ballot hall of famers Charles Barkley who did it three times, and Karl Malone who did it once. 
• Clippers big DeAndre Jordan had 8 blocks, but he also made the LOWS list as well

LOWS:

Mavs banner covered after getting blown out on XMAS!

• Kobe Bryant really struggled in isolation play types against the Bulls, scoring just 6 points on 13 plays. He shot 3-11 including a combined 1-8 on isolations from the top of the key and the right side of the court. Last year he led the NBA with 643 points in isolation.
• Rip Hamilton and Joakim Noah finished with a combined 12 points on 6 of 20 shooting.
• Chris Bosh scored just 4 points, his fewest in a game that he played at least 20 minutes since December 19, 2004 vs the Nets (as a member of Raptors).
• Lamar Odom had four points four boards in 13 minutes and was ejected in the third quarter.
• Kevin Durant missed five free throws. He is a career 88 percent free throw shooter.
• Stephen Curry who was questionable due to ankle injury was 2 for 12 for four points.
• DeAndre Jordan was 4 of 12 from the free throw line…thus Hack-A-Jordan will continue.

Heres the TNT Intro video from Christmas day via @jose3030

THIS!

REUTERS/Tim Sharp

Welcome to Texas Lamar and Vince, but before you get too comfortable there are a few things(rules) you have to be aware of. While enjoying the Dallas nightlife or noticing shell casings on the grassy knoll, always remember to have your identification.

At any time in Texas you can be asked for your identification from a police officer, and if you don’t have it you will be detained.  Of course Lamar and Vince your NBA-player status may help you to avoid these issues in other states with the police, but Texas doesn’t play nice with athletes not born in Texas. A passport in Texas is like a golden ticket, mainly due to Texas being a foreign country.

During the next couple months you may notice a large number of horses, and chuck wagons appear throughout the city.  Do not be alarmed, it is only the arrival of the rodeo and tons of horse manure.

Still in disbelief of the Lakers decision, Lamar Odom is now a Dallas Mavericks. Joining the defending champs will give the Mavs the needed height with the loss of Tyson Chandler to the Knicks. Lamar Odom, Dirk, and Jason Kidd on the break will be fun to watch.

The Lakers get an $8.9 million trade exception for the 32-year-old Odom, who is going into the third year of a four-year deal. He has averaged 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in 829 games over 12 NBA seasons, four with the Clippers, one in Miami and the last seven with the Lakers.

The 34-year-old Carter had to clear waivers after playing for Phoenix last season. The Mavericks announced Monday night that Carter had signed a contract that reunites him with Jason Kidd, his teammate for three seasons in New Jersey.

Dallas didn’t provide details of Carter’s deal, but it is expected to be a mid-level exception of $3 million for this season.

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

Carter has 20,250 career points, eighth among active players and 35th on the NBA career loss. He was originally the fifth overall selection in the 1998 draft by Toronto, and has played 925 career games for the Raptors, New Jersey, Orlando and Phoenix.

2011-12

Highly-anticipated television matchups throughout the regular season include:

HEAT VS. MAVERICKS
(ABC: Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m. ET; TNT: March 29, 8 p.m. ET): Both games between 2011 Finals opponents, the Heat and Mavericks, will be televised nationally. In addition to ABC’s presentation of the Christmas Day season-opener, TNT will air the regular season rematch when the Mavericks travel to Miami on March 29.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (Jan. 16)
The NBA will again celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a full schedule of games on Jan. 16, including four nationally-televised contests. On ESPN, the Bulls visit the Memphis Grizzlies (1 p.m. ET), followed by the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Toronto Raptors on NBA TV (4 p.m. ET). TNT will feature an evening doubleheader beginning with the Celtics hosting the Thunder (8 p.m. ET), followed by a match of Western Conference powerhouses as the Mavericks visit the Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

LAKERS VS. MIAMI
(TNT: Jan. 19, 8 p.m. ET): In one of the league’s marquee matchups, the Heat hosts the Lakers Jan. 19.

CELTICS VS. LAKERS
(TNT: Feb. 9, 8 p.m. ET; ABC: March 11, 3:30 p.m. ET): Both games between the NBA’s two all-time winningest franchises will be nationally televised as the Lakers visit the Celtics Feb. 9, and Boston travels to Los Angeles March 11.

The Houston Rockets once again are without any nationally televised games, eith seven games on NBATV, and play 11 back-to-back games. Cleveland, and Milwaukee have one NBATV game all season.

For the eighth straight season, ABC will exclusively broadcast The Finals, which tips off next June. This season, TNT is the exclusive home of the 2012 NBA Western Conference Finals and ESPN will exclusively televise the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES:

The season begins Sunday, Dec. 25 with five televised games. The Celtics visit the Knicks to tip off the season on TNT (12 p.m. ET). ABC then presents a double-header when the Mavericks host the Heat in a rematch of The Finals (2:30 p.m. ET), followed by the Bulls visiting the Lakers (5 p.m. ET). ESPN rounds out the day with a pair of games when the Thunder hosts the Orlando Magic (8 p.m. ET), and the Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET).