The Dallas Mavericks have needed more size and strength in recent years. On Thursday, they addressed that need by getting a commitment from Marcin Gortat. The native of Poland spent the first two years of his NBA career backup up Dwight Howard on the Orlando Magic.

The contract the Mavs will reportedly give Gortat is the entire mid-level exception. Over five years, Gortat is expected to make more than $30 million. Due to Gortat being a restricted free agent, the Magic will have a chance to match the contract offer.

Last year, Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 12.6 minutes.

In fantasy basketball, Gortat will be a boom or bust type player. His per-minute numbers suggest he’s a very good rebounder and shot blocker. However, it’s risky depending on per-minute numbers.

If Gortat is the starting center for the Magic, he very well could be worth a look in the mid rounds of a fantasy basketball draft next year simply based on his potential.

On Sunday, two NBA Game 7s will take place. First, the Los Angeles Lakers will play the Houston Rockets in the decided game of their Western Conference battle. After that game, the Boston Celtics will host the Orlando Magic in a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference.

If you are playing playoff fantasy basketball, these two games could hold a lot of meaning for you. Which players could shine in their Game 7 contest?

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
After the Magic lost Game 5, Dwight Howard had a meltdown. He basically blamed the loss on not getting the ball enough. Howard got the ball a lot in Game 6 and expect him to get the ball a lot in Game 7.

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
When it comes to big times and big moments, Paul Pierce is usually the Celtics player who steps up. He has had some bad moments in this series but expect him to go off in Game 7.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Is there any doubt who the Lakers will go to in Game 7? Kobe Bryant could very likely end up with 40 or more points as the Lakers battle for their playoff lives against the Rockets.

Luis Scola, Houston Rockets
Without both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, Luis Scola is now arguably the best player on the Rockets. In Game 6, he dominated the action early on in the ballgame and helped the Rockets force a Game 7.

For those playing playoff fantasy basketball, you now have eight teams to choose from instead of 16. Here is the fantasy All-Star team comprised of those players still alive in the 2009 NBA Playoffs:

Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (Image: Newscom)

C Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
After plenty of rest following his Game 6 suspension in the first round, look for Dwight Howard to try to beat up on the depleted Boston Celtics. With Kevin Garnett out, Howard could go off.

PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
The Nuggets are a difficult matchup but Dirk Nowitzki should be able to have a solid series. He started off slow against the San Antonio Spurs but is starting to heat up.

SF LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Nobody is playing as well or as determined as LeBron James. He’s a fantasy basketball beast at this point.

SG Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are going to get a tough test from the Houston Rockets. That said, expect Kobe Bryant to get loose for a few big games.

PG Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
In the first round, Chauncey Billups was amazing. Against the Mavs, he’ll try to continue that magic.

Courtney Lee, the rookie sensation for the Orlando Magic, could miss the rest of the playoffs. Lee suffered a fractured sinus after taking an elbow to the face from superstar teammate Dwight Howard during Game 5 of the team’s first round series versus the Philadelphia 76ers. In the contest, Lee was only able to play six minutes before leaving the game.

While there’s a chance he could return in the playoffs, those chances don’t seem very likely. He has to undergo surgery to repair the fractured sinus.

During the regular season, Lee played in 77 games and started 41 of those contests. He averaged 8.4 points per game while shooting 45% from the field, 40.4% from the three-point line and 83% from the free throw line. In the playoffs, Lee averaged 15.8 points per game in the first four games of the series before getting hurt in the fifth game. He shot 48.1% from the field, connecting on 26-of-54 shot attempts.

On Thursday evening, the Magic were able to beat the Sixers to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Orlando won despite not having Lee or Howard able to play. Howard missed the game because he was serving a one-game suspension for elbowing Samuel Dalembert of the Sixers.

Dwight Howard’s first playoff games of the 2009 NBA postseason was filled with injury and insult. First he got hit in the eye by Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers, then he watched Andre Iguodala hit a game-winner that sent Howard and the Orlando Magic to a 100-98 loss.

Dwight Howard Scores of Samuel Dalembert (Image: Newscom)

Howard had to leave the game for a little while after getting his eye scratched. Although he said after the game that his eye was pulsating and that he wasn’t seeing clearly, Howard insisted that he won’t miss Game 2 in Orlando. Just to make sure Howard is healthy, he will meet with an eye doctor prior to Wednesday’s Game 2.

In Game 1, Howard finished the contest with 31 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and two assists, while making 11 of his 13 field goal attempts and 9 of his 12 free-throw attempts. In the regular season, Howard averaged 20.6 points per game while leading the entire NBA in rebounds (13.8) and blocks (2.9).

Nate Robinson won the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest thanks in large part to this memorable dunk over the back of Dwight Howard. You can see the Nate Robinson dunk video at the end of this entry.

Other winners on All-Star Saturday Night were the Detroit Pistons in the Shooting Stars, Derrick Rose in the Skills Challenge and Daequan Cook in the three-point shootout. However, the star of the night was the short guard on the New York Knicks.

In the fantasy basketball world, Robinson has had his ups and downs. He’s struggled both with injuries and his perimeter jumper at times this season. But if he can get healthy, there’s not reason he can’t flourish in Mike D’Antoni’s system.

In February, Robinson has started to show some of his fantasy potential. He’s averaging approximately 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. Those types of stats make him a very valuable fantasy guard.

Here’s the video of the Nate Robinson dunk over Dwight Howard:

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
As much as Dwight Howard can help you in a variety of categories, he’s an absolute killer as far as free throws are concerned. He leads the league in free throw attempts per game but he’s shooting only 57% at the line. All those misses can bring down any team’s percentage.

Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns
Even though Shaquille O’Neal isn’t quite as spry as he was when he was younger, he still gets to the line a whole lot. And Shaq is still Shaq as far as his pitiful free throw percentage. The only good news is that he’s shooting the best he has from the line since the 2002-03 season.

Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors
Andris Biedrins gets to the free throw line about five times per game. This season, he’s shooting about 60% from the line — which is actually an improvement for him. But that number is still low enough to do series damage.

Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats
The only reason Emeka Okafor isn’t in Howard’s or O’Neal’s company when it comes to his destructive nature at the free throw line is that he doesn’t get there that often. But when Okafor is at the line, you can count on a miss.

One stat that can be difficult to win is the blocked shot category. There are so few players who excel at blocking shots that it makes those players extra valuable. Here are some players who can really block some shots and thus help your fantasy basketball team.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Although he wasn’t much of a shot blocker until this season, Dwight Howard is suddenly the best in the business of blocking shots. Using his strength, length and athleticism, he’s become a terror around the rim.

Marcus Camby, Los Angeles Clippers
Over the last few seasons, Marcus Camby has been the player who many fantasy owners turned to for blocked shots. This season is no different as Camby ranks second in the league in blocked shots. However, keep an eye on his playing time now that Zach Randolph has arrived.

Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets
Even though he’s playing under 17 minutes a game, Chris Andersen is third in the NBA in blocked shots. He has thrived in his role of backup bigman behind Nene and Kenyon Martin. If an injury occurs and Andersen starts playing big minutes, he could really become a shot blocking monster.

Ronny Turiaf, Golden State Warriors
Like Andersen, Ronny Turiaf is getting a lot of blocked shots in a little bit of playing time. And also like Andersen, if he gets more playing time, Turiaf would help any fantasy team with his shot blocking. He was recently named a team captain, so perhaps there’s a bigger role for him in the future.

Photo credit: Newscom

With the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games a thing of the past and training camp approximately one month away, let’s take a look at 2008 NBA power rankings:

1. Boston Celtics - The defending champs are the team to beat.
2. Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers with Andrew Bynum will be tough.
3. San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs always seem to lurk near the top.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - With the addition of Mo Williams, watch out.
5. New Orleans Hornets - James Posey will add a mean streak in NO.
6. Detroit Pistons - The Pistons should once again win a lot of games.
7. Houston Rockets - Ron Artest could make the Rockets great.
8. Utah Jazz - The Jazz might be a tad overrated heading into 2008.
9. Phoenix Suns - The window is closing fast for the Suns.
10. Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard will make sure the Magic win.

Here is a Dwight Howard highlight reel video:

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Dwight Howard has never been accused of not having a personality. When the Orlando Magic center met Dominique Dawes at an Olympic practice, Howard nearly lost it. Watch the video at the end of this entry to see Howard’s reaction for yourself.

Howard apparently was a big fan of Dominique Dawes, who many remember as one of the most famous female gymnasts of the last quarter century. Dawes is working for Yahoo these days covering the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

While this news doesn’t affect Howard’s fantasy basketball stock, it appears he meant one of his real life fantasies.

Watch Dwight Howard nearly faint when he meets Dominique Dawes: