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.

Houston Rockets star center Yao Ming missed the game on Friday night against the Golden State Warriors due to a sore right foot. Yao, who has now played in 75 of the team’s 80 games, seems to think that the injury isn’t serious. He says that he plans to play in Houston’s next game.

Yao Ming, Houston Rockets (Image: Flickr)

Despite Yao’s optimism, any news regarding a foot injury is scary news. He has missed a lot of time in recent years with foot and leg injuries and with the playoffs starting on April 18th, the Rockets can’t afford to have him sidelined for too long.

In the fantasy basketball world, one interesting name that is relevant if Yao misses a game is Dikembe Mutombo. The 43-year-old filled in for Yao against the Warriors and had a very impressive outing. In 35 minutes, Mutuombo had ten points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Luis Scola is another player who would get increased touches with Yao out. Versus Golden State, Scola finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes of play.

Manu Ginobili will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his ankle this week after re-injuring the ankle during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Ginobili, who helped Argentina win the Bronze Medal, will likely miss between two and three months.

This news is obviously bad for the San Antonio Spurs. With as hard as the Western Conference will be this year, they can ill afford for any of their Big Three to go down. Now with Ginobili sidelined, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker will have to pick up the slack.

Fantasy basketball wise, this news may be good to newly acquired guard Roger Mason, Jr. If Mason starts in place of Ginobili, he could get a lot of shots in the Spurs offense. Mason put up impressive stats when he started games for the Washington Wizards next year. Keep an eye on how much playing time he gets early on in the 2008-09 season.

The other players who could see their minutes increase are Michael Finley and Ime Udoka. However, those two players won’t help much in the fantasy basketball world.

The earliest Ginobili will be back is December 1st. Until then, watch this Manu Ginobili highlight reel video of him playing with the Argentina basketball national team:

Which basketball players were the best in the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games? While many players performed very good, here are the best of the best:

Kobe Bryant, USA
When Team USA got in trouble, Kobe Bryant took over and got the Gold Medal for the United States. Kobe was lights out down the stretch of the game. His four-point play was the turning point of the game.

Pau Gasol, Spain
While Spain wasn’t able to shock the world and beat the United States, Gasol did all he could. The Los Angeles Lakers forward led the entire Olympic Games in points and played extremely well in all the games except for the first game against the US.

Luis Scola, Argentina
Although Manu Ginobili led Argentina in scoring, Ginobili wasn’t able to play in the Bronze Medal game. Scola, without Ginobili, stepped up and was the best player for Argentina as they took home the bronze. The Houston Rockets had to love what the saw out of their power forward.

LeBron James, USA
Even though Kobe Bryant took the USA home at the end, LeBron James along with Dwyane Wade were the best players on the team over the course of the entire tournament. LeBron was very good on both ends of the court and became the team’s emotional leader.

Hamed Ehadadi, Iran
Although other players such as Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Ricky Rubio of Spain were equally as impressive, no one was a better story than this little known center out of Iran. Hamed Ehadadi entered the Olympics as a player not many scouts were aware of — even international scouts. Now Ehadadi appears set to join the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.

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Ron Artest has been traded to the Houston Rockets in a move that makes the Rockets one of the best teams in the NBA on paper. In return, the Kings received Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a future number one draft pick.

The Kings did the trade because in return they get a young player in Greene who shined in the Vegas Summer League, an expiring contract in Jackson (who just happens to be a fan favorite in Sacramento) and a future pick. For the Kings, they get a couple of young pieces without having to add salaries to the books.

The Rockets did the trade to try to win a championship. With a Big Three of Artest, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, the Rockets will now be true championship contenders as long as they remain healthy. In addition to the Big Three, the Rockets have solid role players in Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Brent Barry and Luis Scola.

Artest personally should have a very good season in Houston. The Rockets will let him score as much as he can. Defensively, his rebounding and blocks could go up because he’s likely to see a lot of time at power forward. Artest has played for Rick Adelman in the past and had good fantasy basketball success.

All around, this a good trade for the Kings, Rockets and Artest’s value in fantasy basketball.

Here is a video with more on the Ron Artest trade:

Although Manu Ginoibli has some injury concerns, he will play for Argentina in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Ginobili said he would decline to play if his injury woes didn’t subside. Apparently, the Argentine guard is healthy enough to give it a go.

Argentina definitely needed Ginobili to have a shot to repeat as Olympic champions. While it will be difficult for Argentina to again win gold like they did in 2004, without Ginobili it would have been impossible.

Joining Ginobili on the Argentinean Olympic team will be many players NBA fans are aware of including Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino.

Will Ginobili be able to win gold again?

Photo: Newscom

Manu Ginobili was hobbled during the 2008 NBA Playoffs due to an ankle injury. Although Ginobili has been off the ankle for about three weeks, he hasn’t seen much improvement in his ankle. For that reason, Ginobili fears he may not be able to represent Argentina as the South American country tries to defend its gold medal in the 2008 Olypmic Games.

If Ginobili is unable to play for Argentina, the chances of Argentina being able to win a gold will be all but dashed. Ginobili is Argetina’s best player and one of the best players in the world in international competition.

For the 2008-09 fantasy basketball season, Ginobili should be fine. His ankle isn’t seriously injured and it’s believed he’d be able to return to 100% by training camp in October. However, if he opts to play for Argentina in the Olympics and re-injures his ankle, Ginobili may be in for a difficult NBA season next year.

Will Manu Ginobili be able to play for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics?

Photo: Newscom

Despite being slowed in the playoffs due to an ankle injury, Manu Ginobili should be ready to go for the Olympics this summer. Ginobili will again lead Argentina as that South American country goes for its second consecutive gold medal.

Ginobili’s play suffered more and more as the playoffs went along. Against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, Ginobili become a non-factor outside of his Game 3 30-point explosion.

Although the San Antonio Spurs will worry about the wear and tear Ginobili will put on his body this summer, there was no thought of telling him to skip the Olympics. Ginobili has repeatedly stated how important playing in the Olympics is for him and his country.

Ginobili will be joined on the Argentina national team by his Spurs teammate Fabricio Oberto. Former Spurs draft pick Luis Scola, now a member of the Houston Rockets, will also represent Argentina.

Photo: Newscom

While Kevin Durant will be named the NBA Rookie of the Year, there were a handful of rookies who had a positive impact in the fantasy basketball world. Let’s take a look at the top five.

1. Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics
While Kevin Durant sometimes struggled, he also showed his immense talent for large stretches. He’s a great scorer who is an improving rebounder and passer. Going forward, Durant looks like he could be a superstar in the NBA.

2. Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Rookies don’t come much more solid than Al Horford. He walked into the NBA and was a very good player from day 1. If he can become even better offensively, he could become a franchise player. The Hawks have to be very excited with their pick.

3. Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers didn’t have many things to be excited about this year, but Al Thornton was one of the few bright spots. He’s a multi-positional forward who can score, rebound and is as tough as they come. Going forward, he has a chance to be a very good fantasy player.

4. Jamario Moon, Toronto Raptors
Jamario Moon started most of the season and was helpful in fantasy basketball in a number of areas. He can score a bit, shoot a bit, rebound, block shots and get steals. If he remains in the starting lineup, he could have a huge amount of fantasy potential next season.

5. Luis Scola, Houston Rockets
Once Yao Ming went down injured, Luis Scola stepped up and became the best bigman on the Rockets. The overseas veteran was an NBA rookie who made a very successful transition. Scola should be an even better player next season.

Photo: Newscom

If you have Rafer Alston in your fantasy basketball lineup for the final game of the Houston Rockets regular season, take him out. Alston suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a week.

With the playoffs starting this weekend, this is horrible timing for an injury. It sounds like Alston will miss the first two games of the playoffs, if not more. His surprisingly effective fantasy basketball season is all but over.

In Alston’s place, Bobby Jackson will get the start. As a spot starter, you may get good production out of Jackson. Jackson isn’t much of a playmaker but he can score and come up with steals. Jackson will be backed up by Aaron Brooks and Luther Head.

The Rockets desperately need a win in their season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers. A loss will likely drop the Rockets to the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. A win will likely mean a first round with homecourt advantage.

With that in mind, start players like Tracy McGrady and Luis Scola with confidence.

Check out this streetball video of Rafer Alston: