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 Project Spurs: Spurs remain undefeated in simulated NBA season - The NBA lockout will last at least the rest of the month but that hasn't stopped our friends over at AccuScore to give San Antonio Spurs fans a glimpse of what could have been the Spurs first few games. AccuScore continues to simulate the 2011-2012 NBA season and tonight the Spurs would have faced the Golden State Warriors. And according to the simulation, the Spurs would have won a close one over the Warriors thanks to strong play from Manu Ginobili and rookie Kawhi Leonard.  READ MORE
Duncan relaxing in Vegas during lockout - Tim Duncan is looking for way to occupy his time during the lockout. After all, there’s only so many video games you can play with your kids or do conditioning work. And I’m sure Duncan has done a lot of that waiting for the NBA season to begin. Duncan made a visit to Las Vegas last week where he visited the cast of “Absinthe,” which bills itself as the best show on the Vegas strip. “Absinthe” is described as “a surreal experience for adults, the fantastical blend of carnival and spectacle that features wild and outlandish acts in a theatre-in-the-round presentation suitable for all seasons.”  READ MORE
Locked-out NBA stars to play for charity in Dallas - The NBA is coming to Dallas. Not the real NBA. But a version of it that could possibly satisfy the palates of fans who are starving to see some of their favorite players in action during the lockout. Forward Josh Howard, who started his career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2003 and now plays for the Washington Wizards, will host an all-star charity basketball game at 6 p.m. Saturday at P.C. Cobb Field House. Tickets for the Josh Howard Celebrity All-Star Basketball Game can be purchased at www.joshhowardfoundation.com, The Fade Shop and Ten Sports Grill. The prices are $15 in advance, $25 at the door and $50 for floor seats. Players who have committed to the game include John Wall, Nick Young and Andray Blatche of the Wizards, Marquis Daniels of the Sacramento Kings, and Quinton Ross and Damion James of the New Jersey Nets.  READ MORE
Jason Terry heads to NY unsure of next move - As one of the 30 player representatives summoned to New York for a Tuesday meeting with NBA Players Association officials as a Wednesday deadline to accept the league's latest proposal looms, Dallas Mavericks team rep Jason Terry described the critical trip like this: "It’s just like walking into a dark room and you don’t know what’s behind the door," Terry said Monday morning. "Going up there to this meeting, I don’t know what to expect. Emotionally, it’s been draining, the whole process. One week you think something is going to get done and then the next week things turn for the worse." With the first month of the regular season already canceled, a group of NBA players seriously exploring decertification of the union -- a move Terry said he has not yet formed an opinion -- and the league promising a significantly worse deal if the players don't accept the one on the table, Terry said he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic that a deal will be reached over the next 48 to 72 hours, but he realizes the entire season could hang in the balance.  READ MORE
Bill Worrell wins Emmy Award - Bill Worrell, one of the most recognizable television sports broadcasters in Texas, was honored with an Emmy for best play-by-play announcer in the state at Saturday’s 9th annual Lone Star Emmy Awards held in Houston. Worrell was recognized for his work on FOX Sports Houston’s Rockets broadcasts. “I’m thrilled to be honored by my peers,” said Worrell, who has been the play-by-play voice of the Rockets since the 1986-87 season. “This is a pleasant surprise and a great honor. I’d like to thank all of the people at FOX Sports Houston and the Houston Rockets for all of their support through the years.” Worrell’s broadcasting career spans more than 40 years, all in the Houston market. He was one of the original employees for Home Sports Entertainment, the predecessor to FOX Sports Houston, and signed the network on the air on January 3, 1983. Prior to that, Worrell spent 13 years at Houston NBC affiliate KPRC after graduating from the University of Houston where he attended on a baseball scholarship.  READ MORE
A Hello and an Extremely Premature Preview of the NBA Southwest's Off-Season - The first thing you should know about me is that I was nearly named Hakeem. No, really, but that is a story for another time. Anyway, I'm Patrick, the newest writer here at The Dream Shake. I'm a huge Rockets fan and very passionate about the teams and all the other stuff that writers are supposed to say when they introduce themselves. I must say though that I'm extremely excited for the opportunity here and a huge thank you is in order to Tom. Those of you who know me probably know this, but I've written for Bleacher Report for about the last two years. I have no complaints with Bleacher Report, it provided me with tremendous exposure and a great platform for my writing. Still, I'm thrilled to get the chance to join SBNation and The Dream Shake and share what I have with you all. Since I'm apparently supposed to write about basketball, let me get on to it. Today, we're going to get into the division and how the off-season may look when this lockout is resolved. Most of this may be a moot point if the union decides to decertify and end the season in the next week, but we'll go through the exercise anyway.  READ MORE
Hard-Line Factions Threaten Latest N.B.A. Negotiations - At 4 p.m. Saturday, two groups of weary adversaries will gather once more around a hotel conference table and try to settle the N.B.A. lockout — if they can only hold off the agitating factions behind them. This critical meeting will commence against a backdrop of ultimatums, threats and posturing by hardliners on both sides. The immense pressure could force N.B.A. and union officials to make a deal, or destroy any chance they have, jeopardizing the 2011-12 season. “You know, hope springs eternal,” Billy Hunter, the executive director of the players union, said Thursday. But that was before disenchanted constituencies of owners and players began threatening to undermine a deal. A group of players is planning a drive to dissolve the union if it accepts any deal that reduces the players’ share of revenue below 52.5 percent. The league is facing an equal threat from a group of 10 to 14 owners — led by Charlotte’s Michael Jordan — who are determined to cap the players at 50 percent, according to a person who has spoken with the owners. The hardliners are expected to reiterate that stance when all 29 owners meet Saturday morning in Manhattan, about six hours before the bargaining session.  READ MORE
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Offseason questions: How to split catcher? - We've got two offseason questions left, and we go behind the plate for this next one. Today's question: How do the Rangers split the catching position in 2012? On the surface, this might seem like an easy question. Mike Napoli was the starting catcher in the playoffs and will head to spring training as the starter, as well. But this is Texas. The Rangers played nearly two months in temperatures at home of more than 100 degrees. Napoli benefitted from splitting time with Yorvit Torrealba and getting breaks by either playing at first or DH or getting a day off. Mike Napoli took over the primary catching duties in the playoffs, but splitting time with Yorvit Torrealba helped keep both players fresh. It's not a stretch to say that the ability to avoid being overworked in the heat helped Napoli stay fresh for the postseason. Doling out playing time is certainly an area that manager Ron Washington will have to monitor more than the front office, but Washington was careful to be sure that he kept Torrealba engaged, not only so the club would have his bat in the lineup as much as they could, but to keep Napoli from wearing down.  READ MORE
R-rated Ron Washington was meant for Texas Rangers' ears only - The rat within the Rangers' organization was busted. The person who recorded and leaked manager Ron Washington's pregame speech before Game 7 of the World Series was not a St. Louis Cardinals visiting clubhouse attendant as I originally suspected. The person was a member of the Rangers' traveling support staff. Rangers GM Jon Daniels would not say whether the employee was canned, but I have visions of Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura dancing in my head. Why anybody associated with the Rangers would make this recording, which went viral Monday, makes no sense, even if it was for fun. This is fly-on-the-wall stuff and basic clubhouse privacy should have been respected. Very little can be gleaned from this six-minute recording, other than that the manager of the Texas Rangers can go curse word for curse word with Chris Rock, his team sounded loose and Game 6 was still very much on the team's collective minds.  READ MORE
Texas Rangers pitching coach won't seek Red Sox managerial opening - Mike Maddux won't be going to Boston. The Texas Rangers pitching coach had an interview set up today with the Red Sox about their managerial opening, but pulled out on Monday, citing family reasons. "I could give more reasons why an opportunity like this should be taken rather than not, but the reason for withdrawing my name from consideration comes down to a family decision," he said. "My wife and two daughters are in the same state for the first time in three years and words cannot describe my happiness.  READ MORE
Free-agent pitcher Chris Sampson helps Tolleson family in wake of tragedy - Veteran right-hander Chris Sampson, a fan favorite in the Houston area, went the extra mile Sunday to help the family of the late Greg Tolleson by hosting "Camp for the Cause" for boys and girls of all ages at Baytown North Little League Fields. Tolleson, who served as the vice president of Baytown North Little League, was tragically killed in a truck accident on Oct. 24. The beloved member of the local community is survived by his wife, Kaci; son, Garrett; and also a second child that will be born in April. Sampson never had the honor of meeting Tolleson.  READ MORE
Plenty of Astros doing solid work in winter ball - Coming off their rookie seasons in the Major Leagues, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Jimmy Paredes and outfielder Brian Bogusevic have all been swinging hot bats in winter ball. Altuve, who made his Major League debut last July, was batting .394 with one homer and 12 RBIs through 17 games for Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League, showing the same form he did last season when he batted a combined .389 in the Minor Leagues at Double-A Corpus Christi and Class A Lancaster. After being called up on July 19 following the trade of Jeff Keppinger, Altuve hit .276 with two homers and 12 RBIs in his first Major League season and is penciled in as the team's starting second baseman in 2012. He was slugging .563 for Magallanes.  READ MORE
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Cowboys Game Ball Of The Week - This was not an easy choice. In a game that had some warts but eventually turned out all right, there were several players that made key contributions. The problem is that you could put five or six performances up on a dart board and pick that way, because each one had something to do with winning the game. I didn't actually do it that way, but I am prepared to see some difference of opinion on this one. And that is fine with me, because I could have gone another way entirely. There really isn't a right or wrong here. It's just one guy's opinion about who had the most noteworthy game against the Seattle Seahawks.  READ MORE
Cowboys seeing double vision at running back - Rookie DeMarco Murray has won over the Dallas Cowboys, but he hasn't won the starting job. When Felix Jones returns -- and it could be this week -- the Cowboys' veteran running back will get his touches. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday all three running backs, including rookie Phillip Tanner, will have roles. "We like Felix Jones a lot," Garrett said. "Felix has been a very good player for us, a dynamic player, made a lot of big plays both in the running game and in the passing game since he's been here. So there's going to be a role for Felix Jones coming back. We like to get him the football as well. "But it's been great to see both of those young guys emerge. To have two rookie running backs going into games in consecutive weeks, carrying the load for you and having the success that those guys have had, that's a good thing. That's a good problem to have. So we'll address it when Felix gets back." Jones has missed the past three games with a high left ankle sprain. He has started running and cutting, Garrett said.  READ MORE
Seven Reasons Why the Houston Texans Defense is First in the NFL - As much of a Houston Texans fan as I am…this was my birthday present this year —>…there is no way I could have ever had predicted that the Texans defense would have transformed as it has. What was the 30th ranked defense in the league (and was laughable at best) has now become the top ranked defense. It almost appears that someone flipped a switch and the Texans defense came to life in Frankenstein-ian fashion. Looking at this year’s defense there are a number of factors that have contributed to the great success of the defense. Key acquisitions in both the coaching staff and during free-agency made a huge impact as did this year’s draft. After parsing what we have seen thus far I have come up with what I consider to be the seven biggest contributors to the success of the Texans defense.  READ MORE
Apocalypse Alert: Texans have NFL’s #1 defense - Let THAT soak in for a minute. Obviously, statistics can lie. Strength of opponent certainly plays a part in Houston’s success, but the Texans are taking advantage of the soft part of the schedule, as they should. The above graphic is a beautiful thing, but let’s not forget the following facts that make this even more astounding: 1. The Texans not only changed defensive coordinators, but completely changed their scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4. 2. They did not have a full offseason to install the new system.  READ MORE
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Tuesday's Stars-Capitals preview: Can Lehtonen stop Washington superstar Ovechkin? - These are the two best teams in the NHL in points percentage, with Dallas tops at 10-3-0 (.769) and Washington second at 9-3-0 (.750). ... The Stars are coming off a 5-2 win in Carolina on Sunday and have won three straight. ... The Capitals lost, 5-3, to the Islanders on Saturday. ... Stars forward Loui Eriksson was the NHL's second star of the week with six points in two games. Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom was the third star of the week with six points in three games. ... Washington goalie Tomas Vokoun played the Stars a great deal when he was with Nashville and did not fare well, posting a 6-18-1 career record with a 2.64 GAA and .902 save percentage.  READ MORE
Loui Eriksson quietly produces for Stars - There’s nothing really flashy about Loui Eriksson’s game, but he does have a knack for producing goals and points. The Stars forward has been on a roll lately and his six points over the last two games earned him the NHL’s Second Star of the Week. “He’s one of those guys who when I watch video, he doesn’t jump off the screen,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “But you keep watching games and you see the subtleties in his game, and his brain.” You can look at the score sheet and see his production. He has 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) over the last four games and now has 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) in 13 games this season. He currently is tied for seventh in goal scoring in the NHL and is tied for ninth in points.  READ MORE
---Staff and Wire Reports contributed to this story
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