Everything You Need To Know, And Then Some.
21
Feb
2008
3:12pm
I don’t know whats going on because I have heard nothing for 20 minutes. Last I heard, at 2:50pm, it was Cleveland sending Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden and someone else to make the numbers match for Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon.
I also heard that the Nuggets were close to trading for Ron Artest.
Since 2:50, I have heard nothing. The trade deadline was 12 minutes ago. Wait to see what happens.
20
Feb
2008
The Spurs have acquired forward Kurt Thomas by sending Brent Barry and Francisco Elison to the Seattle Supersonics. Somehow, they are apparently still in the running for Ron Artest. How? I don’t know. It’s what I hear.
The Denver Nuggets have become the favorites for the Artest sweepstakes.
The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, and New York Knicks are still in talks that would supposedly send Zach Randolph to the Heat, Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to the Nets, and Vince Carter to the Knicks. Pat Riley denies it, but take that for what its worth.
Lots of talk about Sam Cassell to the Rockets or the Caveliers. The Cavs would include Daniel Gibson and someone else or a combination of picks. Last time the Cavs made a deal in haste, just to please the disgruntled King James, they signed Larry Hughes. I’d think long and hard if I were Danny Ferry.
19
Feb
2008
The big buzz around the league today is that the Lakers are in trade talks again to acquire another player who will make the squad the clear cut favorite to win the title. Who is this mystery player? Caron Butler, the Washington Wizards’ All Star forward who was traded by the Lakers a few years ago for Kwame Brown. Rumors are the Lakers are trying to ship Odom for Butler, straight up, despite the $5 million more that Odom makes. The move would make sense for both teams on the court, maybe not financially. By acquiring Butler, the Lakers would have a small forward who can score 25 points a game and grab 12 boards or score 8 points, grab 14 boards and have 4 steals and still be happy. Butler’s unselfish attitude and willing to do whatever it takes has made him a much sought after player. Not to mention, he has shut down defense capabilities.
The move would make sense for Washington because they would acquire a tall, lanky power forward in Odom who can shore up their mediocre interior presence. By having Odom and Haywood playing inside, Antawn Jamison would be able to move back to the small forward spot where he has a much easier time playing defense. The critics of this deal say that Odom is better playing small forward than power forward. This is true; in the west. The guys who he has to face in the west when he plays power forward are the likes of Amare, Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, and so forth. In the east, as a power forward, he would face guys like Drew Gooden and Hedo Turkoglu. Big difference. Adding a presence inside will make the Wizards a force and adding Butler to the Lakers will make them even more dangerous than they already are.
I have a feeling that the Nuggets are going to make a sizeable splash any minute now. Word got out that they were pursuing Ron Artest from the Kings, given the fact that the Kings are looking to unload (despite what they say), and the fact that Artest doesn’t come with a heavy price tag. Throwing him into the mix of Melo, AI, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby will make the fifth best defense in the league the best, right away. Imagine being the three seed in the West and having to face the Nuggets in the first round. Scary thought.
If the Nuggets don’t go the Artest route, look for them to get big man from New York Zach Randolph. The Knicks seem to have realized they made both a personnel and financial mistake in acquiring the power forward less than a year ago. Picking up Randolph won’t be as nice as Artest, but an improvement nonetheless.
ESPN had a report that Avery Johnson wanted to trade Dirk Nowitski after last year’s first round loss to the Warriors because Dirk was a softy. Apparently, Johnson’s opinion was shot down by who else; Mark Cuban… a.k.a. Mrs. Nowitski.
Cassell to the Celtics? Rockets? Caveliers? Sam Cassell wants to be on a contender right away and look for the three aforementioned teams to make some sort of a push to acquire the veteran point guard. If he is not moved by the trade deadline, he could be released later in the season in time to make a playoff roster.
18
Feb
2008
Has to be one of the funniest sports pranks I’ve ever seen… Enjoy.
17
Feb
2008
Think about some of the worst decisions you’ve ever made. I can bet that at least half of them, if not more, were made in a rush to judgment, altered state of mind, or a panic. Looking back on those decisions, I think it’s safe to say that they could have been avoided had a little more thought and rationale gone into them. The same goes for the Dallas Mavericks.
Sometimes not making a trade is a better move for a franchise than making a trade in haste. Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers have catapulted themselves from a bottom five to eight seed to a top two team, almost overnight. It is a fact that they pulled of a stunning and lopsided trade. The Suns also made a trade, one that can be viewed as either a great move or a dud, depending on your opinion on Shaq. Two of your biggest rivals have made moves; that doesn’t mean you need to. There is no question that Jason Kidd would be a great addition to the Mavericks and would give them a great chance at reaching the Finals again. But the question is, at what price?
If you believe in selling the farm for a one shot run at the title, I’m sure you agree with trading away Devin Harris, Diop, Stackhouse, picks and cash for a 35 year old point guard. But if you believe in having a team that is competitive perennially, then this trade does not make sense. Fans of all sports have one thing in a common; a short memory. It was only two seasons ago that the Dallas Mavericks were in the NBA Finals. It was just last year that they were the top seed in the West with an incredible record of 67-15! I know they lost their first round meeting with the Warriors, which was as big an upset as any, but you can’t take one series loss and say, “Well, we’ve got to blow this thing up because it’s not working.” Winning 67 games out of 82 doesn’t happen by accident; it is an incredible feat, especially considering that they overcame any sort of hangover from losing in the Finals the year before. This year, amidst all this trade talk, they are only two games out of first place in the west. Obviously, what they have works and where I come from, you don’t fix something that ain’t broke. Period.
Suppose somehow this trade does go through, which at this point looks unlikely given the block by Devean George and the moronic comments to the media by Jerry Stackhouse. (For those who haven’t followed as closely, Stackhouse made public comments about how the Nets will buy out his contract and he’ll return to the Mavs after 30 days. The league didn’t like this and have made clear that they will not allow Stack to rejoin the Mavs.) But take a hypothetical situation and figure that the Mavs somehow find replacements in the deal for George and Stackhouse. Trading away Devin Harris, a 24 year old point guard who is arguably the best defender at his position, is not a good idea. The guy has improved each year he’s played and is the one point guard who has the speed to keep up with Tony Parker. Desagna Diop is also extremely valuable considering the only other center on the roster for Dallas is…. wait for it… Erick Dampier! Now correct me if I’m wrong, but it is the Western Conference that boasts the likes of Yao Ming, Shaq-Amare, Pau Gasol-Andrew Bynum, and some guy named Tim Duncan, right? You want to go to war against those guys with Erick Dampier? I wouldn’t.
Jason Kidd is a magnificent player who creates openings and makes plays that make you hit rewind on the DVR, just to see if your vision is still 20/20. There is absolutely no question in my mind that adding Kidd would help the Mavericks, IF they can hold on to at least Diop. Trading Harris and Diop for Kidd is a bad move and it will set the Mavericks back. The Mavs need to take a deep breath and look at the facts and they are as follows:
*The Spurs may look sloppy because they are in “coast” mode right now, but you never know. One thing you do know is that they aren’t getting any younger.
*The team you have right now is better than the Suns with Shaq. Why? The biggest nuisance for Dirk when playing the Suns was Shawn Marion. He’s not there anymore.
*The Lakers got better, but injuries aren’t being kind to them, and we don’t know what Bynum will be like when he comes back.
Will bringing Kidd in and the shipping away of Harris and Diop make the Mavs better than the Spurs?
No.
Better than the Suns?
Definitely not.
Better than the Lakers?
Highly doubt it.
If the Mavs take all that into consideration, they will avoid looking back at this season two years from now when former MVP Dirk Nowitski is 31 and wondering if they let the actions of others dictate their success; or lack thereof.
ALL-STAR SATURDAY
Dwight Howard is a freak! If you missed the dunk contest last night, you missed greatness. Howard’s first dunk, a toss off the back of the backboard, catch, windmill around the front while still having his head behind the glass made me cover my mouth with both hands, gasp with my eyes wide like a 13 year old girl at a Hannah Montana concert. If you didn’t see the dunk but just watched the reactions of spectator NBA stars like Kobe, you’d be thinking you missed something along the likes of Jordan’s free throw line dunk or one of Dominique’s highlight reels. What made the contest even better was Howard followed that first amazing dunk with even more entertaining ones, like “The Superman”. Gerald Green was amusing as well with “The Birthday Cake”. Anyone who was still skeptical of whether the dunk contest was legit isn’t skeptical today; I can tell you that much.
Jason Kapono can gun it. I knew he won the 3 point shoot out last year but to defend it again this year by tying the record with 25 out of 30 is really impressive. At one point, Kapono buried ten in a row. I really wish Ray Allen was in this contest because there is only one pure shooter who I think is better than Kapono, and he wears 20 for Boston.
The All Star game itself is tonight and I can’t wait. It is the best All Star game of any of the major sports and despite what people may think, these guys get real competitive as the game nears the fourth quarter. One sidenote/grip I have is with the NBA and their handling of the Kobe situation. As you probably know, he was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his pinky. He has made it clear that he wants to avoid surgery and play through the pain so that he can keep his Lakers on track AND so that he can compete for the United States in the Summer Olympics. League rules state that if a player played his last game before the All Star weekend, and intends to play his first game after the weekend, he is required to participate in the actual All Star game. Look, if the guy is willing to risk further injury to his body for his team and for the United States Olympics team, that is admirable and he should be allowed to do that. But risking further injury by playing in an All Star game or facing suspension and fines is taking away from the spirit of the game itself. Everyone knows that Bryant has always tried to put on a show for the fans; see last year’s All Star game in which he was the MVP. It is clear that he is not being selfish and is trying to do what’s best for his team. Give the guy a break and let him sit out if he wants to. It’s not like you’re doing the fans a favor by having Kobe come out half hearted, play for the first two minutes and then sit down for the remainder of the game. Such rules should take situations into consideration, case by case.
Enjoy the All Star game tonight folks and check back tomorrow for my thoughts on that, and much more.
15
Feb
2008
Can you remember the last time there were as many enormous sports stories as we’ve had thus far in February? I certainly cannot. You had one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, the Clemens-McNamee saga, arguably the greatest center of all time traded to the best team (record wise) in the Western Conference, the Commissioner of the most popular sports league in the country called to answer questions and defend his strange actions in Washington regarding Spygate, and most recently, you have one of the top five point guards in NBA history on his way to being traded to Dallas, only to have the transaction blocked by a bench player with a clause in his contract. Not to mention the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers traded their dirt for gold, leaped to become favorites to win the Championship (according to Vegas odds makers), and now suddenly face the possibility of losing Kobe Bryant for 6-8 weeks if he opts for surgery.
Catch your breath yet? I haven’t.
Each one of these stories deserves its own write up, but in the essence of time, I will give you my take on each event, starting with Clemens.
Clemens Reputation Ruined
Well, you’ve got to admit, the guy didn’t hold back when it came to defending himself. He didn’t hide from the public, didn’t hide from 60 minutes, didn’t hide from Congress even. Maybe he should have? It’s hard to tell. The reaction would have probably been even more negative had he stayed silent. However, based on his stories and accounts which were constantly changing, one thing is clear. Roger Clemens is no saint.
I wanted to believe that he was clean, but deep down I knew that it was highly unlikely that he was. It’s hard to believe that the guy’s best friend and training partner was using HGH and he had no idea. What makes it even harder to believe is that Debbie Clemens, his wife, was using HGH and he didn’t know what the stuff even was. Come on, who are you trying to fool? This entire saga is so odd because of the lengths Clemens has gone to and the risks he has taken to clear his name of using steroids. He’s risking jail time stemming from possible perjury charges just so people believe him. But when you look at everything, and you look at how he can’t seem to keep his story straight, it’s really hard to take the guy’s word for it. Make no mistake; Brian Macnamee isn’t some credible witness who’s out there trying to do the right thing. He’s as big a joke as any. But the accounts that he has given have added up. Clemens accounts have not.
I don’t think the judicial system will push for perjury charges against him though, and I think that this was the last time we’ll have to see a baseball related Congressional hearing. The Rocket was consistently right about one thing though; No matter what he does or says, his reputation will never be restored.
Shaq to Phoenix
Everyone piled on at first saying that the Shaq trade to Phoenix was absolutely ridiculous. Then, as always, people listened to Shaq talk and bowed down to “The Big Aristotle” and changed their views. Suddenly, they went from saying “There is no way Shaq can run with that team” to “OH, uh, Shaq.. Shaq’s a great teammate and he won’t mind being the fifth option. He’ll make it work!”
Bull.
If you honestly believe that a 300lb plus, old and slow center that’s well past his prime can fit into a system run by Steve Nash, you’re lying to yourself. I’m so sick and tired of people falling in love with Shaq like he’s Jessica Alba. Look at the facts. He’s not an offensive threat anymore. He was taken out by Pat Riley to avoid getting the record for most consecutive games fouling out. He can’t play defense anywhere like he used to and teams in the West all have big guys who can play inside AND outside. Shaq can’t run the fast break.
“Well, he’s going to grab the boards and outlet.”
Umm, somehow I think that a fast break with Nash, Marion and Bell is better than Nash, Bell and Grant Hill while Shaq is back on the other end of the court eating a donut. Maybe that’s just me. Also, this absolute GARBAGE talk about how Shaq is a great teammate drives me through the roof. Every team he has left, he’s left on bad terms. Okay, Orlando was retarded to not try and resign him and he had a falling out with Penny Hardaway. Blame that one on Orlando. Okay, Kobe and Phil piled on Shaq in the media calling him fat and lazy; blame that on the Lakers. What about Miami? What about the guy Shaq was in love with? You think Dwayne Wade and Shaq were on good terms? They weren’t even speaking to each other anymore. Pat Riley and Shaq weren’t speaking either. You think it’s a coincidence that every place he leaves, it’s because of a problem with the other star player? I don’t. I think Shaq is a selfish ego maniac who gets too much credit for being a great teammate just because he gives the media good soundbites. By the way, don’t forget what Shaq said about Nash winning the MVP. He said that the MVP award has “lost its credibility”. When asked about those comments, he suddenly had amnesia and forgot ever saying it. Here’s the fact of the matter.
- You can’t have both Amare and Shaq playing inside together because they have the same, one dimensional game. Stand within 6 feet of the basket, catch the ball or rebound it, and dunk. Neither one of them can step outside and shoot worth a nickel.
- The Suns get open shots when in half court situations by running the pick and roll. They are as good as any when it comes to running it. That’s why you don’t see Bell or Barbosa dribbling around; they run through screens, catch and pop. Shaq cannot play in the pick and roll because he’s not a threat to catch and shoot a jumper.
- Shaq’s enormous body will clog the very same lanes that the Suns have thrived on running through for open looks.
- Duncan and Gasol-Bynum will abuse the Suns inside because both have the ability to step away from the basket and hit shots. Don’t forget the biggest weakness in Amare’s game is his defense.
- Speaking of defense, losing Marion takes away your best defender. Raja Bell is a stud defender when he’s not picking up a foul per 30 seconds, something Kobe and Manu have caused him to do. Marion also spreads the floor by means of being able to shoot from deep. By losing him, you take away your best defender and one of the most versatile players in the league.
Everyone who’s in favor of the Shaq deal says, “The Suns didn’t get to the championship with Marion before.” Hit rewind and think back to last year. The Suns lost to the Spurs because of the suspensions handed out to Amare and Co. because of Robert Horry and the whole incident that happened with the flagrant foul. Had that not happened, the Suns would have won that series. Anyone who argues otherwise is misinformed.
My point is, you don’t break up a team that is winning (first place when they made the trade) to pick up a slower, older, and more expensive player. It doesn’t make sense and the Suns will suffer the consequences soon enough. One last point I wanted to make; Shaq is suddenly talking about winning a championship and playing healthy the rest of the season. Doesn’t anyone find it strange that just a couple of weeks ago, he was injured and unable to play at full strength for the rest of the season? Funny how no one calls him out on that. I just did. He’s a selfish player who will limit the Suns from advancing deep into the playoffs. Take that to the bank.
(Doesn’t sound like Wade is going to miss Shaq too much, does it)
More to come on Goodell vs. Congress, Dallas Trading for Kidd, and the landscape of the NBA.
6
Feb
2008
Though I didn’t have time to write an article on the Shaq-to-Phoenix trade today, I thought I’d paste part of my conversation with site contributor, Colin, here for you all to see and get my take on the move.
The more I think about the trade for Shaq… the less sense it makes to me
I don’t understand the concept of bringing in a 36 year old, 300lb center who isn’t 1/4th of what he used to be.. Can’t run the floor, is average at best offensively for that position..
Throw in the fact that he’s due 20 mil over the next two years. You bring that in for what? How is that going to work? You’re going to run 4 on 5 fast breaks while he lags behind? Or are u going to have 4 on 5 defense when he’s stuck on the other end after a defensive rebound?
Or what, you’re going to slow down the game and play half court, which has been Nash’s weakest point. He’s been the MVP by RUNNING the floor. You won 62 games, 61 games, and on pace to win 58 while playing average right now… still first place in the west. How can u disrupt that?
And even if u want to get rid of Marion.. fine.. at the end of the season let him walk.. Clears up 17 mil for u to play free agency with. Now what? Now u got 20 mil this year for Shaq and 20 mil next year so u can’t do jack in the free agent market
What did the Celtics do by bringing in KG and Ray ray.. They brought in pieces to the puzzle.. You had a great small forward in pierce, added the inside game with KG and the outside threat with Ray ray. That’s building a team. What did the lakeshow do? You had Kobe running the guard position, have a solid young guy in Bynum playing center.. so u bring in a great player in Gasol to assist on the inside and let Odom move down to small forward where he’ll be sick… that’s a good trade, improves your team.
Phoenix?? Unbelievable what they just did. Makes less and less sense by the minute.
5
Feb
2008
Thanks to Peter for this bit.
The Miami Heat have told Shaquille O’Neal and his representation that they should be prepared for him to be traded in the near future. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Phoenix has discussed sending forward Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks to the Heat in return for O’Neal. Shaq’s representatives said they have been made aware that discussions with Phoenix are serious and ongoing, but that a deal was not definite. Marion can opt out of his contract worth $17.1 million at the end of the season. And if he opts out, the Heat would then have substantial salary cap space this offseason, when potential free agents include Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Marion, Antawn Jamison, Ron Artest and Corey Maggette. Stay tuned.
Kobe vs Shaq in Western Conference Finals? Could it be?
4
Feb
2008
There may be no other venue of entertainment in which we witness as many bittersweet moments, as many David vs. Goliath scenarios play out, or more outcomes filled with irony. Most of us are familiar with the Godfather trilogy, or at least Godfather I and II. In Godfather I, Michael Coreleone convinces his wife that he will never be like his father, the mob leader at that time. By the end of the movie and into Godfather II, we see that Michael is not only just like his father, but gone beyond his father’s peak of power and arrogance. The New England Patriots upset of the St.Louis Rams in the Super Bowl years back was one of the biggest upsets in championship history. One of the key motivating tools that Coach Belichick used was the fact that the Rams had already planned their Super Bowl parade, days before the game even took place. Fast forward a few years and it’s those same Patriots, the once underdogs with the “nobody gave us a chance” mentality, who planned a Super Bowl victory parade in downtown Boston days before the game. It’s the Patriots who have trademarked the “19-0” term, before ever reaching their 19th victory. It’s the Patriots sportswriters who already began selling books about their perfect season on amazon.com, a full week before the players even took the field. So it is clear that sometimes, everything you try not to be and the very things you looked down upon in the past, are the very things that you can one day become.
The Giants may not go on to be a dominant team that wins two more Super Bowls like New England did after beating the Rams. The Giants may very well not even make the playoffs next year for all we know. But for one night, on the biggest stage of them all, the Giants were the best football team in the world. They were more intense, more physical, and played with more passion. They never let up on their intensity. Even in the fourth quarter when the Patriots were putting together a long drive and Giants defenders were visibly gassed, substitutes kept coming in and keeping the fort together. When the Giants defense gave up what seemed to be the back breaking touchdown with 2:42 left in the game, the team stuck together. Michael Strahan didn’t go sit on the sideline to mope. He immediately got infront of the offensive linemen and gave them a pep talk. Who knows what was said? Whatever it was, it worked. Eli Manning didn’t hang his head knowing that he had the daunting task that only the likes of John Elway, Joe Montana, or oddly enough, Tom Brady could pull off. He got ready for a drive; a drive that will live in Super Bowl infamy.
Perhaps the most symbolic play of the Giants season and the game against the Patriots occurred on third down near midfield with less than 1:20 to play. Eli Manning dropped back for a pass and was blitzed. He stepped up into the pocket, only to find himself in the grasp of two Patriot linemen, with a third approaching to bring him down. Anyone watching that game knew that he was about to be sacked for a loss. Even the referee came running in, ready to blow his whistle. Somehow, Eli escaped the clutch of 300 pounders and broke free. He lobbed a pass down the middle of the field to David Tyree, who was surrounded by three Patriots. Tyree caught the ball using his hand and his helmet, held on to it, and gave the Giants new life inside the 25 yard line with less than a minute to go. Had to be one of the most spectacular catches I’ve ever seen. Fittingly enough, the game winning touchdown pass came moments later to Plaxico Burress of all people, who took a lot of heat for guaranteeing a win.
As a fan of the game, I don’t think I could have asked for a better Super Bowl. Unlike so many other Super Bowls, this one had the feeling of a real playoff type of game. You could feel the intensity and pressure through the television screen. By the fourth quarter, I was cheering for the Giants so hard, I had forgotten that they are an arch rival of my Washington Redskins. But that’s what I mean when I say that the game completely drew me in and there’s not much more you can ask for. The only other time I saw a Super Bowl filled with this much anxiety and suspense was the Patriots upsetting the Rams.
Ironic.
Random Thoughts
*Quote of the Night: “18-1. They can go trademark that!” – Osi Umenyora in reference to the Patriots trademarking “19-0”.
*It was great to see Peyton cheering so hard for Eli. Sibling rivalries are nice but it’s even better to see the bond between them in moments of triumph; as cheesy as that is.
*A lot is being made about Belichick walking off the field with 1 second left. I don’t think it was a big deal. He had already met with Coughlin at midfield and that one second was put back on the clock after it initially said zero.
*Here is where Belichick deserves to get railed on. Up 7-3 in range for a 48 yard field goal, and he goes for it on 4th and 13? That makes absolutely no sense to me at all. It would be one thing if the Patriots offense was clicking, but even then, it’s a stretch. If you don’t have confidence in your kicker, punt it down inside the 15 and let your defense do their job because they had only given up 3 points up to that point. Bizarre decision by Belichick.
*Eli Manning got the MVP award but Justin Tuck deserves a mention. He was a monster in the first half and continued to play at a high level in the second half. I believe he had six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the first half alone! He was pivotal in the Giants winning that game.