Linkin Fridray IX

Just in case you are to ashame to ask. This is the definition of a leap year

Honor Society of Leap Year Babies. Good Stuff

Leap year proposals. You have been warned!.


Top 50 Leap Year Facts.

Yao is Out

So much for this year's exultation of capturing glory.

Yao Ming is out for the season after a stress fracture in his left foot. For anybody who has followed Yao and the Rockets it's a know fact that they have won 12 straight games, before Yao went down, because of their defense and Yao is the building block of that defense. Said that, Houston is going to struggle migthly against high octane offense teams and teams featuring a scoring 1 or a scoring 2, which means the entire West and like 4 teams from the East.

Are the Rockets out of playoff picture? Not yet. They have to be thankful that the Blazers cinderella season doesn't appear to get the into the playoffs. They still have a chance but now the can forget the chase San Antonio, New Orleans and Dallas and begin to worried about the Nuggets and Warriors.


As for Yao goes, he's main problem right now is his country

"If I cannot play in the Olympics for my country this time, it will be the biggest loss in my career to right now," he said

If I were a Rockets I could be wondering right now "Is this guy having surgery or treatment or whatever the hell is doing on his foot in the strech run of our season, missing the playoffs in the process, to be able to recover for the Olympics?"


What's China has to said about all this

Doctors blamed the injury on accumulated stress on the bone, rather than any single incident. Titan said the true cause was the Rockets' failure to provide a reliable substitute for Yao, forcing him into too much game time.

"In fact, exhaustion was really the major reason behind Yao Ming's injury," the paper said.

I'm guessing relationships between the Rockets and China has been "aceptable" all this years. China has always had a eye on Yao and his development and his on going injuries but they have never made an statemente like that. David Stern is in love with China and it's investment potencial, wisely. I hope this doesn't mean that Stern is going to try to give a little "push" to improve the Rockets.


I know, that's very unprofessional and very "Suns fans " behaviour on my behalf (u know "Stern is fixing the league" type of statement) but well, as Puffy used to say "mo' money mo' problems"

Staying put

14 total trades. 4 Blockbusters. 24 teams adquired new players somehow. Yeap, there were lots of movement around the league. For a more complete analysis go read Holllinger's piece about all those 14 trades.

There's always the other side of the coin. Those teams that didn't make any real moves, those players that didn't get a fresh start and that all are looking for next summer to a needed "shake up". Here are some of those teams and players




Mike Miller:Heat, Spurs, Rockets, Hornets, Magic, etc. They all were trying to get Miller. He's a great shooter, can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot and has a decent contract. As we all know Memphis is cutting lose of every contract they can but they were asking for high draft picks and most of the teams looking to get Miller were contenders, hence, low draft picks.


Ron Artest: Apparently the trade to Denver didn't went through 'cause the Nuggets didn't want to give Linas Kleiza. Why would Denver go after Artest? What's the point? The guy is crazy. He really is out there. Any team the appreciates locker room peace and chemistry and stuff like that should stay apart of Artest. For real. You know what, I'd really like to see Artest on New York. Don't know why. It would be fun.


Sam Cassell: Trade him! Buy him out! Do something with this guy. Why would the Clippers keep him? They could easily get at least a draft pick. They maybe holding him for next year when Livingston and Brand get back, but it will be far cheaper for them to sign a cheap back up for Livingston that having Cassell around.


Vince Carter: Are the Nets in rebuilding mode 'cause they traded their franchise player? I don't think so, Kidd wanted out all year long and one of the reason was Vince Carter. When the guy is not motivated (Because millions of dollars doesn't motivate him) he can really be a pain to his team and teammates. This is the reason why the Nets are trying to trade him to anywhere. Rumored deals to New York and Indiana never got rolling.


Jermaine O'neal: It is me or JO have like 2 more seasons in the tank. Seriously, since the brawl neither Jermaine nor the Pacers have been the same. Any team trading for O'neal have to had a Boston-Celtics-win-now approach.


Al Harrington and Mickael Pietrus: Both of this poor souls are in Don Nelson's doghouse since his comeback to Golden State. They are good players and should be quite effective in the right scheme. Harrington was linked to Chicago, Cleveland and New Jersey among other. Pietrus was courted by San Antonio, the Lakers, Rockets and Mavs.


New York Knicks: They had to do something. They needed to separte Randolph and Curry. They needed to get a real point guard. They needed to decide what to do with Quentin Richardson. Isiah Thomas is pretty sure that if they "keep working hard" everything would be a'right and the championship would surely follow them


Orlando Magic: They still need a enforcer to play alongside Howard and a veteran point guard never hurts. JJ Redick have been crying for a while to get traded and he could be useful for a team that actually plays him.


Toronto Raptors: Perhaps the biggest looser of the trading frenzy. They practically did nothing and their closer competitor, Lebron, got lot's of help. The team doesn't look hungry enough to make some real noice

Linkin Friday (Saturday) VIII

A great site for all of you gym freaks. They actually explain how do things the right way

Are you in the mood for learning stuff?

If you have a dog for a pet this site of Animal Planet has a lot of great info

How to draw a very cool car with paint. Or better, draw the Mona Lisa. Don't do this

The Basketball Gods' Are Good

And s&it load of trades went down at the headline.


The big one was the 11 player Ben Wallace trade. The Basketball Gods' are good because Chicago found a way to dump Big Ben. But now, instead of having a underpaid big man the Bulls have a underpaid shooting guard. I keep telling you, the Basketball Gods work in a misterius ways.Read the comments from blogabull, there's a little bit of everything. The Cavs are happy.


Yesterday news but Bonzi was sent to the Hornets. Just one word of advise, keep Bonzi as far as posible from Chris Paul. Seriously. I know stuff. At the association the trade didn't like either. At least at Swarming the Ball are content

Tim Duncan won't have to worry again about Kurt Thomas ' D


Gerald Green was traded to the Rockets for Kirk Snyder and some chopped liver.


The Nuggets and the Blazers made a minor deal exchanging Von Wafer for Taurean Green
Pretty lateral move is you ask me.



Detroit gets Juan Dixon in exchange for Primoz Brezec. Another lateral move

Are you ready?

I was supposed to write this post at the beggining of the week but I didn't had time hence I'm doing a short maybe more intersting version

Take a look at the stadings, drive your glance to the West conference and enjoy the madness. This last 30 something games are really going to be something that any NBA fan is going to love. Seriously, they are only 5 games between the first seed and the 9th seed and if you believe in Portland's dream then it will be 10 teams fighting for everything from the number one position to be the poor souls outside looking in

For me this are the keys for each team:

• Hornets: Can they keep calm once that every game is played at full intensity? I mean Chris Paul is a true MVP (top 3 in my opinion) but they have never play with those conditions.

• Suns: Shaquille. He is going to slow them down. He is going to be in foul trouble a great deal of time. They are going to miss Shawn Marion. How does D'Antoni and Nash handle this? If they can pull it off I'll tip my hat to them.

• Lakers: Bynum's and Bryant's health. If they recover nicely they are the number one choice for the title.

• Utah: They need to find a way to win outside Utah. It's imperative.

• Mavs: If they get Kidd they will need to mesh pretty quick. If they stay put they Avery Johnson is the key. He needs to put some fire in this team. Somehow.

• Spurs: Finley, Barry, Bowen and Horry shot. Their title hopes depend a lot on those guys open jump shots.

• Nuggets: Believe it or not, K-Mart is the key here. He could be a great offensive and defensive weapon. They'd have so much versatility in both ends of the floor that they would be complicate matchup for anybody.

• Houston: Defense. It they play defense they know how to win. No matter if TMac is playing or not (Or he's traded or not)

• Warriors: Biedrins and Monta. When this two play their best they are an unbelievable team. Seriously. Warriors' fans know what I'm talking about.

• Blazers: Remember the magic. It wasn't only Roy's magic or Alridge's magic. Was a team's magic. Just remember it.

Do Something!

Wow, there are trade rumors everywhere, I love this time of year.



The Nuggets, who are slowly convincing themselves they need a little something extra to be real contenders in the West, are talking with the Kings about Ron Artest. Good idea trying to get Artest. Bad idea weakening their bench.


Apparently Kidd is staying put at least that's what Cuban is saying



Austin Crosshere want's an opportunity. I don't get why this guy is not being used by Nelson, he's a hustler and works hard on defense. He's a great guy to bring ofthe bench if you are a contender. Funny, I thought the Warriors were contenders.



Jermaine O'neal wants to play for Isiah. What's wrong with this guy? Have this guy seen the Knicks play the last three years? You think the Pacers are bad? Dear God, you are in for a surprise. Anyhow, they could trade for Zach Randolph or Eddy Curry. Is amazing that Isiah as a GM still exists. He makes this blockbuster trade to get Randolph and 6 months later he's shopping him. Isn't that bad management? Does he think this things through? Does he think at all?


The worst part is that he wants to trade Eddy Curry after he gave the Bulls two lottery picks that became Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.If you think about it, with a little bit of luck they could be Greg Oden and LaMarcus Alridge. That's a frontcourt that works



The Bulls have been busy rumor-wise. They have talked with the Knicks about getting a bunch of scrubs in exchange for Ben Wallace. Man, only the Knicks would take him. Only the Knicks. But hey, I'm making a promise here: If Isiah Thomas takes Ben Wallace I would not write anything bad about him or the Knicks for the remaining of the season and the playoffs. Please, Basketball Gods' let this happen!


Sam Smith smoked something blue and with a weird odor and came out with this trade: Kirilenko for Wallace and then he smoked something green and alive and an Al Harrington - Duhon trade pop up in his twisted balding head


I can't think in any real scenario where Paxson has the chance of getting rid of Wallace, you know one where Isiah Thomas is not involved. My advise to Bulls' fans - my being one of them - keep in mind they are just rumors and that Sam Smith smokes a lot of weird things he grows beneath is bed.

Linkin Friday VII

Yeap! Linkin' Friday is back!!!!!

I'm feeling very musical today. Don't know why.

• Here's a "spoof" of Nickelback's Rockstar. The original video is also kinda cool

• An ode to Isiah Thomas (I saw that link awhile ago at basketbawful)

• Kendra should have his own song

• The dream of every Piston Fan. ... Sorry, there's no song

• I can't go without a Shaq rap! If you ask me the best part is the beginning!

NBA: Where stupid trades happens

I suppose to analized this and come out with an intersting and smart reason of the Shaquille O'neal trade I dont get it. I don't catch Kerr's drift

A'right, the Suns need some attitude and muscle to compete with the rest of the west. I agree that their run and gun show is not bringing no titles as they have been sent fishing by better defensive teams in the playoffs but in order to fix this you don't trade your most versatile player and second best defensive weapon for a 35 year old injured center. No. No. No. You trade Marcus Banks for Jaamal Magloire or any of the Seattle centers. Something smart.

The Suns are expecting that Diaw replaces Marion and that Shaq rejunates himself and be the diference maker agains San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans. I really don't see that happening. This is Diaw's second bad year. This is Shaq's second bad year. I really don't get it. Worst case scenario the Phoenix Suns are going to get outrun by the rest of West with the exception of San Antonio and Houston. Best case scenario, Shaq is going to be a monster thanks to Steve Nash and the attention that Amare draws and the missmatches. I say the first has the better odds.

Phoenix needed to do some trade, Nash have been complaining about team chemistry for awhile now but this wasn't the trade to make. Not Marion at least not for Shaq

I don't get it


Ps: My condolescence. It's a shame

Happy Kobe?

So many things to write... Just in case you missed it, Gasol was traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie and some draft picks

Celtics vs Lakers Finals everyone? If I dare to say that a year ago you bet Blogger would had close this thing in a second. Now, thanks to a couple of blockbuster trades this is not longer a such far fetched idea in this material world.

The Lakers now look like a real contender to the title although just getting just out of the West deserves a ring. The West is that crazy and the top is getting insane.That happens when one of the worst team trade their best player to one of the top 6 teams in exchange for their worst player. If Bynum's injury is more serious that everyone taught Gasol is going to be the man in the middle for the rest of season and knowing Gasol's soft side is going to be very tough for the Lakers to beat up Duncan, Boozer or Yao in a seven game series. In the other hand Gasol is a perfect weapon offensively for the triangle, which gives Dallas one more "happy trigger" team to worry about.


The destiny of the Laker from now on depends on Gasol's basketball IQ and if he can share no only the low post but also the touces with Bynum when he returns and Mr Bryant. Talking about Mr Bryant this trade at least show Kobe that Kupchak and the Lakers are at least trying to making him happy.


In a related note, Bulls' fans must be kicking themselves.