2008 Trading Bonanza. The Sequel ?

Four monts go by so quickly. I gain nothing looking back and trying to explain my non existening fan base what the hell I've been doing during the NBA Season. I have been watching. I know what's going on but I'm sure y'all also know what is happening so let's call it a day , a'right?

I've finally been compelled to blog thanks to the tons and tons of trade rumors out there. So I'm killing some time arranging some trades that should happen (Using ESPN's Trade Machine or RealGM's Trade Checker. Keep this in mind and weight in this trades the economic scenario we are living in. Small market teams like Hornets or Milwaukee might be force to surrender some key players just because there's not enough money to pay the luxury tax. This is a reality. It certainly sucks for a team like New Orleans to give away Tyson Chandler for some scrub and a draft pick but this are the times that even the deep pockets ain't so deep no more (Yeah, the rest of us who don't even have pockets we are just fucked)

The Amar'e Saga

Apparently Amar'e is going nowhere. If something happens in the next couple of days this is the trade I'd like see happening. Amare to Toronto, Bosh to Chicago, a nice little package to Phoenix.
Why would Colangelo do this? I know is far fetched but somewhere down the line Colangelo will have to trade Bosh. This way he's getting a player ready for primetime, not just a kid with some upside and a hustle swing player in Nocioni, that might prove to be better suited for Toronto than Shawn Marion (cheaper too). Phoenix is geting more than 12 million dollars coming off the book next season and Chicago is getting the franchise big guy to pair with Rose.
Chances of happening? 0.2%





The Blazers

Kevin Pritchard is looking at Caron Butler, Richard Jefferson and Gerald Wallace. I do think he's going to end up with one of those guys.

Washington might be shaving salaries just as a consecuence of their record. I don't see them moving Butler but I see Jamison in different colors next weekend. More on him later.

Milwaukee is going nowhere this season or next or the next one after that. If you ask me Michael Redd is not a franchise player but right now he's injured and untradable. As the big australian is untouchable the only valuable piece here is Jefferson. So he'll be sacrificied for the all mighty dollar. The Bucks get LaFrentz's contract and a couple of young guns. Next year they can trade Redd and I promise you the Buck will be in a better place
Chances of happening? 30%

Larry Brown likes Gerald Wallace. He does. But again economics might get in the way and I assure you they prefer keeping Okafor than Wallace. That's the only reason why I see something like this happening. This way the Bobcats get rid of Felton in the process and get in return cap space (aka LaFrentz' expiring contract), Sergio Rodriguez and the likeable sweet shooting Martell Webster. Throw some draft picks here and there and they are done. Take this as a straight up salary dumping move
Chances of happening? 14%


And Chris Paul is pick and rolling with...

Another crisis related move. Add one of the 800 draft picks Sam Presti has collected and we have a cute little trade. You know I hold Wilcox in high regard. He works hard, great rebounder, good guy. A little undersized and he might collide with West in the court but the Hornets would save more then 11 million dollars this offseason. And Chandler gets a fresh start ...again...
Chances of happening? 49%



Dead Wizards

They might no be dead (Basketball wise they are) but they are too expensive to be this bad. Arenas is...Arenas. Whatever that means. So their tradeable assets are Jamison and Butler. Butler is younger and that is why he's the guy staying and Jamison is the one packing his stuff. A pretty much straight up Jamison for Artest deal might be the right path for both teams and players. Houston gets a reliable 4 and Washington get a half season trial on Artest ( why everybody gets and "Artest trial" You all know that he can snap after more han 4 months, right?). Not sure the Rockets are going to give up on their own "big three" just yet but they might realize that this guys are not delivering no championship.
Chances of happening? 8%

Dont' hold your breath for...

This are the thing you are not going to see happening this season:

1. I don't see the Celtics repeating. The hunger will be there but the health and those lucky bounces might not be there this year. And the chances of a team as soft as the Lakers getting out of the West are very poor.

2. The Knicks wining more than 34 games. There's going to be trades, lineup shuffling, mardbury complains,etc..just keeping the drama going.

3. Jermaine O'neal is not coming back to his old form pre-melee. I like the guy, he's a great post player and we don't much of those left and I just hope he plays enough time and there's enough game in him to open up the game a little for Chris Bosh

4. Corey Maggette celebrating a championship (I know cheap shot for selecting the Warriors over the Spurs)

5. The Suns getting out of the first round. They do have enough talent in there for a 55 win season but I don't care how much the slow down I can't see Amare , Nash and Shaq defeating the Spurs, Hornets or Jazz.

6. Lebron's first ring. Might be his MVP season ( if he doesn't start cruising 20 games in the season) but Mo Williams doesn't strike as the Scottie Pippen type of player and their shooters have never been that stone cold!

7. The Pistons holding their fourth O'brien Trophy. I think this guys' run ended in Lebron's 48 point game. They need to retool and pronto.

8. The Hornets having another season like last one. Something tells me this guys are going to take a step back, maybe Chandler or West but I'm see them as a 6th or 5th seed and get kick in their buts by the Lakers or Jazz at some point in the playoffs.

9. Bibby staying in Atlanta. Come on, seriously? What's that guy doing there?!

10. Michael Beasley competing and behaving. I just get a weird vibe from this guy. When the Heat are 8-20 and the Wolves just beat the crap out of them by 36 you are going to see the real Michael Beasley

11. Gilbert Arenas earning his money. But he can write a mean wicked blog!

12. The Nuggets in the playoffs unless the new Melo Carmelo has been talking about is actually Lebron James.

13. The Blazers reaching the 40 win plateau. I know they are the fashion team and everything but Oden still not ready, although 2 block shots per game is almost a guarantee. They need to trade somebody of their young guns and again just a gut feeling they may regrese a little bit on us.

NBA Playoffs Day 37

Welcome Back, Mr Big Shot. Again Billups didn't played that good but he put the nail in the coufin and now the Pistons are back on track. Just remember that I called a game 5 victory for the Pistons..just remember it.

Since game 2 of the Western Conference Finals every game is a "critical" game for the Spurs. They need both games at San Antonio to make this a competitive series after blowing away game 1. They need as much as Manu as the can get. If the Spurs eventually can win this series they would have comeback twice from a 0- 2 hole. I know that obvious right now but what If this guys pull it of. This Spurs. I mean everybody is burrying this guys and handing them a cane in the first chance they have. How many experts had the Spurs in the Finals. How many experts have the Spurs in Conference Finals. That's why I love this 2008 Spurs. They just keep coming at you
(I know, I know that myself give up on them in the New Orleans Hornets but I read too much Hollinger. My mind is weak. Sorry).

Pd: If you add those two paragraphs together you'll realized that I'm also rooting for a Pistons - Spurs Finals.

Overview: Hornets vs Spurs

Everything I was expecting from the Spurs - Suns series I got it from this series. By a mile the best series so far this year. Despite of the Spurs improbable victory in game 7 at New Orleans the lasting image for which we are going to remember this series is the arrival of Chris Paul to the mainstream media. I know he already was a MVP candidate a the average NBA fan kinda know he was pretty good. For now on Chris Paul is a household name and next season tons of kids are going to follow him and trying be like him at that, ladies and gentleman, is one of the best it could happen to us. (Pretty corny, right?)

The Hornets pushed the champs to the max. David West and Tyson Chandler played spectacular the game they did win. The same tren was followed by San Antonio' big three. The onyl thing that separated this teams was game 7. Experience. Poise. The good ol' know-how-to was the defining qualities that game this series to San Antonio (Memo to John Hollinger: Dude, this things matter. Just 'cause it can't be measured by some formula it doesn't mean they don't affect the course of a series)

The Spurs continue to be "a hated" team. People call them floppers, dirty team, boring, lucky. As long as they keep winning more people are going to hate them. Maybe that's a requirement to be champions. Get to be hated in at least 5 cities.

Whose fault is it? Probably the low point of the Hornets were their bench. A little production for the likes of Bonzi and Pargo and they'd be facing the Lakers in a couple of hours.

Tied 2-2

Right now we have three series tied 2-2 with each team collapsing on the road like little girlies. Every time everybody says that the momentum has change and the "pressure is on them". The momentum thing is right in all this cases just because some team just won 2 straight games, in the case of the Spurs by double digits -after getting beatten by double digits themselves - but I've never understand the pressure is on them thing and here's why (I'll be so Hollywood if I started singing and dancing in a manly and virtuosos way after saying that) :

In Spurs-Hornets series after Paul lead the Hornets to an easy 2-0 lead the pressure was on the Spurs. After the Spurs won easily their 2 home games the pressure is now back to the Hornets just 'cause the Hornets apparently can only beat San Antonio at home. But isn't San Antonio a little bit pressured to win this game and go home to rap it up. They don't want a game 7 in New Orleans. The need this game more than the Pauleners


Same history with the Lakers and Jazz. LA dominated at home and then struggled to execute in the strech run at Utah. Now what? Whose pressure? LA? They know the can win easily there and they have played 82 games to have this home court advantage and also know they could win at Utah. What about the DWillers? They pretty much squeeze two wins at their home floor but trust me on this one they don't believe they are unbeatable at home they need a win at LA if they are going to get back at the Western Finals and should be easier to win a game 5 than a game 7, right? A game 6 win is no way a given for this guys.



Taking things to the East the Lebrons and the Big Three are also tied tow games apiece. Following common knowledge the pressure should be in the Celtics side. They have now lost two straight games and all but they have proven being unbeatable at home, just ask the Hawks, they don't need road wins to be the new champs. I have expressed by concerns about the Celtics almost on weekly basis for the last four weeks and I don't think they can defeat Detroit or whoever comes out of the West in a 7 game series playing like that on the road but they are facing Cleveland know, here it might male the trick. The Lebrons NEED this games more than Utah or San Antonio , this is a must win. They could use those two chances to take out the Celts if they win game 5 because a winning game 7 in Boston is almost an mission impossible, just ask the Hawks.



True be told. It's game 5. The pressure is on everybody.

NBA Playoffs Weekend 4

It's good to be at home, right?

My worries about the Celts are getting stronger and stronger after each passing road game. I can't believe how much a team can change their defensive intensity just because the crowd is not behind them. I know all the Western teams are in the same bagon but not quite. I'll get to that in a second, be patient. The game was ugly for the Celts and let me tell you something if they are thinking they can give Lebron confidence and some dagger back after winning 2 straight games and/or pulling for a game 7, then you are wrong. Lebron will eat you alive now that he knows he can. Don't say I didn't warn you.

You know Utah wasn't that dominant at home as you might expected from a 37-4 home team. But Deron Williams and the rest of the "Jazzers" showed something that I didn't think they had (Is possible they got it in this series) and that's poise and patient. They are different things if you look at them in a different way. The point is that Utah didn't freaked and actually controlled the final plays of the last two games. Yes, the leave Derek Fisher to bring the Lakers back but OT the court was theirs. The fact that Kobe was looking like Larry Bird helped the cause but give as much credit as possible to the Jazz.

Look , the Champs are alive. This was the game that give me some hope. It wasn't because of the 20 point differencial but because Duncan finally woke up and the Hornets looked defeated. I'm rooting for the Spurs just because, don't get me wrong I love to see Paul play and I want to see Paul play as much as I can but I'm biassed here. Sorry.


The Magic blew it. They had them but they let them go. Howard blew it. And now I'm here to pronounce, in behalf of the Basketball Gods, that the Pistons are the team to be beat... in the East.

NBA Playoffs Day 20

Finally the Spurs won a game. This was a weird game . The Spurs forgot the idea of stopping Chris Paul and focus on defending the three point line. The didn't close the lane for Paul instead they close the passing lines to West and Chandler. MoPete and Peja had awful games, West still had a good game and Chandler wasn't much of a factor and still the Hornets were only down by 5 entering the fourth quater. This approach worked for a game but I'm wondering if this is the right scheme to defeat the Hornets. Letting Paul have a field day. I don't know. I hope Pop does.

The one thing for me was the offense. Both Parker and Manu never stop attacking the defense and Parker stop being so hesitant when running the offense. Finley and Bowen had a nice shooting touch for three. I'm also a Spurs fan but I see this Hornets taking it on 6


Man, what's the deal with this Celtics? They are shutting down Lebron but they couldn't shut down Joe Johnson or Al Hortford. Is Lebron going for 50 in Cleveland? The image of Atlanta overplaying the Celtics still haunts me in my sleep.

NBA Playoffs Weekend 3

Boston got to the second round. Easily. I'm still questioning this team mental thoughness 'cause their road loasses where just lack of exectution they weren't victims of some conspiracy

The Spurs got beatten in the last couple of minutes by the Hornets. The Hornets' defense was "stingy" and the Spurs didn't help themselves by entering one of those "no offense time for us" type of groove they developed in the last month or so of the regular season. Not only they didn't contain Paul (his numbers may don't amaze you but he controlled that game) but they let West get 30 points and do whatever he wanted with the Spurs' defense. So, no defense and bad offense means 0-1 hole for the Spurs. Expect a better game for those guys today

The Pistons controlled Howard and the Magic shooters went 2 from 15. This is when Howard needs to prove that he really wants this. For me Howard and Lebron have the same problem: this game comes so easily for them, their bodies and abilities gives them so a clear advantage that most time they don't even need to try in order to have a big night and perhaps winning the game. Last year Lebron cruised for the entire first half and the Cavs still win 50 games.

Now Howard needs to get in another gear (like Lebron this year or last year conference finals) to defeat an highly superior team. Can he manhandle the Pistons like Lebron did last year? He has the potential but until he do it we'll leave it like that in "potential".


After building a 19 point lead the Lakers found themselves in a 4 point game with like 5 minutes to go. Utah never got closer because the didn't have Boozer (he fauled out somewhere around half way into the fourth quater) and the fould Kobe like 1 google times. I know Utah fouls a lot of people a lot of times (2468 times in the regular season. Numero uno in the league) but this Lakers team is a very good free throw shooting team (10th in the league) and having Boozer playing like a poor man's Antawn Jamison is not a good idea to give up so many points from the charity line.

Second Round: Hornets vs Spurs

2. Hornets (56-26) vs 3.Spurs (55-27)
Regular Season Series: TIED 2-2
Point Differencial: NOH +7.0

The new pups against the old savyy dog. Despite the age and experience diference this are two teams relatively similar. Their are lead by their point guards, they have great power forwards and a deep bench. Naturally each of these matchups are going to be key in this series.

Even though considering the fact that Phoenix never put much defensive resistente, both Duncan and Parker were unstoppable against them and they look as hungry and they have look in years. They executed the pick and roll prefectly and Parker was hitting the jump shot becoming unguardable for the Suns. Finley, Oberto and Ginobili had their moments but they were pretty unregular. They need more from them. They need a lot more from Ginobili. Lots of experts predicted that San Antonio were going to win the last series thanks to the Ginobili factor but he was held in check (by his standards) and the Spurs still won the series but this is a thougher more solid team and Manu needs to prove right here right now that he can be as clutch and valueable (hint) as a Kobe or a Paul. The athleticism of New Orleans front court could put Duncan and Thomas in foul trouble so their bench needs to play good and play smart.


This Hornets are a treat to watch. Paul plays with a passion that is very rare to see in such a young player and they are highly efficent. They can drain the three like free throws (.389%, 3rd in the league) and their offensive rating is 5th in league. Their defensive numbers are good (7th in the league in defensive rating) because they control the tempo of the game and the although they can run, they prefer to run the pick and roll and find open shooters in half court schemes. They are young but they are not dumb.

Duncan vs West, Parker vs Paul, Bowen vs Peja. This are going to be matchups were are going to enjoy and you can almost expect good series from those guys. This is going to be a more defensive series than the previous one both teams had. In this one the bench players are going to be THE KEY (yeap capital letters) . Mainly Manu Ginobili. The Hornets doesn't have an answer for him, a few teams do (actually Raja Bell defends manu amanzinly and this year wasn't the exception) he needs to explode the matchup and go right to Tyson Chandler. At some point defense most collapse but before that he needs to make his jump shots which he wasn't doing it against Phoenix. The Hornets must rely on their team defense. That defensive discipline and Paul have take them this long and could easily take them farther.

X Factor: Manu.

Basketball Gods' prediction: SAS 4-2

Overview: Hornets vs Mavs

I would have predicted New Orleans in 5 but I thought this year there was going to be some fire under this Mavs. I was wrong. Everybody not named Nowitzki showed the same intensity and desire shown last year agains the Warriors. Their defense was specially atrocious and Kidd seemed lost on offense. The didn't "gave the nightmares to somebody else" they just kept them for themselves.

The sucess of this Hornets ain't all due to Dallas' mishaps. Peja and Paul played a great series. West was a solid option all series long. Paul made sure the the tempo of each game was in their convenience and he pretty much dominated Kidd and any other Mav that dared to step in front of him. Their defense wasn't top notch by they didn't needed this series.

Whose fault is it? Avery Johnson. He never let Kidd to control the offense and never showed signs of having total control of this teams. The fire he deployed on his playing days never translate to his players and that was the only way this team had a chance to win this. Oh, and the blame algo goes to Josh Howard, you pothead!

First Round: Hornets vs Mavs

2. Hornets (56-26) vs 7. Mavs (51-31)

Regular Season Series: NOH 2-1

Point Differencial: DAL +2.0

This series will define how good of a coach is Avery Johnson. Forget the nightmares, forget the overcoaching, forget everything. His place in this team depends on this result. This series is the bomb! We have mismatches left and right, up and down. we have the quick point guard, the old and savy point guard, the post prescense and rim defender, the foreighn shooters, the dynamos coming from the bench,etc. Imagine you are Avery Johnson right now and this is your line of thinking:

Whose going to defend Chris Paul? Jason Kidd will be bitting his dust all series long. Jason Terry can match his speed but he will be in foul trouble before I can change my chewing gum. Josh Howard? What? Be real. Poker Face. Come on, man

What about David West? Dirk can't defend a folding chair. I guess Devean George could do the trick while West scores the first 12 points of the game Barea? Howard? Damn
How do I take Chandler out of the paint? Dampier can only catch and dunk and JKidd just taught him that. Can I use Bass as my center and playsmall ball like..like...

That's when the vein in his forhead explodes. (I'm not saying he talks like that. Maybe he thinks like that)

This is not going to be easy for any team. Before the Kidd trade they could have a shot in this series. I'm not taking anything away from Kidd but Harris and Diop are utterly missed right now. Harris'd gave them a better matchup against Paul and Diop would at least made Paul and West to think about before going into the paint. Across the street New Orleans is not so giggly about this matchup, Dallas has more experience and a HUUUUGE ship on their shoulder. New Orleans doesn't have permiter stoppers so they rely in team defense- a very good one- and Chandler rejecting everybody and that doesn't work to well against shooters like Nowitzki and Terry.

The Hornets can't underestimate Dirk Nowiztki. I know he's been through a lot and people - included myself - have wondered for awhile if this guy can hold a franchise in his shoulders but it will be dumb for the Hornets not to plan and adjust their defense around a very aggresive Nowitzki

Dallas needs to attack New Orleans' defense. Tyson Chandler can't stop them all. Stackhouse, Terry, George and Josh Howard need to perform a retlentess atack to the paint. They need an MVP effort from Nowitzki and a time machine for Kidd (so he can defend Paul). What Dallas must focus this series is trapping and somehow trying to slow down Paul with Kidd's size being the anchor of that scheme. I wont be easy.

X Factor: Avery Johson,I'll say it again. This is his moment. If he relies on the decision making of Jason Kidd, give their bechnenough confidence and believesin Dirk Nowitzki story -and let him know - will be very kind on him. The entire franchise's stability depends on him

Basketball Gods' prediction: NOH 4-2

To Do List

We are like a week and a half for the start of the playoffs and nothing is resolved in the West. I'm not even sure Dallas is going to be the 7th seed. As soon as the matchups are resolved all the blogsphore and other professional writers are going to write their predictions and some generic egocentric view of each first round match (Yeap, I'll write it too) but while we wait let's take a looksy to what each team should worry about -pesimistic thinking here- and need to address before -whisfull thinking here - going to the playoffs:

1. New Orleans: I don't want to get all basketbawful on you all but somebody need to do something about Tyson Chandler's hair. He looks like Vanilla Ice or some 80's version of Wesley Snipes. Basketball wise they are very thin in their frontcourt rotation, Melvin Ely?, Really? and Bonzi Wells ain't worth the gamble.

2. LA Lakers: Yeah, I know their second unit is great they hustle a lot and complement each other and yadda yadda yadda. Their second unit is very propense to silly and unforced turnovers. Bynum ain't coming back.

3. San Antonio Spurs: For the last two to three weeks they have beeb entering the third quater ice cold. They'd had quaters like the one at Utah and this last one against the Lakers where they go like 6 minutes without a field goal. Their defense ain't that great anymore to comeback from such holes.

4. Houston Rockets: Besides TMac nobody there can create their own shot on nightly basis. They have lot's of guns on Rafer Alston, Bobby Jackson, Luther Head and Landry but you can't say: "Well, if McGrady can play or is playing bad not worries WE KNOW that Alston/Jackson/Head/Landry will step up for us". You just can't

5. Utah Jazz: They have to play on the road. And at some point they'll face somebody in the Ginobili/Kobe/TMac/Howard/Melo/Captain Jack group of swingman they can't defend.

6. Phoenix Suns: Amare keeps getting in foul trouble and ol' Steve Nash is no longer the same. Their season depends way too much of Shaq and Grant Hill focus and health, respectively.

7. Dallas Mavs: They will have to defend somebody in the West/Gasol/Duncan/Boozer/Amare group of big men they can't defend. Why Howard hasn't figure out a way to play with Jason Kidd?

8. Denver Nuggets: For them defense is highly overrated because if you have guys like Melo and Iverson is just a matter of points. Because that's the way to the championship, right Nash/Webber/Kidd ?. They can not even defend a pick roll. And yes, zone defense is allow in the playoffs

9. Golden State Warriors: A matchup with Dallas is very unlikely and yes, zone defense is allow in the playoffs

Discussion: The Contenders

Welcome everybody to a new discussion post. Rusty is back!. This one in particulary will address the question of who are the real contender for this year tittle and who might be the last team standing. We are not even trying to predict the West but we'll discuss it. Enjoy



Morgan: We'll start with the East. The top seed, the Celtics. How 'bout this guys?





Rusty: Definitely a contender and they are my favorites to win the Eastern Conference. The only thing that could derrail this team is a major injury to any of their so called Big Three.

M: Well yeah. Any team that suffers an injury to any of their top three players will be on trouble. I'm with you they are the team to beat in the East but they haven't face any real pressure they came out blazing of the gates and they have been the number one team since then. They are a veteran team and the leadership is clearly there but it could interesting to see this team's response to adversity in a critical game.

R: Also they are not that deep. If Garnett or Pierce miss considerable time against the Pistons or whoever cames out of the West this team can't replace their production. No for more than a couple of games.

M: Do you trust Doc Rivers?

R: I hope that at this point he has his team figured it out.Don't you think?

M: Yeah, but do you trust him?

R: I trust his trust on his veteran players


M: Now the Pistons. They always need to feel disrespected to play their best ball. Boston's success may give him that fire.

R: That's being their "mojo" from day 1. They also have that chip in the shoulder for being eliminated by a one man team last season. For my money, they are the best Pistons team since winning the championship in 2004.

M: They are a lock to reach the Conference Finals. Now, can Boston survive the one man team?

R: Everybody saw what Lebron James did to the Pistons and everybody saw what the Spurs did to James. Boston is a better defensive team that the Detroit Pistons a year ago they won't let James take over the entire series. The Cavaliers could win a game or two.

M: Well, now argue there. You get the feeling that KG is going to will his way to the conference finals. Wrapping up the East, Boston or Detroit?

R: The Boston Celtics specially if the Lakers reach the Western conference Finals. The league won't let a Lakers- Celtics finals slip away.


M: I'm impress, you have change Rusty! This will be a great seven game series and most of the games will come down to the final play specially with two defensive oriented teams. Given that Detroit have more "clutch" players I'm given this series to the Pistons

R: If it comes to the last shot Detroit does have a better chance to represent the East in the NBA Finals

M: Well this part went rather smoodly -more smooth that I'd want for a discussion post- Let's go to the fun part: the West. Your number one contender, Rusty?




R: I'm a old school guy so I'm going to the old school team: the San Antonio Spurs. They are the most solid team , they have the experience and for whatever reason they always have that lucky bounce of the ball going their way

M: I'm torn between the top three teams: Spurs, Lakers and Hornets. San Antonio have everything that you just said and also I'm waiting for the chance for Manu to take over this playoffs. If that happens and the Spurs won by the hand of Manu will be the best story for this team.

For the Lakers I'm also looking forward to see how Kobe response to the level of play in the West. If he and Bynum and Gasol are healthy they are the favorites in my book. But that's a big if. The Hornets will make noise, somehow. They can compete with anybody their only weakness is that their shooters are rather streaky but when you have a point guard like Chris Paul anything can happen.



R: Apparently Bynum will be back but I don't think he will be in shape to handle the bigs in the West, whatever the matchups are. The Lakers are a great team but if they run into the Spurs their run will be over... UNLESS... they league decides otherwise

M: You are pushing that in every line. Come on, come clean...

R: What?

M: A'right. Do you think the league is fixing the playoffs?

R: No, Morgan. I'll never say that. It will be very stupid for this league to go out and fix the outcome of the entire championship.There's a huge difference between fixing the all tournament and helping or giving a team a better shot at winning a game. That's what the NBA does

M: I just did a little homework for you. Here and here.
I don't know if the Lakers' chances are ridding in Bynum's shoulders. Gasol is a pretty good matchup against any big he can't defend but he's there, catch my drift?. Besides offensively he's a handful.

R: Yeah, but defense wins playoff games. They are still a good defensive team but if other team goes on a isolation against Gasol over and over again they could be in trouble

M: That's unlukely.There's help defense, you know?

R: There's open three point shooter, you know?

M: Fine, Fine. How about the Hornets?

R: I love Chris Paul. He's been the best point guard hands down. West and Chandler are having great season thanks to Paul at some degree. My only concern with this team is what happen whe defensive schemes take West and Chandler out of the game or at least keeping them in check. Would Paul brings them back?

M: That's also my issue with this guys, sort of. Can they survive the playoffs and everything that comes along? Is Paul that good?

R: Right now, he's not. They can defeat younger teams like Utah, Denver or Golden State. Their road ends in San Antonio or LA

M:Who else is a contender here?

R: Everybody in the top seven

M:For my own appreciation if Utah can handle their way on the road in a more consistent way they can also be a contender. Williams and Boozer are just too good, they have the shooters, they have the defense and they ceitanly have the coach

R: Utah is going to start on the road if the loose both games is over for them.

M: They are tough enough to recover from that, they bounced back last year against the Rockets even winning game 7 at Houston. I know is all about the matchups but it is easier for them to win in the road that the other team winning at Utah.

R: They will need to drow a mentally softer team like Dallas or Houston. Even there is Tracy McGrady or Josh Howard or any fast swing player have a GREAT series they can't matchup. Kirilenko and their entire team defense has taken a step back.

M: I don't think Utah can be discarded that easily. DWill and Boozer bring it night in and night out. Every single night

R: Then explain me their road record

M: The other guys don't follow the trend

R: Exactly! This is a team sport. They can't win with just two guy playing their heart out. Maybe against a team with a weaker "fire" but no against a hungry team where everybody pulls for one goal

M: Man, that was poetic!. You mention the Mavs as a good matchup for Utah. Are they even going to be there?



R: Dallas is not a good matchup for anybody not if Nowitzki comes back healthy. I need to believe this guys can win with a point guard like Jason Kidd. If they are left behind there's something wrong on the team and I'll point my finger to Nowitzki
M: Not to Avery?

R: Do you believe all the talk about "overcoaching" ?

M: I believe that this team is not build to take advantage of Kidd's skills. He's a great leader and that's always welcome but where he's great is at running the fast break and this is not a running team. They are not going to trade Nowitzki they'll better trade Kidd for a point guar who can shoot.

R: This is Nowitzki's team- actually is Cuban's first and Avery's Second - but Dirk Nowitzki is the leader on paper and he needs to step up. He has to be the guy who goes to his coach and said that things need to change, set plays need to change. His voice has to be heard

M: That's a good point by I still think that even with a healthy Nowitzki they will be out in the first round

R: If Dirk Nowitzki is healthy they can advance. I'm insist it's all about matchups

M: We still haven't talk about two similiar teams: Nuggets and Warriors. High ofensive teams featuring powerful scorers but they ain't that great at stopping the other team. Denver can be very, very dangerous. Specially now that KMart has his bounce back as he gives them a solid third option and another great defender near the basket. If they get a great stretch from KMart and Camby this team is a contender.

R: You convinced me rather quickly there! I agree with the Denver statement they could be very well a contender this year. They have one of the best starting lineups a decent bench and defensive big guys. Their minus are that they aren't commited to defense and their chemistry could improve. I don't think they could win it all but they are a dangerous team and they just need a good run which they are perfectly capable of doing

M: There a five great defensive teams right now in contention (Spurs, Lakers, Rockets, Pistons and Celtics) and you could make the case for Phoenix. Denver push ends as soon as they face any of those teams. As for the Warriors, let me tell you I've seen some 5 o 6 Warriors' games in the past month and their worst enemy is themselves. Is not only that they don't defend and their most played setplay is "RUN". They take shots that would shock you, seriously, and that's how Nellieball is played but they go into stretches where they can't buy a basket and that's when they lost everything. There's no difference between the Warriors leading by 20 and the Warriors loosing by 10


R: Well you look for the consistency in your team, Morgan. Take a look a the Spurs. There's no difference between the Spurs leading by 20 and the Spurs loosing by 10. You live and die by your style of play. What doesn't work for Golden State is that theirs is so frentic that sometimes, as you said, it works against them



M:22 straight wins and we haven't talk about them. I say Houston goes as far as McGrady takes them and if history taught us anything...

R: You write it quite accurate in a previus post. Their role players specially Rafer Alston played the best basketball of their careers during that streak. I don't see that happening again in the playoffs

M: They still are a good defensive team and you know what people say "defense wins championships"

R: They still would need some offense to back it up.
M: Good point. And some heart and desire will be nice

R: That would be swell!

M: Swell? WTF?

R: I thought you will like that

M: Yeah, it made my day.....Last but no least. Shaquille O'neal and the Phoenix Suns. If they keep playing the way they are right now they become my second pick to get out of the West. Shaq is playing decent ball, Amare is unstoppable and amazingly Nash is the one who, when they had that 1 -6 stretch or something, was the "weakest link" but now his playing at the level he's used to perform

R: Nash is not as good as a previous years by just a little bit. All the role players are playing subpars season in comparision with last year specially Leandro Barbosa. They seem a little bit in the same boat as the Denver Nuggets but with a stronguer psique. They have big guys that can't prevent penetrations - although not as good as Martin and Camby in Denver - and they have a high scoring mentality. This is the hardest team for me to read because the line between being a contender and being out in the first round is so thin for them.

M: Grant Hill is the key for them. If he's able to give them a little bit of what Marion gave them specially defense to stop the array of wing players in the West they have a shot. If Manu, Deron Williams, Kobe, TMac, Paul,Melo ,etc. start getting in the paint and putting Amare and Shaq in fou trouble that's it for them. As you said, they don't longer had the 3 point assault to take them out of trouble.

R: With the trade they gain more control of the boards. That added to Steve Nash gives them control of the flow of the game that's huge in the playoffs. But they lost that defensive advantage Marion gave them that covered for Nash and Stoudemire defensive shortcomings. Once again it depends on the matchups

To wrap it out, who do think is going to end up as the 9th team?

M: Golden State. They are playing at at .500 level right now. Not enough in the West

R: Well, I think it will be Denver but that's just a gut feeling.



There you have, a little bit long but with lot's of "sustance". I hope you guys enjoy reading it

Basketball Gods' March Madness

After last trade deadline bonanza the Basketball Gods' standings predictions went to the crapper they are so benevolent with us that they are willing to give us their predictions for the second half of March for the madness in the West and those curious Leastern teams

It's cooling off time for the Rockets:
March: 4 - 3
Record: 50 - 23

Hornets:
March: 3 - 3
Record: 48 - 24

Lakers:
March: 6- 2
Record: 51 - 23

Lots of home games for Utah:
March: 6- 0
Record: 51- 24

Suns:
March: 2 - 6
Record: 44 - 28

They need a good stretch here - and they know it - Spurs:
March: 6 - 1
Record: 50 - 24

Dallas:
March: 4 - 3
Record: 48 - 26

Every single game left in March is against the West, Warriors:
March: 3 - 4
Record: 44- 28

Five game trip in six days, Nuggets:
March: 2 - 6
Record: 42 - 32


This gives us this standings:

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.

Gods' Final Standings Predictions

If the Basketball God's make a prediction, is that like cheating? Probably. So for u all you in Las Vegas, you perhaps might wanna take a look at this Nostradamus-ish statments.

1. The Celitcs will win 65 games. The Pistons 55
2. The Bulls will qualify to the playoffs with a 39 -43 record, beating the Hawks by 2 games for the final spot.
3. The Heat will play close to .500 once Pat Riley resigns. There's no shot in hell they will qualify.
4. Indiana colapses in the second half going 11- 29
5. The Knicks closes the season with the worst record of the East at 22 - 60

Intersting playoff matchups:

1. 1 Celtics vrs 8 Bulls: The team that got KG against the team that was supposed to get KG. The team that overachieve every expectation against well, the Bulls.
2. 4 Cavs vrs 5 Wizards: If Arenas is playing this is a hell of a matchup.

1. The Suns will be the number one seed with 56 wins
2. 7 teams qualify to the playoffs with 50 or more wins. The Lakers are the 8th seed after winning 47 games
3. Denver and New Orleans win their respective divisions
4. Dallas qualifies as the 5th seed. One game separated them for the number 2 seed.
5. Utah (47 - 35 ) and Houston (46 -36) become lottery teams
6. Minnesota end the season with 13 wins. Seattle with 19.

Intersting playoff matchups:

1. 1 Suns vrs 8 Lakers: Maybethe third time is the charmed.
2. 2 Hornets vrs 7 Blazers: Paul vrs Roy