Thursday 28 February 2008

NBL News- Tigers give finger to Bullets- Grand Final Beckons

On the back of a strong performance from MVP Chris Anstey (26 point 13 rebounds) the Melbourne Tigers are though to their third consecutive NBL Grand Final series beating Brisbane 2-0 overall. After the 115-112 defeat the tigers Centre stood mid court with both middle fingers raised after being taunted by the Brisbane crowd most of the evening. He may face scrutiny from the NBL commission following these actions. They follow a spiteful encounter and a rivalry that goes back to last seasons Grand Final series.

On several possessions Tigers forward and former NBA player Sean Lampley taunted the Bullets bench after dunks and key plays. He scored 23 points and made some huge plays in the fourth quarter. Bullets guard Mick Hill urged his team to hit back "I said to the guys someone needs to take it back at this guy he's basically disrespecting us on our home floor," He and forward Dave Thomas where huge. Thomas finishing with 26 point and a key steal and dunk in overtime.

Melbourne will face the winner of the Perth-Sydney Semi final series currently tied at 1-1 with game 3 to be played in Sydney.

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Wallace Trade? Joe Smith Trade more like

The aftermath of the Cavs-Bulls mega trade will be one of the more interesting things to monitor for the remaining months of the season. On paper the Cavs look a lot stronger, on paper the knicks looked strong in October.
John Paxon made the standard comments here. But interestingly the bulls have got a huge reality check this season and have accepted they are pretty much building again.

The reality of this trade is that Joe Smith was playing the best of all players dealt. He was probably the least regarded amongst fans. Certaintly has made some stops around the L.


Still highly regarded?

Wednesday 20 February 2008

This Week


Future hall of famer debut's

Shaq- mmmmm... My initial thoughts are 11 and 8 with 2 blocks. He will then foul out. The lakers by 8. Can't imagine him have a 20, 20 but you never know.


Jason Kidd- 6 and 14 with 7 boards. Throw in 2 steals but the Mav's will lose big time to the Hornets by 17.


Rookie of the Year race heating up

Durant stinks it up all too often these days. Yi seems to have become an after thought. Thanks to bucks coaches who can't develop anyone.

Popular pick Al Horford. Almost averaging a double double and play's for a team in playoff contention. Mike Conley is putting up decent number recently. But my pick to take home a few Western rookie of the month awards. Al Thorton, clipper rookie has been Durant like recently with a little bit less of this.....







Tuesday 19 February 2008

All Star Weekend: It's Crap

The All star game is nothing more than a farce to me. Non competitive basketball is the most un entertaining package of rubbish you can watch. The whole weekend to me is a complete joke. I am a huge basketball fan, more so than most, but even I can't put a positive spin on any of the festivities.

The slam dunk competition is fast becoming stupider each year. The final straw was the so called 'Birthday Cake Dunk' give us all a break please. Gerald Green is a first class athlete but that was embarrassing for the league in my opinion.

The mystique has definitely gone from the entire weekend. This is due to the class not being in the game. It's unfortunate that we can't have the Jordan's of this world forever. I'm not just talking about talent or ability. I mean charm and charisma. I cannot pick one personality that played in this years game. All the players are fantastically talented but if they are not playing for real, what is left? Nowitzki and Duncan could have easily been substituted for flag poles with their levels of enthusiasm.

A solution you ask. A common one put forward by many sources. Make the prize money higher! Woah 35k for 2 hours work is not acceptable anymore? Are these guys so arrogant they won't compete unless a million is on offer. You must be joking. The whole weekend should be scraped. It's a blatant money making exercise that doesn't nothing but hurt the game itself. David Stern needs to take a hard look at this format and either change it or get rid of the whole concept. I'm in favour of the latter.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Bibby a Hawk

The Atlanta Hawks today acquired guard Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second round draft pick according to Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight. “We’re happy to be able to bring in a player of Mike’s caliber,” Knight said. “He’s one of the premier point guards in the league and a proven winner going back to his college days at Arizona. His ability to score and distribute the basketball will add a new dimension to our ballclub.”Bibby, who missed the first 36 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals (.406 FG%, .393 3FG%, .742 FT%) in 15 games (12 starts) for the Kings this year.

Friday 15 February 2008

George and Jerry Nuff Nuffs

The trade that would have sent Jason Kidd to Dallas has hit consecutive snags. Firstly Devean George refused to be traded citing he would be giving up certain free agent rights this off season. Secondly the league has excluded Jerry Stackhouse from the deal. This was after Stackhouse blabbed about the Nets plans to waive him. Allowing him to resign with Dallas in 30 days. Nice work Jerry you have finally laid that egg you've been promising us all these years.

Wednesday 13 February 2008

Deal Done Kidd to Mavs

Jason Kidd was so determined to make his way back to the Dallas Mavericks, he has contemplated wearing No. 2 on his jersey to honor a return to where his career started in 1994.
Despite Kidd’s doubts that the Nets and Mavericks would ever come to an agreement, two league sources close to the negotiations said an agreement in principle has been reached on Wednesday. After wavering for weeks, Dallas owner Mark Cuban has sacrificed some of his franchise’s future to chase a championship in the short term. The agreement would send five players, including point guard Devin Harris, and first round picks in 2008 and 2010, for the future Hall of Fame guard.
The two teams are still exchanging insurance information and going through the normal procedures with the league office to finalize the deal.
Kidd, who turns 35 next month, goes to Dallas with an unmistakable mandate: Bring a title for a team and career that are desperately seeking it. As part of the trade, the Mavericks would also send Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DeSagna Diop, Maurice Ager and $3 million to New Jersey. Along with Kidd, the Nets send reserve forward Malik Allen to the Mavs.
In a separate deal, the Nets are sending guard Antoine Wright to Dallas for a future second-round pick, one source said.

Wednesday 6 February 2008

TRADE - SHAQ to SUNS

Shaq has been dealt to the suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

In a Bold move by the suns that could only be described as a huge risk. The trade is pending examanation on Shaq's hip injury.
Shaq is due 40 million over the next 2 seasons.

At first, it seems O’Neal’s skills are as mismatched with the Phoenix offense as a polka-dot tie is with a striped shirt.
But upon further review, there are several reasons that this is a good trade for the Suns.
For one, Shawn Marion didn’t want to be in Phoenix. And if a guy doesn’t want to be with a team, it’s not a bad idea to show him the door — especially if that guy is a swingman. Players who are about 6 feet 6 and can play either shooting guard or small forward are as plentiful as coupons in a Sunday paper.
Plus, the addition of O’Neal will help Amare Stoudemire by allowing Stoudemire to play power forward instead of center, where he was undersized.
Also, the Suns’ offense is uptempo, and the addition of O’Neal won’t necessarily slow it down. Blocked shots and rebounds are great ways to start a fast break, and O’Neal will provide both.
And let’s assume Diesel does slow down the Suns’ engine. That’s not a bad thing. The Suns’ offense was uptempo to a fault. And the team, as it was constructed, wasn’t good enough to win the title. The last few seasons proved that. Steve Nash would lead the Suns to 60 or more wins in the regular season, and then in the playoffs, the Suns wouldn’t make it out of the West — let alone win a title.
It wasn’t working.
And as the old saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. By trading for O’Neal — a 14-time All-Star, four-time champion and former MVP — general manager Steve Kerr proved he isn’t insane and put the Suns in a position to win the title.

Saturday 2 February 2008

Breaking News- Pau to Lakers

Memphis (13-33) received forward/center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton (19th pick in 2007 draft), guard Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol (Pau's brother), two first-round draft picks and cash considerations.
The Griz will own the Lakers' 2008 pick unless it's in the top three. Memphis also received Los Angeles' 2010 pick unless it's in the top six. The draft protection for both picks last five years.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/01/gasol-traded-lakers/

 
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