Kobe Bryant gets Pau Gasol

Which teams benefited the most from the recent signing frenzy?

10. Kidd to Mavericks – This trade fell through, would still have been a great move for the Mavs.

9. Kidd to Mavericks – This trade worked after about a week, is taking longer than that for it to work for the Mavs. Dirk Nowitzki gets the ball in the right place.

8. Bibby to Hawks – Young team needed a scoring leader. Bibby is that man.

7. Ratliff to Pistons – Pistons needed defensive help in the post. Ratliff already pays dividends in Sheed’s absence.

6. Cassell to Celtics – Celtics worry about Rondo. Cassell will get some of his minutes.

5. Thomas to Spurs – Duncan gets some more power underneath.

4. Wallace to Cavs – LeBron gets some defensive help in the post.

3. Korver to Jazz – The Jazz get instant outside shooting off the bench.

2. Shaq to Suns – The Suns get half court defense for the playoffs. Nash assists can now go with Shaq rebounds.

1. Gasol to Lakers – The Lakers will have tallest front line when Bynum returns. Kobe has a second scoring punch.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Did your team make a deal?

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Shaq vies for another ring

The story will be written from here on out. The Shaq trade has implications for both conferences. The fallout can be seen everywhere. Can it be coincidence that the yesterday’s trade news for Pau Gasol to Kobe’s Lakers lost to the Hawks? You may have to read that twice. Shaq brings his presence and salary cap to Phoenix and new GM Steve Kerr. If Shaq is a bust then Kerr will again be a brilliant TV announcer. Kerr had a valid concern. The center-less Suns would never get out of the West.

The Suns have the best record in the West (34-14) but have not played up to their own expectations. Their interior defense is among the NBA’s worst. Kerr apparently felt that without a large presence inside, Phoenix could not combat the big men, such as Andrew Bynum and Tim Duncan, in the playoffs. source

If Shaq wants another ring, then Steve Nash can finish his career with a smile on his face.

Miami Heat

Meanwhile in Miami, the Heat can instantly rebuild. The Matrix is a free agent, but he definitely wanted out of Phoenix.

Marion, weary of being third fiddle to Nash and Stoudemire, asked to be traded before the season began. He didn’t get his wish and, although he refused to talk publicly about it, remained unhappy with his role. source

Miami will have bundles of money and Riley will feature Shawn Marion with Dwyane Wade.

“This whole thing right now, from a standpoint of how I look at it, we have Dwyane and Shawn and it reminds me a little of the beginning of Jordan and Pippen. The numbers are the same for Marion – he doesn’t need the ball, he does so many things from that standpoint that he’ll mesh very well with Dwyane. source

Miami will also have a couple of other contracts expiring, the cap relief from losing Shaq’s contract, and possibly the number one pick in the draft. Can you say instant rebuild? This trade looks like a winner all around, but then the end of the story has not yet been told! NBA Basketball Fan Question What do you make of the Shaq trade? As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome. More blogs about basketball.

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Dwight Howard has tremendous upside

Normally the All Star game is not a big ticket with your intrepid author.

A game with little or no defense has a hard time holding my interest.

In fact, today’s basketball with all the rule changes towards offense has really bothered me in recent years.

But this year may be an exception. The league is just so filled with exceptional talent.

One starter in particular could become a dominant force in the NBA sooner than we think. That man would be Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

Hmm, may just have to tune in after all. Here are your vote getters.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the second returns of the 2008 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,186,690; LeBron James (Clev) 1,005,733; Chris Bosh (Tor) 313,983; Paul Pierce (Bos) 268,926; Yi Jianlian (Mil) 192,828; Caron Butler (Was) 150,042; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 121,991; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 120,783; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 116,168; Antawn Jamison (Was) 106,370.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 777,764; Jason Kidd (NJ) 559,333; Vince Carter (NJ) 468,051; Ray Allen (Bos) 464,810; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 422,463; Chauncey Billups (Det) 238,125; Michael Redd (Mil) 183,309; Richard Hamilton (Det) 121,663; Joe Johnson (Atl) 109,443; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 109,345.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 970,778; Shaquille O’Neal (Mia) 466,292; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 124,348; Ben Wallace (Chi) 114,245; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 100,622; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 89,900; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 55,217; Emeka Okafor (Cha) 51,490; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 43,036; Eddy Curry (NY) 37,252.

2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 767,722; Tim Duncan (SA) 722,059; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 686,853; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 281,299; Josh Howard (Dal) 251,756; Shawn Marion (Pho) 240,752; Shane Battier (Hou) 227,112; Luis Scola (Hou) 222,896; Kevin Durant (Sea) 191,542; Grant Hill (Pho) 152,898.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 941,716; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 663,141; Steve Nash (Pho) 526,493; Allen Iverson (Den) 514,291; Manu Ginobili (SA) 220,620; Jason Terry (Dal) 200,693; Baron Davis (GS) 194,048; Chris Paul (NO) 189,646; Tony Parker (SA) 183,173; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 178,152.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 813,305;Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 463,916; Erick Dampier (Dal) 171,386; Marcus Camby (Den) 161,807; Pau Gasol (Mem) 118,759; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 85,715; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 69,691; Tyson Chandler (NO) 69,083; Andris Biedrins (GS) 67,862; Chris Kaman (LAC) 66,315.  source

NBA Basketball Fan Question Did your favorite player make the cut?

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Now the Rockets beat the Spurs with Tracy McGrady back in the lineup.

Sounds like a recipe for success, but maybe it isn’t.

While T-Mac was out the Houston Yao’s were 7 – 4 with losses to the Boston Celtics and the red hot Hornets mixed in there.

There has been talk that Tracy needs the ball too much for the Houston team to win.

Without T-Mac in the lineup the Rockets pass around Yao and more players seem to get good shots. With T-Mac the ball goes to Tracy and never comes back.

T-Mac came back and does not feel that way at all.

“We not only played hard, we played smart and under control,” McGrady said. “We played together as a team.” source

Doesn’t Kobe play that way?

No, Kobe has found a way to make the team win. He attracts defenses, but will dish to open players and take less bad shots.

The Rockets may have to give up McGrady to make this team a better team.

The trade rumors persist, but Rockets management had only this to say.

“There have been no trade talks,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “None. Nothing.” source

Reading between the lines there, could there be a deal going on?

Ok, there were not even two lines to read between, but if Houston could get a scoring forward and another front line player, don’t you think they would take that deal?

The T-Mac / Yao combination has not resulted in a ton of victories.

It looks good on paper, but just has not worked on the court.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Would you make the trade?

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Teammates?

Can you see it?

Rasheed Wallace joking with Shaq before the game?

A front line of Tayshaun Prince, Wallace, and Shaq?

Yeah, you are right; it probably has a zero chance of happening. But how cool would it be, if it did?

Just think of the next time the Celtics rolled into the Palace to play the Detroit Pistons and Kevin Garnett had to look up to Shaq and then see Rasheed needling him, standing right next to Shaq.

Shaq could help. The Pistons have a serious flaw on their team and it is in the paint. Rasheed and McDyess do not like to post as much as they like to shoot.

On the few occasions when the Pistons have lost this season, opponents have destroyed them in the paint.

Excluding the Nov. 18 game in Sacramento, in which both teams scored 36 points in the paint, the Pistons have been outscored in the paint by an average of 15.4 points in their seven other losses. source

Hey, Big Baby on the Celtics had the game of a lifetime against the Pistons the other day. If Big Baby can suddenly look like he is an All Star, then anyone can.

Shaquille O’Neal lowdown

Shaq will turn 35 in March and that is getting up there for a guy that carries so many pounds around. So his trade value is not too high. He can be had.

Ok, dreaming again. But even a 35 year old Shaq put on a solid roster is still dangerous. Besides, we all know Shaq only plays in the playoffs these days.

Shaquille O’Neal is off to Los Angeles to have further testing done on a dodgy hip that he hurt a few days before Christmas while diving for a loose ball. Nobody knows the extent of the injury other than to say that it could be worse than previously diagnosed (bursitis of the left hip). If it turns up that O’Neal has anything, anything wrong with his left side beyond just a little inflammation, then the Heat need send the Big Fella to bed, and not think twice about it. source

You scoff, but who would have thought Danny Ainge would land Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and not lose Paul Pierce?

Could you see the look on Duncan’s face in the NBA finals?

Yeah, the Pistons should trade for Shaq. They could be handing a championship banner.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Would you make the trade for Shaq?

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Paris Hilton and Jerry Buss

Here is my plan.

Start a real estate business and make millions and millions and almost billions of dollars.

Buy the Lakers from Jerry Buss.

Hang out with Kobe, Phil, and Magic, when he is in town.

Go out to restaurants with Paris Hilton and other celebs.

One problem.

My wife said that was stupid.

My response? It is the NBA, baby. Basketball, slam dunks, championships, Garnett, Rasheed, LeBron, Duncan, Shaq, Paris Hilton. Anything can happen.

Her response? Did you get that trash out yet?

Ok, here is my new plan…

NBA Basketball Fan Question What is your NBA Basketball plan?

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