The National Basketball League took to the outdoors in Indian Wells, California and played a game of basketball. It was the Golden State Warriors playing against the Phoenix Suns under the sun. How cool is that?

We can’t do that stuff in Michigan, because it is already down to the low 40’s during the day. We did have the largest crowd ever at an outdoor college hockey game, but that is not the same thing.

Warriors 104 Suns 101

The Warriors are a team that is a complete mess with the latest problem coming from Stephen Jackson, big surprise. 5 fouls and 1 technical and 10 minutes into the game against the Lakers and Stephen Jackson left the bench and went to the locker room and simply never returned.

Jackson agreed to a three-year, $28 million contract extension with the Warriors last November, but now he wants out – and the former combatant in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in the Auburn Hills stands is making it known in various vocal ways.
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Classic members of the malice at the Palace - Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson

It is getting so bad that fans are begging the owner to just get it over with and sell the team. The owner, Chris Cohan, is asking so much money that even Larry Ellison, yes that Larry Ellison of Oracle fame, turned him down.

And again, we say, “It ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.” Cohan will sell when his price, already judged exorbitant by Larry Ellison, whose wallet could eat Cohan’s entire house, is met. Or when the Internal Revenue Service decides to bring the noise to his ongoing tax issues.

Are there people who would love to buy the team and move it, maybe to San Jose, maybe to San Francisco? Yes, and there have been – but Cohan isn’t what real-estate people call a motivated seller, even with all the horrific embarrassments he has instigated and allowed instigated in his name. Apparently, the man simply cannot be shamed.
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What is next for this team? They have no players. They have an owner that wants to sell. Don Nelson is their coach and Stephen Jackson is their best player. Wow, it is no time to be a Warriors fan.

Image: Zuma Press

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Stephen Curry was open about playing for the New York Knicks and he wanted them to draft him on draft day, but that did not happen and maybe the second best thing did happen when he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen is the son of Dell Curry and those are pretty good basketball genes. His father was known for his ability to come into a game as a sixth man and immediately put up some points and often the points came in the form of 3 pointers. Dell Curry drifted from team to team and pretty much made a career of being the sixth man that could score.

Stephen Curry can shoot the rock!

That ability to score must have been in the DNA, because Stephen has the same ability and can pretty much score at will. He is not lacking in the confidence department either.

Yes, no doubt. Guys like Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade… I’ve been working out with those guys, playing one-on-one all the time and they all see that I can play. It’s great competition and we have a lot of fun doing it. I definitely held my own and I’ve got a lot of confidence going into my first season that I can play with these guys.
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There are still a lot of questions concerning Stephen Curry. Those questions will be put to the test in a hurry. First off, is he a two guard or a point guard? At 6′ 3″ tall, Stephen would be a tad short to play full time two guard, but his ball handling is a bit less sharp than most NBA point guards, so maybe he is a 1 and a half guard.

The next question concerns his defense or rather his lack of defense. Like most scoring machine type guards there will be questions concerning his defense. Will he be able to guard quick point guards or tall shooting guards. These questions remain to be answered.

All in all, playing for Golden State will allow Stephen Curry to shine on offense and hide some of his liabilities, because his game plays right into the Warriors up and down style of play. Look for an excellent rookie season by Stephen Curry!

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Golden State.
Oh yeah, that is a mouthful. Think of all the recent titles Golden State has achieved. Uh, think of any titles…how about Conference titles? No? Uh, think of all the good parking places in their parking lot. You can park your car right beside the stadium.

How about all the tremendous players on their roster. Let’s see, there is…um, there is… Don’t they have Baron Davis? He left? Chose to go to the Clippers? He chose to go to the Clippers? No one made him go?

Now they did make some huge deals today.

Moore, a 33-year-old 7-footer who averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.6 minutes a game during the playoffs with Boston, is expected to sign a one-year contract midweek for the veteran minimum $1.3 million. Watson, a restricted free agent, alerted his Twitter flock that he is re-upping with the Warriors for a one-year qualifying offer of just more than $1 million

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Ok, maybe not too huge.

We are getting sidetracked here. Face it, Golden State stinks. If Stephen Jackson wants to leave the team and go somewhere else then let him. They need to rebuild anyway. Find a better team player that wants to be there.

Think Stephen Jackson is upset?

Stephen Jackson was with the Pacers when Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into it. He also went through suspension for the Malice at the Palace. His legacy will be marked by it.

Now he is demanding a trade and stating it publicly, which under National Basketball Association rules you cannot do.

The league fined Jackson $25,000 on Tuesday for public statements “detrimental to the NBA.” Players aren’t permitted to make trade requests publicly, and Jackson is the first player fined for such statements since Ron Artest, then of the Indiana Pacers, during the 2005-06 season.

Players are allowed to and have, on occasion, requested a trade through their teams’ hierarchy. The players, however, are not allowed to make said mandates through the media.

“It’s against league rules to request a trade publicly,” vice president of NBA communications Tim Frank said. “Therefore, a fine was issued.”
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It was discussed so what happened? Phoenix thought Amare Stoudemire would be sent packing to Golden State with other players and considerations and in return Golden State would ship back Stephen Curry with other players and considerations. You know how that stuff works.

The secret part of the deal that may not have been discussed from Golden State’s point of view was that Golden State was sure Curry would be off the board by pick number 7. When he was there, they did not want to part with him.

Amare Stoudemire will be a reach for the Warriors without Curry in the deal

So is the Stoudemire trade off the board?

The teams will continue talking about how a trade involving Stoudemire could be worked out but it is now just among several conversations the Suns are having. Such a deal is far less likely without Curry and Golden State’s unwillingness to part with forward Anthony Randolph.
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Brad Miller to New York?

Mike D’Antoni has got it going on. The Knicks have been cleaning house and adding new players to fit the D’Antoni system.

The latest trade rumor, as reported by Eric Pincus of the most excellent hoop site Hoopsworld, has Sacramento trading Brad Miller for Stephon Marbury.

While this has yet to be confirmed, the Kings might be an ideal suitor for exiled point guard Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks.

In addition to bolstering one of the Kings’ weaker positions, a Marbury trade could provide Sacramento with enormous salary cap flexibility this summer.

The Knicks would prefer to trade Stephon and are looking for players with two-year deals to field a somewhat competitive roster for the 2009/10 season – but more importantly have as much cap space as possible to go shopping for a banner crop of free agents.

Miller’s passing ability and face up game would be a nice fit in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. The Knicks would be able to cash out a disgruntled player for a very workable center.

Based on simple economics – can the Kings even refuse an offer of Marbury for Kenny Thomas and Miller?

Thomas has been languishing on the Kings bench for years. His contract finally runs out conveniently before the summer of 2010.

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Last week against the Pistons, with Rasheed Wallace on the bench, Brad Miller manhandled the Pistons. He is for real and still has a lot of hoops left in him.

Photo source Newscom

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Man, today there was this crazy thought rolling through my head. What if the Pistons had kept Chauncey Billups and Iverson had stayed on the Nuggets?

Nowhere to go with that thought, so how about taking a look at how some of this player movement and coaching movement is working out?

Chauncey Billups from Detroit to Denver
Denver is 7 – 3 in their last 10 games and in 1st place

Allen Iverson from Denver to Detroit
Detroit is 4 – 6 and in second place.

Ron Artest from everywhere to Houston
Houston is 7 – 3 and in 1st place

Jermaine O’Neal from Indiana to Toronto
Toronto is 3 – 7 and dead last in the Atlantic Division

Rick Carlisle to coach Dallas
Dallas is 8 – 2 but only in 4th place in the Southwest

Terry Porter to coach Phoenix
Phoenix is 5 -5 and in second place behind the Lakers

Mike D’Antoni to coach the Knicks
3 – 7 and 4th place in the same division as the Celtics

Mo Williams to Cleveland
9 – 1 in the last 10 and first place over the Pistons

This is a fun one
Elton Brand from L.A. Clippers to Philadelphia
Baron Davis from Golden State to L.A. Clippers
Corey Maggette from L.A. Clippers to Golden State

76er’s 4 -6 3rd place
Clip’s 2 – 8 5th place
Warriors 1 – 9 but still in 3rd place

Which just begs the question, what if Chauncey Billups had never left the Pistons?
Photo source Newscom

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Andris Biedrins, far right, won’t have Baron Davis, front, passing him the ball anymore

Biedrins has game.

Who?

Andris Biedrins. He just signed a huge contract with the Golden State Warriors for 62 million bucks.

62 million bucks for Bee runs?

No, Biedrins. Andris Biedrins. They also signed Monta Ellis for 66 million bucks.

Monta Ellis?

Golden State wanted to lock up some young talent and they did.

“We’re extremely happy to have Andris under contract for many years to come,” said Chris Mullin, the Warriors’ top basketball executive. “He is clearly one of the top young centers in the NBA, and much like (Ellis), he has continued to improve every season. It’s not easy to find quality young big men in this league, but we certainly think we have one of them, and he’s only 22 years old.”

Biedrins has improved his scoring average in each of his seasons with Golden State, developing from a skinny rebounding specialist into an all-around player and a low-post scorer for the uptempo Warriors.

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Did you know Andris led the league in field goal percentage at 62.6 %? He is a 6′ 11″ center and brings what you would call a 10 10 game to the NBA, 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Andre is young and getting better.

As for Monta Ellis, he averaged over 20 points per game last year and will take over for Baron Davis. Baron left for the Clippers.

Should be fun to watch Golden State in their high speed offense with Monta Ellis bringing up the ball and Biedrins as a reliable scorer and rebounder.

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Ronny Turiaf says “Oh yeah, no more purple outfits”

Image details: NBA Finals Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics served by picapp.com

The Lakers reluctantly did not match the offer of the Golden State Warriors for Ronny Turiaf. He was a restricted free agent and the Lakers had the rights to match any offer.

The Warriors signed Turiaf, a restricted free agent, to a four-year, $17 million offer sheet last week. By rule, the Lakers had seven days to decide whether to match it. The three-year veteran from Gonzaga averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 78 games with the Western Conference champions last season, making 21 starts.

The Lakers played much of last season without starting center Andrew Bynum, giving Turiaf the opportunity for more playing time than he would have had otherwise. But, Kupchak said, Bynum is expected to be healthy when training camp begins in early October, and Turiaf’s opportunities figured to be diminished significantly.

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Even without Ronny Turiaf, with Andrew Bynum coming back the Lakers are loaded, including Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant.

The Golden State Warriors lost Baron Davis to the San Diego Clippers, but signed Corey Maggette from the Clippers for what many are calling a draw.

Turiaf should see a lot of playing time with the Warriors.

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Joe Dumars opened the doors to all trade offers. The Pistons are slightly over the salary cap, so a trade of one of their veteran starters appears to be very doable.

So what are the rumors?

The two strongest deal with the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

Tracy McGrady can’t believe he could go to a winning team like the Pistons!

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Houston Rockets

Let’s start with the Rockets. Tracy McGrady said he wanted to win, so going to the Pistons would be fine with him. Let’s be clear though, Tracy was just speaking off handedly, he has no problem returning to the Rockets to play with Yao Ming.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported on ESPN late Tuesday night that he spoke with McGrady and that McGrady wouldn’t mind a trade to Detroit.

Said Smith: “It’s certainly not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not as if Houston and Detroit has even talked yet. But is Detroit interested? Definitely.

“Is Tracy McGrady interested? Yes he is. I spoke to Tracy McGrady earlier. His basic thing is he’s very happy in Houston but he wants to win. So whatever is a winning situation for him is something he is more than willing to entertain.”

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Golden State Warriors

The other deal being talked about is picking up the Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins. This could happen if Ronny Turief does end up with Golden State. The deal would involve Chauncey Billups.

The 6-11 Biedrins was the No. 11 overall pick in 2004. The 22-year-old started 59 of 76 games last season, averaging 10.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.24 blocks, shooting 62.6 percent from the floor.

The Warriors might be willing to make a trade once their deal for Ronny Turiaf has been completed. Golden State made a four-year, $17 million offer to the restricted free agent Turiaf of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have until Thursday to match the offer or they will lose Turiaf, a 6-foot-10 forward who averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season.
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It is the Clippers.

It is the Clippers, still.

Yes, Baron Davis, one of my favorite players to watch has come to town, but it is still the Clippers.

Baron Davis shooting over Andrew Bynum of the Lakers

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Clippers fans have to be bumming. They lost Elton Brand to the 76ers, because the Clippers upset his manager, David Falk. They lost Corey Maggette to the Golden State Warriors, can’t remember why. Maybe money.

Anyway, even with the signing of Baron Davis the Clippers will suck. Baron cannot carry them on his back all by himself.

It sucks to be a Clippers fan when the Lakers are just across town. Just off the top of my head the Lakers in my lifetime have had Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant.

The Clippers in my lifetime have had…the Clippers have had…well, uhh..oh..Elgin Baylor! Not as a player, though, but it still counts doesn’t it? Elgin is vice-president of basketball operations and very good at his job.

NBA Elgin Baylor factoid – From the 1960-61 to the 1962-63 seasons, Baylor averaged 34.8, 38.3 and 34.0 points per game, respectively. His 38.3 point per game season average is the highest for any player other than Wilt Chamberlain. Baylor, a United States Army Reservist, was called to active duty during that season, and being stationed in Washington state, he could play for the Lakers only when on a weekend pass. However, despite playing only 48 games on the season, he still managed to score over 1,800 points.

The 71 points Baylor scored on November 15, 1960 was a record at the time. The 61 points he scored in game 5 of the NBA Finals in 1962 is still an NBA Finals record. An underrated rebounder, Baylor averaged 13.5 rebounds per game during his career, including a remarkable 19.8 rebounds per game during the 1960-61 season — a season average exceeded by only five other players in NBA history. Baylor was a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection and went to the NBA All-Star Game 11 times.source

Baron Davis

Baron is one of the great penetrating guards of today. Somehow he can muscle inside or move fluidly inside for easy baskets, but he will miss big Elton Brand.

“Before you ask, there was never an underground handshake with Baron Davis,” Brand said Wednesday, addressing speculation that he’d given Davis some kind of commitment to return to the Clippers.

Today, we’ll find out if Davis feels the same way.

Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star (2002 and 2004). He averaged 21.8 points (12th in the NBA), 7.6 assists (6th in the NBA), 4.7 rebounds and 2.33 steals (3rd in the NBA) while playing in all 82 games for the Golden State Warriors during the 2007-08 season. Davis was just one of four players in the league last season to average 20+ points and seven+ assists (Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Chris Paul) per game.

Entering his tenth NBA season, Davis brings career averages of 17.1 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.95 steals and 35.5 minutes per game.

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