Real Deal

The play with Granger, and then DG stood over Davis as he was laying there on the floor (and DG was thrown out of the game). I only saw the highlights, didn't watch the game, so...

Damn, Magloire hit nothing but air on TWO free throws...that's rare to see that happen twice in one night, and boy, those shots were super short. I used to like Granger, but I'm starting to see this attitude in him. It wasn't too long ago I stated he was a second option, at best, and I'm not really sure he could be a second option on a championship team...yet, he's got this "swag" he plays with, thinking he's the savior in Indiana, when he's really not that big of a deal anymore. Sean, did Ed Davis get hurt on that play?

I didn't consider Amare because, truthfully, the Nets would not come close to considering that.

Blatche may have four years left, but he's not getting paid THAT much ($6.4 million this season) for what he was doing two seasons ago...but this season, I don't know if he just wants to be elsewhere, or what...he's even worse. Personally, I think Blatche would be a cancer for some of the better teams in the NBA. I don't like his shot selection, always thought he was inconsistent, and I'm not even sure if his head is in the game half the time. The potential he has always had...it's fun to think about, because he's nearly seven-feet tall and has a perimeter game, isn't a GREAT rebounder, but he can still clean the glass well. But, I just don't feel like the guy can, or even wants to, tap into it.

Good call.

I agree with Sean. Rubio can't be placed over Irving. I know he's playing very well, showing that he can play defense and even make shots here and there (won't need to mention his court vision), but Kyrie is turning out to be a very exciting player, and he's making good decisions on a team full of players that, really, need a leader to make those decision. Irving is that leader, and Cleveland has a shot at sneaking in as the 8th seed (I believe that's where they are right now). Both PG's are very controlled and have a high IQ, though, and are fun to watch. I really have to change my stance on the Cavaliers taking Knight and Williams over Irving and Tristan.

Just playing the other side of the fence...how bad would Westbrook be if he was forced to shoot all the time? It seems like he loves being around Durant and Harden as much as Rondo does the big three (who aren't in their primes), so are we sure Westbrook would really be any different? Plus, I've seen Rondo showing that he can take over games scoring the ball, when just a couple of years ago, nobody thought he could. Neither are superstars or franchise players, in my book...all-stars, obviously, but I can't see the Celtics doing much at all with Westbrook leading the way, even with the big three fading out or completely out of the picture, and I would think Boston would want to keep Rajon, and continue to try and put the pieces together for another run.

Obviously, New York would love to have Williams, Melo and Amare on the same team...and they would become instant contenders, finally having a legit PG (and a bad ass one, at that) and a little more defense in the backcourt. However, the Knicks really don't have anything to offer the Nets. What if...the Nets asked for Carmelo Anthony? If you were the Knicks GM, would you deal Melo to the Nets, if it meant bringing in Deron Williams to team up with Amare, Chandler and Shumpert? Or, is Anthony too valuable to consider?

I know there was a rumor that the Celtics were offering Rondo to the Thunder....and I'm assuming that was shot down by OKC (although, I would rather have Rondo on the Thunder). Given the current state of the team, who they have, and what they run...would you say that they would benefit more from a player like Westbrook, who is a firecracker on the offensive end BUT shows signs of being selfish, or should they stick with Rondo, the lesser offensive player that will continue to distribute the ball to the big three?

Okay Nets fans...it's March 14th (one day before the trade deadline), and the worst has happened (we're assuming, just for the sake of discussion). Dwight Howard ends up in LA or Dallas, wherever (in a trade)...and Deron Williams wants out of New Jersey. At this point, what exactly do you do? Do you scramble and put Deron on the block, and try and trade him before the deadline? Do you keep him until July, wanting that last chance to build around him? What team(s) would you consider trading him to? What players would you want to pick up if you were going to try and make a last-ditch effort to build around him?

The Lakers want to win as much as possible before Kobe starts to take a backseat. When he destroyed his knee, he was nearly there last season...a scary situation, nonetheless. He was struggling so much, it was to the point where I was gearing up for the "Bynum era" in LA...and that would be a failure, since he's not a franchise player (at least that's what I feel). Kobe and Howard would contend...but I don't think they beat Miami in the Finals, not with Josh McRoberts, Steve Blake, and Matt Barnes as our other three starters (and nothing off the bench). The Lakers would avoid Hedo, if they sent both big men...100% sure of that. It would be a priority, because I have a gut feeling that Jim Buss will amnesty Ron Artest at the end of the season, and we have far, far too much money invested in Kobe and Howard (well, we would) at that point...we'd never be under the cap, or even close to under it, and would be penalized with the harsh luxury tax restrictions of the new CBA. So, if the Lakers are going to spend the cash, they'll do whatever is necessary to avoid Hedo, or keep Gasol (winning = money), or use that TPE on a PF like Millsap, if we do trade Gasol. Otherwise, LA will go after Deron Williams, and I'm not really sure why the Nets would deal him to us, unless they fall in love with Drew (who is from Jersey, if I recall correctly). The Nets' situation is really weird to me...not sure what they would do if Deron wants to leave, and they don't get Dwight.

Far, far different circumstances, obviously. Ours was cut up due to "basketball reasons" (in other words, so the owners would hurry and sign the CBA that night, and think that Stern is trying to stick with his word and support small-market teams). Orlando really thinks Howard wants to stay. In addition to that, I doubt the fact that Brook now knows he was gone is a big deal. He's known that for a while. We lost Odom because we had traded an emotional player for CP3, forced to bring him back in, only to realize he's more emotional than we though (as he demanded a trade to a contender, said he felt unwanted in LA). Pau Gasol, not even sure if he's in it for the long haul now, as he's about as mentally fragile as Odom (we saw it in the NBA Playoffs last year). The Nets would trade any single player on their team, aside from D-Will, for an all-star or superstar player. I hope those on the roster know that by now, especially Lopez. I'd like to hurry and get Lopez' weird-looking face out of the Nets banner, as long as I don't have to put up Howard.

Very easy...Arron Afflalo. He was 21-22 when he came in, but still. Tayshaun Prince, but he was also around that age. But, the idea was, there aren't many young players to come in and play that good of defense from the start (20-23 year olds vs. 30+ veterans), and that's not exactly true. As far as Kawhi Leonard goes, he reminds me of Marion. This is what I said before the draft...

I don't think the Lakers win it all with just Kobe and Howard. I'd really like to keep Gasol. If only Drew was healthy over the years, this would be an easy trade to pull off...but if that were the case, I'd have a hard time parting with Bynum, because the guy is a train on offense, and he's playing very good defense as well. Assuming we had to part ways with both Drew and Gasol, I hope the Lakers take the TPE we received for Odom and send it to Utah, for Millsap or Favors...or try and get Kevin Love with it, or something.

You forgot the rest of it. They were talking about LeBron's missed free throws, and how he lost the game. They said that LeBron's decisions to get to the rim were better, but he did as bad as Kobe to end the 4TH QUARTER. Kobe's OT was not bad, and that tied in with what they were saying about how he's not afraid to miss shots, while LeBron gets that way.

I went back to watch a bit of this game...and Ben Gordon is just so disappointing. Monroe and Knight are trying to carry this team, but it's ugly when you have guys like Gordon, just throwing the ball at the rim and praying for a make. That dish to BIG JON JEUER at the end of the game was nice, too. The Bucks need much more of that. Also, S-Jax may have played okay in the statsheet, but he needs to stop trying to run the offense.

I don't know why, but this made me laugh.

I'm not so sure the West is the weaker conference. It may feel that way when you look at Miami and Chicago at the top, but after that, I'm not so sure there's anyone else that can beat those two teams. In the West, it's hard to say what teams will survive. Last season, we saw the Grizzlies come out and knock off the #1 (as you know), and they nearly upset the Thunder. Denver has that potential...the Nuggets were running people over in the second half of last season, probably the best team in the conference at that point, and may have done more damage in the playoffs if they had a bit more experience together. Can't count out Dallas yet, either...because if Odom figures his life out and Carlisle starts using him correctly, they can be a tough out, despite not having Chandler.

I really wish I had video clips of these glitches I've ran into since buying the game. About 10 minutes ago, I was in the Royal Rumble, and at #28, I ran out. I threw Stone Cold out, Heath Slater out...and I was in there with another CAW of mine and HHH. Suddenly, the countdown begins, and #29 comes out...and it's Kelly Kelly. She runs through the ring mat, and gets stuck in the middle of the ring. I can't punch her, kick her, grapple...do anything (and I didn't think women were allowed in the Rumble to begin with). So, John Cena is the last guy out, at #30, and it ends up being me and HHH. I toss Trips over, and quickly, half of my face falls off (again, the jaw part, like it did in another glitch I explained earlier). Kelly Kelly is still there, upper torso in the ring, waist and legs under the mat? And I'm standing there, not able to move, with no jaw, just half a face connected to my neck. Seriously, this game is getting ridiculous. I thought it was fun, and I wanted to ignore the minor glitches, but some of these just ruin everything. I can take one glitch in a singles match, or whatever...but Royal Rumbles last far too long, and this just leaves me upset at the game.

I didn't think your own posts were supposed to come up in New Content, since it's actually YOUR content.

To be honest, this is all you really need from the picture... http://i42.tinypic.com/9gh4sj.jpg

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120111_NJ@DEN

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120111_ATL@IND

The best part about this is...people bash Howard for not having an offensive game. Why are teams fouling the hell out of him? He's getting too close to the rim. He may not have the post moves that Andrew Bynum has, but he's too damn strong and effective once he gets near the basket, and he's usually going to put up a high-percentage game (around 60% average).

What's the pick, though? If it's for this upcoming draft...well, that's a big deal for the Grizzlies. Not sure why the Nets would do that...