Real Deal

They do it all the time. You do realize that both LeBron and Bosh did it, right? The Cavs and Raptors received picks in a sign-and-trade, and it gave both LeBron and Bosh an extra year on their contracts, giving them a reason to take a little less money. ...I'm pretty sure I made it clear that he didn't, which is why I said you'd have to remove a few events that took place. All the rest of the stuff is opinion. You're making excuses for Carmelo throwing the Nuggets under the bus during the season, and I'm saying it was wrong of him to do so. Simple as that. He should've kept it behind closed doors if he really wants to leave.

Magnificent lob at the end of the game by DeMarcus Cousins...all the way out of bounds. Missed the rim by about 25 feet.

Good chance for Dallas to end that losing streak, but they extend it to six games, even with Dirk playing well.

Shannon Brown, Steve Blake and Luke Walton are all worthless. I cringe every single time I see them in the game together.

"They should make shot-blocking illegal, because a player could come down and elbow another in the eye, tear the retina, and cause serious eye damage for the rest of that player's life. Probably stealing the ball too, depending on where the ball is held (ex. 6 inches near the face), and to be honest, maybe all players should be forced to play with their hands below the neck. Nothing but granny shots (with no follow through) and the ball must hit the floor before a rebound, and all players must be at least two feet away from each other at all times during a loose ball." - 2040 NBA Commissioner Chris Bosh

Yeah, they do have to trade him, or they will lose him for nothing. You even stated that a bit ago. By definition, no player can force any team to trade him...but Melo is pretty damn close to doing just that...and not only that, but also determining what they get for him. The more he demands NY, the less the Knicks have to offer. There's a reason why players aren't free agents during an NBA season. Carmelo is not a free agent. I never said it was impossible to tell them no. Many players decline extensions. Was Dwyane Wade a free agent? Where is he playing now? If he says no to an extension, it's clear he's going to test free agency (or, of course, leave Denver). He can wait it out, then work out a sign-and-trade at the end of the year, to give back to the Nuggets. But, see, Melo doesn't have all of the leverage...because, as stated earlier, the Nuggets can keep him past the deadline and end up not using a sign-and-trade, which loses one year on his contract, more money, AND risks losing 30% of the money he could earn due to a new CBA (assuming the CBA won't cut all player salaries, and they are going to consider keeping all contracts signed pre-CBA 2011). Obviously, that gives them nothing back...but it also screws Melo over. Even though he can make that up elsewhere, through endorsements, it's still an eight-digit number that he would love to see, anywhere around $30+ million he won't get out of that contract. Players do make that decision, because a sign-and-trade gives them an extra year on their contract. No team can offer more than the original. Ask the Denver fans what they think of it. He was booed the other night by half of them. LOL, easily tells me where you stand just by that comment alone, then. Seven years is 14 Finals teams, ONLY seven out of his conference. The Lakers are nearly a dynasty, and the Spurs ruled after the Kobe/Shaq era...and four of his seven playoff visits have come to an end due to those two teams. Is this something you would've considered to Karl Malone and John Stockton, when they didn't reach the NBA Finals for 11-12 seasons before getting there twice, only to lose to the Bulls (a.k.a. greatest team ever)? Didn't LeBron James go to the Finals in his fourth NBA season? Why did he leave? How long did it take Dirk to get there in 2006? Eight. He's on his 13th with one team, and just one Finals visit. Steve Nash never demanded a trade, and he's never been to the Finals. He's playing on a Suns team that's needing him to score 10 more points than he's already averaging, and he's barely able to play 30 minutes due to his back. Not even Kevin Garnett bolted after seven years. He could win me over by staying in Denver, or by just shutting up to begin with and just letting his contract expire and becoming a free agent. He could've also kept it behind closed doors, instead of mentioning it in interviews and being an idiot on Twitter. When a player's contract expires, they can sign anywhere...yes. Carmelo is still under contract. Melo never let the organization know he was going to do this until it was too late. He should've told them his plans, behind closed doors, right after his Nuggets were beat by the Jazz in the playoffs last year (or sooner, because he already knew he was going to leave Denver). I know this has a little to do with LeBron leaving Cleveland, no matter how much you deny it...but if you remove The Decision and the fact that he led fans to believe he was going to return and "build a contender in Cleveland" (his words), LeBron actually did the right thing. Carmelo isn't.

That interview was hilarious. "Can't stop a nosebleed (referring to the defense)." "(Replying to "See you in Pittsburgh") CAN'T WAIT."

He's not forcing them to trade him? Yeah, he is...and not only that, he's also forcing them to trade him to New York. He's not coming out and saying it, but everyone knows what he's doing. He couldn't be handling this any better? He could've just played out the season and never made a comment about it until the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs. He could say, "I'm going to explore my options as a free agent," and leave it at that...no mention of any other city, ever. THEN, if he decided he's going to explore those options, he could ask whatever team he's going to about a sign-and-trade deal, to give him the extra year on his contract and to give back to the Nuggets. He shouldn't have the green light, as a player under contract, to pick one team and become a locker room distraction by making ignorant comments about the city of Denver, or about the Nuggets' organization, or about where he would want to play or where he has always dreamed of playing. Two things are a given: he will not be playing in Denver next season, no matter what, and he's not going to sign his extension until he's guaranteed to be going to New York in a trade. That gives me the conclusion that he doesn't give a [expletive] about the Denver Nuggets. He doesn't want to play for them anymore, doesn't want them to try to add more pieces to satisfy him, and he doesn't want them to add pieces they would like to have AFTER he's gone because they are extremely limited right now. It's pretty clear why he's doing wrong.

The best would be Lakers and Celtics. I'd expect another seven-game series, and it would feature two true rival teams, and Kobe vs. Shaq (even though Shaq is out of his prime). The worst Finals matchup would be Lakers and Cavaliers, or Celtics and Kings.

Send Derek Fisher to the bench, please. We need to get rid of Blake. The dude was hyped up so much because he used to light Fisher up, and even I could probably do that these days.

He has to get in over Gasol. It may not be one of those "hands-down" decisions for everyone, but it's not even a question for me. Durant and Nowitzki get the nod as the starters, assuming Melo gets to play for the East. After that, Griffin needs to be coming off the bench. Plus, Gasol should be considered a five anyway. The dude was playing the position for two months.

LOL. Bench him for the rest of the season, then let him walk for less money and less years in July and just take the loss.

Do you think he'll take it after all it's been through? idk man wow

He's a diabetic.

LOL, we've been losing to bad teams all year long. No big deal. We do it every year. In fact, I probably would've posted a similar picture if I hadn't seen it in here. Good play, though. I know you were just dying for that one.

Weird game. The playcalling was just odd the entire game for the Pats, and I don't get why they were running the clock out in that fourth quarter (they had the ball for what, 8 minutes to start the 4th?), despite knowing it would come down to how much time they'll have left. Should've kicked that field goal when they first had a chance, also...even though it would've been a 52-yarder. Jets could be in the SB. That o-line is beat up in Pittsburgh, and Troy is still trying to heal up from his injury.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20110115_ORL@MIN

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20110115_SAC@DET

Yeah, DeAndre looks like he could be a legit starter for a full season. The dude is shooting 69% from the floor, too...saw that the other day during a Clips game. Not sure what it was with him, but Kaman came out for this season missing shots, even easy layups. He was playing outside of the paint a bit more, but even with those short jumpers and hooks, he wasn't hitting anything but the front of the rim. Probably a good idea to upgrade at the SF position, maybe bring in another defensive player.

Hahaha...nice.

Kobe: "Uh, Pau, when I say to put your foot on the gas, I don't mean to do it like this."

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1364.snc4/163598_10100144392403321_6018131_53241940_4244927_n.jpg

I like the Great Wall idea. And there will be no invasion. That would be ignorant on their part.

I would consider uninstalling, and reinstalling, Chrome. Also, scan your computer...could be an ad of some kind, and maybe you have an ad-blocker, or something. I'll keep looking into it.

Don't speak too soon. He could definitely get in.