Where Anything Can Happen

Well...you kinda have to start with the big story....Shaq to Phoenix for Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion...since I'm an objective observer 1st...I'll go through the pros and cons of this trade and then go from there..

Pros for Phx
-You get rid of a player who hasnt been happy in years and publicly asked for a trade...add that to the ongoing beef with him and Amare...someone had to go
-You get a real center which can slide Amare to his natural position,thinking he would play better there
-You get a shot blocker(Shaq hasnt blocked averaged 2 blocks in about 3 years but its more than what they had)
-You may have an answer for Bynum or Duncan...and by answer I say slowing,not stopping with a frontline of Shaq,Amare,Skinner and Diaw..you can slow someone
-The window is getting smaller and smaller,if it hasnt worked in the past....why not try something different?
-Grant Hill is back and Boris is playing well so that could ease the trade a little bit
-Marion might leave if he doesnt get the extension he wants anyway
-Marcus Banks' contract wasnt going well with the production...unless he's working for free
-Shaq doesnt slow them down...because you dont need all 5 guys running down before anyone else...and if you play LA or SA...and stay away from Golden State you arent running much anyways..


Cons for Phx
-Shaq makes $20 million this year...vs Marion's $16.4
-Marion was your best defender...he can guard 4 positions easy...and you are trading that for a guy who may NOT be able to guard anyone
-Shaq isnt exactly a "locker room" guy himself
-Shaq cant run very fast
-So when Nash is on the break...who is going to be out there with him?...Amare?...not all the time...Barbosa?...no...Hill?...eh...Diaw?...see where I'm going?
-Simple math...you trade away a guy who is 5 inches smaller than the guy you get...now...that smaller guy averages 1.6 more points...2.1 more rebounds, .7 more assists...1.9 less turnovers...1.4 more steals...23.1 better percent from the free throw line and 1.5 less fouls...than the bigger guy....you get the bigger guy...but you get smaller...

I think my fan card will go out the window and sit beside my Sonics card if this goes down

Shifting topics...

-I'm bashing Bob Knight...in college coaching is coaching to me...there isnt a super huge gap in "talent" of coaching...you cant just quit on kids like that...it was frown upon in the pros when it happened in Atlanta...those people were getting paid still...for athletes a huge reason they go to a certain school is because of the coach(Ask Bill Walker and Michael Beasley)...you step into these kids' house and talk to their parents on why they should come there...you are expected to lead and teach these men things that they can carry with them into the real world...what have you taught them?..when the tough gets going.....get gone?...get out while you still can?...its sad really that no one on ESPN even mentioned this..when it broke everyone was giving him the swan song treatment...but now that he's had the interview and said what he had to say....you still back that?....well I cant back you because of that...you dont quit on the team/school that reached out to you when you got FIRED from Indiana because you couldnt control yourself...I hope I dont see you again Bob Knight...you are in the book right beside Larry Brown to me...

-Speaking of college..lol

....seen this guy?...maybe yes...maybe not....I am getting behind California's sophmore Ryan Anderson as the Pac-10 player of the year...now...hear me out

This guy is averaging 22pts and 10 rebs at standing 6-10 and get this...he shoots almost 48% from 3....the hype now is Kevin Love..and the freshman is killing the Pac-10 with 17.8 and 11..but the big difference is the win/loss...where it isnt close...but it all depends on what you see as the player of the year....best player playing this year?...or best player on best team?...your call...all I know he's done this
33pts and 17rebs vs Washington
30pts and 7rebs vs Arizona
32pts and 15rebs vs ASU
36pts and 13 vs Nevada

College Games
UCLA vs Wazzu Thurs 10:30
Oregon/Cal Thurs 10pm
UCLA/Washington Sun 4:30

NBA
Portland vs Detroit Fri 8pm
SA vs Boston Sun 1pm
Denver vs Cleveland Sun 7pm