gpikePau in L.A., Shaq is Back to the West, Kidd leaves Nets
February 22nd 2008 03:16
So many things go crazy when the trade deadline is fast approaching. Contending teams try to pull up the stops just to find ways to shore up their chances towards seasons end and into the playoffs and there are those who just wants to clear cap space to sign talented free agents next year.
They are three trades that are worth talking about that happened this month. Let’s see how these changes affect the competition and the performance of the teams that made the deals.
Blockbuster trade no.1: Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies to the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers fans are now buzzing with optimism following the acquisition of former Memphis Grizzlies centrepiece Pau Gasol. With the Spanish sensation now manning at the frontline in LA it gives the Lakers tremendous amount of flexibility and versatility. Gasol has height, speed, and quickness that fit the Lakers’ style of play. Pau also has great range from the perimeter with his soft touch. With Gasol’s ability to play both the four and five positions, this gives Phil Jackson the luxury of playing Lamar Odom at the three spot especially when Andrew Bynum comes back in healthy playing condition.
This trade instantly transforms the Lakers into championship contenders. No bull! I guess now with Pau around we will never be hearing Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant whining about lack of manpower or support. Truth is they are already contenders for another playoff run because the other Lakers, especially the role-playing ones, have been contributing admirably well. Take a look at Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Bynum and Ronny Turiaf for example. These guys just worked their way to improvement to become key performers. Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic are true talents that come in and bring their stuff with them in games. Pau Gasol is the last defining piece that will bring back LA into the upper echelon level. It’s actually nice to hear that Lakers fans, especially Kobe loyalists, are out there again flying the flag!
As for the Grizzlies, it’s time to rebuild. With Pau gone, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay must pick up the slack. This team is actually building around youth. They waived Damon Stoudamire in favor of young Mike Conley Jr. to start at point guard. Rudy Gay is now going through the growing pains of shouldering the load for the team and Hakim Warrick is playing extended minutes at power forward. Mike Miller’s name is also heard around the rumor mill. Rebuilding time sure is frustrating when nothing happened in your first main core.
Blockbuster trade no.2: Shaquille O’Neal from the Heat to the Suns
Shaquille O’Neal is, once again, out of the State of Florida and back to the West as he got traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Suns made the trade knowing that the Lakers are making personnel moves to dislodge them as leaders of the Pacific Division towards the end of the season. Shaq may be 35 but believe it that he still has the goods to lead a contending team to a serious post-season run. O’Neal’s presence still commands power in the middle which is a huge factor in any game, most of all, in the playoffs. The Suns still has two-time MVP Steve Nash and power playing Amare Stoudamire as weapons of choice. It’s only a matter of time before Shaq gets down with his new team and the Suns will surely be a team to beat in the playoffs.
The Suns are known as a fantastic running team what with Nash running the show, Stoudemire and Marion for thundering inside finishes and deadshots like Rajah Bell and Boris Diaw hitting jumpshots like crazy. With Shaq replacing Marion, this simply adds a new dimension in Phoenix basketball: A legitimate big man who will never be overmatched by any team.
In the past playoff losses that the Suns suffered they were usually got beat by Tim Duncan. Why is that? Amare is NOT a centre! Face it. Phoenix has been a doughnut team all these years relying on outrunning rather than overpowering the opposition. Their type of game may work in the regular season but not in the playoffs. O’Neal’s presence dramatically changes that. Phoenix is now a full loaf of bread with the way they look now with Shaq in the middle. Stoudemire will concentrate more on inside scoring, the shooters should be even more confident, and Nash wouldn’t need to run too much pick and rolls that are pretty predictable for very good opponents.
So it’s now truly Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. I remember this team in the pre-Shaq years when Wade was still a rookie that no one gives a damn about. It’s a hardworking team that has players who are willing to fight it out with any team they face. There is nothing wrong with coming back to your roots. Just think about it this way: Shaq came along and took us for the ride. When it’s over it’s time to comeback home.
There were a lot of drum beaters that were saying that Dwyane Wade is a legend in the making, of course, when they were winning and getting a lot of mileage. Now Shaq is gone. What now huh? A simple advice for the Flash: Work hard. That’s what Wade is. He is a hard worker just as he is talented. Whatever were those learned when playing with O’Neal must stick and the Heat must rise up again. Especially for those who thinks that Wade is great.
Blockbuster trade no.3: Jason Kidd from the Nets to the Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks, desperate to finally win the big one, traded great potential for proven veteran talent. The Mavs now has Jason Kidd who is back in Dallas after 11 years. Guess it’s now or never for Mark Cuban’s team as they declined to wait for Devin Harris to realize his full potential and now lays it all on the line with Kidd in tow. This has gotta work man! It has been a terribly long wait for Dallas fans to finally achieve championship success. They almost did it two years ago then they got upset by the Golden State Warriors getting knocked off right on the first round of last year’s playoffs. No wonder they’re desperate. Well, they better get it done soon before Jason retires. It’s recommended now that their scouts had better find another young point guard with great potential just in case Kidd breaks down soon.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Kidd was aching to leave the Nets. Dallas is aching to win a championship. What to do? Agree to a truce! This trade is a short term solution to a long term problem. Dallas can’t wait for Harris to grow up so they sent him away to get one of the best veteran point guards in the game today. Just in case the Mavs win a championship this year, will they be as good. What about next year? What about the year after that? This is serious. I just hope Dallas knows what they’ve done because they had given up the future (Harris) for the present (Kidd). What if they still can’t win a championship? Can they extend Kidd for more years? Tough spot Avery… tough spot…
In the Eastern Conference where your team can still make the playoffs even if you have more losses than wins, it is still a good situation for a young and talented kid like Harris to be with the New Jersey Nets. Hey… at least the Nets don’t have a point guard who grumbles about being underpaid! Vince Carter is not really having a banner year. Perhaps a fresh young kid at the point will straighten up things for him. Richard Jefferson is believed to be a consummate pro so he won’t have much problem playing with Harris.
They are three trades that are worth talking about that happened this month. Let’s see how these changes affect the competition and the performance of the teams that made the deals.
Blockbuster trade no.1: Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies to the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers fans are now buzzing with optimism following the acquisition of former Memphis Grizzlies centrepiece Pau Gasol. With the Spanish sensation now manning at the frontline in LA it gives the Lakers tremendous amount of flexibility and versatility. Gasol has height, speed, and quickness that fit the Lakers’ style of play. Pau also has great range from the perimeter with his soft touch. With Gasol’s ability to play both the four and five positions, this gives Phil Jackson the luxury of playing Lamar Odom at the three spot especially when Andrew Bynum comes back in healthy playing condition.
Gasol is getting warmed up in Los Angeles
This trade instantly transforms the Lakers into championship contenders. No bull! I guess now with Pau around we will never be hearing Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant whining about lack of manpower or support. Truth is they are already contenders for another playoff run because the other Lakers, especially the role-playing ones, have been contributing admirably well. Take a look at Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Bynum and Ronny Turiaf for example. These guys just worked their way to improvement to become key performers. Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic are true talents that come in and bring their stuff with them in games. Pau Gasol is the last defining piece that will bring back LA into the upper echelon level. It’s actually nice to hear that Lakers fans, especially Kobe loyalists, are out there again flying the flag!
As for the Grizzlies, it’s time to rebuild. With Pau gone, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay must pick up the slack. This team is actually building around youth. They waived Damon Stoudamire in favor of young Mike Conley Jr. to start at point guard. Rudy Gay is now going through the growing pains of shouldering the load for the team and Hakim Warrick is playing extended minutes at power forward. Mike Miller’s name is also heard around the rumor mill. Rebuilding time sure is frustrating when nothing happened in your first main core.
Blockbuster trade no.2: Shaquille O’Neal from the Heat to the Suns
Shaquille O’Neal is, once again, out of the State of Florida and back to the West as he got traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Suns made the trade knowing that the Lakers are making personnel moves to dislodge them as leaders of the Pacific Division towards the end of the season. Shaq may be 35 but believe it that he still has the goods to lead a contending team to a serious post-season run. O’Neal’s presence still commands power in the middle which is a huge factor in any game, most of all, in the playoffs. The Suns still has two-time MVP Steve Nash and power playing Amare Stoudamire as weapons of choice. It’s only a matter of time before Shaq gets down with his new team and the Suns will surely be a team to beat in the playoffs.
Shaq and Coach D'Antoni could be feeling the good times are coming.
The Suns are known as a fantastic running team what with Nash running the show, Stoudemire and Marion for thundering inside finishes and deadshots like Rajah Bell and Boris Diaw hitting jumpshots like crazy. With Shaq replacing Marion, this simply adds a new dimension in Phoenix basketball: A legitimate big man who will never be overmatched by any team.
In the past playoff losses that the Suns suffered they were usually got beat by Tim Duncan. Why is that? Amare is NOT a centre! Face it. Phoenix has been a doughnut team all these years relying on outrunning rather than overpowering the opposition. Their type of game may work in the regular season but not in the playoffs. O’Neal’s presence dramatically changes that. Phoenix is now a full loaf of bread with the way they look now with Shaq in the middle. Stoudemire will concentrate more on inside scoring, the shooters should be even more confident, and Nash wouldn’t need to run too much pick and rolls that are pretty predictable for very good opponents.
So it’s now truly Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. I remember this team in the pre-Shaq years when Wade was still a rookie that no one gives a damn about. It’s a hardworking team that has players who are willing to fight it out with any team they face. There is nothing wrong with coming back to your roots. Just think about it this way: Shaq came along and took us for the ride. When it’s over it’s time to comeback home.
There were a lot of drum beaters that were saying that Dwyane Wade is a legend in the making, of course, when they were winning and getting a lot of mileage. Now Shaq is gone. What now huh? A simple advice for the Flash: Work hard. That’s what Wade is. He is a hard worker just as he is talented. Whatever were those learned when playing with O’Neal must stick and the Heat must rise up again. Especially for those who thinks that Wade is great.
Blockbuster trade no.3: Jason Kidd from the Nets to the Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks, desperate to finally win the big one, traded great potential for proven veteran talent. The Mavs now has Jason Kidd who is back in Dallas after 11 years. Guess it’s now or never for Mark Cuban’s team as they declined to wait for Devin Harris to realize his full potential and now lays it all on the line with Kidd in tow. This has gotta work man! It has been a terribly long wait for Dallas fans to finally achieve championship success. They almost did it two years ago then they got upset by the Golden State Warriors getting knocked off right on the first round of last year’s playoffs. No wonder they’re desperate. Well, they better get it done soon before Jason retires. It’s recommended now that their scouts had better find another young point guard with great potential just in case Kidd breaks down soon.
2nd time Maverick Jason Kidd contesting a Chris Paul jumper.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Kidd was aching to leave the Nets. Dallas is aching to win a championship. What to do? Agree to a truce! This trade is a short term solution to a long term problem. Dallas can’t wait for Harris to grow up so they sent him away to get one of the best veteran point guards in the game today. Just in case the Mavs win a championship this year, will they be as good. What about next year? What about the year after that? This is serious. I just hope Dallas knows what they’ve done because they had given up the future (Harris) for the present (Kidd). What if they still can’t win a championship? Can they extend Kidd for more years? Tough spot Avery… tough spot…
In the Eastern Conference where your team can still make the playoffs even if you have more losses than wins, it is still a good situation for a young and talented kid like Harris to be with the New Jersey Nets. Hey… at least the Nets don’t have a point guard who grumbles about being underpaid! Vince Carter is not really having a banner year. Perhaps a fresh young kid at the point will straighten up things for him. Richard Jefferson is believed to be a consummate pro so he won’t have much problem playing with Harris.
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