Phoenix Suns

Talking To Chicks Who Love Hoops (Stephanie K)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:10:00 -0800

Welcome to Talking To Chicks Who Love Hoops. We all know female sports fans are a hot commodity for us dudes. Maybe not as rare as we think but us guys always think they're inferior when it comes to sports knowledge. Well, in this feature, I talk to them about the NBA and check what goes through their heads. And I ask them about everything else in an attempt to make this more fun and versatile instead of just straight sports. And watch out; these chicks might know more than you guys. Hell, they might even know more than yours truly.

PAST "TALKING TO CHICKS WHO LOVE HOOPS" ENTRIES
8. Annie (roots for the New Orleans Hornets)
9. Kim (roots for the Portland TrailBlazers)
10. Mia (roots for the L.A. Lakers)
11. Mayra (roots for the Detroit Pistons)
12. Shae (roots for the Denver Nuggets)
13. Lori Ann (roots for the Phoenix Suns)

I wonder if it gets embedded in you when you're already at the game while you're not even born. That seems to be the case for the talented and beautiful Stephanie K. Stephanie K is not only a huge fan of the NBA but also an aspiring singer. We talked about the NBA, her beloved Detroit Pistons, and a bit about her singing as well. I guess she didn't take me seriously when I offered to do a duet! Dammit.

And right before I was going to put up this entry, we got breaking news that Michael Curry was fired as head coach of her beloved Pistons. So at the very last minute, I got Stephanie's reaction on that as well.

Yeah, my font is in purple... and her font is in blue.

Dear Stephanie,

It's my fault for not E-Mailing you sooner about this but I'll admit that it's been a pretty awesome NBA week. I was stoked that the Lakers won the title, yes, but, man, I can't wait for the title defense.

Anyway, I know you root for them Pistons. And I know from your site that you're a huge Chauncey Billups fan. So do you now also root for the Denver Nuggets? They had one hell of a playoff run and I don't see any reason why they can't do this again next year.

So have you lived in Michigan all your life? And I take it you grew up watching the Pistons? Tell me how you got into it and tell me your huge NBA fandom. Because you told me on Twitter that you are like... the biggest fan ever. And your boys beat the Lakers in '04. Is that your favorite NBA moment ever?

Also... I'd like to get your thoughts on all the trades that have gone down... and how do you think the Pistons are going to do next season. Give me some of that NBA knowledge, girlfriend!

By the way, you are an outstanding singer. I saw the vid where you sang the national anthem at The Palace of Auburn Hills. I hope you continue to go places with your voice. I love your song, It's You. Maybe you can write me a song sometime. Or maybe we can do a duet together! Yeah!

See? I pay attention!

Rey-Rey

I'll make love to you! Like you want me to...

...uhhh, okay. Moving on to her reply...

To start, I'm not ashamed to admit that I have gotten into many intense verbal battles over the years defending my beloved Pistons in bars, sports books, arenas, etc. Bad, great, terrible (see: the teal colors era), they will always be my favorite team. I'm a hometown girl and have been attending games (front row season tickets) since I resided in my mother's womb. And that's not a joke...

This year was a tough one to swallow. After 6 straight conference finals appearances, a first round sweeping was absolutely devastating. Chauncey Billups, our captain, leader and MVP during our championship (and then some), has been MY MVP since his days at Colorado. I was thrilled to see him drafted 3rd back in '97, and always knew he would develop into the incredible player he has become today. On and off the court, he is a class act. I am so proud of him and what he has accomplished in just one season with the Denver Nuggets. It truly shows how one player can so greatly impact a team. They are only going to get better in the years to come. Allen Iverson on the other hand? Ugh...selfish, difficult and egotistical are not adjectives I look for in describing an NBA allstar. Despite his individual accomplishments, he has no reason to be so conceited. ONE trip to the finals...ONE game won...does not a champion make.

Although I was alive and present during the Bad Boy era, I was too young to fully appreciate the excitement. My favorite Pistons moment was just before the championship-clinching Game 5 of the 2004 NBA finals...I remember Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" blaring throughout the Palace in the dim lighting before our team took the court. I turned to my brother, another Pistons fanatic and said, "We're doing this tonight." And we did. I got to go on the court during the ceremony. Unforgettable.

Fast forwarding to present times, I am not happy with the Pistons 1st Round pick in the 2009 draft. Austin Daye is pretty much Tayshaun Prince #2. Despite the fact that GM Joe Dumars is happy with PG Rodney Stuckey and SG and Rip Hamilton running the backcourt, I am a firm believer that the best available player should be chosen upon your turn in the draft. Hell, even if you don't want them...package them in some kind of deal. Drue Holiday and Ty Lawson could have been used as some intense bait. Picks in Round 2 are always hit or miss...so I won't even touch on those. But a swedish bleached blonde dude with the 39th pick? I just don't know...and after Joe D's many draft busts (Darko Milicic, Amir Johnson, Rodney White, Walter Sharpe)...I have my doubts.

It was a pretty boring draft in my opinion. Everyone knew Blake was going #1. Ricky Rubio could be a Pistol Pete in the making. But you never can tell...

Despite the draft, the major buzz around the NBA is currently the trade of Shaq to the Cavs in exchange for Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, cash and a future pick. Just 11 days after Kobe proved he had the talent and leadership skills to win a championship without Shaq manning the front court, LeBron and the Cavs have done just the opposite...hoping Shaq will be the missing piece of their championship puzzle...as he was for Dwyane Wade in 2006. However, at 37 years old, Shaq's mobility, motivation and agility have all diminished greatly. He was not the answer for the Suns. It will be interesting to see if he can make a difference for the Cavs, who were manhandled by the Magic in the ECF.

Moreover, the trade of Vince Carter to the Orlando Magic is also intriguing. If Vince is willing to take a backseat and let the young Dwight Howard remain the leader of the team, the Magic could be even MORE dangerous this upcoming season. With a healthy Vinsanity, his explosive scoring could help them over the final hump to gloryland.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION...what happened to Jermaine O'Neal?!

I took that as a regular question. I normally pick up on those rhetorical ones, too. Dammit.

I know Jermaine O'Neal picked up his player option to return to Miami for about $23 million. It's really too bad that he keeps getting hurt.

Yeah, I keep looking back at the 2004 NBA Finals and thought it was one of the biggest upsets ever. At least, on paper. But that finals loss really broke the Lakers that time. It caused a domino effect within L.A. but, hey, it didn't take THAT long for them to get back, did it?

I know it's too early to say... but who would you pencil in right now for next season's Finals? Lakers/Cavs? Spurs/Celtics? Nuggets/Pistons? Ha ha.

Also... which trade you think will make the most impact? I think Orlando wins if they get Turkoglu back... but I highly doubt it at this point. Everyone's getting paid big in Orlando. I don't think Cleveland got that much better... and the Spurs look scary yet again by adding Richard Jefferson.

And where do you see Detroit going next year? Are they going to sign a huge free agent, ya think?

Let's end it with a personal question: how was it performing the National Anthem in front of the Palace crowd?

Good luck on your singing career!

Rey-Rey

Someday, I would love for L.A. to get revenge on Detroit. Detroit's beaten L.A. in their last two Finals meetings.

You KNOW I DID. I may be small, but I'm might strong...and fast..and I'm a kickboxer ;)

I guess the Jermaine O'Neal question was a rhetorical one...he has just been mighty off the radar for the salary that he is gettng.

I was really surprised to hear that the Celtics are shopping Rajon Rondo. It seems that with a healthy Kevin Garnett, they could've made another deep run in the playoffs. Rondo must be developing one hell of an ego if they wish to dismantle such a talented core so quickly.

As I said in my last email, I don't think the Shaq trade will improve the Cavs. It didn't work for the Suns...and Shaq is only going to get older, slower and less motivated in the coming months.

Darko to the Knicks? HA...they are asking for it...that's like throwing a kid in a candy store. It's not a secret that the guy loves to party...and "The City That Never Sleeps" will only fuel his late night shenanigans.

I will be sad to see Rip leave Detroit. With Rasheed undoubtedly off the books this year, he is one of the last remaining members of the 2004 championship. Oh how time flies...

However, if the Pistons do look to move Rip, I hope that they can land Ben Gordon on the free agency market. The former UConn Husky is not only a great scorer...he's a great SHOOTER as well...a rare combination nowadays. And, as we all learned in the Bulls outstanding playoff series against the Celtics this April, he is reliable and dependable in crunch time. With the absence of Sheed, the Pistons will need a strong presence on the inside...capable of scoring and defending. Boozer is an option...but he has had his problems with injuries. Only time will tell...but I hope they can spend this money wisely...otherwise the trade of Chauncey Billups was even MORE of a disaster than we could have ever imagined.

2010 Finals...well, wishful thinking is ALWAYS that the Pistons will be there. However, it looks likes we are in the midst of somewhat of a rebuilding phase. I look to see the Lakers defending their championship if they can hold onto Trevor Ariza (who could demand a hefty contract after his impressive contributions these past playoffs) and Lamar Odom. In the East...Orlando can make it back even if they don't manage to resign Hedo IF Vince Carter fills in his shoes. The Cavs are always dangerous because LeBron could defeat most teams even if he had to play against them 5 on 1. A healthy Celtics team could make it back to the finals...especially if Glen "Big Baby" Davis keeps hitting games winners...and he lays off the ice cream and keeps his weight below 540 lbs.

I get to sing the anthem for the Pistons at least once a month during the season at the Palace. It is one of my places to perform...getting to combine singing with basketball?! What more could I ask for?! Heaven on earth...

And one last thing...

Michael Curry just got canned by the Pistons. I wanna get your reaction to that, please.

Well...I was never really too thrilled to have Michael Curry taking over the head coaching position for the Pistons. He did, after all, have just one year of assistant coaching under his belt. He was biting off more than he could chew...before he entered the picture, the Pistons had been to the ECF 6 years in a row and were always considered a force to be reckoned with in the East. He had to have assumed that anything less than a conference finals appearance would have been deemed a failure. And in the world of professional sports, the coach is often the first to be blamed. As the former head of the Players' Association, he was always a well respected player as well as a supportive teammate. Still, I don't know that the players looked at him as an authority figure...it's hard to listen to a guy whom you used to call your friend order you around. After hearing rumors of dissention between Rip Hamilton and Michael Curry, I wonder if this is somewhat of a move on Joe Dumars' behalf to placate the very publicly unhappy Hamilton. Is Rip not on the trading block after all? Only time will tell...

I mentioned a few months ago in our podcast that Curry seemed to have lost his team midway through the season. And I guess I was correct. Wonder who Detroit's going to hire now?

Anyway, it was a BLAST talking to Stephanie about her Pistons and the rest of the league. And we also talked about her singing career in a bit. Check out her web site at www.stephaniekmusic.com. And to preview her music, go check out her MySpace! Her first national album, Good Intentions, is due for release this fall under a division of Universal Records. This woman is very talented. Support her music! Especially if you're a fellow Detroit Pistons fan! I'd like to thank Stephanie for her participation in this feature.

Follow me on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass. And you can also follow the gorgeous Stephanie K at @stephaniekmusic.

2009 Offseason Whirlwind

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:07:34 -0800

Man, this week had been filled with some HUGE trades. Let's talk about 'em.

For my thoughts on Richard Jefferson going to San Antonio, check out this entry.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL TO CLEVELAND and SASHA PAVLOVIC AND BEN WALLACE TO PHOENIX
Okay, so this may possibly be the biggest trade of the offseason... and the people are making me dislike Cleveland all over again because they're pencilling in L.A. and Cleveland for the 2010 NBA Finals. Sure, O'Neal makes them tougher inside but he's not the entire solution. First off, we wonder if they can co-exist. Second, let's see how they mesh. LeBron loves to drive in and there's going to be a 7'1", 350-pound guy inside the paint at all times.

But what really needs fixing is that they need more than just isolation plays. And, in turn, better decision-making. This stuff falls on the coach. Part of what doomed Cleveland is that they took some terrible, terrible shots. LeBron's not the greatest three-point shooter in the world and, at times, he would just chuck one up without warning. His teammates would do the same thing. Basically, while they can score, they weren't an efficient scoring team against Orlando. And while Shaq adds power to the frontline, they still need a wing scorer/slasher that can create. Yeah, I didn't explain that very well when we did our inaugural 8th Seed podcast (check THAT PODCAST out, by the way... and I'm not afraid to admit that I actually sucked it real bad in that cast).

As for Phoenix? Steve Kerr said that they're "a team in transition". That's never good news to the fans. With Amare Stoudemire being thrown around in trade rumors (which I don't get because they can still win 50 games with this team), I just wonder if Phoenix has decided to start all over. What a waste. I would think Steve Nash would want out, too, for a better shot at a title.

For other viewpoints of this trade, check out this Chicks Who Love Hoops blog entry.

VINCE CARTER TO ORLANDO and COURTNEY LEE, TONY BATTIE, AND RAFER ALSTON TO NEW JERSEY
I don't think this trade is as bad as some people make it out to be because I think Orlando is a strong enough team. However, Carter does need to adjust to being the #2 or #3 guy. He certainly fills their need on the wing position but will his head be in it? Carter's also been known to disappear a bit in the postseason. But who knows? While he was pretty good last season, maybe this motivates him even more? A change of scenery? What kind of Vince Carter are we getting here?

As for the Nets' new pieces? Courtney Lee is pretty damn good and it sucks that he had to go. But he and Devin Harris will form a real good (HOT) backcourt. They might peddle Rafer Alston around because I'm sure he doesn't want to be an expensive back-up and Tony Battie is Tony Battie. New Jersey did accomplish freeing up MORE cap space after the shedding of Vinsanity's contract.

I think it works out better for Orlando if they can get Hedo Turkoglu back. Turkoglu was the jack-of-all-trades for Orlando (rebounding, passing, ball-handling, clutch shooting). If he leaves, I think Orlando will really miss him.

JAMAL CRAWFORD TO ATLANTA and SPEEDY CLAXTON AND ACIE LAW IV TO GOLDEN STATE
Well, Crawford was just on his way out of G. State. Don Nelson and Crawford clash a lot. So Jamal had to go. But to get those bit pieces from Atlanta? I thought they could've done better. Where is Golden State going?

Now this represents a little conundrum for Atlanta. They sure as hell got more talented but where will Crawford fit in the equation? Is he willing to come off the bench as a potent sixth man (a la Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili)?

MIKE MILLER AND RANDY FOYE TO WASHINGTON and ETAN THOMAS, DARIUS SONGAILA, OLEXSIY PECHEROV, AND THE 5TH PICK (RICKY RUBIO) TO MINNESOTA
Washington's a talented team that was just decimated with injuries last year. I believe they're a playoff team when healthy (ESPECIALLY Gilbert Arenas). Anyway, they fill their need in outside shooting with Mike Miller. I think Randy Foye's numbers were a bit inflated in Minnesota but he'll be a serviceable back-up guard (maybe even start if Arenas STILL isn't healthy). They are getting a bit crowded in the backcourt, though...

Minnesota just really cleaned house and was lucky to have Ricky Rubio drop to their laps for the 5th pick. But I'm trying to figure out their stance after they drafted Jonny Flynn right after Rubio. Their new players will help in the frontcourt but it's not like they'll set anything on fire.

By the way, the New York Knicks' draft pick, Jordan Hill? She sounds hot.

Follow me on Twitter for some hot, sweaty basketball (everything, really) conversations. The name is @TheNoLookPass.

Sunday News and Notes

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:23:37 -0500

Curry will stay a Warrior, says Don Nelson.

Insight: Newly drafted guard Stephen Curry, from Davidson, has already become the center of discussion in the basketball world. Curry, who is an offensive machine, has been rumored to be on the move later in the offseason in a package deal which involves Suns All-Star forward Amar'e Stoudemire heading to Golden State. However, longtime basketball coach Don Nelson feels that Curry will make an instant impact on the league with the Warriors, and denies the rumors by saying, and I quote, "He can unpack his bags and relax. He can buy a house. We drafted him because we think he's a terrific player that fits right into our program. He ain't going anyplace."

The Warriors have been known to be an offensive based team for the past couple of years now under Nellie, and it seems there is no better match for Curry other than in Oakland itself. With a backcourt of Monta Ellis, who has proven himself to be a threat on the offensive end, and Curry, who lit up almost every opponent he faced in college, together, the Warriors will be a feared offensive team once again this year.

Knicks interested in Rubio.

Insight: Rumors of the New York Knicks going after 18 year old guard Ricky Rubio have once again come about after Thursday night's NBA Draft. Team president Donnie Walsh has expressed serious interest in the European phenomenon, more so after he found that the T-Wolevs were caught in somewhat of a pickle Thursday night when they drafted two PGs (Rubio and Jonny Flynn). Rubio's father stated that he would prefer Rubio to head back to Spain for a season or two.

Walsh jumped on the opportunity to take the Rubio situation off Minnesota's hands, and is planning to contact them soon. It hasn't been clear on whether or not the Knicks would give up their draft pick, Jordan Hill, or Knick stars David Lee and Nate Robinson. It's been whispered that the Knicks are hoping to drop some salary before the 2010 offseason by trading Robinson or Lee, so they can sign superstar players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and, if still on the market, Chris Bosh.

Who Was Luckier? Us or Shaq

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:34 -0800

You may have already read 7,635,425 blogs and articles answering the pressing question of: Will the Shaq for Cracker Jacks trade work for the Cavaliers. The short answer: No. And that's all you're getting out of me on that one. I'm here to answer a more interesting question: Is Shaq the luckiest big man of all time - or are we the lucky ones?

With Shaq moving to Cleveland, he is paired up with Lebron James, the fifth time the Big Something or Other (© Celia Kelly) has been paired up with a great parameter player. It started in Orlando with Penny Hardaway, he moved to Los Angeles to play with Kobe Bryant, moved back to Florida to play with Dwyane Wade, shifted his weight to Arizona and played with Steve Nash and is now with one of the most freakish athletes we've ever seen? Again, I ask, who has been luckier, Shaq or us?

Off top, it seems like this answer would undeniably be Shaq. However, we've got to see the greatest center of this era, and one of the most candid athletes of all time, play with some of the most exciting basketball players of the last decade, and we're just months away from seeing him team up with the most exciting in the game now.

Has a center ever been more blessed to play with more future Hall of Famers than Shaq? Kareem got to play with Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Wilt played with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Russell played with Bob Cousy. Olajuwon played with Clyde Drexler, but that was at the end of his career. The most exciting perimeter player Robinson played with was Rod Strickland, and had Ginobili as a rookie as he was leaving the league. Ewing had John Starks, Xavier McDaniel and Larry Johnson. None of those lists jump out at you like Penny, Kobe, Wade, Nash and Lebron - no second name needed for any of them.

Was Shaq lucky when Orlando drafted the crafty, ultra athletic Penny Hardaway from Memphis in 1993? Shaq was drafted in '92 to bring life to a franchise that had been dead since its beginning and Hardaway was brought in to play Jake Hoyt to Shaq's Alonzo and tear through the league. Young Shaq and Penny made the NBA Finals in their second year together, establishing Shaq as one of the most dominate young centers the league had ever seen despite getting swept in the Finals. In Penny's first season, Shaq saw his scoring increase by six points per game, but again, maybe we were the lucky ones. Hardaway was one of those point guards who wasn't afraid to get in the lane and try and dunk on someone. It seemed like he made one ridiculous no-look pass every game and just had swag beyond his years. How could you top watching what some thought may have been the center position evolving with a 7'1'', 300 pound man who could run the floor and had a post game for half court sets? Sadly, just like Alonzo and Jake in "Training Day," Shaq and Penny had different views on the way things were supposed to operate and that made a disgruntled big man pick up his things and leave Orlando for Los Angeles to get paired with what would go on to be the best duo of the first half of the next decade.

Shaq's move to Los Angeles proved to be a huge one indeed. Was he lucky to be traded to a team that just drafted Kobe Bryant, the young wonder kid and the newest "Next Michael Jordan?" When they were on the court together it posed problems never seen before in the NBA. We had never seen a problem like the problem the Kobe-Shaq problem posed for NBA teams before they got together in '96. If you double-teamed Shaq, Kobe went to work, if you double-teamed Kobe, Shaq went to work. There was now way to double team them AND defend three other professional basketball players. With Kobe, Shaq earned an MVP, three titles and a Finals MVP for each title he won with Kobe. With Kobe as his partner in crime, he solidified his spot as a top three center of all time. Not only that, when they went to work it was exciting. So, maybe we were the lucky ones? You remember that lob Kobe threw to Shaq against Portland they have in those "Where Amazing Happens" commercials or when Shaq was shooting technical free throws against Sacramento or when Kobe took over in overtime against Indiana in the finals when Shaq fouled out. Then Kobe pissed him off and he moved on (we all know that story, so I'll move on).

Was Shaq lucky to be paired with Dwyane Wade after leaving Los Angeles? Wade came into the league and instantly took Tracy McGrady's spot as the best natural shooting guard in the NBA. Wade was relentless in his attack of the basket and Shaq was still dominant, yet willing to play second fiddle. He averaged 22 and 10 his first season there and won a title in his second, basically getting his revenge against Kobe with the new Kobe. Wade helped resurrect Shaq's career after it looked like he was aging after the Lakers' Finals loss to Detroit. However, the fans got much from Shaq going to Miami too. For those who loved drama, the networks fed that hunger with Christmas day meetings, documented accounts of those Kobe-Shaq handshakes, sound bytes from each player with commentary, each completely over-blowing the situation. Most importantly, the world was exposed to the greatness that is Dwyane Wade. I remember gushing over him while he was at Marquette. Shaq moving to Miami really brought Wade's unique game to the forefront. After Wade, did anyone think Shaq's career could be resurrected again?

Maybe Steve Nash did. Maybe Shaq was lucky enough to play with one of the three best point guards of the past decade. If you don't remember, Shaq's last season in Miami (07-08) he was looking ridiculously old. He had lost 309 steps, he couldn't get on the boards and he didn't have a healthy Wade to take the heat off of him (no pun intended). Fast forward to this season and he averaged 17.8 ppg (most since the '05-'06 season) and 8.4 boards. Once Nash learned how to play with someone who clogged the middle as much as Shaq did, Shaq's numbers became surprisingly good for a 37 year-old who had been carrying over 300 pounds for almost two decades (Shaq averaged 18.7 and 7.7 during their last 25 games as they made a push for the playoffs, which seemed unfathomable just a year and a half before that). While Shaq was in Phoenix, were we ever blessed with a better year and a half chalk full of memorable Shaq quotes?

-"The Big Shaqtus."
-"Kobe, tell me how my ass taste."
-"I know for a fact that he's a master of panic, and when it gets time for his team to go in the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic."
-"I figured out a long time ago that the reason I'm a great athlete is because I'm a great dancer."

Speaking of dancing, what about that dance performance he had before the All-Star game? And speaking of the All-Star game, what about the co-MVP performance which included that gorgeous between the legs of Dwight Howard pass to Chris Paul that turned into a give and go with a classic Shaq dunk finish.

And speaking of finishing, is Shaq lucky that he may be able to finish his career in Cleveland with the best finisher (at the basket, not at the end of the game just to be clear) in the game? Should we have expected anything different in considering how his career has gone? We may be witnessing some highly entertaining basketball, especially with the team camaraderie they already have - which brings me to where the fans may be lucky. Remember when Shaq and LeBron were battling for the best pre-game performances? Now, we have the two best in the game working together, the possibilities are endless. It's already a fun loving team, and now they're bringing in the most fun loving big man of all time. Even though this is not going to turn into a championship for Cleveland (unless they sign a bigger defensive minded swing man, in which case this team is really scary), at least we'll have a season of very entertaining Cavaliers games.

I don't know who has been luckier, but it's safe to say that Shaq and the fans alike should be excited for what next season could potentially be.

Talking To Chicks Who Love Hoops: The Big Trade Piece

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:36:10 -0800

Shaq going to Cleveland was one of the many trades that rocked the NBA world. This may be Shaq's last chance to get a ring and this may be Cleveland's last chance to get a championship before LeBron James goes into the 2010 free agent market.

I got reaction from my favorite NBA friends about this trade and how it affects their teams. Yup. Them chicks who love hoops.

PAIGE

Okay so this Shaq trade, he needs to throw in the towel.... his record is pretty amazing, amazing enough to retire number 32 for every NBA team out there. I mean if I had a 4-time NBA Champion, 2000 NBA MVP, 1992-93 NBA Rookie of the Year, 3-time NBA Finals MVP, 2-time NBA Scoring Champion, 3-time All-Star MVP, 15-time All-Star, 1994 FIBA World Championship MVP I would be pretty damn proud. Shaq is an amazing player and will always be remembered; I really believe that him and Kobe are competing to see who will stay in the game longer! (haha) I think when he came to Phoenix he was sitting pretty high on his horse saying whatever team I go to I win a ring. Well umm yeah that didn't happen while playing for us... not saying he wasn't fun to watch but don't promise fans something you really can't handle.

I'll still watch him play and follow his big head on Twitter cause he truly is a down to earth person... I do hope he does good with the Cavs.. but I'm going to have flash backs of the Shaq Kobe show when watching him and LeBron play together. Only problem is that was 4+ years ago & Shaq's body is not getting any younger. LeBron is too fast for Shaq AND Kobe.... just dont think Shaq will keep up & that will piss off LeBron. But I'm not going to sit here and put Shaq down cause like I said he is an amazing player & he has the record to back that shit up! He has a great family, a beautiful wife and he has given more than enough to the NBA and his fans.... go relax on the beach Shaq, just please remember to twitpic it ;)

GO SUNS!!!!!

And a different point of view from another Suns fan.

SARA

Hey Rey Rey,

Today is a great day to be a Suns fan! Shaq is being shipped off to Cleveland and we will be drafting in some new young blood this evening. I think although we may not have gotten amazing players in this trade, the shedding of Shaq will greatly improve our team. Since he arrived in Phoenix, we have gone from being the #1 team in the west to not even making the playoffs. Our style has been run and gun, exciting and fast...all Shaq ever did for our team was clog the paint, slow down our pace, forcing us to play a halfcourt type game and his ego pretty much over-rode our stars of many years. Trading Shawn Marion to acquire Shaq was a big mistake and cost our team greatly. Now that he is gone, I am excited to see our team return to what it does best.

It will also be funny to see the Cavs implode as I think that there will be a war between Shaq and LeBron. Two large egos on one team. Face it, the Cavs are LeBrons team, he is their major star...do you really think he is going to be happy to get a big man that will try to push him down and steal his spotlight? All this trade did for the Cavs was insure that LeBron is gonna be leaving next season as he will not be able to deal with Shaq's ego.

All I have to say now is 7 seconds or less baby!! Gentry will be back, our line up will be lean and mean and we are going to have an AWESOME 2010 thanks to last nights trade..

No picture for this chick. But imagine she's this.

MICHELLE

Dear my favorite Twitter playboy,

My reaction to the Shaq trade is that it's a marketer's wet dream. The Chosen One and the Big Shaqtus (oops, that doesn't work anymore, does it?) playing together at the Q? Cue the stampede for tickets, cue the "me n bron gun b bst 1-2 comb eva" tweets, cue the pre-game air badmitton antics, etc. In terms of how this impacts my boys from Boston, I guess it depends on who is playing for us next season... ask Danny Ainge (wait, don't bother, he'll just blow smoke up your wazoo). If we're looking at the current roster, I think we match up just fine thanks to Perk. Does this trade make Cleveland better? Sure. They gave away players they didn't use anyway and got back a guy who can help inside against guys like Dwight Howard. But, and this is a big BUT. The Cavs need to look at fixing other intangibles if they really want a championship. Regardless of who is on the team, they need to remind themselves that they aren't going anywhere by getting the ball to LeBron and then standing around like totem poles. Most importantly, guys like Mo Williams can't disappear when they need him the most. Hire a sports psychologist if you have to, but giving up is not an option. Mental toughness is an underrated skill set.

ps. Shaq's PR reps get mad respect from me for updating Shaq's Twitter background the same day as the trade was announced. It's the details, people.

Love and shamrocks,

Michelle
nbamusings.com (By the way, kids, you'd better visit NBA Musings or your face might get hit by the remote. Just warnin' ya.)

How about from a fan of a team that unexpectedly (well, she expected it) went to the Finals?

COLLEEN

REY-REY! Thanks for asking my opinion, you always make me feel special!!!!!!

Shaq 2 Cavs:

One Word: BACKFIRE! This is going to blow up in their face. LeBron (especially based on his attitude the past playoff season) will take offense to this move saying that they think he can't carry his team to a ring. He is also going to be having nightmares of the harassment Kobe received of not being able to get a ring without the original superman. He is not going to work well with him. Also, I know Shaq is a superstar center, however, we know he is past his prime and will simply just be a center. I think counting the Cavs into the Finals next year will be the echo mistake of everyone counting them in the Finals this past season. I hope Nike learned their lesson but keeps pumping out awesome commercials!

But that was not the trade she was really focused on. She wanted to spill her guts out for a trade that she wished it never happened.

Magic/Nets Trade:

Sigh...why am I having thoughts of Grant Hill right now? CLee gone - really? WTF? I understand VC is going to assist our team in an amazing way, however, for the cost of a Rookie that shined this year ??? We have had JJ since trade and have yet to use his tru ability and, in my thoughts, are definitely stunting his NBA growth, yet we throw away CLee who rose to the occasion without much effort? Really? I believe sleep will be lost over that move. I hope they do get Turk back and everything falls into place but right now I am mourning my CLee loss. I think the team i despise the most in this league (Raptors) are haunting me. With Carter being there and now coming to my #1 team and KAPONO on my #2 Team Philly (shivers). Anyway, as a girl I have to comment how excited i am that the Sixers are going back to the Old School Logo - woohoo!

All in all, I CAN NOT WAIT FOR 2009-2010 SEASON! I love this game!!!!!

Much Love
Colleen
#LadyBallers

P.S. also, only CLee can make me a Nets fan - which now i will be =)

As for what I think? There will be a whole separate entry for that as well as my thoughts on the other trades. I'd like to thank these ladies for participating! The next season can't come soon enough.

Follow me on Twitter. The name is @TheNoLookPass. And follow these women on Twitter as they have loads of B-Ball knowledge. Paige is @paigeiam, Sara is @Gilamuffin, Michelle is ~~@insanemusings~~ @NBAmusings, and Colleen is @ColleenBurns. I wish these girls were either my neighbors or roommates.

2009 Cavaliers Draft Picks

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:00:21 -0500

Say hello to one of the newest Cavaliers, Mr. Danny Green.

Well the excitement was in the air for the Cavs for the past few days about the NBA Draft. The Cavs were supposed to trade up, to be active and to acquire a legit talent. Instead they sat at #30 and picked an unknown talent who won't likely see the NBA for a few years.

The Cavs, going into the draft, were only supposed to have 1 pick (#30) but ended up getting three players in all.

In the first round they picked G/F Christian Eyenga, from Congo. There isn't much known about Eyenga. But what is known is that he's a young, very athletic, raw player that will likely take a few years to develop. He'll be stored overseas for a few years to develop his defensive and, especially, his offensive game.

DraftExpress Profile
NBADraft.net Profile
Euroleague Stats

After Cleveland fans crucified Ferry for the 1st round pick, most fans rejoiced with the 2nd pick.

At #46, the pick that was supposed to go the Suns but couldn't due to a twist in the rules, they selected G/F Danny Green from North Carolina. Unlike Eyenga, there is a lot known about Green. He's a good athlete, good passer, a terrific defender, terrific shooter, a versatile player, good teammate, hard worker and has a high basketball IQ. He's a very polished player that doesn't have many weaknesses but doesn't have a high upside either. Considering where the Cavs got him, this could be the steal of the draft. He fits perfectly into what the Cavs want to do on both ends of the floor.

DraftExpress Profile
NBADraft.net Profile
UNC Basketball page

Next in line was a pick they acquired just as the draft ended. The Cavs acquired F Emir Preldzic from Slovenia, from the Phoenix Suns in return for cash considerations. Preldzic is likely to be stored overseas too but is another interesting player. He has a legit 6'9" frame that has yet to be filled out yet. Right now he's sort of a Hedo Turkoglu type player in the way he plays his game. He is a very good ball-handler, creator, and passer that usually intiates and creates a lot of his teams offense. He's a decent defender (has intangibles, but lacks physical skills) and also really needs to improve shooting consistency.

DraftExpress Profile
NBADraft.net Profile
Euroleague Stats

More to come on these players and a more in depth look at each player, as well as the Cavs draft in full, but for now these are the newest Cavaliers.

Bored on Draft Day? Here's Something To Do: Live Comment Thread -- All Day, All Night

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:52:40 -0500

Sidenote: This isn't a live blog friends. The thread will take place in the commenting section below the article. I'll also have a rumor section below this for tomorrow's rumors, trades, and updates. Make sure to check in throughout the day/night for new rumors, trades, and updates!

Rumors/Trades/Updates

NBA Draft night over at Project Spurs: In addition to this comment thread (comment guys!), Project Spurs will be providing live coverage of the NBA Draft (link is above). Project Spurs will be offering you guys a lot of options over at the site. They will have an ongoing live blog powered by Cover It Live, as well as a live-streaming podcast, which will be hosted by Project Spurs' Michael De Leon, and the Dugout Sport Show's Glenn Moore. The two will be interviewing bloggers live on the podcast.

There will be an MVN representative at the live event provided by Project Spurs, Jeff Garcia. Jeff will be able to call in a few times throughout the night to tell us about the atmosphere and environment at Madison Square Garden. Jeff will be tweeting and offering his analysis on the picks through Twitter, which you can follow both on his profile (which is where the "Twitter" link directs you to), or from the live blog, as Michael will have his updates going through the live blog. Make sure to check it out!

Shaq heading to Cleveland.

Insight: Well, looks like Danny Ferry took notice of the work pile he had waiting for him. This deal took a big load off of the Cavs' executive. It looks to me like the Cavs won't try to do much more this offseason but draft another J.J. Hickson-type guy with the 30th pick they hold. The team will be preparing and/or meshing all offseason. Expect them to be reared and ready to go by the beginning of the '09-10 season.

Congrats LeBron. You've got yourself a second chance. Do something with it.

SI: Rondo could possibly be involved in package deal.

Yao out indefinitely with foot injury.

Insight: Could the Rockets pull off a deal today?

Suns active, rumors of Amar'e going to Warriors.

Nets, Magic, agree to deal, send Carter to Orlando.

Insight: Here's that link. Few quick thoughts...

This could either make or break the Magic's chances next year. Carter has always been a reliable scorer and a clutch player, which may prompt them to let Hedo leave. The main reason they were trying to re-sign him was because of the major role he played on the team. With Carter there, they won't need to restrain him from joining another team. But, Carter also has been known for his disruptive behavior in the locker room at times (more on the third bullet). Screwing up chemistry is dangerous for any team, especially the Magic.

The Magic are likely done this offseason. They may try to shape their team out this Summer by signing a few minor free agents. Obviously, if they don't grab an SG in the free agent market, Mickael Pietrus will assume the starting shooting guard role, allowing Carter to become the team's small forward (that is if the Magic don't bring back Turkoglu).

Van Gundy will have his hands full next year. Although Alston is gone, he still has some big egos with Howard, Carter, Rashard Lewis. The Magic have an interesting mix of players, and it will be costly for SVG to even think about letting his guard down.

Lakers send 29th pick the New York Knicks for cash.

Rumors have the Suns asking for Chandler in exchange for Ben Wallace.

Pacers Pulse (via Indy Cornrows): Pacers close to trading for Bulls two first rounders, surrender 13th pick.

Rondo's agent responds to Ainge's criticism.

Ray believes he'll stay.

Ray WANTS to stay.

CelticsBlog: Analysis of Draft day.

Expect Rondo to be involved or mentioned in Draft day trades.

Bob Ryan: The curious case of Rajon Rondo.

Blazers deal three picks to Dallas for pick number 22.

Crawford to Atlanta.

Draft Day is here, and I thought you guys might want something else to do besides refresh ESPN and Yahoo! every five seconds. So I set up a comment thread for the sole purpose of discussing the rumors and trades going on during the day, as well as the selections being made at the Draft. I'll be updating the rumor section, which as you can see is featured above, throughout the day and providing the latest whispers and the hottest trades being made throughout the day.

I'm sure they'll be a lot of issues to talk about during the day/night, so let your voice be heard and express your opinion by commenting below! After all, this is a commenting thread right?

Welcome to Shaqland, Ohio: Meet Shaquille O'Neal, Your Newest Cavalier

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:33:39 -0500

If LeBron James is the most famous player to ever put on a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform, then he's about to get a run for his money.

Big time. As in, BIG time.

Our friend Brian Windhorst at the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke the story that the Cavs and Phoenix Suns have agreed to a trade that will send Shaquille O'Neal to the shores of Lake Erie in the Rock 'n Roll city for Ben Wallace's expiring contract and Sasha Pavlovic's non-guaranteed contract. This is the trade that Danny Ferry wanted from the very beginning -- back in February when this deal was first reported -- and now, four months later, it's in the books:

According to multiple team executives, the Cavs have aggreed in principle to a trade with the Phoenix Suns to bring the four-time champion and future Hall of Famer to Cleveland. The team is hoping he is the biggest missing piece alongside LeBron James in a quest to win their first NBA Championship.

The Cavs will send the Suns veterans Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in a deal plus the 46th overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft. It is a trade that has mostly financial incentives for the Suns as they stand to save around $9 million in salary and luxury taxes while the Cavs take on the final year of O'Neal's contract at $20 million. The Suns could save even more if Wallace accepts a retirement buyout as he hinted at the conclusion of the season.

The trade could be finalized on Thursday.
The Cavs and Suns have been talking about this swap for the last six months off and on and couldn't get it done ahead of February's trade deadline. Talks re-started last week and became intense Wednesday.

A 37-year old Shaq isn't as enticing as, say, a 27-year old Shaq. But the fact that a guy who could go down as the greatest center of all time and is a Hall of Fame lock is going to be wearing a Cavalier jersey and teaming with LeBron has to be the biggest thing to hit Cleveland. Ever.

If nothing else, this definitely makes the Cavaliers as visible as they have ever been. They are no longer "The LeBrons." They are no longer just a one-man team. LeBron isn't the only reason that other teams' fans would want to go watch the Cavs.

And a motivated Shaq is a good Shaq. After missing the playoffs this past season for the first time since his rookie year, O'Neal definitely would rather go out in a better way. He also has the motivation to break the 4-4 tie between him and Kobe Bryant as far as championship rings are concerned.

Trust me, Shaq isn't okay-ing a trade to Cleveland so he can party. He wants to win. He wants to win big, and he wants to win now. And no other team gives him the opportunity to stick it to Kobe, Dwight Howard, and Stan Van Gundy quite like the Cavs do.

Another development in this entire story was that Tyson Chandler was Ferry's backup plan in case the Shaq deal did not go down. Per ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (a lovable Cavs homer):

The Cavaliers were also in talks with New Orleans about obtaining Tyson Chandler. If they had not made the trade for O'Neal, they would have traded for Chandler, according to a source.

One of the bigger reasons that Chandler, who is just 26, was option #2 behind a 37-year old Shaq was due to contracts. Shaq's deal ends next year with $20 million off the books. Chandler is signed for eight figures per year through the 2010-11 season. It's becoming more and more apparent that Chris Bosh is the big fish in the sea for Ferry, as the Cavs will still have ample cap room to make Bosh a max offer next summer.

Shaq in Cleveland with LeBron also will make Cleveland a more appealing place to play for future free agents. Hey, if Cleveland is big enough for LeBron and Shaq, then it's definitely big enough for you.

Stay tuned for more of this as we'll continue to have round-the-clock coverage on Shaq being traded to the Cavs.

(Oh, and I almost forgot: Good riddance, Sasha Pavlovic. Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!)

SHAQ IS A CAV!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:29:57 -0500

Well if it wasn't official before, now it is.

Shaq is a Cavalier.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement in principle to acquire Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal, a league source told Yahoo! Sports late Thursday night. center
Cleveland will send Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, the 46th pick in Thursday's draft and cash to the Suns for O'Neal.

As always, our man Brian Windhorst reported it first.

Done deal. Shaq to be a Cav. Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace to Phoenix.

More to come on this topic as this is a start of an exciting Thursday.

The Cavs are now in championship mode after losing to the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.

More moves are bound to come with the Shaq move needing to be complimented.

Analysis on this later.

Shaq Close To Being A Cav?!?!

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:12:13 -0500

Brace yourself Cav fans, because the Big Shaqtus could become the Big Shaqalier real soon.

According to Brian Windhorst's Twitter, the deal is close.

Two sources say Shaq very close to being traded to Cavs. They have two other deals theyare working on 2. Perhaps trying 2 pressure PHX.

This comes after there were a couple of reports this evening that said a Shaq-to-Cleveland deal was close, as well.

Chris Broussard said it was 50-50 heading into tonight.

Chris Broussard: A league source tells me there's a 50-50 chance of the Shaq-to-Cleveland trade going down either tonight or tomorrow. "It could be a three-team deal, but it doesn't have to be," says the source.

Adrian Wojnarowski also reported a similar story tonight, as well.

The Shaq-to-Cleveland trade talks have gained momentum and Cavaliers officials are nearing the conclusion they should make the move for O'Neal, sources said. Now, they have to find the package that'll work with Phoenix.
One league executive says there's an "inevitability" to the talks and that, "It's going to get done."
Nevertheless, there are still hurdles. Besides taking Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, Phoenix wants Cleveland to surrender cash and future draft picks. Both teams have tried to find a third team to get involved, but with no luck yet.

Cleveland and Phoenix are both juggling multiple trade possibilities with other teams, with the Cavs involved with as many as six trade scenarios.
Yet the disappointing Eastern Conference finals loss to the Orlando Magic has left GM Danny Ferry with incredible pressure to accumulate talent around James in the final season prior to his 2010 free agency. James has blessed the O'Neal trade, especially because it might give his overmatched frontline a chance to compete with Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Ferry and Phoenix GM Steve Kerr are close friends and talked off and on about a Shaq deal since the February trade deadline.

From the looks of things, Shaquille O'Neal is very likely to become the newest Cavalier either today or tomorrow. But you never know, things can always happen.

Make sure to stay tuned into Cavalier Attitude for further updates.

Shaquille O'Neal is headed to Cleveland

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:16:56 -0800

It has been reported that the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed in principle to a deal that would send Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavs in exchange for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. While we had touched on this then-potential trade's ramifications earlier, we all had quickly discarded it as a magical "what if." But it's actually happening, and don't let the naysayers fool you, this IS a big deal for the Cavs.

Shaq isn't the same player of recent dominance, and he is clearly slowing down - but at 37 years old he was able to be awarded to the Third Team All-NBA this past season. While he isn't the same force he used to be, he is a player that absolutely demands attentions from opposing defenses. This will free up more room of operation for the many shooters that Cleveland has, and of course draw some attention away from LeBron James.

Some will point to O'Neal's lack of impact on a Phoenix Suns team, who was in a similar position of being "one big-man away" from being a real contender. However, O'Neal clearly came into a Phoenix situation that was already in turmoil - wading through conflicting messages and trying to find its style of play and identity. His transition to Cleveland should be much less of a rocky one. The Cavs were a legit championship contender without the addition of O'Neal, and were only buckets away from having their series against the Magic flip decisively in their favor. Adding a player of O'Neal's caliber while giving up two non-contributors is nothing but goodness for Cleveland. You can bet that O'Neal knows he has a real shot of adding one more championship to his legacy, and he will come into this season focused and ferocious.

With the addition of O'Neal, where do you think the Cavs rank amongst the East's elite?

NBA rumors, news, and trade buzz

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:29:00 -0800

The Boston Celtics shopping Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to the Detroit Pistons for Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince. There were other rumors of sending Rondo to the Sacramento Kings for Kevin Martin and a pick.

Supposedly there are rumors that the Celtics are unlikely to re-sign Allen to a long-term extension next summer and are hesitant to sign Rondo to an expensive long-term contract. Also, the case of Rondo's maturity and relationship with the rest of the team continues to pop up. However, Danny Ainge has twittered, "I'm not sure why his name is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)." He also twittered, "I've heard speculation we're dissatisfied with him; we're gonna trade him because he was late for a playoff game? That's not true."

Personally, I think it would be absolutely idiotic for the Celtics to trade Rondo...for anyone. Rondo almost averaged a triple-double in the playoffs this year without Kevin Garnett. People fell in love with Derrick Rose in this year's first round of the playoffs, but you could easily argue that Rondo won the point guard battle because his team came out victorious and his stat lines were just ridiculous.

There are rumors that Portland is very active in attempting to move up from No. 24 to 8-14, where they are confident they can land a point guard. Portland worked out with North Carolina's Ty Lawson on Monday. Portland's GM Kevin Pritchard also is trying to figure out a way to get maximum cap room this summer to use for a free agent or in a trade. The Magic's Hedo Turkoglu gets the most mention, but sources say Portland's real target is Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich.

Why would the Blazers want another point guard? This completely frustrates me. Steve Blake is the starting point guard with Sergio Rodriguez coming off the bench. Rodriguez is Rudy Fernandez's best friend on the team and they have great chemistry on the court together as you probably cannot count how many alley-oops they've converted this year. Then, you have an extremely talented young point guard Jerryd Bayless as your third-string who rarely gets playing time and now they want to draft another PG?

The Boston Globe reports an NBA executive confirmed Phoenix offered Amare Stoudemire (detached retina) to the Timberwolves in exchange for Al Jefferson and the 6th overall pick. The Wolves declined.

The Timberwolves were smart to decline, understanding the likelihood of Stoudemire opting out for the 2010 free agency. The Suns most likely knew that they had no chance of scamming this deal out of Minnesota. I don't believe Stoudemire will be moved this offseason unless Phoenix engages talks with a title contending team. I think Stoudemire will be asking for a huge contract once 2010 comes and hoping to go to a big market. Perhaps reunited with Mike D'antoni in New York?

The Detroit Pistons made a small deal Tuesday, trading Amir Johnson to the Bucks for Fabricio Oberto.

Um, who cares?

Another Suns rumor is swapping picks No. 14 with Oklahoma City's No. 25, but also getting back their 2010 first-round pick. The Suns traded that pick to the Thunder a few years ago as part of the Kurt Thomas trade. The trade is unprotected next year, and since the Suns seem to be rebuilding, they would definitely treasure that pick.

I am not really sure what to expect from the Suns anymore. They will probably run-n-gun this year under Alvin Gentry but not play defense at all and miss the playoffs again. I kind of hope Steve Nash and Stoudemire go back to D'antoni in 2010...along with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh...a guy can dream, right?

The Top Five NBA Players To Never Win a Championship

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:10:00 -0500

There's one topic players throughout the league agree about. It's that winning a championship is the greatest feeling you could ever have. The ultimate accomplishment, the most significant achievement, and the most memorable moment of glory. Sadly, not all players, even greats, are able to win championships.

And those greats especially are deprived of something extraordinary. Deprived of hoisting that Larry O'Brien trophy high in the air so all can see. Deprived of raising the banner the subsequent season as proof that they were champions. Deprived of winning on the most important stage, and having the privilege to say that you were victorious in the Finals. In some cases, players are not elected into the Hall Of Fame simply because they weren't winners in the Association.

But which players are seen as "the best of the best (that did not win a ring)?" To answer that question, I've compiled a list of the top five players to never win a championship. Read on after the jump...