This week in the NBA

[alfdogg 0]

All times EST

 

Sun, Dec. 11

Washington @ Miami

Detroit @ LA Clippers

NO/OK @ Sacramento

Houston @ Portland

 

Mon, Dec. 12

Minnesota @ Philadelphia, 7:00

Milwaukee @ New York, 7:30

LA Lakers @ Dallas, 8:30

Detroit @ Utah, 9:00

NO/OK @ Phoenix, 9:00

 

Tue, Dec. 13

Atlanta @ Cleveland, 7:00

New Jersey @ Washington, 7:00

Denver @ Charlotte, 7:30

Sacramento @ Minnesota, 8:00

LA Clippers @ San Antonio, 8:30

Miami @ Chicago, 8:30

Golden State @ Seattle, 10:00

 

Wed, Dec. 14

Atlanta @ Philadelphia, 7:00

Chicago @ Toronto, 7:00

Charlotte @ New Jersey, 7:30

Indiana @ Boston, 7:30

Orlando @ New York, 7:30

Sacramento @ Detroit, 7:30

LA Clippers @ NO/OK, 8:00

LA Lakers @ Memphis, 8:00

Miami @ Milwaukee, 8:00

Phoenix @ Dallas, 8:00 ESPN

Portland @ Utah, 9:00

Houston @ Golden State, 10:30 ESPN

 

Thu, Dec. 15

Denver @ Cleveland, 8:00 TNT

San Antonio @ Minnesota, 8:00

Houston @ Seattle, 10:30 TNT

 

Fri, Dec. 16

Golden State @ Toronto, 7:00

New York @ Atlanta, 7:00

Utah @ Indiana, 7:00

Denver @ New Jersey, 7:30

Milwaukee @ Boston, 7:30

Chicago @ Detroit, 8:00

Miami @ Philadelphia, 8:00 ESPN

Phoenix @ NO/OK (Baton Rouge), 8:00

Orlando @ Dallas, 8:30

Seattle @ Portland, 10:00

Washington @ LA Lakers, 10:30 ESPN

 

Sat, Dec. 17

Houston @ LA Clippers, 3:30

Detroit @ Charlotte, 7:30

Indiana @ New York, 7:30

Miami @ Cleveland, 7:30

Phoenix @ Memphis, 8:00

Boston @ Chicago, 8:30

Sacramento @ San Antonio, 8:30

Utah @ Milwaukee, 8:30

[Just John 0]

The Wednesday TV games look good.

 

The Clippers have a pretty tough week, so this could reveal a lot about their character early in the season.

[jwpeer 0]

Anyone know when Memphis gets a nationally televised game. I've been wanting to see them all season, especially with the new Pau "Mountain Man" Gasol.

[The Czech Republic 0]

MLK Day, if not before

[alfdogg 0]

MLK Day: San Antonio @ Memphis on TNT

Jan. 25: Minnesota @ Memphis on ESPN

 

That's all I'm seeing.

[Dangerous A 0]

Alfdogg, you are the resident Pacers fan, what is your take on Artest demanding to be traded? He has now reiterated his desire to no longer play there and now is basically making himself Terrell Owens-like in the locker room. He can no longer be welcome there.

 

I'm listening to some Jim Rome and while Rome can be a prick, he has a great point in that Artest is an ungrateful shit for this. Here is a guy who starts the biggest riot in NBA history and the franchise, his teammates, and his coach stood by him and supported him through his suspension and this is the thanks they get- Artest saying he doesn't like the coach and doesn't get enough shots. Well, if shots are his issue, why does he want to go to NY? He won't get shots there either unless his plan is to run LB out of town.

 

So much for turning the page and being a new and improved person.

[jwpeer 0]

I may not be a pacers fan, but...

 

I'd be pissed he mentioned it to the media. When he does that it lowers his trade value, because everyone KNOWS he wants out. If he just quietly goes and makes a comment to the GM or rick carlisle (I know that's not his way of course, but even so) he could have been traded and perhaps without everyone knowing he's unhappy there. (Giving them an edge in the negotiations as to his value)

 

 

I think the BEST trade (for all parties involved as equal value and taking into account Artest's craziness) would be Artest for Larry Hughes and Luke Jackson. Assuming Cleveland can keep Artest sane (and happy with his 'number of shots'), he could be a REAL force for their team, especially alongside LeBron. Hughes and Jackson would give some help to Pacers in need areas.

 

I don't see that happening though (Cleveland just signed Hughes and they seem happy with him), and I feel the pacers aren't going to get equal value for Artest (Peja certainly isn't an answer, as I don't see where he fits on Indiana's team.)

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ the worst part (well worst for the Pacers) is his dumbass statements about how if he's traded west he's gonna bolt back to NY or something. Talk about cutting your potential suitors off immediatly.

 

I dont see Indy making ANY deal with the Cavs unless its for Lebron (which obviously wont happen). They have like the same record and are in the same division, hell is very likely they could up in a 4/5 matchup in the playoffs.

[Dangerous A 0]

Peja doesn't fit in defensively for the Pacers because he can't guard a closed door. However, offensively he'd be fine. You figure an inside/out game with J. O'Neal with a hopefully healthy Tinsley getting in the lane and creating oppurtunities would make the Pacers more potent offensively. Again, Peja is not and never will be a stopper and that hurts the potential of it being an equal value trade.

 

The Cavs won't do it because they don't want a cancerous type like Artest around LBJ right now. Plus, if the Knicks are gunning for anyone in the future, it's LBJ, not Artest.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

would the Lakers be willing to take on Artest in exchange for Odom I wonder? ARtest/Kobe would probaby become the most hated team ever

[Dangerous A 0]

Artest would end up choking Mr. Bryant in about a week's time. Remember, Artest is looking for MORE shots. He sure as fuck won't get them in LA.

 

Then he'd choke Phil for trying to get him to read some book that has no relevance to basketball.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

... while having the most calm serene look on his face the entire time

[alfdogg 0]

If he wants out, get rid of him, I say. The stuff I've been reading is the Knicks, Cavs, and the Artest-for-Peja rumor that's been on and off for about two years now. That seems like the most logical choice of the three, but Peja can opt out at the end of this year, too.

 

Artest for Ilgauskas was hinted at on ESPN.com. It sounds tempting, but as has been pointed out, the Cavs are current competition, plus, no matter who we end up trading him to, who becomes our defensive stopper on the perimeter? Those scouts had damn well better be right about Granger, is all I have to say. It's too bad Prince signed an extension, we could just trade Artest for Penny Hardaway and have his money to make a run at him.

 

That's the thing about the NBA though, and I guess sports in general: People say they're "all about winning", but once they improve as players and get people calling them "top 20 talent" or whatever, egos eventually get in the way and they want trades to benefit themselves statistically (see also: Johnson, Joe), which makes his NY and Cleveland suggestions all the more laughable. Not to mention that Mike Brown, the Cavs' coach, was an assistant under Carlisle before this year.

[jwpeer 0]

Peja doesn't fit in defensively for the Pacers because he can't guard a closed door. However, offensively he'd be fine. You figure an inside/out game with J. O'Neal with a hopefully healthy Tinsley getting in the lane and creating oppurtunities would make the Pacers more potent offensively. Again, Peja is not and never will be a stopper and that hurts the potential of it being an equal value trade.

 

The Cavs won't do it because they don't want a cancerous type like Artest around LBJ right now. Plus, if the Knicks are gunning for anyone in the future, it's LBJ, not Artest.

 

 

Screw Tinsley, Jaskivicius should be the starter he's more consistent, creative, reliable and a proven winner. They SHOULD trade tinsley AND artest and get some more pieces they can put around jermaine and stephen jackson.

[alfdogg 0]

New Power Rankings

 

1. Detroit

2. Dallas

3. San Antonio

4. LA Clippers

5. Memphis

6. Phoenix

7. Minnesota

8. Milwaukee

9. Indiana

10. Miami

11. Golden State

12. Cleveland

13. Denver

14. Chicago

15. LA Lakers

16. Houston

17. Philadelphia

18. Seattle

19. New Jersey

20. Sacramento

21. Washington

22. NO/OK

23. Orlando

24. Boston

25. Utah

26. New York

27. Atlanta

28. Toronto

29. Portland

30. Charlotte

[Just John 0]

1. Detroit

2. Dallas

3. San Antonio

4. LA Clippers

 

Even though I know the Clips are playing really well, this still looks weird.

 

Glad to see the Rockets bounce from 29 to 16 too. Like I've said, if T-Mac's healthy, this is a 50+ win team. The Rockets should continue to make their .500 by the end of the year push with a 3-1 record this week.

[Rendclaw 0]

I just wish that Ben Wallace wasn't such a liability at the free throw line.

 

That being said, Dunleavy still lost some respect in my eyes by going Hack-a-Ben in the 4th quarter of Sunday night's game. That was almost like saying "we can't beat this team straight up, so we're going to fuel a comeback by putting Ben on the line, because he can only hit 50% of his free throws on a good day."

 

If your best cannot beat the other team's best, don't resort to cheap tactics. It's bush league. I just hope last night's game is motivation for Ben to improve his free throw shooting. He gets it up around 65%, that strategy goes right out the window.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ it would have been somewhat understandable if you're in the final minutes down by 3 or something and absolutely have to stop the clock...

 

but there was SIX MINUTES LEFT.. and they were down by 8... coming off of a 8-2 run which had everybody's rhythm going and the crowd rocking... and then they decided to foul Ben Wallace off the ball in every possession (fouling out Sam Cassell I might add)

 

I dont think I've ever seen a dumber coaching decision in "crunch time".

 

 

Teams who are "for real" can and have (often) broken 8 point deficits in 6 minutes. You gotta have confidence in yourselves to play defense if you expect to make any noise in the playoffs, which teams who are "for real" do. No way I can imagine teams who are "for real" like the Spurs, the Suns, Pistons, Mavs, Pacers, Cavs, you name em, throw their hands up and essentially admit "We are your bitches and can't stop you!" when only down 8 with half a quarter left.

Edited December 13, 2005 by metr0man

[nogoodnick 0]

It was also Dunleavy who created hack a Shaq when he coached in Portland.

[Adam 0]

I don't know what it is, but I really don't like Peja. Never have, never will. Something about him that rubs me up the wrong way. I'd rather trade Ron-Ron and another for someone like a Odom or Hughes. Then at least you get a guy that can play some defense, and can score some points. Odom would probably be the better option.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Wow, here's a cool story, which unfortunatly is gonna take like 6 years to be finished according to the article:

 

http://news.com.com/NBA+to+create+huge+dig...89364&subj=news

[Guest]

I'm thinking that Artest goes to New Jersey in a three way deal with Krstic and Jefferson involved in some way or that he goes to Cleveland for Luke Jackson or Drew Gooden, someone that they won't be holding on to.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ I think either of those all depends on how serious Indiana is about trading to competition. They don't want to make teams that can burn them in the playoffs any better.

 

Personally I see Artest going out west or to truly bad eastern team, barring some ridiculously lopsided can't-say-no offer (something stupid like Artest + bender for Lebron or whatever).

[Guest]

I had thought about throwing Orlando into the mix, seeing as I think that the Pacers would love to get someone back like Hedo Turkoglu. Artest won't be going anywhere out West, sans Minnesota, Memphis, Denver and Dallas.

[mike546 0]

Channing Frye hits 30 for the first time, but the Knicks still suck.

[Cuban Linx 0]

If this was a couple of years ago during their 'collect every disgruntled asshole in the league' phase, Portland would be all over Artest.

[Guest]

OMG WE BEAT A GOOD TEAM!

[Guest Vitamin X]

Kwame Brown 100% FG percentage! Okay, he was only 6 for 6, but still!

 

Hey, maybe the Pacers will take him for Artest. Ron Artest in L.A. would be a match made in hell.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Great to see the Jazz beat the Pistons tonight.

 

Serves the Pistons right for talking all that crap about how they are so good that the Clips had to resort to Hack a Ben because they knew they didn't stand a chance.

 

It tough to win the second game of a back to back in this league that is why Clips lost last night and today the Pistons did as well

[jwpeer 0]

I don't understand why people get rubbed so raw by hack-a-ben and hack-a-shaq.

 

Get those players off the floor.

Period.

 

Wait, we can't win without those players on the floor!

 

WAAAAAAAAAAAH.

 

That means you have a WEAKNESS.

 

They are EXPLOITING your WEAKNESS.

 

Remember they're giving up fouls to do this, and potentially fouling out players which could hurt them if the game goes to overtime.

 

I like Ben Wallace, but if he's getting hacked even ONCE. He comes off the floor till after the 2 minute mark. At that point he can stay on defensively, but he doesn't touch the ball on offense. That's just good coaching, something you'd think Flip Saunders could do.