This week in the NBA

[Golgo 13 0]

Nene is really only second string due to circumstance with Martin coming in. He has good size, loads of potential and flashes of something great, none of which is guaranteed after the injury, of course. He may very well be the next Antonio McDyess at this point.

 

Logistics of the trade aside, I don't know how the hell Artest on the Nuggets would work. There's the obvious personality clashes with the likes of Karl, Martin and Anthony. His primary position is filled, so he would have to go to the two or sub in. There's no way he'll be the first option and maybe not even the second or third with Carmelo and arguably Martin and Miller ahead of him.

[jwpeer 0]

These trade rumors are really exciting for the NBA, because NOBODY really knows what's going to happen. There are a LOT of rumors, a LOT of possibilities, and whastever happens Indiana is probably gonna end up a better team for it (if nothing else, chemistry wise)

 

The real question...can LB make the best deal for his team. Can he get them someone like Nenad Krstic (Who would fit on their team perfectly, and rick carlisle would LOVE to coach him up.) It's going to be really interesting to see what happens. i for one will be a much bigger fan of Indiana once Artest is gone (I really don't like the guy and his attitude) especially since Rick Carlisle is such an awesome coach.

[Dangerous A 0]

Artest probrably isn't going to NY. Isaiah Thomas burned his bridge during his run in Indiana and Donnie Walsh and Thomas are not on good speaking terms. The Pacers aren't trying to deal with Thomas.

 

I guess we'll all wait and see in regards to Artest and where he goes. I'm laughing at some of the Laker fans who think he'll fit in there. Newsflash, he wants MORE shots. He isn't going to get more shots on a team with Kobe Bean Bryant.

[Sass 0]

Kwame or Mihm + Cook/George? THAT'S IT? HAHAHAHA.

 

Also, they can send Croshere our way. That makes the Lakers a hell of a lot better.

 

Hell yes! I'd say no trading Brian Cook, PLEASE. Give the Pacers Mihm and George or Kwame. Artest/Odom/Kobe would REALLY start looking a lot like the poor man's version of the 90's Bulls. Obviously you know who the comparisons would be.

 

Good fuck, I never considered that line-up before...

 

Keep Kwame and just dump Mihm and George. The Lakers need Kwame's 7 foot ass and Bynum is at least 5 years away from being a fuckin stud center for the team.

 

I still love the Bynum acquistion since it's a sign that Jerry Buss is actually looking towards building for the future as opposed to trying the quick-fix (which Artest would offer the team).

[Brett Favre 0]

Jamal Crawford is never going to be molded into a good player. He just doesn't get it.

 

Crawford's been playing under control this year. I like the direction he's going in this year. He actually tries on defense too now.

[Guest]

Memphis did not look like a team that's made the next step at all tonight. They were handled.

[Guest tony manero]

Ok, here's some more news regarding Artest:

 

Indiana seems to be against any trade proposal involving Chris Mihm of the LA Lakers. There's no word on whether Mitch Kupchak has offered Kwame in a package or not. Odom, Bynum and Walton are all off limits. The Lakers are reliant on a third team's participation in order to acquire Artest.

 

New York is offering Stephon Marbury, Trevor Ariza, Antonio Davis and the San Antono Pick for Artest, Tinsley, and either Croshere, Pollard or Bender's contract.

 

Hawks are offering Harrington and Josh Childress

 

Raptors are offering Joey Graham, Raphael Arujo and Morris Peterson

 

Golden State is offering Fisher, Cheaney, Miles, 1st round pick and 2nd round pick for Artest and A. Johnson

 

All in all, 17 NBA teams have inquired about Artest.

[Guest Vitamin X]

So, every year a championship contender usually makes a huge trade midseason that helps get them to at least the conference finals. Last year it was Alonzo Mourning for the Heat, the year before Rasheed Wallace for the Pistons (obviously a much bigger and better acquisition than Zo).

 

I wonder if the same could be said for Ron Artest.

[Adam 0]

Harrington and Childress? Yes please.

 

The NY trade also sounds good. Either one of those I would be quite happy with.

Edited December 15, 2005 by Nice Guy Adam

[Rendclaw 0]

Back to business as usual for the Pistons, though them giving up a 13 point lead is rather alarming. a 2-3 zone should not give a team that many problems, though they made the adjustment in the second half and put the Kings to sleep.

[alfdogg 0]

Out of all the ones posted there, I guess Atlanta is the one I like best, though Harrington hasen't really come through in the playoffs.

 

Where did you find those, btw? Cite a source, plz

 

I'd laugh at seeing him traded to Toronto too, though. It would be nice to get Jalen Rose back in return, however.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

If those are the options, I think the Atlanta deal makes the most sense for both teams. At least Indiana gets back something useul as well as a good young player.

 

Golden State should really be making a run, and had they not resigned Dunleavy they would be the frontrunner. They are about one star player away from being a legit contender in the west.

[Dangerous A 0]

Artest in GS would help tremendously in the West, especially since GS has no one that can irritate the 2's and 3's in the west like McGrady, Kobe, Melo, Ginobili, Allen, etc.

[jwpeer 0]

the atlanta deal looks REALLY good on paper. Artest won't bother them in the playoffs because the Hawks aren't going anywhere this year, Harrington is really starting to dominate in the post (But can he keep it up?) and Childress has ptential...but is that what Indiana really NEEDS? The lakers aren't really offering much of anything, and New York is offering Marbury but I wouldn't touch that guy with a ten-foot pool if I were the pacers. Toronto's offering Joey Graham...he has good potential, but Araujo he's turning out to just be a big stiff.

 

GS needs to offer Troy Murphy if they're gonna get Artest, that's the only guy on the Warriors (outside of J-Rich) that I'd be interested in if I were the pacers.

 

This is a tough call for Indiana, and that's not even all the teams. For example, what's Cleveland offering (I STILL think Larry Hughes and Luke Jackson for Artest and Tinsley would be the best deal, and that's the one I'd want to make, even if they'd have to deal with him in the playoffs)

 

 

The more I think about it, the more I'd be wanting to unload stephen jackson too while he's playing ok and still sane, and get some other good players in return, as I think his contribution can be replaced.

 

 

can't wait to see what happens

Might even see a 3-team deal.

[Brett Favre 0]

I'd like that trade for the Knicks. Jamaal Tinsley is very much a Larry Brown type point guard, and Artest would fit perfectly at the 3.

 

The Pacers could be even more dangerous with that trade as well. Marbury just doesn't fit here anymore, and I think he'll be even better with Jermaine O'Neal.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't think there is any chance that the Knicks deal works out. There is no way the Pacers would touch Marbury or his albatross of a contract.

[jwpeer 0]

Marbury doesn't fit ANYWHERE. He's a selfish shoot-first point guard who NEEDS the ball to be effective, but doesn't really understand what he ought to be doing with the ball. He needs to go to somewhere in europe where he might actually succeed like that.

 

 

i understand why the knicks want to get rid of him, I DON'T understand why their fans think anyone will take him/they'll get a superstar for him. That's just delusional...then again new york fans are usually delusional.

 

If Ron Artest gets traded for stephon marbury, the pacers are done. (Or Rick Carlisle harnesses his talents turns him into an off-guard and deserves coach of the century)

Edited December 15, 2005 by jwpeer

[Brett Favre 0]

I had no idea Artest had no baggage, and gave Indy leverage with his comments. You make it sound like he would get traded for fucking LeBron James.

 

I'm pretty sure that if a trade were to happen between the Knicks and Pacers, it would be something like Davis, Lee, and Ariza (maybe Q) for Artest and some bad contract; but if this was offered, I think there's a small chance it goes through because Tinsley's contract is longer than Marbury's, and he seems to be falling out of place in Indy.

 

Marbury would suck ass in Europe (you watched the Olympics, didn't you?), but he needs a strong shooting team to be effective. He would be perfect in Seattle. Only narrow minded people would say that he doesn't fit anywhere. Almost every star player in the league needs the ball to be effective, with a few exceptions (Duncan and KG). To get assists, you need to have the ball in your hand, and the Kobes, and LeBrons, and the T-Macs all need the ball in their hands to be effective.

Edited December 15, 2005 by Cena's Writer

[jwpeer 0]

I'm sure he would suck ass in europe, but there he wouldn't be hurting the nba with his sloppy play. You honestly think he'd fit in seattle? I'd rather have Ridnour driving and DISHING than Marbury driving and turning the ball over, or making a crucial defensive mistake. He may have talent...but he's a LOSER (literally). every team he's on just never does as good as they should, and you HAVE to admit he's gotta be responsible for that at some point. He might be BETTER OFF with the knicks, because if Larry Brown can't change his mindset, who the f' else wants to try.

 

I just don't buy Stephon Marbury as a star player. I never will, not at this point at least. Comparing him to REAL stars like T-Mac, Kobe, LBJ is impossible. I mean Tony Parker/Manu Ginobili are both more talented and better decision makers with the ball in their hands. Or chauncey billups who plays a similar game/has similar athletic gifts but he knows how to put it together properly...hence why he doesn't have the NUMBERS of marbury, but he has the ring and the Finals MVP.

[Brett Favre 0]

Billups was a real star before Detroit. Before being surrounded by the league's best mid ranger shooter, the league's top frontcourt defender, the league's best post defender and screener, and the league's toughest matchup. Yep.

 

Tell me, what teams was Marbury on that could have won a playoff series? The only playoff series he ALMOST won was against the fucking San Antonio Spurs with a rookie Amare, Marion, and Penny Hardaway. And the Suns still won 2 games in that series.

 

With the Nets he had an injured K-Mart, and KVH. Now, I happen to think Kidd is the best point guard in the NBA, but he still had the luxury of playing with Jefferson, and a reliable center.

 

If you knew Marbury's game, you'd know that these past 3 years, he's turn the ball over far less than the beginning of his career. He's had one of the better assist to turnover ratios in the league. He also sets up shooters very well. Better than Ridnour, which is a reason why he made Kurt Thomas look so good (who now looks like crap in Phoenix).

 

I'm not saying he's at the level of LBJ or T-Mac, although seriously, have they won playoff series? Has Kobe won a playoff series with Shaq? I don't think so. And seriously, anyone playing with Tim Duncan would look pretty good, don't you think?

Edited December 15, 2005 by Cena's Writer

[jwpeer 0]

Billups was a real star before Detroit. Before being surrounded by the league's best mid ranger shooter, the league's top frontcourt defender, the league's best post defender and screener, and the league's toughest matchup. Yep.

 

Tell me, what teams was Marbury on that could have won a playoff series? The only playoff series he ALMOST won was against the fucking San Antonio Spurs with a rookie Amare, Marion, and Penny Hardaway. And the Suns still won 2 games in that series.

 

With the Nets he had an injured K-Mart, and KVH. Now, I happen to think Kidd is the best point guard in the NBA, but he still had the luxury of playing with Jefferson, and a reliable center.

 

If you knew Marbury's game, you'd know that these past 3 years, he's turn the ball over far less than the beginning of his career. He's had one of the better assist to turnover ratios in the league. He also sets up shooters very well. Better than Ridnour, which is a reason why he made Kurt Thomas look so good (who now looks like crap in Phoenix).

 

I'm not saying he's at the level of LBJ or T-Mac, although seriously, have they won playoff series? Has Kobe won a playoff series with Shaq? I don't think so. And seriously, anyone playing with Tim Duncan would look pretty good, don't you think?

 

 

I actually looked up his stats BEFORE my previous post...and I saw the improvement in turnovers and particularly this year in the amount of 3pt shots that he's taken. And to say Kurt Thomas looking like crap in phoenix is a result of not having Marbury...Steve Nash is CLEARLY better than him at setting up shooters, I mean look how he got Joe Johnson a fat contract, and is turning Boris Diaw into a star player...so don't attribute Kurt Thomas' ability to marbury...

 

The problem with Marbury is he's got a superstar contract, and is SORT of thought of as a superstar...but to get to the next level he DOES need to play with a Shaq or a Tim Duncan

 

You know where he would fit... Utah. I think Jerry Sloan could work with him, I think AK-47 and Okur would be good compliments to him, his personality would actually mesh well there...and if he could play defense he would be perfect for them. Obviously they just drafted Deron Williams, but that's a place I could see his game working in.

 

 

I don't DISLIKE Marbury...I just don't think he's proven that he's really as good of a player as he gets credit for, and I'd like to see him do it. New York definitely isn't the place for him though. Nor Indiana (I like Jasikivicous much better as a playmaker)..

 

And it's not just about winning playoffs, it's GETTING to the playoffs. Marbury can't even do that most of the time...and I'll admit he's constantly stuck on teams right BEFORE they get good through the proper management...but there has to be SOMETHING to that beyond just that.

 

And T-Mac has done pretty good on his own actually, and he's never had huge talent around him (I love Yao but he's turning into a role-player due to his inability to play 35-40 minutes a game)

[Brett Favre 0]

I'm not saying Marbury is a superstar, but he's no slouch either. He's an all-star, in the 2nd layer of stars in the NBA, and yes, would need to play along side a superstar. Although like I said, so do T-Mac, and Kobe. They can't do it on their own either.

[jwpeer 0]

It's both a good thing and a bad thing about the nba.

 

Good that no single star can really dominate the league...but bad because you either need two dominate stars or a team full of extremely good players (like the pistons and now potentially the clippers) to compete. I think the team full of good players route is easiest for a young team...but it also disintegrates fast as the team performance leads to huge contracts for the individual pieces and breaks up the team.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

So since they conversation is starting to head go this way anyways, where does everyone think Marbury fits among the league's point guards? Is he a top-5 talent? Top-10? I am curious to see some opinions.

Edited December 15, 2005 by cheech13

[Ripper 0]

I have to agree with Marbury. That guy gets run down for now good reason in my eyes. Bottomline, I have never seen Marbury that underachieved. That Timberwolves team shouldn't have gotten out the first round because they weren't good enough. The Suns team that made the playoffs was good, but the next year they traded too many players and Amare missed most of the year. The New Jersey teams?...please. None of them had any business sniffing the playoffs, and this new york team, they have finished right about where they should be expected to finish with the guys they have.

 

People might not like it, but the guy is putting up near HOF numbers for his career (21+ points a game and 8+ assist...nothing to sneeze at), and is simply a good player. He happens to be a guy that keeps ending up in situations where he HAS to score instead of set up guys. Who the fuck was he going to set up on all those other teams?

 

And Kurt Thomas got off to a tough start, but he is doing anything but stinking up the joint in Phoenix. They brought him in for rebounding and defense and once he got aclimated to the pace, he has been doing just that.

[Brett Favre 0]

1. Kidd

2. Nash

3. Arenas

4. Billups

5. Bibby

6. Marbury

7. Davis

8. Hinrich

9. Parker

10. Ford

 

Something like that....could be top 5, definitely top 10.

Edited December 15, 2005 by Cena's Writer

[Ripper 0]

No way Gilbert Arenas is above Marbury as a PLAYMAKER at the POINT GUARD position. he can outscore anyone on that list but as a point guard:

 

Nash

Kidd

Davis

Billups

Marbury

Ford(who honestly, I really want to put higher)

Arenas

Williams

Parker

 

then a bunch of other guys. Definately top five in my eyes.

 

edit: I am assuming you aren't counting this years mike bibby?

Edited December 15, 2005 by Ripper

[nogoodnick 0]

Steve Nash

Allen Iverson

Jason Kidd

Chauncey Billups

Gilbert Arenas

Tony Paker

Baron Davis

Tony Paker

Stephon Marbury

Mike Bibby

Chris Paul

TJ Ford

 

I would say he's about 8-11th best point guard.

[jwpeer 0]

The problem with Marbury is he's never done anything to try and diminish the expectations. When he got to New York he -embraced- all the huge expectations heapedon his shoulders as a savior of the knicks...when IT never should have made that deal in the first place (He's such a terrible GM...good at talent evaluation, bad at the financial aspect)

 

 

I'd like to see him go to a situation WITHOUT the pressure (Utah or maybe Atlanta) and see if he can put it together there.

[Brett Favre 0]

I was choosing by who plays PG, I guess with the exception of Iverson. Arenas is the real deal, he does both fine. And yeah, I was thinking of what Bibby's done in the past as well, he also has a crappy team out in Sacramento right now.