Wild Wild West

Now let’s head to the Wild Wild Western Conference, where even if you have a strong winning percentage, it does not guarantee you to claim a playoff spot, just liked what happened to the Golden State Warriors. They were raring to duplicate if not surpass what they achieve last year, but they fell short this year.

LA Lakers vs Denver. It was quite a surprise that Pau Gasol would blend easily with his new team and got the Triangle Offense effortlessly. Maybe this time, he’ll surpass the first round jinx, of course with the help of MVP contender Kobe Bryant. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson should step up big this time in order to survive the onslaught of the mighty Lakers, otherwise their hard earned entry will go to none. Lakers in five games.

Utah vs. Houston. Tracy McGrady ,gets another chance to redeem himself facing Carlos Boozer and the rest of the Utah Jazz, a superstar with no first round success for his entire career. Without Yao Ming and Rafer Alston, the rest of the Rockets should go a notch higher in order not to waste their 22-0 winning game streak. Maybe Luis Scola should prove himself and supports T-Mac to avoid humiliation. This series is so tough, but I’m putting my money on Jazz in seven games. Without Rafer Alston, Deron Williams will easily dismantle Houston’s offense.

New Orleans vs. Dallas. New Orleans is probably the surprise team of the year, winning their first Division title and gaining Home court advantage in the playoff opener. This is also redemption time once again for the Dallas Mavericks, who seems to have no luck the past two years. Chris Paul will be having a hard time pitting his wares against the two Jason of Dallas, Terry and Kidd. The experience of Jason Kidd will probably guide the Mavericks past the Hornets. Experience will prevail over young blood in this series. It is not yet the time of Chris Paul yet. I’m pretty sure Dirk Nowitzki will reassert himselfand vanish the stigma of the last two years of the Mavs.

San Antonio vs. Phoenix. Big Diesel against the Gentle Giant. Shaq has always been known to be the a Champion, a Fighter. That’s the kind of spirit he’s bringing to the Phoenix Suns who just couldn’t reach the Finals. This one will be a long and tough series. It will be physical and always a close game, so whoever looses focus it’s bye bye for them. The Spurs will have a hard time defending their crown and they may just exit early. My choice is Phoenix in seven games. San Antonio is just so undermanned at this time, I don’t think they can match up with Phoenix firepower offensively.

NBA Blockbuster Trade Thoughts

Here is my assessment on this year's NBA Trade :

Cavaliers. They acquired Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from Chicago and Seattle for Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons.)

Cleveland is . . . better? Marginally so; Szczerbiak is a dead-eye shooter and Wallace a good pickup for battles down the road. But if the Cavs have more playoff-tested veterans now, they also are a little older and slower. They will now have to slug games out in the paint, and you wonder how LeBron James feels about that.

Mavericks. (They acquired Jason Kidd and Malik Allen from New Jersey for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, Maurice Ager, Trenton Hassell and draft picks.)
Van Horn saved Dallas by taking a prorated $4 million to play for two months. Kidd should make the game easier for everyone. But Dallas has to break through and win a title now. And the Mavs will miss Diop's size just as much as Harris' quickness.

Suns. (They acquired Shaquille O'Neal from Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.)
Phoenix rolled the dice by bringing in the 36-year-old Shaq, but the bigger question is whether Amare Stoudemire can do what Marion did for the Suns at the defensive end. If Wednesday's home loss to the Lakers is any indication, the Suns have work to do. But the trade was still worth making; it gives Phoenix desperately needed size up front.

Lakers. (They acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, and draft picks.)
How can one say anything different after watching a rejuvenated Gasol, who has fit right in with Kobe Bryant and the surging Lakers? Los Angeles also opted not to move Lamar Odom before the deadline, giving this group a chance to mesh. GM Mitch Kupchak should drive to Vegas tonight and bet the ranch. He's on a roll.

Spurs. (They acquired Kurt Thomas from Seattle for Brent Barry, Francisco Elson, and a 2009 first-round pick. They also signed Damon Stoudamire.)
San Antonio strikes again, getting the rugged Thomas for the playoff run in the physical West while not having to mortgage any of its key pieces. Stoudamire should help down the stretch if starter Tony Parker continues to be slowed by injuries.

Jazz. (They acquired Kyle Korver from the Sixers for Gordan Giricek.)
This December deal is still paying big dividends for Utah. Korver has fit right into the Jazz' halfcourt sets, and his presence allows Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer more room inside to operate

I just think the L.A. Lakers is the biggest winner among these blockbuster trade deal, with the Mavericks coming in second.

After almost a month...

After almost a month, the Boston Celtics just dominated their first ten games with only a single loss coming form the hands of the Orlando Magic.

I was surprised that the Big Three of the Celtics would jell easily and lose only once. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen seems to be playing good music after all. But the question now, can they maintain good teamwork and lead the team to the Finals? Or will they falter just like the LA Lakers of 2004, with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton?

Another surpise is Milwaukee Bucks whose leading his division now, same as with the Orlando Magic. Well of course, the Magic got Rashard Lewis from the Seattle Supersonic. And he has been a great addition to the team.

Over at the Western Conference, Defending champion San Antonio Spurs still dominate the West with a 12-2 record, followed closely by Phoenix Suns at 11-2 and the Utah Jazz at 10-4. Its no surprise that the Spurs dominate the West, of course most people still think they can win mist games. But the big question for them, can they finally win back to back title this time?

I can say that if the Big Three of the Spurs remained helathy, they can finally nail down that back to back championship.

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