Real Deal

Haywood is the key piece for Dallas, not Butler...and Stevenson is a throw-in that shouldn't get any playing time to begin with. Caron has too many off-nights, but that may change when playing alongside Dirk, Terry and Kidd...you just never know. He was off and on with Bryant and Odom on his side, though. As far as getting to the Lakers goes, Denver will still be in Dallas' way. When healthy, the Nuggets pose a threat to the Mavericks. Martin is a physical defender that can agitate Dirk, and someone like Afflalo will take care of Butler or Terry, if they decide they want to catch fire. Who on the Mavs will hold Melo? It could push them past Denver, though...I don't really know. It all depends on how well the Mavericks can play TOGETHER in the playoffs, and they don't have much time to learn how to do that. In regards to beating Los Angeles, I just don't see any West team doing it. Even if I were a Kings fan, or one of those lonely Warriors fans (), I can't say Dallas has the goods to pull it off. Trading Howard, there's nobody good enough to stick on Kobe anymore, and Ron will tear into Caron's lackluster defense, as well as Gasol bodying Dirk in the post. Haywood will have to sit on Gasol parts of the game as well, but that brings Odom out there against Dirk, and that's a HUGE problem for Dallas.

If Shannon Brown was averaging 30/7/7 and was a superstar, I'm sure it would be a unanimous decision. But yeah, I take Brown, followed by Smith. I'd probably stick LeBron in third, though.

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Chicago only needs to empty about $5 million or so from their payroll, just enough to offer Wade that hefty contract. They won't put that much into an offer for McGrady unless they were getting back someone like Scola or Landry as well.

Blah...just too hard to watch, in my opinion. A couple of nice dunks here and there, but it's like watching garbage time during the end of blowouts in the NBA.

If that Bulls team, sans Wade, can nearly dump Pierce, Allen, Rondo, and Perkins on their faces in the first round last season, I'm pretty sure they get to the ECF's with Wade. That same Boston team (no Garnett) nearly took out the Magic, who went on to the Finals.

Who won it the last time? Give him a first-round bye, and that solves all problems.

Dallas loses a defender, gains a defensive big (one that they've wanted for a while now), and they add an offensive threat in Butler. Dallas wins this trade by a mile. I just don't get why Washington feels the need to trade for Howard.

Why would a player of Wade's caliber say he's leaving, especially right before the trade deadline? That's just begging for him to be traded. And playing alongside Rose is better than with Amare or Jamison. Why would it be crazy for Wade to go to a team with not only Rose, but Noah and Deng as well? If the Bulls deal Salmons, they will be keeping Hinrich...which gives Wade another teammate to be excited about. You guys are talking about nobody leaving their teams, but then you say those guys aren't going to leave because their teams will sign a big free agent to keep them around. Doesn't make much sense.

My vote goes to Shannon Brown, especially after a memory refresh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4IKG8DWu2E I don't see how he can't win this contest. Anyone think he resembles LeBron (in just blocking shots and dunking, of course) this season? Check out the video. :o

Gasol is a much better defensive player than Dirk. Ask Dwight Howard. In fact, with Bynum out, the Lakers are better defensively...and it's because Gasol is a better defensive anchor than Bynum (who was supposed to be our "big man defender"). Dirk is hard to stop? So is Pau, in the post. If one is soft, so is the other. Gasol has taken a few steps further out in front of other power forwards since his arrival in Los Angeles. When a guy can give you 20 points and 20 rebounds in 40 minutes, with 4-5 assists...it's hard to not consider him one of the best power forwards in the NBA.

Man...and they have a FEMALE suspect in custody. That's crazy. MSNBC and FoxNews covered it for about two minutes, then jumped right to politics. Idiots.

Shannon Brown is using Bryant as a passer on one dunk, and using DJ Mbenga for another. Actually...what if Mbenga "tried" to block Brown? What if the dunk was to posterize your teammate? That's never been done before, and that would be pretty sick. :o

A team with Wade, Rose, Noah and Deng contends. As of today, Miami is struggling to stay away from a first-round sweep against the Cavaliers. If I were in Wade's shoes, I'd be looking for homes in Chicago right now. He probably already has one, given the fact that it's his hometown.

Fisher wouldn't be THAT bad, really, because he'd make the shot on the first attempt each time. The players aren't exactly running full speed when they do it, either (as you have to dribble around the player silhouettes, or whatever they use). Fisher's problem would probably be the passing, though. He would probably choke hard on that bounce pass.

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That's not how it was back in the early 2000's, 90's and 80's...and that's why it's upsetting to watch, sometimes. Jordan wouldn't have it any other way. Personally, I think you should play to win. Guys can go have fun making trick shots and nice off-the-glass dunks five minutes after their practices every day.

Durant should be starting at the two. The East is going to run us to death.

Rip or Jamison to Cleveland would be hell for the Lakers. Hamilton is still one of the best off-the-ball players in the NBA, and an excellent mid-range shooter, while Jamison is the borderline all-star upgrade over JJ Hickson. It's two players that give the Cavs what they need, and I'm sure they won't have to part with much to acquire either of them.

I could actually argue that Gasol is nearly on Dirk's level right about now.

How is this a bad trade for Boston? C - Perkins/Sheed PF - Garnett/Davis SF - Jamison/Butler SG - Pierce/T. Allen PG - Rondo/House/Daniels Boston trades a capable 20 PPG offensive player for two capable 20 PPG offensive players, and they still retain their defensive players in Rondo, Garnett, Perkins and Tony Allen (and Pierce, who is decent defensively). This makes Boston a very potent offensive team (and they are sitting 13th in the league right now), and may just slightly bump their defense down a bit (ranked 1st in the NBA at this point, possibly top five by the end of the season). The best offensive team in the NBA, top five defensively...you don't beat that, no matter who you are. STUPID trade, Washington.

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Chicago, his hometown.

I don't see how 81 doesn't get on that list. The Lakers were down 24 or so as well. How many times in your lifetime will you see a player score 80+ in a game? One could argue that should be filed under player performances...but then again, so should a handful on that list.

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