Real Deal

Word is that Amare could be traded, and the news reported it ASAP. Players tend to play very well when they hear about a trade rumor involving them, so I see this game as the "Nash and Amare" show. Williams is still grabbing that wrist every game, so it's going to be all on Boozer and Utah's supporting cast to come through with the win, assuming Deron is still ailing. Suns should come out on top.

The Spurs are so inconsistent, I don't know when to bet on them winning games. So far this month, the Bulls have beaten Boston, Phoenix and Houston on the road. That's very impressive. I'll take the Bulls here, as long as Rose has an excellent game.

The Hawks haven't won in Houston since February 25th, 1999. That's ten consecutive losses, meaning no wins the last decade. That changes tonight.

Gasol may bother Howard a bit, and I'm not sure how Shard will fare against Zach Randolph. I wouldn't be surprised if the Grizzlies pull out a win here.

It looks like Eddie has been toying with the lineups in Philly. I'm not sure what he's after, though. I just hope Hibbert and Rush have big games. I really could care less who wins this one, haha.

Boston is due for a blowout, and now that they have Garnett back, it could happen tonight. The Clippers played ugly basketball against a terrible Wizards team last night, so I don't expect too much from them tonight.

Shaq has scored 20 or more just twice this season. This game should be his third time, and Cleveland has to realize that. But, it all depends on the Heat putting him in foul trouble, also. If you attack, Shaq rotates over and will almost always be late, and that's a trip to the line and another mark on the foul sheet for O'Neal. Beasley and Hickson should go back and forth, trying to outscore each other. Neither will want to play defense. I wouldn't worry that much about LeBron, just the shooters around him. It won't take much for someone like Gibson and Jawad to start lighting the net on fire. How many frees do you think LeBron takes tonight? Over/under 12.5, let's hear it. I call over.

Devin Brown? That's unexpected, but I guess the Hornets just need to get under the luxury tax threshold. Brown isn't that bad, really. He's been struggling with his shot, but with the right team, I'm sure he can turn it around. If you leave him open on the three, he'll more than likely knock it down, so that gives Chicago a three-point marksman off the bench, and a bigger spark than that of Aaron Gray.

Do you guys not watch Marc Gasol play? There are times where I would really consider trading Andrew Bynum for him, as well as he's been doing in Memphis. Now that I think about it, Amare to Cleveland wouldn't be that big of a deal at the end of the day, because the Cavs would still be fighting the Celtics in the ECF's, so there's no guarantee we'd find them in the Finals.

Well that will suck. I hope they trade Varejao and West, at least.

TIME: 6:25 PM EST TV: CBS

TIME: 7:20 PM EST TV: ESPN

Granger is the overall better player, but he hasn't had the season Jamison has, individually. Lots of things factor into that, including injuries, but that's for another discussion. I would stick Jamison in there before Granger. Josh Smith Paul Pierce Gerald Wallace Chris Bosh In no order...those four get the nod over Jamison.

Who would you guys start at the three? Martin would be an undersized SF, and I'm not sure if you have anyone else capable of starting at that position (without hurting your team, at least).

The Kings are on a seven-game losing streak, and while they were never really that great of a team to begin with, what is Martin really doing for them? This guy has been their primary scorer for a few years now, but since his return... Kings @ Heat (115-84 L): 5 PTS, 1-7 FG (14.3%) Kings @ Magic (100-84 L): 5 PTS, 1-7 FG (14.3%) Kings @ Hawks (108-97 L): 23 PTS, 8-18 FG (44.4%) Kings @ Bobcats (105-103 L): 9 PTS, 3-9 FG (33.3%) Kings @ Wizards (96-86 L): 23 PTS, 6-17 FG (35.3%) Kings @ Sixers (98-86 L): 19 PTS, 4-10 FG (40.0%) All road games, yes, but I'd like to think that the Kings, led by Tyreke Evans instead of Martin, would fare better against a few of those teams. I really think a backcourt of Evans and Beno Udrih was more dangerous than any other. Evans is now forced to play more point, and for me, he was more effective as a two-guard. Should the Kings try and deal Martin before it's too late?

He's definitely not making a good case for himself with his recent play. In three of his last five games, he shot 12-41 from the field, 29 points, 17 rebounds, 0-9 from three (SAC, DAL and MIA, all home games). Two of those games, he scored eight points or less, grabbed five boards or less. He also shot terribly against bad teams, especially in December, against Philly, Toronto, Detroit and Golden State. His inconsistency, lack of defense, and inability to lead the Wizards to anything better than the fourth worst record in the NBA is what keeps him out of contention for the all-star spot.

Yeah, but you left out Varejao, West and Ilgauskas. Those three are pretty good players, and capable starters. The Cavs wouldn't win 50 games without LeBron, probably wouldn't reach the 40-win plateau to be honest...but I think they'd come really close to 40. And as far as the Nets are concerned, they are tanking. There's no way that team loses 70+ games if they really wanted to win.

Haha, I honestly skipped over the Heat by accident. I have no idea why I didn't see them...and hell, they are even first on the list.

Memphis isn't a bad team. In fact, I believe they have a better record at this point of the season, if I remember right, and they have a physical defender up front in Gasol that Bosh may not like by the end of that game. But other than the Grizzlies, the rest of those teams should all lose to the Raptors.

When were the Suns good last year? They were 28-23 when coached by Porter, and that's when they centered around Shaq. That's on pace to win 45 games, which is out of the playoffs. With Gentry back in and running a fast-paced offense, they went 18-13 to finish the season, despite the problems with Amare and his eyes. And Steve Nash is more talented, and a better basketball player, than any two players not named LeBron James on the Cavaliers' roster, bro.

The only non-call I remember was when Bynum went up for a layup...but then again, he's a softie and he should've just dunked the ball, so I have no remorse. The Raptors kept letting the Lakers do what they wanted in the paint, though, especially in the first half. They were loose on Kobe in the first half, and he did what he wanted. In the second, they decided to double him more, try and shut him down, and while he still put up good numbers, it forced his teammates to get involved in one-on-one situations even more, and that's how we failed. Drew had 15 points at the half, six points in the second half. Gasol had 16 points in the first half, six in the second half. When Kobe was feeding them, they were converting...but once it was their time to shine in their own spotlight, they crumbled as they usually do, and by the end of the game, it was Kobe vs. Toronto.

Hedo was actually bailed out at the end of the game on a call that ultimately won it for Toronto...but it's still no excuse. We gave up a lead, so we deserve to lose.

Solid choke job by the Vikings, especially Favre and Peterson. I have supported Adrian the entire season as one of the best backs in the NFL, but with the lack of big break-out runs all season long, in addition to the butterfingers and all of his fumbles tonight, I don't know what to think about him. And Favre just kept forcing the ball into tight spots. If things were going better for the Saints' secondary, they would've had five or six interceptions by the end of the game, but a few slipped right through their hands. Coin flip for me, didn't really care who won the game. I just don't want to see the Colts win it all.

Kobe nearly gives us a perfect game and we STILL LOSE. 27 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, and it doesn't matter. For being the defending champs and having what was the best record in the NBA, we sure are packed with stupid ass players. Disgusting.

Both seven-footers are playing well together because Kobe is spoon-feeding Bynum, and Drew isn't trying to establish post and hold the ball for 15 seconds. DeRozan looks nervous out there.