Josh Dhani

The NBA Trade Deadline is fast approaching. February 18th can not get here any sooner! Pacers strongly-contributed power forward Troy Murphy knows he could be traded. Many rumors have been going at the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been most linked to Murphy along with Wizards' Antwan Jamison. "It's a business and I understand there's a possibility that I could be moved," Murphy told The Indianapolis Star. "I can't get away from the ongoing rumors because Travis Diener is right next to me (in the locker room) and he is always informing me of what's being talked about." Murphy has been averaging 14 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG. Murphy was close making it to the All-Star team this season, but he didn't have enough votes. My opinion? I think he'll stay. I don't see the Pacers giving up on him now after you look at where they stand: 16-31. Also seen at alwaysmillertime.com

Also seen at Always Miller Time God this game irritated me so much, I just can’t forget this game. The Pacers didn’t compete. They just didn’t try. Shaquille O’Neal dominated Roy Hibbert and Troy Murphy in the post. Shaq had 22 points and eight rebounds. LeBron James played the toughest, with 23 points, ten rebounds, and 13 assists. He also was in the blocking business four. He is making his newfound religion stand at lebronthereligion.com. Towards the end of the game, both teams just jacked up three’s. The Pacers only hit 6-of-25 three-point attempts, 24%! The Cavs were no better with 7-of-22, but hey, they got the victory. Danny Granger had 13 points with ten rebounds. Rush played the hardest, in my opinion, with twelve points and six rebounds. The Pacers came into this game with a horrible start. At the end of the first, you could tell it was over with a 36-18 deficit. These two teams will face off again on March 17th, and the Pacers look to bring revenge. Hibbert knows how Shaq does it, and Murphy, too. The Pacers will play the Raptors in their next two games. One this Tuesday, and one on February 2nd. Three days after that, they’ll face off in Detroit. This series looks to be easier than the last two games of the Lakers and Cavs. Come on Pacers, I believe in you! http://coloradoright.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/monkey_fingers_in_ears.jpgThe Pacer monkey can’t stand this game either.

This was not a fun game to witness as a Pacers fan lol

Good stuff. Just registered. username is JoshDhani

Also seen at Grizzfans.com and StraightOuttaVancouver.com Memphis Grizzlies fans were thrilled, suddenly, after they made the signing of Allen Iverson out to the public. Iverson looked to make some changes around the team, and hoping to build a bigger fanbase for the team. Iverson looked like he could change this team from a failure, to a playoff contender. At 34 years of age for the point guard, and listed at 6′1″ and 165 pounds, seriously, what could go wrong? Well, a lot actually. Training camp started here at Birmingham, Alabama as the Grizzlies were ready for the preseason, and the regular season following it as they were looking towards a big and successful year. But, apparently, something wrong occurred at practice. It was reported to be something wrong with his hamstring. Iverson said it felt tight. It was, no doubt, that he strained his hamstring. When Iverson tried to fix them, like loosing them up as you might say, the legs pretty much said a plain “NO!” It happened during a scrimmage game as Iverson recalled that his hamstring sort of popped. Iverson did not respond well with the outcome. “Frustrating, real frustrating,” Iverson said. It surely must be frustrating for sure. Just look, you’re a 34-year-old point guard coming off of pretty much the worst season of your career. You’re looking for a team to sign you and there are some, but then you say you have to start. Not so many, are there now? Then only three teams are rumored to have him and a rebuilding team offered him a deal. Iverson signs a deal and here you are, injured. Haven’t played in one preseason game yet. Not one. Nada. Zero. Iverson has gone through so much in his career. I mean, a small guy like him getting fouled my guy’s two time’s bigger than him and he still manages to be on top and be the best. I mean, Iverson is one of the best basketball players ever lived. You’re talking about 27 points per game in your career and 19 points per game in a season as your worst season in your career. Now that is what you call impressive, real impressive. When the Grizzlies announced his injury in front of the press, Iverson did his same old thing. No, not the “We talkin’ about pratice.” Just slouching in his chair looking casual. Cool, just cool. But nobody comes towrads Iverson, and he doesn’t come towards them. In basktball, he’s the aggressive man. Like the saying goes: “Small but mighty,” and A.I. sets a perfect example of that. “You’ll never see Allen sit back and let things come to him,” said Pat Croce, the former president and majority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. “He’s always been on the aggressive side.” When Johnny Davis was the 76ers head coach when A.I. was in his rookie season, he remembers him back in the winter and was very impressed with his skills. Now Davis is here, standing there as an assistant for the Grizzlies. When Davis saw Iverson running into all those defenders, especially those giantic power forwards and centers, Davis expected him to last, but not for very long. “But to his credit, he just keeps going,” Davis said. “He is a physical phenomenon.” Certainly, a reply to that quote would have to be in just three letters: Duh. It doesn’t matter what has been going on with Iverson. Injuries will be affecting him because of his age, but we won’t be seeing his talent declining like other NBA veterans who had, and slumped very low. Iverson can do this. Nobody can stop him. Nobody can do what he has done. And that’s what makes him so special. So dazzling.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/image_pictures/0610/4049/89062_feature.jpg There is some big news going on inside the NBA blogosphere. According to this source at ESPN.com Insider, the Cleveland Cavaliers may trade their center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas was scheduled to be a free agent next year until the Cavaliers spoke out that they make consider in trading their tall center. Cleveland.com also examined that the Cavs may trade the Big Z. Cleveland.com said this in their article about Z: "You have just hit on what I think will be the biggest off-court story between now and February. Ilgauskas' contract is a massive trade chip because of how many teams will be looking to dump salary for next summer. The Cavs will not have a great deal of cap room, so using that expiring contract could be the last swing at making a major addition for a while. For that reason, Danny Ferry would be compelled to consider it despite his personal relationship with Ilgauskas." Another reason the Cavs may trade Ilgauskas is because of cap room. Ilgauskas currently has a salary of over $11M. Another reason would possibly be with the additon of Shaquille O'Neal this off-season. The Cavs may not have enough money to support the two big men, also with LeBron James in the mix as well. Reports were swarming that the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and the Los Angeles Clippers may take a bid on him, according to a source. Also, with the addition of Leon Powe, the Cavaliers will have to bring a fair amount of minutes to their big men. The NBA off-season isn't over yet, and the Cavs are setting up a good example why.

Please man. I was an OTR writer at the old OTR Basketball. Can you please let me be one Real Deal? Remember me from last time? Please man...