Sorry

I apologize for my lack of posting lately. First off, I am going to do away with the daily game previews. Instead, I will do a preview at the beginning of each week. Also, I am currently trying to move my blog to a different site. I think I will be blogging at mysportspen.com, but only time will tell. However, I am going on my own All-Star Break to Mt. Pleasant, and unless there is a computer at my hotel, I will not be able to post until Monday.

The big news as of late has been the Marion-O'Neal trade. Honestly, I think this makes the Heat worse. O'Neal isn't capable of doing much anymore, and he is constantly on the fritz. On the other hand, I love this move by the Raptors. I wouldn't be surprised if they start to make a playoff push right now.

For now, let us root for AI in the All-Star Game that he should not be in.

Choke!

Going into last night's game, I thought we had a good shot at winning. Those odds increased to me when Iverson decided he had the flu and couldn't play. For three quarters, we played well as a team, with Rip filling in Iverson's role nicely. We were keeping pace with the Baby Bulls. Heading into the fourth, we had a nice 12 point lead, figuring we could coast off of the momentum Rasheed had just built (He scored 15 in the 3rd.) Then Tyrus Thomas started blocking shots and grabbing impossible rebounds, Andres Nocioni started driving through a barren, deserted lane, and Ben Gordon started knocking down impossible shots.

When the dust cleared, we lost by 5, 102-107. What a debacle! The Pistons should be ashamed of the way they defended late in the game, but luck also had a lot to do with the Bulls win. They got some questionable foul calls down the stretch. Nonetheless, the Bulls played like a team that should be in the playoffs. There two young big men were impressive. Tyrus Thomas had 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Joakim Noah had 12 and 16 rebounds. Noah isn't exactly built like a tank. Someone besides Sheed and Tay needs to start grabbing more boards.

We outshot the Bulls, but they grabbed enough offensive boards to make it not matter, 18 in fact. Derrick Rose was 10-15 from the field, and now he already looks like a better player than Stuckey. Rip was hot again last night, going 11-21 for 30 points, and he also had 8 assists. Rasheed had 20 and Stuck and Tay both had 16. We got sucked into playing to fast, and we lost control near the end of the game. We have just got to slow things down.

Game 50 Preview

PG: At this point in their careers, this matchup is just about even. By next year, Rose will dominate

Advantage: Draw

SG: As long as Gordon get hot, we should take this matchup. AI isn't exactly Bruce Bowen though

Advantage: Pistons

SF: Here is another close matchup. Deng is the better shooter, but Prince is way better defensively. I don't know why the Bulls are so hesitant to give up Deng

Advantage: Pistons

PF: These two guys play a similar style of ball. Both are very athletic. Right now, Tyrus is better defensively

Advantage: Bulls

C: I really don't think Joakim Noah should be a center, at least not right now. Sheed should take advantage of him all night

Advantage: Pistons

Overall: In their last 6 games, the Bulls have won 4. In the two losses, they have lost by a combined 8 points against the Mavs and Rockets. Now they are well rested, not playing since Saturday. We could be in trouble. However, we beat them by 6 last time we played and Stuckey had 40 points. I would be surprised if he scored 25 points tonight, but I think the Pistons will escape with a 5 point win

Trade Needs: Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks: This team is an enigma. I really don't know how good they are. I don't think they are championship quality, but they can score. To move to championship quality, they need a C. They really need some help on the wing too, be it a starter or a backup

Denver Nuggets: This team is going to start falling off eventually, right? I don't think they can win a playoff series in the West. They could use a PF to put next to Nene. I don't favor K-Mart starting. He would be better in a Jason Maxiell type role. They need some defensive help too.

Golden State Warriors: Speaking of needing defensive help, this is the worst defensive team by far. They have more than enough wing shooters, but they either need a real PF who can rebound and play defense, or a distributing PG. Marcus Williams could eventually be one, but Monta Ellis is definitely shoot first. A backup C would be nice too.

Houston Rockets: Ah, the Western equivalent of the Pistons. This may be the best team in the league on paper. However, McGrady is now a play-every-other-day time waster, and Artest is struggling to stay healthy. They could use another backup at that position. They really need a PG, but I don't think they think they do. Whoa, now I'm confused.

Los Angeles Clippers: As it turns out, Baron would have been screwed even if Elton Brand would have stayed in town. This team would be decent if they were healthy, so I wouldn't advise dealing too many players. Trading for someone to play defense would be wise though. Camby can't do it alone. They need a backup SF as well.

Los Angeles Lakers: The question right now is if they want to trade for a big man during Bynum's absence. I think I would leave it alone. Just concentrate on getting Bynum healthy and leave the roster intact. Their bench is playing phenomenally, so I don't want to screw with the chemistry. Plus, now they have Adam Morrison. That's all you really need.

Memphis Grizzlies: Well, this team has needs, but they probably won't fill them when they are this far out of contention. They need a starting PF more than anything. They also do not have a competent PG, but they are hoping that Mike Conley or Kyle Lowry can become one. A backup C is needed as well.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Well, this team is toast without Big Al Jefferson. They really need another scoring threat that can form a tandem with Al. Mike Miller is not that guy. He is best at coming off the bench, a fourth or fifth option. Randy Foye is still a questionable PG too. Oh yeah, we will see who backs up Al. They need someone better than undersized Kevin Love (a PF), Calvin Booth (terrible), Jason Collins (more terrible), or Mark Madsen ( even more terrible, plus a really bad dancer.)

New Orleans Hornets: This team can contend for a championship with the current roster. A better starting SG would put them over the top, but defensive backup big men is what they really need.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Well this team has tried to address their major need. They just fail horribly every time they try to draft a center. So far they have Saer Sene, Robert Swift, and Johan Petro. Now, Petro is gone, and replace with Nenad Krstic. No improvement what so ever. A legit C would put this team in contention.

Phoenix Suns: This team is also very hard to understand. I don't know what they need. The roster they have is fine. Maybe a defensive specialist would help, but where do you put them in the rotation. I would just leave the lineup in tact and see what happens

Portland Trail Blazers: Every team around the League knows what they need, because they have basically announced it. They are looking for a starting PG and SF, and they have the talent to work out any trade.

Sacramento Kings: This might be the least talented team in the League. The only player worth anything is Kevin Martin. John Salmons is only scoring because he puts up 15-20 shots each night. I would build around Martin and Thompson, and just get rid of everyone else. Well, maybe Spencer Hawes and Donte Greene are worth keeping around, but not much else.

San Antonio Spurs: This team is playing excellent basketball right now. I don't see them making any trades, unless it is something very minor. They could use a center, but they can make it work with just about anybody

Utah Jazz: This team looks good, but they just don't have it. In this case, "it" is a scoring wing player. Ronnie Brewer is a good player and C.J. Miles isn't bad, but they could use somebody better. A backup C is another need

Nash destroys Pistons, 107-97

For all of the haters who said Steve Nash never deserved to win MVP, he just ruined your whole argument last night. He killed us down the stretch, going for 15 points and 21 assists. Plus, he reminded the Pistons of exactly what they are missing because of the Chauncey trade, a distributing point guard. Nash would drive and kick it out or dump it off to Shaq and Amare, and we couldn't stop it. Stuckey can't do that. Not yet anyways. Iverson is capable, he just shoots when he should pass.

Rip did his best again to keep us in the game, going 11-19 for 27 points, but the Suns were relentless, and we were tired from OT with the Bucks. All of their starters scored in double digits, even Grant Hill looked impressive. Just when the Pistons made it look like a game, they would usually committ a dumb turnover and give up the momentum. The Suns just made us look bad, tallying 31 assists to our 19. They weren't really shooting many 3's, they were dropping the ball off in the paint and letting Amare and Shaq do work. Overall, we got outscored 66-26 in the lane. They combined for 38 points and 17 rebounds (or 1 Al Jefferson stat line.) My big night never came for Amare, but that is because Michael Curry tricked me. About a week after he said he was done using Kwame in the starting lineup, voila, there he is. So Rasheed defended Amare, and kind of kept him in check.

Iverson had 25 points and 7 assists. For those of you that appreciate the finer things in basketball, check out this bounce pass. Maybe he learned it from Steve Nash. I mean he is a big fan after last nights game. He was quoted saying "Who's been down on Steve Nash, He’s definitely an All-Star and he’s still playing like an MVP."

Both teams were 27-21 heading into this game. Now, we are starting to get very close to falling out of playoff contention. Don't laugh. Sometimes even the worst teams can put together win streaks, and right now we have lost 11 of 17. Meanwhile, the Suns are fighting for a playoff spot, but I think if they get in, and still have Amare, they are very dangerous

Game 49 Preview

PG: Well, this will be fun. Nash really doesn't play much defense at all. To me, Rodney's defense is still suspect. There should be a ton of scoring

Advantage: Suns

SG: My bad. I meant to put former Spartan Jason Richardson up there, but I really wasn't thinking. Barbosa is one of the few guys that is faster than AI. Richardson is not. He thinks he is a shooter, which he isn't

Advantage: Pistons

SF: This is a past and present matchup. Tayshaun is going to lock down Grant. I don't expect much scoring out of either of these guys

Advantage: Pistons

PF: Well, here we go again. Amir should not be a starter at this point in his career. He got embarrased by Villanueva, and now things are only going to be worse. This could get ugly, even with McDyess in

Advantage: Suns

C: I really don't know how we plan to defend Shaq. We have nobody on our team who can stay with him down low. These type of things will hopefully be adressed at the deadline

Advantage: Suns

Overall: Hopefully, this is an audition for Amar'e ( Spelling his name is so stupid) Anyways, he is probably going to score at least 30, and maybe Joe D. will be impressed enough to trade for him. I think the guys are still going to be fatigued after last night's game, so we will lose tonight, by about 8

Sessions vs. Rip City

Wow! I had no idea that Ramon Sessions was going to tear through our defense like a hot knife through butta. He had 20 points in the fourth quarter, and 44 in all. He was 13-18 from the field and 18-21 from the free throw line. He also had 12 assists. Not bad for a second round draft pick. If the team would have had Michael Redd as a kick out option for Sessions, there is no doubt in my mind that we would have lost. However, they are crippled with injuries. We also have Rip Hamilton, who was the man last night

Rip scored 38 points on 15-25 shooting. The more unsung hero of last night's game was Tayshaun. He only scored 7 points, but he contributed 13 rebounds and 9 assists. Iverson and Sheed also played above average, each scoring 27 points. We had no trouble shooting the ball, going 48% from the field, 55% from downtown, and hitting 26-28 from the charity stripe.

Usually a win in overtime is cause for celebration and a good start in building momentum. In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend." We may have shot very well, but what quality of defense were we playing against. The only defensive minded player on that team is a rookie, LRMaM. Sheed played good defense against former Spur Francisco Elson, but Amir struggled mightily against Chuck Villanueva, who scored 33 points. And Allen Iverson and Rip could not stop Sessions all night. We got the win, but it came against a sub-.500 team missing three of it's best players (Bogut, Redd, and Ridnour if you are keeping track at home.) We need to start going deeper into our bench to allow our starters to stay fresh until the end of the game, because we are terrible in the second half. Coach Curry needs a new scheme

Other things of note:

• My boy, Adam Morrison, was traded to the Lakers along with former Spartan Shannon Brown for VladRad. Rufus on Fire believes the Lakers only really wanted Brown


• New Jersey obliterated Denver, 114 to 70


• Disco Dirk scored 44 as the Mavs beat da Bulls in OT