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I trust Chuck's basketball instincts more than the Jet's.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns
Lakers made best trade, but don’t overlook Suns
By Kenny Smith, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 1 minute ago
The NBA just got interesting. For the first time in a long while, it looks like the league really has parity. There’s just no clear-cut championship favorite. This could even be the first time that a 50-win team ends up sitting at home when the playoffs begin.
The East has improved with the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic joining the Detroit Pistons as division leaders. The Cleveland Cavaliers have retooled their roster, though I don’t think they got better.
The league’s best story, however, will be out West, where everyone in the conference who makes the playoffs will believe they have a realistic chance of winning the NBA le. Many of those teams have improved. So let’s look at the recent trades and see who came out ahead.
1. Los Angeles Lakers: Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and a couple first-round draft picks for Pau Gasol? It doesn’t matter if you want to rebuild. You just helped an opposing team build a possible dynasty.
The Lakers go from playoff team to championship contender overnight, and Andrew Bynum hasn’t even returned to the lineup. The Lakers have the rest of the league on notice that they are now the team to beat. They also are the only team that has set itself up for a bright future.
2. Phoenix Suns: Any time you add one of the 50 greatest players to your team, you’ve improved.
Shaquille O’Neal is smart enough to figure out how to fit into the Suns’ high-powered offense. He has played on international teams as well as All-Star teams where he wasn’t always the first option. I also believe players start to lose their lateral (east-west) quickness as they get older, but can still be effective playing an up-tempo north-south game like the Suns. Shaq’s value wont truly show until the playoffs.
3. Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks needed toughness and leadership, and they got both with Jason Kidd. Dallas will no longer panic in crunch time and Avery Johnson won’t have to coach every play. In Kidd, the Mavericks now have a true on-court leader.
4. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs made the subtlest of moves by adding Kurt Thomas, but Thomas could be the piece that puts them over the top. Or, to be exact, back on the top.
Thomas is a great defender, rebounder and team player. He should also allow Tim Duncan to not have to work so hard on the defensive end. Thomas also is a very underrated midrange shooter.
5. Houston Rockets: This was all about addition by subtraction. The Rockets realized they would stunt the growth of their young players if they tried to give Bonzi Wells and Mike James minutes, so they traded the two veterans. Rookies Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks won’t be fighting for playing time anymore. They’ll be fighting to win games.
6. New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets needed bench scoring and they should get some in Wells and James. In the Western Conference, depth is a necessity. When your subs come in the game they better be able to do one of three things: protect the lead; take the lead; or change the game’s tempo. Wells and James should help the Hornets in all those areas.
My prediction for how the West will be won? The Suns will rise and beat the Lakers to advance to the NBA Finals.
Last edited by CaptainLate; 02-25-2008 at 10:01 PM.
I trust Chuck's basketball instincts more than the Jet's.
These ers (Smith included) have been sucking on the Suns for about 3 seasons now. They always look like idiots in the end. It'll be no different this year.
These analysts are supposed to go off the broken record and predict something that will grab people's attentions. Making bold predictions that never come true is what they do best. Who cares?
2. Phoenix Suns: Any time you add one of the 50 greatest players to your team, you’ve improved.
Really ? Maybe we should re-sign Big Dave or Ice. Kenny is delusional. Phoenix just got worse.
Trade Kenny Smith for JVG.... Now !!!!!!!
Let'em talk.
I love hearing Chuck say "GINOBILIIIIIII!!!!!".
I can't agree with his takes or his conclusion.
I think the Lakers beat the Suns anyday, and I think they will meet earlier than Conf. Finals or not at all.
Dallas may have gotten veteran leadership, but they gave up speed, offense, blocked shots and rebounds to do it.
Yeah Kenny, problem is he left his game and his prime at the snack bar.
I'd prefer it if the media didn't dry-hump the Suns at every opportunity. It'd be nice to be under the radar for once, but that's impossible with the Big Saguaro on your team.
Not rebounds
Kidd is the best PG rebounder (not named magic) in a history
Yup
Chuck predicted Nets to be the East beast ...
If Kenny writes, "Spurs will win again" nobody would read it.
Kenny has never seemed to like the Spurs much. He gives me the feeling a lot of analyst's do..."Not the Spurs again! They're good. But, can we have someone else...please?"
I dunno, Mebbe he feels the need to counter Chuck's love for us
He always seems to give props to guys I don't like in the NBA as well. Seems a bandwagoner type of analyst. I like Kenny fine, he just sees the game and the NBA a little differently from me.
oscar robertson
So then basically we should stop watching the rest of the season and wait until next year.
Thanks for the heads up Kenny
Well you can argue about that.
First years Oscar was dominant in that category to see his rebs numers slide down year after year. He got Jerry Lukas one of the best rebounders in history later,
so you can claim he was better then Kidd. (even when he played in era where rebounds were easier "to find")
And I must admitt that I forgot about that Cincinatti phenom
I try to look in my memory, so maybe there will be another PG with better rebounding skills, but nothing coming to my mind.
How could i forgot Big freackin O ?
Kenny never gives the Spurs love. Earlier in the season someone asked him if the spurs would repeat and he basically said no.
If it takes that long, they may not even make the playoffs. Against the Lakers and again against the Pistons, Shaq looked slow and couldn't even protect the rim. No one fears the Big Gorilla anymore. He ain't what he once was. And he damn sure ain't going to be a Suns Savior.Shaq’s value wont truly show until the playoffs.
Kenny loves to suck Snaq's , I swear. He is in love with the big guy.
Chuck>Jet
I am guessing he wrote that before sunday
Can't wait for Barkley to slap Kenny for that
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