I was wondering what I could write about today and because I’m A-Rodded out and Lil Wayne’s tattoo of ESPN doesn’t deserve a second thought, I thought I’d attack the world of basketball for a bit. The trade deadline is around the corner, and there’s been some minor moves here and there. But anything that turns a fringe team into a championship contender? Not yet.
- I’m still not sure what I feel about the Terry Porter firing. The Suns were never going to be as good under Porter as D’Antoni because quite simply, D’Antoni’s system hid their many flaws. You can’t be a defensive-minded team without defensive-minded players. Porter was doomed. Nash can’t guard anybody and Amare Stoudemire, while talented, couldn’t out-rebound me. Alvin Gentry may get the Suns into the playoffs, but that’s about it.
- Disregard that Shawn Marion-Jermaine O’Neal trade. That’s a big deal in 2001-02, but not now. Both are injury risks and have clearly lost a few steps. Remember when Marion bragged about how he scores 20 a game without any plays run through him? Yeah, me too. Toronto, one of my preseason sleepers in the Eastern Conference, has all but packed it in. The Heat do get better with O’Neal inside, but I expected more out of Michael Beasley at this point in the season.
- I’m not going to go all Bill Simmons on you guys, but Kevin Durant is already a top ten player in the NBA. Fair or not, Greg Oden and the Blazers are eternally linked to every 40+ point performance Durant puts up. The guy just turned 20! 20! That’s younger than me!Â
- Kudos to Yao Ming for staying healthy all season. But Yao’s clean bill of health is now overshadowed by yet another lost season from Tracy McGrady, who said he’s out for the year and in need of knee surgery. I don’t know who the bigger disappointment between McGrady and his primo Vince Carter. Neither makes his teammates better and neither has had a lick of success in the postseason. T-Mac’s contract runs through next year, when he could be a very valuable expiring contract in trade talks.Â
