It was an interesting scene in Toronto tonight as I arrived to the Air Canada Centre just an hour after news broke of the big trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.  Over the last couple seasons we have waited to see if the Lake-show could pull the trigger on a deal - or if they had the players to deal for an impact player.

With Kwame Brown's contract about to expire and Memphis's intent to rebuild it made sense to make a deal.  Memphis grabs a young kid, a relatively young guy in Brown and 2 draft picks that need lots of prayer to become impactful.  This allows the Grizz to start over amd they will have some cash to show for it.

The Lakers grab a guy who can make an immediate impact.  This move allows them some breathing room as Andrew Bynum recovers from injury, and it gives them a blanket if Bynum does not return to form.  If he does return to form it allows Lamar Odom to slide to the small forward position while Pau plays the 4.  And, it gives them a deeper bench when Luke Walton slides beside some of the other contributors like Ronny Turiaf and Jordan Farmar.

This is a win-win for both teams without a doubt.  The need to crash the boards is imperative in the West and Los Angeles has more weapons than they know what to do with.  I should know; I watched a depleted Laker team roll over the Toronto Raptors.  Kobe Bryant was on tonight and unlike last night he got some help offensively.  Tonight's game proved that Toronto may be able to score but can't hold it together defensively on a consistent basis.  But with L.A. playing their 2nd game in as many nights they should have been stronger out of the gate.  Lakers got momentum and never looked back.

Last point on the Lakers: Prior to this deal I was still not on-board with putting them into the serious contender category despite their strong record.  Now, my view has changed.  They are absolutely a team that should be a factor in April.  This is a team built to go past round 1.  If they don't there is a problem.  They now have a great starting 5 (with Bynum back) and the forward position was a bigger need than point guard.  Derek Fisher can run the show because he won't try to do too much.  He knows the offense, he knows his limitations, he can still hit shots and knows how to play in big games.  Specifically speaking, Paul Gasol is a better acquisition than Jason Kidd.

Other stuff....

- I just realized Fox used the "Pau-er" line.  I'm pissed.

- After his 13.5 million is up in 2008, Johan Santana will pull in 137.5 million over 6 years.  That is phenomenal.  Hope the kid can hit.

All seriousness, the guy is one of the best pitchers in baseball and barring any setback or injury he should contend for a Cy Young.  Being able to avoid a big bopping DH and getting the opportunity to face pitchers with 1 or 2 out and runners on base will pay off for Johan.  It is a different ballgame with different scenarios when you play in the National League in comparison to the American League.

As for the contract itself, a lot of bad pitchers get paid a ton, so this is not a surprise and not out of this world in comparison to the #3 pitchers who make 8 figures per year.

- When Bill Belichick says his team is "ready to roll", I tend to believe him.  Some may feel the New York Giants can beat New England and they may be right, but I don't see it.  Yes, they played the Pats tight IN New York IN the cold IN front of their hometown.  In Arizona it will be warm and it is a neutral site.  The way I see it, the conditions favour the New England passing attack.  Passes that went through the hands of receivers will be easier to catch, and nobody is as accurate or precise as Tom Brady - even if he is disrupted in the pocket.

The real question should be if Eli Manning can continue his excellent play.  In my mind, he's grown as a player over the last month or so.  And he should be proud of the way he has battled throughout the playoffs.  He has beaten two teams he wasn't suppose to beat, outplay both quarterbacks and has defied expectations, which brings me to this...

- Tiki Barber is trying to protect himself now that his former team has made it to the Super Bowl the year after he reitres.  Tiki came with baggage and now that the baggage is gone the team can re-focus.  He had his quarrels with Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and Michael Strahan.  This isn't a coincidence.  Somewhere down the line we have to look and say that maybe New York really IS better off without him.  I think they are.

- Who are we kidding when Pat Riley says Shaquille O'Neal should be in the All-Star game?  Should Magic be playing as well?

- Again, I realize nobody really cares about hockey but I will say it again: Alexander Ovechkin is THE best hockey player on the planet.  He is one of the very few players who has to single-handedly carry his team to victories.  I wonder how long he can keep this up.  Eventually he will need a stud playing alongside him.

Time to unwind.  And get ready for the Super Bowl.  I hope to witness history this Sunday.  It will be nice to explain how I got to watch a Football team go undefeated in one season.  Doesn't come around often folks.

The Western Conference is still deeper, better and more watcheable than the East.  You might disagree with that notion but over the past 5 years or so two of these teams have been regarded as the most exciting team to watch: Dallas and Phoenix. 

Some of the teams that will miss the playoffs this year will have enough talent where if they were shipped to the East they would be in the playoffs.  That is something I truly believe in.  However, you cannot choose the division to play in so you have to make due.  Let's break it down:

SOUTHWEST:

- This has to be the best division in basketball.  Last season, the injury-plagued Houston Rockets were in last place.  The same team that has studs like Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.  There are really 2 questions that surround this division: 1) Who will take first. Dallas or San Antonio?  And 2) Will all 5 teams make the playoffs?  Stay tuned for that answer but here is answer number 1...

Dallas
San Antonio
Houston
New Orleans
Memphis

- The answer to question number 2 will be addressed but let's read on...

NORTHWEST:

- Considerably weaker than the other two conferences, it boasts the most questions and parody out of any division.  Looking at all 5 teams, they have all been a division winner since 1999.  With this division, its all about staying healthy, making clutch shots and getting off to a good start to the season.  Then again, every team in the NBA would like to do that...

Denver
Utah
Seattle
Minnesota
Portland

PACIFIC:

- Phoenix will dominate.  They are one team that can play through the adversity of injuries as they experienced a few key injuries last season and during the playoffs (Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas to name a couple).  The next few spots will depend on how the teams hold up together: Can the Clippers maintain that high level of play in the regular season?  Will the Lakers be more than just a Kobe-led team?  And will Sacramento be better with a full season having Ron Artest?  And is Golden State ready to take the next level?  I keep looking at the Warriors and think they are too loaded to not be a better team.  They just might be a victim of a deep Western Conference...

Phoenix
LA Clippers
Sacramento
LA Lakers
Golden State

- Now, from 1 to 8 here is how the playoff structure will stack up:

Phoenix
Dallas
Denver
San Antonio
LA Clippers
Houston
Utah
Sacramento

This will be a dogfight for the final few spots between a bunch of teams.  I can see every team in the Pacific division competing for a spot, and if Pau Gasol get's back with Memphis in the playoff hunt then all the Southwest teams will be a factor as well.  Remember one other thing: Seattle is only two years removed from winning their division.  This will be a very interesting and compelling Western Conference battle for the playoffs this season.