Get me a break! Horry's totally LEGAL pick/screen on West is a cheap shot? You gotta be kidding me! Has the NBA become the WNBA? I apologize to the ladies of the WNBA (you gals ain't that SOFT). Does Emperor Stern's PC "dress code" mean a player needs to wear a pretty "dress"?

I can't believe it! I think if Horry gets suspended, fined, or even officially criticized by the league, then I will forever ever not watch the NBA. The soft fans probably think the NBA stands for...

National "B*tches" Association
National "Butterfly" Association
National "Buttercup" Association
"Neutered" Basketball Association

My friends, what Horry did was totally legit! He set a legal back screen on an opposing defender. That's basketball! So what if West had a tender back and Horry knew about it? If West was afraid to get hurt, stay home! It's like if Kirilenko injures Kobe's broken pinky on a block and gets called dirty or cheapshot. It's ridiculous!

The other hilarious argument is that people say that Horry did it "on purpose" or he "wanted" to hurt West. C'mon, you retards live inside Horry's mind? You guys know exactly what and how he thinks? And let's say that you are right about Horry's dirty intention, so what? He made a LEGAL play! It wasn't even a foul! Get over it!

Maybe you "cotton" lovers want the NBA to install a new rule.....red jackets for players with injuries. So Kobe should wear one tonight, and if any Jazz player seems or appears to be hurting Kobe on purpose (however legal their plays may be), they get rejected.

Welcome to the new NBA, where TOFU happens!

The more I think about the whole situation, the angrier I become. How come my beloved NBA is becoming so soft? Well, I can't explain the overall "baby-skin" trend. But my explanation for this particular incident is that the biased media just loves Steve Nash too much. I know I know, what does this have anything to do with Nash? But hear me out!

The Nash-loving media just can't get over the whole Horry-WWF-Nash incident last year. They just can't get over the fact that Horry fouling Nash, which led to the infamous suspensions, caused their golden boy his best chance at winning a ring or at least play in a Finals (so that their biased decision to give him two MVPs would actually become legit). Never mind Horry probably didn't think his hard foul would trigger Amare and Diaw to leave their bench retardedly (Horry couldn't be that smart and calculating). Never mind his so-called hard foul wan't even that hard! For God's sake, Nash didn't even get a scratch on him.

You see, my friends, the biased media loves to rewrite history. They know 20 years from now, when people look at this post-Jordan era (1998-2010), everyone will freak out over these stats....

Shaq....4 rings....1 MVP
Kobe....3 rings....1 MVP
Duncan....4 rings....2 MVPs
Nash....ZERO mins in a Finals....2 MVPs

They know with Mike "B*tch-face" D'Antoni in NY, Nash's championship window is pretty much closed. So they come up with plan B....

When some curious kid in the future asks...

"How come Shaq with 4 rings and being the most dominating player of his time, only got 1 MVP, while this small dude named Nash won 2 MVPs, without ever getting to at least the Finals, and despite playing with so many all-star teammates? Look, Dirk Nowitzky went to a Finals once, so did Kidd twice."

The biased media (looks all embarrassed) can then say...

"Well, my son, that's because Nash would have been won a ring in 2007 had it not been that cheap-shot Robert Horry."

The curious kid....

"Horry? You mean that guy with 7 rings and so many clutch shots? Why do you call him cheap shot?"

The biased media....

"Yes cheap shot. You want more evidence? He also cheap-shot David West the following season."

The kid (knowing it's just a lame excuse)....

"So it's all Horry's fault?".

The media (feeling so happy that West's injury provides a perfect coverup)....

"Absolutely."

So there you go....Horry's latest heroics is only a cheapshot if you want to excuse Nash from failing to advance to the Finals.

After the first weekend, here are my thoughts about each matchup:

1. Lakers vs Denver

Kobe Bryant is definitely the MVP. I know Gasol had a huge game and so did Lamar. But they mainly did so because Denver decided to focus their entire defensive attention on the Cape, thus allowing the Lakers' triangle offense to go totally off, and Gasol was merely the biggest beneficiary.

2. Dallas vs Hornets

Dirk Nowitzky is soft, but the Mavs are softer. How could they allow David West to totally disrespect Dirk like that? Mark Cuban, in one season, has gone from the coolest owner to the dumbest. At least Devin Harris would have stayed with CP3, unlike the helpless Kidd and the clueless Terry. And triple double in the playoff can be totally misleading & meaningless. Do you realize Kidd was only 1 rebound and 1 assist away from another triple double, but what did that get him other than a whipping from CP3.

3. Boston vs Hawks

The NBA is better off giving Boston a 1st-round bye, or replacing the Hawks with Golden State. After going 3-0, the Celtics should try to win game 4 by just playing their reserves plus Danny Ainge, with Kevin McHale making a 3rd-quarter cameo, since he was really the one who put this Celtics team together. Now that would turn the most boring 1st-round matchup EVER into something worthy of our eyes.

4. Detroit vs Sixers

Flip Saunders is quickly establishing himself as the most under-achieving coach of all times. No doubts he knows the game and knows his x's and o's, but when it comes to leading, mentally stabilizing and motivating his team, he has no peers for the bottom spot. Dumar should just coach the team himself.

5. Phoenix vs Spurs

All 7 games should be on network ABC as this series will definitely go 7. (Emperor Sterns won't allow otherwise). But neither team will win the championship ultimately. The Spurs are too old and now rely too much on Duncan. It's never a good thing when Duncan needs to score 40, and remember there gotta be a reason why they never repeat.

The Suns and Steve Nash are just cursed. I felt so sad to see Nash doing everything he could and still came up short. For the first time, I am rooting for the Suns to at least make the Finals. I don't want Nash's legacy to be the best player to never play in the Finals. And Amare is still not a 1st-tier player. I know he puts up great numbers, but does he commands an automatic double team? He is like Kobe during the Shaq era. We won't know how good he is until Nash (and now Shaq) retires.

6. Houston vs Jazz

Now people should realize how valuable Yao is to the Rockets. With him in suits, the Jazz doesn't need to double-team anyone, which means every shots the Rockets take are contested. Unfortunately, this means that T-Mac's infamous streak will continue.

And by the way, is it just me or does anybody else realize how "WHITE" the Jazz are as a team? Harpring, Korver, Okur, and AK47 can all flat-out play. Even the so-called black guys on the team, namely Boozer and Deron, are as white as black men get. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it can't be a coincidence that the whitest metropolitan area (Salf Lake City) in American has the whitest NBA team. It like the SF Giants trading for Ichiro, Matsui, Matsuzaka, and Chie-Ming Wang. (Bay Area is 30-40% Asian)

7. Orlando vs Raptors

Note to any top-5 lottery teams this year....don't fall in love with Kevin Love's skills, IQ, and fundamentals. Take someone who is bigger and more athletic. Just look at Dwight Howard. 4 years ago, he didn't know a thing about hoops other than dunking, now he is probably the most physically imposing player in the game. Players can always learn the fundamentals, but you can't teach size and physical attributes.

8. LeBron vs Le####es

Okay it's the Cavs vs Wizards. But the Wizards are the biggest joke so far in the playoff. First, they shouldn't have trash-talked to the King. Then after trash-talking, they shouldn't have allowed him to totally ####-slap them (heard of triple-team or the Jordan rule?). To make matters more laughable, then they waited until late in the 3rd quarter, after getting blown out, to take a cheap shot at Bron Bron (talk about a bit too late). Then they couldn't even cheap-shot in a correct, effective, or non-####ish way. Note to Brandon Haywood, check out what Malone did to Zeke years ago! At least you gotta make LeBron to get a few stitches after the game! You flagrant foul like a Dukie not a Tar Heel!

Okay that's it for this week!

For this past regular season, many fans and experts, including myself, have dogged Nash and his supporters for even thinking about giving Nash a 3rd MVP, in row.

Collectively, our reasoning is simple. Only superstar legends have 3 or more MVPs. Each of them defines basketball and all of them have won multiple championships and established dynasties.

Nash, on the other hand, despite of having career-redefining season after season, has not even taken a single dribble in a Finals.

One popular counter argument often used by his supporters is that MVP season is for the regular season only, and Nash's common failure in the playoff shouldn't limit him from the MVP. That is a fair argument on paper, but in reality, that's total ####.

The career of a NBA player is defined by championships and individual honors. The fact that a player can play so well in the regular seasons but fails repeatedly in the playoff is sad and unjust. You can argue all you want, but the fact still remains 3 MVPs and 0 secs in the Finals.

However, having said that, I now want to reverse my position and give the award to Steve Nash.

My reason is simple. I don't want David Stern handing that MVP trophy to a player on his early summer fishing trip.

Yes, I am talking about Dirk Nowitzky, the sharp-shooting leader of a 67-win team.

Can you even imagine if the Warriors beat the Mavs tonight or in game 6, and then in a few days when Dirk wins the MVP?

Can you imagine that awkard press conference?

******************************
Reporter: Dirk, how does it feel to be the first Mavs and first German to win the MVP?

Dirk: Well, it's nice! It's a huge honor. It means a lot to me and my teammates. I want to thank my teammates and coach. We had a fabulous season.

Reporter: So by saying that you had a fabulous season, you meant that you had a fabulous REGULAR season. Because we all know what happened when you met Baron Davis and the Warriors in the playoff.

Dirk: ..................well............

Reporter: And are you sure you really want to thank your teammates and coach? After they totally choked and offered no plan what so ever defending against Baron Davis.

Dirk: ..................arrgh...........

Reporter: Finally, can you really be that proud of yourself? Afterall, you are wearing your fishing gears, and it's only May.

Dirk: ....Hey......that's enough! If my boy Steve can win 2 MVPs without at least having the opportunity to choke against Shaq and Wade in the Finals last year, then I say I deserve this trophy, because...........

Reporter: Because of what?

Dirk: ...........Because MVP is for the regular season.........and God damn it........we won 67 games!

Reporter: But you lost to a 8th seed in the 1st round.

Dirk: .............arghhh!

*********************************
Let's just hope for the sake of basketball that either the Mavs start playing like a 67-win team or that Steve Nash wins his 3rd.

I know I know. The Lakers saved face and avoided a sweep by winning game 3. But the pathetic thing is that people already think it's a series and the Lakers can come back and perhaps beat the Suns.

Allow me to knock some sense into the naive believers. IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

The Lakers played a perfect game. Kobe had 45 pts (on only ~25 shots). Lamar had 18 pts and 16 rebounds. Everyone played hard-nose defense (even Smush). And Kwame Brown had 18 pts. We are talking about the book definition of draft bust getting 18 pts in a meaningful playoff game. That's like me having a #### with Jessica Alba and Jessica Simpson. It's unbelievable!

The Suns on the other hand had a terrible game, by their high standards. Nash didn't do much (although he did get 13 assists). Stoudamire was in foul trouble, and Marion disappeared in the second half. Raja Bell took a night off on Kobe. Other than Barbosa, nobody played well or hard at all. Even Mike D'Antoni took a night off ####ing to the refs.

And still the game was close until the final minute. If not for Kobe's fade-away to put the Lakers up by 4 with a minute left, the Lakers probably would have lost the game. Instead, they ended up winning merely by 6 pts.

The bottomline is this: The Suns can still beat the Lakers even if Nash and Stoudamire don't play another minute. The Lakers are just too bad defensively. And other than Kobe, nobody else is consistent. And Kobe cannot keep attacking the basket without getting tired and injured against Dirty Bell.

Therefore, look for the Suns to beat the #### out of the Lakers on Sunday. Kobe surprised the Suns defense by constantly taking it to the basket and not settle for jump shots. Look for Mike D'Antoni and Dirty Bell to make the proper adjustments and WWF-like throw-downs.

The Suns took the Lakers too lightly after taking a big lead early in the 1st quarter of game 3. Look for the Suns to be motivated and energized for full 48 mins.

My prediction for Sunday's game: Suns 128 Lakers 88

I apologize to all Lakers fans for showing you the truth.

I just saw the great game between the Suns and the Mavs.  What a game!  If anyone thinks it was just another regular-season game, he must be on drugs.  Both teams played extremely hard and really wanted to win.  Anyway, congratulations to the Suns.  They played very well and made a few key defensive stops in the 4th and two overtimes, including a big play in the end by Steve Nash.  Anyway, here are some of my unbiased observations:

1.  Steve Nash is the MVP.  He proved in this game that he is the better player and he does more for his team than Dirk does for his.  He made several big defensive plays and even got 8 rebounds.  Without his key 3pt at the end of regulation, the Suns would have easily lost again to their top rival.  I now think he should win that 3rd straight MVP, but I hope if he does, he better go all the way to the championship, or else he will go down as the greatest player never to play in a FINALs, not something he wants to be remembered for.

2.  Dirk is the type of player that tends to let the pressure of failing get to him at the most crucial moment.  In other words, he is the opposite of Robert Horry.  Missing that crucial FT, when he is a 91% FT shooter, just shows he can't be always be trusted.  MJ would have made those FT, Kobe would have made them, and even Shaq would have made them.  But let's not be too hard on the guy.  He had a great game, and boy can he shoot!  He has the sweetest stroke of them all!

3.  Amare Stoudamire had a huge game!  But I think his fans shouldn't be too happy.  He is clearly not the same athlete he was before the knee injury.  If you don't believe me, just take a look at Dampier's 11 offensive rebounds.  Amare simply can't jump as high as he used to and as a result, Dampier kept out-rebounding him from behind.  However, I do think overall Amare is now a better basketball player.  But he does need to develop a low post game.  He has 1 move in the post, and basically gets most of his points because of Nash's great passes.

4.  Finally, unrelated to this game, I just think the suspension on Kobe is just total ####.  I saw at least 4 elbows thrown during this game.  2 by Stoudamire, 1 by Dampier, and 1 by Raja Bell.  3 of the 4 touched the defender's face, and 1 barely missed only because the defender was quick enough to get his head out of the way.  But I bet no suspension and no fine will be issued.  In fact, if you missed the game and didn't read this blog, you probably wouldn't even know about them.  It just shows how pathetic and "targeted" Kobe's suspensions were.   

Well, this is the moment that we (Suns fans and Suns haters) all have been waiting for. The top two teams in the NBA going head-to-head without any significant injuries. For the Mavs, it's their chance to cement themselves as the favor to win the title. For the Suns, it's their chance to shut up critics like me and prove they are ready to finally give the 2-time MVP Steve Nash a long awaited trip to the FINALs.

On an individual level, it's the battle for MVP between two best friends. Most writers now favor Dirk Nowitzky over Nash, because Dallas has a better record and nobody wants to give Nash a 3rd straight MVP since others (MJ, Magic, Larry, Wilt, Moses, Russel, and Kareem) have won 34 champioships combined and Nash hasn't even taken a dribble in a FINALs. However, if Nash and the Suns totally take it to the Mavs in Dallas with Dirk having a bad game, I am sure the bias in many writers' mind will re-surface and start swinging the tide over to Nash.

Anyway, it's going to be a blast and a good indication of where the two teams stand as of now!

As for the other major news, Phil Jackson has proclaimed there is a "witch hunt" going on against Kobe Bryant. I guess in the Zen master's mind, the NBA would be stupid enough to go after its best player, the biggest attraction, the guy who sells out every game and has the top-selling jersey and the #2 shoe endorsement. Yeah, Phil, your "witch hunt" theory is as plausible as "the right-wing conspiracy" brought up by Slick Willy recently.

The bottomline is this, Kobe wanted to at least draw a foul on a last-second shot against the T-Wolves, so as a result he swung his arm sideway on a follow-through, hoping to make contact. Unfortunately with his high vertical, swinging his arm sideway during a jumpshot means an automatic elbow to an aggressive defender's head. Kobe knew it wasn't the best or the cleaniest thing to do, but since there was no specific rule in the offical rule book prohibiting such a act, Kobe decided to test the water, again.

But unfortunately for him, Jaric, being a soft European white guy, couldn't take the hit and collapsed like a little girl. The NBA then feared if they didn't do anything against Kobe, its hip-hop gangster image would worsen in the minds of middle Americans, so Stu Jackson (who got the job probably only because David Stern wanted a black man in charge of handing out suspensions to the mostly black players) decided to give Kobe an one-game suspension as a symbolic punishment.

So there is no witch hunt. Kobe is not a dirty player, instead he was just taking advantage of the rule book and the stupid blind referees. And the NBA just wanted to protect its image. Like the dress code, the NBA didn't want the average middle Americans think they are letting a #### getting away with cheap shots.

There you go!

It's time for my unbiased truthful weekly update on the NBA:

1. The Lakers are heading nowhere. Sorry J-DIZZLE and Dusty. Before Odom's injury, the Lakers looked like they would start putting things together in March for a run in the playoff. But now with his injury, Walton's absence, Kobe's fatigue and growing frustration, the Lakers would be lucky just to hold onto a playoff spot. That's the truth for all Lakers fans, your team is just not very good, and will have no chance to go deep in the playoff (unless everyone gets back healthy quick).

2. The Miami Heat is heating up. Shaq is proving that at 35, he is still the best center in the game. And he always makes his teammates better. Riley can flat out coach, and Zo and GP can still play a little. As long as Wade recovers adequately, the Heat will be right there with the Pistons. Lakers fans should be sad that Shaq can still play, and a Heat team featuring Shaq is still better than the Lakers with Kobe.

3. Forget about Phoenix, Dallas is the real deal. If everyone stays healthy, they have a shot at matching the 96 Bulls or at least get to 70 wins. At this rate, Nash is better off not winning his 3rd MVP. I am sure he doesn't want to be a 3-time consecutive MVP without ever making an appearance in a championship series. If so, he will go down as the greatest player never to play in a chamionship.

4. Having said that, I think, judgin only on this season, Nash is the definitive MVP. He is just more valuable to his team than anyone else to theirs. But that's mainly because of other Suns players' total incompetence. I think Nash's new nick name should be "Momma". Because his teammates look like a bunch of lost cry babies looking for their mothers when Nash isn't around. In other words, Nash will win his 3rd MVP because his teammates simply cannot survive on their own.

5. Watch out for San Antonio!

Listen up, fans of the Phoenix Suns, please just admit it for once. Right now the best team in the NBA is the Dallas Mavericks, period!

People, it's simple math, the Mavs have the BEST record! Duh! It's really not that hard!

Plus they have played a tougher schedule (against more West or above-500 teams) and they are 2-0 against the Suns.

Team loyalty is one thing, but BLIND team loyalty is another! The fact is that the Dallas Mavs are the better team right now, just admit it!

Now perhaps things will be different come playoff time. Look at Dwyane Wade. Before his sudden injury, the Heat were the favorite to get back to the finals, next thing you know, he is out and so are the Heat.

But one thing I want to say is that the Suns have sucked and underachieved in the past 2 playoffs, so please don't say "The Suns will totally dominate in the playoff" or "Dallas is good now, but the Suns always perform well during the playoff". The truth is that you don't know!

The bottomline is that anything can happen before now and May.

But as of now, the best team is the Dallas Mavs.

What a game by the Suns!  Although it was a road game for the Spurs (on the second of back to back), this win by the Suns was absolutely impressive!

They did almost everything right!  Nash was doing his thing, Marion contributed just enough, Diaw made key plays, Stoudamire showed he is 99% back, Barbosa was lightning fast and could really shoot the 3.

But most importantly, they defended well, even without their best perimeter defender, Raja Bell.

For the first time this season, I have to admit that the Suns are definitely for real!  Avery Johnson and Mark Cuban should be very worried!

Anyway, I still hate Mike D'Antoni and his ####y complaining face!  I am sorry!

But, congrat to all Suns fans! 

Here is my take on the possible Finals matchups of this NBA season:

1. My prediction: Mavs over Pistons in 6 (but with Josh Howards as the Finals MVP, because the Pistons decides to double-team Dirk every 4th quarter, forcing Howards to beat them, which he does).

2. Stern's dream: Lakers over Heat in 7 (with Kobe hitting the championship-winning shot over Shaq, after Wade ties it with 2 undeserved free throws; and Shaq avg only 10pt and 5rb in 25min).

3. Dusty's dream: Lakers over Cavs in 4 (with Kobe avg 40pt and shutting down LeBron totally, proving he is the real next-MJ).

4. Most exciting to the casual fans (with zero D): Suns over Wizards in 5 (Nash finally proves to his critics that he deserves 3 MVPs in row; but "Hibachi" scores 64pt in one game, a new playoff record).

5. Most boring to the casual fans (with real D): Spurs over Bulls in 6 (As always, Horry hits a game-winning shot, and Duncan wins his 4th ring, proving to people that he, not Shaq nor Kobe, is the best since MJ; and Skiles proves he is an #### by refusing to start Gordon in game 6, after Gordon single-handedly wins game 5 by scoring 50pts).

6. Most watched on TV: Rockets over Knicks in 6 (the biggest U.S. market plus 1.4 billion Chinese, cha-ching for the NBA).

7. Least watched on TV: Sonics over Hawks in 7 (despite every game being nail-biting, no one in America, including those in Atlanta and Seattle, pays any attention. Incredibly, NHL Finals becomes the highlight of June).

8. Most feel-good story: Jazz over Magic in 6 (Coach Sloan finally wins one with Stockton and Malone watching in the stands with tears; and Grant Hill proves the "Duke Curse" is over by avg 30pg and 8ast).

9. Most feel-bad story: Kings over Pacers in 6 (Artest returns and dominates his former team; and after winning game 6 and Finals MVP on the road, he goes into the stands and punches everyone in sight because he doesn't like confetti falling on his body).

10. Totally impossible: Blazers over Bobcats in 4 (Adam Morrison proves that the Blazers were right not to draft him and he is not the next Larry Bird, by avg 17pts on 32 shots with 29% FG, talk about pure stroke; and MJ makes another unsuccessful come-back in game 4).

There you go! Feel free to disagree!

A recent hot debate here is the question of who is the MVP. It's actually stupid to ask because we are only half-way through the season, but the three top candidates are nonetheless Nash, Kobe, and Dirk, with the majority of people favoring one of the first two.

I am not here to debate people about who should be the MVP. I don't want to hear about stats or reasons like "Nash makes his teammates better", "Dirk is the best player on the best team", or "Kobe is carrying the Lakers on his back without Lamar".

The main point of this blog is not to debate the question, but to point out a key fact for all Suns-Nash lovers:

Do you really want Steve Nash to win a 3rd straight MVP? Do you even know what does that mean for Nash and his legacy? Have you thought about the phrase, "be careful of what you wish for"?

If Nash wins a 3rd MVP, he will join the ranks of Wilt, Kareem, Russell, Magic, Larry, Oscar, and MJ. Those names are the NBA! They are the legends that will live forever in the hearts of all basketball fans around the world. Does Nash really belong in that group?

It's like your fat ugly sister walking the runways during the Victoria's Secrets fashion show. For the sake of her face and dignity, you should never allow that to happen.

More importantly, what if Nash (at age 33) doesn't go on to win a championship or even play in the Finals this year and the next two years? That is very possible, considering the West is full contenders like the Mavs (deeper, younger, and more talented), Spurs (more experienced and way better defense), and Lakers (so much younger and much better coached).

What about the Jazz and Rockets? What about the Heat, Cavs, Magic, and Pistons? There are too many good teams out there!

Do you really want Nash's legacy to become a 3-time MVP who's never played in the Finals?

Remember how sad it was for Barkely in 93 or Malone in 97 (winning the MVP but not the championship)? But at least they had a great excuse called "losing in the Finals to MJ".

I know you will say that the MVP is a regular-season award. That's true, but the winner has always been expected to justify his award by delivering in the playoff. He needs to show the whole world that his game is not just made for the regular season, it's made for the games that actually count!

In a perfect world, Nash wins a 3rd MVP, and the Suns win the championship this and next year. Steve then retires as the best point guard since Magic. But we don't live a perfect world.

In this realistic world, Nash can win a 3rd MVP, but the Suns can lose to the Mavs in the West final. And when that happens, Steve Nash will go down as the biggest "playoff choker" in the history of the game. And that, my friends (Suns fans), is not something you want for the great Steve Nash, who I really like and cheer for.

Lastly, I will leave you with this thought: A Steve Nash with 2 MVPs and 0 ring is better than a Steve Nash with 3 and 0.

Think about it!

So many scenarios have been proposed, so many possibilities have been mentioned, but still the incompetent Billy King hasn't finalize anything yet. Who knows when this sweepstake will be over? Perhaps as soon as I finish this blog, or perhaps not until 2007. At this point, everyone is probably clueless!

My main point is that I sincerely hope that everyone (Sixers, the trading team(s), AI, and most importantly the NBA) will come out of this as a winner, or at least not as a loser.

Thus I think it's imperative that AI goes to a contender, not just a pretender like the Cavs, but a real legimate one.

Yes, a trade to the T-Wolves will save pro-basketball in the land of a 1000 lakes, but KG plus AI minus a good coach and supporting cast doesn't equal a championship. The same goes for Carmelo and AI, Brand and AI, Artest and AI, or O'Neal (the non-fat one) and AI.

A trade to the Celtics will probably extend the overrated Danny Ainge's unjustified job security to 2025, but it will only make the Celtics a real playoff team, not just a default one in a pathetic division. The same can be said about a trade to the Knicks, although it will not have any effect on Isiah's (insert your own adjective) job security.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that none of the main suspects in this mythical trade talk excites me that much. So even though I know one of them will probably end up with AI, I sincerely hope some other teams can be that shiny dark horse

For me, only these 4 cases turn me on:

1) The Mavs give up Devin Harris and Jason Terry for AI. The Sixers give up a 31-year old guard for two talented younger ones. The Mavs get a go-to guy when the games are on the line, in case cold-feet Dirk chokes again. At the very least, Dallas gets a guy who can get as many calls from the refs as Wade. As for AI, he gets as close to title as possible. And for the NBA, a marque team needs a marque player to hike up TV rating.

2) The Suns give up Boris Diaw for AI. The Sixers get a young versatile big man to build their team around. Although the Suns give up a valuable guy like Diaw, with Amare's re-emergence, they should be fine. Plus you have to sacrifice something valuable to get something good, that's life, there is no free meal. As for AI, he gets close to a title and gets to play with Nash. Now, the Suns will probably become too small, and a Nash-AI backcourt will not work defensively. But they play small ball anyway, and it's not like they actually have a defense plan to be ruined.

3) The Spurs give up Tony Parker for AI. The Sixers give up a 31-year old guard for a 24-year one. Plus they will add Eva as their #1 audience, that alone should sell 100 extra season tickets. How much would you paid to sit next to her for 42 nights? The Spurs might forfeit their future, but at least they add a little street credit and can start scheduling their championship parade now. As for AI, he will get to hold that trophy, guranteed! Most importantly, for the NBA, the TV rating will actually be respectable when the Spurs play the Pistons in final this year.

4) The Heat give up whatever (except Wade and Shaq) the Sixers want, including Pat Riley as the coach. The Sixers will get a HOF coach and a few big expiring contracts. The Heat will be the most entertaining show in sports and avg 40 points just on free throws.

The hottest team right now in the NBA is the Phoneix Suns.  They have won 11 straight, and Amare is getting back to full strength.  They are now 1 of the 5 favorites to win it all this year, and in the eyes of the biased media, they are the favorite.

But are they for real?  I hate to be the spoiler, but let's dissect their record so far.

Of their 14 wins, only 4 came against winning teams: Rockets, Magic, Clippers, and Hornets (with the Clippers and Hornets both being 10-10).

And all of their 6 losses also came against winning teams: Lakers, Jazz (twice), Spurs, Mavs, and Clippers.

So basically, they have struggled against the top teams, while beating the #### out of the bad ones.

I've always been a fan of Steve Nash, and he is just having another MVP season.  But hopefully, he won't win it again this year, because 3-time (3 straight) MVP status is reserved only for the legends (MJ, Bird, etc), and Nash has never even made it to the finals.

Even with Amare's re-emergence, I highly doubt that the Suns, with their lack of defense, can ever win a championship.

The problem with their defense is not a lack of good defensive players (although Nash absolutely plays no D at all, he is like a QB in basketball, plays only half of the game).  The problem is their attitude and system.

They have a coach who after a 161-157 win said "That's the best game we've played so far".  You gave up 157 pts and that's the best game?

Anyway, the season is still young, and perhaps the Suns will eventually figure out that they need to defend to win the title.

   

All NBA junkies think they know the formula for success. But do we really?

Okay, here is a test for everybody!

It's easy to build a champion if you get the best players, what if you don't? What if you don't get any stars? Can you still find success?

So list a 9-man rotation that you think would have a good chance to hold the trophy.

It's your fantasy, so you can have any player you want, except you CANNOT choose anyone who:

1) has already won a championship
2) makes max salary or close to it
3) has won MVP or the Defensive POY
4) has been to more than one all-star game
5) has won scoring, rebound, or assist title
6) has his own shoes
7) plays for TEAM USA (anyone of the 24 chosen)
8) has only been in the league less than 3 years

Okay, here is my team

Starters:
PG: Mike Bibby
SG: Cuttino Mobley
SF: Josh Howard
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Samuel Dalembert

Bench:
G: Ben Gordon
G: Desmond Mason
F: David West
F: Drew Gooden

Okay, you turn!

KO IS DONE!