Let's Get it On.

We're finally here. A fortnight ago, us basketball fans set out on a quest to watch the 

royal rumble for the highest honor in non-professional basketball. We filled out our brackets, laid our bets, knowing we'd be witnessing the enthralling Madness that goes down every year, but unsure of how it would play out. Two weeks and a few complete days' worth of basketball later, it's time for what's left of the NCAA bracket to duke it out for the national crown; the Final Four march into Detroit next weekend. 

Along the way we've seen it all: stunning upsets, thrilling conclusions, thorough blow-outs, moments of truth, of glory, of defeat and agony. We've witnessed highlight reel dunks and brutal rejections, sick dishes and disgusting turnovers, heroic game-winning shots from all over the court. We've seen a point guard shake off an injury to dominantly lead his team to the Final Four, a team remain focused through off-court allegations against their program and stay alive, a perennial powerhouse overcome the nation's overall #1 seed to fight for the crown in their own backyard. And we've learned that the side of the backboard's about the only thing that can get in Blake Griffin's way.

What's left are a quartet of top-3 squads that faced some tough competition and showed that they could live up to the expectations of a high seed. Villanova's been riding the momentum of their blowouts over Duke and UCLA, and played like the better team against a Pitt squad that, despite its #1 status, looked like the wackest team left in the Elite 8. Their last-second heroics from Scottie Reynolds may have been the clutchest play of the Tourney, and they might need more from him against UNC when Dante Cunningham goes up against the same double-team that just slayed the Griffin the Terrible. 

UConn meanwhile looks as thorough as a team could be, obliterating their early opposition and grinding out relatively close games over Purdue and Missouri. What's impressive is their ability to ignore a looming recruiting scandal (something about a text message. big deal), even winning a game by 60,000 without their coach, showing why they don't need to cheat to attract the country's best young players. Thabeet's been as good as advertised; dominating the glass, altering shots he doesn't block, and benefitting from the sudden defensive presence of Stanley Robinson. Jeff Adrien and AJ Price have been a dangerous scoring combo, and even on a star-studded roster, it was freshman Kemba Walker who stepped up and absolutely ate Missouri, leading UConn to the Elite 8 win. They'll need him to stay aggressive against a potent Michigan State D that will be playing in front of a home crowd of 70, 000.

The local support almost seems unfair, seeing as the Spartans just knocked off what was considered the best team in tournament in a comfortable victory, after coming from behind against the defending champs. Their newfound health, especially in the case of Goran Suton has been the difference-maker for them. Suton's excellence in the past two rounds cannot be overstated; he's scored from inside and out, worked the glass, passed remarkably well for a player his size and held Lousiville's imposing front line in check on D. Kalin Lucas has been a steady hand at the point, providing a scoring punch when needed and Travis Walton's defense will be welcomed against Price and Walker. They're playing like a #1 seed, have a brilliant coach and legions of hometown fans, they'll be a tough draw. But as impressive as all of these teams have been, I don't think they're going to win.

UNC's been dominant; Ty Lawson's return provided a consistent boost for an attack that's been getting balanced contributions, every night it's a different guy stepping up for them on offense. Their D's been stunningly good for a team that plays a high-octane game; against Oklahoma they did an excellent job of doubling Blake Griffin anywhere and rotating to close out on the shooters off the pass out, shutting down a team that had just abused Syracuse from the outside. Their balance and depth bodes well for them heading into next weekend; too many guys have been stepping up for them, chances are they'll play accordingly with the 'ship in their sights. Guys like Hansbrough and Green who passed up the L to win a national title have come this close and you can count on the former POY to be the hungriest guy on the court against anyone. 

Regardless of how the action plays out next weekend, it'd better be a fitting conclusion to the drama thus far. Nothing's worse than anticlimax and the bar's been set pretty high for a rivetng Final Four. I'm still rooting for UConn to win it like I called it and redeem my shattered bracket, but the only reason I didn't go with UNC was Lawson's injury concern, but having him back to his dominant self, and the rest of the team firing on all cylinders and supremely motivated, it's tough to see them losing, but it's the NCAA Tournament here; anything can happen. Regardless of who it is, may the best team win. 

The Best Sideshow on the Planet

Like most of you I'm sure, the final leg of the NBA's marathon season's taken a back seat on my TV for a little Madness; the annual open season for wanton basketball and reckless gambling. My roomates and I spent most of the past weekend several blunts deep, multi-screening the tournaments' several games, soaking up as much action as possible, and over the course have endured many a comparison to the NBA game and the ensuing raging argument over which is better.

"There's no team play in the NBA!"

"That's 'cause college players have no skills!"

"Well every game counts! More action!"

"That's 'cause college players aren't fit as many games!"

...aaand on it goes. At least something along those lines. It's a never-ending argument because there are so many fundamental differences between the NCAA and the Association; not only the playoff structure, but the nature of the game in general. There's an endless arsenal of legitimate reasons to side with either, and everybody's got an opinion this time of year. It never stops. So while I'm stuck watching to this year's bracket unfold over constant back-and-forth banter, I might as well speak my mind on why, despite the Tournament's exhilarating sudden-death showdowns, it can't compare to the NBA playoffs.

Not to hate on the college game.  Sure the players aren't as skilled. Not only is that to be expected, it promotes a team game; one that relies more heavily on cohesive execution than individual dominance. It's a purer breed of basketball; one with more ball movement and less ego-driven play that dudes like Jay Bilas still swear by. These kids are doing it for the love of the game, getting pimped by the NCAA on a national plateau while they're playing for pride, not a paycheck. It's all about bringing that glory back to campus. The scene at a good university game's pandemonium, even through a TV screen you can feel the intensity of on army of 30, 000 piss-loaded underclassmen decked in school colors and screaming like Dick Vitale on energy pills. Even better than the game itself its playoff bracket; a 64-squad battle royale that forces teams to play their best ball with little room for error over what might be the most intense two weeks on the basketball calendar. You can't have an off night, be over-worked or outsmarted, or you're going home. 

The NBA Playoffs are more a more drawn-out, lasting sense of enjoyment; a smooth Stella to the NCAA's shot of Wild Turkey. Don't get me wrong, there's an undeniable appeal to the rush of following ten games in a day, knowing each one means everything; having so much basketball to take in at once... But the NBA Playoffs are a better high; one that lasts two months and gives you the time to truly enjoy it. Not only does a seven-game series allow for teams to develop compelling rivalries that make the games infinitely more engaging but we're not bombarded with too many games to truly sit back and take it all in. It finishes with the ultimate battle for basketball's ultimate prize between its two best teams. As exciting as the Final Four is, the prestige of the NBA Finals is unsurpassed.  

And more fundamentally, the NBA features the best players on the planet; the guys who truly dominated the college game and a few of the dudes who were too good for it (...and Eddy Curry). By default, it's a better game; the cream of the college crop who, in most cases, only continue to improve through experience and NBA-level fitness. This produces a more polished product, more captivating performances, more epic duels and longer highlight reels. Its just more simply more exciting. 

While I'm admittedly more partial to the pro game, the NCAA Tournament gives me a much needed shot in the arm every March. It's a refreshing breather from the grind of the NBA's 8-month odyssey, a game devoid of the glamour and glitz, but never short on stunning upsets and thrilling conclusions. I'd be a fool not to appreciate the bracket's battles; I'm enjoying the action as much as anyone. But I'm still waiting on April for my real payoff fix.

This and That

Some random thoughts from what's been going on in the League the past little while:

- There hasn't been enough Raptors hate lately, so let me take this opportunity to rip into a soft, passive team that would be aptly called the Brontosaurs. Their "franchise" player's been playing with the tentativeness of a rookie, not a four-time All-Star. Their point guard, a model of offensive efficiency, underlines this team's wide-spread defensive shortcomings. Their bench is America's Next Top Model thin. They've been getting blown out by shitty team after shitty team en route to walking punchline status and more than their share of lottery balls. The only positives the team can take away from this season are the emergence of Andrea Bargnani as a lethal scoring threat and that their washed-up, overpaid big-name acquisition will come off the books this year as opposed to next. That should do little to quell the reality that they'll finish the season 7-10 spots lower than they should've in the East this season... At least there's always next year (to again insult expectations)

- Meanwhile, across the Mississippi, much more exciting things are going down. 4.5 games separate seeds 2-8 in the West, setting up a scramble for seedings that will be every bit as contested as last year. While the Lakers have been running away with the conference all year, there's been plenty of impressive play from the teams nipping at their heels. San Antonio was rescued from early injuries by stellar reserve play and, now at full health, hold the safest lead on their second seed while Houston has somehow defied T-Mac's inevitable collapse with their best season in recent memory. Utah has to be that "team nobody wants to play" now that they're back at full strength and looking even better than they did at this time last year. Even sleepers like New Orleans and Portland, that nobody's really talking about come playoff time, could sting a higher seed in the opening round; the disparity in talent between these teams is so small that anything could happen. We're being set up for another killer Western playoffs, hopefully this time it happens.

- Somewhere on the set of The Price is Right, Drew Carey's pleasuring himself to the highlights from last night's Cleveland/Orlando showdown. Anyone who still doesn't think Lebron James should win the MVP is politely asked to remove Dwyane Wade/Kobe Bryant's nuts from their throat.

- In completely un-related news, Rockets forward Carl Landry was shot in the leg last night. Apparently Landry, who's won much praise in Houston for his energetic and ridiculously efficient play, was sidewiped in his SUV while on a late-night munchies run. After pulling a U-turn, he got out of his car to investigate the damage, when two dudes from the perpetrating car rolled on him fired two shots, one of which Landry took in the leg. He took off, somehow still outrunning the gunmen with a slug in his stride. The motive of this bizarre incident is still unknown, but luckily Landry was alright; treated and released for a flesh wound, he'll be back in the Rockets' lineup inside a month. Let's hope this is the last we hear of this business.

- Scott Skiles was always a master at alienating his younger players in Chicago, his tough-love, old-school attitude wore thin with many players who found him intense, constricting and intolerant on and off the court. So imagine the fireworks that went off in his head when he discovered that Charlie Villanueva had posted on Twitter from his phone during halftime of the Bucks' recent win over the Celtics. How dare he? The NERVE! Forget that he scored a team-high 19 in a huge win for a team fighting for its playoff life, he was publicly called-out and Skiles banished the evil Twitter from his locker room. Actually. This really happened. If Skiles still has a job this time next year I'll rock a fu-manchu 'til he's fired.

- And finally, a funny story from a buddy of mine who was at the Lakers blowout win over the T-Wolves a few weeks back. It was late in the fourth quarter of a long-decided game when reserve center DJ Mbenga, sopping up garbage minutes like a Sham-Wow, was sent to the line for two. The Staples crowd broke into the "MVP! MVP MVP!" chorus usually reserved for Kobe, to which Mbenga (who, for the record is averaging 3/1.5 in 12 appearances this season) horrendously bricked both shots.

Hope everyone's got their brackets stacked; the Madness starts tomorrow. Enjoy the action.

Road to Redemption: Dal Wins AUS Crown

This past weekend was a big one for the East Coast basketball scene; before March gets caught up in the Madness, Halifax plays host to the AUS Final 6. For a while we'd been hosting the CIS Final 8 (Canada's Final Four if ya didn't know) the following weekend, but the national title bout recently and temporarily relocated to Ottawa, meaning unless you're one of the 48 Rainmen fans out there, this was the marquee weekend for Hoops in Halifax. It promised to be competitive; the league-leading St. FX X-Men were crippled by the unfortunate suspensions of their leading scorer and key reserves, leaving the window open for the other five squads to capitalize.

The opening rounds were a steady mix of exciting basketball and personal disappointment. While my SMU Huskies were peaced by fuckin' PEI to open the weekend, the late game between Dalhousie and Acadia featured a back-and-forth tempo, thrilling conclusion and impressive scoring duel between swingmen Simon Farine and Casey Fox. In the end, it was Farine's 45 that spelled the difference as his endless barrage of contested drives and 20-foot bombs carried his team to the second round. The next night brought two new teams into the foray: St. FX and Cape Breton had earned byes for holding down the top two seeds, with X clearly eager to prove they were still the team to beat, ruining UPEI by 29. The second game played a much different tune; a one-point win by Dal that would set them up for their first title game in over a decade.

For the first time, the Final was played on a Saturday night (as opposed to Sunday afternoon), the marquee timeslot bringing in a noticeably more enthusiastic (intoxicated) crowd, excited for what was sure to be a compelling battle between a team seeking to salvage its season, and one seeking to salvage its reputation. The atmosphere was vibrant, but the game itself failed to deliver on the hype. The first half was a shitstorm of poor ball movement and abysmal shooting. Dal was persistent at smothering league MVP Christian Upshaw whenever he attacked the rim, and without All-Star Tyler Richards' shooting to punish the collapsed D, it was an effective strategy. Both teams barely cleared 30% from the field over the opening 20, leaving the score knotted at 27 at the half.

The second half opened with a game-defining run by Dal, or more specifically sophomore guard Josh Beattie, who dropped 17 of his 27 points in the first 4 minutes to lift the Tigers to a double-digit lead that X would never recover from. The closest they came was six the rest of the way as Dal cruised relatively comfortably to their first AUS title since '96 and a slot in the national playoffs, leaving X to sweat the wild card committee and wonder what might've been. Farine's early round heroics netted him Tournament MVP honors while Beattie's second-half rampage easily earned him Finals MVP. Despite the Final's flat tempo, it was very well attended, punctuating a successful (and apparently profitable) weekend that bodes well for basketball in Halifax. As the national finals await their imminent return to the Metro Centre, it's encouraging that fans still turned out in droves for a more familiar but less prestigious event. But staying with the present, the CIS Finals await X and Dal next weekend in Ottawa; here's hoping they rep the East Coast as well as Acadia did last year, all the best to both teams.

The Week that Was

So I've been a little lazy lately about posting anything; not that there hasn't been plenty to discuss around the League this week but I've spent almost every waking hour of the past ten days either working, drinking or gambling, leaving school and (more importantly) Basketball Banter seriously neglected. I'd like to offer sincere apologies to all three of you that read my blog; I've been irresponsible and you deserve better. With that out of the way, here's some thoughts on what's happening around the NBA:

- After the trade deadline passed without anything monumental happening, the focus now turns to free agents and recently-released veterans who can fill voids on contending teams. Boston traded in Sam Cassell and PJ Brown for Starbury and Mikki Moore, hoping their other players have gained the experience they gave up in the process. The Spurs added Drew Gooden after he was bought out by Sacramento, a move which I could see working because it's the Spurs and they find a way to work anyone into their system, even a guy who plays basketball as incoherently as my man Drew. The Cavs signed Joe Smith, who will provide the vetern savvy and solid D they'll miss while Big Ben's broken leg heals. The Lakers meanwhile, having recently dumped two rotation players for a few cans of baked beans and Adam Morrison's old wig, are nonchalantly doing nothing.

- Meanwhile, at the bottom of the standings, the race for Blake Griffin heats up as Memphis has lost 8 in a row to plummet within 3 games of the lowly Kings. Hot on their heels after losing Al Jefferson for the season are the T-Wolves, who've dropped seven straight and are making the race for last out West as compelling as the race for second. Out East, Washington continues to hold down the basement despite Toronto's best efforts. Will the Grizzlies continue to slide like the Dow Jones? Does Minnesota have enough time left to catch up with the rest of the lottery hopefuls? Can Sacramento win a single game against an Eastern opponent this year? Stay tuned folks...

- The Nuggets recently suspended Carmelo Anthony for being Carmelo Anthony; he was barred from their recent loss to Detroit after refusing to exit the pervious game during a fourth-quarter timeout. As talented as Melo is, he's gotta grow the fuck up. Dude, realize that you're a professional athlete and heavily marketed celebrity. Every little fuck up you have (and between this, the bar fight, the DUI, the "accidental" weed bust, the sucker-punch and the street gang DVD cameo, they're becoming quite numerous) is going to be scrutinized by a jaded mass media; each mishap building upon the rest and making your reputation more irreparable. You've finally got a team you can accomplish something of note with, so get your head in game, and get out of it if your coach says to.

- Detroit was able to recently end their 8-game skid, their return to respectability co-inciding with Allen Iverson's recent injury. Hate to say it but at this point I think it's going to be extremely hard for AI to win a title. His style of offense too often leaves four guys standing around, which isn't going to fly on any team competent enough to compete for a title. Really, his best-case scenario was the Sixers team he dragged to the Finals; he was their only remotely dangerous scorer so it was legit for him to jack 30 shots every game and keep the likes of Tyrone Hill and Eric Snow uninvolved. Everybody else played tough D and did all the dirty work that defined their squad...and to say they were arguably the worst Finals team ever is entirely legitimate. As incredible as Iverson's career has been, it's growing increasingly clear that he's just not a winner.

- Shaq was on fire this week, dropping 33 on the Lakers in a big-time win for the Suns (minus their two best players) after murdering the Raptors for 45 (on 20-25). His words echoed as loud as his play, ripping into Stan Van Gundy, drawing the open ire of Superman heir Dwight Howard and dropping the "RuPaul" tag on Chris Bosh. Legendary. If the League doesn't give him Player of the Month honors I'm filing a formal complaint.

- Speaking of on fire; ladies and gentlemen, Dwyane Wade. Wow. He's delivered on so many levels, providing scoring, ballhandling, distributing and All-League D to a team that wouldn't win ten games without him. In my books he's MVP-worthy but anyone trying to say he should get the award after Lebron was snubbed the past two years is a Wade-jocking hypocrite. I think the voting panel puts way too much clout in a team's final record, but in staying consistent with a system that saw the Mavs win Dirk an MVP, Wade can't really hold much contention.

- And finally, surprising nobody, Greg Oden's on the chilling list again. The often-hobbled Blazers big man will miss another week while recovering from a chipped kneecap, his latest setback suffered during a fall while attempting to board the team bus.

I'll be back in next few days with some stuff from the League and thoughts from the AUS Playoffs. Until then, peace.

End of an Odyssey

Well it's finally over. After numerous on-court outbursts, media-chanelled arguments, fines, suspensions, banishings and fatalities, the New York Knicks have reached a buyout agreement with Stephon Marbury, ending one of the most bitter relationships in sports. Although all us hoop heads have been kept thoroughly entertained these past few seasons by the ongoing beef between Starbury and his wayward employers, the whole saga was getting kind of stale. What began as arguments with coaching staff over philosophical differences escalated to public fallouts with teammates, an eventual dismissal from the lineup and painful buyout negotiations. Things always appeared to have hit rock bottom, only to have things grow more sour. It was amusing but at the same time depressing; here was Coney Island's savoir, a guy who used to be one of the best PGs in the League, returning to his hometown only to run his career into a brick wall and waste away his talent in designer threads on New York's bench. His own stubborn insistence on being bought out at 100% made it difficult for the Knicks to part with him, keeping a maligned, but insanely talented player off the court.

Whether he got paid in full or not, Marbury has agreed to part ways with the Knicks just days before the March 1st deadline that will allow him to sign with another team for the postseason. The talk around the league from sources close to both parties is that his signing with the Boston Celtics is imminent, which will re-unite the Showbiz and KG duo that seemed destined to rule the West in the late 90's. You know how the rest went. Apparently, Minny wasn't big enough for the two young stars and Marbury demanded a move closer to home. He arrived in New Jersey where he established himself as an All-League talent but began a steady descent into mediocrity and beyond, his teams always underachieved, his abilities as a leader were doubted. His slide culminated in the New York disaster, which may have crippled his career beyond repair. Who knows if he's even the same player that put up mediocre numbers on a shitty team a few years ago.

You all know how Garnett's story goes too; spent years trying to drag the Wolves out of the first round, becoming one of the league's most endearing and revered players (no to mention one of its best), before finally being dealt to a competitive team and gripping the Larry O as soon as it was within reach. His apparently imminent reunion with Marbury would bring full circle a duo that has gone in perfectly contrasting directions since splitting up, and bring Stephon into an environment unlike any he's experienced. Here he'll be asked to do for the team and not for self; play 5-man basketball, put his body on the line and get stats out of mind, concepts which hopefully are not beyond his grasp after numerous dysfunctions and dismissals have marred his career.

...and so Stephon finds himself back under Garnett's shadow, desperately seeking to contribute to a title defense. Hopefully by now he understands the point that he's had to learn harder than Kobe, T-Mac and Vince: being the man comes with a price. Marbury paid with laboring through the prime of his career in the Lottery, and more recently in a basketball-less abyss. Hopefully he's taken a page from KG's book, better yet read the whole thing a few times and adopted his philosophy because if Starbury's anywhere near the player he used to be he could mean the World to th Celtics...then again if he's the person he used to be he could seriously fuck things up.

In the Right Corner...

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet your Contenders. The NBA regular season's now somehow two thirds over. Teams league-wide are making final tweakings for a playoff push, some for a deep run into May and June. These are the League's elite, the ones who can hope to be raising the Larry O in June. With the postseason picture starting to take shape, here's a look at the Top 10 teams who could be last ones standing:

10. Houston Rockets
This is kind of a stretch. They're seriously deficient in the size, depth and (most notably) durability they'll need for a deep playoff run, but the balance the T-Mac's absence will bring to this roster will benefit them. When they don't have their best swingman playing like a mutant and ruining offensive flow, the Rockets are a coheisve team. They have the conference's best center, a maniac who can lock down anyone he faces, and an energetic supporting cast that although young and naive in the ways of the postseason, could take some teams by surprise.

9. New Orleans Hornets
Although they improved their roster and are (somehow) getting a better season out of Chris Paul, New Orleans hasn't made the bold claim for West supremacy everyone had anticipated. Instead they've swayed back and forth between brilliance and mediocrity, the recent Tyson Chandler trade fiasco certain to only add confusion to an already blurry season. That being said, counting Chris Paul out is never a good idea. His playoff debut was one of the most impressive ever, and after an epic bout with the Spurs, his team's had a taste of playoff battle and added Champion Journeyman James Posey; they should be better prepared this time around.

8. Portland Trailblazers
Another longshot, but I've gotta start this list with somebody. The Blazers are simply just ahead of their time; they've got all the right pieces for a title run, they'll need a few years before they ripen though. The fact that they're even in this conversation as one of the league's rawest teams should be enough satisfaction, and things are only bound to get better as Brandon Roy emerges as one of the league's best young players, Travis Outlaw's game continues to catch up with his freakish athleticism, Lamarcus Aldridge becomes more comfortable on the low block and Greg Oden (possibly) morphs into Patrick Ewing. This postseason will be a test of how ready they really are, but they've made a habit of exceeding expectations.

7. Orlando Magic
Just when they were looking like dangerous threat, riding the momentum of 4 straight W's over division leaders, Jameer Nelson goes down and brings Orlando back down to Earth. Getting Rafer Alston should help clot the bleeding but Nelson was vital to this team and their hopes of winning the East might hinge on healthy return, which looks shaky at this point. Oralndo's problem has always been peaking too early; bolting out of the gate them losing steam as the season winds down. They're plenty talented but against the likes of Boston or Cleveland in the second round, what's left of the Magic will have to dig real deep to stay alive.

6. Denver Nuggets
Maybe the most unlikely team on this list, the Nugs have held down a top-3 seed in the West through the absence of their most talented player. Now that Melo's returned, he fortifies a team that's now quarterbacked by a proven playoff vet (and former Finals MVP), who's instilled a winning attitude in Denver. They've improved defensively and play a game much more suited to the playoff grind; though still longshots to capture the title, they'll be a feared opponent that will probably win at least one series and begin building upon the foundations of mediocrity that have been long entrenched in the Mile High City.

5. Utah Jazz
Currently seeded 8th out West, the Jazz's talent belies their current record. They've stayed in the playoff hunt through extended absences of their two best players and 6th man; a testament to their talent and toughness. Their stars fell but their role players rose up to fill the void; Paul Millsap was almost an All-Star, CJ Miles became and athletic scoring threat and Ronnie Brewer continues to operate as one of the league's most underrated players. Now that Carlos Boozer is finally healthy again, Utah will have some time to gel before the playoffs begin and really assert themselves for the first time all season. We don't know what to expect yet, but trust that Jerry Sloan has some high expectations for this squad and should get them to perform as such.

4. San Antonio Spurs
Father Time seems to be catching up to the Spurs, who've looked more weathered this past year than ever. They lost several key veterans and have seen two of their big three on the chilling list for longer than they'd like. But as the Spurs usually do, they've found ways to win. Tim Duncan has been fundamentally brilliant and new additions like Roger Mason, Matt Bonner and rookie George Hill have filled gaps left in the rotation by departures and injuries. The Spurs are thus, not surprisingly, 2nd in the West and have been knocking off top contenders with the same cold, calculated efficiency of their glory days. They perenially peak for the postseason run after their February Rodeo Road Trip, which is bad news for Spurs Haters who can expect the best is yet to come from San Antonio. Their bench may be younger and shallower than in the past, but they've proven effective and are led by three of the most experienced playoff performers in the league. Nobody wants to play them, nobody should bet against them...unless they're playing one of these three teams:

3. Boston Celtics
KG's lingering kneww problem that's forced him to the sideline is a dark cloud hanging over the defending champs. While they've continued winning in his absence, without a healthy Garnett this team can book cruises and tee times for June. But once KG returns, they'll still have a month to work him back in before the playoffs begin and not many flaws to work out. The Celtics' defensive chokehold has looked as potent as last year and Rajon Rondo's emergence as a 4th gun on offense will give them a much needed boost in the postseason if Allen and Pierce have cold spells like they did against Atlanta and Cleveland last spring. They look set for another charge to the Finals, but I can't help but feel like it won't happen. For one, there was that spell back in January where they played like the bastard offspring of the Charlotte Bobcats and Washington Generals. Then there was that 18-point ass-whupping Cleveland put on them without Big Z, in what the Celts knew was a statement game. Then there's the intangible factor; the knowledge that yeah, they're the defending champs and have the winning experience they all lacked last year, but KG Ray and Paul got their rings after an endless odyssey and the rest of the team knows that consequently Garnett's much less likely to physically assault them. Complacent? No that's not these guys, but they'll be hard pressed to be as hungry this postseason.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Not only will KG's injury worry the Celts but will probably lose them the homecourt race to the Cavs, who are now back at full strength for the first time since the New Year and have seldom slipped all season. They seem destined for another playoff battle with Boston (this time for the East crown), and one has to think they'll have the edge. Cleveland took a newly fashioned roster into the playoffs last year, played some of their worst basketball possible and still took Boston to the 4th quarter of Game 7 before bowing out. This year their players are more familiar with each other and the addition of Mo Williams has worked wonders for their offensive potency. When you factor in #23's annual playoff retardedness, the aforementioned homecourt edge and the Cavs' (read: Lebron James') hunger for revenge, it's hard not to be optimistic about their chances for a return to the Finals, where they'd almost certainly play the only team to beat them at home this season:

1. Los Angeles Lakers
So Andrew Bynum's injured again. So what. That didn't stop Los Angeles from completely ruining the Western Conference before being swept up in a tidal wave of Celtic Pride last June. This season, the Lakers have looked even better, running away with the West and winning their big games. Kobe's adopted a more methodical form of brilliance and Pau Gasol has played his second fiddle brilliantly while Lamar Odom's adapted well to his supporting role. Their Bench Mob has continued its brilliance and even after shedding Vlad Rad and Chris Mihm to cut costs, they're probably still the League's deepest team. Bynum's absence wil hurt them most in the slow, physical grind of the playoffs but by the time LA faces a team that's really fucking with them, he'll likely be back close to 100%, and if he is, then it might be too late for anyone to stop them.

It's Been a Long Time/I Shouldnt've Left You...

What's up? I've been on the road for most of this week and haven't gotten a chance to put anything up here in a while; bad timing I know, this being one of the busiest times of the year in the NBA and whatnot, but I'm putting this up on a buddy's computer in Sackville, New Brunswick; the first time I've had internet since Sunday. So don't say I'm not trying here. With so much going on in the league right now, I figured I'd just post some random thoughts about the All-Star festivities, impeding trade deadline, and whatever else works. Enjoy:

- The All- Star Game was good fun as always; gotta love to see the league force the Kobe/Shaq co-MVP on us. As a die-hard fan I'm tired of these attempts to publicize a "feud" that, if it weren't for the league's publicity machine (and Shaq's subsequent attempts to fuel it), would've died a long time ago. Still, it's good to know these two can still join forces and win basketball games, even if they don't mean anything. Personally, I think Shaq had the MVP locked since his intro with the Jabawockeez (or however the hell they spell it). It was also nice that Mo Williams finally got the injury nod and received some recognition for the huge difference he's made in Cleveland this year; if Orlando got a requisite third All-Star based on their record, didn't it seem odd that the All-Star coach's squad only had one?

- The Dunk Contest kinda disappointed me; I was glad Dwight finally got to dunk on the 12-foot net (am I the only one who thinks he could've gone higher?), and it was cool to see Nate jump over a 7-footer (even if he did vault himself, just getting that high for 5'9" guy is 50-worthy), but fuck...I can't help but feel like the contest has become a gimmick. Dwight's phonebooth intro was hilarious when I first saw it, but in retrospect (especially after seeing Nate don his kryptonite outfit), it's getting a little out of hand. By the time the finals rolled around I felt like I was watching the Super Dave show or something...And the Commish needs to re-tweak the rules...2 minutes to get a dunk down and then 2 more attempts? I thought they learned their lesson a few years ago when the Birdman couldn't take flight. And don't force players to include a second man on their dunks. That's fucking stupid.

- Lebron in the dunk contest next year? Say it ain't so. Let's all pray he doesn't wuss out and other stars follow his lead; this could be the start of something huge.

- Word to Daequan Cook.

- And Kevin Durant....wow. Is anybody still claiming him and Oden have anything within the realm of a rivalry?

- Back in the real World, the Hornets had an awkward situation on their hands when Tyson Chandler, a recent victim of their cap-clearing efforts, failed his physical and was denied entry to Oklahoma City. Tyson now rejoins a team that tried to cut him loose, sending him to the Thunder of all teams, knowing that the top brass doesn't approve of his presence. Thing is though, Chris Paul does, and that's really all New Orleans should care about.

- Meanwhile, the Bulls actually did something kind of smart in the way of personnel moves; trading Drew Gooden and Andres Nocioni to the Kings for John Salmons and Brad Miller. I've been a fan of Salmons' game for a while; he's a versatile player who can handle, score and defend; really fill whatever role the Bulls ask of him. His addition also essentially relegates Larry Hughes to the bench, which can never hurt your chances if your team's short-term goals involve avoiding the Lottery. Miller gives them an able body in the post on offense; he may not be the player he was when the Bulls mistakenly got rid of him years ago, but he can still score better than any big man they've had since his departure and remains one of the best passing centers in the league. The Bulls also cleared the glut of power forwards ahead of Tyrus Thomas, who can hopefully become more consistent with some consistent minutes and deliver on those glimpses of brilliance he flashes every now and then. I dunno what to say about Sac-Town here, I have no idea what direction they're even headed in, and I don't really care either. They've officially assumed Indiana's old role as the League's most irrelevant team.

- ...And it appears the obituary I wrote for the Phoenix Suns might've been slightly premature. Instead of dealing Amar'e, they canned Terry Porter (as I'd suggested) and got back to the run game they thrived on. They consequently kicked off the season's second half with back-to-back 140-point blowouts of the Clippers (sure it's the Clippers but Phoenix will take it at this point). Good to have ya back fellas.

Enter The Matrix

Things were supposed to be different in Toronto this year. A franchise that has never really had it all figured out, they were supposed to compete this year; to be near the forefront of an Eastern Conference revival and make good on the progress they'd shown in recent seasons. As it sits, the Raps are firmly buried beneath many boxes of Christmas decorations in the Eastern Conference basement and in dire need of a shake-up. So the Raptors kicked off the annual Trade Deadline rush yesterday by shipping Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon to Miami for Shawn Marion and the corpse of Marcus Banks. It's an interesting trade, one that isn't as terrible for either team as some recent deadline deals.

Let's start with Miami who are headed in the complete opposite direction as Toronto; a team that won 15 games last year and people were penning a fringe playoff contender. They've now solidified their place among the top 8 and should only improve with JO's addition. (Keep in mind, everything I'm about to say hinges on O'Neal's health, which given his recent track record is a shaky variable) His arrival will help shore up a thin front line that's been defensively inept; if O'Neal proved anything in T-Dot it's that he can still protect the paint with the best of them, although the lack of perimeter D meant he was being attacked from all angles. With Marion gone, I can see similar things happening in Miami.

Meanwhile, Marion's departure rids Miami of a player that probably wasn't ever part of their long-term plans and opens up time for future All-Star Michael Beasley to continue developing. He's shown vast improvements as the season's gone on and should slide comfortably into a starting role that will only the bolster the confidence his game thrives upon. Moon's addition may help some but his game's kinda schizophrenic. He's an insanely athletic player who shows occasional glimpses of competence, but his extended on-court napping and repulsive shot selection make him a liability.

What really confuses me about this move though is future implications for Miami; they're a rebuilding team who shipped an expiring deal for an overpaid big man, one who's hoarding $20 million off your cap and has serious long-term durability issues. Instead of staying under the cap after Marion came off the books and making a serious run at another superstar to join their core, they've picked up a deal they'll be hard-pressed to move. I expected better from Pat Riley.

Meanwhile, the Raptors are just rolling the dice, which at this point in their wayward season is totally legit. It's a calculated gamble though; they could've made much worse moves. O'Neal's presence didn't make them much tougher so they're going with a smaller, faster approach with Bargs as their big man. They'll add a defender on the perimeter, something their team needs desperately, and rid themselves of an overpriced investment. What's better, if the Marion experiment doesn't work out, his deal expires in a few months; it's unlikely he'll remain with the Raptors, so at the very least this trade pockets them a Get out of Jail Free card on the O'Neal acquisition.

They also are now forced to play small-ball (with Bargnani as your center you're trying to avoid playing the paint like it's herpes), hopefully run more and not run offensive sets through the post. It's an approach their team's better built for and Marion's ability to slash into the lane off the ball lets them mix it up offense instead of launching jumpers all night. Marion's also going to be able to give them more minutes and not be a nightly red flag health-wise, so from a basketball standpoint it's hard to criticize this trade. One could say the O'Neal era wasn't given much of a fair chance, but when you add a player to an otherwise unchanged core (unless you think Carlos Delfino was really The Answer) and the teams bombs this badly, it's safe to say things just aren't working out. It's a step in the right direction, but it's justthe first of many moves Toronto needs to make to get to where they had hoped to be by this season.

Setting Suns

Well, it sure was fun while it lasted; that too-good-to-be-true union of the league's most prolific pick-and-roll artist with its most explosive finisher is about to be abruptly ended when Phoenix inevitably deals Amar'e Stoudemire sometime in the next week or so. The trade will put the final nail in the coffin of Phoenix's Seven Seconds or Less era, signaling a rebuilding effort that (for some reason) is centering around three players in their mid-30's. It seems like just yesterday that Phoenix was a perennial contender playing the most electrifying game we'd ever seen; now they're a lethargic, underacheiving squad who are about to lose their best player for discounted return and are staring a difficult future in the face. What the hell went wrong?

Well first there was the departure of the Colangelos. Despite the disaster that Bryan's got on his hands in Toronto, there's no denying that he assemeled an uncannily talented roster in Phoenix. His father was valued and respected in his capacity as President, probably why US Basketball made him an offer he couldn't refuse to oversee the re-birth of their quest for Olympic gold. This superstar tandem was hastily replaced by a dude with no front-office experience whose first major acquisition set the wheels in motion for this team's demise:

Marion-for-Shaq was doomed from its inception. Sure, Marion was increasingly unhappy with his role; his production was suffering and his presence in the locker room was butchering team morale. He's an extremely well-rounded player with borderline All-Star numbers, who could surely draw much interest around the league. So why the fuck accept an offer for a player who not only has seen his legendary past drown in a bog of excess weight, but is bar none the worst fit as a centrifugal force in a running offense in the entire league. His presence forced the Suns to re-construct their game plan; everybody had to make adjustments, but ultimately the move was disruptive enough to push Mike D'Antoni out the door. The run 'n gun master saw the trade as too counter-productive; his third option turned from an athletic swingman into an immobile mass that clogged the lane and slowed the run. Apparently, his master plan was beyond salvation, and it appeared the Suns were too, now abandoned by the perfect coach for their system.

Nobody was more upset about this than Stoudemire, who had used Shaq's presence to avoid more constant double-teams and have without question the most dominant second half of 07-08 of any big man in the L. Steve Nash couldn't have been happy either, losing a friend and mentor in D'Antoni, someone who had a very similar approach to the game and played off him like peanut butter does jelly (or chocolate if you're more of a Reese's fan). Their dismay could've only been heightened when the Suns hired Terry Porter; the same Terry Porter who presided over a highly sub-par tenure in Milwaukee, highlighted by unimaginative offense and unsuccessful attempts to enforce tough D. Yup, this involuntary 180 in basketball philosophy was exactly what Phoenix needed.

So here we are several months into a season that's seen the Suns fall from fringe contender status, play boring basketball and house a roster full of malcontents. Stoudemire's impeding trade will be much to his relief after Porter's system schackled his numbers and forced him to focus on an aspect of the game he's grown to neglect. See the fundamental problem was that Phoenix had spent years playing the type of basketball every player dreams of: pushing the ball, shooting when you're open, lighting up the scoreboard on every opponent and throwing convention out the window. Beyond that they were winning with it; consistently among the league's best teams. Convincing their players to suddenly abandon the approach that always worked for them through a series of horrendous personnel moves was a hard sell, and ultimately what killed this team. It'll be sad to see this team fall apart (not that it hasn't already, but in the final sense), watching Amar'e finish someone else's lobs or Nash feeding dishes to Stoudemire's less-athletic replacement. It's even sadder thinking of what could've been, and knowing how it all went down.