Archive for February, 2010
James and Stoudemire in Cleveland?
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
That could make the Cavs heavy favorites to win the title. If they are not already.
With the second half of the 2010 NBA basketball season underway, the Cleveland Cavaliers are coming in with the best record in the league at 43-11, riding a league – best 13-game winning streak heading to their date with the Denver Nuggets this Thursday.
With all kinds of momentum going for the Cleveland Cavaliers right now, it seems they are not satisfied just yet. Rumors are claiming that the Cavaliers are going after Amar’e Stoudemire. And if these guys manage to sign a talent like Stoudemire to complement the already formidable tandem of LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, you can just imagine what the Cavs can accomplish from here.
If the Cavs do trade for Amar’e Stoudemire, that would be their fourth major trade in two years. Yep, you read it, their FOURTH ONE.
Why have they been trading a lot the last few years? Well, they want to keep LeBron James in Cleveland and surrounding the hottest commodity in the league right now with all kinds of talent that might give this team its first championship in franchise history has been their top priority ever since they drafted James out of high school.
According to the rumors, the deal is on the table but both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns haven’t finalized anything yet. Although there are reports claiming that the deal is very close to being done, there are reports that say neither side is certain what will happen.
It’s probably because the Cavaliers can’t offer the best talent package the Suns are looking for, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers can. However, what the Cavs can offer is for the Suns to get below the luxury tax, a move that could save the cash – strapped franchise around $10 million.
It would mean salary and tax savings plus…
Wizards, Mavericks blockbuster trade
Monday, February 15th, 2010
This is the first big trade of the season.
With the 2010 NBA basketball season at the midway point, you can expect the action to pick up as teams will now start to position themselves for a prime playoff spot. Of course, teams will begin to make some changes too and with the trading deadline just around the corner, the NBA’s trading machine will be working overtime in the next few days.
But as far as the Dallas Mavericks and the Washington Wizards are concerned, they’re already making some changes. The Mavericks have just traded Josh Howard to the Wizards in exchange for Caron Butler. The impact this trade will have on each team’s season remains to be seen.
The Washington Wizards have also sent big man Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas as part of the package. The Mavericks in return sent Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton as part of the deal with Josh Howard to Washington.
On paper, the Dallas Mavericks clearly had the better end of the deal and the Mavericks organization couldn’t be any happier. ”It makes us significantly better,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said.
The addition of Caron Butler will hopefully fill the spot Shawn Marion left when he was traded to Miami a couple of years ago. Brendan Haywood on the other hand will give the Mavericks that shot-blocking presence again, something the team has been lacking since losing Erick Dampier to injury.
”Caron is an established professional and an All-Star with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor,” said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations. ”Brendan will solidify our center position with athleticism, shot-blocking and defense. DeShawn has also shown that he can be a talented asset to this team.”
As for the Wizards, all they wanted was…
Watch Durant in the All-Star Game
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Because he might just steal the shot this Sunday.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder surprising a lot of people this 2010 NBA basketball season, their main man, that’s Kevin Durant, is being included in the discussion for MVP honors this year. You read it, he’s right up there this year with the LeBrons, Kobes and Dwyane Wades. So how special has this guy been? Can he really take the MVP away from the more established players in the league today?
Listed at 6-foot-9 but closer to 6-11 according to those who try to defend him, Kevin Durant is doing it all for his team this season. He leads his team in scoring, rebounding and minutes (39.9). He has improved defensively while also increasing his scoring average, third best in the NBA, by four points over last season and by nine over his rookie season. His field goal percentage is up to 48.1 percent, better than last season’s 47.6 and well above the 43.0 percent he shot two years ago.
But perhaps the most impressive stat is that the Oklahoma City Thunder is posting a winning record so far. So good in fact that if the playoffs started today, the Thunder could enjoy homecourt advantage in the first round of the postseason.
Opposing players know that it is Durant’s combination of height, frame and extraordinary wingspan that makes him so rare in the game and a nightmare to defend. ”His capability of taking the ball off the dribble is very 2-guard-like, and getting to the rim,” Lamar Odom said. ”And, of course, he can get his shot over anybody. His jump shot, his step-back, it’s something you don’t really see.”
The closest comparison most make of Durant to anyone who has come through the league is silky Spurs great George Gervin and a young Tracy McGrady. Long and lean, Gervin was just 6-7 and a spry 185 pounds during his 12-year career in the 1970s and ’80s. McGrady, the player Durant said he has patterned his game after since an early age, is 6-8.
The Mavs’ head coach Rick Carlisle compared Durant’s game somewhat to that of fellow Baltimore native Reggie Lewis, who, at 6-7, 195 pounds, played on one All-Star team in a six-year career with the Celtics.
”He’s a different kind of cat. He’s taller than…”
Daytona 500 starts NASCAR Season
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Since football season is over, it’s that time of the year when we watch cars go around in circles again.
And in case you didn’t get that, the 2010 NASCAR season is kicking off on Valentine’s Day weekend with the Daytona 500. For all ya’ll who didn’t know, they say the Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s equivalent to the Super Bowl. I still have no idea why they have this race to kick off their season though.
Still, NASCAR will have the annual Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway to generate some hype for the whole year. And since this sport really doesn’t have anything else to offer other than cars going around in circles for three freaking hours, they need all the hype they can get.
So with the 52nd Daytona 500 kicking off the brand new season, what’s in store for NASCAR racing fans this year? Well, for one, NASCAR has made headlines over the last couple of weeks following several rules changes that will take place this season. These changes will encourage more aggressive driving from drivers AND more importantly, to captivate fans.
The recent changes have been made due to the continual poor ratings that racing received last year.
Chariman of NASCAR, Brian France said that he wants drivers not to be afraid to ”open it up.” Bump-drafting will now be permitted at Daytona during the race. France went on to say that he would like to see some of the drivers on the circuit show more emotion at times.
This new policy on the rules should make for an interesting race, when the Daytona 500 begins.
There will be 43 drivers in the field, and leading the pack as favorites for the Daytona 500 is Tony Stewart. Stewart has 43 career victories and 226 top-10 finishes. He has never won the Daytona 500, but oddsmakers have installed him as a +700 favorite to claim his first victory in the race.
At the second spot is Kyle Busch. Busch was…
Ready for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game?
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
We know the starters, now it’s time to find out who got snubbed and who should be there in Dallas.
Every year, the NBA’s midseason extravaganza snubs a few players who fans feel should be in the league’s annual celebration of the brightest stars in the NBA. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas is no different.
Let’s start with this one guy who probably got snubbed from the All-Star game this year because of a mug you can’t market ANYWHERE. And in case you didn’t get that, I’m referring to Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman.
This will be the second time the Los Angeles Clippers star got snubbed for the All-Star game. For a guy who looks like a child molester, Kaman is quickly becoming one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. The guy is averaging 20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He is arguably having the best season of any traditional center in the West and that is why the Clippers, despite all their struggles, are still hanging on for a playoff spot.
Another guy who definitely should be in the All-Star game in Dallas is Chauncey Billups. Having the All-Star game this year without Mr. Big Shot is a travesty, to say the least. He is probably the best point guard in the Western Conference at this point of the season. Hell, he should be there starting for the West instead of Steve Nash in my opinion.
But probably because of the injury that forced him to miss eight games this season, Billups failed to get the fans’ and the coaches’ votes.
”I’m sure it played a role,” Billups said, who just recently broke his career high when he led the Denver Nuggets to a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles. ”We have the second-best record in the West. If I didn’t miss the eight games we could be vying for the best record, the first spot. If we had the best record in the league, it could be…”
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