While there’s no shortage of wild storylines in the Association this Tuesday night (Next Town Brown mulling a return to coaching, Phoenix’s pursuit of Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron’s near triple-double against Boston, a mooted Ron Artest-to-Denver deal, the poor quality of recent guest blogging at Joe Nets Fan), here’s something for the rest of the Western Conference to shudder over :
On a night when Kobe Bryant could only manage 6 points on 3 of 13 shooting, Pau Gasol’s Laker debut was just slightly more auspicious than say, DJ Mbenga’s. The Spaniard showed few signs of recent back trouble, scoring 24 and collecting 12 rebounds in LA’s 105-90 victory over the Nets. It was harsh enough for Jersey that Stromlie Swift was unavailable, but did Jason Kidd really need to change into Laker purple at halftime?
Sam Cassell tells SI.com’s Chris Mannix that Latrell Sprewell rejected the Clippers’ overtures two years ago because “he felt like he would have to answer too many questions about feeding his kids and that stuff.”
I’m pretty sure Joel Steinberg turned down an offer from the Knicks for similar reasons.
This Shaq deal is too wild to fully comprehend. On one hand I buy the argument that the Suns can’t win a title with the roster they have and the style they play. But on the other hand, if Amare doesn’t leave the bench they probably win the West. If Phoenix really needed a better defender against Duncan, why not trade Matrix for Jermaine O’neil instead?
If Riley pulls this off it will be some miracle. Assuming Marion opts out, Miami will have a ton of cap space, a lottery pick and maybe sign Elton Brand who already signed one offer sheet.
Based on Jermaine O’Neil’s physical condition, I think he’d be a poor choice, too. Though he’s still more fit than Shaq.
Breaking up the Suns at this point is not in and of itself, a mind blower — particularly given Marion’s grumbling over the years. What they’re getting back, however, is mystifying.
The Suns could go get themselves Kwame Brown and really mindfuck the entire populace.
Who knew that the Geico caveman would be so tough in the low post?