Ineligible Man Downfield

Courtesy of mandalin88 on Webshots.com

Have you guys been checking out the latest news in the NBA lately?  If not, then you should be keeping up as these developments have a major impact on fantasy basketball in the fall.  Other than Ricky Rubio drama and the obvious Blake Griffin first pick by the woeful Clippers, the trades in the offseason have been interesting.  It is like trash turning into gold.  Its not even finding a needle in a haystack.  Its magic!

So why do I have a picture of Pau Gasol?  He is the first trade in recent times that follows this “gold from trash” pheonomena.  You could say Mitch Kupchak (or was it Jerry West) started a trend.  Some teams are dumping major salary to get under the cap due to economic times (or is it 2010 free agent bonanaza?)  Other teams are taking advantage, using the trade to beef up their rosters making them contenders for the 2010 championship.

Here is the wrap-up of what has happened so far in the “trades sector.”  Its hotter than a muggy summer day in Hotlanta:

1.  Spurs trade for Richard Jefferson:  With this trade, they automatically get a reliable and legitimate third scoring option after Duncan and Parker.  If Manu Ginobli is healthy next season, this team is downright scary.  As a Laker fan, this is horrifically disappointing, especially when Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are not resigned yet.

2.  Shaq hanging out with King James:  This deal is sick!  Shaq will try to win a fifth championship and doing it with the future king of the NBA, Lebron.  This deal is absolutely a win now situation.  We all know how the Cavs got dismantled by Orlando’s Dwight Howard, so this deal makes perfect sense.  Even if he plays only 30 games this season and all of the playoffs (thanks to jadamusss for that assessment), it’ll be worth it.  Plus Shaq is “off the books” in terms of salary after next season anyway.  An added bonus.

3.  Poof, the Magic are all stars, literally with Vince Carter!:  If Hedu Turkoglu resigns with the Magic, they will have players that have all played in the All-Star Game at one point or another in their career.  This move is to continue the success they were riding on when the Magic got to the playoffs and it gives them another player that can create his own shot.  The Magic are making sure they can neutralize the effect of the Shaq trade.

4.  Amare Stoudamire to Golden State?:  Though this trade has yet to happen, this would be another big one.  Why?  Amare being coupled with Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette would absolutely make the Warriors automatic contenders due to their offensive prowess.   Amare already knows how to play in a fast paced system and would fit naturally in Don Nelson’s running game.  This team, if this trade does happen, would score probably in the upper 90s to 100s almost every night.  It would be fun to watch.

Trash for Gold.  We’ll see if these plans work out or will the teams saving money by dumping salary win in the end in 2010?  Only time can tell, but I”m looking forward to next season already.  Can the Lakers play ball in this new landscape?  I certainly hope so.  Get to work Mitch!

Courtesy of scooter1727 from Webshots.com

The dominance in college basketball surely belongs to the east this year.  If you don’t believe me, check out the Elite 8 teams for yourself:

Big East Conference:  Louisville, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Villanova

I guess you can say the seeding was correct as the top three seeds in the tournament are still alive and are expected make it to the Final Four.  However, there’s more to this eastern dominance:

Big Ten:  Michigan State

ACC:  North Carolina

Both these teams are traditional basketball powers and they both reside in the east.

Big 12:  Missouri, Oklahoma

Luckily, the Midwest has some representation in the Elite 8, but that’s as far west you go.  Gone completely off the map are the UCLAs and USCs.  The teams that made it to the Sweet 16 were actually Arizona (normally thought of as a powerhouse, but were not expected to make it this year) and Gonzaga (from the WCC).  Is the committee conspiring against the West?
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Are your brackets already busted?  Just for the record, mine is pretty messed up in the West and Midwest Regions, but my top picks in every region so far are still alive.  Actually according to Yahoo!, I stand in the 39th percentile of all brackets.  Though I’m not a statistical genius, I’m proud that I’m above average, possibly in the elite category.  Speaking of being elite, let’s figure out who is going to make the Elite 8:

Midwest Region:

Both Louisville and Arizona have the fire power to light the night sky with displays of offensive fireworks.  However, something tells me that Louisville will be able to dominate this game because of the scare they got from Siena.  Arizona’s path surprisingly has been much easier then Louisville’s, but that will hurt them in the end.

If defense wins championships then my bet is on Michigan State running the show and slowing the offensive machine that is, Kansas.  This younger, retooled Bill Self squad will not be able to hang with Tom Izzo’s defensive tactics.

West Region:

Connecticut is shooting the lights out!  Therefore I do not believe a Purdue team that has had to grind out close wins can brace for a Connecticut team on a swerve.

My bet is on Memphis over Missouri.  Why?  They are hell-bent on getting back onto the national final after losing to Kansas in last year’s championship game.  No offense to Missouri, but you have to bring your AAA game if you truly want to win this one.

East Region:

Xavier is generally a perennial contender year after year, but those credentials will not thwart Pittsburgh.  Jamie Dixon will have them playing solid defense that leads to baskets on the offense.

Though I have Duke over Villanova in this game, the hardwood gods insist on painting a different story.  Jay Wright has somehow sparked a fire under his team and they are playing at a “monster” level of energy.  Duke has been shaky this season and as a result, I think the buck stops here for them.  I’m changing my pick.

South Region:

North Carolina is too powerful for Gonzaga.  I commend Mark Few for his ability to get consistent play from such a small school in the Pacific Northwest, but a team from the WCC cannot take on the almighty ACC.  It is like Goliath x2 versus David -1.  Miracles can happen, but I doubt it in this case.

Syracuse has been on shooting opponents up from downtown since the Big East Tournament.  Jim Boeheim has ignited a firestorm under his team’s collective arses and they have responded.  With that said however, the beast that is Blake Griffin shall not be stopped.  I have Oklahoma making it all the way to the championship final.