Things aren't looking good for your Mavs, Vonk.

[Zanchief]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-06-21-francis-tmac_x.htm

Would love to see Francis out of Houston though. It would let me root for Yao Francis free.

[vonkaar]

Pish posh! We are ignoring all other suitors and supposed 'strong leads' like Indiana and Houston. Foolishness!

I enjoy articles like the one in Floriday Today that read:

McGrady, expected to be traded any day now by the Magic, wants to play with Shaquille O'Neal next season. O'Neal, of course, jilted the Magic eight years ago when he shockingly left as a free agent for Los Angeles.

Apparently, it was no coincidence that on the same day sources claimed McGrady has no plans of returning to the Magic and wants to be traded that O'Neal also told reporters that he wants out of Los Angeles. McGrady and O'Neal are part-time neighbors in suburban Orlando and friends to the point that McGrady often refers to Shaq as "my big brother." Now, the two have discussed in depth a plan that would unite them in Dallas while playing for owner Mark Cuban.

"We talk all the time about it," McGrady told FLORIDA TODAY on Saturday. "Me and the Big Fella are trying to get to Dallas together now."

McGrady said he didn't want to get into a war of words with the Magic and wasn't ready yet to officially disclose his desire to be traded. But a team source beat him to the punch Friday, admitting McGrady had asked out of Orlando and that a blockbuster deal would likely come this week.

Scrap our whole team! Keep Dirk, Howard and Daniels... give us Shaq and T-Mac and we are GOOD TO GO. Tell me the last team that had 3 25 ppg players on their roster and DIDN'T win the finals =p. (That's a bit of research). It could happen!

I'm not saying that it's LIKELY... and this Houston nonsense makes it even more gloomy... but... Don Nelson IS the greatest Manager in the game... he CAN make magic happen... he just needs time. The biggest problem IS time. Tracy wants to sign now. Oh well...

Now... Shaq in Dallas? That's all we've needed for years... a big center. We could have won it all, 3 years ago even, with a big center. Last year, it would have been obvious... replace LaFrentz with a Dampier or a Jermaine Oneal and we'd have had no issues with the Spurs and then the Nets. This year... maybe not, but we'd have at least been able to take freakin Sacramento.

Speaking of which... why am I hearing NO rumors concerning Sac-town? I just realized that... I mean, the Clippers and Hawks have more buzz about their off-season than that of the Kings. Is it just my area?

Also... what about the AI / Vince Carter trade rumor that's going around. What would you Raptor fans think of that?

[Tikker]

.

[Zanchief]

First the raps thing.

I have seen a lot of strange things recently that leads me to believe the Raptors are not ignoring the possibility of trading Vince. I personally don't think that the Iverson thing is true just because of his ass heavy contract and the raps shitty cap situation.

As for the Dallas Shaq thingy.

I really doubt it's going to happen. This Houston thing looks like a done deal, but you never know. And about the centers, every team is a good center away from winning, or so they say, but there are only like 3 good ones in the whole league.

Expansion draft will be interesting tomorrow, Raps didn't protect Alvin Williams, who I think is great, probably because of his bloated contract and shitty ankles. But oh please god wouldn't it be great if Charlotte smocked some crack and picked up Lamon Murray's contract!!

[Malluas]

you wouldn't have with Shaq.. Dallas would still be playin no D.

And they will continue. Shaq isn't the force he was 5 years ago. ANd with Dallas' style no chance Shaq could keep up. And if you change you have to get rid of Nash, cause he can't play a slow down game.

Stevie isn't as good as he is said to be. So if Orlando gets him they gave up way too much.

I can see Shaq going to Indiana if he would, just for the reason he would be #1 and they play good D. Shaq can't play on a team with no D he would be neutralized when he plays D

[Zanchief]

you wouldn't have with Shaq.. Dallas would still be playin no D.

And they will continue. Shaq isn't the force he was 5 years ago. ANd with Dallas' style no chance Shaq could keep up. And if you change you have to get rid of Nash, cause he can't play a slow down game.

Stevie isn't as good as he is said to be. So if Orlando gets him they gave up way too much.

I can see Shaq going to Indiana if he would, just for the reason he would be #1 and they play good D. Shaq can't play on a team with no D he would be neutralized when he plays D

I don't know where to start.

1) Shaq is a great defender.
2) Any team would sell their nuts to get Shaq.
3) Nash is a great PG no matter the style, but if you need an example of run and gun with a slow Center the late 80s Lakers with old man Jabbar.
4) If Dallas had Shaq they would play what ever the hell he wanted to play.

[Ganzo]

Tell me the last team that had 3 25 ppg players on their roster and DIDN'T win the finals =p.

Lakers

[vonkaar]

Yup... simply putting shaq in the game changes everything. He IS a great defender. Dallas' biggest weakness IS within the middle. Putting someone as athletic and powerful as Shaq in the middle bogs down everything. Dallas already is one of the top rebounding teams in the league. With Shaq, they'd likely be #1 on both ends.

Steve Nash is almost UNDERrated. I can't believe that anybody who has ever seen a single 'good' Mavs game would ever disagree. There isn't a single PG in the game that can keep up with him, besides maybe Bibby (as seen in the 04 post-season). It's MY opinion that when comparing the TRUE point-guards in the league, Nash IS the best. I say 'true' because Kidd really doesn't play PG like the 'standard' definition of the position describes. That's not a 'bad' thing... he brings so much more to the game than any other PG in the league. However, his numbers are also highly inflated by his dominance over his team. Nash's best nights aren't 30 point lights-out games... it's the 10p, 14a, 3s, 5r performances that guarantee a Mavs victory. Every time.

Anyway... moving back to the Shaq questions...

Shaq IS defense. You obviously have no idea on how big of an impact a talented center makes to the game. Shaq is one of the greatest defending centers in the game. Furthermore, Dallas actually defends the perimeter fairly well. Put Shaq in the middle, all of the sudden Dirk is free to shoot his 15-foot jumpers and grab 30ppg. Take the pressure off of his back and he'll freaking explode. Getting Shaq in Dallas should be a HUGE priority -- do anything necessary to get it done. Just, not at the expense of Dirk. I want to win, but I want to win OUR way.

Dirk needs help in the middle... this is the truest thing said on NT this whole week. Give us Sheed... Ratliff... hell, Ostertag would help out. There isn't a single team in the league that has such high potential, if only ONE position was filled. The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams. There isn't a single player that you could add to any of those teams to suddenly transform them into a championship team. Well, besides Shaq in each spot... but... Dallas only needs "a" center. The closest thing I can think of is T-Mac in Indiana. Give them a scoring champ and they'll sweep the playoffs next year.

blahblah...

I know how unlikely it is. Maybe all the hooplah over Shaq in Dallas will only help us sneak Dampier in under the radar =p.

[Jirig]

WTT Bowen for Finley. PST.

[vonkaar]

nay

[Zanchief]

The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams.

Neither are Detroit, but shit happens.

[Jirig]

Oh come on. Bowen is mad sticky. You guys need a miracle defender. I present to you, Bruce Bowen!

[Tuggan]

The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams.

Neither are Detroit, but shit happens.

How are they not? Looks like they won them shits to me.

[Zanchief]

The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams.

Neither are Detroit, but shit happens.

How are they not? Looks like they won them shits to me.

Very observant.

[Tuggan]

The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams.

Neither are Detroit, but shit happens.

How are they not? Looks like they won them shits to me.

Very observant.

Yeah, good answer to your stupid fucking statement.

[Malluas]

you could have tbe best defender in the world, but if eveyrone else sucks monkey nut cheese, he is useless.And Dallas will lose daniels who was probably Dallas' best defender

I jsut wanna kno all the trades that go down. I wanna see what Petrie does for the kings. And i wanna see where Tracy ends up since Stevie has said i don't wanna go to Orlando

I do think the kings need to move Peja. Eveyrone says Chris doesn't do goo in the playoffs, but at least he scores and rebounds and does soemthing. WTF was that peja did against the Wolves.

It was funny hear, 10 mins after the Kings lost game 7 , eveyrone was saying peja and bobby jackson for Tracy hehe

[Captain Insano]

The Wolves, Kings, Nets and Rockets are all GOOD teams, but they aren't championship teams.

Neither are Detroit, but shit happens.

do many canucks follow american sports just curious? Do you have a basketball league in canada?

[vonkaar]

And Dallas will lose daniels who was probably Dallas' best defender

Nono... you are thinking about Howard, the other rookie. Daniels is amazing, but he's much more "Dallas" than Howard. Josh Howard plays like a young Ron Artest. He and Najera are our only players that think 'D' first, score later. He's also one of my favorites =p.

I'm SOoooo on the Marquis Daniels bandwagon... the guy is amazing. As much as I preach "NASH NASH NASH!"... you might find it surprising that I'd even be willing to let him to to Toronto or Phoenix, and start Daniels at point... that's how good this kid is. I mean, Nash is our number 2 'must keep' player. That's our CURRENT focus... keeping Nash and Daniels in a Mavs uniform -- then worry about trading people around to get a big man.

Now I'm worried that the Clippers want Shaq more than anyone is prepared to compete with. Ya'll read about their freaking monster of an offer? Disgusting.

[Herko]

Now I'm worried that the Clippers want Shaq more than anyone is prepared to compete with. Ya'll read about their freaking monster of an offer? Disgusting.

Link pls.... for those like me that are lazy....

[vonkaar]

Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson AND their #2 pick -- straight across the table for Shaq.

Basically, they are scrapping their whole team for one player. It's freaking stupid.

[Zanchief]

Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson AND their #2 pick -- straight across the table for Shaq.

Basically, they are scrapping their whole team for one player. It's freaking stupid.

Crazy~

I mentioned a few times that I thought the Clips should mortgage their team to sign Kobe because of fan stability and so forth. I guess the same applies to Shaq.

Tuggan, no one thought Detroit was a championship team, just like the other teams that Vonk mentioned. My point, you just never know. It was a tuffy, I know.

Ralf, basketball is pretty popular in Canada, not Hockey popular, but people play it all the time. We have high school teams and shit, but there is no official professional league in Canada, we just watch the NBA. We have a national team that didn't qualify for the Olympics because of sac of shit Jamaal Magloire that was too fucking lazy to play, but that's another issue all together.

And Francis not wanting to go to Orlando, what a fucking baby. He already did this with Vancouver and he sucked then too. Just trade the asshole and let Orlando deal with the whinny bitch. God I hate that kid.

[Tuggan]

Tuggan, no one thought Detroit was a championship team, just like the other teams that Vonk mentioned. My point, you just never know. It was a tuffy, I know.

Well considering they made the 'best' team look silly for 5 games straight... with absolutely no signs of letting up, guess its time to show the Pistons a little respect?

[vonkaar]

He's not saying that they AREN'T a championship team... he's saying that 1 year ago 'today', nobody THOUGHT that they were. Just like I don't THINK that the Kings, Wolves, Nets or Rockets are 'championship' teams going into next season.

Who knows... Maybe the Houston T-Mac trade will go through and they'll pick up a decent point-guard in the coming months. I'd probably change my mind on that. However... even after Detroit landed Sheed in that 4-way trading spree, nobody said that they could beat any one of 4 or 5 teams from the West. Zanchief is simply saying that 'paper' teams aren't always as good as expected.

I mean...

Shaq, Nash, Dirk and T-Mac (rhyming!) *should* make for one of the most disgustingly dominating teams in league history. I mean... 96 Bulls... 86 Celtics... 72 Lakers good. However, they *could* finish the season 8th place in the playoffs and get knocked off by a resurging first-place Utah =p. You never know until the season is over.

[Kramer]

i am from H-Town

1) Dallas blows, sucks, hugs my bawls, etc.

2) T-Mac in Houston would be pretty F*&%in amazing

3) Shaq (substitute Shaq for Dallas in #1)

[Dylan]

too bad basketball sux =\