Chuck Swirsky Might Not Vote for Jamario Moon for Rookie of the Year

Raptors play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky's recent blog entry hints that he might have to vote for Al Horford with his vote for ROY. You might remember Swirsky as the only voter who picked Toronto's Andrea Bargnani for ROY last year, thus denying the aptly named Brandon Roy a unanimous victory. Swirsky's arguments, predictably, are statistically weak but he ultimately defended his decision by saying that he watched Bargnani every day. This begs the question, "Why didn't he see Roy play more?". If you were given the opportunity (dare I say privilege) to vote for Rookie of the Year, wouldn't you make it a point to watch as many of the relevant rookies as often as possible? As the season wore down, wouldn't it be prudent to watch Roy as often as possible (considering you already got a daily look at Bargnani)?

It seems to me that Swirsky does not see his vote as a privilege but as more of an honor bestowed upon him for his involvement in the League. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate anyone who cares about the NBA as much as Swirsky but I think his obvious homer vote undermines the entire award selection process. In this case it hardly mattered but what if the race had been closer? Would Swirsky have been able to vote without his hometown bias?

In a league where we judge players historically on the honors bestowed upon them as much as their numbers, shouldn't we strive to rid this process of hometown prejudice? Shouldn't the people who decide these awards study the candidates as closely as possible? As long as people like Swirsky let their hometown allegiances skew their voting, I don't think we can take these awards as seriously as we should.

So exciting I thought the playoffs had started...

Tonight’s slate of NBA games is the most anticipated lineup thus far in the season. Shaq makes his debut with Phoenix when Kobe and the Lakers come to town. The Shaq-Kobe feud has lay dormant of late with Diesel playing for Miami but that could change with the former championship duo now battling it out in the same division.

The Hornets host the Mavericks in Jason Kidd’s Dallas debut. Kidd faces Chris Paul in a match-up of elite point guards. How deep is the West? The Hornets have the best record in the conference but everyone will be auditioning Dallas tonight for the playoffs. Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki and Erick Dampier are a solid starting 5 and Kidd always contributes to great chemistry on the floor (except for this one time a few years ago in Dallas… might be a good idea not to fill that extra roster spot with Jim Jackson).

In the nightcap, the Celtics visit Golden State in Kevin Garnett’s second game back from an abdominal strain. Garnett was mediocre in his return. Doc Rivers said Garnett’s minutes would be a game-time decision but KG stated emphatically that he would play. With the Warriors pace and lack of rebounders, don’t be surprised to see him have a big game.

As if those three games weren’t enough, Mike Bibby returns to Atlanta, Orlando heads north of the border to take on the Raptors, and the Knicks look to win two in a row only this time without throwing stuff at each other during timeouts.

The Shaq Trade

A lot of people are criticizing the Suns for trading Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Heat for Shaquille O’Neal but I think the move will win them the NBA title. The unexpected swap will alter the attack of the run-and-gun Suns and thus end one of the most entertaining basketball shows in the history of the game. Consider how the trade alters the chemistry of the team.

Swapping Shaq for Marion makes Phoenix slower and less fearsome on the fast break and it breaks up a classic alley-oop combination. (Has there been a better duo since Payton and the Reign Man?) Marion can push the ball up the floor with his own dribble whereas Shaq in the open floor is more of an adventure. The Suns lose Marion’s ability as an excellent on-ball defender and his two steals per game along with 35% from behind the arc.

But what do they get in return? And does it really make them less equipped to handle the Western Conference playoff gauntlet? Doesn’t Shaq’s playoff experience alone (14 years, four rings, and three Finals MVPs) count for a lot? Kazaam and Amare pose a formidable threat against opposing teams driving to the hoop and they now have 12 fouls to throw at Tim Duncan. No longer will things look as bleak for the Suns when Amare inevitably bites on a Duncan head fake and heads to the bench during key minutes of a big game. They also match-up nicely against L.A.’s Bynum/Gasol front court duo. Although we don’t know exactly how D’Antoni with deploy Shaq within the offense, O’Neal will provide a huge boost when Nash is not in the game. Barbosa is an explosive scorer but he often does not look comfortable at the point and the Suns struggle to get open shots. Shaq on the block is always a decent option and he’s even more dangerous when surrounded by shooters. Finally, Shaq has publicly stated that he wants to be a glue-guy - - willing to accept any role for the good of the team - - while Marion has made it clear that he would prefer a more increased role in the half-court offense.

This experiment will ultimately be successful only if Nash and O’Neal can both adapt to the modified offensive scheme as well as to each other. Nash clearly thrives on the break but he’s just as effective in the half court offense. It shouldn’t take long for him to connect with Neon on a few lobs around the goal. Nash (along with D’Antoni) also has to figure out how often to go into O’Neal in the half court set. There may be some nights when the Big Aristotle on the block is a popular option for Phoenix. Nash may prefer to fast break but I trust that the two-time MVP can figure out how to best involve the Shaq Attack in the offense.

The much bigger issue is how Shaq will adopt to his new surroundings. He will no longer be the primary option and he will be forced to defer to Nash and Amare running their pick-and-roll. But Norman isn’t blind and he knows what it takes to win in the NBA. I can’t see him letting his ego demand touches to the detriment of the team. If anything, O’Neal’s belief in his own awesomeness actually should motivate him. A fifth championship with Phoenix strengthens the argument that he is the greatest big man to ever play the game. No doubt Shaq sees parallels between his current situation and Wilt Chamberlain’s last championship with the 1971-72 Lakers. Wilt was fourth on the team in scoring but first in rebounds and fourth in assists with four a game. Shaq’s passing ability combined with the Suns 3-point threats should allow him to rack up assists in the desert.

Provided Shaq is healthy, the Sun should rise in Phoenix as the big man predicts. Winning is rejuvenating and the Suns provide the perfect atmosphere for O’Neal to once again play for a champion. While this writer thinks that Phoenix is the front runner in the West, only time will tell if - - as he has put it himself - - Steve Kerr is a moron or a genius.

Guest Column: Fix those Nets

Guest Column for all you Nets fans out there...that is the dozen of you that are left. Seriously, there hasn't been such a lame duck sports franchise since everyone knew that the Montreal Expos were moving in the late 1990's. The Nets should move to Brooklyn now and build a fan base. But alas, forward thinking is never a forte in professional sports.

Disclaimer: It's clear now that Jason Kidd wants out of New Jersey, and perhaps Vince Carter does too. The Nets are reportedly shopping both, and rumors of a VC for Jermaine O'Neal package are tearing up the airwaves at the moment. As for Kidd, has a year gone past when there were less than a million rumors floating around about him being traded?

Regular coverage should be coming back soon. For now, peace.

More Than Enough Shake-Up Trades For Beleaguered Nets



Around this time of year before the trade deadline, every diehard NBA fan with its team in the middle of a slump or in the need of one more player to push them over their hump with time to kill likes to throw out any and all possible likelihood of a trade. Then there are the teams that don't need to trade simply for the sake of it but to pump some like into their deflating season and one of those team is the New Jersey Nets. As a New Jersey native with the Knicks in his blood, I've consigned myself to being entertained by the Nets instead of torturing myself by actively dealing with the Knicks anymore. As desolate as the Knicks may be at the moment, the Nets' prospects are not much better. After wisely passing up the chance to trade Kidd to the Lakers last season, the Nets have not fared that much better this season as they have been hampered by a Richard Jefferson who, if not injured, merely whines about his injuries and a freshly extended Vince Carter whose effort varies from night to night. Although it has never been vocalized yet, the NJ/NY media has quickly seized on the fact that Kidd may want out or wants a change in personnel. Even if he doesn't, the tri-state media is notorious for planting seeds that don't need to be sown. So long as he doesn't suffer a major injury, Kidd still has a solid two to three seasons left in him so instead of trying to structure a deal to get the most out of their franchise player in a trade, they should take the inverted long view and put better players around him for the remainder of his career while still building for the team's future. If you have one of the greatest true point guards in league history, you don't maximize his value in a trade, you hold onto him for dear life and shed your dead weight. The Eastern Conference still has its slackers and a halfway decent team can still make it to the playoffs but the EC is no longer the NFC of the NBA. To say that this team could survive in a 7 game series with Boston, Orlando, Detroit or even Cleveland is laughable at this point. On paper, the Nets have what it takes but on the court, Jefferson, Carter, Krstic and the Nets' inexperienced bench are not being the supporting cast that Kidd should thrive with. So that being said, here are some trades that could easily be pulled off in the real world if only they were shopped.



-Ship Carter and some draft picks for a solid 2 guard with less of a large contract:

The first name that comes to mind immediately is Michael Redd simply because he certainly wouldn't mind a change of pace from always carrying the Bucks. The Bucks would most likely veto the deal because of Carter's cold-weather city history but if some pieces were added to the deal either with Nets' draft picks or by a third team, it could happen. Of course the one problem could come from a Nets ownership handicapping Rod Thorn from moving on the deal. Bruce Ratner and Co. probably want to see Kidd and Carter both in Brooklyn Nets jerseys at the start of their time there. I respected Thorn when he brought Carter to the Nets several years ago for 40 cents on the dollar from the Raptors but giving him an extension last season when he's definitely at the down turn in his career was suspect when his effort in big games has always been questioned. The best move now is to try to get the most out of him by a team that thinks he's still worth something.



-Trade Jefferson for an equally capable swingman or a rookie investment for the future:

Jefferson still has the best years ahead of him and when he's at the top of his game, he is one of the best small forwards in the league. All he may need is a change of scenery at this point. Wouldn't a return to the state of his alma mater as well as a team offense where he would easily thrive seem to be a possibility? It just so happens that the Phoenix Suns have a seemingly disgruntled small forward with a similar contract and career averages. Throw in draft picks or a contract to offset Marion's slightly larger contract like Antoine Wright or Darrell Armstrong and it's a done deal. The best part is that both players and teams get equal value out of the deal. Marion gets to be the superstar on a run and gun team with a point guard similar to Steve Nash and with less egos to clash with his (providing Carter is gone at that point) while Jefferson also gets to work with another great point guard that will probably lift his stats and his spirits and saving the Suns money on Marion's slightly larger contract. You would have to include another player on the Nets such as Antoine Wright or a draft pick (that the Suns will trade away most likely) to sweeten the deal but if the Suns feel that Marion is going to continue to be more trouble in Nash's final years and can get equal value for him, the Nets could have the right players for him.

Another unique, albeit bleak, scenario would involve trading Jefferson for a young 2 or 3 guard, absorbing a hefty expiring contract in the deal and giving a young, losing team a player that they could build around. Corey Brewer immediately comes to mind because he can play several positions and will be one of the premier swingmen in the league under the proper tutelage. Minnesota's way over the cap and although they would probably jump at a guy like Jefferson, the Nets would have to take on a contract like Theo Ratliff (the ubiquitous expiring contract player) and also dispose with some of their cheaper bench help like Darrell Armstrong to seal the deal but Brewer would be worth it in the long run, not only to keep Kidd happy but to invest in the Nets future. In one of the deepest drafts in recent memory, Brewer will probably be one of the best players to emerge from it and to get him now would be a steal. Kevin McHale's been known to do dumber things.



That still leaves the glaring hole they have in their frontcourt but if they could even pull one of these deals off, it might give them some momentum going into the postseason as well as a positive team chemistry, two things which they are desperately in need of. At this point, trading Kidd would be extremely unlikely especially since the Lakers, his most likely suitor, has come together without him. Some may balk at dispensing with Carter and Jefferson but I'm not merely suggesting trades for the sake of them, I'm suggesting them simply because what the Nets have clearly isn't working.