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Week 14: 12-4
Season record: 132-76
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Magic Remake Roster
Wow, blockbuster in the NBA today involving the Orlando Magic.
In the first of two trades, the Orlando Magic acquired guard Gilbert Arenas (above) from the Washington Wizards in exchange for forward Rashard Lewis. I like this trade for the Wizards as they officially hand the reigns of their team to rookie John Wall now, and get an outstanding outside shooter, which they lacked. For Orlando, although Lewis was under performing, and Arenas should play well with Dwight Howard, this leaves Jameer Nelson, an all-star caliber guard, as the odd man out.
In the second trade, the Magic get Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark from the Phoenix Suns for Vince Carter, Mikael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, and a 2011 1st round pick. I like this deal much better, as Turkoglu led Orlando to NBA Finals in 2008 and Richardson is having a great season, upgrading the SG position from an under performing Vince Carter. For Phoenix, it will be interesting to see how well Carter fits in with Steve Nash and their fast-moving offense. Gortat should also add size down low, while Pietrus gives an above average perimeter defender.
All in all, the Magic did get better talent wise with their deals today, as Lewis and Carter both failed to live up to expectations in their time there. However, Orlando's perimeter defense should be horrible now, as Arenas, Richardson, and Turkoglu play little to no D.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Yao Ming
You can't say it wasn't expected, but Yao Ming's career is at its end.
After undergoing an MRI today in Houston, it was discovered that Yao had suffered another stress fracture, this time to his left ankle. This comes after Yao missed all of last year with a broken left foot due to a stress fracture. He had looked to comeback this season, but lasted just five games before going out with what was originally diagnosed as a sprain. That was upgraded to a bone bruise a week later, before today's devastating news came out.
For Yao, who has always been a class act and has been the ambassador of the NBA as it has gone global to China and around the world, it has been a bittersweet career. Expected to be the heir to Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon and continue the line of dominant Houston centers and lead a championship-starved city back to prominence, Yao played nearly four injury-free seasons before getting ravaged by injuries, causing him to miss all or parts of every year from 2005-2010. In total, Yao made seven all-star teams, and has career averages of 19 points, 9 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks. Perhaps his finest moment occurred when he refused to come out of a game because of an injury in Game 1 of the 2009 Western Conference Semifinal series against the Lakers and helped the Rockets to victory. Other playoff appearances included first round losses to the Lakers in 2004, Mavericks in 2005, and Jazz in 2007. (He missed 2008 series against Jazz)
Below is a video tribute to a man that worked so hard to try to comeback for both his team and his country (whom he represented at the 2008 Olympics). He deserved better, but in the end, his 7-6, 310 lb frame just couldn't hold up.
After undergoing an MRI today in Houston, it was discovered that Yao had suffered another stress fracture, this time to his left ankle. This comes after Yao missed all of last year with a broken left foot due to a stress fracture. He had looked to comeback this season, but lasted just five games before going out with what was originally diagnosed as a sprain. That was upgraded to a bone bruise a week later, before today's devastating news came out.
For Yao, who has always been a class act and has been the ambassador of the NBA as it has gone global to China and around the world, it has been a bittersweet career. Expected to be the heir to Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon and continue the line of dominant Houston centers and lead a championship-starved city back to prominence, Yao played nearly four injury-free seasons before getting ravaged by injuries, causing him to miss all or parts of every year from 2005-2010. In total, Yao made seven all-star teams, and has career averages of 19 points, 9 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks. Perhaps his finest moment occurred when he refused to come out of a game because of an injury in Game 1 of the 2009 Western Conference Semifinal series against the Lakers and helped the Rockets to victory. Other playoff appearances included first round losses to the Lakers in 2004, Mavericks in 2005, and Jazz in 2007. (He missed 2008 series against Jazz)
Below is a video tribute to a man that worked so hard to try to comeback for both his team and his country (whom he represented at the 2008 Olympics). He deserved better, but in the end, his 7-6, 310 lb frame just couldn't hold up.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Cliff Lee Picks Phillies
In an absolute stunner, last night, Cliff Lee, the most sought after free agent this offseason, decided to return to the Phillies. Although the Texas Rangers, who he helped pitch into the World Series last year, and the New York Yankees offered him more money (as much as $150 million), Lee turned them down to return to Philadelphia, where he pitched at the end of the 2009 season. The deal is reported to be 5 year, $120 million, and Lee will join Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in what will be the best rotation in baseball. This is a complete shock to me, but in a way, it gives me a smile to know that the Yankees were foiled in both their attempts to purchase high-end free agents this year (the other being Carl Crawford)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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