Since we have a quick moment to breathe between All-Star weekend and the rest of the season, let's take a look back at the winners and losers of the first half.
Winners:
Lakers: Landed Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton, also known together as "basically nothing." Started a chain reaction of trades in the West, and even after those are considered by many to be the favorite to reach the Finals.
Suns: Traded for Shaq, as an obvious response to the Lakers' deal. They're winners because a motivated Shaq for a season-and-a-half is definitely worth something, and the guy still has a little left I think. Remember, Shaq returned from injury earlier this season to put up a strong effort of 24 and 10 against the Bulls ... but his team lost the game by 30. He'll definitely contribute something positive to his new team.
Heat: Anytime you get $40 million in contracts off the books when you're the worst team in the league, you win. Plus, the Heat have played with more energy since Shawn Marion has arrived, and now they have some cap space to rebuild for next year.
Pistons: Very quietly, the Pistons have racked up the league's second best record at the break, and are currently riding a 10-game winning streak. No one's paying attention to them right now, and that's just the way they like it. This team will be extremely dangerous come playoff time.
Jazz: Utah's trade for Kyle Korver was virtually ignored, yet the team is 17-3 since making the deal. And the way Deron WIlliams has been playing, Utah will definitely have something to say about how the playoffs turn out in the West.
Celtics: Put up a league best record of 41-9, including going 7-2 in the nine games that Kevin Garnett sat out. Now that he's set to return, we'll see if they can maintain this pace and get themselves home court advantage throughout the playoffs. So far though, so good.
Losers:
Warriors: Signed Chris Webber, who hadn't played all season, then immediately inserted him into the starting lineup. Um, what? Now he's inactive, and it's very questionable if he'll be able to provide any help at all to his new team. It will be a struggle for Golden State to make the playoffs unless they make another move, possibly by getting something of value for the unhappy Mickael Pietrus
Mavericks: Screwed up the Jason Kidd deal, big time. Between their GM not knowing (or bothering to find out) about Devean George's right to choose and Jerry Stackhouse's mouth, they just about cost themselves this trade. Looks like it's back on track now, though I'm still not convinced that it's the right thing to do.
Spurs: Injuries to Tony Parker (and to a lesser extent, Brent Barry) forced the signing of Damon Stoudamire, which has been a complete bust. With teams like the Lakers, Suns, and Mavericks making moves to strengthen their rosters for the playoffs, the Spurs may want to consider doing the same. Otherwise, it's very likely that they will continue their trend of never repeating as NBA champions.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. The Heat have yet to win with Marion even though they "have played with more energy". congrats on that Heat. You still suck, but you play with more energy.
And how can you give the Heat a winner tag when they are losers of 24 out of 25? and with Dwayne Wade. Do you think Kobe or LeBron or any other star would ever let that happen?
With your reasoning, Memphis should be a winner for dumping money and having money to rebuild next year.
If you can't tell, I greatly disagree with your Heat analysis.
Posted at 3:26PM on Feb 18th 2008 by mrhammerstein
2. Winners: Blazers overcoming expectations and building a base for which Oden to jump onto. 13 game winning streak an awesome memory
Posted at 4:35PM on Feb 18th 2008 by Alan
3. Tell me why Pao Gasol is so great?
I mean afterall, he's led teams to as many playoff wins as I have.
Posted at 4:45PM on Feb 18th 2008 by grapevinesooner
4. I think the writer was saying because the Heat were able to get rid of Shaq's contract, which seemed to be impossible, for a player of Marion's caliber, still hold on to their expiring contracts, and put themselves in a position for a top draft pick......even tho they are BIG losers this season..... they may have a huge turn around next season by either resigning Marion or letting him go and going after Elton Brand...... and the possibility of getting the #1 pick in the draft with a Beasley pick or a Derrick Rose pick......this team would look pretty nice with any of those picks
Rose
Wade
Marion
Haslem
Blount
Banks
Wade
Beasely
Haslem
Brand
Therefore......... Winners
potentially
Posted at 4:50PM on Feb 18th 2008 by andre
5. Andre gets a gold star.
Posted at 4:50PM on Feb 18th 2008 by Brett
6. so why isn't Memphis a winner for dumping Gasol's contract, dumping Kwame after this year, getting a possibly decent rookie in Crittenton, and two round draft picks?
and your argument is they may sign good players and may be good next year. I thought this was judging the first half of this year. and they were HORRIBLE! They are 9-42! worse in the league! Their winning percentage is 0.04 since christmas!
your gold star should be revoked.
Posted at 5:15PM on Feb 18th 2008 by mrhammerstein
7. im bout to take that gold star back
the Heat have a super star in
D-Wade
the closest thing that Memphis has is Gay
The Grizz have no allstar caliber players
The Heat have 2 now
All Star players want to play with other All Stars......this is why the Heat will be able to sign a better free agent than Memphis....
The Heat could be key winners next year....
The Grizz still have a ways to go
The Grizz have potential to be good within the next 2 to 3 years....
The heat have potential to be good NEXT year....
Posted at 8:39PM on Feb 18th 2008 by andre
8.
I totally agree. I really don't get this Pau Gasol thing. He was never mentioned before. It was " Kidd to the Lakers, Garnett to the Lakers, Jermaine to the Lakers ". Now the Lakers fans feel they have the best dominant center in the league, lol.
Posted at 9:15PM on Feb 18th 2008 by DM
9. Doesn't surprise me you don't get it, having a small brain and all. You have to be big, real big if you want to piss in the high grass.
Y'all sound like you work for the Clippers. Trade for draft picks, get cap room, get old players at the end of their contracts. Next year, next year.
Anyway Gasol isn't even the best center on the team, Bynum is. Your only hope is if Kobe's pinkie gets inflicted.
By the way, do they even have high grass in the desert?
Posted at 11:18PM on Feb 18th 2008 by Richard Weissfeld
10.
For the Lakers to have a shot at the title, they have to be as dominant as they were when they won those three titles with Shaq. Sorry, but I don't see them winning anything with this group. They still have a big mountain to climb. Laker fans just need to accept reality, and stop getting ahead of themselves.
Posted at 12:00AM on Feb 19th 2008 by DM
11. Weissfeld the grass is growing in the desert like crazy now. Shaq is licking his chops at the chance of blocking Kobe's pinky and shoving it down to his elbow. How much do you think Kobe or Gasol will drive on the "midgets now? The only midget (mental) in the West is you now, loser.
Posted at 3:27AM on Feb 19th 2008 by Jack B.
12. The reason Memphis isn't a winner? The best player they got in the Gasol deal is a point guard, of which the team already had three (Juan Carlos Navarre, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowrey). Kwame? Black Darko. Yes, the Griz got two first rounders, but this isn't the NFL. Memphis will be lucky to get two decent reserves with the pick range they'll get.
Cap space? Sure. But show where the Grizzlies organization has shown an eye for grabbing quality free agents?
The Grizzlies sold Gasol for a handful of magic beans. Period.
Posted at 6:39PM on Feb 19th 2008 by Freezer