GOLD DIGGERS

GOLD DIGGERS

I ain't say he's a gold digger, but he ain't messing with no team that can't win a championship and that's what upsets me. We know that it's every NBA players goal to win an NBA championship. But I just can't stand when a guy goes and jumps on a championship caliber team just to get a ring. We call that chasing a ring. So when I see guys like Rasheed Wallace join a great team like the Boston Celtics or a guy like Ron Artest go to the Lakers it really pisses me off. Artest more than Wallace because at least Wallace won a ring on his own with the Detroit Pistons. But I must say this, to go and now join the Celtics, a team that you have done battle with in your conference seems kind of shallow. And hey, I love Ron Ron. I've played ball against him since we were in high school, but come on man! You go to the Lakers? We were enjoying seeing you and Kobe get into scuffles. I enjoyed watching him elbow you in the chin and wondering if you'd body slam him. And now what? Now Artest becomes Kobe's body guard. Where's the character these days? Rumor has it Jason Kidd is going to re-sign with the Mavs. He's gonna go and try to earn it. But not Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace. They gonna go and do a Robin Givens, which entails jumping on the boat and going for a ride.

POINT FORWARD

The reasons why teams covet Hedo Turkoglu so much is because of his ability at 6-10 to make good decisions with the basketball. He can handle the rock, shoot from deep and pick apart your team with his pinpoint passing. The most impressive move I've ever seen him make in his career though, was agreeing to sign with the Toronto Raptors over the young up-and-coming Portland Trailblazers. A good basketball decision you ask? No. A good overall decision? Yes! You see Mrs. Turkoglu was not happy with the rural sticks and cloudy weather of Portland, a beautiful serene city but very boring and dull. On the other hand Toronto, a much more cosmopolitan city with lots to do and a buzzing Turkish community, would fit the Turkoglus much better. You see he won't win more games north of the border, but he will win at home. Portland with all it's young talent would be a much better opportunity to enjoy playing basketball, but hey when you're married playing basketball is overrated. You better enjoy home first. The key to a good marriage is just doing what your wife says. A great decision yet again, by one of the best clutch players in basketball. He delivers when the pressure is on. Too bad you won't make the playoffs my man. But hey, you can get your lamb or chicken kebabs on all day in Toronto.

A RING FOR THE KING? NOT SO FAST

The NBA is a funny league. A brilliant move by the Cleveland Cavaliers to bring in big Shaq. I think.... The big fella in the middle will command some attention down in the paint. As a matter of fact, it's already happening. As soon as the Cavs made themselves better the rest of the league said, "Hold up don't be trying to leave us." The Celtics get Rasheed to counteract that. The Lakers bring on Artest. Nobody wants to be left naked out there while the Cavs are adding to their wardrobe. So let's not get Lebron's ring fitted just yet. Looks like there's going to be a long line of guys looking for the bling next year.

SELF-DESTRUCTION

You know I feel sorry for the Orlando Magic. They won't be back to the NBA Finals next year. It's a shame too. Good things just can't stay the same anymore. Take a good look at this picture because it won't look the same come next year. The picture to the left was the starting five in this year's playoffs. It was fun while it lasted. Free agency has blown this teams starting lineup to pieces. Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee are both gone to the New Jersey Nets. Hedo Turkoglu as we said before is headed to Toronto. Their back up center Marcin Gortat looks like he's going to end up in Dallas. Things just won't be the same for the Magic. Vince Carter will be making his debut in an Orlando uniform. As great as he is, I'm not sure if he can fill the shoes of Turkoglu. They are going to miss Turkoglu's play making ability. It's sad but they'll be remembering the days when it was all so simple.

SAY IT AIN'T SO

I remember when I was in high school and my friends and I gathered around the TV to watch Iverson play in his first nationally televised game at Georgetown. He was electric. I had the opportunity to attempt to guard him in college and it's a night I'd like to forget. This guy has been an icon in this league. The tatoos, the braids. He was a trend setter. He will go down as the best little guy to ever play the game. He stepped over Tyron Lue in the NBA Finals. He crossed Jordan over twice. He put the city of Philadelphia on his back for years and left everything he had on the court. He also pissed off management in Philly and Detroit. He's been rumored to not have a stellar relationship with the Atlantic City Casinos or the ones in Detroit. He's had a problem with practice. I say this to say that Allen Iverson has been through it all in his career. And I can't believe I'm saying this but there is a possibility he won't have a job next year. What team will take him? What team can he fit into to? What if he has to come off of the bench? Will he accept that role? The answer has already answered that before. No way, no how. The picture above may be the same pose Iverson is in next year. But the difference will be, it may be from his living room.

CELEVISON'S TOP FIVE ACQUISITIONS OF THE LAST 20 YEARS

Shaquille O'Neal Goes to Lakers

Doesn't get much bigger than this. When Shaq arrived in Hollywood in 1996 things would never be the same. The Diesel would go on to win 3 championship rings with the Lakers while going down as arguably the best center in franchise history. If you are an Orlando Magic fan, you have to throw up in your mouth every time you see Shaq make a bucket and wonder, what if?

Charles Barkley to Phoenix Suns

For all the young readers you can't tell how great Sir Charles is now by looking at the circumference of his waist but he may be after Tim Duncan the best power forward to ever play the game. Some may say Karl Malone, but what this dude could do at his size was phenomenal. He was undersized and yet one of the best rebounders ever. Took Phoenix to the finals in 1993. But they couldn't stop the greatest player that ever lived. Nothing to be ashamed about.

Jason Kidd to New Jersey Nets

To me these were the best years of Jason Kidd's career. He played with great talent in Kerry Kittles, Kenyon Martin, and Richard Jefferson. But it was Kidd who led them to those back to back Finals in 2002 and 2003. He was at his finest moment and brought some respect to a franchise that was sinking in the Jersey swamps. Very difficult for the Nets to get respect with the Knicks playing in the world's most famous arena right across the Hudson. Kidd was the guy that did it. The Nets haven't been the same since he left.

Kevin Garnett to the Celtics

It was almost as if Kevin McHale felt sorry for him. He knew that there was nothing more the kid could give in Minnesota. He sends him to Boston and immediately KG delivers a championship. I don't remember ever be more happier for a player. Garnett could possibly deliver a few more before it's all said and done. We'll see. But can you just imagine if he and Marbury could've co-existed in Minnesota. How good could they have been?

Kobe Bryant to Lakers for Vlade Divac

I'm not going to even talk about this one. It would be insulting to all of us who call ourselves basketball minds.