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Monday, February 25, 2008

Dream Shake is Being Run By Nostradamus

Recent trade action around the NBA has managed to keep another story under the radar. Grungedave over at Dreamshake(Note: I was mistaken the prediction was made by Lee- though now that the Jinx has come in with Yao going down for the season, I am wondering if Lee really wants all that credit) has predicited correctly win after win for his Houston Rockets, who are on a 12-game win streak. His over the top claim that Houston is the hottest team in the NBA, is a litte suspect with the Los Angeles Lakers succes since the Pau Gasol trade. Phoenix, is be given credit for 11 straight agaisnt the east. A streak that ended against Detroit on Sunday.

GrungeDave's constant predictions are impressive. They are made even more so by the fact he realistic about his team shortcomings. People often predict a win every game for their team, celebrating easily when they get it right. If the Rockets momentum carries with them to the playoffs, they will be a force to contend with.

I doubt the Lakers will be shaking in their sneakers at that thought. The Lakers have only lost one game since Pau Gasol's arrival. Their 7-game win streak is reassuring while their hottest emerging players this season, Andrew Bynum, is out recovering from a knee injury. If the chemistry that seemed evident from the moment Gasol donned the Purple and Gold continues when Bynum returns, the Lakers wont fear anyone in the league.

While it is to early for full scale panic; Phoenix GM, Steve Kerr, is likely experiencing some fear. He pulled the trigger on the questionable deal that brought Shaquille O'neal to Phoenix. In the game Phoenix won it appeared to be in spite of Shaq. The two losses seemed directly tied to him. His non-impact in his debut against the Lakers was not an endoresement of the trade. Yesterday's loss against Detroit was strongly tied to Shaq. Phoenix, one of the highest scoring teams in league history finishes a loss with only 86 points, 30 points short of their opponent. The anemic offense and lack of scoring on the break is easily tied to the new, immobile big man.

Barry Bonds Sinks To A New Low

While both of Barry Bonds fans wait, along with the millions who despise him, for him to sign with another club. Rumors are surfacing that he may be finding a new low. and by new low I mean a place that is still too good for him. Fanhouse is reporting that Barry is not ready to retire. If no Major League teams want his bat in their lineup, he will look to play over seas. Barry has a few strikes against him; his looming indictment for perjury, his ties to the steroids era, his black hole of a personality; and his lack of mobility in the outfield.

Bonds, the all-time home run champ, would on the surface be an easy pick-up. He still has power at the plate, as well as box office power. He is no doubt a hall of fame caliber player, but a lot of that is past him now.

Denials of his steroid use to federal investigators got Bonds a perjury indictment receently. Media attention has been drawn away by Roger Clemens and the Mitchell report. General Mangers it seems do not follow the media, and have opinions of their own. Bonds agent has taken to "driving from training camp to training camp in Florida, hoping to persuade a general manager of some major-league club to give Bonds a new opportunity"

While the indictment creates playing time, courtroom appearance conflicts. The larger issue for the General Managers my be the actual issue of steroids. No GM wants his team and clubhouse associated with steroids. It ould clearly be a gamble to have the greates hitter of the modern era wearing your uniform if the steroid allegations finally stuck.

As the Bonds approaches his twilight, he doesn't seem suited to the path that most diminishing veterans take. Clubhouse mentor just doesn't fit Bonds, from his public fued with Jeff Kent. to his general Vader like presence in a locker room. When beat writers are dropping quotes like "a reporter who visited the home clubhouse at Fenway Park when the Giants played in Boston in June was struck by the jocularity and fellowship inside a room populated by youngsters and superstars who together won a World Series four months later. It was a stark contrast to the way the Giants tiptoed through Bonds' clubhouse." you know you are a parriah.

The final piece to the Bonds puzzle is his ever decreasing mobility. His defense is lacking, no longer able to cover as much ground in the outfield. With diminshed speed on the base paths, he is not far removed from the David Ortiz Homerun or a single scenario. This leaves him only available to teams in need of a DH and even amongst that small group a team would have to be desperate to take on all the other baggage.

Would you take Barry on your team??

Linking up with RonDean

Just think LSU fan you can use the license plate from your trailerhome, once you park it(Neatorama)

Bruce Perl, Just living the dream(TheBigLead)

For the man that hooks to the left(Neatorama)

Primoz Brezec put's Sam Vincent on blast- and knows what on blast means(Fanhouse)

Wanna get away?(Gizmodo)

Bikini Girls Maxim spread still possible(Towards the end)(MilwaukeeJournalSentinel)

This Week In Sports February 25, 2008

Not much this week, thankfully the NFL always has legal problems and MLB has steroids.