With possibly Nelson out for the season, the Boys at PTI were speculating whether the Magic will try and keep its great season and potential possibility at reaching the conference finals (maybe even NBA Finals if they could knock off Celtics or Cavs) alive by possibly trading Nelson for a PG who can keep them afloat. They mentioned Sergio and the Blazers. I am curious on everyone's thoughts on possibly trading for Nelson for next season? Nelson would then be comming off surgery which is a big concern, but he has been named an all-star this season and is a good passer who can create his own shot, Lewis and Howard have been successful with Nelson, think if Oden, LMA and Roy could experience the same success...... I'm a little on the fense about this, but it is something to think about for sure

I was reading this draft stock article in ESPN where is has Ricky Rubio in the "bad" (or stock dropping) section mainly because of his lack of contribution in his league right now (mostly due to an injury). Could Rubio become possibly available for Pritchard to aquier in a trade or directly with a pick in the 20's (highly unlikely still)? What are everyone's thoughts on Rubio and his NBA prospects? What about him possibly being on our team and finishing out the spanish trio (unless we may have to give away Sergio to get him)?

So Stephon Marbury publicy lashes out at his coaches and teammates today.

"When things got bad and then worse, guys like Quentin Richardson say, 'I don't consider him a teammate. He let his teammates out to dry.' He didn't care I was his teammate when I was banished. They left me out for dead. It's like we're in a foxhole and I'm facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death."

Granted Marbury is on the wrong side of a bad situation so you can't blame him for being mad, however, I don't like him, his skill set and his ego on our team. I feel he could have been way more professional then this. When Marbury was an ellite PG in the league he thrived on controlling the game, he would definitely butt heads with Roy over this. Also I don't feel he can play like he once was able to; he seems to have lost a step. I feel, if it's a veterain PG we go for, we have much better options in Kidd and Bibby.

PLAY-ER MOVE-MENT!!! Our offense looks so stagnant, no cutting, no slashing, no rotating, no picks, that's not the way to generate open shots consistently! It looked like we were just playing hot patato on the perimater which led to not much at all, especially at times we NEEDED to score (TP got bailed out with that foul call)

Just try a Pick and Roll play....... there you go, now times that by 100. It's simple, but it works, I think we have a great team make-up for a pick and roll dominated offense, spread the floor bring one of our bigs out for pick, should work AT LEAST 80% of the time for an open shot (Running actual plays PERIOD would be a helpful start)

Longmire should become our Brandon Roy! He is our best finisher, we need him to not be timid in the final minutes. He needs to take control of the offense and be ready to shoot the big shot or make the big pass. Once Dunigan gains more confidence and his offense becomes less uncooked meat we can differ to him in the middle more and take some pressure off Longmire (all though we still should use him alot right now too)

Zone Defense, we get killed on individual matchups, especially who Porter is guarding. Porter tries to get alot of fouls called, which has worked for him in the past, but with no help, when it's not working for him his player usually ends up with open shots while Porter argues on the floor for a foul. Our defense needs to be more of a cohesive whole to be affective

Better Clock Management, Earnie Kent called a few timeouts I HATED. One was with two minutes left in regulation leaving us with only one left, we sure could have used that in the final minute. He again called another one when we scored and they had no time outs left, which allowed them to set up (It almost worked as their shot looked good), His end of the game plays did not work at all as they either took too much time to set up or were broken up immidiatly leaving us running around like chickens with our heads cut off. It seems he had no plan B's which you need up to Plan D's at least on a game ending play.

And does anyone know why Vooged isn't playing? I thought he was eligable this year to play, and when watching him shoot around before the game at at half time his shot money!

I am curious now what the ducks will where for civil war. Is this the jersey they will wear for their remaining game and bowl game? I am wondering how the jersey will look in white, the one thing that kinda concerns me is the lack of other colors in the design. It worked for the black out but would it work for white? It probably would and for green to, but I would be more concerned about an all yellow one with almost no green highlights, that could look horendous, what are everyones thoughts? Anybody with an inside scoop on where the team appearal goes from here?

Now bare with me, there have been a few posts about this topic, but I want to put a twist on this for our conversation. Now this is the position I would like to see stepped up whether its by our guys or bringing in someone. We already know the young studs in Paul, William, Stuckey, Rando, Harris, Calderon and Rose are pretty much untouchable on their respected teams. There's been a lot of players who are available thrown around as possibilities in Hinrich, Conley, Felton, Nelson, Ellis, ect, who all have a few things here and there that throw someone off (Hinrich having the most well rounded game of this group). This post is asking about those dark horse Point Guard candidates hiding. Is there someone we should divert our attention to and snag up while we can? A few possibilities by me:

Ramon Sessions - he's been doing good with Red out in the last few games and his stuck behind Ridnour possibily ripe for the picking (I promise I will never use that line again)

Beno Udrih - In the absense of Kevin Martin this kid has stepped up, scoring 30 his last game while adding 7 assists, he has shown he can dish it well while also getting his own shot

Chris Duhon - With Nate Robinson killing it (the biggest challenger so far for Rudy for 6th man of the year) Duhon may become a target for teams as he is amoung the league leaders in assists

Ronnie Price -  Has played well in Daron Williams absence, now that Williams is back will there be enough minutes?

So go ahead talk about your dark hourse's, or player mentioned above if you like or sticking with our guys and hope J Bay can help us hold up a championship trophy in the future!

So Jason Quick just wrote this lovely piece about Oden looking very good in practice today. While reading it I was thinking to myself that this is one of the most positive things I have read about Greg in the past couple months. Nate is thinking of having Oden comming off the bench for, it sounds like, an extended pierod of time, which I don't think is a bad thing. Pryzbilla has earned his spot in the line up and Oden should to. Also as Nate said "I also think that allows LaMarcus (Aldridge) and Brandon to be LaMarcus and Brandon" Which I think is a very accurate statement.

Om Rudy's player page on ESPN they are reporting the official Trail Blazer sight has quoted Nate has said he is thinking of inserting Rudy in the starting line up in the near future. However when I was on the site I could not find this. Has anybody seen this comment from Nate?

I personally am torn between Batum and Rudy (Rudy's talent and fire power in our starting line up vs Batums defense and Roy playing in his natural position), Then there's Rudy playing PG, but I need to see him play it more in game to say if that will work or not