OK, most all of us were glued to our TVs this past Saturday night for all the All-Star festivities(or at least DVRed it) and saw what the dunk contest has come down to. Now, I don't know if you guys caught the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown earlier in the day when those "pro" amateur dunkers competed. Of course, these guys are mostly comprised of streetballers who spend hours upon hours creating and perfecting their dunks, but Got damn! Their creativity puts any of the dunks at this year's NBA Dunk contest to shame! Here's a prime example:

K Dobbs taking Ced Ceballos' blindfold dunk to a whole other level. Definitely makes Bundinger's version look weak! Search youtube for the other dunks which were get-off-your-seat good too!

Then, a few hours later, we were subject to a snoozefest that brought more silence than cheers. Obviously this year's dunk contest was a total flop and their genius idea of eliminating physical judges and letting the social media-driven fans decide resulted in an anti-climactic crowning of a new dunk champion.

1. The Obvious: half the field needs to be comprised of Star players.

No disrespect to Jeremy Evans or any of the other guys who participated, but like most of the folks who have sounded off about their disgust, this contest needs STAR POWER. Lebron, where you at? Defending champ, Mr Kia spokesman, Blake Griffin, where you at? Uber athletic Westbrook, where you at? What compelled fans to watch this in the past was seeing MJ, Nique, Clyde, Kobe, etc showcase their creativity and athleticism. Yeah, its nice to see an up-and-comer make a name for himself and dazzle the crowd with his leaping ability, but have him play the underdog and compete with a few stars! These elite players need to get off their high horse and give the fans what they want! How the league does this? That's the big question. How about they say if they don't get at least 3 superstars to volunteer in the contest, then they will just kill the contest altogether. That kind of ultimatum might light a fire underneath some of these diva players(aka LBJ) to actually participate and save this competition.

2. Base their scores on crowd noise by adding a Decibel meter in the arena.

The one biggest sign the dunk contest is so unappealing is the crowd doesn't get into it anymore. Most of us have the "been there-seen that" mentality so if its not new or exciting, we ain't gonna cheer. Only way to promote the crowd to cheer for their favorite dunker or dunk is to display a huge decibel meter on the big screens and once a guy completes his dunk, the crowd's level of noise will be factored into the score.I think adding this dimension into the scoring will revitalize crowd participation. Judges will have to factor in the crowd's response before putting their score in or have the crowd noise meter be the 5th judge(if there's 4 real judges) Set 80db as an 8 score, 90db for a 9 score, 100_db for a 10 score or something like that.

3. Bring back physical judges and give them monitors to see the dunk replays in slow-mo

The social media voting experiment obviously failed because we all knew who won, but who got 2nd...3rd? 4th? Bring back guest judges...make them recognizable people too, and not just past dunk champions. Shoot, let Bieber judge. Let Lady Gaga. Give us fans something to talk about like "why the hell did Biebs give him a 7?? that dumba**" And giving them all monitors to see the same slow motion replays we see on TV before they enter their scores is crucial! Almost always they only see the dunk in real-time and won't see the intricacies of the dunk that you would in a slow-mo replay. Give the judges a chance to look at it from different angles so they can better judge the dunk.

4. Props, props, props! I keep hearing that they should eliminate the use of props but really, with every conceivable dunk already been performed, bringing in props only adds another dimension. As long as its done tastefully and brings entertainment value to the dunk, I'm all for it. D12's 12 foot rim dunk, Blake's Kia dunk, Nate's kyryptonite ball. Bring it! That's part of all the creativity is what other objects or people you can add to your dunk that will make the fans jump out of their seat.

5. Forget the time limits and go back to the old school 1 makeup dunk rule.

What makes these dunk contests drag and make the fans lose interest is when they try a dunk 10-20x and finally make it(or miss it). The luster is gone! You won't get the same crowd reaction after the guy has attempted and missed a hundred times before that! I think the O.G. rule was 1 makeup dunk per round but to be fair, give them 1 makeup dunk per attempt, so if they miss on their first dunk they have 1 makeup dunk, then their next dunk if they miss, they get 1 makeup dunk, etc. If they miss again, then their max possible score is 5. Simple as that.

6. Keep it at 2 rounds and only the Top2 advance to the Finals

Its not as exciting to see 3 guys in the finals, You want to see 2 guys go head-to-head in any final round. Give them 3 dunks in the first round and only the top 2 advance, then only 2 dunks in the final round. The contest will move much faster and it gives less down time for the crowd to get restless.

7. if they don't get enough superstar players to commit, then ditch the pro's dunk contest altogether and just fill in this spot with the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown amateurs to compete! At least you know they will give it their 100% and put on a show! Better yet, pit them and the D-league dunk participants. No star power(like it is right now), but creativity is much higher since these guys have more time to spend perfecting their dunks.

What do you guys think? I know I put a lot of thought into this(maybe too much) but I have fond memories of tuning into All-Star Saturday night as a kid and watching my boyhood NBA idols go toe-to-toe. I'd hate to see this contest spiral into oblivion so something more drastic needs to be done to revive it. One.

you lose a guy like Kwame Brown to an injury, who the Warriors' org took a lot of flack for paying him 7 mil for 66 games...and losing him to injury turns out being A BIG DEAL. Remember, this is a guy who is a 2nd string at best on any other team. A bonafide #1 overall pick BUST. This is the same guy that Kobe talked shiet about and the Warriors seem to have been in total disarray after he went down. Absolutely pathetic!

What does this say about our team?!?!?! The one and only guy that actually plays some decent defense consistently on this team is taken out of the equation and all of a sudden, this team falls into the black hole of mediocrity. And what has Andris Biedrins done to step his game up in Kwame's absence? Well, he's pretty much given up his minutes to Ekpe and even Maguire! You think Lacob would love to press rewind on WASTING that amnesty on Charlie Bell? You're damn right! That inexcusable decision will come back to haunt us every game we see Beans underperform.

We are a quarter way thru this season and I think its safe to say that Coach Jackson's claim to make the Warriors a defensive team is a complete and total fail. Yes, they are allowing about 7 less points a game, but they are also scoring a lot less on offense, which means, under MJ's scheme, they are slowing the game down. But its completely obvious this team still makes the same stupid mistakes on the defensive end. Missed assignments, not getting back on transition D, not switching up on back cuts and screens. How many times have you seen a player from the opposing team be wide open in the key or drive to the hoop with little to no resistance? Same ole, same ole Warriors!

I don't blame Coach Jackson completely for this. I really think this comes down to the defensive limitations of the players on this team. They are just not built to defend the way he wants them to. We rehash these facts time and time again: smallish starting backcourt...big men who are either not athletic enough or lack the skills to be a defensive stopper in the post...and an overall lackadaisical effort, especially in crucial moments of the game(4th quarter). I don't think canning Jackson is the right thing, for now... This all boils down to the roster he is coaching and the present day squad just isn't cutting it! Plain and simple. This team is not a playoff team and won't be unless moves are made to address their liabilities or in the most drastic cases, go back into rebuilding mode and just keep one of the 3 core players(Curry, Lee, or Monta) as someone to build around.

A lot of people might gimme heat for this, but here's my suggestion to the Warriors brass if they were to hear me out:

1. Keep Monta. Out of the 3 core guys, he's the most dynamic scorer on the offensive end. Defensively, its a wash. Neither of them can play defense so if we were just to keep one, its Monta. He can create his own shot, he's an adept passer for a scoring guard, and he just makes the game and this team exciting to watch. I admit, I didn't always think if I had to choose one guy to keep, he woulda been the first one to trade. Now, with Curry's shaky ankle and a good, but not great PF in Lee, who is grossly overpaid...the clear choice is Monta.

2. Since the chances of landing an elite player like D-Ho or CP3 is pretty much slim to none, let's use the 76ers model for building a contending team. Look at their roster-- no one really sticks out as "elite". Iggy could probably be put in the category earlier in his career, maybe Brand as well. But here's a team that was stuck in mediocrity but has made subtle, well calculated roster moves and put together a team of players who know their role, play good team defense, and have a great chemistry. No one scores more than 16PPG, yet they are one of the highest scoring teams and they win ball games! Yeah, this may not be the "sexy" way to put together a winning team like Miami or NY is trying to do but its working. We can't emulate the kind of roster they have but if Lacob thinks the team we have now somehow has the potential to become a better defensive team and be competitive with the top tier teams on a CONSISTENT basis, he's a fool. This team is what it is...one that shows a glimmer of brilliance every so often, but for the most part is a team with the wrong mix of talent. Yeah, we had a great win tonight vs. the Blazers but laying down a string of these type of performances is not likely. That so-called dream team of execs Lacob hired to assist him in managing this roster needs to pull off some creative deals to bring in that right mix. If that means giving up 1, 2, or all 3 of our star players to get the mix of talent we need, so be it.

3. Be patient. Mark Jackson's bold prediction they will make the playoffs is very ambitious, but also a big whiff trying to swing for the fences. Same with Lacob and his "win-now" attitude. We all want the team to be successful ASAP, but realistically thats not going to happen. Not with this squad. Move a player or two before the trade deadline...possibly for draft picks to position ourselves in the upcoming draft. Then also move Lee or Steph in the offseason if the right deal can be made. Then don't expect to make the playoffs next season either. If we do, great!

What the Warriors checklist for an ideal roster should look like:

- big man who's long with solid defensive skills(example: Camby, Bynum, McGee, Ibaka. Kwame can be a decent backup once healthy next season)

- at least 2 players who can create their own shot and get to the line consistenly(ex: Pierce, Wade-type. Monta can fill this role)

- 2-3 shooters who also play consistent D(ex. Aflalfo, Sefolosha, Prince. Rush can fill this role and maybe Klay if he can develop his defensive fundamentals)

- a veteran point guard with a solid assist-TO ratio(ex. Miller, Parker, Nash)

Again, we don't necessarily need superstars to be successful. Just the right MIX. Can Lacob's regime redeem itself??? We shall see...

OK, well...I think we've done enough of pointing fingers. Whether it be Dalton, one of the WRs,or the questionable calls by the officials, I keep hearing AJG18's name come up frequently. But do you really think he woulda made a difference between a Bengals win and a loss today? The absence of AJ couldn't erase 3 Dalton picks, DBs getting burned by Torrey Smith, or Ray Rice breaking off a 60 yarder, nor did him not being in the game change the ref's interpretation of "a football move" as JG made a magnificent juggling catch while falling into the corner of the endzone.

Yeah, AJ would've made a difference, but not enough to overcome a plethora of mistakes that dug Cincy a hole too deep to climb out of. It was a valiant effort, in which many factors were to blame....some more than others. Besides the touchdown drive early in the game and the late drives in desperation to come back, the Ravens' D was masterful in stopping our run game and putting significant pressure on the Red Rifle, which forced him into some uncharacteristically bad throws(i.e. picks).

I'll tell you what, though-- this team has been competitive every game this season....no matter who they faced or the circumstance, they've always been gamers. I'm convinced they won't have one blowout loss this year. They are too gutsy of a squad. Despite the back-to-back tough losses, I think losing to these two division stalwarts will only serve as a valuable lesson going forward when they face them again this season.

I was thinking 9-7 was a pretty realistic record for us this season, but even though we lost 2 in a row to the AFC North bullies, I really think they will learn from their mistakes and steal a game from either the Ravens or Steelers and finish 10-6. AJ will be back hopefully next Sunday along with the rest of the team, hungry for another win. Playoffs are still a strong possibility, Cincy Jungle! Heads high!

OK, l know we are all siked about the 6-2 start and winning 5 in a row. Everyone and their momma wrote the Bengals off before the season started, even I had my doubts! But the "Red Rifle", AJG18, and our tenacious defense has surprised everyone and proved that this team is not to be taken lightly.

So instead of going the usual route and talking about how surprisingly good this team is, I will play devil's advocate here and bring us all back to reality. OK, the biggest number the football pundits have used to downplay our stellar record is our weak strength of schedule. Yeah! What don't we already know??? Our first 8 opponents have a combined record of 26-38...not exactly cream of the crop but since when were "the Bungles" supposed to be competitive with any of these teams, right? I think we've held our own and shown a lot of grit and determination in earning some of those wins. BUT the 2nd half of the season looms with seriously tough opponents that we have no shot at winning? Or do we:

Week 10 vs. PIT: they are coming off a tough late-game loss that has probably taken some of their energy away from them. This is a crucial home game, but we all know the Steelers will come back strong to try to bounce back from that loss to the Ravens. We have momentum 5 games strong, so this one will be another close victory. I think Cincy will have their eyes opened up after a strong of weak opponents and we'll lose this one in a close battle.

6-3

Week 11 at BAL: back-to-back really tough games. The Ravens will romp on Seattle the week before, so they will be on a high coming into this game. We may be able to stop Ray Rice on the ground, but if they get him going on the screens and if their WRs do the kind of damage they did against the Steelers, we got no chance. This one might get ugly as Dalton will get alot of pressure from the Ravens' D-line. This will be a good test of how he is able to keep his composure, but I see them beating us by 10+ pts.

6-4

Week 12 vs CLE: A bounce back game for us. The whole Hillis fiasco has left a big whole in their offensive scheme and I am not sold on Colt McCoy being a primetime QB yet. The Bengals team they faced in Week1 is a different team they will face in Week 12. Our confidence and tremendous defense will p0wn the Browns. Season sweep vs the "other" Ohio team!

7-4

Week 13 at PIT: Another tough game, but Marvin's team has 1 game under their belt vs the Steelers and may have a better gameplan to defeat them. But hey, this is Hines Field, and barring any significant injuries to the Steelers, this is still up uphill battle the young Bengals face and its usually by the 12th or 13th game that rookies(i.e. Dalton, Green) hit the proverbial wall, so their production might be on the decline at this point. I see PIT winning by a touchdown or less.

7-5

Week 14 vs HOU: Expected to be tired and weary after a difficult road game in PIT, they come home to the up-and-coming AFC power, Texans. I figure by this time, they will face a healthy Andre Johnson, along with a rejuvenated Arian Foster and Ben Tate running combo which has been proven to be deadly. We have had trouble with Kubiak's Texans in the past and they are only getting better with a solid D(which includes former Bengal CB Jonathan Joseph). A somewhat tired Bengals D will hold their own thru most of the game, but Texans prevail by at least a touchdown.

7-6

Week 15 at STL: The Rams aren't a very good team right now other than Stephen Jackson, but the battle-tested Bengals will still have their work cut out for them on the road. I see this game a lot like their game vs the Seahawks where its close throughout but the Bengals will eventually pull away in the 4th, stymieing the Rams offense and controlling the run game with Benson getting 120+.

8-6

Week 16 vs ARI: They come home to face an Arizona team coming off 3 straight home games and most likely a victory over the Browns in the previous week, so they will have supreme confidence. However, whether Kolb or Skelton is at the helm, the Bengals D will dominate coupled with another solid running game where we score at least 2 or 3 rushing TDs. I think the Cards will keep it close and this might be a 3 or 4 point game, but Cincy gets a crucial home win to stay in the playoff hunt.

9-6

Week 17 vs BAL: OK, this is do or die for the Bengals. I see at least 2 or 3 other AFC teams also 9-6 and in the hunt for a wildcard berth. For Cincy, this will be a playoff type atmosphere and they will come out swinging. The bad thing is, the Ravens will still be jockeying for the top AFC spot, home field advantage, and a 1st round bye, so they still have a lot to play for. Another heavy dose of Ray Rice and their punishing D will wear us down in the 2nd half. I don't see us pulling off the upset unless the Ravens come into the game heavy depleted or their playoff position is already locked where they can rest their starters. Valiant effort not only for the game, but for the entire season.

FINAL SEASON RECORD: 9-7

Again, I am looking at this from a realistic point of view. Of course I want them to kick ass and make the playoffs, but I'm trying to be objective here and play the Debbie Downer role, so please don't crucify me! We had a very friendly 1st half of the schedule which has opened the eyes of many NFL fans and critics that this team has the building blocks of being a perennial playoff team for years to come. And lets face it, most of us didn't even think being above .500 was a realistic goal before the year started. 9-7 is a solid mark that they should all be proud of given the fact we have a starting rookie QB, new offensive coordinator, revamped and young defensive core(esp our LBs), and had a shortened off-season to prepare. All the cards were stacked against them but this team is HUNGRY. I know they share the same kind of drive and determination to break the Bungles stigma of being a losing team and a crappy franchise. Moving past the whole Palmer debacle and the T.Ocho fiasco was a huge distraction that this young team has done well to show and prove themselves.

Being 9-7 and barely missing the playoffs is a tough pill to swallow but that "wall" is there and hitting it is imminent. It doesn't help that most of their 2nd half opponents are big dogs who feast on weakness and vulnerability, but that's the challenge they face. Heads high and know that we have a whole lot to look forward to this decade! And hey, if they pull off some huge upsets and make the playoffs this year, I will be completely ecstatic! WHO DEY!

What's your take on the rest of the season? Please feel free to throw your 2 cents in.

If you've looked at this season schedule, which most of you have, it's probably pretty cut and dry that our strength of schedule is very favorable. No more is that seen than the first 4 games: @CLE, @DEN, SF, BUF. 4 WINNABLE games. Winnable and not guaranteed wins because we know how "green" this team is with a new QB, new O.C., a patched up defense, and lack of normal preparation due to the lockout.

However, these first 4 games will dictate the Bengals' season, one way or the other. If we can somehow create an instant chemistry on offense with Dalton at the helm and the defense is rejuvenated with the new additions stepping in and bringing back the intensity of 2 yrs ago, this team can easily goo 3-1 or 4-0 in the first 4 games and carry that momentum the rest of the season. Best Case Scenario: 10-6, wild card.

On the flip side, to play devil's advocate, we can stumble out of the gate where Dalton is just completely stifled by the speed of the pro game, the absence of Cedric Benson takes our running game completely out of the equation, and the pass rush and linebacking core continue last year's disastrous play where teams just marched up and down the field with ease. Anything worse than 2-2 will probably mean doom for the Bengals and the rest of their season because you have Indy, the Ravens and Steelers looming to trounce all over us. Worst Case Scenario: another 4-12 or 3-13 trademark Bungles season ans back to the drawing board.

My prediction? I still stand by that we will fall somewhere in between. 7-9 or 8-8 because there will be a lot of inconsistency with this young team. The future looks promising with the pieces we do have, but I'm one not to go over my head and be a fool thinking this team is headed to the playoffs this season.

Your thoughts? Who dey!!!

OK, I know we have heard Marck Jackson say this all too many times, but in applying this to the Warriors case, its totally true and relevant. As he has stated on numerous occasions in this interviews thus far since being named head coach: "Every player will be held accountable on defense."

Those are some pretty resounding and profound words that really have sold me on Coach Jackson.

Now, easier said than done, right? No matter who the starting roster will be come opening night of next season(if there is one!), whether it be Curry, Monta, Iggy, Deng, Afflalo, D Lee, D Wright, BIedrins, Udoh, so on and so forth, its going to be like teaching an old dog new tricks. Like pulling teeth, at first. But if Action Jackson is a man(and coach) of his words, regardless if its Steph or Amundson that makes a defensive blunder, he must pay the price and get put on the bench or get an earful on the sideline, at the least. No star treatment here since this type of mentality needs to be disciplined from top to bottom if the Dubs want to be a team truly transformed.

I don't expect them to be defensive stalwarts from Game 1 of next season, but I expect them to be gelling on D by the 15-20 game mark if Jackson cracks the whip as he claims he will. Quite honestly, this is the only way he's going to get a squad that is so used to relying predominantly on their offense to win games. I still say that there needs to be 1 or 2 significant roster moves to get this team to be more balanced and shifted to a defensive minded team.

The trading Monta topic has been beating like a dead horse, but IMHO he's the most talented and tradeable commodity who we will get the most value for and free up the most amount of valuable cap space. You can argue all you want on how he's our only true offensive threat, but might as well sell high on a guy who is still highly volatile in terms of possible injuries with the way he plays with reckless abandon and his often rebellion mindset in the framework of the offense. I will gladly trade away all that offense for a guy or guys that will not only hustle on D, but can complement the guys we do have on our team. Gimme a guy like Afflalo and a big man with some length and athleticism like Deandre Jordan and I'll forget about Monta real quick.

So you think Coach Jackson can change the Warriors defensive philosophy as he has so boldly prescribed given the pieces he has now or will it take some major roster moves to get this done? Or worse case scenario, will he fail altogether? I'm a man of optimism and will give Jackson the benefit of the doubt, BUT I think some significant moves need to be made....the current roster definitely won't cut it.

So assuming the Bengals are ushering in a new breed of characters on offense with the drafting of AJ Green and Andy Dalton, it looks like trading Carson Palmer and Ochocinco might be in the cards so we can at least get some value for their departure.

From reading around the internet, there seems to be some decent talent out there that are on the trading block. Here's a few trade ideas:

Carson Palmer(+ future draft pick(s) or B. Scott or Cedric Peerman) for Adrian Peterson: I know it sounds ludicrous, but there's rumors that AP is on the trading block and although the Vikings drafted a QB, they would prefer to have a proven vet who can just step in and run the show. Carson still has some decent seasons left in him and may prove ideal for their offense.

Chad for Kevin Kolb: Yes, we drafted Dalton but he may need a year or two to polish his game to be a legit starter in the NFL. Why not get some value for Chad by trading him to a team that needs another WR threat for Vick to throw to in exchange for a NFL-starting level QB who can run the Cincy offense while Dalton hones his pro skills.

Carson or Chad for Snelling or Barber or Lynch(+picks for either RB): All these teams have disposable RBs and there's no guarantee Ced Benson is going to return to the Bengals, so acquiring a solid starting RB to complement our now stellar receving corps is a must to balance out the offense. Snelling has tons of talent but is shackled backing up Michael Turner. Barber hsd been all but under utilized in Dallas' RB by committee, and we have seen what Lynch can do in last season's playoffs. Mind you, we should also get picksor other players along with any of these RBs since we would be giving up more as well as a bigger contract.

Thoughts?

Any better trade proposals that would really help our team out?

Someone in the Warriors organization needs to represent at All-Stat weekend, other than maybe Steph in the Skills challenge and Soph-Rookie game!

Dorrell is 1st in made 3's and top 25 in 3pt PCT at just over 41%. Steph should be in there as well since he was runner-up last year, but with him competing in so many All-Star Saturday events, they might exclude him.

Whatcha think? D-Wright deserves to be in there with the likes of Pierce, Ray Ray, J-Rich, etc!

We are now in need of a solid backup PG now that CJ has bounced. Who do we pick up? The list of available free agents 1's is pretty slim:

Jannero Pargo - didn't really makes waves in the euro league, don't think he will as a backup in the NBA again.

Will Bynum - instant offense. Vinnie Johnson type player who is explosive.

Jamaal Tinsley - washed up...the dude can rack up assists but is a terrible shooter

Carlos Arroyo - heard he may end up back at MIA to join the 3 Kings train

Kevin Ollie - solid defender but old

Anthony Johnson - another scrappy veteran who can still play decent minutes as a backup

Jason Williams - white chocolate plays more like white ghost nowadays

Allen Iverson - an older, Monta-type with baggage...PASS

Chris Quinn - can shoot, but hasn't shown to be a great playmaker

Patty Mills - injury-prone and undersized

Earl Watson - gutsy veteran...I actually think this is a good pickup for the Dubs.

D-leagues: hey, we all know the Warriors are keen on D-league gems...

Your thoughts?!?!?! Steph needs a backup!!!

We reminisce...

SF Gate Article

I commented on some of the other fanshots, but if the Dubs biggest need is a top notch wing player/bonafide shooter, what better guy to set your sights on than Danny Granger? Big time scorer, can shoot the lights out and also drive and draw a foul to get to the line. His scoring production match up with Monta's, but he's a helluva better outside threat than Ellis.

My suggestion: ship Monta, CJ, and Beans for Granger and TJ Ford or even Tinsley, both decent backup PGs with expiring contracts. Maybe throw in Hansbrough too. The salary numbers match up pretty well. We would get the all-star wing player we need with another expiring contract and the Pacers would get the explosive shooting guard, a solid PG who can start, and a rebounding and defensive big man.

David Lee would be a good upgrade in the rebounding department, but even though he hustles and does a lot of dirty work down low, I don't think the Warriors would improve that much with him in the lineup. He's not a proven winner and isn't the type of guy who is going to make the players around him better.

Pretty impressive squad on paper if this trade happened:

PG: Curry/Ford(or Tinsley)

SG: Buike/Williams/Bell

SF: Granger/Morrow/Randolph

PF: Wright/Udoh/Radmonovic

C: Turiaf/Gadzuric

Curry, Buike, and Granger would be locked in starters and you can have any combination of Randolph, Wright, Turiaf, and Udoh at the 4 and 5. Solid.

With Ellison on the cusp of completing the purchase of the Warriors franchise, there have been rumors that he has been courting his longtime chum, Jerry West to resurrect this team out of its losing ways, as reported by Fanhouse, and now again by our own TK:

TK's article

How monumental would this be? Hall of Fame legend who has made the transition from player to exec and making probably one of the greatest front office decisions in NBA history trading Vlade Divac for the Kobe Bryant pick and signing Shaq. Then turning the pathetic Grizzlies franchise into a playoff team.

He definitely has the experience and know-how to not only create a winning philosophy and attitude, but also to usher in some talented players who wouldn't even consider signing and playing for the Dubs in the past just by his reputation alone!

Assuming that front office in place, who would JW want to bring in as coach? Del Negro? Mitchell? Van Gundy? I personally think Byron Scott is the perfect candidate, if he is still available when Ellison takes charge. He did a great job with the Nets(2 Finals appearances) and the Hornets and preached defense. His style would definitely slow down the uptempo style offense the Warrirors are used to but hey, this is basically going to be a reborn team: new look, new ownership, new front office, new everything! Whatever it takes to makes this franchise a perennial winner is right in my book.

Your thoughts? What are the actual chances you think Jerry West(and Griffin) WILL take the Warriors job if Ellison follows suit with the reports? And who do you think will be the next coach to replace Nellie? Holla!

Leading scorer in the D-league. Impressive numbers: 26PPG, nearly 6 boards and 3 assists, and his percentages are phenomenal (57/82/41). But like with every great D-leaguer, you have to take their stats with a grain of salt. Undrafted out of college...played in Europe. There's a reason why these guys didn't get drafted.

Watching some of his highlights on youtube, seems like his game looks alot like Tyreke Evans or John Salmons, but he has legit 3-pt range and he's a southpaw. Well, he's got a good first test tonight going if he's matched up against D-Wade. Let's hope he fares better than Cariter Martin! We desperately need another body to score buckets these days.

What's your take on this guy? Filet mignon or ground beef? My gut is he'll at least get a 2nd 10-day contract and longer if the Warriors injuries situation doesn't get any better the rest of the season.

Continue reading this post »

Kinda off-topic but I was thinkin about this the other day and wanted my fellow GSOMers to add their fashion trends past and present. I'll start it off...

1. Afros: Dr. J's fro was classic!

2. High socks: not sure who started this but this trend started back in the 60s(with the cheesy stripes) and still lives on now with many players.

3. headbands: the timeless fashion trend

4. long shorts: MJ has been proclaimed as the first NBA player to sport the long shorts. Now its ridiculous how low some of these current players wear their shorts nowadays!

5. goggles: Kareem made wearing goggles cool. Look at what it did for Rambis!

6. compressed spandex shorts: I think the guys back in the 80s before the long shorts became a standard wore these under their short shorts to get more "support". hehe

7. knee/elbow pads: Hakeem and Kevin Willis wore them proud!

8. wrist band on the forearm or bicep: seems like another trend MJ started and died off in the late 90s when he retired

9. rubber bands: seems like players started wearing them on their wrist to show they were ballers. I guess when the NBA banned jewelry, players started sporting rubber bands on their wrists.

10. tats: they have always been adorned by NBA pros but it seems that A.I. sparked an "ink movement" as another avenue of self-expression since its one of the hew sports where players show a lot of skin. Seems like half the league is tatted up nowadays.

11. elbow sleeve: it seems like A.I. started this trend too. I don't remember anyone else who sported the sleeve before him. Now you got dudes like Kobe and Melo wearing them.

12. Braids: another A.I. brainchild

13. TIghts: I thought this was pretty ghey and I'm glad the NBA banned them!

14. Underarmour: D-Wade seems to have made this popular. I see a lot of players wearing protective upper body and hip/ass padding to cushion their fall.

Aight...that's all I can think of. Please add anything else I forgot and speak on the ones I did mention. I wonder what fashion trend will be next?

His mannerisms, size, shooting range, and ability remind me alot of Speedy Clax. And that's not a bad thing at all...for a backup point, which the Dubs need. I think he's definitely got a roster spot. Whether he lands 2nd or 3rd on the PG depth chart, is the question.

I'm still hoping Mully can pull off a trade to pick up Conley or at least Crittendon. We need ballhandlers/playmakers! Do work, Mully!