I'm not putting down their regular season record because I don't have time to add them all up so that at the very least the league is even in wins & losses (something many people forget about). So here's my picks:

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Ok, so why do I feel stupid? I feel retarded because I just spent 4 years defending Jordan Farmar as a potential starting PG for our triangle, or another offensive set in the future that more displays his speed and quickness. Well, apparently Farmar wanted the latter, and wasn't willing to be patient, even at 23 years of age. Well, the comments he made yesteday totally floored me, and I personally can't wait till Bynum drops the hammer on his head. Here's some of Farmar's comments.

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I'm just curious on anyon's thoughts about an exhibition game like this. Today ESPN is airing the WNBA All-Stars vs. Women's Team USA. The selection process was 10 players selected by fans for the WNBA All-Stars. Team USA & WNBA selected the Team USA members. Then, WNBA coaches selected 6 players to add to the 5 selected by fans that were not on Team USA to complete the All-Stars roster. Here's a link from ESPN to cover the game live.

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Ok, so the media is throwing out that "When the series is tied 1-1, 28 out of 32 of Game 3 winners win the series." What bugs me about this is that this stat doesn't take into account the 1985 2-3-2 format change for the NBA Finals.  So I did some research.

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This can't be right, can it? Who, in their right mind, would seriously say that the Spurs were favored over the Lakers to win the Finals, much less make it? Well, no surpise.... heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny Hollinger! According to today's Playoff Odds, San Antonio has a 18.4% chance to make the Finals over LA's 16.5%, and has a 9.1% chance to win, versus 7.7% for LA. However, if you know anything about Hollinger, this doesn't make SA the favorites in the West. Hollinger still has a decade-long boner for Jerry Sloan and the Jazz, who love to blow people out, but can't win a game on the road to save their lives. John still sees the Jazz with a 24.8% chance to make the Finals, and 12.6% chance to win the whole shebang.

Devean George is on the move again. Yahoo Sports! reports former Laker and 3-time World Champion George was traded rom the Toronto Raptors to Golden State Warriors in exchange for Marco Belinelli.

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So first it started with Charlie Villanueva. Then Ron Artest. Then Trevor Ariza. Then Rasheed Wallace. (Not that there was much published reports of Cleveland's interest in Sheed... only fan and blogger interest.)

I posted the following comment on Fear The Sword:

just had this thought...

we know Artest says he chose LA for the weather, the city itself, and his friendship with players like Kobe and Lamar Odom.

But I also wonder… did Artest maybe choose LA over Cleveland because of Lebron himself? Lebron is recruiting players across the country, but I’m sure some players have to be cautious considering Lebron himself hasn’t given Cleveland a true commitment beyond this next season.

Look at it this way. If your Ron Artest, do you sign with the Lakers, who just won a championship, have one of the top two perimeter players in the league, and one of the top 5 post players in the league…. or do you sign with Cleveland, a team on the cusp of the championship, who has one of the top two perimeter players in the league, and one of the top 5 (or 10) post players in the league?

Really, the difference between the two franchises (other than location) is the "What if?" scenario? Kobe is signed beyond next season (he likely will opt out, merely to get his final big contract till he turns 36), Pau is signed for the next 4 years. In Cleveland, neither Lebron nor Shaq will be under contract after this season, and there’s no certainty that either player will be back, especially if the Cavs do not win the championship.

Pretty much, to any free agents looking at Cleveland, do they want to risk being left behind on a lottery team if things go sour this season and Lebron and Shaq bolt? I mean, even Trevor Ariza’s decision makes sense in this light. Why go to Houston, a team with no hope this season, but maybe the season after and beyond? We know why he turned down Portland (he’s still upset over their treatment of him from the Rudy incident), even though they have a better future than Houston. And why turn down Cleveland, who could give him a chance to put it to the Lakers in a possible Finals showdown?

Obviously, this met with some derision in the thread, but we'd be doing the same if someone said Kobe's non-commital status was costing LA free agents (which it hasn't).

But what's interesting is that only a couple of days after I posted this thought, suddenly it has begun to pick up steam, not only amongst fellow fan posters, but also some bloggers and even a ESPN reporter.

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 According to a source, reported on ESPN and also by the AP, Trevor Ariza is now meeting with the Houston Rockets in Las Vegas.

Once again, take this with a grain of salt. His agent David Lee is obviously trying to drive the price up, but at the same time, other teams are using the possibility of signing Ariza to both help themselves, and hurt LA. How so? For example, Portland is chasing Hedo, but by showing interest in Ariza, it says to Hedo "Either sign on our terms, or we find a cheaper replacement." The Cavs are chasing Ron Artest, and saying to him "Either take the MLE an compete or a championship, or we find a cheaper defensive stud, and leave you to carry the Houston Kings for a year."

Houston, I believe, is merely doing what it must. It's protecting itself against Artest leaving, and of course trying to keep the two stud defensive wing player mentality going. While their next season is shot, maybe in 2 years, with Ariza, Battier, Yao (if he comes back), and whoever they get for McGrady can make a come back.

Great post at Slate.com from Tom Scocca, debating how Kobe Bryant quite possibly is the greatest personal rival for all players. He defines certain players careers (Ruben Patterson, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, anyone?), while others strive to best him, and take the mantle of the Heir Jordan for themselves.

Here's a tidbit:

Bryant is also the perfect foil for every sort of rivalry. Dynastic? Tim Duncan's Spurs have four rings to Kobe's three. Cryptodynastic? The critically acclaimed, fast-breaking Phoenix Suns couldn't win a title, but they could beat Kobe. Intrasquad? Since their feud broke up the championship Lakers, Shaq has won a ring without Kobe, and Kobe has none without Shaq. Intergenerational? If LeBron doesn't make the Finals, we'll have to settle for Carmelo. Player-against-coach? Phil Jackson left L.A. in exasperation, Kobe missed the playoffs entirely, and Jackson came back. And a proof by counterexample: The Miami Heat's championship win over the Dallas Mavericks was so forgettable because neither team had to beat Kobe to get there. The whole thing felt unpersuasive.

It's a great read, comes through way of ESPN. You can find the whole article by following the link.