"Only from the mind of the Phifer"

The "Black Brent Musberger" is back , sorry its been so long, but I'm here to talk about the Shaq trade as well as March Madness and which freshman ballers to look for in 2008-09! Holla at ya' BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Growing up as a kid in Queens, New York, most may think that I was a NY Knick fan.
The truth is I didn't become a Knick fan until the age of 16 (with the drafting of St.John's guard Mark Jackson). Bernard King was the man, but ever since I saw a 6'8 point guard from East Lansing, Michigan lead his hometown Michigan State Spartans to the national championship in 1979, I followed the "Magic" Johnson show to Hollywood, California. As a rookie Magic led the Lakers to the title with Paul Westhead as the head coach, soon after Magic complained of being unhappy with playing for Westhead. In comes former Laker reserve/assistant coach Pat Riley manning head coaching duties.
Together along with Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott and A.C. Green, the "Lake Show" could not be stopped, leading them to become the team of the 80's.

The one thing that Coach Riley always had on his roster was a star big man.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in L.A., Patrick Ewing in N.Y., Alonzo Mourning and then Shaquille O'Neal in Miami.


Think back to 2004 when Riley was the GM/president of the Heat when he broke his neck to sign Shaq to possibly bring back that big man appeal which Alonzo Mourning left vacant due to his kidney ailment. As soon as Shaq was in the fold, Pat Riley couldn't help but want to coach again, so he mysteriously let then coach Stan Van Gundy go, HMMMMM! Pretty sneaky Pat!

Okay now let us fast forward to 2005-06, the Heat win the NBA championship, in 2006-07 the Heat get swept in the playoffs by the Chicago Bulls.

In the 2007-08 season the Heat are the worst team in the eastern conference, Pat Riley has never been a part of losing like this, 9-41? Last place?

What in the hell will Patrick do now? Quit coaching? Beg Stan Van Gundy to leave Orlando? Oh no! I have a better idea, trade the "Big Diesel" to Phoenix for Marcus Banks and "The Matrix" Shawn Marion who wanted out of "The valley of the Sun".

This trade actually works well for both teams when you break it down. Shaquille gives the Suns a presence that the team has lacked in the middle since the days of 1976 rookie of the year Alvan Adams, and oh yes, Diesel can run, you just wait and see. Even if Shaq couldn't run he can set off the break by rebounding, blocking and altering shots and throwing the outlet pass, very reminiscent of Kareem's last days as a Laker. Its all about knowing your role and not trying to do too much. How else did Shaq help D.Wade hoist the trophy in Miami? Trust me it can be done again. Props to Steve Kerr for this bold move.

This also allows Amare Stoudamire to move back to the power forward position instead of that bogus small ball they've been playing for the last four years, why else do you think they look great all season out running and out scoring teams? Come playoff time its all about matchups and the Suns have yet to match up with Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.

The fans of Phoenix can talk all they want about how if it wasn't for the Robert Horry shoving of Steve Nash(playoffs 2007) that if Amare wouldn't have left the bench they would have beaten Utah in the western conference finals. YEAH, sounds good, but the bottom line is D'antoni's small ball was no match for the Spurs, even with two time MVP Steve Nash who continues to get the business from Tony Parker every year. Keep it real Phoenix, Nash has to step up his defense not now, but right now. Now that Shaq is in town, can you imagine O'neal and Nash running the pick and roll? It'll be reminiscent of Stockton and Malone, because face it, the big man can still DUNK!!!

So although Shaq only averaged 14.2 points per game in Miami, those same 14.2 points per game will be a welcomed addition in Phoenix. My crystal ball predicts Suns make a run to the western conference finals, possibly versus the L.A. Lakers.

Meanwhile on South Beach, The Miami Heat get to start from scratch, D.Wade and Shawn Marion is a good look, although I guarantee Riley will leave the coaching ranks once again for the front office. Pat isn't getting any younger, he may as well buy the groceries and let someone else cook it. Riley minus a big man is like Popeye without his spinach.

Since March Madness is soon here, I have to give you my sleeper picks!

Memphis looks good, Duke looks great, UCLA looks solid, and North Carolina needs sophomore point guard Ty Lawson back, but forget all that, The Tennesee Volunteers led by coach Bruce Pearl will be making a lot of noise come tournament time. Sleep if you want, but guards Ramar Smith, JaJaun Smith and 6'7 forward Tyler Smith pack an unbelievable punch along with the HOT shooting of senior guard Chris Lofton. The Volunteers are truly a force to deal with despite playing 2nd fiddle to coach Pat Summit, all-american Candace Parker and the 2006-07 National Champion Lady Volunteers. I can hear it now, " Wish that I was on Ol' Rocky Top". Volunteer Nation knows what Im talking about. Let's not forget the UConn Huskies who have been on an unbelievable run as of late despite suspending two of its players. Hasheem Thabeet who stands at 7'3 has a long way to go offensively, but defense has truly been this young man's forte'. Point guard A.J. Price has been dissecting the Big East with his attacking of the basket as well as more importantly making his teammates better. Coach Calhoun is the man!!!!!

As for the 1 and done's in College Basketball, Phifey's crystal ball says:
With the recent troubles that Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson has gotten himself into for recruitment violations, may force freshman sensation Eric Gordon to bolt for the NBA, not that he wouldn't have left anyway, his skills speak loudly. Maybe he can use one more year at IU, but in my eyes this kid is ready. Some where in Champaigne, Illinois Coach Bruce Weber is laughing his ass off, reminding Sampson that God don't like ugly.

Meanwhile at Kansas State, freshman forward Micheal Beasley should easily be going to the NBA to show off how much of a monster he really is, Beasley claims it isn't about money and how he would love to come back to school, but his play this season made him a man amongst boys. I see absolutely no reason for Beasley to return to Manhattan,KS, his job has been done, but go where your heart leads you young man.

As for the freshman to look out for in 2008-09:

Oak Hill Academy's Brandon Jennings will be the point guard of the future for the Arizona Wildcats, UCLA will be delighted to have the services of Campbell Hall combo guard Jrue Holiday who stands at 6'4, and will gladly bust your ass.
Coach Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cards are all set to welcome 6'9 forward Semardo Samuels from Newark, New Jersey's St.Benedict's High and let's not forget with Georgetown losing their big man Roy Hibbert to graduation, they get to welcome Louisiana's Helen Cox high school standout, the 6'10 Greg Monroe.
On top of everyone's list however would be 6'5 standout Tyreke Evans who can play both guard positions. Tyreke is undecided on where he'll play his college ball. The kid from American Christian high school is being courted by Louisville, Villanova, Memphis and Seton Hall.


Best of the rest

Al-farouq Aminu 6'9 Sf/Pf Norcross(GA)High committed to Wake Forest
Devin Ebanks 6'8 SF Oakdale(CT) St.Thomas More commited to Indiana
Ed Davis 6'8 PF Richmond(VA)Benedictine high commited to North Carolina
Kemba Walker 5'11 PG New York(NY) Rice high commited to UConn
Isaiah Thomas 5'9 PG/SG South Kent(CT)School commited to Washington
Malik Story 6'5 SG Oak Hill Academy(VA) commited to USC

Catch the 2008 McDonald's All-American game in Milwaukee,WI on March 26th2008 on ESPN!

NBA 1st team in 2008 (up until the all-star break)
PG Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets:20.5 ppg, 10.9apg
SG Kobe Bryant LA Lakers: 28.0 ppg
SF Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers :30.3 ppg, 7.3 apg.
PF Kevin Garnett Boston Celtics: 19.2 ppg, 1.41 bpg
C Marcus Camby Denver Nuggets: 14.3 rpg, 3.85 bpg



Best Back court in the East: Detroit Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton
Best Back court in the West: Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis and Monta Ellis

Most disappointing player in the East: Eddy Curry NY Knicks 13.7ppg, 4.80rpg
Most disappointing player in the West: Kwame Brown Memphis Grizzlies 5.1ppg, 5.3rpg

Biggest surprise in the NBA: Portland Trailblazers and New Orleans Hornets!
Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!