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The Nuggets likely would love a big man.Ītlanta: Josh Smith and perhaps Jamal Crawford. So maybe take a shot to get it going with Anthony, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby and whatever other deals you can make. They aren’t going anywhere without Brandon Roy in decline due to injury now. He’s been on a roll lately, four straight double-doubles averaging 29.3 points mostly at center until a stinker in a loss to the Warriors Saturday. Maybe it’s worth a shot if you are not going anywhere with the team you have, which is why I can see some of these teams and players in play for Anthony: Anthony has said he wants to sign that extension rather than potentially risk forfeiting millions under a new labor deal, and he has $18.5 million coming for next season if he doesn’t opt out. So why wouldn’t the Mavs take a shot at Anthony? I’ve heard a number of general managers are starting to think that way for their teams. Actually, it’s a credit to Cuban since he’s known as an owner who will take risks to try to win.Īnd what better time than now, as Dirk Nowitzki only has a limited number of top years remaining. Cuban denied it, but that doesn’t matter since he’s long said he’d lie to protect his basketball business. There was some talk last week that the Mavericks might get involved in the Anthony talks, which seems reasonable given owner Mark Cuban’s annual midseason aggression, and it’s a possibility I mentioned a few weeks ago. What this thinking, if it prevails, could do is change the entire Carmelo Anthony equation. After all, if you are a contender but not good enough, why settle? Perhaps Smith’s action will change that thinking. So most err on the side of excess caution. Smith’s view seemed simple: This may not work, but we weren’t going to win with what we had, so what’s the big risk? NBA executives tend to be conservative as it’s easier to lose your job if you make a big mistake rather than doing nothing.
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The Magic, after an uncertain start following the big trades for Hedo Turkoglu, Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson, stopped double figure winning streaks of both the Celtics and Spurs, two of the league’s top three teams. The three star formula remains appealing, though perhaps the latest inclination could be the Otis Smith view. Going for their three-peat in 1989-89, the Lakers were 19-11 after 30 games, though they’d make the Finals and be swept when Magic Johnson was injured. Individual agenda and the lack of urgency are common when you already have gone back-to-back. He then declared he wouldn’t play again for the Bulls, though he eventually relented. In 1997-98 going for their third, the Bulls were 20-10 after 30 games as Scottie Pippen was upset after being talked about in trade the previous June and purposely delayed surgery so he’d miss the first half of the season. The Bulls finished that season second to the Knicks in the East and third in the league. In 1992-93, the Bulls were 22-8 after 30 games and with a 6-7 stretch coming compared to the Lakers’ current 21-9. The Bulls faced it in both their three-peat seasons.
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Pau Gasol seems pretty much played out physically, Andrew Bynum again seems in not much hurry to play and the urgency is difficult to manufacture when everyone assumes you’ll win. Phil Jackson knows the malaise of success after two championships now that Ron Artest is back to concentrating on non-basketball activities, though more appropriate in raising money for mental health awareness. Spurs/Lakers Tuesday? Just a warm up, right? The Spurs and Mavericks now become the real marquee game of December this Thursday as the two best teams in the Western Conference this season. Statistically, they’re the league’s best defensive team, and they are fourth overall behind the Spurs, Mavericks and Celtics. Miami is 13-1 in December, winning 14 of its last 15. The offseason rage in the NBA was to try to unite three stars, which the Miami Heat did, and it’s starting to come together following the Heat’s impressive win Christmas Day in Los Angeles.