Saturday, February 02, 2008

Saturday 02/02 A.M. (Very) Quickie:
Gasol, Goodell, Johan, Knoblauch, More

Today's Names to Know: Pau Gasol, Johan Santana, Roger Goodell, Chuck Knoblauch, Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy and More!

Lakers Snag Pau Gasol, Cont'd: There's a new "Big Three" in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

I would argue that trio is an even BETTER "Big Three" than Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce... at least if you want to win a title.

If the Lakers were in the East, they would now be favored to win the conference, ahead of the Celtics. As it is, they have moved from a second-tier contender in the West to the first tier, along with San Antonio and Phoenix. (Sorry, New Orleans.)

Why do Bryant, Bynum and Gasol form the better "Big Three?" Size, for one. Give me two bigs and Kobe over a jumpshooter, a bigger jumpshooter and KG.

The other factor? What's around the Big Three: Compare Lamar Odom to the Celtics' 4th-best player; that's not even a comparison. And the rising Jordan Farmar is a wash with Rajon Rondo. UPDATE: That last statement was WRONG. Rondo is better than Farmar, but I'm not quite sure he's more valuable than Odom.

What's amazing is that with this one move, the Lakers are so relevant... so now. Bethlehem Shoals and I were IM'ing about the deal shortly after it came out, and he said the Lakers were the "new Suns," the new team of fascinating, weird talents meshed together.

The wild thing is that we may get to see which "Big Three" rules: If the Celtics are the favorites to win the East, then the Lakers have to be considered a strong contender to win the West.

Celtics-Lakers might be the only thing that could save the NBA Finals. (Wow, just in time for Groundhog Day today, doesn't it seem like we're now re-living the 80s?)

Mets make a deal with Johan Santana for 6Y/$137.5M, the largest deal ever for a pitcher. What's $23 million a year between new friends?

Roger Goodell vs. Arlen Specter: So the Senator wants to know why the Commissioner destroyed the tapes involved in the Pats' cheating scandal; the Commish replied with a non-answer, focusing on his punishment of the Pats, not the underlying cover-up by the league.

Chuck Knoblauch vs. Congress: He testified and said he did truthfully, but also implied he didn't say anything about Roger Clemens. Andy Pettitte's testimony next week should be a little more interesting.

NBA Stud: Kobe was obviously excited by the Gasol deal; he scored 46 in a 20-point rout of the Raptors. (To my point before about Odom, he had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. There isn't a better "4th-option" in the NBA; the Suns' Barbosa is his closest competitor.)

Meanwhile, Brandon Roy had a triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists).

Oh, and Grizzlies fans have to feel like they were fleeced; hopefully, this leads to a sale to a better owner. I mean: Why trade for Crittenton when you just drafted Conley and traded for Navarro? Rudy Gay IS a budding superstar they can build a team around, but they will need some size. Good thing they'll have their own high draft pick to use in what should be a loaded 2008 draft class: Kevin Love or Michael Beasley will look really good paired with Gay and Conley.

CFB: The Georgia legislators who passed a resolution calling for a college football playoff are deluded; how about solutions, instead of complaints? Oh, right: Because no playoff solution solves the underlying problems.

-- D.S.

5 comments:

Tuffy said...

Are you hearing anything about Bynum's recovery? The rumors that he may not come back this year are unbearable.

Biggs said...

And the rising Jordan Farmar is a wash with Rajon Rondo.

Not quite (as the recent Celtics/Mavs game proved). Although I do agree with your statement about the big three.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure who the Celtics' 4th player is, if it's not Rondo. I would say that Rondo is obviously more valuable to his team than Odom or Farmar.
Makes me wonder if you have ever seen Rondo or the rest of the Celtics play.

Louie Bones said...

Your hate of the Mavs is growing strong Dan. Keep it up, they may win a title.

Unknown said...

I'll take Tayshaun Prince as my 4th option over Lamar Odom every day of the week, twice on Sunday.