NBA Roundup

Great Basketball Out West, Shaq trade paying dividends for the Suns, and just who does Charles Barkley think is the best player.

The Unbelievable Western Conference
How about a team that wins 50+ games missing the playoffs? Has that ever happened? The West is just that good this year. With a head-shaking eight teams playing over .600 ball and only eight playoff spots available, some very good squad will miss the playoffs this year. While 46-23 San Antonio and 44-25 Dallas would be virtual playoff locks in the dismal Eastern conference, the two Texas powerhouses are fighting for their postseason lives. And with both teams struggling lately, it's conceivable one or both might not even make the playoffs.

How is that trade looking now?
On Saturday night Suns' center Shaquille O'Neal posted an impressive 23 points and 13 boards in 36 minutes of action against Houston to help Phoenix win their seventh straight. Meanwhile Shawn Marion has made no difference to the Heats losing ways, and seems to be getting really tired of losing as he now has a back injury? We are talking about a player who does not get injured. Marion even aggravated his sore back after backing his vehicle into a pole. Some people will do anything to avoid playing for the Heat it appears. Sometimes what you ask for is not what you thought it would be. And sometimes the pundits show themselves to be fools.

What is most impressive is not just what Shaq has done with the Suns, but what he has done to a team that was considered soft before his arrival. He even has little Stevie Nash playing defense. It is amazing to watch this transformation in progress. From a team that scared no one, to a team that on any given day can bruise you up, and it's not just Shaq. Suddenly Boris Diaw is no longer timid in the paint, Manu Ginobli is scoring and playing defense, Grant Hill looks 25 again, and the Suns are playing great defense in stretches, although not for whole games regularly yet, you can see it coming when they decide to lock someone down, they can do it now.

The Suns after a feeling out period are suddenly 7-1 in their last 8 games, and the loss was an overtime loss on the road with some seriously questionable officiating.

Most importantly, Suns big man Amare Stoudemire, is now the most versatile big man in the game. Now think about his, he is 25 years old. Shaq says Amare is better than he was at 25. Shaq's presence has allowed him to match up against power forwards on offense and he can face up at the 4 with Shaq in there, or play with his back to the basket at the 5 when Shaq is out, it makes him almost unstoppable for the opposing team. He was already a very good player, verging on greatness. With Shaq in the lineup, Amare has fully arrived. He is now regularly putting up 25+ points, 10 rebounds, and several blocks a game. If the Shaq we have seen the last few weeks is the Shaq the Suns will have next year, and Nash holds up for one more year, you can lay money now that Stoudemire will win the MVP next year, its not even in question.

If you are a fan of any other West team and the Suns with their rejuvenated big man and a power forward who is fast becoming the dominant player in the NBA don't scare you for the playoffs, you are not paying attention.

Lakers' Bynum Return Pushed Back To Playoffs?
Freddy C. fastbreakblog

The Los Angeles Lakers wait on Center Andrew Bynum and his injured knee. His return date has now been pushed back to (perhaps) the start of the NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers are desperate for help at their big-man positions, as their place atop the NBA's West is shaky at best without Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Bynum, who was expected to originally been back to the Lakers lineup by now, is still not fit for NBA action.

Team Officials are now saying that indications are, Bynum could be ready for the Playoffs. There will be no time to waste once the NBA Playoffs begin, and an Andrew Bynum that is not in NBA game-shape may be more a liability than help come playoff time. There really is not much the Los Angeles Lakers can do in that regard, and there needs to be patience while Bynum heals. Bynum is doing everything he can to rehabilitate his knee, which was temporarily dislocated to go with a deep bone bruise.

There is no doubt that a healthy Bynum and Gasol will make a huge difference in the Lakers' chances to make it to the NBA Finals. The prospect of facing the Phoenix Suns, with Shaquille O'Neal, or Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs without the Lakers' big-men will probably spell a playoff finish for Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are holding the fort quite nicely meanwhile, as the Lakers are still atop the beastly NBA West. Phil Jackson, however, knows that time marches on, NBA Playoffs looming.

Lakers' Kobe Bryant Is The Best In The NBA If You Listen To Charles Barkley
Freddy C. fastbreakblog

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the best player in the NBA, according to Charles Barkley. Barkley has changed his tune since last season, when he was very critical of Bryant on National Television.

Is Barkley correct? He was last year, when Kobe Bryant was chastised by the media, including Barkley, for being selfish, and putting himself before the Los Angeles Lakers' interests.

If I were starting an NBA team today, I would take Kobe Bryant as my #1 NBA pick. He has matured into an on-court leader, and his off-court antics have been soothed by a better supporting cast in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant is hungry to win, and that has always been the case, like him or not. He has the fire, like a Michael Jordan, that only winning quenches.

There are other players that are close, with Kevin Garnett and LeBron James coming to mind. However, if I am going to battle in the NBA West, and I need a gunslinger, Kobe Bryant gets my nod.

This is truly the first time in Kobe Bryant's NBA career that he has successfully led the Los Angeles Lakers. It shows at least right now a maturity, although with Bryant, his child-like diva is only a silly comment away. With Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Phil Jackson around him to help, Kobe Bryant really has nothing much to complain about at this point.

Teetering near the top of the rugged NBA West, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers seem to have their ship on course. Kobe Bryant, as Captain of the Lakers' vessel, likes the view, and I am sure Barkley's comments as well

Around the League:

Cleveland Cavaliers
Big Ben Wallace just hasn't been the same old dominator in the paint this season as he once was, and he has been mostly ineffective playing with the back spasms in March. He is averaging just 3.5 points and 7.7 rebounds this month, and appears to be day-to-day again.

Dallas Mavericks
Superstar Dirk Nowitzki suffered a mildly sprained knee and a moderate high ankle sprain during Sunday's game against the Spurs, and is out indefinitely. But he told the Associated Press Monday he hopes to be back within a week or two.

Indiana Pacers
CEO Donnie Walsh stepped down from his post Monday, and several sources suggest he may be hired to take over the New York Knicks.

LA Clippers
Los Angeles Times reports superstar power forward Elton Brand participated Monday in his first full-court scrimmage since rupturing his Achilles last summer. The Times also says head coach Mike Dunleavy hopes Brand can be back with the team for their final five or six games of this season

Information provided in NBA Roundup has been gathered from A.P. reports, ESPN.com, Sportsline.com, NBA.com and numerous other e-sources.

About this weeks Guest Author: Freddy C. runs the great website fastbreakblog. Freddy has watched more NBA, NFL and baseball than a human being should be allowed to. I have seen them all from Dr.J to Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady and even the controversial A-Rod. Some old-schoolers would have you think that the players from years ago were better, but guys like Dwyane Wade (even though he gets super friendly with Chuck in those ads—brunch, suit-shopping, etc. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, Jerry), Peyton Manning and Manny Ramirez would be great in any era

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