All-Star Weekend

- I am impressed by the Reverse Dunk by Nate Robinson, and now he is the three-time Dunk Contest Champion.


- D Will got a nice dunk which vowed the crowd in the first half. Too bad that he did not make the team win at the end of the game. But it's all good as the debut in All-Star game.


- Apparently Dwight Howard is upset by Shaq's comments after Cavs win over Magic - "You tell me who the real Superman is." I think Dwight should be more motivated instead of telling the press that "It didn't sit well with me personally."

Shaq Deal Done; and VC to Orlando

- Shaq deal done. LBJ can be officially smiling.

- VC to Magic. Quite surprised that Magic management chose to have VC over Hedo considering Hedo is doing well. Very likely Hedo would walk away this summer. We'll see how it impacts Magic, but one thing for sure, we will see more Alley-hoops, not only from Dwight but also VC.

Rumor: Shaq to Cavs

ESPN reported that the Cavs and Suns are near a deal swapping Shaquille O'Neal for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a draft pick and cash.

If this deal went through, LBJ would be smiling all over summer. Cavs needs Shaq to win the Championship, provided that Shap could play at around 90% of his 08-09 season standard.

Well, you never know. And Dwight would definitely hone his offensive skills, and there is no guarantee that a declining (at least slightly) Shaq could stop the improving Dwight.

Shaq vs Dwight

Today most interesting quote regarding the game

"I can't compare him to Dwight, because Dwight is No. 1 right now," said Magic reserve center Marcin Gortat, who had eight points. "When I'm getting hit from Dwight I just feel, if I get hit on my left shoulder, I feel it in my right finger."

He may have indeed get hit by Dwight in training, a lot. :P

Sloan, Coach of the Year?

Jazz,

- Finally, we have some love from the press - link. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090228-0301


So, could Sloan get this long-overdue, well-deserved Award this season? Who is his biggest competitor?


My worry is Popovich, who is a not-so-obvious choice. But if we play the full-of-injury card, Popovich also deserves some respects. Spurs play quite some games without Tony Parker, and Ginobili this season too...

Others,

- Marbury is back to NBA after 13 months. He looks alright in his debut in Celtics, and Celtics is smiling.

- 45 pts, 11 rebs by an almost 37-year-old Shaq.

Shaq? MVP?

All-Star Game,

- Nate Robinson did a good job in the Dunk Contest. I guess Dwight Howard picked the wrong dunk for the last attempt, and also he executed it in a below-par standard.

- Shaq? MVP? He is very entertaining throughout the game, but I don't think he should be the co-MVP. And the bigger reason I feel so is that I think CP3 was doing a better job, though I don't like him that much (for obvious reason).

Celtics Lost Momentum

Others,

- Celtics, 7 losses out of 9 games. They lost all of their momentum carried forward from last season. Don’t be surprised if they are not in Eastern Final this year.

- Shaq is in crazy form this season, and his FTs start to falling in. Today game, 7/7.

D Will feels good

Jazz game,

- Okur is back, everything seems easier, but he is not 100% yet.

- D Will said this is the first time he feels good, close to 100%. He showed it by a good scoring night. Hope he could keep his shooting touch from this game onwards.

- Jazz will play an Away game with Lakers. Could we see another unexpected win?

Others,

- Baron expressed interest to be a Warrior again – link.

He should not have gone, Warriors would be a very good team if he did not go away. Now everything seems too late even some kinds of trade can be made this season.

- Shaq had a great game today – 28 pts, 12 rebs. He said it loud that the team’s offense should be built around him after the game.

"I've been doing that my whole career and I think that's how this team should play, especially the way I'm shooting free throws now. It should be an inside-outside game," said O'Neal, who went 8-for-12 on free throws.

"I've been in the league 15 years and I've been in [the finals] six times, and that's the way you get there. I think once we do that and develop some consistency and stop turning the ball over, then we'll be all right."

- After getting consistent minutes from Coach Don Nelson, Marco Belinelli has been giving some good numbers lately. He becomes a big part of Warriors already. You have not let me down.

Jazz Celebrated Coach Sloan's 20th Anniversary with a W

Jazz Game,

- Congratulations, Coach Sloan

- Like how Okur plays the game recently, he understood he needs to get a very good balance of attack between long-range jumpers and penetrating for easy shots

- When will our Man - D Will, fully recover from his ankle? He is playing not like he used to play.

- Zero minute for Price today.

- Anyway, we need to thank Kevin Love for his four consecutive misses on FTs. However, he is a very hardworking player that Coach Sloan likes. Look at his offensive boards.

Others,

- Magic had three consecutive three 3-pointers to win the game vs Portaland, thanks.

- Kings upset Lakers, another thanks.

- Shaq got his first 30+pt game since 1.5 year ago.

Shaq's Flagrant Foul 2?

Today's highlights,

- Shaq committed a very controversial foul on Rodney Stuckey in today game. Before I make any comments, look at the clip first - link. What do you think? The referees think that it is a flagrant foul 2 and Shaq was ejected.

I am not professional trained to judge whether it is a flagrant 1 or 2, but from my humble opinion it is definitely not an unintentional foul.

- Another clutch-time effort by Tim Duncan and Spurs, another close win. Jazz needs this.

Jazz Lost to a Winless Team, 6-2

About Jazz game,

- Matt Harpring is back. Will wait for you contribution!

- I doubt on the decision on playing D Will for 30+ mins back to back. I am okay if he plays some 20-25 mins to get himself warm-up, but not for that long considering that he can't do a good defense and in the offensive end he can't do explosive steps, but just perimeter shooting.

- Anyway, not a game I want to talk about anymore, a loss to a winless team...

Other highlights of today,

- Shaq is back, and he is a real entertainer, watch this video - link.

"Somebody pushed Steve so I had to take care of my little man," O'Neal said. "It wasn't nothing serious, though, just a push and shoving match."

McGrady felt O'Neal's strength.

"The big fella pushed the heck out of me," McGrady said. "It's basketball, it happens and after that we just went back to playing. A big thing for us is we kept our composure and won this ballgame."

- Paul Pierce, another money shot. Big play.

- Rudy Fernandez, another huge game, 25 points. He is flirting with both Sixth Man Award and Rookie of the Year Award.

- Wade, is really back this season. If Marion can play what he supposed to be playing, Heat is a real force in the East.