Most have probably seen it, but I haven’t seen it hear yet. An interview with Brandon by Slam.

That’s a pretty big upgrade over their previous offer, so he is very likely to take it instead of the qualifying offer or a sign and trade. Another free agent target off the market for 2009.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3532139

Apparently the Cavs want to get Mo Williams from the Bucks (in this case free agent Delonte West might be expendable). OKC is in the talks either to land Desmond Mason (an OKC product) for one of their too many PGs and PFs and / or to absorb and expiring contract and get a draft pick for their troubles.

From an article for the Seattle Times reporting from Beijing:

“It’s sad to see a franchise that has had so much tradition and success just disappear as if it was some expansion team… To have that happen to a team like that with the tradition that Seattle has… it’s still strange to know that I won’t go to Seattle to play this season,” he said. “It’s not right. I think the city deserves a team.”

“I don’t think we want to come in there and try to just step over the Sonics and what they’ve done. But I’m saying to Seattle, ‘Come on down’”. “I just think the style of basketball that we’re going to bring to the floor, it will grab some fans from the Northwest. We’ve got good guys. We’ve got a good group of players, and a lot of our guys are familiar to people in Seattle. My approach will be, as it’s always been, ‘Play the game the right way and play hard.’ And we’d love to share it and grab the fans of Seattle.”

The alley oop that Oden thunderously threw down yesterday (seen in Casey’s third video) gives me major goosebumps. Hill, Blake and everyone look like mere kindergartners compared the the beast-man that is Oden!

BRING ON THE SEASON!! Make it Happen!

Steven Hill (who most likely will be signed, at least through training camp)

Is anybody else sorry to see the fantasy football ad with Jerry Rice as the OFFICIAL COMMISSIONER!

I dunno…Jerry Rice is one of my fav players of all time. Seems like a waste of his marketibility, a tarnish to his image, or something like that.

Note: I’m not into fantasy leagues, don’t get it, don’t understand it, don’t have the time.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3531648&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

................................................ I need the money.

............................... Now I go to YouTube and I get all the descriptions in Chinese.

I’ve learned the word for CHINA watching the Olympics, but picking up Mandarin by reading is slow going…

Oden began this workout the way he begins most of them. He dressed into his practice gear, and then sat in the training room. On this day the Olympics were on TV, and I was with him as we watched several minutes of beach volleyball. We chatted about the U.S. basketball team, about Rudy Fernandez, and talked about his dog, who he recently found out, is blind.

It’s wasn’t bad. It’s still kind of ridiculous, but it seems to be returning to form. I liked Nancy’s convo with Shane and Silas

I caught the last part of it and they had just gotten off the phone with Kerr and had stated that Kerr had said that Miles was not going to be able to compete physically in the NBA.

Did anyone hear the entire interview and if so was there anything more interesting than, just Miles can’t play?

Cool and thanx if you heard it.

I thought the predicter (Prezofdeath maybe?) was really underrating the T-Wolves by not only having us beating them all four times, but each W was accompanied with disparaging remarks about the T-Wolves. (I promise I’m not here to defend the T-Wolves, only to defend my opinion.)

A few of you obliged with replys along the lines of “The T-Wolves suck, they aren’t going to be very good.” Yeah. Thank you for emphasizing my point. And though nobody called me crazy or silly, it was implied.

Well, it looks like I'm not crazy and I have some support.  Some very well researched and analyzed support.  The Wages of Wins article is here.  

Essentially the article puts the T-Wolves at 33+ wins. It underscores my opinion that this was a great trade for the T-Wolves. A snippet . . .

“The trade with the Grizzlies, though, was not just about Love and Mayo. McHale managed to get Memphis to throw in Mike Miller. Miller led the Grizzlies last year with 11.0 Wins Produced. A few weeks ago I noted how bad this trade was for Memphis. What’s bad for Memphis, though, is just amazing for Minnesota.

If Kevin Love can match Al Horford’s rookie production (not a far-fetched thought), he will produce 9.0 wins. And if Jefferson and Miller maintain what they did in 2007-08, Minnesota’s top trio will produce 33.2 wins. Such a trio would be the 12th best threesome in the league in 2007-08. And such a mark would – by itself – set the Minnesota record for non-KG wins.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3533552

Has this been discussed?

Ridnour’s value sure has dropped. Mo Williams is now Lebron’s latest running mate to disappoint him.

Poor Desmond Mason has to go to OKC. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKC.

Yeah… that’s all.

Mortimer

Folks, I hate going to the dentist as much as the next guy. They’re always looking to get money out of your mouth and they are well known for inflicting pain. I haven’t been to the dentist in over a year because my last dentist was a Lakers fan. I went in for a routine cleaning today and it was quick and painless. The dentist looked in my mouth and said, “Well the only exciting thing in his mouth is that he’s missing an incisor.” (#25 if you’re wondering)

Well, I’m here to tell you that the only reason my dentist appointment wasn’t a pain is my Sonicare tooth brush. I have been using one for over two years. I floss less than I used too, no space between my gums and teeth were over a 3 and I think I had a few 4’s and 5’s last time, and I just had one of the quickest teeth cleaning in my life. If you don’t buy a Sonicare, you should at least buy an over the counter electric toothbrush.

Breast stroke. Heh heh
Breast stroke. mmm
Breast stroke…

Havent watched any USA basketball..dont really care..
Cant wait for the javelin though: http://withleather.uproxx.com/post.phtml?pk=6619
Or a few other events: http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2008/08/13/hot-german-olympic-athletes-grace-the-pages-of-playboy

Enjoy
(calendar link in withleather page is also very excellent)

Wed.-Sat. (I work 4 tens), I pretty much spend all day at work just reading BEdge. It’s like an addiction. By Saturday I’m crack-head at the end of a four day binge. I’m irrational, highly irritable, hallucinating (seeing things in posts that aren’t there, I swear to God) and just a total wreck. It’s like BEdge consumes me for four days and then I take a three day break and it’s like I forgot there was a world out there. Maybe some of you can relate. I’m sure plenty of you are healthy, well-rounded, and well-adjusted individuals who don’t deal with addictions like I do, but man I think a BEdge detox until October would be beneficial. I might do that . . . after Saturday at work is over :)

with the running printed commentary and the following nugget was there

“The Remains of a bigfoot was found in Northern Georgia…...I guess that rules out it being Gasol (Marc)”

Brilliant!!!

If Frye keeps improving, at what point do you at least think about trading LMA? Before you lambaste me at least consider this:

1: Frye is a better rebounder than Lamarcus. He has the 17 highest rebounding rate amongst power forwards while Lamarcus is 39th.

2: Frye is cheap.

3: Frye is already a slightly more efficient shooter than Lamarcus. (including on midrange jumpers.) If he turns out to be a legit 3 point shooter his true shooting percentage should be even higher.

4: From everything I’ve read, Frye appears to be a better leader and locker room guy.

5: If he does become a legit 3 point shooter he will spread the floor for Oden and Roy even more.

6: Frye loves Portland, LMA loves Dallas. (See #2)

The big thing thing lose by trading Lamarcus is interior defense. Normally that would be a terrible loss, but with defensive minded bigs like Oden and Pryzbilla you’re probably going to be alright without him.

What this team lacks is a great perimeter defender. The Blazers might be better off with a guy like Prince or Harris defending the perimeter and keeping Oden out of foul trouble. What’s the point in having two great interior defenders if they are going to be in foul trouble all the time?