Pitchadeuce.com

Something has to be done, right? Obviously for the Suns the Shaq trade didn’t work. They traded for him specifically to have an inside presence against the Spurs. That obviously failed miserably. Tim Duncan is clearly on the downside of his career. However, he averaged 24.8ppg, 13.8rpg, 2.6apg and 2.8bpg the five playoff games vs. Phoenix. For the season, his averages were 19.3ppg, 11.3rpg, 2.8apg and 1.95bpg. I don’t think Shaq helped. Steve Nash just can’t stop Tony Parker either. I like Steve Nash and really like how he plays. I just don’t think he has the physical ability to stay in front of Tony Parker. Parker averaged 11 more points per game in the playoffs than he did in the regular season.

Is it time to break up the Suns? I think so. Good luck finding a taker for Shaq. He has two years left at $20 million per year. Nash has one year left at $12.2 million and a team option for a second year. Boris Diaw, the guy who averaged less than nine points, five rebounds, and four assists per game during the season, is still owed three more years at $9 million per year with a player option for the fourth. If they could find a way to unload Shaq this summer they have a “chip and a chair” to turn things around.

Phoenix is the team who traded Joe Johnson for Diaw and pieces and also traded Luol Deng for a box of Wheaties (what turned out to be Nate Robinson and Jackson Vroman).

The Mavs basically traded Devin Harris for Jason Kidd (yes, Keith Van Horn somehow made millions of dollars in this trade too). In the Mavs first round series, Jason Kidd was able to hold Chris Paul to 24.6ppg, 12apg, 5.6rpg and 2spg. In other words, if New Orleans could play Dallas every game Chris Paul would be a first ballot Hall-of-Famer by the All-Star Break, 2009. But Jason Kidd scored too. 8.6ppg, 7.5rpg and 6.8apg. AND “ason” (which is Jason with no “J”) shot 42% from the field. What do you do when you aren’t shooting well? You get to the free-throw line. Jason Kidd got to the line eight times per game?  No.  Eight times in FIVE games. With Dallas, Kidd averaged 9.9ppg, 9.5apg and 6.4rpg. Kidd will make $21 million next season. With the Nets, Devin Harris averaged 15.4ppg, 6.5apg and 3.2rpg. Harris made $3.9 million this season.

Kidd has one more season at $21 million. Nowitzki is owed $38 million the next two years with a player option for a third year. Josh Howard has two more years at $10+ million per year with a team option for a third year. Jason Terry is owed $41 million for the next four years. Erick Dampier has three years and $30+ million left on his contract. On a positive note, Dampier is only slight below his career average of 8.1 ppg (he averaged 6ppg this year).

On second thought, maybe the Mavs don’t need to break it up. Michael Finley ($18.5 million), Shawn Bradley ($5.2 million) and Juwan Howard ($1.2 million) come off the books this summer. The Mavs have $68.1 million tied up next year for Kidd, Nowitzki, Howard, Dampier and Terry.

As a Timberwolves fan who had to suffer through poor management and decisions for so many years. I will enjoy watching these two franchises struggle for the next few years.

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There are many underclassman declaring for the 2008 NBA Draft.  That could have impact for the 2008 Fantasy Draft.  Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon and others are all turning pro.  One of the most intriguing prospects could be Keith Brumbaugh.

Keith Brumbaugh was a top-notch college prospect in 2005.  After a one-year stint as the top scorer on the junior college level, Brumbaugh informed officials Friday that he plans on entering the NBA draft.

Brumbaugh, 22, was named Florida’s “Mr. Basketball” in 2005 after a standout career at DeLand High and signed with Oklahoma State out of high school.

Brumbaugh was at Tampa’s Hillsborough Community College last season and led the juco ranks in scoring while drawing a steady stream of NBA scouts to most of his games. Brumbaugh, 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds, averaged 36.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 4.8 steals at HCC.

It’s never too early to start your research!

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Thanks to 36DD for running a great league.  The timely updates / results make the league fun.  There have been a few suggestions for next season.  Please keep them coming.

I can make a few predictions for Draft Day 2009…

• The words “I will take Timmy Duncan” will not come from the owner of DaLoot
• Chris Paul will not go as late as he did this season
• Shaq may not get drafted

Recommendation:

• Draft during a ND football game…this always eliminates one and potentially two teams from contention

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Dirty Sanchez was ready.  They had prepared all year for this.  It start with the youth movement on draft day.  Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh and Rudy Gay all had breakout seasons.  That is stellar drafting.  Certainly better than taking momma’s butt (a.k.a. Timmy Duncan).  How many 2009 first round picks were on that roster?  Potentially three.  A fourth will go in teh second round this fall.  Wow.  Just a great overall draft for Dirty Sanchez. 

Royz Boyz was a little banged up, but fought a good fight.  Kobe was Kobe getting 49 fantasy points.  AI was AI with 34 fantasy points.  David West didn’t get his normal total (24 vs. averages of 33.72), but Rudy Gay didn’t get his average for Dirty Sanchez either (23 vs. averages of 30.68).  Beno Udrich is probably the one that “shat the bed” for Royz Boyz.  A 17 point total (8.5 on the bench) is just not enough in a championship game. 

In the highly anticipated Toilet Bowl (3rd Place Game), The Fur (196.0) took advantage of Manu Ginobli’s bum loins to defeat DaLoot (189.5).  Certainly Manu sitting out with a sore groin and taking his 30+ fantasy points / game with him killed DaLoot.  Justice is served, since DaLoot did draft Timmy Duncan.

Congratulations Dirty Sanchez!

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There were two pretty terrible games this week.  High score was 202.5…that’s low for this season.  Royz Boyz opened the door, but DaLoot could not take advantage.  It is never a good sign when you have two starters (Timmy Duncan and Manu Ginobli) playing for a team that scored 64 points in the game (San Antonio).  Royz Boyz held on and defeated DaLoot 202.0 – 184.

The Fur was excited on draft day when they selected Kevin Garnett.  What he didn’t know then is that KG would lead Boston to the greatest single season turn around in NBA history.  Doc Rivers decided he would rest his three studs (Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) for a game or two.  Doc obviously does not care about the Pitchadeuce Fantasy League playoffs.  Dirty Sanchez beat The Fur by 32 points.  Could KG have made the difference?  With averages of 18.9, 9.4, 3.5, 1.41, 1.27 = 34.38 one would have to say Doc cost The Fur this week.  Of course so did Ron Artest by kindly totalling the same as a dead man (0).  Final score…Dirty Sanchez 202.5 – The Fur 170.5.

Good luck to Dirty Sanchez and Royz Boyz in the championship!

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There is a new look and feel to www.pitchadeuce.com. Nothing too fancy, but this will be easier to update for Ol’ Tommy. I apologize that it took until the Playoff Semi-Finals to get my act together.

The first thing to notice is on the upper right-hand corner, you will see a countdown to “Vegas, 2009.” Book your flights now (well in a few days when the airlines take reservations that far out) and join us. 2008 produced winner after winner.

You can also find a playoff update here: PLAYOFFS

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