A weird week in the NBA, for sure.  The Hawks beat the Spurs, the Jazz beat the Pistons and the Hornets beat the Suns.  Chris Webber played defense and Dan Gadzuric scored!  What?s going on in the league this week?  We?ll try to decipher the strange from the irregular in this week?s trip around the NBA.  

? Good to see some things are the way we remember: Phoenix trashed Portland on Tuesday 130-85.  I?ll do the math for you, that?s 40 freaking points.  And that give the Blazers losses of 40, 24 and 39 to the Nuggets in November.  I hope the Blazers are sending the Hawks Christmas cards.

? What I learned this week: If the 76ers keep playing the first 3 quarters and hitting the locker room early, they won?t even make the playoffs.  Jonathan Bender may have been the most talented player to never play in the NBA.  The Celtics are paying Vin Baker more money than the Pacers are paying Ron Artest.  To get fair value for Kevin Garnett the Timberwolves would need to get the following:  a 6?11 defensive presence, a big man that can pass and knock down a consistent 20 footer and a finisher who can average 21 and 10.  If that?s you, give Kevin McHale a call.

RealGM Trade Checker: 2711343

To Pacers

Corey Maggette
6-6 SG from Duke
21.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg in 34.1 minutes

To Clippers

Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes

? So, Ron Artest wants out.  After ruining the Pacers season last year, Artest thinks Indiana is better off if he leaves, saying they ?can probably win more games without me.?  Fine, we all know he?s insane. But one trade that might work for all involved? No, not Peja for Artest.  Stojakovic doesn?t play the same position or fill the same role that Artest does for the Pacers.  How about Artest to L.A. for Corey Maggette?  The money matches up and in a real tough Central Division Indiana would be adding 2.3 ppg and get a slight edge in rebounding and assists with the addition of Maggette.  The Clips would get a huge publicity bump, a defensive terror and a swagger they?ve been missing forever.  Maggette would get a chance to be with a winner and Artest would be allowed to score more, displaying the all-around game he wants the League to see.  Hey Elgin, ask Elton brand if he remembers the Chicago days of Ron Artest going 150% in practice.  If he?s okay with it, pull the trigger.

? Hold up there Austin Croshere, I wouldn?t unpack that suitcase just yet.  You and Mr. Scalabrine should probably call some friends to see if they can help you both on the afternoon of the 15th.  That?s the first day ?players? who were signed in the off-season can be unceremoniously dumped like a 4 am burrito.  

? The balance of power is shifting from West to East in this year?s NBA.  The Spurs are a great team but right now Detroit, Miami, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Indiana are better than the rest of the West and only the Pistons and Heat are leading their divisions.  We?ll see how it shakes down come summertime, but right now, it looks like the power in the NBA has been moving in lock-step with Shaquille O?Neal for almost 13 years.  

? This Week?s Worst Team:  Still the Toronto Raptors.  Toronto is 4-17 and a remarkable 1-9 at home.  How is that possible?  Maybe because at home or not the road, they give up 103.6 points per game.  To put that in perspective, the Clippers are 9-2 at home.  They do have a good win against a Shaq-less Miami team but their other three wins?  Try Atlanta, New Jersey and Charlotte.  

? This just in: Greg Oden is better than half of the Centers in the Western Conference, today.  And he won?t be here for 2 years.

? Weekly Musings Quote of the Week:  This week?s quote comes from Philadelphia?s own John ?Upstream? Salmons, who responds to a question regarding his increased playing time: ?I think it's because, it's one of those things, where people struggle at certain times for whatever reasons, but right now, I'm at a place where I'm able to go out there and do what I do best.?  Right, John. Now, in English this time.

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