Game Thread # 45 -- @ Washington

Spurs 99
Wizards 88

at the very least our boy stevie kerr is sending mixed messages.  he ships kurt thomas out and brings grant hill in - smaller, faster right? and now this? doesnt add up.  something smells about this one, but who am i to complain about the fastest team in the west getting the slowest plodder in the game?

i also heard talk of shaq to dallas? i havent seen if anything has happened with shaq yet, but whoa on either of these. i dont mind seeing the west get bigger and slower all the sudden - maybe the NBA gave up on the new run and stun style already?  i mean its only been a couple of years now......maybe old and slow is back in style all the sudden?

for once, something from the world-wdie misleader is well written and even well reasoned. but that still doesnt make it right on the suns end.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862

everytime shaq drags a franchise down the tubes, they just agree to send him to another solid contender.  i dont get this except for his track record of winning titles when properly side-kicked. but that was in the old days when he was still young enough and in shape enough to contribute. a BIIIIG gamble for the suns - and it looks like a bad one to all of us for sure.

Spurs 104
Wizards 92

It doesn't matter what happens in the desert, the Spurs will still own the Suns.

Regarding the potential Heat-Suns trade; the consensus seems to wonder what Phoenix is thinking. I don't see how Shaq makes them a better team, in any way, but what do I know? I do know this: Miami may still be lottery bound, but watching Shawn Marion play with Dwayne Wade will be a ton of fun to watch and they should double their win total easily.

As for tonight, we take on an Arenas-less, and possibly Butler-less, Wizards team. Should mean another "W", right? I hope so!

With all this talk about Vaughn and Stoudamire, it got me thinking about who my favorite Spurs backup point guard was. And I definitely believe it was Washington's current PG, Antonio Daniels. He played aggressive defense, knew how to run and sustain our offense, could penetrate and find an open shooter, occasionally would hit a 3 pointer, and the best part was when he would get a breakaway and go up for the Tower of America's dunk! That was always the highlight of my night watching our Spurs back then. Aawwh...tear

We all know that Shaq totally worked out and was motivated after his trade to Miami, but will he be able to do so in this situation?  Four years later?  Four years older?  At 36?  I don't think so.

Maybe if he had followed Bruce Bowen's physical regimen all of his life this might be a different story.

Spurs 101
wiz 85

I am happy.  I am proud. - Manu Ginobili