Some Thoughts

+ That Pau and Kobe pick and roll is devastating. The key is that Pau has the foot work and B-ball IQ to catch the ball 10-15 feet out, read the defense and either slash to the rim or pop the soft jumper. He showed both in two late fourth quarter possessions. It's that two dimensional attack that makes him extremely tough to guard, especially considering how much of a "bang-bang" circumstance defending the pick and roll already is.

Bynum is more the catch-me-with-a-lob-to-the-rim type of pick and roll partner. Brian Cook was more of a pick and pop guy. Lamar prefers to create of the dribble. In fact, I do not think Kobe has had as good of a pick and roll partner since the Mailman himself.

I have a feeling that is the new bread and butter play. At least until Andy Bynum comes back.

+ Vladimir Radmanovich is starting to make the case that he is a very good cog in the triangle. Say what you will about his defense, but his passing has been superb in the last few games. Couple that with his shooting (and his ability to put it on the floor if they are charging his shot) and I'd say that unless Luke really starts to step it up, he's gonna be hard pressed for minutes when Ariza comes back.

+ Did you think that the Lakers should have put the Nets away earlier last night? So did Pau.

And if you were watching the KCal 9 broadcast as astutely as my friends and I, you might know what I'm talking about. It was that one play where Josh Boone mishandled a rebound and as he and another Net tried to coral it under the Laker basket, Pau swooped in with one long arm, yanked the ball away and in one motion put it in the hoop. Nice play. Well, there was a tv timeout right after that play and the KCal 9 Broadcast had a close up shot of Pau walking back to the bench and as he was passing the scorer's table, you could see him mouthing something to the effect of "This is bullshit. These motherfuckers are whack. Let's go!"

It was his first game and he's already showing strong competitive fire as well as passionately asserting, to his team and to the rest of the league, that this team has entered a new class with him on the roster. That was my favorite part of last night's game.

+ I have been reading about the Shaq to Phoenix trade. My first reaction was that this is just wrong on every level for Phoenix. But I realized that I have not actually watched Shaq play all that much first hand this year. I've seen his numbers, heard some stories and that's about it. Could he really be as bad as it seems?

But the more I thought about it, the more it started to make a little sense. Yes, Shaq won't be running the break with Nash but Amare (at the 4) still will be. Who says you need all five guys running to be a fast break team? And if he can shore up their defense/rebounding/toughness quotient, then it's a plus, right?

But more than all that, I think Shaq will just help improve the mood in Phoenix. It sounds like there have been some serious chemistry issues regarding Shawn Marion. He pouts at the lack of attention and praise that he gets. He demanded a trade before the season. I mean, maybe the rest of the Suns plain don't like him. Wouldn't you have more fun playing with a jovial giant like Shaq than with a brooding douche bag? I don't know considering that the douche bag is a better fit in every way shape and form for your team. But it just seems to me that Phoenix is at their best when they're loose and care free. And maybe Shaq can help them get that back.

+ And oh yeah, I fully realize that this trade shows just how scared shitless they are at the thought of playing the Lakers in the playoffs. And Shaq or no Shaq, they should be scared.