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Chris Sheridan

  (3:09 PM)

Good afternoon from New York, where 8 p.m. EST will find me on the Sheridan family sofa with my two boys to watch Bucks-Mavs and see what Brandon Jennings has in store for an encore. Lots to talk about with today's Stephen Jackson trade, plus the impressive play of a number of lesser-regarded teams, most notably the Rockets last night in Los Angeles, but also OKC winning on the road in San Antonio. Oh, and before I forget, somebody please ask me about the e-mail I got from the Nets today in which they've turned their 0-10 start into a marketing strategy. Yes, I'm serious. Off we go ...

jake (bay area)

after getting rid of the biggest me first ball hog, shouldn't the dubs try and trade Monta too? How about monta and turiaf (and maybe a 1st rounder) for gay, gasol and jaric?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:12 PM)

C'mon Jake, be real. The Grizzlies aren't going to make a Gasol trade that's worse than their earlier one. But as for the Warriors, it would not surprise me to see someone else quickly take Jax's place as the guy who publicly will make it known he wants out. (Bellinelli followed harrington last year, remember? So there's precedent. I'll list Monta as an early favorite over Maggette.

Matt (Bloomington, IN)

What are your impressions of the Pacers so far? And what do you see their potential for this year being IF (huge qualifier) they can acquire and maintain some relative form of health up and down the roster? Secondly, I get that the team has a surplus of big men, but why isn't Josh McRoberts given more of an opportunity? I see him as a poor-man's Chris Anderson with a little more offense, but it seems like I'm alone on that one. Thanks.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:19 PM)

Well, first of all you have to acknowledge that Danny Granger has evolved into a stud. And then you have to give credit to coach O'Brien for finding a linup and a brand of small ball that plays to his players' strengths (like Watson being allowed to take the 3s other coaches wouldn't allow). Third, Roy Hibbert is developing into a beast. Like watching Bynum a couple years ago. I watched almost all of their victory over Boston, and they flat outplayed them. On McRoberts, I will say that I like the Shaggy (like from Scooby-Doo) hairstyle way better than anything Birdman has ever done with his hair.

Mick (Orlando)

With the Magic completely healthy and Rashard back, do we finally start to see the team we thought we were getting or is our D just too awful?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:23 PM)

I think it'll be an evolutionary process over the season to see what works best offensively in terms of mixing and matching player combinations, then the focus can turn harder to defense in the postseason when the team will have developed some chemistry and will be able to focus a single defensive gameplan for a seven-game series against a specific opponent. They've got so many new pieces, and it'll take time to see where Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson and even Vince Carter are going to fit into the equation in the fourth quarters of tight games.

Geoff (Cleveland, OH)

If the Cavs could have acquired Jackson, there starting lineup would be Shaq, J.J. Hickson, Lebron, Jackson and Mo at the point. Even though this is an unorthodox lineup with no true shooting guard, it would have created matchup nightmares for any team they play, and Lebron and Jackson are good enough defend shooting guards. That would have left Boobie, Moon, Parker, Big Z and Varejao coming off the bench. Trading Delonte West, Darnell Jackson, and Wally could have accomplished this. Why not make this deal?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:25 PM)

Look at it from the Warriors' standpoint: They just got Raja Bell, one of the best defenders in the league. You'd rather have him? Or Delonte West? It's not even close.

Jimmy the Jammer (Phx, AZ)

Suns are a sleeper team who came out of nowhere. Let's say they have home court advantage thru the playoffs, could this be the year? Or regardless of where they finish, are the Suns fans in line for another 1st or 2nd round knock out? Thanks

Chris Sheridan

  (3:28 PM)

I don;t know about calling them a sleeper team, cuz you could legitimately call 12 teams in the West sleepers behind L.A., Denver and S.A., plus Phoenix has a two-time MVP who continues to play out of his mind. I will say this: If Grant Hill keeps up what he's doing, if Amare doesn't break down again, if Barbosa can ever find a way to thrive off the bench, they are WCF material. But that's a lot of ifs.

Adam (Palo Alto)

Is there any truth to the rumor that the Nets are using their 0-10 start as a marketing strategy?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:33 PM)

That is no rumor, Adam. A press release arrived today with the Nets announcing a one-night slogan of "Ten is Enough," a promotion in which they are putting a whole bunch of tickets on sale for $10. But that's nothing compared to this one: Last season, on the day that LaGuardia-to-Charlotte flight landed in the Hudson, the Nets issued a press release a mer 2-3 hours after the crash announcing that they were offering free courtside seats to Sully Sullenberger, the pilot, for the game the following night.

Brandon (Gainesville, FL)

As bad as the Knicks are, do you see Donnie Walsh doing something to inject some life into the knicks. They can't afford to march this group out there game in and and game out. And as much experience as the younger guys need, they also can't afford to give the 2nd or 3rd pick in the draft to the Jazz. We know they're protecting the cap, boes walsh do ANYTHING?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:36 PM)

Sadly, Brandon, Donnie is now having to defend his decision to take Jordan Hill over Brandon Jennings, and New Yorkers have already heard that Steve Alford-Reggie Miller tale one too many times. What the Knicks _ or more specifically, walsh and Mike D'Antoni _ are fixated on right now is getting eddy Curry back on the court and hoping he can produce a 12-14 game body of work that at least gets someone to consider trading for him. curry remains the key to the trasure chest. If they move him, they can sign a second max free agent, or sign a max guy and keep David Lee. The focus is still on the summer of 2010, and this season is a sacrifice.

James (New Zealand)

Clarifying your point on raja Bell, you think he's better than West right now? Few people would agree with that. West plays tough (better than bell because he's faster) can hit the 3, drive to the basket and would be perfect in the Warriors system. The only issue is the personal troubles.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:38 PM)

Your second point is the one that carries the most weight at this point, James. But besides that point, GS does not have many defensive-minded players. Anthony Randolph might become one, but Raja Bell has been one for a long time.

Kyle ((ATL))

Is it true? Hawks #1 on the Power Rankings?

Johnny Hazeltine (Las Vegas)

With the Magic struggling, the Cavs still searching for chemistry, and the Celtics lack of youth, are the Atlanta Hawks moving into the discussion for the Eastern Conference title?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:44 PM)

Yes, it's true. My colleague Marc stein, when he wasn't breaking the Stephen Jackson trade earlier today, put them there in this week's Power Rankings, with Boston down to 4 and the Lakers at 5. Check the NBA main page for a link to Marc's rationale, and also note that he has bumped the Knicks up from 30th.

Eric (Phoenix, AZ )

What do think about suns Start? Regradless of how the lakers are playing do they have a legit chance in beating the lakers in a 7 game series?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:46 PM)

That Suns' start looks a little less fancy if Hedo knocks down that last-second look last night. And in a 7-game series against the Lakers, at full strength with Pau back, I'd go with Lakers in 5.

Dennis (Orlando)

I kind of see your point on the Magic, but at 7-3 missing 3 starters anywhere between 5 games to all 10 (lewis), I doubt Cavs, Boston or any other top team could have done better. I can see them going on an 25 wins in the next 30 games type of run.

Chris Sheridan

  (3:50 PM)

I'm with you, Dennis, and I'm not as down on their 7-3 start as Stan Van Gundy seems to be. My point is that they have changed strategically, as well as personel wise, because they used to run so much through Hedo Turkoglu in the fourth quarter, and he was so good at it. Xome playoff time, they'll be an elite team -- but an elite team with a go-to scorer, Vince Carter, who hasn't come up big in a playoff game in nine years.

Jacky (Vancouver, BC)

What do you think about the Rockets' surprising start? Do you think they have what it takes to make the playoffs without T-Mac? It almost seems like the Rockets don't want T-Mac back right now even though he is declaring himself healthy. Your thoughts?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:55 PM)

They really match up well with the Lakers, so I don't want to get overly giddy over what I saw last night, but they all seem to be very comfortable in their roles, and they're all so versatile. ABrooks killed anyone the Lakers put on him, Ariza was outstanding in everything except his shooting, and even David Andersen had it going last night, making instant sages out of all the basketball folk Down Under and European-based NBA scouts who always claimed he was NBA material. (CSKA Moscow was always willing to pay him more than any NBA team would).

Rob (Milwaukee)

How many teams that didn't draft Brandon Jennings are kicking themselves right now?

Chris Sheridan

  (3:58 PM)

It'd be easy for me to say the Knicks are doing just that, but let's wait and see what they have in Toney Douglas. probably only a matter of days before Douglas takes over from Chris Duhon as the permanent starter. Duhon is history after this season, anyway.

Sam (NC)

I'm trying to figure out how I feel about my Bobs right now. I really like Capt Jack and think he will enjoy being a bobcat... Does he make us better is really my question and how much better...

Chris Sheridan

  (4:00 PM)

He won't be afraid to shoot, and he can fill it up, so I expect them to score more than the 82 a night they're putting up now.

Brian (Greensboro, NC)

Any chance the Heat and Nets would agree to a Beasley-Lopez swap? If not, which team would reject the trade?

Chris Sheridan

  (4:01 PM)

The Nets would not do that trade in a million years. In fact, they love Lopez a whole lot more than they love their other supposed cornerstone, Devin Harris.

Chris Sheridan

  (4:04 PM)

That's a wrap for today, folks. We'll do it again next Monday. And check the site tomorrow afternoon for a piece I've done updating the status of Jerry Stackhouse and several other out-of-work NBA-caliber players.