By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
Why do I have a feeling the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Pau Gasol will be the best thing that’s happened to the Phoenix Suns?
Here is what I’m thinking:
* If Gasol is a good fit, I think the Lakers could beat both San Antonio and Dallas in a seven-game series.
* I still don’t think the Suns can beat either San Antonio or Dallas in a seven-game series.
* And while I think the Lakers could get past the other Western Conference powers, I'm doubtful that they could beat the Suns in a seven-game series. Even with Gasol, the Lakers just don’t match up well with the Suns (and that’s nothing against Kobe Bryant, because the same is true of LeBron James and Cleveland).
* So let’s say the Lakers eliminate Dallas in the first round, then San Antonio in the second -- then have to play the Suns for the conference championship. Based on my theory (as warped as it may be), the Suns would reach the Finals for the first time in the Mike D’Antoni-Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire era.
* Granted, in order for this scenario to have a chance to become reality, the Lakers and Mavericks would have to finish with the third and sixth seeds (or Nos. 2 and 7), the Spurs would need to be No. 2 (or 3 or 6), and the Suns would need to be No. 1 (or 4, 5 or 8).
Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that all of this is speculation, and even a prediction based on ZERO research -- considering we have yet to see Gasol in a Lakers uniform.
And the bottom line is, thanks to the Gasol deal the Western Conference just got better, and should be even more enjoyable to follow.
RANDOM STUFF
* It's hard to believe Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu was left off the All-Star team. Turkoglu may have been the Eastern Conference’s best player the past two weeks. Best of all for Magic fans, Turkoglu has looked good even when he hasn’t shot the ball well. In Monday’s loss to Dallas, he went just 4 of 14 from the field, but still managed a triple-double (13 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds).
* I’m starting to think Miami’s Dwyane Wade should remove himself from the All-Star game, just because it would be the right thing to do. It should be a new rule: If your team doesn’t have 10 wins by the first week of February, you‘re off the team.
* New York guard Jamal Crawford has made it clear he wouldn’t mind be traded to Seattle (he’s from the area). But it would be difficult for the Sonics to justify trading for a guy who plays the same position as Kevin Durant. Plus, I love Crawford’s game, but even I can admit he tends shoots too much.
* Not only that, but how much longer are the Sonics gonna be in Seattle, anyway?
* Houston rookie forward Carl Landry is starting to display the aggressiveness and confidence that made him the Big Ten’s most unappreciated star last season. In the past three games, Landry has made 16 of 23 shots from the floor and is averaging just more than 12 points per game.
* Meanwhile, Minnesota forward Antoine Walker is averaging a career-low 8.4 points per game, with an average of 2.4 the past five games. It’s hard to know what happened to this former All-Star -- and even harder to believe he’s been close with Michael Jordan. Sad thing is, it’s not like Walker is over-the-hill (he’s only 31). He should still have a few good years left, but it sure doesn’t look like that will be the case.
Sam Amico is the editor ot ProBasketballNews.com. Contact him or subscribe to his free e-mail newsletter at amico@probasketballnews.com.
