<font size=""4"">Mitchell for coach of year?</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The only team that has improved more than Toronto is the Jazz, who were two games behind .500 at this point last season (25-27) but now are a stellar 35-17, good for a 20-game improvement. The Knicks were a woeful 15-37 this time last season yet now are only seven games under .500, an improvement of 15. You don't have to be the second coming of Red Auerbach to appreciate the job the respective coaching staffs have done with all three teams, and the head men in particular -- Sam Mitchell with the Raps, Jerry Sloan of the Jazz and Isiah Thomas of the Knicks. All three should get serious consideration for coach-of-the-year honours. But if the award was decided right now, who would or, better yet, should win? New York, while playing better, remains a losing team, and Thomas is the founder of his team's current mess. So forget him. Which leaves Sloan and Mitchell. Like the Oscars, Sloan may be the sentimental favourite, and that may put him over the top when it's time to cast the ballots. The McLeansboro, Ill., native earned his 1,000th victory as an NBA head coach on Dec. 11, becoming just the fifth man to reach that milestone. He has coached Utah to two NBA Finals and 15 trips to the playoffs and is the longest tenured coach with one team in all of professional sports, but has never won the NBA coach of the year trophy, named after the aforementioned Auerbach. And so it may be Sloan's time. On the other hand, it could be argued Sloan has a much better roster than Mitchell. In Sloan's defence, the Jazz play in a tougher Conference. Flip a coin. Mitchell would be a more intriguing choice as coach of the year because while Sloan has regularly been saluted over the years as one of the best, Mitchell has been consistently vilified and ridiculed during his 21/2 seasons as a head coach.</div> <font size=""4"">All-star game breaks momentum</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When you're running hot like the Raptors are right now, the last thing you want is a break. Or is it? Since a three-game losing skid from Dec. 29 through January 3, the Raps have run off 16 wins in their past 21 games and are now being asked to cool their jets for four days. They will return to the court Monday for the first of two practice days before getting back into action Wednesday against Cleveland. That's a full week between games. </div> <font size=""4"">Time to cut down the Nets</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Orlando Sentinel floats the possibility of a Darko Milicic-for-Vince Carter swap, with the Magic including someone like SF Hedo Turkoglu. The New York Post has the Lakers trying to pry Jason Kidd out of New Jersey with an offer that includes C Chris Mihm, SF Aaron McKie, PG Jordan Farmar and C Kwame Brown. The Nets have, understandably, not been willing to bite on that offer. According to the Miami Herald, the Sacramento Kings are actively trying to move PG Mike Bibby. The Akron Beacon Journal says that any Cavalier, aside from LeBron James, is available in exchange for Bibby. The New York Daily News has the Knicks interested in Cavaliers PF Drew Gooden, Kings SF Ron Artest and Bucks SF Ruben Patterson. The paper notes that the Knicks could deal Channing Frye for Gooden, but the Cavaliers are more interested in acquiring a point guard. The Oregonian notes that SG Juan Dixon may be just as likely as C Jamaal Magloire to move before the deadline. Dixon has been in rumours with Cleveland and Detroit according to the paper. According to the Daily Southtown, the Bulls could turn their attention to Wizards C Etan Thomas if they can't complete a deal for Pau Gasol. The paper suggests that Bulls PG Chris Duhon could interest the Wizards. The Detroit News has the Pistons interested in Timberwolves PG Mike James, perhaps offering C Nazr Mohammed in exchange. The San Antonio Express-News suggests that the Warriors could be interested in moving swingman Mickael Pietrus before the deadline. Rumblings from San Antonio say that PG Beno Udrih could be moved, now that he's been passed on the depth chart by veteran Jacque Vaughn.</div> <font size=""4"">Rumours, rumours</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The latest rumors surround guard Juan Dixon, whose name has been linked to Cleveland, Detroit and even Toronto. Dixon is averaging 9.2 points and 1.5 rebounds a game. Then there's Jamaal Magloire, who was said to have asked to be traded but recently denied it. Magloire has an expiring contract worth $8.3 million. He is averaging 5.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. Other names bandied about as the trade deadline looms: Dan Dickau and Raef LaFrentz, who is making $11.5 million this season and will be difficult, if not impossible, to move. The Blazers' talented trio of rookies, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Sergio Rodriguez, are virtually sure to stay in Portland.</div> <font size=""4"">Hardaway banished from Vegas</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"We removed him (Tim Hardaway) from representing us because we didn't think his comments were consistent with having anything to do with us," Stern told reporters Thursday at the opening of a fan festival at a Las Vegas casino, part of the NBA's all-star weekend. Stern said he had not spoken with Hardaway, who left Las Vegas on Thursday, but planned to do so. While Stern said a discussion about openly gay players could be part of future rookie orientation programs, he doesn't see a need to address the league. "This is an issue overall that has fascinated America. It's not an NBA issue," Stern said, pointing to the ongoing debate over gay marriage at the state and federal levels. "This is a country that needs to talk about this issue. And, not surprisingly, they use sports as a catalyst to begin the dialogue." Hardaway apologized for his comments, which came a week after John Amaechi became the first former NBA player to say he was gay. Two major gay and lesbian groups denounced Hardaway's remarks. "Hardaway's comments are vile, repulsive, and indicative of the climate of ignorance, hostility and prejudice that continues to pervade sports culture," said Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "And by apologizing not for his bigotry, but rather for giving voice to it, he's reminding us that this ugly display is only the tip of a very large iceberg." Said Matt Foreman, president of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force: "Hardaway is a hero to thousands of young people. And that's what makes his comments so troubling. Sadly, his words simply put the pervasive homophobia in the NBA on the table." Amaechi, who detailed his life in "Man in the Middle," hoped his coming out would be a catalyst for intelligent discourse. "His words pollute the atmosphere," Amaechi said. "It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school, creates an atmosphere where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain. "It's an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people." Amaechi taped a spot Thursday for PBS' gay and lesbian program "In the Life." He said the anti-gay sentiment remains despite Hardaway's apology. "It's vitriolic, and may be exactly what he feels," he said. "Whether he's honest or not doesn't inoculate us from his words. "It's not progress to hear hateful words."</div> <font size=""4"">Injuries, moves, rumors and newsmakers..</font>. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Will Fred Jones be traded? Earlier this season Morris Peterson seemed the Raptor most likely to be moved by always-active GM Bryan Colangelo, but MoPete has been resurgent of late and has been a key cog in helping Toronto take over the Atlantic division. Jones, however, has been stuck in head coach Sam Mitchell's doghouse from early in the season. The super-athletic combo guard is suffering from a sore finger lately, but regardless of that he has barely played December. ESPN recently reported that Jones may be moved to Portland in return for another combo guard, Juan Dixon.</div> <font size=""4"">Bosh blossoms into bonafide star</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Great players, especially high character guys like C.B., tend to affect more than just the on-court performance of their teams," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo. "Chris has demonstrated leadership at all levels and has absolutely become the cornerstone of the franchise." Colango has compared Bosh to Canadian Steve Nash ? both are known for their huge capacity for hard work. "His length, athleticism, and quickness make him a matchup nightmare for opponents," said Colangelo. Bargnani, meanwhile, continues to develop into the player Colangelo had envisioned when he selected him with the top pick in the NBA draft. The seven-footer is averaging 10.6 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, earned Eastern Conference rookie of month honours for January, and continues to display new facets of game virtually every time on the floor. Garbajosa, a member of the Spanish team that won gold at last summer's world championships, was part of Colangelo's off-season overhaul that gave the team a distinctive European feel. The Spaniard is averaging 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds a night. The Raptors GM is proud of the team's presence at this year's all-star weekend. "It is great for the Raptors organization to have this kind of representation at the NBA all-star weekend," said Colangelo. "Chris Bosh being voted by the public as an Eastern Conference starter speaks to his worldwide appeal as a bright young star of the NBA, where Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa were voted to the rookie game by the coaches indicating their impact has been felt. These are certainly positive signs for the organization."</div> <div align="center"><font size=""5""><u>Sunshine Girl - 2/16/07</u></font> </div>
Great job with the headlines, as always. Trade talk is heating up, when's the trade deadline? (anyone)
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Great job with the headlines, as always. Trade talk is heating up, when's the trade deadline? (anyone)</div> Next Thursday the 22nd of February, a13x!
