You can't step into the same river twice

The Suns
Thursday's game was a big win. I didn't get to see a lot of it, but I appreciate that even after (or while) adjusting to Shaq, they can still get out there and play small ball with the Warriors.

All that, and 4 technicals. I kind of love that (as an isolated incident), because it shows an injection of spirit into the team that's been lacking this year. I hope it continues, although without the Ts. I also really love the bit in that article about the triangle offense. D'Antoni finally says what I've been thinking since I heard of it: Any time anyone has three guys on a side of the court, someone can call it a triangle. Exactly!

Game recaps: Associated Press, Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune.

Shaq is an pretty good playmaker. In his words, the great John Wooden said the true definition of a great player is how you make everyone else play around you, so it's my job to take (my teammates) to the next level.

Barbosa knows his shortcomings, and wants to work on them. His goal? To be number one in steals for the league. I have nothing but ridiculously positive things to say about that.

Shaq sends the bench scattering in the game against the Grizzlies. I love stories about what happens on the bench, and I love to see these guys poke fun at one another. This article gave me the warm fuzzies.

There's more about that in this article about Gordan Giricek. Highlights for me included Shaq apologizing to the man who split his lip when Shaq dove into the stands, and Iavaroni coining the word Shaqlimated. I already had been using Shaqceptance, this is a great new one to use. Thanks, Marc!

Other NBA News
Caron Butler comes back, is the leading Wiz scorer, helps win a game against the Cavs, and turns 28. All on the same day. I hope he plays again on Saturday against the Clippers when I'm there watching.

LeBron James is on a very misguided Vogue cover.

FIBA and Other International Stuff
Nene is recovering, doesn't know how he'll be for the Olympic qualifiers this summer, and really likes God. A lot. If that's how he gets the strength to beat cancer, more power to him.

Glendale, Arizona wants to become the home of USA Basketball. No big surprise, Jerry Colangelo is pushing for that to happen.

Apparently, Switzerland attracts Brazilian basketball players. Who knew?

The WNBA
The Mystics are helping to sponsor a walk to raise money for people with breast cancer. It's May 11th at 9 am. It sounds very cool.

WNBA Moves:
* Bo Overton has resigned from his post as the head coach and GM of the Chicago Sky amidst allegations of sexual harassment. I hope we get more news on that. Steven Key, formerly assistant coach, has been named GM and head coach.
* The New York Liberty have re-signed Janel McCarville and her faux-hawk.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

The Suns
Another good game! I mean, it was against the Grizzlies--but it was a big forceful follow up to Sunday's win. Now they need to keep it going.

Recaps: Associated Press, East Valley Tribune, Arizona Republic.

According to the Republic, the Suns have been improving on both ends of the floor.

Grant Hill is doing better on defense. I guess he feels like he has something to prove. (Also in that first link, how cool is this? Phoenix recorded its 1,800th victory in club history in its 3,229th game [against the Spurs]. Only the Celtics, 76ers and Lakers won 1,800 in fewer games.)

Shaq has to resort to hitchhiking, because he can't park his huge truck anywhere. Thank goodness he's flexible. (More pictures here.)

Other NBA News
Caron Butler has returned to practice. Antawn Jamison is like a kid at Christmas.

Nellie's been asked back, now it's up to him to decide what he wants.

Pat Riley has decided that the Heat's season is over, and has shut Wade down to recover from his injuries. This makes me feel bad for Marion. He's going to really end up appreciating what he had with the Suns. Or he's going to be happy being the number one guy for the first time in his career. It's a toss up.

FIBA and Other International Stuff
What the Olympics mean to players in the NBA. The article mostly looks at international players (I'm not complaining on that count), and mostly at the Lakers (blah).

After reading this article, I really want to go to games in other countries. It reminded me strongly of watching the Mexico v Argentina game at the FIBA Americas.

The WNBA
Becky Hammon from the San Antonio Silver Stars has generous and thoughtful fans.

WNBA Moves:
* In a move that shouldn't surprise anyone, the Detroit Shock re-signed their big three.
* The Silver Stars re-signed Becky Hammon ( to a contract extension through 2011) and Ruth Riley (to a two-year deal).
* The Phoenix Mercury re-signed Tangela Smith to a three-year contract.
* Connecticut Sun forward Nykesha Sales is taking a year off to recover from injuries. She should rehab with Dwyane Wade. Or not.
* The Washington Mystics signed Amber Jacobs (of the Minnesota Lynx) to an offer sheet. The Lynx have until Saturday the 15th to match or beat the offer. I know this one isn't too big a deal, but I'm a Mystics fan, so I'm putting it in here.

My scales are beautiful, the color of the ocean!

Last night's game sucked. I didn't read any recaps, and I probably won't.

I'm starting to slip from my position of acceptance that the Shaq trade was a good idea. It looks like Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune agrees with me.

The most interesting part of that article for me was the statement that Memphis’ Rudy Gay went off for 36 points Tuesday; that doesn’t happen if Marion has a crack at him. It brought to mind a quote from Marc Iavaroni after the Memphis game (from an article that I linked to yesterday). He said, I don’t think they had an answer for (Gay) tonight. I think they were just trying to outscore us. I can't help but wonder if that was Iavaroni's way of saying that Kerr wasn't the smartest for getting rid of Marion.

Other people are becoming more despondent too.

Who the hell knows when Brent Barry will make a decision. If he doesn't pick the forces of good, Philadelphia is expected to buy out 6-foot-6 shooter Gordan Giricek so that he can join the Suns. To which I say two things: 1. Who? and 2. Why does Philly want to do that for us?

I don't know why, but I kind of like Devin Harris. Even if I feel like he looks about 15. It is because of my appreciation for him that I link to this. Plus the Nets helped give me the game that was both the first NBA game that I ever saw live, as well as being the best one that I will ever see, no contest. Oh, double overtime amazingness.

Stern gets uppity at a congressional hearing. I don't know what I think about any of that.

I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee

It's not a huge win, but the Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies last night 127-113. It's nice to see a W after Sunday's game of doom. Interestingly, the Arizona Republic's recap almost seemed as though it were about a completely different game. A game in which the Suns played really poorly. Whatever. In a world in which the Suns can lose to Minnesota twice and Miami once, I'm glad for any win they get. Even if it makes for a frustrated Marc Iavaroni.

Tonight they play in New Orleans. It'll be interesting to see if Shaq can be of any help there, considering that they've been giving Nash and company fits this year.

Ok, so maybe we'll learn where Brent Barry is going today. If he decides to go with the forces of evil and becomes a Spur again, maybe we can get Sam Cassell. The Suns are getting so old, so quickly. Also, if it's Cassell in purple and orange, so alien-like.

This article isn't on the original page anymore from what I can tell, so that's an archived copy that ends prematurely. It's about how the Mavericks pick up of Jason Kidd is basically a statement of "damn, we should have kept that Nash guy around." I hadn't really thought of it that way, but it's very true.

Anderson Varejao is back to playing with the Cavs. But now that they've been completely overhauled, how will he fit in?