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Why the Lakers Should Get ‘Melo and Why They Won’t
By Eric Pincus

The possibility of the Lakers trading Andrew Bynum to the Denver Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony set the NBA ablaze on Tuesday.

Depending on perspective, it might be a tough call.

For the Lakers, it doesn’t seem to be.  They’ve been committed to Andrew Bynum since they drafted him at 17 years of age and that doesn’t appear to have wavered.

Never mind that he’s had knee problems year after year after year (dating back to high school).

Despite the rumors, buzz and excitement, the Lakers do not appear inclined to make a Bynum/Melo swap.

Perhaps there’s something to be said for keeping the core together.  This is a team that won back-to-back titles and three straight Western Conference championships.

The length of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Bynum make the Lakers a very difficult team to deal with.

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Jamal Crawford:  At Least Eastern Conference Finals
By Lang Greene

The trade deadline continues to be one of the most exciting times of the NBA season for fans and one of the most nerve-racking experiences for the players who find their names constantly appearing in the daily rumor mill.

It just depends on what side of the ball you’re on.

For reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford it’s a case of been there and done that.

Crawford will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but entered the season with the sole intent to sign a long term extension to remain in Atlanta. But after the franchise invested $180 million in order to   re-sign their All-Stars Joe Johnson and Al Horford his future became even less certain with the organization, especially considering the Hawks have absolutely zero interest in paying the luxury tax.

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Best/Worst Schedules After the Break
By Mark Nugent

The All-Star break is just one week away and teams are preparing for that final push towards the playoffs.  For some, the post All-Star schedule will make it difficult for them to continue the success they are currently experience (example: Portland Trail Blazers).   For others, a favorable schedule could mean a trip to the playoffs (example: Houston Rockets).

In determining a team’s remaining strength of schedule the key factors to look at are games against teams above/below .500, games against projected playoff teams, number of home/road games, longest home/road stretches, and total number of back-to-back games.

For the purposes of this discussion both the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Bobcats will be considered playoff teams because the race for the final spot in the East seems to change every day.  Along with those two, the Celtics, HEAT, Bulls, Magic, Hawks, and Knicks are pretty close to locks to make the playoffs.   The 76ers round out the east, even though a two-game losing streak could have them on the outside looking in.

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Jerry Sloan: A Tribute
By Bill Ingram

Few NBA head coaches are as associated with the word "excellence" as long-time Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan. Sure, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich are the league’s current gold standard, with multiple championships to their credit, and legendary coaches like Red Auerbach, Pat Riley and Chuck Daley have made their lasting marks on the NBA. But after 23 years at the helm of the Utah Jazz, Sloan is every bit as elite as his ring-bearing peers, even though he never managed to get that one elusive achievement.

Sloan’s no-nonsense approach gained him the respect of his players, and his love for the game kept him going even when the team went through its down times. He took the helm of the Jazz in 1988-89, replacing Frank Layden, a time when John Stockton and Karl Malone were just becoming household names and Mark Eaton patrolled the paint. For 15 straight seasons he led the Jazz to the postseason, and to the NBA Finals twice. When Stockton and Malone retired Sloan could have done what so many other coaches have done and retire or move on to another team. Instead, he stayed loyal to his team, and after three years of roster rebuilding he had them right back in the postseason. 

Through it all, Sloan maintained a no-nonsense approach. He never did anything to tarnish a player’s image, never called anyone out in public, and never took credit for any of his many successes. He was all about the game, and that was his solitary focus.

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