NBA All-Stars and Slam Dunk Contest Participants 2009

The starting lineups for the 2009 NBA All-Star game are:

East

G- Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons

G- Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat

F- Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

F- LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

C- Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

West

G- Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

G- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

F- Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

F- Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

C- Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

The Boston Three Party… Or a Party of Four? Maybe Even Five! Or Six, Seven…

When Mike D’Antoni drafted Rajon Rondo to be a Sun with the 21st pick in the 2006 draft, he just traded, with fears that his inability to shoot a jump shot wouldn’t fit in with the Suns. And, honestly, Rondo should be happy that he was traded on draft day because he could have never reached his full potential backing Steve Nash up. 

However, it wasn’t a good move for the Suns, with Rondo now stunning the sports world as point guard for the Boston Celtics.

He nicely complemented the Celtics’ Big Three last year, but he was that and only that: a complement. Now, however, he has fit himself into the mix, with the first triple- double since Ryan Gomes for the Celtics and rising thoughts that the Celtics might not only have a Boston Three Party but a Boston Three Party plus One.

Surprise Players this Year in the NBA

This year in the NBA has been full of surprises, mainly the players. Some surprise players this year include:

1. Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers

Granger has 23.7 PPG, 5 RPG, and 3 APG this season, and if not for the team he’s playing on, I believe he would be in MVP consideration. All his stats except rebounds are up from last year.

2. Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics

Are we going to have to change the Big Three to the Fantastic Four? I mean, seriously: 10.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5 RPG, and 2.3 SPG? Not to mention the fact that he got the first Celtics triple double since Ryan Gomes got one in 2006. Outrageous for a guy who is lost in a team with three of the best players in the nation!

Yankees Making Big Deals with Big Pitchers

In the NBA, it’s the Suns who make big moves.

In the NFL, it’s an assortment of teams who make big moves.

And, as we all know, in the MLB, it’s the Yankees who make big move.

And boy, have they made big moves in Free Agency Season 2008-2009. We all know about their predicament on the pitchers’ mound, but they’re ready to change that.

Just a few days after Baseball’s Winter Meetings, the Yankees have already made deals with big name pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. The deal with Sabathia is worth $161 million dollars over 7 years, and the deal with Burnett is worth $82.5 million over 5 years.

Suns Make a Blockbuster Deal

The Suns sure do love to make some big moves!

They made another deal recently, this time with the Bobcats. The Suns traded away defensive ace Raja Bell, also known as “The Kobe Stopper”, was traded away as well as versatile forward Boris Diaw, and rookie point guard Sean Singletary. In exchange for these players, the Suns recieved dynamic shooting guard Jason Richardson, second-year forward Jared Dudley, and a 2010 second round draft choice.

Steve Nash doesn’t seem too happy about the trade. He said, “I take this personally and I take my career home with me. I care about my teammates. When you lose two of your best friends on a team suddenly, it’s hard.”

After his bad performance in the game after the trade was announced, he said, “I was emotionally drained and just couldn’t give the guys what they needed tonight.”