Derryberry’s NBA corner The trade shake edition

The NBA Shake-up. Has there ever been a more exciting trade dead line than this year? I was constantly checking espn.com to see who was going where. The West is unbelievable loaded. I’m taking vacation either the first 20 days of the playoffs or the second 20 days of the playoffs. I’m going to watch as much as I Can of 40 games in 40 nights. Next week I will unveil my wish list of ten favorite match-ups I’m hoping to see in the playoffs hell I might extend it to 15. I'm dizzy with the possibilities.
Another random note, with the world getting smaller and smaller with Internet, faster travel times, and information going everywhere why doesn’t the NBA ditch the split conference thing. Let’s say we keep the divisions (for Rivalry sake) that's 6 spots for the division winners then next 10 spots go to the next 10 best records. I would rather see the two odd man out teams in the west make it than the 7 and 8 seeds in the east. Then seed the whole thing 1 to 16.

Right now let’s get to the Derryberry rankings for the team most likely to bring home the title.

How many ping-pong balls do we get? Division
30) Memphis Grizzlies: (14-42) They sold half the farm and then got gun shy about selling the other half because everyone made fun of them of what they got for the half the sold. Mike Miller should be somewhere else right now
29 Miami Heat (9-44) Kudos for the Shaq trade but that isn’t helping this year, but with cap room and D-wade they should be able to attract some free agents to the beach.
28) New York Knicks (17-39) I want to hang out with Dolan just to see the drugs he is on. That is the only rational why Isaiah is still running my team in the middle of the planet. (Into the ground doesn’t do anything justice any more)
27) Minnesota Timber Wolves (11-43) That DUNK Green did blowing out the candle should have kept in a wolves uniform for a while
26) Seattle Super Sonics: (15-40) Thank the lord Ira Newble is playing somewhere else besides Cleveland. Have fun with is so-called Defense Durant. How much do you think Durant misses the College hero life style?
25) LA Clippers: (19-34) Well at least they have experience with the lottery
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We have chance because we’re in the east division
24) Charlotte Bobcats: (19-37) a moment of silence of Gerald Wallace and his concussion. I really wish these guys would be good one year so the world could see how good he is
23) Milwaukee Bucks: (21-35) We tell our fans we are trying but we really aren’t. Want evidence, they turned down a Dan Gadurizic for Zach Randolph trade.
22) Indiana Pacers (22-34) Jermaine O’neil where have you gone.
21) Chicago Bulls: (22-33) So you turned all your draft picks and trade assets into Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes. John Paxton showing everyone how not to be a gm
20) Atlanta Hawks: (22-31) Smart move for Bibby, let’s hope it translate into a playoff trip. I would love to see these young guys get some television exposure.
19) Philadelphia Sixers: (25-32) To be honest I know nothing about these guys about apparently they are in the eighth spot for the east. I’m guessing the Andre’s our leading the way. I know the least about the team out of every team in the NBA, but I’m 3 and 1 with them on 2K8. I just re-did all the rosters to match the real NBA.
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The if we were only in the east/ hey we’re a contender because we’re in the east
18) Sacramento Kings: (26-29) This team isn’t that bad with Martin, Artest and a relevant Brad Miller. There just in the wrong conference.
17) Portland Trailblazers (29-27) Again great up and coming team, a much better future make-up than the Sixers, Bulls, and Pacers yet we more than likely won’t see them in the playoffs.
16) New Jersey Nets (25-31) Devin Harris does not help this team, I like him a lot as fast driving point guard a la Tony Parker. He is always attacking. I can’t wait to see him trounce through some of the east guards but once he passes to Vince, game over Devin. I would have shipped out Vince for chump change if I were New Jersey.
15) Washington Wizards: (26-29) Another playoff more than likely, another first round exit.
14) Toronto Raptors: (30-24) This team is intriguing if they can find a way to match up with Orlando in the first round. I think that is the only team they’ve got a shot at overcoming in a series.
13) Denver Nuggets: (33-22) Why didn’t they trade for Artest. First of all that team would have been crazier than Golden state always a must if you are trying to pull off a first round upset. As it stands their on the outside looking in.
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As always the puncher’s chance at a title
12) Golden State: (33-22) I just have a feeling these guys are going to make the play offs again and scare the heck out of someone. Let’s just say the Hornets wind up with the one seed can’t you see them bouncing the Hornets like they did Dallas. No one in the west wants these guys in the first round. They’re too much of a wild card.
11) Orlando Magic: (36-22) Dwight Howard is a guy who could dominate a series around the basket. They will have a chance to win every series in the East. Dwight gives them that puncher’s chance
10) Houston Rockets: (39-20) Yao is playing better and better. They have constructed a team instead of the Tracy and Yao show. Don’t at some point they have to have a good play off run?
9) New Orleans Hornets: (37-17) They seem a little over their heads now with all the moves in the west. It will all depend on match-ups but I don’t see them doing much damage
8) Dallas Mavericks: (37-19) I like the Kidd as far as getting easy buckets but we are back to Eric Dampier in the middle. Kidd better get them a bunch of freebies because we all know Eric is going to be giving them right back.
7) Detroit Pistons: (41-15) They’re good, we all know this, but something about them screams also ran. Yes I watched them devour the Suns over the weekend. I can’t shake Lebron ripping their heart out over and over again. On some level I need to see them over come their playoff demons instead of making excuses.

One of you is going to bring home the title

6) Boston Celtics: (42-12) Three super stars means you’ve got a great chance in the East and then you get the battered and beaten team from the west.
5) Utah Jazz: (36-20) Raise you’re hand if you knew Kyle Korver would tip the scales for the Jazz in the west. One man’s trash another man’s treasure.
4) Cleveland Cavs: (32-24) Only this high because of two reasons 1) I’m a homer 2) the Psychology boost that Lebron got from this has to be way off the charts. Everyone one they got in the trade fits a needs all the sudden they can trout out shooters Gibson, Wally, West, Smith and Z (from 15 feet). They can parade out rebounders Z, Big Ben, Anderson, Lebron. Plus the confidence boost everyone gets from playing Lebron. PLus the have the best player in the NBA, yes better than Kobe
3) Phoenix Suns: (38-18) The trade for Shaq was risky but having Amare at the four helps them. They have 30 games to get on track with this. I think they will and I think we will see a dominant team in the playoffs.
2) San Antonio Spurs: (37-17) It’s funny how everyone was making moves to keep up in the west and the only team who didn’t need to add a big name to have a shot at the title is the Spurs. Did everyone catch up a litte, yes but only one team passed them by
1) LA Lakers: (39-17) I could talk about the trade for Gasol, or Bynum coming back in a month but here is why they have the best shot at winning a championship. All start weekend a reporter polled the NBA stars, who would they want to see win a championship if they couldn’t. The reported got an answer from everyone but Kobe. He responded “if it ain’t us I don’t care.” Winning a title consumes this man, so while I think Lebron is better I think Kobe wants to win more and that with his new teammates might be enough.