The NBA is back and I am very happy. So who were the winners and losers of the lockout? Who cares basketball is back and that is all that matters.

I have been starving for more NBA action ever since the season ended. The lockout ruined my summer because I wasn’t able to see the rookies in summer league but I did actually go out and play more basketball this summer which was pretty cool.

The season is going to start on December 25th but the real action is going to begin December 9th when the free agency period begins and it didn’t take long at all for the first rumor to circulate around the world and cause quite a stir. Chris Broussard of ESPN reported that my beloved Celtics would be willing to trade Rajon Rondo for Chris Paul. Every off-season, for some bizarre reason, the Celtics throw their star guard under the bus and include his name in trade rumors.

RONDO TO FARIED

I suspect a lot of this is due to Rondo’s personality which has been reported a number of times that Rondo is very difficult person to deal with. Rondo was even involved in a scrap a few weeks ago in a Boston nightclub. Rondo’s talent is undeniable but could his personality be really that bad that the Celtics are willing to ruin their relationship with the guard. You have to assume that once his contract is up Rondo is going to go where he is wanted. Last year Rondo was second in the league in assists and steals and made his second consecutive all-star appearance and the first minute the lockout is over Danny Ainge just dangles him around like “who wants him.”

You would think after the Perkins trade, which was a complete and utter disaster, that Danny Ainge would think a little harder about the ramifications of some of his moves but maybe he is thinking let’s just blow this thing up and start the rebuilding process. The Boston Herald had an article today titled “Center Tops on Danny Ainge’s Agenda,” the Celtics had a center less than a year ago his name was Kendrick Perkins but Danny “ego-maniac” Ainge doesn’t value the players that is why he has no problem throwing Rondo’s name in a trade.

I recently read “Shaq Uncut” and there was a brief section about Rondo’s sensitivity. Shaq spent a short time with the Celtics and he picked up on the sensitivity issues but it doesn’t appear Danny Ainge gets it.

Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu have been brought up in a possible deal with the Nets for Brook Lopez and two future first rounders. I am totally with the Magic trading Dwight Howard because we all know he wants to play in a big market but the Nets just aren’t offering enough. Brook Lopez made a conscious effort last year to not rebound. He averaged 5.9 boards per game in 35 minutes that is unacceptable for a starting center.

The Lakers are also in the running for Howard and I believe Dwight has expressed interest in LA but why? Why would he want to go to LA when at best he would be there fifth greatest center (1. Kareem 2. Wilt 3. Shaq 4. Mikan)? He would be an afterthought once his playing days are over and he could be the Bill Russell of Orlando. He could be the guy that did what Shaq couldn’t do. He would be Orlando’s superman.

OTHER:

With no NBA I spent a lot of time watching the NFL and NCAA basketball. Football is a great sport but I love basketball. In a normal year I usually stop watching football once the NBA pre-season begins. I learned through watching football that attempting to analyze football through the same metrics I analyze basketball with aren’t the same indicators that will work with football. In early October when the Bills were 4-1 I was telling everyone that would listen these guys are going to the superbowl. Since their 4-1 start they have gone 1-5. Another reason I overestimated the Bills success is because I was kicking ass and taking names in Madden football. Thankfully nobody seems to remember my prediction.

College basketball is another thing I latched onto while the NBA was locked out. The college game is great I normally watch during March Madness but this year I got a head start. Unlike the rest of the world I am a fan of Duke University and they had some pretty good wins heading into their showdown with Ohio State on last night and again I was predicting a Duke victory and of course that got completely undressed. Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly had been significant contributors all season and the trio combined for seven points. Actually I am not even being fair Seth Curry had seven Dawkins and Kelly 0 apiece.

The one thing that came out of that game for me was that Austin Rivers is a bona-fide pro. He along with Mason Plumlee were the only two players capable of doing anything against Ohio State. It is not enough a player looks good in a loss but Austin looked damn good trying to keep the game respectable. Take a look at the crossover below

SYRACUSE:

When I heard about Penn State I agreed Joe Paterno should go but I am having mixed feelings about Boeheim. I am not big on college football so dismissing Paterno career was easy for me but Boeheim I have seen that face on television since I was kid. I remember dreaming about wearing the orange. Once the allegations surfaced Boeheim ripped the accusers which I wasn’t expecting at all because Jim always seemed so laid back and you always heard he was a player’s coach. But that recording that surfaced was ugly and I unfortunately I think Boeheim career at Syracuse is coming to an end.

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