Daily Thunder.com

@Mark!
The only point of your's I was challenging was about Gortat. I've watched him quite a bit, and he just doesn't leave much of an impression. Sure he's an upgrade over Jarron Collins, but who isn't? Gortat's production will likely be by default of simply having nothing better at his position - just as you said, SOMEBODY has to get those rebounds. That doesn't make him a good player, I'd say he's decent. And Nash could make him look a little above average.

But I was never arguing they won't be a playoff team. Before the trade I expected them to finish in between 7-9 in the West, and I still expect that. But you ask how exactly could this have made them worse? Well Richardson is better than Vince Carter, for starters. Gortat is a good addition because we know they have nothing else at that position outside of Lopez. And Pietrus should be a better fit than Turk in that system. But I don't see this trade making them worse either. So could they slightly improve? Yes. I was just trying to say that this doesn't change my opinion much one way or the other on this THIS YEAR'S Suns team. But it's a great trade for their future, IMO. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

@Greg

When did I say Phoenix was a contender? Saying they won't trade Steve Nash because they're making the playoffs has nothing to do with them being a contender. They aren't going to trade Nash and they want to make the playoffs because it gives them a good short term return on their money because both they draw fans to the arena. I don't think they're making the conference finals, much less the championships. I guess I figured that goes without say.

Like Sammy said, I don't see how you can make an argument that this trade made them worse. Yes, they are worse than last season, but they're still good enough to make the playoffs this year.

And yes, I think Gortat is a good rotation player, especially for Phoenix whose only big men before the trade were Channing Frye and Robin Lopez (injured). He's going to look good playing with Nash and he's going to get plenty of rebounds because SOMEBODY has to get them.

Just a small note: Strength of schedule for our last 10 games - .411, for the next 10 games - .579. Better take care of the lower teams when they come along. We've got three games against .800+ teams coming up.

What happened last night was very interesting as I was a lifelong Suns fan before the Thunder and I still keep up with the team. I'm having mixed reactions about the trade and was shocked to see they have up J-Rich and Earl Clark. Yeah Hedo wasn't working out (nor is Childress) but Clark was just coming around and looked improved in his garbage time against Dallas. And Richardson was a HUGE piece of what got them to the WCF last year. Vince is done at this point of his career. But Gortat is someone I knew the Suns have wanted for a while now and they also get MP and a pick and cash. Looks like they're rebuilding.

I was going to get tickets to tonight's game, but even the possibility of not seeing Nash put me off :( I'll just watch from home I guess.

@f5alcon

Hehe, i drafted him in the second round which was seen as a total reach.

Kevin Love is awesome. It would be nice for Rambis to actually play him and Beasley at their native positions (C and PF) instead of putting in Kosta Koufos, but that would be asking for too much. As much as I question Scotty Brooks sometimes, Kurt Rambis makes him look like Red Auerbach.

@Greg
PHX is obviously not a contender with this trade, but I find it impossible to see how this trade made them worse. I think an 8th or 7th seed is super likely at this point (where they were borderline to make the playoffs before).

@f5alcon
I'm pretty stoked, I traded Darren Collison for him!

shiki=4 seasons :
Love is 43+16 now

nice, i love the fact that i traded al horford and baron davis for him in fantasy, what a steal.

Gortat is a "very good rotation" player? I'm not sure what supports this. My expectations for Phoenix haven't changed much one way or the other, they just aren't contenders. Count Portland and Houston in this mix, as well.

The national media recognizes four legit contenders: Lakers, Mavs, Spurs, Jazz - these are correct. Soon they'll realize there is a 5th creeping it's way up the ladder, and who knows just how far.

ananympus :

Mark! :@WannabeGM

No way, Nash is staying and Phoenix is going to be in the playoffs.

lol Phoenix took a step back ..playoffs?? u gotta be kidding..

Step back how, exactly? They gave up Hedo's corpse, a non-rotation player and J-Rich for 2 very good rotation players and VC.

I'm not saying they're better than last season because it's obvious they aren't. But they had an absolutely horrible roster before today and they were still only a half game back from 8th place in the conference. Given that New Orleans is coming back down to earth, and Portland and Denver might be blowing up their teams, explain to me how I am "kidding"?

Tonight must have featured, collectively, one of the worst nights of NBA basketball in history.

@justin
That's hugely encouraging.

Short article on OKC's defensive improvement: http://hoopdata.com/blogengine/post/2010/12/18/Okl...

@shiki=4 seasons
On just 23 fgas, 5/5 from 3... that's a pretty impressive night,

shiki=4 seasons :
Love is 43+16 now

Feel bad for Love. The rest of his team is just chucking shots. Michael Beasley is the worst.

Love is 43+16 now

@ananympus
Check orlandopinstripedpost.com

Wow just checked the Magic's version of Daily Thunder and they have 8 comments on their trade artictle 8!! Guess Daily Thunder fans are the best

Bucks falling apart now. Think Utah's going to win.

The only thing you can really question Orlando for is the Lewis for Arenas trade due to Arenas' injury history, if he stays healthy what a steal for the magic since both players had awful contracts...but if anyone had been watching NBA this year J-Rich has been on fire this year, and if Turkish Jordan can be half of what he was before Orlando improves greatly..i mean a backcourt rotation of Arenas,Jameer,J-Rich,Q-Rich,Hedo,Redick, and Anderson and Bass at the 4 along with the best 5 in the league, you have to say Orlando improved big time

This trade makes Phoenix one of the bottom 4 in the west along with Sac,Minn,LAC, 100% Gaurantee Phoenix falls out of contention and finishes with alot more losses than they were on pace for

So who will Phoenix be starting against us tomorrow?
Dragic-Dudley-Hill-Frye-Lopez?

This trade puts Magic back in the run for a title..great day for the Magic, unless you really think Gortat mattered to Orlando..J-Rich is playing great lately and was carrying Phoenix..Rashard Lewis is having his worst year ever...Arenas is ready to save his career...GREAT TRADES FOR MAGIC..only thing they will miss is Pietrus off the bench

Mark! :@WannabeGM

No way, Nash is staying and Phoenix is going to be in the playoffs.

lol Phoenix took a step back ..playoffs?? u gotta be kidding..

DizzyDai :
Mo Williams isn’t missing LeBron too much.

I want Varejao. He's been great in this game.

Mo Williams isn't missing LeBron too much.

The Wizards looked like a high school basketball team out there in the last minute. I was going to say D-league, but that's being too kind.

That's one of the ugliest losses I've seen in a long time.

It looked like Hinrich got fouled to me. :(

That was sickening.

This game is a contest to see who is worse at late game execution.

The Wiz are just giving the game away.

I can't believe this Miami game. What a meltdown.

Andray is maybe the dumbest basketball player in the league.

Come on Wiz. Beat the Heat!

@justin
Wow that's terrible. Doesn't compute for me.

@Sammy

They're 28th in defensive rebounding, worse than us by a decent margin. And 21st in offensive rebounding. One of the worst overall rebounding teams in the league.

One of the effects of replacing Boozer with Jefferson, IMO. Okur being back might help them.

@justin
Weird. Al Jeff, Millsap, AK, and Deron seems like a strong rebounding team to me.

Blazers starting 5 tonight:
Miller, Rudy, Matthews, Cunningham, Aldridge
2nd unit: Armon Johnson, Patty Mills, Luke Babbitt, Sean Marks

Yikes. Batum, Camby, Przybillia, and Roy all sidelined with injuries. Sean Marks is the worst rotation player in the league.

Wiz up 8 on MIA with 6 minutes to go. It'd be a shocking loss.

@Sammy

They seem horrible on the boards.

@justin
Utah going on one of their characteristic funks? They got destroyed by NOH

Watching Utah-Milwaukee. Utah looks bad but Corey Maggette pretty much just gave the Jazz five free points.

Sammy :
Mayberry tweeted that Gortat/VC/Pietrus would likely see their first game in a Suns uni on Thursday. I guess that means we play a severely depleted Suns team tomorrow.

If what is happening to Orlando tonight is any clue, we should be able to win against the Suns. Orlando is losing at home against Philly.

Seems like good fortune smiles on our backsides again vis a vis depleted opposition. I haven't slept in 4 days, sweating through my sheets in fear of Hedo Turkoglu.

Mayberry tweeted that Gortat/VC/Pietrus would likely see their first game in a Suns uni on Thursday. I guess that means we play a severely depleted Suns team tomorrow.

@justin
ok... so you think they play against us? and will Nash play? his collision looked pretty ugly... but anyway I think this tread is pretty nice for the Thunder, it usually takes a few games for a team to get used to new teammates, no? hope OKC can get a win tomorrow...

btw Tibor Pleiss played earlier today and his Team won against Alba Berlin 103 - 52 (Alba is 3th in the league!!) Pleiss played only 12mins was 0-4 from the field but 4-4 from the line. he got 4 Rebs, 2 Blocks and 2 Assists.

@blade_

Teams can waive physicals so technically they can play ASAP but that's never really done.

@Joshua G
don't think they will play against us. it took 2 days for the Williams-Machine-Smith Trade to pass. They are aparently not allowed to play before all the players involved pass the physical tests...