Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Never Satisfied, Wanting More

We're past the half way point in the regular season and barring any sort of disastrous injury the Spurs look like they're going to finish with the best record in the league and home court throughout the play-offs. Still, I'm more than a little worried. The worst bone bruise in history that Matt Bonner now has brings to light the lack of offensive depth up front. So as unbelievable as a Matt Bonner injury worries me you might find it even more unbelievable that Nets F/C Troy Murphy may be the cure to what worries me.

Murphy has been stranded in Avery Johnson's dog house for almost the entire season. Murphy is averaging a career low 3.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in just 18 games. Last year he averaged 14 points and 10 boards a game. He is a career 39 percent 3 point shooter PER (player efficiency rating) was an 18 last year, so overall he is a good basketball player especially if you're not asking him to be one of your 3 best players.

Murphy has been at the center of the Carmelo Anthony trade talks since he arrived in Jersey, but ever since Russian Mark Cuban walked away from those talks (for now), Murphy's name has been floated as a guy who could be bought out after the trade deadline (though right now GM Billy King says that's unlikely). ESPN's Weekend Dime listed Dallas, Orlando and San Antonio as possible Murphy landing spots. I see no reason why the Spurs shouldn't make play for Murphy. He is essentially a more talented version of Matt Bonner. That and you keep him away from every other contender who will make a play for him (Like the Lakers need a back up center who can hit 3's).

The Spurs don't need Troy Murphy, but Boston is a good example of why having an overload of bigs isn't a bad thing. You can always use more rebounders. Or in the Spurs' case you can always use more rebounding and 3 point shooters. Troy Murphy does both of those really well.

Friday, January 14, 2011

So... Tonight's Game Means A Lot

It's a shame Dirk Nowitzki isn't playing tonight because you never want to play a rival that isn't at full strength. Or do you?

Tonight's Mavs-Spurs game could effectively hand the Spurs the Southwest Division crown and at the very least a top 2 seed in the West (Never, ever rule out a Lakers 12 game winning streak no matter how bad they look). If the Spurs win tonight they'll be seven games up on Dallas.  According to John Hollinger's playoff odds, the Spurs have a 96 percent chance of winning the division.  With Dirk and Caron Butler's injuries, tonight would all but seal the deal.  And after a less then great ten days, I hope they win big for all of the nation to see.

So come playoff time I really hope the Spurs see the Mavs and I really hope Dirk is healthy, but for tonight, I'm perfectly fine with him no the bench in a suit, bumping some Hasslehoff on his iPod.