1.    Mad Marion: As we wait for training camp to begin, the latest story is that Shawn Marion has demanded a trade.  The origin of the trade seems to be twofold, recognition and money: -Marion was put off by being shopped. The Suns had dangled both Marion and Amare Stoudemire in possible trades this summer.  This in and of itself shouldn't be too big a deal in the big business NBA but Marion seems to have a sensitive constitution.  This side to Marion was extensively, if … [Read more...] about Quick Thoughts

1. Oden Ouch: The Blazers have recently gotten the tough news that Greg Oden, their number one pick and the ballyhooed number one overall pick, will miss the entire season with micro facture knee surgery.  The immediate reaction was to talk about how the Blazers are in serious trouble and that Oden may carry the curse of previous high picked Blazer centers Bill Walton and Sam Bowie, whose careers were both seriously curtailed by chronic problems.  The injury to Oden, while certainly … [Read more...] about Quick Thoughts

1.    Dream Team?: Well the FIBA Americas tourney has come and went and, as anticipated, the United States dominated the proceedings.  Of course, the margin of error is so slim in these international proceedings that you can't assume a win in the 2008 Olympics.  Still, the team did seem to have a nice balance to it.  As to whether this team could take the original 1992 squad, I'm agnostic on the subject.  What I am more interested in is how a coach sorts out these types of All-Star … [Read more...] about Quick Thoughts