Crazy Deadline

As I've written my observations for the Melo-to-NY and Deron-to-Nets trade drama before, here are the rest of the trades and my little analysis.

The most that surprise me, of course as a Boston fanatic, is the trade that sent starting center Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Oklahoma for Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic. GM Danny Ainge worst move as I may say, thinking about the future when you have a championship team on hand. First thing, how can they match up with the Magics' and the Lakers' bigs? Second, why take off their frontline advantage and toughness with other playoff teams especially the Heat?

How valuable Kendrick Perkins to the C's defense? First, he can play Howard one-on-one and by that the C's can stay in front of the Magic's perimeter shooters. Second, along with Garnett, they can neutralize the Laker's bigs unlike any other team in the league. Plus the every game toughness and defensive presence with a big body in the middle what makes other teams intimidated. Now, all of these are gone away to Oklahoma.

As for the Thunder, they are very happy. This is what they coveted for a long time, a true defensive-minded and tough enforcer in the middle. OKC ain't soft anymore and they have a chance to compete against the elite of the West especially the Lakers. They are currently riding on a 3-game slide. Those losses against the Magic, Spurs and Lakers just shows that they are thin inside and Perkins' arrival will provide answer to that. The trade value of Perkins can be seen come playoff time.

Ain't happy in OKC?

Well Boston fans, let's just hope that Shaq will regain his health as soon as possible and Troy Murphy will be waived and then sign with the C's.

Suddenly, the title hopes are in a question mark. Tsk Tsk...

***

Other trades during the deadline as follows:

1. Baron Davis-Mo Williams swap. Remove the negative aura in the Clippers locker room. Clearly, this will be Blake Griffin's team now. Good move Clip's management.

2. Kirk Hinrich-Mike Bibby trade. Atlanta got this one right. Definitely an upgrade in the point position. What can Bibby do, Hinrich can do better.

3. Gerald Wallace to Portland. A former All-Star who is still averaging 15 and 8 during the season, Gerald Wallace will definitely adds toughness and tenacity to the wing position. It's like winning a lottery considering they just gave up Przybilla, Cunnigham and two first rounders which are definitely not lottery picks.

4. Shane Battier-Hasheem Thabeet trade. Clearly, Rockets is in a rebuilding mode and is not expecting Yao Ming anymore. Thabeet is raw and a lot of good years ahead of him. As for Battier, he can provide experience and defensive presence for the 8th seeded Grizzlies.

5. Goran Dragic-Aaron Brooks swap. A scorer in exchange for a tradional point. A win-win for both teams especially for Phoenix who is in running for the 8th spot in the West since they will have a spark plug off the bench as a backup of Steve Nash.

***

Didn't See That Coming

So, Melo drama already ended in NY. No surprise to that. I definitely knew that he will not sign with the Nets or even if he got traded to Nets, he won't sign the extension and will leave after the season to sign with the Knicks. New York is where it got to be.

It you watch that video during Melo's wedding, Lebron joked that if he (Melo) wants to beat them in Miami, he should join Amare in New York. Everybody laughed and then Chris Paul tossed up and said they will form their own Big 3. So only one left now.

My analysis for the deal, Nuggets is the big winner in the trade. Considering four Knicks starters plus draft picks, they are getting much more than what they expected from the Nets offer. Felton will be backing up and teaching Ty Lawson at the point. Wilson Chandler is one of the exciting young small forwards and can be a solid 15-20 point scorer. Danilo Gallinari is showing signs of brillance and he has confidence now unlike last year. He can spread the floor and at 6'10" can shoot the 3. Mozgov, the deal-sealer, is a tradional center who can defend. And all of them are 26 years or younger.

As for the Knicks, wait till next season. The trade won't give immediate impact. And for those saying that the Knicks are now contenders, well they are wrong. They are exciting now but now in the same breed of the Celtics, Heat, Magic or even the Bulls.

Can they co-exist?

***

What surprised me this morning is the Deron Williams trade to New Jersey Nets. Didn't see that happening since Jerry Sloan resigned as coach after in-game arguments happened last month with their franchise player.

Jazz owner did the right since Deron is not playing with a swagger anymore. Maybe he felt that Deron will leave Utah like Lebron, Bosh and Amare after the season. Rather than losing him for nothing, he dealt for Devin Harris, #3 pick Derrick Favors (I don't know why they are considering this guy as an asset, he can't play with the big guys) and two first-round picks.

Jazz is a solid winner here. Aside from trading a star who doesn't have a plan to stay, they got a nice trading asset in Devin Harris and a young and very raw Derrick Favors with two first-round picks, one is a sure lottery pick for this June's draft.

For the Nets, they are crossing fingers that Deron will sign an extension come July and not to join forces with Melo and Amare in New York.

Go East young man!

***

Sidetrip to boxing.

Nonito Donaire was simply spectacular with that 2nd round demolition of Fernando Montiel. What good about that is he knocked a guy out who is never been KO'd before and is a pound-per-pound fighter.

Early KO of the year candidate

One thing about the fight. Referee should have stopped it immediately. Tsk tsk.

As for the remainder of the year, here are the top boxing events to watch and my predicted winner in bold letters. Arguments and questions about my predictions? Go bet with me!

Mar12 - Sergio Martinez (46-2 25KO) vs Serhiy Dzinziruk (37-0 23KO)

Mar12 - Miguel Cotto (35-2 28KO) vs Ricardo Mayorga (29-7 23KO)

Apr9 - Erik Morales (51-6 35KO) vs Marcos Maidana (29-2 27KO)

Apr16 - Andre Berto (27-0 21KO) vs Victor Ortiz (28-2 22KO)

Apr16 - Amir Khan (24-1 17KO) vs Peter McCloskey (22-0 12KO)

Apr16 - Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0 27KO) vs Orlando Salido (34-11 20KO)

May7 - Manny Pacquiao (52-3 38KO) vs Shane Mosley (46-5 39KO)

***

Marcos in Libingan Ng Mga Bayani?

Dating AFP Chief of Staff at DND secretary Angelo Reyes inilibing na sa Libingan ng mga Bayani? Ok, isa pala syang bayani.

With respect sa mga naulila ni Gen. Reyes, masasabi ko naman na talagang magaling at maganda ang track record nya since graduating from PMA in '66 especially during the all-out war imposed during Pres Erap's regime against the MILF. Nasira lang naman sya nang naging malapit na sya kay GMA. Hehehe.

All of these allegations of corruption should be taken into account bago sana sya binigyan ng full military honors at isang magandang pwesto sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. After all, isang respected na tao din naman ang nagbunyag ng mga ito at hindi gawa gawa lang na witness para manira.

And suicide? Sino ba ang taong nasa tamang pag iisip para magpakamatay? If the accusations were not true, then bakit ako matatakot, di ba? Kung si Gen. Carlos Garcia na huli na sa akto at andyan na lahat ng ebidensya ay kukuya kuyakoy lang tuwing Senate hearing, si Gen. Angie Reyes pa kaya?

As dating AFP Chief, lahat na ata ng pressure ay naranasan na nya. Plus the fact na naging secretary sya ng apat na departments under GMA's fake administration. Hindi ko alam pero bakit sa ngayong corruption issue eh bumigay sya? Rewind Oakwood Mituny led by Sen. Trillanes. Di ba isa rin sya sa mga pinaratangan during that time?

Bakit ka nag suicide Sir General? Sana isiniwalat mo din ang nalalaman mo at managot sa taungbayan ang mga nagkasala at nagnakaw sa Pilipinas kong mahal.

Sayang ka Gen. Reyes, rest in peace.

***

About time na din siguro na ilibing ang ating greatest president Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. As a former WWII veteran at syempre former Congressman, Senate President and President, I think deserve din sya ng isang state burial.

About time na siguro?

It has been 25 years mula ng napataksik sya sa pwesto pero up to now wala pa naman napapatunayan sa mga nakaw na yaman ng mga Marcoses during his regime. Binuo pa ang PCGG during Cory's administration pero ala din naman nahanap o nabawi. Human rights violation siguro but paano mo ba icoconsider ang isang human rights violations during that time?

Sabi ni P-Noy pagkakaisa? Ilibing muna si Marcos sa Libingan ng mga bayani, ipamahagi ang Hacienda Luisita as promised during the campaign at buklatin ang lahat ng maling pinasok ng nagdaang administrasyon.

Tama tama, ilibing na si Marcos! Papayag ka ba?

***

Don't blame it on Lebron

Cavs lost their 24th straight making a new record for consecutive losses. What can I say about this? Karma! Hahaha.

Welcome to the records book Cavs!

When will this stop? Definitely it won't happen this Tuesday against Dallas. But the three next games is showing promise against Pistons, Clippers (am I considering this?) and Wizards (probably!).

Give Lebron the MVP. This futility of the Cavs just shows how valuable Lebron is. No questions about it.

***

Now, we are feeling a lot of love! Yes, Kevin Love was selected to replace the injured Yao Ming for the All-Star game this coming Feb 20. Well deserved as I may say.

Heads up now, you are selected!

Great choice commish, since the guy is averaging around 21 ppg and league-leading 15 rpg even if the Wolves have the West's worst record. Considering the numbers, he's better than Tim Duncan (13ppg and 9 rpg - both career-lows) at this point.

Anyway, it's not the All-Star game that matters to me. Blake Griffin's slam dunk participation is getting my attention for that weekend.

***

Super Bowl XLV this coming Monday morning (of course Philippine time) between Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both are defensive-minded teams and headlining great QB's in Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger.

All eyes tomorrow for the biggest sporting event in USA

Who am I picking? Go for the Packers. I strongly believed they will win their first Super Bowl in the post-Favre era.

Just some fun bits, Black Eyed Peas will be doing the halftime show and Cristina Aguilera is singing the National Anthem. And the cost for a 30-sec commercial? Take this, $3 million dollars!

Can't wait tomorrow for this!