2012 Playoffs Game Time: Day 11

Four games today

• Indiana vs Orlando
• Atlanta vs Boston
• Chicago vs Philly
• Los Angeles vs Denver

Indiana vs Orlando

I think I’ll be watching the first half of this one before switching over to the Hawks versus Celtics game.

First Quarter

• Nice job by Jason Richardson curling off a screen and driving to the rim off the catch. Finishes at the rim. Need more interior help defense there.
• Paul George has started quickly. I read that he has struggled offensively in this series. Low scoring numbers. Can’t buy a three pointer. Well, he just bagged one and he hit a putback moments earlier.
• Nice pick and pop between Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson who pops from the right wing to the right corner and knocks down a three pointer. Moments later, Orlando runs the same action on the opposite side of the court, this time Nelson goes away from the screen and hits the 20 foot jumper from the sideline.

2012 Playoffs: Eastern Conference First Round Matchups

The four ties

• (1) Chicago Bulls vs (8) Philadelphia 76ers
• (2) Miami Heat vs (7) New York Knicks
• (3) Indiana Pacers vs (6) Orlando Magic
• (4) Boston Celtics vs (5) Atlanta Hawks

Analysis

Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers

The Bulls won the season series 2-1 this year and Phily won 2-1 last year.

A few of the main deciding factors in those games where:

(1) Philadelphia caused Chicago a lot of problems when Thaddeus Young came into the game. His speed both offensively and defensively caused the Bulls issues on both ends of the court.

Tom Thibodeau has been uncomfortable using Boozer against T.Young in the past and has often turned to Taj Gibson for that matchup. That has taken the Bulls second best offensive player off the court which has hurt the Bulls offense while Young has boosted Philly’s offense.

2012 Trade Deadline Rumours

List of the main rumours with links … analysis on some of the bigger rumours down below if you scroll down.

Around the NBA

• New Orleans were in talks with Washington to trade Chris Kaman, Carl Landry and Trevor Ariza for JaVale McGee, Rashard Lewis and a second round pick … before Washington decided to trade McGee to Denver for Nene instead.
• A three team trade that would have sent Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers was vetoed at the last minute by Wolves owner Glen Taylor. The deal would have seen Fisher head to Minnesota.
• The Pistons offered Villanueva or Ben Gordon + a first for Chris Kaman. The Hornets declined and countered with a Maxiell + first for Landry proposal which Detroit soundly rejected.
• The Nets offered Brook Lopez to the Bucks for Monta Ellis. I don’t like that trade for the Nets (with Deron Williams there, a ball-dominant undersized two ranks pretty lowly on the type of players I’d like to put alongside him). Good option for the Bucks (talented big man for a player who doesn’t fit your roster).
• The Rockets will waive Terrence Williams. A hugely talented player with very poor decision making skills. An excellent long term project for some team to take on.
• The Warriors had the option of trading Brandon Rush and Kwame Brown for Chris Kaman prior to making the Bogut trade.
• Portland will waive Greg Oden (and Chris Johnson) later tonight.
• Clippers gave Courtney Lee a good hard look before settling on Nick Young.
• Portland Trailblazers are being very active and telling teams that they are open for business. Expect multiple trades for them.
• Jermaine O’Neal wants a buyout and hopes to return to Miami if he gets one from Boston.
• Several contenders chasing Ray Allen. Some are offering a first round pick. Some a young bench player. So far, none have met Danny’s asking price and offered both. I do not expect that to change.
• Sam Amico reports that Boston are talking to Sacramento about JJ Hickson.
• New Jersey are in talks with Portland about Gerald Wallace.
• A three team deal — Jamal Crawford to Minnesota with Beasley heading to the Lakers and Blake returning to Portland.
• Minnesota are also in talks with Orlando about Beasley with Jason Richardson heading the other way.
• Brandon Jennings staying in Milwaukee

Orlando Signs Earl Clark

Adrian Wojnarowski tweets

Earl Clark has agreed to a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic, league source tells Y! Sports.

Good signing.

Earl Clark showed himself to be an intriguing defensive player last season under Stan Van Gundy.

Orlando Gives $25mil to J-Rich

ESPN reports

Jason Richardson is staying with the Orlando Magic.

Richardson agreed to a four-year, $25 million deal to remain in Orlando, according to a report on Yahoo! Sports citing league sources.

Another awful move by Otis Smith following his acquisition of Glen Davis yesterday.

Orlando Trade Bass for Big Baby

The Boston Herald reports on trade talks

The Celtics have apparently decided that Glen Davis’ future is better elsewhere.

According to two league sources, the Cs are in discussions with Orlando to send Big Baby, in a sign-and-trade deal, to Orlando for power forward Brandon Bass – a player Magic management had been very high on at one stage. Bass is due $4 million each of the next two years, including a player option for the 2012-13 season.

Goukas: Dwight Better Defender than Russell

Orlando Sentinel rehashing an old quote from Goukas

We’ll say it again: Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is a more dominating defensive player than Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell.

As every season passes and every Howard blocked shot is rejected into the stands, the more I believe this bold statement made last season by Orlando Magic TV commentator Matt Guokas.

Game Time: Atlanta vs Orlando

Orlando Magic

Just watched the Hawks-Magic game from last night this morning.

Orlando’s big man rotation is a train wreck without Ryan Anderson. Any type of foul trouble to Dwight Howard and this team’s defense will fall apart in a heartbeat. No rim protection.

It’ll be interesting to see if they find a trade that allows to acquire a backup center. They badly need one. Likely with JJ Redick heading the other way.

Hedo Turkoglu isn’t getting enough touches to be the impact player he was two years ago for the Magic. He is more of a 13-14ppg and 3-4apg threat (roughly the player he was in Toronto) rather than the 17/5 guy he used to be here in Orlando. He misses those second units where he could play alongside Anthony Johnson and have the offense run through his hands for 5-6 minutes in each half. He just can’t get those same opportunities with Nelson and Arenas sharing the point.

Orlando Acquires Hedo + J-Rich + Arenas

ESPN is reporting

The Orlando Magic, already in serious trade talks with the Washington Wizards about acquiring Gilbert Arenas, have agreed to a deal in principle with the Phoenix Suns, according to league sources.

The trade returns former Magic star Hedo Turkoglu, along with Jason Richardson and Earl Clark, to Orlando in exchange for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 2011 first-round pick and cash considerations.

Orlando, losers of five of its last six games, is also close to acquiring Arenas for Rashard Lewis, sources said.

Update: The Gilbert Arenas trade went through

The Orlando Magic capped a blockbuster day of wheeling and dealing by trading one franchise cornerstone for another, sending Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas on Saturday.

Luxury Tax Teams

A note via ESPN

LUXURY TAX TEAMS

Team	Current Tax Bill
Lakers	$24,695,480
Magic	$24,019,804
Mavericks	$14,867,302
Nuggets	$13,552,541
Celtics	$7,369,054
Jazz	$6,733,605
Blazers	$2,650,314
Rockets	$2,393,546

A couple of other notes