Thoughts: Boston 98, San Antonio 90

• Glen Davis has great, soft hands. He can catch anything under the rim, and unlike most rookies, knows how to finish. His hands are also great on D. Tim Duncan bled for his shots in this game, and Davis was one of the reasons. This guy had three steals, for crying out loud.
• It would've been nice to see Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo try to outrun each other. In a straight race, my money is on Rondo; with the ball, I'm betting on Parker.
• The game was a great test for the C's defense and discipline. As is usually the case, San Antonio kept trying to come back, hoping to break the Celtics' defensive resolve. For most of the game, Boston played consistent, tough defense, and that got them the win.
• KG's injury has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It's given Leon Powe and Glen Davis valuable minutes which'll really help build their confidence when they're in the playoffs.
• Ray Allen really, really knows how to run the pick and roll. Of course, it helps that he's a great shooter with a quick release who opponents are loathe to leave open. That, and great passing skills make him a bitch to guard.
• Paul Pierce is a bull. He moves in slow motion, but I almost never see him get his shot blocked; attempts to do so usually end with him taking free throws.

They Just Want It More

In its 88-86 victory over the Minesotta Timberwolves, one play––the very last play––explains the success the Boston Celtics have enjoyed this season.

There's 20 seconds and change left, Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric misses a three pointer that would've given them the lead. His team-mate Craig Smith saves the ball from going out of bounds, but his pass is picked off by Ray Allen. Allen rushes down the court and heads straight for the basket while two Wolves players follow him. Allen misses the layup (he's fouled, but it isn't called), but with four––yes, four––Celtics trailing him, the ball inevitably lands into the hands of a guy in green. The rebounder is Leon Powe, and with under a second to go, he lays in the winning shot.

You'd think that it would be the Timberwolves––who have just a few more wins than the Celtics have losses––would be the hustling, scrappy team. But when the game was on the line, when it mattered the most, only two Wolves would sprint down to try to stop Ray Allen, while ALL the Celtics ran down the court with their star shooting guard.

The Boston Celtics worked hard––albeit, late in the game––to get the W, just as they have whole year long. And this is why they have the best record in the League. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

It Could Work

Reasons the Suns' acquisition of Shaq COULD work:

Steve Nash makes everyone better. He made Marion look great in highlights. Made Amare Stoudemire an All-Star. Made Boris Diaw look like an All-Star. Gave Grant Hill a second life. He could do the same for Shaq.

Shaq is great when motivated. And boy, is he motivated. The man has an ego bigger the size of a friggin' mountain. You don't think all the criticism about The Trade doesn't bother him? He's pissed. And he plays way better when pissed. Look for him to prove everyone wrong.

It makes the Suns flexible. When Shaq sits, they can run. When he plays, they can play a more deliberate half-court game. In the playoffs, when the tempo slows down, this versatility could work in the Suns' favor.

Better locker room chemistry. Shawn Marion, for all of his talent, was a downer in the locker room. Removing him and inserting the lighter, funnier Shaq may do wonders for a team that's been taking itself too seriously in the past few months.

It gives the West's big men something to think about. Yeah, Shaq's no longer the force he used to be. But you can't ignore him down in the paint, which means the West's big men won't be able to go out and help perimeter defenders against Phoenix's many shooters. It also means that teams with weaker centers will have to sag down low and make things a little easier for the Suns' wing players.

Shaq-ing Trades

Two big trades in the past week have shook the NBA.

The first had Memphis' Pau Gasol sent over to the LA Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and two first-round draft picks. Gasol being moved wasn't as much as a shock as the (cheap) price the Lakers paid for him.

The second had Miami sending Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Marion leaving the Suns was totally expected; he'd been upset with his role in Phoenix for what seems to be forever. The shocker was who the Suns got in return for their do-all forward: Shaq.

The two trades are a study in contrasts. The Lakers have been praised for what many call a major coup; obtaining an All-Star quality forward who appears to be a great fit for Phil Jackson's triangle offense without giving up anyone in the Lakers' core. The transaction gives LA arguably the best starting five in the league: Andrew Bynum, Gasol, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant, and Derek Fisher. The talent doesn't end there. Backing them up are players who would probably start for other teams: Ronny Turiaf, Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Vladimir Radmanovic, and Sasah Vujacic.

(An aside. With two great franchises––the Celtics and the Lakers––suddenly reinvigorated by seemingle lopsided trades, one wonders when Fate will cut the New York Knicks a break.)

The Suns, on the other hand, have been criticized incessantly by almost everyone for a trade that doesn't seem to make any sense for them. No one could be a worse fit for the run-and-gun Suns than the 36 year-old center, who can barely run after almost a decade of carrying his 300-pound frame. His skills, as many observers point out, have greatly deteriorated. Marion did everything for Phoenix; played defense, grabbed rebounds, and scored when needed. Shaq, many say, won't replace that.

Whatever happens with these two teams, one thing is certain: the Wild West just got even wilder.

Houston Needs Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd won't be in a New Jersey uniform after February 21, that much is certain after the All-Star guard announced that he'd prefer to be shipped out than stay on a team that, in his view, wasn't going anywhere.

A number of destinations for Kidd have been mentioned, like Cleveland and Los Angeles, but with the Cavs devoid of any assets the Nets would want, and the Lakers now all set with Pau Gasol in their roster, it seems that few teams are willing to part with a substantial portion of their roster to get Kidd.

If there's one team that should, it's Houston. If there's a team that needs a point guard of his caliber, it's the Rockets, who have a roster full of talented players who just can't seem to get it together. Kidd would change that.

Hold on to Yao Ming, and offer anyone for Kidd. Now.