Around the NBA

With the NBA season about a month old, things are starting to come into shape, and story lines are developing.

1) Stephon Marbury Benched: When Marbury was first brought to New York, it brought the city alive, almost like their own son was coming back home to play. Now, be can't even get on the court. New coach Mike D'Antoni has decided Marbury is not part of the plans, and has not played him 1 minute this season. Surprisingly, Marbury has seemed to take it in stride, saying general qoutes like "it's not my call" and "I'll do what's best for the team".

That was until recently. In a long time coming tirade, Marbury called out his team mates, naming Quiten Richardson, saying that they stabbed him in the back by not sticking up for him. Finally, everyone has agreed it is better for him to just stay home. The Knicks are now working on what to do with him, whether it be trade him or buy him out.

One rumor out there has the Miami Heat trading Shawn Marion for him. I don't get why the Heat (or any team) would trade for him. The Knicks are going to buy him out. Then you can get Marbury at a discounted rate. I think Miami is the place for him. The Heat have young point guard Mario Chalmers, but Marbury would be a 1 year deal. And coming out if this situation, you'd have to think that he would be on his beat behavior, and try to prove people wrong, in hopes of getting a new contract.

Right now the Heat are 9-9, 4 games behind the Orlando Magic. Dwanye Wade is having an MVP year. If Marbury can play anywhere near what he is capable of, they have a real chance of making the playoffs.

2) Billups in Denver: When the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons swapped points guards, I thought it was a good deal for both. And while there is still plenty of the season to go, the early winner looks like Denver. They are 11-3 in games that Chauncy Billups has played in. If the playoffs started today, they would be the number 2 seed.

Mean while, in Detroit, the honeymoon ended fast for Allen Iverson, as he has already been punished for missing a practice. There has also been rumbelings that Richard Hamilton is not happy with the amount of shots he is getting. I still they will turn it around, but right now, the clear winner in that trace appears to be Denver.

3) Portland Trailblazers: The season is still young, the the Trailblazers, if the playoffs started today, would be the 3 seed. They have impressive wins over the Pistons, Hornets, and Rockets. They are also undefeated at home. Greg Oden, after one of the worst starts to a career someone could have, has bounced back to average 8 points and 7 rebounds, highlighted by a 22 and 10 effort vs the Warriors. The Blazers should keep winning, as they face the Knicks and Wizards for their next 2.

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