WHAT!? Are you serious! They would officially be 1 of the worst things I've ever seen. How can that guy balance his lanky self on skates? Man, I actually pay money just to see him on skates!

Read all about Manute Bol playing professional ice hockey .

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So now that the season is a few weeks old, what do you think? Who's been surprising or not-surprising. I'm shocked that the Memphis Grizzlies are winless consideting they have some young talent and now have a teacher in Hubie Brown. Also, I'm surprsied the Pistons are leading the Central Division. Did anyone catch highlights of the Pistons-Nuggets game? Only 53 point for Denver? Geez.

I'm a die-hard Milwaukee Bucks fan as you all know and there's some more rumblings here about George Karl coaching the dissapointing US team in the summer. Now you can add Paul Pierce to the list of players who don't like Karl. Before they played (and lost) to the Bucks yesterday, Pierce said made negative comments about Karl's coaching of the team. Baron Davis said the same thing and it's rumored that's why Shaq didn't play on he team. It's not Karl's fault the team played crappy. Not enough talent (Antonio Davis and Raef LaFrentz?) and over confidence are to blame. What do you all think?

The Pistons won the Central Division last year. Im not shocked at all the team has alot of depth.

I thought the loss of Stackhouse would have hurt the Pistons, but so far it hasn't.

I haven't looked at last year's final standings, but I think that the four best regular season records (LA, SAC, SA, DALLAS) came out of the West, and the West must have been at least 50 games or so above .500 against the East.

This year it looks like the trend may be reversed, with the strongest teams (except Dallas, and LA when Shaq is back) coming from the East. The East is already 12 games over .500 vs. the West through Friday

I agree, I felt that the Griz would be way better than they were last year, and for some reason they can't get it together. They have the talent, Gooden, Battier, Williams, Gasol, they just need some leadership. What you also have to understand is that they're a young team. Gasol is in his sophomore season as is Battier, and Gooden is rookie. I'm disappointed in their performance, but I hope Hubie can teach them some fundamentals so that in maybe 3 or 4 years, they can be a playoff team!

I also agree with badguytony, I felt that the Pistons would have lost too much in Stackhouse, but surprisingly they haven't. I commend them for their efforts, but the Pacers are right behind them, and that's who I'm going for in that division!

In 2000 the Lakers won the championship as the #1 seed in the west. In 2001 they were the #2 seed, and last year they were #3. Maybe they're just trying to challenge themselves by earning a progressively lower seed each year.

Well then they can certainly do that if they're #8!

The real season starts when #34 laces up his size 22s.

You know what I heard today about #34. That if Larry Brown coaches the Olympic team in 2004, then Shaq said something like, "I feel a hip injury coming on." What kinda crap is that!? What a little baby, that he'll only play for Phil. Be a man, be an American, and just PLAY for the freakin team you ungrateful punk! Sorry, but this USA/Olympic team discussion always gets me going sometimes!

I heard that one too. Shaq has already represented the U.S.A. twice, first in the 1994 World Championships and then in the 1996 Olympics. He's already won at this level, so I really don't expect him to play any more. However, a guy like Kobe or AI have yet to represent the country at the international level, so if it was one of them who said it, I'd really be pissed.

I would be POed if AI, Kobe, or even Shaq turned it down also. Sure, if Shaq already represented the USA team, then fine. But what I don't understand, is why can't you do it more than once? It's only 1 time every 4 years, and it's such an honor. Some people train their entire lives just to compete in the Olympics, and he has the privledge of getting chosen to play, and then you turn it down, I'm sorry but I just don't agree with that!

Although it is a big honor to represent your country, you have to realize that these athletes are doing it on their own time. Their livelihood and their legacy is established in the NBA, and by going to the Olympics they can end up being exhausted when it comes down to their jobs. I think that everyone who gets asked should experience it once, but by 2004 Shaq will be two years older than he is now, and he may be even more hurt than he is now. I think that he would go through the pain to play for Phil, but not for anyone else. And if USA Basketball doesn't like his attitude about it, then they can just not select him.

I agree & understand that the Olympics are during the summer, so players can't rest & relax as much before the season began, but as I said before, Shaq should play for Larry Brown or anyone else, and not just Phil. If you're gonna do it for Phil, do it for everyone else. Be a man & a professional! And if that's going to be his attitude, I don't feel that USA should pick him, I feel that they should pick players who actually wanna be there & win, for their country, and for any coach!

I'm watching PTI right now on ESPN (anybody else watch it), and they're saying that the Mavericks will loss on 11-27 to Detroit! Ok, why is EVERYONE saying Detriot is so freakin raw? They can't beat Dallas!

Also, Don Copurzzi, they asked the question who would be the first to 4 rings, the Lakers or J. Lo! What all do you guys think!?

I am a die-hard PTI watcher. The Lakers will be the first to 4 rings,but J.Lo won't be married to Ben Affleck that long. Hey Irish, my fault I thought you said you weren't a big fan of AP 3.

Uh-oh, there's reports that MJ had a kid with the woman who sued him last month. I hope this isn't true.

I know I read that on ESPN. If it is true, I'm VERY dissapointed in Mike. How could he do that? That doesn't seem like him & I'm totally surprised if it is true!

Alright, well so far Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, and Tracy McGrady all said that they will play for the USA team in the 2004 Olympics. Looks like the team is off to a good start so far!

Let's hope they all stay healthy!

Okay, while we're on the topic of Olympic teams, let me pick my top 10. Please share your 10 with me too.

Centers - Shaq, Duncan
Guards - Kidd, Kobe, AI, Ray Allen
Forwards - TMac, KG, CWebb, Paul Pierce
Coach - Phil

I pretty much agree with ya Don Corpuzzi.

Centers- Shaq, Duncan
Guards- Kidd, Kobe, Ray Allen and Steve Francis. AI is too much of a bum and I don't want him representing my country. All-Star games are one thing, Olympics is different. VC was on this list 2 years ago but that was before his injuries. Okay, sorry about that, where was I...
Forwards- KG, T-Mac, Paul(I hate George Karl)Pierce and I guess CWebb although he plays soft sometimes and is a terrible free-throw shooter.
Coach- Phil Jackson, but if he doesn't want to it's gotta be Larry Brown.

Well, first things first, Dallas dismantled the Lakers tonight 98-72, to go to 11-0 on the season! WOO HOO!

As for my top 10 Olympic picks, here are mine (I'm just gonna kind of wing it!):

-Centers = Shaq, Jermaine O'Neal (I gotta weakness for him)
-Fowards = Carter, Duncan, Pierce, Garnett
-Guards = Kidd, T-Mac, Kobe, Steve Francis
-Coach = definately Phil or Don Nelson

I know this is early, but oh well. I think T-Mac has a GREAT chance at winning the MVP award this year, if he just stays healthy! The man had 41 points again last night! How many times has he scored 40 or more this season, in like his first 12 games!? I hope Kidd can be as dominate so he can get his MVP that he should have won last year! Also, what does everyone think about Toronto letting McGrady go? Man, I just can't help to think how awesome they'd be with McGrady & Carter (it really is a scary thought!).

I am the eternal Laker fan...my team is terrible right now, but if Shaq comes back and they start kicking a$$ again, and he has his usual averages of 28 and 12, I don't see how they could overlook Shaq. Unfortunately, in the past few years the MVP has been more like the MVPWHNWIB award (Most Valuable Player Who Has Never Won It Before).

Kareem has 6, Russ and MJ have 5, Wilt has 4. If Shaq deserves it, give it to Shaq.

You're right, I always overlook Shaq & I'm sure people do too. They give him the NBA Finals award, but that's beside the point. Do you feel that Kobe should have ever won 1 of the 3 NBA Finals Award's that Shaq has? Also, the reason that I want Kidd or T-Mac to win the MVP (or why I think they do), is I guess, center's are "supposed" to dominate. Guards usually aren't asked to go out & get triple doubles all the tiem (Kidd), or score 41 almost everynight (McGrady). I guess I would say that guards deserve it more because they aren't expected to do a whole lot (not that they don't do a lot), and I know that the centers job is hard, getting banged around in the paint, but that's part of the game & that's your job. What all do you think Don Corpuzzi?

To answer your first question, I don't think that anyone else but Shaq even came close to being Finals MVP in any of the past 3 seasons. Shaq has just been too dominating to not get it. I don't know what his numbers were, but probably something like 35 and 15 per game.

I disagree with you on the fact that centers are "supposed" to dominate. I think that Shaq is really the only center in the NBA who dominates. He even calls himself the "LCL" (last center left). I was reading an article about a potential 2004 Olympic team, and they listed Brad Miller as one of their potential centers. Brad Miller!

Tim Duncan is great, but he's not even playing center. He's been a power forward for his whole career, and won't really move over to the center position until David Robinson retires at the end of the season.

I think I realized how bleak the center position was when I was watching last year's draft. Chris Borchardt from Stanford was a first round pick. This guy is a 6'9" white guy with chronic foot problems. But teams are so hard up for centers that they will spend a first round pick on an undersized center with serious health issues. The guy who is currently the starting center at the University I work at (UC Irvine) is getting some serious looks from the scouts during his junior year, mainly because he's 7 feet tall. He isn't that great, but he's just a big body, which is what the center position has been reduced to.

I think this year so far has proven Shaq's value. I don't think anyone would say that the Lakers would have the same record as now if it was Kobe out and Shaq playing. Shaq dominates a game like no one else. When he comes back (and I hope he doesn't rush it and re-injure his toe) the Lakers will start to win. They may not win enough to take home court, but they will still be the team to beat.

I would love to see Shaq and Kobe play in the Olympics. It is tough on the players that make it to the finals. Jordan used to say that by the time the Bulls were done in late June, there was virtually no time to recover before the conditioning started for the next season. I don't care for the "I feel an injury if Jackson doesn't coach the team" statement made by Shaq, though.

Don Corpuzzi, in all honesty, Shaq is probably the "LCL." But what do you think about guards who go out there and post triple doubles (which centers should be doing more than guards), and guys like T-Mac who go out and score 40+ points so much this early in the season. Now I understand that T-Mac isn't on that great of a team (he's really only got Hill with him), but he does have other teamates, and still scores 40+. Also, what are your thoughts on Kobe trying to "carry the team" in Shaq's absence? Also, what do you think about him shooting so much!? I think in his past couple of games, he's shot like 37 or 38 times! That's a lot, he should be using his teamates more (Fox, Horry), so when Shaq does come back, they'll have more weapons around them instead of just the Shaq/Kobe show.