“That said, nobody could have been so deluded as to think that Memphis received the same quality that it gave up. Lakers got an All-Star, and Memphis got an All-Star’s brother.”

Maybe he is an All-Star in LA not having to be “the guy,” but he only made the game once while in Memphis, and barely made it at that. I, like most Gizzlies fans are glad that Pau is gone because the ownership took a risk giving him max money before letting the market set his value and it didn’t work out for anyone involved. He is not and will never be a franchise player and his stint in Memphis proved it. Just go back and watch some tape of the 4th quarters of Memphis’ 12 straight playoff losses. He faded at the ends of games because he couldn’t carry a team. Pau is a nice enough guy and I know he played as hard as he could. That just wasn’t a role he was able to handle. Unfortunately, his contract became a huge burden to the franchise and a large portion of the fans turned against him, Heisley, and most of all, Jerry West and his quick fixes. I don’t hold anything against Pau, because it wasn’t his fault. It ultimately just didn’t work out. I am glad the Grizz have moved on and, whether you can see it or not, they are in a much better and more flexable position, both on and off the court, now than they were just before the trade. With some good luck in the draft lottery, Memphis could very well have its core players for the future in place. If Conley doesn’t ultimately work out, his recent play will at least make him more attractive in a trade senario. The most critical piece, however, is the continued developement of Gay and Mayo. If they both become All-Star calliber players, Memphis can use that cap room to pay future contracts to its core and buy a decent bench, instead of throwing too much money at bigger name players that don’t really want to go to a small market.

When you change the way you look at things, the things themselves change.

Not to go all “bash the officials” again, but having two backup points who can get some things done in a series in which Utah’s best player is a PG may have benefits we’ve not yet touched upon.

We know Williams is going to get some calls; he’s an All-Star, and All-Stars get touch fouls called that a bench player would not. Multiply this by five for games in Salt Lake, where the refs tend to forget that there are two teams playing, hence Utah’s solid home court advantage.

I like having 12 fouls available to back up Fish, rather than six. If history shows us anything, I’m expecting to see Derek on the pine three, maybe four minutes into Game 3 with two really questionable calls on Williams. That’s just life in the NBA.

(And, yes, Jazz fans, I know Kobe gets the same star treatment. My point isn’t that the refs won’t even things out over the series. It’s that we know the Lakers guards are destined for foul trouble, and it’s nice to have options when that issue arises.)

1. On the Gasol trade…
I think it’s way too speculative to say that Memphis got O.J. Mayo because of this deal. Better draft position tends to happen in one-sided trades. I don’t think you give a GM extra credit when the ping pong ball bounces his way after giving up all star in a lopsided trade. I do think it’s a good point to make that trades involving young players just can’t be judged the moment they happen. That said, nobody could have been so deluded as to think that Memphis received the same quality that it gave up. Lakers got an All-Star, and Memphis got an All-Star’s brother.

Not to mention the fact that pretty much any fantasy GM would STILL do that same trade today. And next year.

2. On the Lakers in general…
I predict that there will be no shortage of conspiracy theories that will start to simmer in round 2, and boil over by the start of the Cavs-Lakers finals, surrounding the league’s so-called plan to get its two most marketable stars in seven games.

Except I cannot imagine who’ll beat the Lakers. I can see the Rockets beating your team once or twice, and maybe the Jazz threatening to do the same. But over a seven game series? No freaking way.

For as critical as some of you all are on here, I think it would take a catastrophic meltdown or injury to knock the Lakers off their game enough to fail to make the playoffs. Defensively, they’re peaking. Odom seems to be done being upset about his role. And all the guys who played soft last year are behaving like they’re the baddest bullies on the playground.

I guess my biggest concern would be in your guard play, and specifically your point guard play, on both sides of the ball. But it’s not a huge concern. It’s not like you’re throwing Matt Maloney out there.

And the Cavs – they won’t be losing at home. Not until the Finals, at least.

I think Brown has earned a spot on this team from here on out, and I think he could turn into an absolute steal for us, however he is young, inexperienced, and I’m not sure he’s ready for the big stage…yet.

I don’t fear Dallas by any means – although they are the one team that could possibly match us basket-for-basket if they got hot – but I do fear what playing them and their no-defense, no-banging, run-and-gun style of play could possibly set us up for in the second round.

If we’re going to get our nose or lip bloodied, I’d rather it be early on.