Aussie_Wing

Most ridiculous trade ever for the Thrashers. They just traded Heatley, why would they give away Kovalchuk?

To be honest, I'm sick to death of recruiting and drafting players with agressive styles, good defensive skills but vertually NO offensive game. I know Dumars only had $5M to offer, but in reality we signed two players who will contribute very little offence, which is what we need. We need scoring off the bench, and these two aren't going to fix this problem.

Swingman Maurice Evans, a restricted free agent from the Sacramento Kings, on Wednesday signed a multiyear offer sheet with the Pistons. It is believed to be for $1.5 million a year. The Pistons will have to wait to bring Evans on board because the Kings have seven days to match the offer. Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, said Wednesday the team is unlikely to match. Evans, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder, is being brought in to provide a backup for Prince. He is known for aggressive defense, rebounding and some scoring.

MEET YOUR PISTONS: Barring another deal, the Pistons' roster is full at 15 players. Second-round picks Alex Acker and Amir Johnson must make the roster in camp to earn guaranteed contracts. The roster with players' opening day ages: PLAYER POS HT WT AGE COMMENT Alex Acker G 6-5 185 22 2nd-round pick was most consistent player in summer, has shot at roster spot. Carlos Arroyo PG 6-2 202 26 Puerto Rican rarely played in playoffs. Will Flip find time for his flashy passes? Chauncey Billups PG 6-3 202 28 Now that Larry's gone, will Billups be liberated and take more shots for Flip? Dale Davis C-F 6-11 252 36 The new Elden Campbell, though he should contribute more on offense. Carlos Delfino G-F 6-6 230 23 Contributed little in '04-05. Now he's healthy and must score off the bench. Ronald Dupree SF 6-7 209 24 If team signs one more player, as expected, will have to earn job in training camp. Richard Hamilton SG 6-7 193 27 Self-proclaimed best-conditioned player could improve three-pointer shooting. Lindsey Hunter G 6-2 195 34 Bulldog stops opponents, then can pimp their ride at his Sterling Heights car shop. Amir Johnson F 6-9 210 18 Team says he could play this season, even if he was a 12th-grader months ago. Jason Maxiell PF 6-7 260 22 Mini-Ben Wallace should get time but must overcome being a tad undersized. Antonio McDyess PF 6-9 245 31 Hungry for a title. Should return more motivated and injury-free again. Darko Milicic F-C 7-0 245 20 Will play more. Likely a make-or-break season, though fans say he's a bust. Tayshaun Prince SF 6-9 215 25 Team needs quality backup, or he could end up with tired legs again in playoffs. Ben Wallace C 6-9 240 31 Three NBA defensive player of the year awards, but struggled at times in Finals. Rasheed Wallace F-C 6-11 230 31 On the spot after inconsistent playoffs and Game 5 mistake on Robert Horry shot.

And RICKY PONTING!!!

Heat will get Finley, and also rings for each member of the roster.....

I don't want Sprewell. The whole attitude thing... The order to get Finley appears to be the Heat, Phoenix, Spurs.

Thanks for clearing that up. I hope he eventually gets a shot in the NHL, because he is still reasonably young and his stats suggest that he's developing well and turning into quite a handy goal scorer.

I was sure that Datsuk's agent said that he was either going to play in Russia or for the Wings. I thought these were his only options, surely he wont play for another NHL team?

That's what I originally thought, but why would he leave his home country to play for Grand Rapids?

So does that mean Michael Hackert will be playing for the Wings next season? Most likely on the 4th line. His stats suggest that he's continously improving, and considering he's only 24 it appears to be a reasonable, cheap signing.

Kolzig is one of the last players I would ever be interested in. He is immensely overrated and giving up Datsyuk for an old, oridnary goalie when we just signed Osgood, makes no sense at all.

Talent Analysis: Valtteri is a very good skater that playes a competitive game with a big heart. He is a good offensive player with solid overall skills. He possesses good hockey sense and soft hands. Valtteri is a very dependable player who is awere of his defensive responsibilities as a center. The downside is his small frame (5'11, 175). With a solid SM-Liiga performance as well, he simply oozes potential. A true finesse player, he copes well with the beating, but that is every bit as far as he can go in terms of physical play.

Yes I'm watching the Ashes but I've given up. None of our batsman deserve to be out there. Gillespie should retire. For the 4th Test I would bring is Hussey and Tait for Katich and Gillespie.

That's funny, first of all you can't even spell Victoria correctly, and in Adelaide and Perth the ratings and attendances are clearly in favour of the AFL. In SA we couldn't even hold onto our NRL team because of poor public support. And look at the ratings, every week the footy rates amongst the top 10, so I don't know what your talking about.

The NRL doesn't even compare to the AFL. The AFL is far more populair in Australia and rightfully so. The Western Bulldogs vs Geelong game was quite good, I don't possibly know how you could find it boring, especially when you like NRL....

RESULTS ROUND 19: FRIDAY AUGUST 5 St Kilda 13. 18. (96) def. Geelong 8. 7. (55) at Telstra Dome SATURDAY AUGUST 6 Western Bulldogs 21. 14. (140) def. West Coast Eagles 14. 13. (97) at M.C.G. PM Adelaide 13. 22. (100) def. Melbourne 7. 4. (46) at AAMI Stadium Essendon 15. 8. (98) def. by Sydney Swans 18. 10. (118) at Telstra Dome Fremantle 13. 15. (93) def. Richmond 9. 12. (66) at Subiaco Oval SUNDAY AUGUST 7 Brisbane Lions 18. 13. (121) def. Hawthorn 11. 14. (80) at Gabba Carlton 16. 13. (109) def. by Port Adelaide 18. 15. (123) at M.C.G. Collingwood 14. 14. (98) def. by Kangaroos 15. 14. (104) at Telstra Dome STANDINGS: 1. West Coast Eagles 2. Adelaide 3. St Kilda 4. Sydney Swans 5. Kangaroos 6. Brisbane Lions 7. Geelong 8. Fremantle 9. Port Adelaide 10. Western Bulldogs 11. Melbourne 12. Richmond 13. Essendon 14. Collingwood 15. Hawthorn 16. Carlton

RESULTS ROUND 18: FRIDAY JULY 29 Essendon 16. 11. (107) def. Geelong 13. 16. (94) at Telstra Dome SATURDAY JULY 30 Melbourne 13. 10. (88) def. by St.Kilda 27. 14. (176) at M.C.G. West Coast Eagles 12. 25. (97) def. Hawthorn 7. 7. (49) at Subiaco Oval Western Bulldogs 23. 13. (151) def. Brisbane Lions 18. 15. (123) at Telstra Dome Adelaide 8. 6. (54) def. Sydney Swans 6. 11. (47) at AAMI Stadium SUNDAY 31 JULY Kangaroos 15. 10. (100) def. Port Adelaide 14. 12. (96) at Manuka Oval Collingwood 12. 13. (85) def. by Fremantle 15. 8. (98) at M.C.G. Carlton 22. 9. (141) def. Richmond 16. 10. (106) at Telstra Dome STANDINGS: 1 West Coast Eagles 2 Adelaide 3 St Kilda 4 Sydney Swans 5 Kangaroos 6 Geelong 7 Brisbane Lions 8 Fremantle 9 Melbourne 10 Richmond 11 Port Adelaide 12 Western Bulldogs 13 Essendon 14 Collingwood 15 Hawthorn 16 Carlton

He's never scored more than 10 goals in a season. Do we really need him?

RESULTS ROUND 17: FRIDAY JULY 22 St Kilda 21. 17. (143) def. Collingwood 10. 10. (70) at Telstra Dome SATURDAY JULY 23 Hawthorn 19. 13. (127) def. Carlton 15. 13. (103) at M.C.G. Western Bulldogs 20. 13. (133) def. Geelong 14. 14. (98) at Telstra Dome Brisbane Lions 17. 12. (114) def. Essendon 14. 17. (101) at Gabba Port Adelaide 14. 12. (96) def. Richmond 12. 11. (83) at AAMI Stadium SUNDAY JULY 24 Sydney Swans 13. 10. (88) def. West Coast Eagles 9. 13. (67) at S.C.G. Kangaroos 16. 13. (109) def. by Adelaide 19. 8. (122) at Telstra Dome Fremantle 15. 11. (101) def. Melbourne 11. 10. (76) at Subiaco Oval STANDINGS: 1 West Coast Eagles 2 Adelaide 3 Sydney Swans 4 St Kilda 5 Geelong 6 Kangaroos 7 Brisbane Lions 8 Melbourne 9 Richmond 10 Port Adelaide 11 Fremantle 12 Western Bulldogs 13 Essendon 14 Collingwood 15 Hawthorn 16 Carlton

Yeh I will argue your comment that Darko's performance against the Hawks meant nothing. He still had to play hard to produce those numbers. There is NO WAY Darko will wait anohter 2 years for game time, so its' play him this season or goodbye. Would you be satisfied seeing him walk out of Detroit and becoming a star for another team? Or would you be prepared for him to play 15-20 minutes a night, even if it's against struggling teams. Ford: Darko among biggest summer duds. Yes I saw this, but I think that youre perormance is hard to measure when you're playing with, and against, duds. Get him alongside Wallace or McDyess, and I'm sure you'll see an improved imput. Oh and btw, don't mouth off at me for having an opinion.

"No way should he be getting more minutes then Delfino, Dice, and Arroyo..." Your words. I wasnt assuming anything, take a look at your posts before you have a crack at me. And I'm sorry but if you saw that Detroit-Miami game, you would be aware that Darko had a much, much bigger influence than his stats suggest. He got a steal too and looked really intense. Darko IMPACTED that game, what you asked for.

Garbage minutes will not do anything for Milicic. The only way he is going to develop is playing minutes that mean something!!! Honestly, what is a minute or two at the end of a game where the result has already been determined going to do for your developement? The game against Miami last season, where he probably only recieved 10-15 minutes, he played quite well, especially considering he was guarding Shaq. He looked anything but a 'lost puppy', because he knew he could influence the game, and he did. And the game he started, 7-11 shooting, 16 pts, 7 rebs. Yeh I'd certainly trust Darko to be out there for 15-20 minutes a game, there's no reson we shouldn't trust him. If he has Ben or Rasheed out there with him, I'm sure he'll be fine. I never said that he should get more minutes that Delfino or Arroyo, and besides they play different positons so how would Darko be stealing court time off them? If Dice gets injured, then we should make sure Darko is developed to the extent where he can come in and adequately replace him.

I'll post the standings and results after each week.

Well maybe I did, but Dumars will make sure Milicic gets more time than what he did under Larry Brown...