Porter's shackles on Nash

Sure, I have a vested interest in Steve Nash's individual success.

He's THE point guard on my fantasy team. Beyond that, I've always loved his game. I got my nephew the Steve Nash instructional DVD years ago (still collecting dust somewhere) and scoured the Suns' boxscores even if I didn't have any of those players on my fantasy teams.

His ability to surgically manipulate any defense in the midst of chaos was something to behold. Now, with Mike D'Antoni waving his magic wand in New York -- turning Zach Randolph into a double-double monster -- and Terry Porter turning the Suns into the setting Suns, I'm saddened a touch.

Steve Nash is no longer Steve Nash. He is now Terry Porter, the deliberate, station-to-station point guard who eschews the fastbreak in favor of makule-league style tempo. I hate it. HATE IT.

If Terry Porter wanted to play the game, he could announce his return from retirement, put on a jersey and try out for any of the NBA or EuroLeague or D-League teams. Good for him. But no. He's trying to transform Steve Nash into Terry Porter II.

It sucks and the results prove it. Nash is nowhere near as effective as he once was. I'm starting to fantasize about Phoenix dealing him to the Knicks. That would make me happy, Nash happy (you'd never hear him complain, but...) and Porter could sign some old, flabby point guard to run his prehistoric sets at 2 mph.

Am I bitter? No. But it sure is perplexing to see someone junk the engine of a Ferrari in hopes that it functions better as a fancy shopping wagon.

Originally posted at hondareport.com.

2008 Draft: round by round

Draft Results
by round

Round 1
1. Amare Stoudemire Ginobili's T...
2. Chris Paul Clippers
3. Kobe Bryant Gophers
4. LeBron James Ala Wai Tila...
5. Dirk Nowitzki Dittywoowoo
6. Elton Brand cavs08
7. Shawn Marion kinner
8. Kevin Garnett waffles
9. Dwyane Wade Imua2000
10. Caron Butler Go Grizzlies!

Round 2
1. Danny Granger Go Grizzlies!
2. Chris Bosh Imua2000
3. Allen Iverson waffles
4. Baron Davis kinner
5. Chauncey Billups cavs08
6. Joe Johnson Dittywoowoo
7. Steve Nash Ala Wai Tila...
8. Deron Williams Gophers
9. Marcus Camby Clippers
10. Jose Calderon Ginobili's T...

Round 3
1. Al Jefferson Ginobili's T...
2. Andre Iguodala Clippers
3. Pau Gasol Gophers
4. Josh Smith Ala Wai Tila...
5. Dwight Howard Dittywoowoo
6. Carlos Boozer cavs08
7. Rashard Lewis kinner
8. Yao Ming waffles
9. Tim Duncan Imua2000
10. Kevin Martin Go Grizzlies!

Round 4
1. David West Go Grizzlies!
2. Jason Richardson Imua2000
3. Paul Pierce waffles
4. Rudy Gay kinner
5. Andrew Bynum cavs08
6. Michael Redd Dittywoowoo
7. Carmelo Anthony Ala Wai Tila...
8. Vince Carter Gophers
9. Jason Kidd Clippers
10. Brandon Roy Ginobili's T...

Round 5
1. Corey Maggette Ginobili's T...
2. Ron Artest Clippers
3. Antawn Jamison Gophers
4. Chris Kaman Ala Wai Tila...
5. Emeka Okafor Dittywoowoo
6. Rasheed Wallace cavs08
7. Hedo Turkoglu kinner
8. Mike Dunleavy waffles
9. Mehmet Okur Imua2000
10. Mo Williams Go Grizzlies!

Round 6
1. Lamar Odom Go Grizzlies!
2. Gerald Wallace Imua2000
3. Kevin Durant waffles
4. Andris Biedrins kinner
5. Devin Harris cavs08
6. Josh Howard Dittywoowoo
7. LaMarcus Aldridge Ala Wai Tila...
8. Ray Allen Gophers
9. Andre Miller Clippers
10. Al Horford Ginobili's T...

Round 7
1. Mike Miller Ginobili's T...
2. Greg Oden Clippers
3. Brad Miller Gophers
4. Peja Stojakovic Ala Wai Tila...
5. T.J. Ford Dittywoowoo
6. Andrei Kirilenko cavs08
7. Samuel Dalembert kinner
8. Tracy McGrady waffles
9. Jamal Crawford Imua2000
10. Andrew Bogut Go Grizzlies!

Round 8
1. Jason Terry Go Grizzlies!
2. David Lee Imua2000
3. Jermaine O'Neal waffles
4. Stephen Jackson kinner
5. Randy Foye cavs08
6. Luol Deng Dittywoowoo
7. Tyson Chandler Ala Wai Tila...
8. Michael Beasley Gophers
9. Troy Murphy Clippers
10. Richard Hamilton Ginobili's T...

Round 9
1. Nene Hilario Ginobili's T...
2. Rajon Rondo Clippers
3. Richard Jefferson Gophers
4. John Salmons Ala Wai Tila...
5. Thaddeus Young Dittywoowoo
6. Francisco Garcia cavs08
7. Al Harrington kinner
8. Tony Parker waffles
9. Mike Bibby Imua2000
10. Anthony Parker Go Grizzlies!

Round 10
1. Shane Battier Go Grizzlies!
2. Zach Randolph Imua2000
3. Leandro Barbosa waffles
4. Jamario Moon kinner
5. Kenyon Martin cavs08
6. Kevin Love Dittywoowoo
7. O.J. Mayo Ala Wai Tila...
8. Zydrunas Ilgauskas Gophers
9. Kirk Hinrich Clippers
10. Charlie Villanueva Ginobili's T...

Round 11
1. Raymond Felton Ginobili's T...
2. Joakim Noah Clippers
3. Ben Gordon Gophers
4. Rudy Fernandez Ala Wai Tila...
5. Rafer Alston Dittywoowoo
6. Marvin Williams cavs08
7. Beno Udrih kinner
8. Derrick Rose waffles
9. Jameer Nelson Imua2000
10. Ronnie Brewer Go Grizzlies!

Round 12
1. Ryan Gomes Go Grizzlies!
2. Marcus Williams Imua2000
3. Nick Collison waffles
4. Gilbert Arenas kinner
5. J.R. Smith cavs08
6. Tayshaun Prince Dittywoowoo
7. Grant Hill Ala Wai Tila...
8. Raja Bell Gophers
9. Manu Ginobili Clippers
10. Jeff Green Ginobili's T...

Round 13
1. Mickael Pietrus Ginobili's T...
2. Al Thornton Clippers
3. Drew Gooden Gophers
4. Linas Kleiza Ala Wai Tila...
5. Hakim Warrick Dittywoowoo
6. Ricky Davis cavs08
7. Matt Barnes kinner
8. Monta Ellis waffles
9. Chris Duhon Imua2000
10. Travis Outlaw Go Grizzlies!

Round 14
1. Wilson Chandler Go Grizzlies!
2. Kendrick Perkins Imua2000
3. Rashad McCants waffles
4. Mike Conley kinner
5. Ramon Sessions cavs08
6. Jeff Foster Dittywoowoo
7. Spencer Hawes Ala Wai Tila...
8. Chris Wilcox Gophers
9. Paul Millsap Clippers
10. Tyrus Thomas Ginobili's T...

Round 15
1. Bobby Simmons Ginobili's T...
2. James Posey Clippers
3. Earl Watson Gophers
4. Stephon Marbury Ala Wai Tila...
5. DeShawn Stevenson Dittywoowoo
6. Boris Diaw cavs08
7. Antonio McDyess kinner
8. Daniel Gibson waffles
9. Rodney Stuckey Imua2000
10. Brook Lopez Go Grizzlies!

2008 Draft: team by team

Draft Results
by team

Ginobili's Torn Foot
1. (1) Amare Stoudemire
2. (20) Jose Calderon
3. (21) Al Jefferson
4. (40) Brandon Roy
5. (41) Corey Maggette
6. (60) Al Horford
7. (61) Mike Miller
8. (80) Richard Hamilton
9. (81) Nene Hilario
10. (100) Charlie Villanueva
11. (101) Raymond Felton
12. (120) Jeff Green
13. (121) Mickael Pietrus
14. (140) Tyrus Thomas
15. (141) Bobby Simmons

Clippers
1. (2) Chris Paul
2. (19) Marcus Camby
3. (22) Andre Iguodala
4. (39) Jason Kidd
5. (42) Ron Artest
6. (59) Andre Miller
7. (62) Greg Oden
8. (79) Troy Murphy
9. (82) Rajon Rondo
10. (99) Kirk Hinrich
11. (102) Joakim Noah
12. (119) Manu Ginobili
13. (122) Al Thornton
14. (139) Paul Millsap
15. (142) James Posey

Gophers
1. (3) Kobe Bryant
2. (18) Deron Williams
3. (23) Pau Gasol
4. (38) Vince Carter
5. (43) Antawn Jamison
6. (58) Ray Allen
7. (63) Brad Miller
8. (78) Michael Beasley
9. (83) Richard Jefferson
10. (98) Zydrunas Ilgauskas
11. (103) Ben Gordon
12. (118) Raja Bell
13. (123) Drew Gooden
14. (138) Chris Wilcox
15. (143) Earl Watson

Ala Wai Tilapicudas
1. (4) LeBron James
2. (17) Steve Nash
3. (24) Josh Smith
4. (37) Carmelo Anthony
5. (44) Chris Kaman
6. (57) LaMarcus Aldridge
7. (64) Peja Stojakovic
8. (77) Tyson Chandler
9. (84) John Salmons
10. (97) O.J. Mayo
11. (104) Rudy Fernandez
12. (117) Grant Hill
13. (124) Linas Kleiza
14. (137) Spencer Hawes
15. (144) Stephon Marbury

Dittywoowoo
1. (5) Dirk Nowitzki
2. (16) Joe Johnson
3. (25) Dwight Howard
4. (36) Michael Redd
5. (45) Emeka Okafor
6. (56) Josh Howard
7. (65) T.J. Ford
8. (76) Luol Deng
9. (85) Thaddeus Young
10. (96) Kevin Love
11. (105) Rafer Alston
12. (116) Tayshaun Prince
13. (125) Hakim Warrick
14. (136) Jeff Foster
15. (145) DeShawn Stevenson

cavs08
1. (6) Elton Brand
2. (15) Chauncey Billups
3. (26) Carlos Boozer
4. (35) Andrew Bynum
5. (46) Rasheed Wallace
6. (55) Devin Harris
7. (66) Andrei Kirilenko
8. (75) Randy Foye
9. (86) Francisco Garcia
10. (95) Kenyon Martin
11. (106) Marvin Williams
12. (115) J.R. Smith
13. (126) Ricky Davis
14. (135) Ramon Sessions
15. (146) Boris Diaw

kinner
1. (7) Shawn Marion
2. (14) Baron Davis
3. (27) Rashard Lewis
4. (34) Rudy Gay
5. (47) Hedo Turkoglu
6. (54) Andris Biedrins
7. (67) Samuel Dalembert
8. (74) Stephen Jackson
9. (87) Al Harrington
10. (94) Jamario Moon
11. (107) Beno Udrih
12. (114) Gilbert Arenas
13. (127) Matt Barnes
14. (134) Mike Conley
15. (147) Antonio McDyess

waffles
1. (8) Kevin Garnett
2. (13) Allen Iverson
3. (28) Yao Ming
4. (33) Paul Pierce
5. (48) Mike Dunleavy
6. (53) Kevin Durant
7. (68) Tracy McGrady
8. (73) Jermaine O'Neal
9. (88) Tony Parker
10. (93) Leandro Barbosa
11. (108) Derrick Rose
12. (113) Nick Collison
13. (128) Monta Ellis
14. (133) Rashad McCants
15. (148) Daniel Gibson

Imua2000
1. (9) Dwyane Wade
2. (12) Chris Bosh
3. (29) Tim Duncan
4. (32) Jason Richardson
5. (49) Mehmet Okur
6. (52) Gerald Wallace
7. (69) Jamal Crawford
8. (72) David Lee
9. (89) Mike Bibby
10. (92) Zach Randolph
11. (109) Jameer Nelson
12. (112) Marcus Williams
13. (129) Chris Duhon
14. (132) Kendrick Perkins
15. (149) Rodney Stuckey

Go Grizzlies!
1. (10) Caron Butler
2. (11) Danny Granger
3. (30) Kevin Martin
4. (31) David West
5. (50) Mo Williams
6. (51) Lamar Odom
7. (70) Andrew Bogut
8. (71) Jason Terry
9. (90) Anthony Parker
10. (91) Shane Battier
11. (110) Ronnie Brewer
12. (111) Ryan Gomes
13. (130) Travis Outlaw
14. (131) Wilson Chandler
15. (150) Brook Lopez

$66 million and mopeds

I love watching Golden State play. Don Nelson's "Nellyball" is just jargon for street ball. Even with Baron Davis gone to LA, it was going to be fun seeing who would emerge with fat stats this season. Nellyball made a rich man of Monta Ellis, who had been undistinguishable before arriving in the Bay.

But Ellis was a great fit last year and got a $66 million contract. In the offseason, he decided to ride a moped. Why does a man with a humongous contract ride on the most dangerous two-wheeled vehicle on earth? Inevitably, he tore a ligament in his ankle. Been there. It sucks. Your ankle is never the same, even with surgery.

Now Ellis is in big trouble after lying about the cause of the injury. Won't get paid for 30 games, which is roughly the amount of time he was going to miss anyway.

No, I won't be drafting Ellis for my fantasy team unless he's in the last round. Maybe. All I know is, with a $66 million contract, I would be tooling around in a Volvo. I could even understand a guy that rich getting driven around by a chauffeur, even to pickup games.

"To Paki Park, James. We shall stop by Rainbow Drive In after the games for a delicious plate of chili, my good man."

Yeah. Oh well. Live and learn.