Cluj Marketplace / This Week in League Pass

Each Sunday, I'll highlight some of the league's transactions and look forward to the coming week's NBA schedule.

This week...
Fear the Turtle lost arguably their best player, Al Jefferson, to a torn ACL that will keep him out for the rest of the season. This likely kills any chance that Dev had of climbing into the playoff picture, but he will salve his wounds with the scruffy gingerness that is Matt Bonner. Look for the Turtles to drop in points, blocks, and rebounds, but climb in threes and New Hampshireiness.
Unlike Dev, who replaced a useless player with a slightly less useless one, Bardey and Screen decided to buck the odds and trade in healthy players for injured ones. Screen made it all the way through the revolving door of foreign-y black shooting guards he stepped into a few weeks ago by dropping Mickael Pietrus. Taking his place is the injured Andray Blatche, who should be back pretty shortly after the All-Star break. Unfortunately, it'll do Screen no good, as we all know Javale is taking over that 5-spot for the 'Zards.
Bardey will have to wait a little longer, like say 4-5 weeks, to see the payoff from his free agent pickup, Luke Ridnour. Is there any way Ridnour is really valuable enough to merit a bench spot for a month? Will Bardey actually have the patience to stick by his investment? Only time, and the breathless anticipation of literally no one, will bring the answer.

Here's the games I'm looking forward to this week:
Tuesday: Hawks vs. Lakers. I have no doubt that for the thousandth week in a row, the Lakers will win the internet vote for Fan Night, and you'll all get to watch this on NBA TV. But only Will and I will get to see the local commercials, including that annoying-ass one for Big Bear. You know the one? With the anchor man and the weather lady? Billy's seen it.

Wednesday: Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers. Has any pro player ever better exemplified his team name than Marc Gasol? The only example I can think of is an amateur one, from back when Nate Robinson used to play for that AAU team, the Fucking Assholes.

Thursday: Max odds on my Pass line 4, place on the 6 and 8, and maybe a Come bet. These games (SA-Det, Bos-Uta) are lame, so let's just go to AC and roll some dice.

Friday: Hawks vs. Trail Blazers. Unoriginal, I know.

Saturday: 76ers vs. Heat. Day game! I pretty much hate both these teams, but I'm curious to see if the Marion trade really does open up some playing time for Beasley or if they just use Jamario Moon. Plus, I'm re-scouting Marreese Speights. Speights!

Sunday: Bobcats vs. Rockets. I can't go a full week without my Bobcats!

So won't you join me for a league pass and a gchat some time this week?

I hope none of you suckers is working today. It's Prezodents' Day!