There is continued discussions of Denver Nuggets high scoring forward Carmelo Anthony moving east, either through trade to the New Jersey Nets or at the end of the season to the New York Knicks via free agency.  New talks are in play in Denver to try to have the All-Star forward stay in Denver.

Unless all the basketball gurus have it wrong, Anthony wants to play in one place and one place alone, Madison Square Garden.  Where it truly being an off-shoot of his freshman year of being an Orangeman from Syracuse, just his childhood dream, or understanding he could own New York as its premier basketball star since LeBron James a) chickened out, b) has a great love of the South Beach lovelies, or c) couldn't see himself in orange and blue, Anthony will be one of the top celebrities in a town that thrives on celebrities

Therefore, regardless of the Nets offering everyone, including its Russian owner, in trade for Anthony, he has no intentions of then signing a long term commitment to what would still be the "second" team in New York when they move to Brooklyn in two years.  Nor will Anthony look to staying in Denver when he can not only increase his salary as a free agent in New York (though Denver could meet and beat it under the present CBA rules), but add to it hawking everything that New York has to offer.

So to this: Knick fans, do like Melo does.  Chill.  He will be coming next season, with the Knicks not having to sacrifice any pieces in a trade.  Will Melo on the Knicks get them over the top?  Depends on your definition of "top" is.  If it is competitive for a crown, yes.  Win the crown, no.  The will require one more piece, a complimentary piece, most likely something in the middle so A'mare Stoudemire doesn't have to work as hard on the defensive end.  Either way, with Melo in the fold next season, the Knicks will be relevant again.

Sorry New Jersey and Denver.

Gilbert Arenas, alias Agent Zero, the high scoring and recently suspended guard of the Washington Wizards has been traded to the Orlando Magic.  In all, two trades by the Magic, also involving the Phoenix Suns saw the following players trade uniforms: To Orlando, Arenas and in return the Wizards receive Rashard Lewis.  Then to further shake up an otherwise dormant line-up, the Magic re-acquired Hedo Turkoglu,  and added Jason Richardson, Earl Clark and in return shipped to the Suns Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, a 2011 first-round draft choice and money considerations.

The Magic were considered a title contender but have recently dropped 5 of their last 6 and fallen from atop the Eastern Conference to 4th.

Maybe the hype is justified.  The Heat came into Madison Square Garden riding a 10 game winning streak and torched the recently hot Knicks 113-91.  LeBron James (derided by fans as LeChicken) went for a triple double of 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Knicks, who now sit at 16-11 and second in the Atlantic Division behind the Celtics, who they lost a heartbreaker to two days ago, are showing progress.  And with all the swirling of news that forward Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets is looking to relocate to the Garden as soon as possible (trade this year - not likely, or as a free agent at the end of the season), the Garden is buzzing like it was 2000.  The future is bright for the Knicks, but for now they will have to stand in the glow of the Heat.

While at the beginning of the season it was easy to predict that the Miami Heat would go on winning streaks such as the one they are currently on (9), it would take a psychic with front row seats at Madison Square Garden to predict the same for the Knicks (currently at 8).  These two teams are about to play a game this week at the Garden that hasn't had this much hype and interest since Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing were battling it out under the boards.

Leading the resurgent Knicks is arguably not just the most impactful of the 2010 Summer free agents (sorry LeBron) but is perhaps the early season Most Valuable Player, Knick big man A'mare Stoudemire.  If interest in the Knicks has waned these past several seasons due to poor play and scandal, the current play of the Knicks will awaken those fans that have laid dormant and make the Garden the place to be.  But caution: regardless of the outcome of this game, a full season still must be played.  At least this Knick team understands that.

It is being reported that NBA Commissioner David Stern will seek to increase the minimum age to enter into the NBA during negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement this coming July.  The present age requirement to be eligible to play in the NBA is meeting your 18th birthday and having your freshman class matriculate (if in college, your freshman class has completed).

The arguments on each side of the issue hold valid points.  With the current requirements, it permits players early entry into employment, as it would be in any industry.  Even with the current requirements/restrictions, a player could initiate their first 3 year contract (maximum for new players) at 18 and therefore be eligible for their first free agent period at 21, while still entering into their physical and performance maturity.

The NBA is seeking to raise the minimum on the precept that at 18 the overwhelming vast majority of those entering the NBA Draft are not physically and mentally mature enough to perform, therefore those that are drafted are mostly cut at training camp and the others not drafted at all.  Once becoming draft eligible, a player may not return to the college level as by NCAA rules as they have declared themselves no longer as amateur status.  Thereby, these players have no where to go for maturation for their skills, other than a failing NBA D League.  In essence, decision making at 18 puts a young person in the position of not having a career at all, or even with a 3 year NBA contract, not a sustainable career.  With raising the age limit, the NBA hopes to have more mature players now enter the league, for both their ability to stay in the league and be successful and for a better product on the court for fans to watch.

For most of us as young boys and girls, we learned geography from our parents when we went on trips and at school. For those that were sports involved, we learned by who our favorite team was playing, what Division and Conference they were in and therefore where they were located. We learned that our rivals, those that we played more often during the season than others, were located closer to us, whether north, south, east, or west.

It is much harder today to learn geography. Take the Big East Conference for example. Originally constructed of college basketball powers located in the northeast of the country, the past several years has seen the stretch of what it was once meant as "east". To survive financially (which is based upon college football dollars), the conference that was once only as far west as Philadelphia, and then to Pittsburgh, is now located in Chicago (DePaul), Kentucky (Louisville), and as of this morning, Fort Worth, Texas with the addition of Texas Christian University. At present TCU is a member of the Mountain West Conference. Notice the "directional" "west" in the conference name.

A quick check at googlemaps.com pointed out that for TCU to come to the heart of the Big East - New York City, it would have to travel 1,581 miles, a greater distance than traveling to the Pacific Ocean. While we here at gameoversportz.com do carry several degrees of higher education, it would only take a 5th grader to know that TCU belongs out west. Only, tomorrow's 5th grader will get that question wrong on an exam because as of this morning Fort Worth is in the eastern part of the U.S.A.

Reports are circulating that a long and contentious strike between NBA owners and players is looming at the end of the 2010-2011 season. The collective bargaining agreement ends with the conclusion of the championship series and both sides are far apart on salaries, salary cap, and sharing of joint revenue.