December 16th update

Paul on the Move, Howard to Follow?

• As widely reported on Sportico and elsewhere, New Orleans Hornets Point Guard Chris Paul has been actively shopped around the NBA, and after a very questionable move by the NBA was finally dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers. In return, the Hornets would acquire 3 players and a first round draft pick.
• We're of a mixed opinion on Sportico as to who made out better in this deal. One of us feel that this move makes the Clippers markedly better, pairing arguably the best pure point guard and the best young big man, in Blake Griffin. The other one feels that the Clippers gave up too much, including superstar-in-the-making Eric Gordon and former All-Star and future Rogaine spokesman Chris Kaman. The lowly Clippers are looking to make moves to take themselves from the basement of the NBA to major basketball relevance. Even more important, it pushes the “big brother” Lakers to the back page of the Los Angeles newspapers (or websites, since who reads newspapers anymore?).
• Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard is the last remaining major piece that is unsettled. It is widely assumed that he will not resign with the Magic next summer when he is a free agent, so it would behoove the Magic to trade him and receive something in return. It was reported that there was a deal close to completion with the New Jersey Nets before that fell apart. The Magic have claimed that Howard is no longer on the table, but that remains to be seen as this story seems to change every day.

NFL Week 15 Story Lines

• First Saturday game of the year: Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – this game would not be of any note if not for the fact that it is the first Saturday game of the year and the fact that no NFC East team is playing particularly well. The Bucs are coming off an awful stretch where they have lost 7 straight games, and have looked even worse than you'd expect while doing it. The Cowboys seem to be trying their hardest to fall out of the playoff race but continue to share first place with the New York Giants at 7-6.
• Sunday Night Brings Intrigue: Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers – the Ravens are known as a team that plays to the level of its competition; that is they play badly against bad teams, and well against good ones. The problem with the Chargers is that nobody’s quite sure which category they fall in. A supremely talented team (that generally plays very well in December) the Chargers are 6-7 (including losing 6 straight earlier in the season). This game pits the historically great Ravens defense against Philip Rivers and the always potent Chargers offense.
• Monday Night Showdown: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers – After a bunch of less than interesting MNF games, this one should be good. Both teams are licking their wounds a bit as the Steelers stud QB Ben Roethlisburger is nursing a high ankle sprain that could cause him to not play, and the 49ers are coming off a stretch where they have lost 2 of their past 3 games. While they still hold a commanding division lead, the 49ers need to pick it up before the playoffs start, a demanding win against the Steelers could prove they are one of the teams to beat.