EHSPN: Black Sheep of Sin City

The Lizards have been hard at work this off season, but can recent acquisition Tim Duncan (seem here taking questions from Las Vegas reporters after his trade from Golden) help take Vegas to the next level? More importantly, the Lizards' front office better have something else planned before the 2008/09 season starts if they want to leap over the rest of the playoff contenders.




Black Sheep Of Sin City
By Max Power; EHSPN

The Las Vegas Lizards, currently an afterthought in the City of Sin, is trying to make waves this season. They were one of the best teams in the second half of the 2007/08 regular season and, besides the team they traded with [Golden] were to only team this off season to attempt to better their roster thus far via trade. The team wants to prove to a spoiled fan base that they are serious about bringing home a championship, and putting Las Vegas on the map as the first and only triple-threat championship city in the Project EH.

The Lizards, after a quick exit in the 2007/08 playoffs to a strong Boston team, have been hard at work this off season, trying to figure out exactly what they'll need to compete at the highest level in 2008/09. They wasted no time, trading for big man Tim Duncan less than a week after the 2007/08 season ended.

"Tim's here for two reasons. First off to help groom young [Greg] Oden into the star we believe he can become," commented Head Coach and General Manager Charles Barkley, "Secondly, and most importantly, to give this team the dominating big man presence we lacked last season," commented Head Coach and General Manager Charles Barkley.

The Vegas front office informed all players that none of them had a guaranteed roster spot going into the 2008/09 season. Only six players will earn a roster spot, with the other 6 being dispersed into the 2008 EHBA Draft to be held later this Fall. Players must have taken the message seriously because many of them have already been showing up to the Lizards' camp, working out and practicing with coaches and trainers, hoping to prove their dedicated to Barkley. Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Mike Dunleavy, Tim Duncan, Greg Oden, Monta Ellis, and Andrea Bargnami all showed up yesterday ready to show the franchise they were serious about making a run at a championship this upcoming season.

"It's great to see the dedication from these players, especially since they know that not all of them will be back," Barkley told reporters, "hopefully we'll have a chance to reacquire the ones we like but can't keep in the upcoming draft, but everyone knows there's no guarantees."

"We know a few of us are on the fence, that's just the way it works," Dunleavy commented after an intense workout with current teammate Monta Ellis, "It's obvious to most of us that saw the revolving door of various players during the playoffs last season. Nobodies spot is safe."

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Other Las Vegas Notes

-- GM Charles Barkley has been rumored to be interested in making another trade before the roster cut deadline. It is believed he'd like to move up in the 2008 EHBA Draft, sources close to Barkley have stated.

-- The finishing touches on the Lizards' new stadium, located just off the Vegas strip, are almost finished, and the team will be able to host their home opener on time. The Lizards spent all of the 2007/08 season playing at the Stardust University Arena. Naming rights of the new stadium are yet to be finalized.

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