I’ll take one of these too!

Found these Hardwood Classics jerseys at www.utahjazzstore.com for $79.99.  Now that’s a good gift! (Hint, hint)

The NBA on TNT recently introduced a series of new commercials for the 2009-10 NBA season. The commercials star Rainn Wilson, famous for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, alongside NBA stars Gilbert Arenas, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, and Derrick Rose. In the commercials, Arenas, Williams, Howard, and Rose, play the foil to Wilson’s somewhat naive, but completely annoying, cab driver.

The commercials earned generally negative reviews, but have recently come under fire for something a bit more troubling than simply being unfunny. Donal Logue, a working actor perhaps most famous for his role in the short-lived Fox series Grounded for Life, recently attacked the commercials as a rip-off of his character, “Jimmy the Cab Driver.”

Logue appeared as “Jimmy the Cab Driver” in a series of commercials for MTV in the late 90s. Judge for yourself, but from the striking physical similarities (including mustache, mullet, glasses, and indeterminate accent) to the similar structure (unwitting passenger is forced to listen to the eccentric ramblings of a cab driver), it appears Logue may be on to something.

TNT and Wilson have both publicly addressed the creation of Wilson’s NBA cab driver character. TNT would have you believe the idea came from the HBO series Taxicab Confessions.

Wilson, perhaps attempting to set up a scenes a faire defense or perhaps arguing his character is simply a derivative work, recently described the creation of his character, saying “They [NBA] had this crazy cab driver and I’ve kind of seen that character before.” Wilson went on to say:

I was very excited because the night before we shot, I was like ‘You know what? I need a mullet. I need a mustache.’ And he [cab driver] is my ode to all of my crazy cousins and relatives in Wisconsin and Minnesota. I love you guys.

Logue is not buying either explanation. The only apparent connection between Taxicab Confessions and the NBA commercials is that both take place in a taxi. As Logue points out, Taxicab Confessions focused on the outrageousness of the passengers’ confessions to an anonymous cab driver, while the NBA on TNT commercials focus on the outrageousness of Wilson’s cab driver himself.

As for Wilson’s explanation, Logue says:

He [Wilson] made it seem like there was a vague army of similar characters that came before him, all fairly indistinguishable . . . but since he wanted a mustache (I had one too), a mullet (over the course of some spots Jimmy had one) and for his character to be from Wisconsin, he was TOTALLY different.

Neither the NBA nor TNT has responded directly to Logue’s recent blog post, and TNT has yet to pull the commercials.

– Michael Quinlan

Image Source

Deron Williams made it look easy

The Raptors are heading home and it’s not a moment too soon. Chris Bosh and the boys wrapped up a four-game trip tonight, falling 104-91 in Utah — their third straight loss after taking the opener against the Clippers last Friday.

This one had blowout written all over it early, as the Raptors started the way they finished Tuesday in Denver, falling behind by 18 in the first quarter. Bosh and Marco Belinelli helped Toronto claw its way back in, cutting the lead to one early in the fourth before the wheels fell off for the second straight night. Bosh finished with 32 points and 17 rebounds and Belinelli had his fourth straight double digit effort off the bench, scoring 19 on 7-of-14 shooting.

The most notable difference in this one was the point guard play. Jose Calderon wasn’t himself of late, going 4-of-14 and finishing with two assists and two turnovers. His counterpart, Deron Williams, ran all over him, scoring 22 and adding nine dimes. Carlos Boozer added 22 and 18 boards for the Jazz and Andrei Kirilenko had 20 points off the bench while sporting a fresh “new lesbian” hairstyle, as my man Sully Sullivan would say.

Another loss, but at least one that signals the end of hellish trip out west. After playing seven of the last eight on the road, the Raptors are home to face Miami Friday in the first of three at the ACC.

Everyone knows this team lives and dies by thier jump shot. Well, in the fourth quarter the team died a slow, painful and terrible death against the Utah Jazz.

They went one for 12 to start the frame and instead of taking the ball inside they decided to keep shooting. Not the best plan for success..

The good news is, one of the worst stretches of the season is over, and the Raps are back home. The hopes are what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.

Zan for Three

Get it inside!

When the Raps went to the bucket they had a great deal more success tonight. So why not do that more? Bosh and Bargnani were at their best when they got the ball close to the basket. Jose’s shots weren’t falling and Jack couldn’t catch a cold.  The point is, Utah doesn’t play strong D and the Raps didn’t take advantage of it. I felt like I was in a time warp as they settled for jumper after jumper.  If your shots aren’t falling….try something else!

X-Factors

Marco Belinelli is playing out of his head right now.  The guy is a sharpshooter out there for the Raps.  He plays with confidence and isn’t afraid to drive the net.  He needs more plays to run through him.

Amir wasn’t a flashy player tonight but I just wanted to give him some love as well. He’s been flying under the radar this year.  The kid works hard, plays his role and is a key contributor off the bench.  He’s a garbage man out there grabing loose balls, fighting for boards and blocking shots.  He cleans up the mess and does his job quietly.

Jose  + Jack = What exactly?

These two should not be on the floor together.  There is absolutely no chemistry between them and I have no idea why Jay Triano continues to shove it down our throats.  Jack doesn’t play with control and Jose wouldn’t know defence if it waved it’s hands in front of his face during a shot.  The two don’t belong together and we are weaker on both ends of the floor when they play at the same time.

Zan of the Game

Marco Belinelli

Yes he looks like he should be wearing a striped shirt on the back of a gondola but this guy can play.  He shoots like a Big Headed NBA Jam player on fire.  He needs the ball in his hands more and the Raps need to kick it out his way more often.  He’s like a creepier looking Dell Curry.

Not Zan of the Game

Jarrett Jack

We might have to change this category to “Jarrett Jack of the Game”,  if he keeps playing like this. He is all over the place…the guy is starting to give me Wil Solomon flashbacks…and that’s a bad trip.

Deron Williams is back tonight for Utah

A four-game west coast swing is rough enough in itself, and finishing it with a back-to-back against a pair of teams that won a combined 102 games last season just makes it all the more difficult. After having their legs fall off in the second half last night in Denver, the Raptors are in Utah tonight to face the Jazz before heading back to the ACC for some home cooking.

The Jazz enter at 4-6, though that has a little to do with early-season road dates in Denver, Boston and Cleveland thus far. They hung tough against the Cavs Saturday, falling 107-103 despite playing without point guard Deron Williams, who’s expected to be back in the lineup tonight after taking a two-game leave to deal with his sick daughter. Throw Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur into the mix and it may be a rough night for the Raptors, especially if last night’s second half is any indication as to what they have left in the tank. Oh well, coming out of this stretch 5-7 is a lot better than it could’ve been. It’ll get better come December, Raptors fans.

Jay Triano was able to rest his starters most of the fourth quarter in Denver, so hopefully that’ll help them grab a second wind tonight. Still no word on whether or not Hedo Turkoglu will suit up after sitting last night with a sore hip, but his fresh legs would come in handy if he’s good to go.

The Raptors and Jazz tip tonight at nine.

Deron is not only the best point guard right now, he’s been the best point guard in the league for the past two seasons. The fact that he has yet to make an All-Star team doesn’t make any sense to me, and makes me wonder just exactly the coaches are looking at. He starred on the 2008 Olympic Team that brought home the gold medal last season.

He was a star at the University of Illinois where he led the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Championship where they eventually lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels. As soon as Deron stepped into the league he immediately became one of my favorite players, right behind Carmelo Anthony. Deron is the true definition of a Point Guard. When you watch the Jazz play, everyone is involved, and it starts with Williams leading the show. He has the freedom to call his own plays, yet everyone on offense touches the ball, which is very much taken for granted. There’s no doubt in my mind that he could play in a faster system, such as Phoenix, Denver, or even Dallas.

His handles are top notch, yet underrated. He’ll cross you up in a second, pull up on the drop of a dime for a jumper (he arguably has the best mid-ranger jumper of any point guard in the league), and every once in a while throw down a huge dunk. He can also score in just about any kind of way, sort of like Carmelo, and it starts with his ball handling. He doesn’t use to many flashy trick passes, but he’s deceptively quick, so you may never see it coming, until there are two or three more points on the board. He’s got such a big uppper body for a Point Guard that it makes him very difficult to guard. His size always plays a factor on the defensive side making it easier for him to body up against big opponents.

His vision on the basketball court is out of this year. Once again, it isn’t so much flashy as it is purely efficient. He sees the whole court as if everything was moving in slow motion except himself. He may have one the highest basketball IQ’s in the NBA. If it’s time to pass, he’ll do so, and he’ll get it to someone where they are in perfect position to do nothing else except score. It’s impossible for him not to make you a better player, because he’ll make the game that much easier for you. Watch the last two Jazz runs in the playoffs and see how no one player,  or scheme could slow him down. They lost to the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last season but Deron put the team on his back and made a game winning shot to to win one game at home and to keep from getting swept. I can’t put it any simpler, Deron Williams is a grown man.

Like I said at the beginning, there is sure to be disagreement among the people who think Chris Paul is better, Nash is better, Tony Parker, and Chauncey Billups, and that’s perfectly fine. In my opinion though, the best point guard in the league resides in Salt Lake City.

For those of you who don’t know, I live in Seattle. Now, that being said I have a fondness for the Boston Celtics and have for some time. I’m not sure why, beings that they are about as far from Seattle as you can get, but I have just loved watching them play and how their team is run. Another reason may be that former Seattle Sonic Ray Allen plays for them, so naturally I am a fan, and also one of my favorite players of all time Kevin Garnett is also on the squad. My brother can vouch; when we were little I collected KG basketball cards, no lie. So, after all that why write an article about Rajon Rondo? Well, Rondo is going to be the next elite point guard in the NBA right up there with Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd. With his ungodly speed, moves that leave more broken ankles than a well placed AI crossover, and a command of the court almost unrivaled in the NBA, Rajon is well on his way to being one of the best. So, how am I so sure that Rondo deserves to be in the top tier of point guards in the NBA? Funny you should ask…

Rondo’s rise to the top started in high school in Louisville Kentucky where he played for famed coach Doug Bibby at Easter High School. During his junior year there, Rondo averaged a balmy 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per contest (looks eerily similar to what he did in the playoffs last year, hmmm). Once he was done there, he transferred to the well know NBA star factory Oak Hill Academy. Here are some of his numbers his senior year:

21.0 points per game

12.0 assists per game

Single season record 303 assists

Two 27 assist games and on 31 assist game (single game Oak Hill record)

One 55 point game (second all-time at Oak Hill)

Oh and just for all you visual learners out there…

High School Highlights

Once Rondo was done dominating in the high school ranks, he moved on the University of Kentucky where he had two solid years. Though his per game averages weren’t spectacular (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) it was his command of the floor and the way he ran his team that garnered him attention from NBA scouts. But, for all his on court skills and crazy potential, there has been one consistent knock on Rondo: attitude. At Kentucky he was slapped with a reputation of being hard to coach, cocky, and sometimes just downright mean. We will get to more on why this is somewhat true, but blown out of proportion later.

So, we all know what happened next, Rondo was selected 21^st overall by the Phoenix Suns and traded to the Celtics. He played backup his first season and began starting late in that season. Then, in his second season he was teamed up with “The Big Three” and the rest is history. When the Celtics first acquired Rondo, Doc Rivers knew what he had.

In a piece from ESPN, it was noted that “Rivers identified early on that Rondo had both the physical attributes (speed and rebounding ability) and intangibles (vision and confidence) to become a star at his position.” Rivers was also quoted as saying “Rondo will be [the franchise player] and it’ll be great.” He is speaking of the post-Big-Three era in Boston of course. So what are the things that Doc sees that are going to make Rondo an elite point guard in this league. I think they boil down to this: leadership, vision, work ethic, defense. With those things intact, the sky is the limit for Double R.

So when the league is playing catch up they know who he is

Being surrounded by arguably one of the greatest trios of all time, Rondo has been successful in leading his team. I mean trying to keep three future hall of famers happy is a tall order. Rondo’s ability to be a leader and move the team where it needs to be is his biggest asset. Paul Peirce knows the value of a strong leader, “He’s doing a great job facilitating the offense and being the quarterback. He understands that he doesn’t have to score. But what he’s been doing these four games into the season; his maturity has been tremendous to watch.”

It has always been a criticism on Rondo that he is too quiet, too in his own mind, not enough of a team player. Maybe those people saying that should ask the people that are closest to him on a daily basis. Kendrick Perkins, his teammate and Boston Celtics center, has said “If you didn’t know him, you’d think he’s just this quiet kid, But he can be the loudest guy in the locker room.” Perkins isn’t the only won recognizing Rondo’s skills and ability. Kevin Garnett sees Rondo as the future of the league.

“If Rondo is not the best point guard in three or four years, I’d be very, very surprised. He has all the tools to lead a team. His defense is unlike any other guard I’ve seen. He has the quickness of a Tony Parker. He has the eyes and the passing skills of a Jason Kidd. He has to establish that 15-foot jumper, make it stick and be consistent. But I’m very, very, very, very impressed with Rondo.”

The C’s recently played the New Orleans Hornets and before the game, head coach Byron Scott was asked about the matchup between Rondo and Chris Paul and has this to say, “Rajon Rondo should be considered among the top five or six point guards in the league.” High praise from someone who coaches Paul, who is widely considered the top point guard in the league. Speaking of Paul vs. Rondo, they were involved in a spat after that game. Now some people criticized Rondo for this. I say it shows he is not afraid, ready to stand up to anyone, even the great CP3

He ain’t affraid

Taking the comments of his future hall of fame teammates, I think Rajon’s leadership skills are not to be questioned. Though it is of high value, leadership is somewhat intangible. Things like presence, court awareness, and knowledge of what to do when are also things that are hard to measure. Rondo has all these things, as well as one of his greatest assets that is measureable, and that is vision. For me, vision translates into seeing the floor and subsequently abusing your opponent while placing the ball to your teammates in a position to do damage. For all intents and purposes, these are assists. But over and above that, vision is not just getting an assists, it is knowing when and where to push the ball, pull it out, take a jump shot, or drive to the basket. Please witness in this highlight reel.

Highlight Reel

After the Chicago game referenced above (you know you want to watch that video again) Doc Rivers called Rondo “the most dominate player on the floor.” This is on a night when his line was 2 points on 2 shots, 16 assists to only 2 turnover, and 8 rebounds. Dominate with his vision and leadership, not with scoring. Most guys could go out and get 20 points if the shot enough and played enough minutes, but very few people can get 16 assists and only turn the ball over twice in an entire game. Vision. ESPN Boston had a piece on Rondo and why he should be in the discussion of top point guards in the league. They said, “Rondo, only 23 years old and in his fourth NBA season, seems to have triple-double potential. That’s the type of output previously reserved for the likes of Jason Kidd…”

To go along with his vision, Rondo is one of the best off the ball defenders and one of the best steal guys in the league. So far this season he is averaging 3.0 steals per game, up from his 1.9 per game last season and 1.8 per game for his career. Defensive specialists are usually role player guys, a la a Bruce Bowen, who don’t contribute in other statistical categories. Rondo is not that type. Though his one on one defense isn’t spectacular, his unnatural wing span and frying-pan-sized hands give him the ability to get lots of deflections and thefts from off the ball.

Cookies!

Slam Magazine did their yearly ranking of the 50 best players in the NBA recently, and Rondo came in at number 27. Is it so crazy to think that there are only 26 guys that are more valuable to their teams and are better players than Rondo? In the playoffs last year, with Kevin Garnett out, Rondo bore the weight of carrying the Celtics through the playoffs on his broad shoulders, pushing his 171 pound frame to its limits. Wasn’t Rondo’s play the determining factor in the Celtics run last year? Slam had this to say,

“Think about that Celtics team minus Kevin Garnett. We saw how that worked out this past postseason. Now, picture that team also without Rajon Rondo. Or, substitute Garnett’s absence for Rondo’s. Is it so ludicrous to think that the impact would be just as large? Who would have stepped in to save them and fill Rondo’s shoes? Eddie House?”

Now that we have gone over the things that Rondo brings to the table, can we please talk about aesthetic presentation? I mean are there many more guys in the NBA that are more fun to watch than Rondo. I mean you watched the videos, and he does it all with a straight face. That crazy fake-around-the-back-cupping-the-ball-with-my-giant-mitt move that he does is crazy and I’ve never seen it before. Watching him slash through defense, find his teammates in impossible places, and throw in the occasional posterizing slam (see below) and what more entertainment could you want?

Get up little guy

The main argument I hear against putting Rondo in that top tier is that he is only good because he plays with great players. Well, it is true that he plays with great players, but playing with them doesn’t diminish his game, it just changes it. If say Rondo switched places with Chris Paul and played with the guys Paul does, do you think that Rondo wouldn’t be just as successful if not more? We have seen that Rondo can score when he needs to, even in the playoffs, but he doesn’t just because he doesn’t need to now. If he didn’t have legit scorers on his team, why could he average 20+ points a game?

Slam Magazine makes a good point in saying, “Asking whether his game benefits from the players around him is like asking whether Phil Jackson has helped Kobe Bryant’s career. The question isn’t open for debate. It also doesn’t really matter, because to quote any and every NBA player, it is what it is. And, it is what each has made out of it.” So each player’s position is what it is and really shouldn’t affect their value. If anything Rondo has thrived in an environment that most others would have failed. Think of the pressure and expectations of playing with The Big Three. I mean over and above trying to keep them happy, but the expectations of Sports Nation and the Celtics organization. He has taken it in stride and done what most other players probably couldn’t.

So where would you rank him? Top 10, top 5? Hoopsworld.com had a ranking system that seemed legit to me:

These are the players I would trade for, move the earth for, revamp my roster for, and change my philosophy for.  If I can get them in any way shape or form, I’m pulling the trigger.  If any of these players are running my team, we are immediately relevant and a perennial playoff contender. I want management to do whatever it takes to get a player in this group.

Chris Paul – simply the toughest competitor at the position
Tony Parker – totally un-guardable and offensively dominant in stretches
Deron Williams – takes over games when he’s rolling
Chauncey Billups – the best veteran QB in the league
Derrick Rose – he’s a 10-year All-Star
Rajon Rondo – can wreak havoc and dominate on both ends

For me, it goes Paul, Williams, Rondo, Nash, Kidd, and then everyone else. Those are the guys who make or break their teams and get the job done on both ends as well as on the glass. Rondo should be and will be among the top two or three point guards in the league this year and for many years to come, you heard it here first. Also, just to leave you with something to think about, check this shot…

Ridiculous

La posición de base es posiblemente la más complicada para un jugador. Un buen base debe aunar técnica, inteligencia y no estaría de más que fuera rápido y buen tirador. Pero además de todo eso a un base se le pide que sea un líder y que dirija el juego del equipo.

La figura del base en muchos equipos apenas goza de importancia dado el tipo de juego, ya que muchos equipos basan su juego en pasársela al bueno y ver que hace, sin embargo, un buen base nunca está de más y si sabe dominar los tiempos del partido, puede ser más determinante que cualquier jugador franquicia de la posición que sea.

En los últimos años la NBA ha estado en crisis en esta posición. Después de la retirada de bases de la talla de Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton o Gary Payton la liga vivía algo huérfana de bases dominantes. Algunos años buenos de Jason Kidd o Steve Nash parecía que ejercían de transición hacía una nueva ornada de directores de juego determinantes.

Después de esos años en tierra de nadie posiblemente ahora nos encontremos en uno de los mejores momentos en esa posición. La llegada a la liga de Chris Paul o Deron Williams han cambiado la perspectiva que se tenía de los bases estas últimas temporadas.

Chris Paul y Deron Williams pugnarán por ser "el mejor base de la liga"

De hecho, Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) y Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) son a día de hoy los mejores jugadores en esta posición. Ambos aúnan una técnica del balón exquisita, un poder anotador bastante alto, una visión de juego privilegiada y sobre todo una facilidad para la toma de decisiones muy por encima de la media. Si a eso le añadimos un gran control del juego de sus equipos y una capacidad innata para superar adversidades hacen de estos dos los grandes dominadores de la posición. Elegir a uno es complicado. Williams cuenta con un crossover imparable que lo hace decisivo cuando su equipo se estanca y Paul tiene una facilidad para hacer números fuera de lo común. Lo dicho muy difícil.

Detrás de estos dos monstruos anda no muy lejos Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns). Considerado mejor base del planeta los últimos años, pero que el año pasado se vio superado por ellos tras una no muy buena temporada suya.  Con la salida de Shaquille O’neal su equipo vuelve a jugar a su ritmo y el Run&Gun puede devolver a Nash a la élite de los bases, si es que alguna vez ha dejado de formar parte de ella. De momento, su espectacular inicio de temporada lo sitúa de nuevo al nivel de los dos anteriormente citados.

Tony Parker ha conseguido ya 3 anillos para los San Antonio Spurs

Un peldaño más abajo encontramos un grupo de bases de un nivel muy alto pero que no determinan tanto el rumbo de un partido como estos tres. Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets) es la viva imagen del liderazgo, posee las mismas virtudes que los anteriormente citados, sin embargo, su nivel no es capaz de alcanzar los topes de estos tres en estos momentos; Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) posiblemente sea el mejor base en el uno contra uno, su juego se ha tachado muchas veces de individualista pero su palmares colectivo disipa cualquier duda que se tenga sobre su juego; Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards) es la figura del base anotador, una figura en peligro de extinción los últimos años, ya recuperado de la lesión parece haber recuperado su mejor nivel; y José Manuel Calderón (Toronto Raptors) que se postula como ejemplo de base organizador, pese a que no está en un buen momento de forma, el español es capaz de dirigir a su equipo con solvencia sin necesidad de hacer grandes números.

El puesto de base está de moda,  y eso lo podemos ver en los últimos draft en qué es la posición que más escogen los general manager. Eso está provocando que una nueva generación de directores de juego aceche a esos grandes bases. El futuro está garantizado con bases de la talla de Devin Harris (New Jersey Nets), una auténtica joya en campo abierto; Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic), un organizador que ha mostrado sus garantías ayudando a devolver a los Magic a la élite; Rajon Rondo (Celtics Boston), sin duda, el mejor base defensivo;  Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), la esperanza de un equipo a la deriva los últimos años y con pinta de convertirse en un All Star tiránico las próximas temporadas o los Rookies Brandon Jennings (Milwaukke Bucks) o Jonny Flynn (Minnesota Timberwolves) que están dando muy buenas sensaciones en este inicio liguero.

Para acabar, no nos podemos olvidar de los viejos rockeros Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) y Baron Davis (Los Angeles Clippers) que están dando sus últimos coletazos en la liga, pero que todavía poseen esa clase que los hizo hacerse un nombre en la NBA.

Y para vosotros, ¿Cuál es el mejor base de la liga?

Do watch the Boston Celtics this year. It looks like Rasheed Wallace has done two things so far, put on a little weight, and solidify Boston’s bench and made them a beast already in the Eastern Conference. Boston started the season off with a huge road win at Cleveland and Lebron James.  The big three (Garnett, Pierce, Allen) are back in full force averaging over 46 points and 16 rebounds a game.  And if you include Wallace and Rajon Rondo, that’s another 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. Boston also is giving up the league best 84.4 points per game, so with a deep bench, and the best defensive, and what I think is the best starting 5 in basketball, Boston is the eastern conference favorite.

Don’t watch the New Jersey Nets.  At least point the 0-7 Nets are just plain horrible, The Nets are averaging 17.3 turnovers per game which is more than their assist average of 17.0. If my math is correct, and I don’t think it would take Urkle to figure this one out, the Nets are on pace to go 0-82. But with four games scheduled with the New York Knicks, I think they might but one on the board, but don’t expect to beat last year’s record of 34-48.

Do pay attention to the Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams.  I am from Utah and I get to watch this premier point guard play every game, and I wish the rest of the country could too.  The Jazz are not a glamorous team like Lakers, Celtics, or Cavs, but they have one of the best point guards in the game.  Williams has been over shadowed in the media world by Chris Paul ever since they were drafted as the 3rd and 4th picks in the 2005 draft. Last season Williams averaged over 19 points per game and almost 11 assists.  The NBA world knows about him, thats why they put him on the 2008 Olympic “Redeem Team”, the fans just need to know about him and put him in the All-Star game which he deserves to be in.  Oh and you think CP3 is a better point guard? Deron has led his team to the Western Conference Finals, and head-to-head the Jazz are 11-3 against the Hornets since 2005.

Don’t pay attention to Greg Oden. I hope Portland’s front office kicks themselves every night for not drafting Kevin Durant.  The best game Greg Oden has recorded was a game against Milwaukee back in January when we had 25 points and 15 rebounds, so that would be 1 good game in 3 years. Oden isn’t even averaging a double this year, and almost has more fouls and turnovers a game than rebounds.  Oden who is still only 21 years old, looks and moves like Patrick Ewing at the end of his career.  Shouldn’t a young 21 guy be flying around the court rather than moving in slow motion? I can’t stand watching him play.

Do expect Lebron James to be playing in another jersey color next year. After last weeks win over the Knicks, James said that winning is more important than anything else, especially a max contract.  The Cavs are off to a slow 4-3 start and so far, the signing of Shaq seems to not be working out so well.  In my eyes, Shaq just clogs the lane where King James does most of his work.  I mean look what Phoenix (7-1) is doing now that they have a free lane for Nash and Amare Stoudemire to play with.  The way Cleveland is built, they wont compete with Orlando and the Celtics this year and most likely for the next few years.  So maybe, we will see a rebuild down in Miami where Lebron, Dwayne Wade, and possibly Chris Bosh all play together and be the best assembled this decade.

Don’t model your look after a few NBA players.  First off, Don’t grow a beard out like Baron Davis or Deshawn Stevenson.  Also don’t get a 5 dollar bill tattooed on your neck.  I don’t think that’s a lady getter.  Next don’t look like Mike Miller or Joakim Noah with the long ponytail look.  Come on man, are you kidding me looking like that? You are not good enough to look like whatever you want. If you can help it, don’t let your face become like Chris Kamen’s or Pao Gasol’s, you will go a lot further in this life.  We thought here at hmhd that we could give a few fashion tips and our tip today is, try not to look like any of these players.

Chris Bosh, a professional basketball player for a team no one cares about (Toronto Raptors), won a different kind of victory recently – an internet victory.  According to this press release, Bosh has won custody of 800 domain names in an anti-cybersquatting case in California.

These aren’t just any standard domain names; they all incorporate the names of various professional athletes.  Some of the names are big ones: Deron Williams, Tayshaun Prince, Rashard Lewis, Danny Granger, and Maurice Williams.

According to the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1125(d)), it is illegal to sit on a domain name that lawfully falls under the trademark of another.  Here, the trademark happens to be the names of superstar athletes.  And according to the Central District of California Court, Hoopolgy.com, founded by Luis Zavala, used the domain names in with bad faith intent to profit from them.

There is a usual twist here, and I’m not sure what to make of this, but Bosh was awarded 800 domain names.  I don’t know about you, but my gut tells me ‘Bosh’ is Bosh’s one and only name.  The court granted him all the domain names Hoopolgy was using in bad faith, so now its up to Bosh’s pricey lawyers to distribute to the correct owners.

Watching tonight’s ESPN doubleheader, the unavoidable thought in my mind was how different the NBA would be if Carlos Boozer had stuck around in Cleveland. Booze is exactly the type of mobile scoring big man that would make LeBron even more of a monster. Imagine Boozer at the four alongside Varejeo or Big Z at the 5 depending on the matchup? Scary stuff.

Chicago at Cleveland

If I’m a Cavs fan, even though it’s only been five games into the season, I am officially very, very worried. Chicago was incredibly mediocre on both sides of the ball but because Cleveand’s offense was so inept, the Bulls ground out an ugly road win despite poor shooting and broken execution.

Charles Barkley provided some actual basketball insight in wondering why Mike Brown keeps trotting Shaq and Big Z out there at the same time. The Cavs’ twin towers have trouble guarding mobile bigs in the pick and roll and neither of them command a double team on offense. That same big lineup got burned in Toronto repeatedly as well, so what gives? In my mind, it’s the Kevin Durant phenomena — except in reverse.

Stat geeks complain about Durant’s flummoxing negative statistical effect, arguing that just because it makes sense in your mind to have your best player on the floor, it doesn’t play out that way in the science. And I use the term science loosely.

Despite perception however, the Cavs five most statistically effective players this season (by win share) have been Shaq, Big Z and Varejeo alongside Mo Williams and LeBron. If this is an experiment in trusting your number crunchers, it’ll be interesting to see how this lineup evolves as the 2009 season rolls along. Watching Taj Gibson, Brad Miller and earlier in the season, Andrea Bargnani pick apart the Cavs bigs on the PnR I can’t see Brown keeping this up much longer.

Worth noting is that in the final minutes of the game, with the decision hanging in balance, Brown went to his small lineup with LeBron at the four. Second guessing his own strategy a bit?

On the other side of the ball, the Cavs offense is just horrible. I like how people keep referring to John Kuester as Cleveland’s “offensive coordinator” for the past few years. If I was a Pistons fan, I’d have some questions. As in, like being told your family doctor is named Dr. Kevorkian questions.

Nothing has changed. Down the stretch, you could visibly see Chicago load up on LeBron waiting for him to go 1-on-5 and, unbelievably, that’s exactly what the Cavs did. A weak attempt at screen-and-roll by Varejeo gave way to four Cleveland players standing around the perimeter watching LeBron work. That just isn’t going to work; not for the past three years and not now.

Strangely enough, the Cavs lost in Chicago exactly the same way last year, except Tyrus Thomas blocked LBJ’s shot at the end of the game. Those who don’t learn from history…

San Antonio at Utah

The Spurs are old. This wouldn’t be a big deal if they didn’t also look and play their age.

Incredibly, Barkley hit the nail on the head again with this matchup: Manu Ginobili is the x-factor for the Spurs this season. The walking-bald-spot just isn’t as explosive as he used to be, unable to get to the rim and draw fouls or break his man off the dribble. Without those two essential elements, Manu is no longer an elite wing scorer. And without any scoring from the wings (speaking of which, did anyone think Richard Jefferson would be this useless?) the Spurs are done like dinner.

The Jazz on the other hand looked good, with the Williams and Boozer machine rolling like old times. AK47 didn’t do much damage and Okur looked pooped, but considering how banged up Utah’s bench is this win was definitely a big one they’ll take.

Tony Parker’s face when Pop pulled him with three minutes left in the game was pretty awesome. You could tell, down 12 points the Frenchman wanted to give it one last shot. With Portland on the sked tomorrow though, Captain Pop was having none of it. Strangely enough, when he put Duncan and Parker back in for a last minute push, he left Ginobili on the bench. Punishment for a bad shooting night perhaps? Recovering from bat-rabies?

Notes:

• Raptors fans laughed incredibly hard when the Cavs signed Jamario Moon. Now, at least once a week, a national audience will understand why. Especially John Hollinger, who for some reason constantly asked why Toronto didn’t play him more. Perhaps he can ask that question to Mike Brown, who gave Moon a DNP-CD tonight. Again.
• Taj Gibson — impressive.
• Manu Ginobili’s bald spot deserves its own jersey.
• Gregg Popovich continues to defend his title as “worst interview in the history of sports television.”

The Rockets continued to their tough schedule Monday night when they welcomed a Salt Lake City slug-fest with the “adored” Utah Jazz with open arms. The arms definitely weren’t opened to hug the Jazz though; they were stretched out to increase steals by the league’s #3 ranked steals team.

Chuck Hayes, who is 3rd in the league in steals at 2.50 steals per game, had 2 take-aways in the 1st minute of the game. Steals are imperative this season for Houston because they lead to fast break points and the Rockets need those easy buckets without a great halfcourt offense. That formula has worked well for the Rockets so far as they are #5 in fast break points. Aaron Brooks has shown that he can be the engine in the half court when the fast break doesn’t present itself with his great drive-and-dish execution.

The pass that Brooks threw to Hayes at :58 in the above video is incredibly hard to do. He was on the run and threw the ball backward between 2 defenders but put so much spin on the ball that it kicked forward to Hayes along the baseline. He made it look so simple that most people will not realize how great of a play that was. On top of that he made the same pass later in the game to Hayes again and the Jazz could do nothing about it.

Another positive the Rockets get from Brooks driving: wide open looks from 3. Trevor Ariza is leading the league’s 5th best 3-point shooting team in 3-point percentage at 55%! As a team, they hit their 1st 4 tries from deep in Utah including one by Shane Battier to extend his streak of consecutive games with a 3-ball to 16. And Houston still plays defense also.

Carl Landry pinned Deron Williams’ dunk attempt against the backboard. You know who else plays defense? Ronnie Price, backup PG/SG for Utah. Sorry, Rockets fans, but Price is my man; he’s from Clear Brook High School just south of Houston and I went to school with him so he will continue to get plenty of love on this blog. He had a powerful block on Brooks to put an end to the 1st quarter with the Jazz up by 2, 26 – 28.

Ariza continued to score in this game as he has done in the 1st three. His 70 points through 3 contests is the most by any Rockets’ player through their first 3 games. He is even beginning to make a believer out of me. And he had to play tough in this game because the Rockets didn’t shoot their 1st free throws of the night until there was only 9:50 to go in the half! It was a very physical matchup, as most are in Utah.

The next set of FTs came not long after that though when Kyle Lowry made a fantastic pass on the break to David Andersen under the goal. Let’s have a look at what Andersen looked like before the foul and after the foul:

Before

After

Mehmet Okur, who was playing in his 1st game of the young season, was destroying Sideshow Dave, Carl Landry and the notion that NBA players have to be in-shape. He went on to score a game-high 21 points and 11 pounds of Turkish Delight.

Which one of these is an athlete?

A guy who is definitely in better shape than Fried Okur is Chase Studinger and he showed off his athleticism with a smooth, left-handed reverse around Andrei “Utley-Hair” Kirilenko (I’m not going to explain that. You should be watching the World Series). Studinger went to the basket about as easily as Ariza’s men had been doing all night.

“That’s twice now Ariza’s overplayed a man and he’s taken him right to the basket,” was the quote from Bill Worrell because Clyde took his turn to comment on Ariza’s (lack of) defense last game. I guess Matt Bullard will take the next one. Despite Ariza’s defense, the Rockets were within 3 thanks to 10 offensive boards and 10 points from Hayes in the half.

54 – 57 at the start of the 3rd.

The Rockets started the 2nd half the same way the Jazz started the game, with 2 turnovers. The Rockets recovered though and took the lead on a strong “and 1″ by Ariza. Chuck Hayes even threw in a left-handed hook to show that Luis Scola, with his 14 points and 15 rebounds, wasn’t the only Houston post-man who could score.

The offense kept up the play and the defense picked it up too. Hayes took a charge and the Rockets went on a 9 – 1 run to take the lead 79 – 77 by the end of the quarter.

The 4th quarter would belong to Houston, namely, Chase Studinger. Stud poured in a jumper off the glass, 2 threes and a fast break layup in the opening minutes of the 4th to join 7 of his teammates in double-figure scoring. That means 8 Rockets scored more than All-Star and USA Redeem Team member, Carlos Boozer, who only had 7. Enough cannot be said about Chuck Hayes on defense; he did a masterful job on Boozer all night. Great win for the Rockets to get to 3 – 1.  

Postgame comments:

113 – 96 Final Score.  

Positives:

1. 10/19 from beyond the arc is really impressive. As long as Brooks can keep getting his guys open shots, they should be able to shoot a high percentage all season.

2. Chuck Hayes played great defense and he looks much better on offense in these 1st 4 games.

3. Any time you can get a win in Utah, it is a positive. That’s one of the toughest places to play and the young Rockets team showed that they are not phased.

Negatives:

1. The Rockets are last in the NBA in defensive rebounding. That is going to make it really tough on them to keep winning because the opponents will simply get too many tries at the basket.

Insights:

I am slowly, but surely, becoming a Trevor Ariza fan. He has been phenomenal in the early going and, though I know he will not continue to shoot the 3 at over 50%, he has shown that he is willing to attack the rim and finish over bigs. He still has a long way to go to prove that he can carry a team for an entire 82 games but he doesn’t really have to. Once McGrady gets back the 2 of them can share the scoring load and Ariza will get to play off-the-ball where he is most effective. McGrady is a much better passer than people realize and, if the egos can be overcome, there could be awesome chemistry on the court.

Impressed,

Multatuli

I must admit I’ve been quite baffled by the way Rajon Rondo’s future with the Celtics has been debated and questioned over the past six months. After the way he performed in the playoffs, when he was, without question, Boston’s best player when they pushed the eventual Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic to seven games (without Kevin Garnett), it looked like the 23-year-old point guard was becoming the face of the team, and the man who would become the team’s best player in the coming years as he became this generations Jason Kidd, with his incredible ability to churn out triple-doubles (after averaging 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the playoffs).

But then, bizarrely, Rondo’s name began being bandied about in trade rumors, and there were questions about whether or not he would be signed to a contract extension by tonight’s midnight deadline, or else he would become a restricted free agent as part of next summer’s free agency bonanza. A quick look at the list of point guards in the NBA, however, proves that Rondo is more than deserving of the five-year, $55 million contract extension he agreed to with the Celtics earlier today, a contract that locks him in as the franchise’s headlining young player.

Outside of Deron Williams and Chris Paul, is there another point guard better than Rondo in the NBA? Is there another point guard, based on talent alone, besides those two that the Celtics would swap him for right now? Gilbert Arenas has plenty of talent, as we know, but he’s also had plenty of injuries and has never won anything. Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash and Kidd all have had brilliant careers, but clearly are on the downside. And he’s a more complete player (especially on the defensive end) than other “top” point guards like Tony Parker and Mo Williams.

So then, the obvious question is why would the Celtics look to make something happen with Rondo? There have been plenty of rumors about maturity issues with Rondo, but he still is only 23 years old, despite his now lengthy time in the league, and he’s already been the point guard on a championship team – something that only a few point guards in the league today (Parker and Billups, among the top players at the position) can say about themselves.

In the end, it wasn’t much of a choice for Danny Ainge, the man who has constructed this current version of Celtics. He had to have Rondo, had to keep him in the fold. There may be risks in signing a player you have maturity questions about to a massive, top-level contract like the deal Ainge gave his young point guard today. But there are bigger risks in the world than that. One of them is letting one of the most unique talents in the league at one of the hardest positions to fill walk away at the age of 23 because you’d like him to be a little more mature.

Maturity can be coached, can be learned, can be taught. But Rajon Rondo’s skill set is as unique as anyone’s in the NBA not named LeBron. And, in the end, the allure of keeping that talent in Celtic green was too much for Danny Ainge to pass up.

Week Eight was a good week. The Colts and Saints improved their records to 6-0 with wins over the Rams, 42-6, and the Dolphins, 46-34. Meanwhile, the Cowboys prove they are actually a good team with a big, solid win over the Atlanta Falcons.

A lot of teams showed toughness. The Steelers did by bringing their first loss to the Vikings, winning 27-17. Now we head into a new week with more surprises and thrills. Are you ready?

Well, I am, so let’s get to these picks!

Broncos Over Ravens

This looks like a tight one for sure. Both teams have very solid, strong defenses but I think Denver will make their way out of this one. No, not a shootout or anything. I’m seeing a score like 13-10 or something along those lines. This is going to be a real, mad dogfight right here folks and Kyle Orton will be facing a big test against an aggressive defense.

Texans Over Bills

The Texans or looking way too hot this year, more hot to make it towards a Wild Card spot, their first playoff spot in their short, NFL history. The Bills have been looking good in their past few games but this is Houston’s game. I’m seeing another good game from Andre Johnson, and if they’re O-line is solid against Buffalo’s defense, heck, start Steve Slaton on your fantasy team as well!

Bears Over Browns

Easy win for Chicago, no not really. The Browns actually have been pretty good but they’re problem is their quarterbacks. Jeez, just kick Derek Anderson out of this. Give Brady Quinn the damn ball for Christ’s sake and everything would be better than they’d already have been with a guy who’s completed two-of-their-17 freaking passes in one game! Anyways, watch out for Jay Cutler in this game.

Cowboys Over Seahawks

Tony Romo had a solid game last week and I am seeing another one this week. We probably might see a breakout from Roy Williams in here, and if Miles Austin keeps pumping those speedy wheels of his, Dallas is just right there in playoff race. Looks like we are going to see some ‘Boys slaughtering some ‘Hawks in this showdown!

Dolphins Over Jets

I really do love the Dolphins so much in this game, and yes, they are going to win it and I am proud of saying that! Listen, if you are ahead by like 20 points against a team like the Saints, you are going to destroy Mark Sanchez and the Jets in this game. No, we are not going to see that 31-27 stuff, this is 31-7 stuff now! And if Chad Henne keep firing, and Ricky and Ronnie keep running, it’s a piece-of-cake for Miami folks! So give D-Wade a smile with his Heat.

Colts Over 49ers

Ooh, I like this game! But trust me, no close game here. The Colts are just too good right now. The only good coming out of San-Fran is Frank Gore. I see a 100-yard game from him after what I saw from Steven Jackson against Indy’s defense. Expect a solid performance from Manning as usual. With Alex Smith starting, easy win for Colts. And with Bob Sanders, it makes it a whole lot easier!

Eagles Over Giants

This is going to be a surprise pick, but I like the Eagles in this one. So what if they lost to the Raiders and the Giants killed them? I like Philly in this one. Although I see some good performances from both QB’s, this looks like a fun game!

Rams Over Lions

I got to go with the Rams. They played hard against the Colts and if they can play a little better, I see a win here in Detroit. Steven Jackson is going to keep running over everybody. Also, look out for Marc Bulger and Donnie Avery.

Chargers Over Raiders

The Chargers are improving now, and with this win over Oakland, their playoff hopes have gotten much better! I see a MVP game from Phillip Rivers along with some tight catches from Vincent Jackson. This is going to be a great fight in the Wild West! But the San Diego comes on top!

Jaguars Over Titans

No, the Titans are not going to win, it’s not going to help. David Garrard is going to have a nice game. Chris Johnson in Tennessee will have another 1oo-yard performance. With Vince Young starting, I really do see an okay performance from him. I like how rolls. I think he can improve but if he doesn’t act like Kerry in this game, I think he’ll be alright. But the Jags come on top. I see a close game, too.

Vikings Over Packers

The Vikings just came off a tough loss to the Steelers, but I think they’ll get their mind put together against Green Bay, especially Brett Favre. Favre is going to put on A LOT of revenge, especially when he is coming back to the field in which he played in for 16 years! Adrian Peterson, big game. Aaron Rodgers? Yes. But the Vikes come on top in a close, shootout victory. I see something along the lines of 34-27.

Cardinals Over Panthers

The Panthers running game has been solid, the but the Cards have been solid as well overall. Kurt Warner will be seeing a good game as well as Larry Fitzgerald. Panthers’ Williams will be having a great performance. Again, another close game I see. Well, not really. Something around 20-10.

Falcons Over Saints

This will be the upset of the week! Look, I like the Saints but I really do see Atlanta pulling this one out over New Orleans. Matt Ryan, pretty good performance along with some good stuff with Roddy White. Drew Brees will be great after last game’s horrible stats. I hope to see some more leaps from Reggie Bush. But this is going to be an upset folks, and I am sticking to it!

BYE’s This Week:

1. Patriots
2. Bengals
3. Steelers
4. Chiefs
5. Redskins
6. Buccaneers

Check out my power rankings on the sidebar for Week 8—–>!

Un poco tarde, pero como se suele decir, lo importante es que llegue. Pues aquí os cuelgo unas cuantas fotos del partido que disfruté en el Palacio de Deportes de Madrid el pasado mes de octubre. Impresionante ver jugar a Deron Williams pese a que Prigioni (otro crack) le puso en apuros al principio del partido. Pero lo mejor fue hacerme una foto con uno de mis ídolos, Chocolate Thunder, es decir, Darryl Hawkins. En las fotos Sergio Llull, Kirilenko, Deron Williams, cheeleaders de los Jazz, Carlos Boozer, Velickovic,…

THIS IS AN AWESOME CLIP…. WELL DONE TNT!!!!

Finally, NBA season is here. Even though fans were without it for a couple months, this offseason has been very busy for NBA teams.

The Lakers required Kobe’s on the court enemy, Ron Artest.

The Celtics got Garnett back and added Rasheed Wallace.

Cavaliers added Shaq to try and help Lebron win a title.

The Spurs added Richard Jefferson which should help their team a lot.

Vince Carter is now playing for the Orlando magic.

Tonight isn’t about that, tonight is about my Denver Nuggets taking on their rival, the Utah Jazz. Denver has made the playoffs six straight years, and lost to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference Finals last season. The Nuggets didn’t do much to tweak their roster since the main pieces are returning in Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. They did get Birdman back for 5 years and added a good defender in Aaron Afflalo. They also drafted a great point guard in Ty Lawson.

Last season Billups and two other players from the Detroit Pistons were shipped across the country to Denver in exchange for future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, and Billups impressed right away with his unselfish play and determination. The University of Colorado product played 77 regular season games with the Nuggets, averaging 17.9 points and 6.4 assists, and led them all the way to the Western Conference Finals. It was the first time Carmelo has even made it that far, Billups and Kenyon are the only players on the team with Finals experience.

Chauncey seemed comfortable to be back at home after spending six full seasons in the Motor City, and directed an offense alongside Anthony. The Anthony/Iverson experiment never panned out, as evidenced by the blockbuster trade, then Billups entered the equation as a perfect complement to the team’s perennial All-Star. Billups and Anthony finally ended five years of first-round exits in 2008-09 and helped Denver reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985.

Now that Billups is ready for his first full season as a Nugget, head coach George Karl is pretty confident in his team winning 50 + games and making another playoff run.  JR Smith has been suspended for the first 7 games this season. The suspension came after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving which cost his best friend his life and 30 days in jail this summer. He averaged 15.2 ppg last season and is their best 3 point shooter.

Utah is coming off its third straight trip to the postseason and was eliminated in five games by the Lakers in the opening round. Head coach Jerry Sloan is entering his 22nd season with the Jazz and has a healthy core of players in Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur returning. However, sharpshooting guard Kyle Korver will have surgery on his left knee and will miss the start of the 2009-10 NBA season.

Utah and Denver split four matchups a year ago, but the Jazz have won 14 of the past 21 contests in this series. The Jazz, though, have dropped two in a row and three of four trips to the Pepsi Center. When these two teams play each other it’s always a shootout. Denver is much more defensive minded and pass first shoot later than they were 2 years ago. Deron Williams is the best PG in the game and is one of my all time favorites.

I think Denver’s team is much better this season than they were last year, It’s going to be a tough match up tonight especially since JR isn’t playing, but I’m going with my Nuggets at home.

92 – Denver, 80 – Utah

By Justin Cherot

Time to buckle down and finish these previews. Photo by Justin Cherot.

Admittedly, I need to take a headline writing course.  More importantly, I needed someone (cough, Colin, and by the way, you need to stop doing ’shrooms) to kick me in the head a couple of times and remind me that trying to do 30 previews player-by-player, while cool and original, just doesn’t fit into any normal, 40-hours-a-week person’s schedule.  While I did better than I did my first time trying this in 2006, I couldn’t even fit one measely playoff team into my previews.  For that, I apologize.  Oh well, live and learn.  Next year I promise to do better.

But, for now, we’re less than 20 hours away from a Washington Wizards’ ass-kicking (Go Mavs!), meaning I have to get these done in a timely manner.  This is what I propose: instead of over-analyzing the remaining 300 or so players I haven’t mentioned yet (apologies to J.J. Redick, J.J Barea, Daequan Cook and plenty of other non-starters I won’t have time to go into), I’ll give you the most important player (MIP) from all the remaining teams and why they fit into such a category.  Inevitably, some will be the “duh, even my daughter knows that this guy is the star of the team” players, and some will be those unsung guys whose team’s success hinges on whether or not they produce on a nightly basis.

So, for one last time, let’s ride.  After the next 2000 or so words, these NBA previews will no longer hold me hostage.  Now, where was I?

20. Memphis Grizzlies

MIP: Rudy Gay

If this team truly wants to take the next step from hype machine to legitimate playoff contender, Gay needs to take the reins of this team.  Yeah, O.J. Mayo , Zach Randolph  and boom or bust free agent pick-up Allen Iverson all need more attention (and shots) than him, but Gay, talent-wise, is the best and most versatile of this bunch.  His assertiveness has been in question before, ultimately costing him a national championship at UConn, but if he can step in and be more of a leader on the court, this team is too talented not to contend for a playoff spot.  The pieces are there, but like a trippy Dora the Explorer puzzle that seems like one thing until a shimmer of light hits it and then it looks completely different (not speaking from experience or anything), sometimes the pieces can be hard to put together… so hard in fact that sometimes they just refuse to fit.

19. Detroit Pistons   

MIP: Tayshaun Prince

On a team full of “get mine” guys–Ben Gordon, Richard Hamilton, Charlie “NitTwit” Villanueva and Will Bynum, to name a few– Prince just needs to keep being that versatile, lockdown defender he’s always been.  Yes, the faces are new and more offensive-minded, but Prince just has to be there to remind them that, contrary to popular belief over the past few years, there is still a “D” somewhere in Detroit.  If he can’t, it’ll be this simple: Etroit will miss the playoffs.

18. Philadelphia 76ers

MIP: Lou Williams

The Sixers have a very nice core, headlined by Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand, who I think is finally due for a relevant season after two seasons of nothingness.  However, the Sixers’ biggest move was letting Andre Miller walk without getting a true point guard to fill his shoes.  Williams is going to try his hand at the spot, but let’s face it: he’s definitely a two.  Coming from someone who had to do it at the high school level, trust me: it sounds easy to “learn” how to play the point, but guards are pretty much born into a position.  How he handles the transition from one to two is ultimately going to tell the story of whether or not Philly makes the playoffs.  And, as of right now, I just don’t see him doing well in this crash course, even if he does have Eddie Jordan pulling the strings for him.

17. New Orleans Hornets

MIP: Chris Paul

Denver Nuggets’ fans should be horrified right now.  Bill Simmons (book out tomorrow, a must-buy) wrote in his NBA previews (Part I here and Part II here) that the Nuggets were this year’s ”Last Season Everything Went Right; This Season Everything Went Wrong” Team.  Last year’s version?  The Hornets.  I knew it would happen, I even wrote it.  In my own words, in ‘07-’08 everyone except for CP3 played way above their heads.  Last season, everybody came back down to earth and they fell all the way to the seventh spot.  Paul needs to basically carry this team just for them to sneak into the playoffs this year, and he will do his best to urge this squad with questionable talent into doing big things.  Unfortunately, with the next team on the come-up, I just can’t see that happening.  But Paul will make it interesting into the final week of the season.

16. Los Angeles Clippers

MIP: Baron Davis

Does anybody remember this Baron Davis:

Funny, because if you’re a Clipper fan you hardly saw any of this last year.  Was it the injuries?  Was it his conditioning?  Was it his overall indifference because he felt betrayed by Elton Brand who, allegedly, begged him to come, only to sign with the Sixers?  Who knows?  What I do know is that apparently he’s in muuuuuuch better shape coming into this season, and I feel like the Davis of old will be back.  On paper, this roster suits his style of play perfectly, with high-flyers in Blake Griffin (when he comes back from a broken knee cap, of course) and Al Thornton and a young, budding backcourt-mate in Eric Gordon.  Guys, if Davis can stay healthy and on the court for 70, this is a playoff team.

15. Toronto Raptors

MIP: Chris Bosh

The rumors are swirling about where Bosh is going to be next season.  Fine.  That’s next season.  This season, the Raptors have a playoff roster on paper.  There’s no questioning CB4’s talent, but his gusto may eventually come into question (yeah, I went there, Chris Rock fans), especially if the Raptors come out of the gates slow.  However, as mentioned before, Bosh has plenty of talent around him.  The Hedo Turkoglu signing/Portland Trailblazer screwing takes a lot of pressure off of him, and it never hurts to have a pass- first point guard (Jose Calderon) and an emerging big guy who’s showing signs of “getting it” (Andrea Bargnani).  The Raptors probably don’t have enough talent in the long run to keep Bosh in cold Canada, but his last run with them should find them in the playoffs.

14. Miami Heat

MIP: Michael Beasley 

Side note before I get into Mr. “Be Easy” himself: the East has really closed the gap.  Hard to believe I have the Heat this low.  Anyway, we all know about Beasley’s off-the-court “stuff”, and anyone who knows me knows that it’s not that hard for me to relate to the troubled guys.  It’s all about getting past it, though.  If anything, Beasley needs to use the court as an outlet, because his team is going to need him to play like a No. 2 overall pick.  They already have arguably (it would be quite an argument but the point could be made) the best player in the NBA in Dwyane Wade and some good young p… okay, I won’t sugarcoat it: Miami is this high strictly because of Wade’s ability to flat-out bring it every night.  He just needs someone to bring it with him.  Beasley can definitely be that guy.  Or, he can just be satisfied with being the second coming of Derrick Coleman.

13. Washington Wizards

MIP: Gilbert Arenas

Okay, we all drank the “Wizards Are Better Off Without Hibachi” juice.  And then last year happened.  Granted, he wasn’t the entire reason they couldn’t even crack 20 wins last season, but needless to say he had a ton to do with it.  I’ve read so many “Gilbert Looking Good” stories this past summer and off-season that I think I’m about to vomit, but I do admit that his highlights throughout the pre-season have been promising.  It goes beyond numbers, though.  Even for a team that doesn’t lack swagger–hell, their second best player, Caron Butler, calls himself “Tuff Juice” for crying out loud–they need his “swagger on a hundred, thousand, trillion” voice out on the floor and in the locker room to succeed.  With their off-season improvements, I have them pegged as the East’s sixth seed right now (defense is a MF), but really the sky is the limit for this team if Gilbert really is the old Gilbert.

12. Chicago Bulls

MIP: Luol Deng

Gordon is gone from this bunch, so the Bulls will have to find someone to take and make all those big-time shots at the end of games.  It’s assumed that Derrick Rose is the guy who’ll step up and have the ball in his hands down the stretch, but he can’t do it all.  Somehow, the Bulls have to replace his 20 a game, and Deng is the likely candidate to put the biggest dent in that 20, if not go for 20 himself.  If he can return to ‘06-’07 form, then the Bulls may not even miss Gordon all that much (especially with new acquisition Jannero Pargo trying to actually BE Ben Gordon down the stretch of ball games).  It’ll be interesting to see if this young, talented bunch takes the next step… or if it remains stagnant like the old Baby Bulls (when Gordon and Kirk Hinrich and were considered young).

11. Phoenix Suns

MIP: Jason Richardson

Steve Nash has become one of the better facilitators in NBA history.  But his defense is non-existent.  Prior to the eye injury, Amare Stoudemire added a damn near automatic mid-range jump shot to his stellar athleticism.  But his defense is non-existent.  Neither player has ever been known for his great work on the “other” end.  But Richardson has.  In college, he was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year in his sophomore season.  With his great scoring numbers in the league, we forget that Richardson was at one time a really good defender.  Especially with Raja Bell gone, the Suns need him to re-capture that defensive energy while still maintaining his offensive output in order to compete in the West.  That’s a tall order for him, but he’s shown in the past he’s up to the task.

10. Utah Jazz

MIP: Andrei Kirilenko

It was only a couple of years ago when AK47 put up these numbers: 15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 1.5 spg.  That’s disgusting.  In his defense, how do you even go up from there?  While it’s true he never really found out for whatever reason, he really only needs to be a shade of his former self for the Jazz to get back into serious contention.  With second best point guard in the world Deron Williams running the show and Carlos Boozer (for now) holding the fort down inside, Kirilenko doesn’t even need to average double-digits.  If he just gets back to being that all-over-the-place player that made Jazz fans fall in love with him, then the Jazz could be really good.  However, if he reverts back to the “I Can’t Even Beat Out C.J. Miles” Kirilenko, then the Jazz might be in danger of missing the playoffs.  My guess is that they’ll be somewhere in between.

9. Atlanta Hawks

MIP: Jamal Crawford

One day when she’s old and wise, Cadence will use this gem to describe the intracacies of life to her kids and grandchildren: “Life is like a Jamal Crawford: you never know what you’re gonna get.”  Corny, probably, but oh so true.  How come a guy who can just go off for 50 at the drop of a hat has only averaged over 20 ppg once?  Weird.  Nonetheless, he can definitely help the Hawks take that next step.  Last year in the playoffs, it was clear that it was Joe Johnson or bust down the stretch.  Now, Atlanta has one of the best “give me the ^%$#in’ ball” players in the NBA to go along with a young and versatile front line in Crawford.  They can’t beat any of the East’s Big 3 yet, but their time will come.

8. Portland Trailblazers

MIP: Greg Oden  

Through all the injuries, all the foul trouble (3.9 per game is just an amazing number), all the columnist nit-picking, everything… Oden put up nine and seven last season while blocking a shot a night.  Off the bench.  Translation: at his absolute worst he’s better than a lot of centers in the league.  But, if the Blazers want to take the next step, it mainly falls on Oden to take the next step.  Brandon Roy is already there, becoming a much better NBA player than anybody thought he ever would, so what’s stopping Oden?  I know this team is still young, but with that whole low-salary cap threatening to happen, this almost seems like a make or break year for this squad.  And Oden.

7. Denver Nuggets

MIP: J.R. Smith

What I’m about to say is bold and controversial: Smith, talent-wise, is one of the top 10 offensive players in the NBA.  Why he hasn’t put it all together yet remains a mystery to me, but he may very well be my favorite player in the NBA to watch when he’s not playing the Mavericks.  He’s not off to the greatest of starts to this campaign, as he’ll be watching the first seven games in NBA dress code-friendly attire due to off-the-court problems.  The Nuggets need Smith to take pressure off of Carmelo Anthony, especially with Chauncey Billups not getting any younger.  Given that Smith starts the season on the bench and the Nuggets pretty much stood pat in the off-season, it’s safe for me to say that the Nuggs take a step back this season.

6. Dallas Mavericks

MIP: Dirk Nowitzki

You know, I think at some point tomorrow on my site I might publish a Long and Drawn Out Preview for the Mavs since they’re my favorite team and all, but that’s neither here nor there for right now (potential H1N1 cough, GO MAVS!!!!!!).  Look, I can take a few angles here in terms of MIP.  Josh Howard needs to get healthy (okay, so much for that in the near future); Shawn Marion needs to learn to fit in; Jason Kidd needs to find SOME way to be effective on the defensive end.  Truthfully, it starts and ends with Dirk.  He’s been great for both the Dallas franchise and the community and is a surefire Hall of Famer, but let’s face it: his leadership skills always come under fire, and fair or not, he needs to constantly play with that “now or never” mentality, because that’s what it’s come down to.  People are saying the window of opportunity for a title is closed.  If it’s open at all, he needs to jam his pinky in there and push up with all his might.

5. Boston Celtics

MIP: Kevin Garnett

Garnett is the archetypical MIP.  When they won the title, it was because of Garnett’s production and toughness.  When they flamed out against Orlando while an injured Garnett continually cursed up a storm to himself on the bench, it was because they missed Garnett’s production and toughness.  Theoretically, it would be nice if the old KG re-emerged and put up redonkulous numbers across the board, but, now that the Celts have Rasheed Wallace to spell him, they just need his intensity.  He’s the one who pushes Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.  However, because I’m not completely sold on Garnett’s health, I just can’t have them higher than 3rd in the East right now.

4. San Antonio Spurs

MIP: Manu Ginobili

If you really think that Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are the most important Spurs, than you obviously missed the Mavericks dismantling the San Antonio in the playoffs last season.  Even as a diehard Mavs’ fan I can admit that Dallas goes from winning that series in five to losing that series in six if Ginobili is on the floor.  He’s not their best player, but he’s their sparkplug, their wildcard who can change a game at the drop of a dime.  He’s getting up there in age and he’s probably not as athletic as he was a few years ago, but if I was playing in a game where my life depended on the outcome, I’d want Ginobili.  As far as the Spurs go, I like their off-season moves, but please don’t try to sell me on Richard Jefferson as being anything more than the 4th option on offense in crunch time.  15 a game is his absolute ceiling this season.  PROP BET ALERT!!!  PROP BET ALERT!!!  I’ll take Anthony Morrow’s average over RJ this year.  Bet me, stupid.

3. Orlando Magic

MIP: Vince Carter

I wanted to put them back in the Finals soooo bad, because on paper they are 1) more fun to watch then the Cavalier’s stagnant 1-4 offense, and 2) Carter/Kobe to me is a more intriguing Finals match-up.  But, I digress.  Pundits give the Carter acquisition mixed reviews, but I’m definitely pro-Carter.  First off, he’s a million times better than Turkoglu, so he’s an upgrade.  Second, he’s playing in his home state for the first time ever, and third, while homecomings can be rough (see, Griffey, Jr., Ken and Marbury, Stephon) he’s going to a great situation where, for once, it doesn’t neccesarily have to be all about him.  He’s got the best center in the NBA (Dwight Howard), one of the best perimeter shooters (Rashard Lewis) and a guy he can share hair tips with (Marcin “Give Us Us Free” Gortat).  However, it’s a team better built for the regular season, and I think someone gets some revenge, and that person would be…

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

MIP: LeBron James

Colin… shut up and watch the greatness…

Unfortunately, much to your delight, I do not have that greatness translating into a title for Cleveland.  Good supporting cast at the guard spots (Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Delonte West), bodies down low (Shaquille O’Neal, Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas) to stop Bynum and Gasol… but in the end, there’s really only…

1. Los Angeles Lakers

MIP: Kobe Bryant

True, Ron Artest is the biggest wildcard in the history of wildcards, the equivalent of AK vs. pocket 7s for every last dollar you own.  However, if anyone can tame the volatile Artest, it’s Bryant.  Say what you will about Bryant’s mileage, but at 31, he’s still got at least three more years of top five in the league-type play left in him.  That, plus the fact that he’s got arguably the best four man in the league in Pau Gasol and a steady cast of characters off the bench that just keep coming at you in waves, and what does that equal? 

Repeat.

BASKETBALL IS BACK, BABY!!!!!!

NBA Preview Archives

30. Sacramento Kings

29. New Jersey Nets

28. Milwaukee Bucks

27. Minnesota Timberwolves

26. New York Knicks

25. Oklahoma City Thunder

24. Houston Rockets

23. Charlotte Bobcats

22. Indiana Pacers

21. Golden State Warriors

1. Portland – If LaMarcus Aldridge can elevate his game even further and Andre Miller gels with this team, they have potential to compete with the Lakers.
2. Denver – They are good team who will make the playoffs but they overacheived last year.
3. Oklahoma City – A good team on paper but can they put it all together?
4. Utah Jazz – How much weight can Deron Williams put on his shoulders?
5. Minnesota – Jonny Flynn or bust in Minnesota.

NBA 2009-2010 Preview

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Divison

1. Boston Celtics
The storyline for this past NBA offseason was that the rich got richer.  This applies most for the Boston Celtics.  Two years ago, they added forward Kevin Garnett and guard Ray Allen.  This year, they added forwards Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels.  It’s very likely that this team gets off to a red-hot start, but I’m curious to see how this aging group progresses over the duration of the season.  Most of  the basketball world is also engrossed in seeing how disgruntled point guard Rajon Rondo performs in the wake of a summer where he was the focal point in many trade rumors.

2. Toronto Raptors
Chris Bosh bulked up this offseason.  That was only four years overdue.  They signed Hedo Turkoglu to a major contract.  That was a pretty solid move if you want to spend all your money on someone who can do nothing but shoot from the outside.  The worst part about it is, he knows he can’t do anything other than shoot from the outside.  He doesn’t try to do anything other than shoot from the outside.  This team is a mess.  Chris Bosh is on his way out after this year.  The only thing keeping them in the playoff picture is the thought that maybe they can conjure up some chemistry courtesy of underrated, yet spectacular point guard Jose Calderon

3. New York Knicks
The Knicks could very well be much higher than I have listed them when playoff time rolls around.  They’ve put together a solid core of role players and, with the exception of the male version of Aretha Franklin, Eddy Curry, all have accepted their position in Mike D’Antoni’s offense.  Forward Al Harrington is capable of going off for thirty points a night.  Center David Lee is looking to prove his worth as a consistent double-double threat.  There’s no reason for this team to tank, seeing as they don’t have a first round pick next summer.  Oh.  And they want to give that LeBron guy a reason to sign with them.

4. Philadelphia 76ers
This team is flying under the radar for the 2009-10 season.  Clearly, I don’t expect much out of them.  Most other analysts don’t expect much out of them; however, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they somehow ended up in the playoff picture.  They lost point guard Andre Miller to free agency, but if this team can stay healthy (particularly the richest bed-ridden man in America, Elton Brand), the Sixers could turn some heads.

5. New Jersey Nets
Did anyone know that in order to relocate your team, you must dispose of all its talent?  I didn’t, but apparently that’s the Nets’ mentality.  Their move to Brooklyn has been impending for four years now, and each year since then, they’ve gotten progressively worse.  The only names that stand out on this team anymore are Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, and those two are hardly recognized outside of die-hard basketball fans.

Central Division

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
The big news out of Cleveland this year came when the Cavs traded for “The Big Nomad,” Shaquille O’Neal.  In his initial press conference, he told the media his mission was to “Win a ring for the King,” however; LeBron James’ newfound help may come in the form of other acquisitions such as forwards JaMario Moon and Anthony Parker.  It was clear to see that this team underachieved last postseason.  This year, they’ll be on top of the Eastern Conference in the regular season, and may even possibly get the King his first ring.

2. Chicago Bulls
No one imagined the Bulls would be as good as they were last year.  Mid-season, they acquired guard John Salmons, who proved himself to be a bona fide scorer on a young, dynamic team.  This past summer, they didn’t do much to develop their team; in fact, they did nearly nothing at all other than refuse to resign guard Ben Gordon.  In not offering Gordon a contract, the Bulls assume they will improve their team chemistry as Gordon required at least twenty-five shots per game in order to be considered effective.

3. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons made some of the most useless moves professional basketball has ever seen this past season.  They spent $94 million on two guys (Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva) who are both sixth and seventh men, at best.  They freed up all their salary cap space last season by dumping their undisputed leader, Chauncey Billups, last season, and in return, all they got were two selfish, shoot-first role players.  The Pistons, like their city of origin, are a mess.

4. Indiana Pacers
This Pacer team will be dynamic.  They’ll score 120 points per night.  They’ll contend for a title.  They just won’t do it this year.  Their front office, headed by Larry Bird, is finally putting all the pieces in place.  They have a solid core of young athletes, and eventually, will be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.  Let’s just hope none of their players get too fed up with losing and become impatient too soon, because this team will, in time, be very fun to watch.

5. Milwaukee Bucks
Their uniforms are just as ugly as their team’s chances to win twenty games

Southeast Division

1. Orlando Magic
Last season, the Magic surprised many people.  They had effective three-point shooting, devastating defenders, and a tempo that was hard to match.  When they faced the Lakers in June, however, it was apparent that they were missing a piece or two.  Whatever they lacked last season, they picked up for this season, as they traded for all-star forward Vince Carter.  Carter is someone who has always possessed the ability to create his own shot.  It will be interesting to see how he fits in, seeing as he’s never played on a team of this caliber.

2. Washington Wizards
In simple terms, the Wizards were forgotten about last season.  They were plagued by misfortunes and look to regain the success they had two seasons ago when they lost to Cleveland in the conference semi-finals.  With a healthy Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, Washington could find itself deep into the playoffs once again.  The additions of pure point guard Randy Foye and sharp shooter Mike Miller from Minnesota don’t hurt either.

3. Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks have improved every year since they hired head coach Mike Woodson.  This year should be no different; however, since they’re playing in a much more competitive Southeast Division, it will be difficult for them to repeat their past successes.  Look for forward Josh Smith to be a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year Award and his frontcourt mate Marvin Williams to contend for Most Improved.

4. Miami Heat
The Miami Wades were the most predictable team in the league last year.  Either their stellar shooting guard went for thirty points or they lost.  Look for them to continue that trend as they did nothing to change their team this summer.  If once impressive forward Jermaine O’Neal can get his act together, and sophomore Michael Beasley can successfully return from his recent stint in drug rehabilitation, this team may overachieve.  Either way, it’s not likely Dwyane Wade is in the black and red of Miami past this season.

5. Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats missed their calling when they refused to sign Allen Iverson.  AI could have been the answer, no pun intended, to Charlotte’s problems.  Iverson has already had experience with head coach Larry Brown, and, in spite of their past problems, the former all-star is now more mature and willing to sacrifice in order to see his first championship.  Regardless, the Bobcats traded center Emeka Okafor, who simply did not fit into their offensive scheme, for the more versatile Tyson Chandler.  This team is very capable of a playoff push late into the season.

Western Conference

Northwest Division

1. Utah Jazz:
Utah is one of the most underrated teams in the NBA. Deron Williams led them to a respctable 48-34, but they’ve only grown since. Williams, along with Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur form a very powerful offense. Even if Carlos Boozer isn’t interested in playing, they an be successful without him. The big upside is, however, that Boozer is interested in signing somewhere, so when he plays he will do well.

2. Denver Nuggets
Last year, Carmelo Anthony put his name int a conversation that included LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Oh how quickly we forget. ‘Mello will definately be in the mix again this season, but we aren;t sure if the Nuggets got much better. Chauncey Billups and K-Mart add depth to that scoring. There are just too many teams growing where Denver isn’t… And that’s why they’ll lose their hold on the number one spot.

3. Portland Trailblazers
Even if last year was considered a dissappointment, it was a stepping stone. Their very young lineup learned what it’s like to win. The Trailblazers added Andre Miller to the LaMarcus Aldridge/Brandon Roy combination. That move alone could put the Blazers in contention. Add that to a healthy and more agressive Greg Odom, and Portland is starting to look like a team. Put Odom on your list for most improved player this season.

4. Oaklahoma City Thunder
Oaklahoma City has done well considering their situation. However, they are young and inexperienced. Kevin Durant puts on a good show for fans every night, and rookie James Harden has all the potential in the world. If they keep improving, they may even mae the playoffs in a year or two. Look for the Thunder to keep it exciting this year – they will be that “close but no cigar” team all season.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves
If their offseason was any indication, Minnesota isn’t going far. Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington may pan out in the long run but it’s hard to see anything but big names with no chemistry. The Ricky Rubio disaster is just a distraction for fans. There is some hope – picking up Ramon Sessions was a definate upgrade.

Southwest Division

1. San Antonio Spurs:
San Antonio needed to add a missing piece. Antonio McDyess needed a place to land. Both got a big break. Getting McDyess to compliment Tony Parker was a great idea. DeJuan Blair was a bad pickup, and he won’t have enough playing time to even matter. Parker, Tim Duncan, and Richard Jefferson are going to prove that they have this team in their hands… Especially because they may only have a year or two to do it.

2. New Orleans Hornets:
Chris Paul is a one-ma recking crew, and he alone can make or break the Hornets.  CP3 is the best point guard in the league, but it’s just not enough to win a championship. Paul won’t benefit from losing his better half in Tyson Chandler, but someone in the front office must like Emeka Okafor. If Okafor is a bust, Paul still has David West to dish off to. Even with the miscues built in, New Orleans is still ahead of most in the Southwest division.

3. Dallas Mavericks:
With the baby momma problems behind him, Dirk Nowitzki is in the spot light. Ultimately, his successes will make the Mavericks great again. Jason Kidd is too old to be considered a factor, but that difference can be made up if Josh Howard steps up his game from last year. Drew Gooden and Shawn Marion make excellent additions, but the Mavs will still be perennial underachievers. Maybe this year someone will duct tape Mark Cuban’s mouth shut.

4. Houston Rockets:
Houston just doesn’t have what it takes. Adding Trevor Ariza was a good start, but he can only do so much for a team that needs so much more help. And don’t be mistaken, he is not a number one scoring machine. Yao Ming is still out, and Tracy McGrady begins this year injured, so as of right now there’s not one player who averaged over 15 points per game last season.

5. Memphis Grizzlies
Mephis sis the most to assure that they would be competitive this seasn, but they ended up with too big of a personality pool. The Allen Iverson experiment should be the least of their concerns. OJ Mayo is explosive, but not mature enough to run a team, and Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph are way to inconsistant to help out. Don’t be fooled into thinking Hasheem Thabeet is the answer… He isn’t designed for offense at all.

Pacific Division

1. L.A. Lakers:
You want to know how good the Lakers are? Just look at their starting five. Derek Fischer, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and new aquisition Ron Artest may be the best lineup in the league. They are so good, they have Lamar Odom on the bench! The 2009 champions aren’t relying on Kobe anymore; instead they are giving him many more options. In such a lame division, the Lakers take it easily.

2. Phoenix Suns:
The Suns showed some signs of life towards the end of last year, but they lost Shaq in the offseason. As much as he horses around, Shaq is an important part of play on both sides of the ball. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire will continue to be a great duo, but outside of them the team looks bleak. Grant Hill is aging, and this year he may start showing it. They did muster the number one offense in the league, so they cant be that bad can they? Just good enough for second place.

3. Golden State Warriors:
Out of the three bottom feeding teams in this division, the Warriors have the most room to grow. Their lineup is young and now supplemented with Stephen Curry. The key is getting the kids to grow up together, instead of in their own seperate ways. They do have the potential to put up some poins, but defense will kill them in the end.

4. L.A. Clippers:
Blake Griffen won’t fix this team, but he sure can try. Behind Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, the Clippers offense seems recharged. Griffen should help them capitalize on those missed shots. This season will be a success if they hit 30 wins.

5. Sacremento Kings:
Yes, they drafted well. But the Kings needed more thank Tyreke Evans to make themselves a contender. Evans and Kevin Martin still won’t let the Kings be better than mediocre.