"Merry Christmas"

My Christmas dinner was a hot-dog and Coke this year. Usually this would be a sad and lonely statement, but thankfully, my old man got his hands on some amazing tickets. This year's Christmas was an extremely eventful day in the world of basketball, and I was privileged enough to witness the Lakers/Celtics game in person. I can say, without a doubt, this was the most fun I've ever had at a basketball game, at any level. I will try to summarize it briefly, as in depth analysis of the 48 minutes can be found everywhere else.

"Boston sucks! Boston sucks! Boston sucks!"

The crowd was insane the entire game, and I was apart of the insanity. The game was a great, a gritty performance from start to finish. Neither team played extremely well, but every player was focused and ready from the moment they came out for their pregame routines. The first half went back and forth, basically Kobe and Garnett going punch for punch. While Garnett was probably the best player on the floor all game, well, it wasn't enough.

Kobe lead the way in the first half, and the Lakers team defense lead the way in the second half. Pau Gasol, tentative and passive for 40 or so minutes of the game literally came out of his shell the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. Along with Bynum I think they blocked a combined 4 shots in the last few minutes, leading to stops and fast break points. They finished the game on a 13-2 run, with a great 3-point play by Gasol and finished up by an emphatic dunk by Ariza. I am not giving this game justice, as the energy in the arena is something people rarely find themselves a part of. I was skeptical going into this game, but about half-way through I realized there was no fighting it.

Now, as a Laker fan, I could go off and rant about how they should now be considered the best team in the league....but I won't, because I don't believe that. The thing is this: the Lakers needed this game ten-times more than the Celtics. Also, the Lakers didn't really prove they are "tough", as they didn't dominate in the paint. Bynums presence proved useful, but I was hoping to see a physically dominating front-court from the Lakers, and we didn't see that. Sure, I am being quite harsh on the team. But I enjoy watching this team, and people need to be skeptical to realize how a team can improve. I will give them credit though, as they did step up their defense in the 4th quarter. They simply shut down Ray Allen and Pierce in the final 12 minutes, leaving only Garnett to try and save the day. If only the Lakers could play that kind of smothering, turnover forcing defense 48 minutes a game against every single team......

So Boston's 19 game winning streak has ended, but try not to read "too much" into this game. Yes, the Lakers and Pau should gain quite a bit of confidence from it, but the Celtics are still the best team in the league. Just a Lakers fan trying to be honest....sorry guys. Of course, I just have to be objective, and when the Lakers stroll through the finals this year and get the title I will crown them kings. But until then I shall stay analytical and skeptical of their every move.

"Roy on the Rise"

I think Christmas came early for GM Paul Allen and the Portland Trailblazers. Brandon Roy, the third year guard from the University of Washington is becoming one of the truly elite players in the league. Last night he managed to put up 52 points against the "improved" defense of the Phoenix Suns. Simply put, he was unstoppable. Crowd him to prevent the shot. The next thing you know he's at the rim with his left hand finger-rolling it in swiftly. Give him a little space to take away the driving lanes and he pulls up from behind the arc. All you can do is put your hand up and listen for the "swish".

Last night's performance against the Phoenix Sun's might be the greatest single-player performance of the current season. With the Suns leading by 12 points in the third quarter Brandon Roy decided to take over the game. All by himself. Hitting contested three-point shots, driving and completing three point plays, and even crossing-over and pulling up in the mid-range. He did it all. The Blazers won the game 124-119 in what was a highly fueled offensive game. Roy's stat line for the night:

52 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 0 turnovers
FG:14-27, FT:19-21, 3pt:5-7

Are you kidding me? He had 52 points on 27 field goal attempts. He probably had the ball in his hands all game, creating shots for himself and others, yet he managed to get six assists and ZERO turnovers. That is mind blowing. Add in he was nearly perfect from the free throw line and the three-point line... easily the best single-player performance of the year. This was far more impressive than Tony Parker's 55 against Minnesota, Stoudemire's 49 against Indiana, and some other great games by Wade, Lebron, and Kobe.

I think Roy needs to be considered in all discussions when the subject is elite shooting guards. He may not be on the level of Kobe, and not quite up to par with Dwayne Wade, but other than that I can't be so sure he's not the next best shooting guard in the league. Ray Allen. Rip Hamiltion, and Michael Redd are all great guards, but they are more of the conventional catch and shoot players who don't take on facilitating and leadership roles. That leaves a small amount of company when it comes to "elite" shooting guards that can do it all. I'd put Roy on the same level as Joe Johnson, and sooner or later he might be able to climb to the star level of Dwayne Wade.

Of course, I might be getting ahead of myself. Only time will tell, but this kid is the real deal. At the age of 24 he is only showing progress and improvement in all aspects of his game. It's only his third year in the league and he has already proven that he is an All-Star and a top 5 shooting guard. His numbers for the season are rock solid, but the last couple of weeks he has been damn near perfect. He's been playing Kobe-like recently. The past five games:

36.4ppg 5.6rpg 5.0apg 1.4bpg 0.8spg 1.2topg 52%FG 45%3pt

It's true. The NBA is where amazing happens. These are ridiculous numbers. The fact that he has the ball in his hands so often, scoring and creating for others, while only turning the ball over 1.2 times per game is damn near close to perfection. He has become one of the most efficient players in the league, and Nate McMillan knows if he puts the ball in Roy's hands, well, something positive will come out of it. This kid has a very, very bright future. I am curious to what his "ceiling" will be, because currently it appears he hasn't quite come close to reaching it. He's followed his first year performance(Rookie of the Year) with improved numbers consistently. At this rate it's not a stretch to think Roy could put up Kobe-like numbers in the next couple of years. Something like 30ppg, 6apg, 4rpg 1+spg and shooting solid percentages is not out of reach for this kid, and I hope I get to witness it.

"Chris Paul the Theif"

30 years from now when some kid Google searches "NBA Thief" a picture of Chris Paul will pop up. Paul has become the biggest thief in the league currently averaging close to three steals a game. Tonight, Paul surpassed Alvin Robertson's 1986 record with a nifty steal against the Spurs. The magic number, 106, is the amount of consecutive games in which Paul has at least one steal. The record itself seems a bit arbitrary. It's not like he set a record for the most steals in a single game, a single season, or most steals all time. However, I am not trying to discredit the man in any way, shape or form, because he has become a solid defender and this streak shows how much of a nuisance he can be to opposing teams.

Tony Parker was handling the ball on the wing late in the second quarter, and he attempted to make a carefree pass. With his cat-like reflexes Paul got his hands out quickly enough to deflect it initially and then quickly scooped up the loose ball. Moments later the P.A. announced the scorekeepers officially recorded it as a Chris Paul steal. The over 20,000 fans in attendance rose to their feet in what became a wonderful ovation. "It's an unbelievable achievement. Hopefully nobody else will come break it," said Paul.

Even more impressive than his record breaking steal tonight was the great game going on between these two teams. The Spurs looked to be controlling the tempo and game for around 42 minutes, but Chris Paul and company used all the crowd's momentum and dominated in the last six or so minutes of the fourth quarter. The Hornets closed the game on a 23-8 run filled with great execution, as well as David West knocking down two three pointers in the last minutes. Paul finished the game with 19 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. Not a bad night for the young point guard. The Hornets seem to of avenged themselves tonight from their Game 7 loss against the Spurs in last years Western Conference Semi-Finals. The Hornets are starting to execute consistently on both offense and defense. If this team can some how obtain another solid veteran big man, well, I might have to consider them "contenders" soon.

As for the steals record, here's what Chris Paul had to say after the game:

"I figure since I set the record, why not smash it? Let's see how long it can go."

Why not?. Let's see how long it can go. I wouldn't be surprised to see this record get near 200.

"Another One Bites The Dust"

The infamous song by Queen seemed to randomly play in my mind after I read the sports news today. Another one bites the dust. Coach of the Sacramento Kinds, Reggie Theus, was sent packing earlier today, following a horrible home loss to the mediocre Knicks. It seems that job stability for coaches in the NBA has become as solid as the current state of our economy. Maybe even worse.

Did anybody honestly expect this Sacramento team to actually be a solid team? They traded their best all around player in Ron Artest over the summer, and received a raw rookie Donte Green in return. Not only that, but they started the season without Brad Miller for five games(suspension), sixth man Fransisco Garcia missed the first 17 games, and Kevin Martin(there franchise player) has only been able to play in nine total games. All these things have me confused. If these team was 100% healthy coming into this season I still picture them winning about 40% of their games, give or take. Now take away Miller, Garcia, and Martin for a huge portion of those games, and I don't see any reason this team wins games at all. I guess Petrie and the Kings management must of had some huge expectations for this young, inexperienced squad.

Is it me, or does it seem like this could be some kind of record for coaches getting fired so quickly? After doing some quick research: Theus is the sixth NBA coach to be fired before Christmas this season, joining Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks, Minnesota's Randy Wittman, Toronto's Sam Mitchell, Washington's Eddie Jordan and Oklahoma City's P.J. Carlesimo. The previous NBA record for pre-Christmas firings was three.

Wow. So the previous pre-Christmas firings record has been completely shattered this year, doubling from three to six. That's not a great record to break. The league is now full of first time coaches, not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but it's unique. I'm starting to think that players are being given far to much control and power these days. It seems that if a team is struggling they can just sail through a couple games and publicly show that they have "given up" on their coach. That's all it takes these days for a coach to get fired.

What ever happened to discipline and respect? These players get paid way, way to much money to "give up on a coach". That term is driving me mad. If you are getting paid millions of dollars I don't care if your coach is an autistic midget(no offense), but you play your hardest and give your all no matter how poor the coaching. Anyway, I had to let some steam off there. I just think a couple of these firings have been a bit impulsive and unnecessary, but I guess only time will tell.

Good thing there's always a constant in Jerry Sloan. I know he's safe. You know why? Players, fans, management, and everybody else respects him. You don't question him as a coach, no, not even if you are a rising super-star like Deron Williams. There is a reason the Jazz have been so successful the last 20 years. You think other teams would follow suit and give more power, respect, and loyalty to their coaches. This whole idea of coaches being on a short leash is a bad idea.

I wonder who's next?

"The Rising Sun"

It seems the sunrise is as beautiful as ever for the Phoenix Suns. This Western Conference team might even rise to "contender" status soon. Already a solid playoff team, Suns management executed another big trade to get another big time player. Jason Richardson made his debut tonight for the Phoenix Suns. They played the Orlando Magic who currently have the third best record in the East. Richardson silenced all the critics skeptical banter that he "would take away shots from the other stars on the team". The Suns were able to hold off the Magic in the last seconds for the win. A recap of the night:

Magic: 112
Suns: 113

Jason Richardson:
21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 3pointer, 34 minutes

J-Rich looked pretty comfortable with the team, coming off the bench and producing as usual. The Suns seemed to push the tempo a little bit more than usual, and J-Rich showed he is a one-man fast break at times. He seemed to fit right on, picking his spots, knowing when to pass, and knowing when to cut. Watching him go up for a perfectly read, highlight caliber alley-oop I would have thought he had been playing with Barbosa for years.

The Suns traded two very mediocre players in Bell and Diaw, and in return received a near all-star caliber player that can shoot, drive, and finish. So many critics have been skeptical of this trade, with many saying there aren't enough shots to go around. How will Stoudemire and Shaq get all their shots now? How you ask? For the most part they just need to play basketball, and let the adjusting just slowly develop. J-Rich fits quite well into the offense, stretching the defense even more than Bell, but also with the ability to handle the ball and drive the lane(something Bell could never do). And while Bell was considered a lock-down defender(what I think has become overrated the past few years), J-Rich is no liablity on defense either. He may not be the same defender as Bell, but what J-Rich can do on the offensive end easily makes up for any lost points on the defensive end.

As for the Suns as a team, it looks like they are going to be a combination of a D'Antoni system and Porter's more methodical system. It appears they will run a lot more, especially on forced turnovers and long rebounds. I personally think this team has improved from the trade, hands down, and as they play more games together Nash will realize how to get this team going. Nash will have to stop for a second and think: "Wow, this might be the best group of players I've ever had around me". This team could very possibly be the most talented offensive roster in the league.

When your starting line-up consists of Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, Amare Stoudemire, and Shaquille O'Neal, well, it's hard to think anything other than how great they could be. That's four players who are, or were, All-Stars, and Jason Richardson has been on the verge of "All-Star status" the past few years. You've got two great post players(high and low), two great shooters and slashers, and one of the best pure point guards around. Throw in Leandro Barbosa and Matt Barnes off the bench and you have yourself a team to contend. The only missing link I can honestly notice is a solid backup point guard, perferrably a veteran(that's you Damon Stoudemire). I'm sure anyone that follows basketball realizes that the Suns will sign another point-guard to their roster as the playoffs creep in. This team has such a wide array of talent, and let's not forget they have the master conductor Steve Nash to orchestrate the entire thing.

This Suns team is only getting better, and might even be contenders in the near future. Quote me on that.

"The Sun Rises For J-Rich"

Jason Richardson of the Charlotte Bobcats is headed to the Phoenix Suns. It's official. I guess Michael Jordan realized J-Rich wasn't the franchise player they thought he would develop into. This officially means that Charlotte is in rebuilding mode, and that Phoenix is undeniably in win-now mode. Hopefully Stoudemire is content with another star player coming in and requiring 15-20 shots a night.

The Suns sent Frenchman Boris Diaw, a solid SF/PF on both ends, Raja Bell, a veteran SG that plays great on-ball defense and hits 3's, and also sent rookie PG Sean Singletary as well. In return, they recieve not only two-time slam dunk champion and offensive juggernaut in Jason Richardson, but also get a decent young SF/PF in Jared Dudley. Overall I think both teams have filled some of their specific needs.....but this trade seems to have surfaced out of nowhere.

Now that the shock has subsided let's try to analyze the potential for each team now.

Charlotte Bobcats: Currently struggling at 7-14 they are building for the future. With solid young guards in DJ Augustin and Raymond Felton, they will most likely run with a combo-guard offense, but it'spossible Augustin stays as Sixth Man while Raja Bell starts at SG. They fill a desperate need in their wirey thin front-court, and Boris Diaw likely becomes an instant starting PF for them. He is a good compliment to Emeka Okafor, who is a low post banger, while Diaw can play at the high-post utilizing his shooting and superior passing skills. Diaw will benefit the most from this trade as he was stuck behind Amare Stoudemire in Phoenix. Singletary will be their 3rd option at PG and will likely not get much PT this year. I'm not sure if Charlotte can get any worse than they already are, and maybe adding role players improves this team.

PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Raja Bell
SF: Gerald Wallace
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Emeka Okafor
6th: DJ Augustin
Bench: Adam Morrison, Sean May, Matt Carroll, Nazr Mohammed

Phoenix Suns: After a medicore start to the season(13-9) it seems they are missing that certain "something". They have been very up and down, beating great teams and losing to some weak ones. They have the potential to be a contender, and I think Steve Kerr pulled the trigger on this to try and put them over the top. Richardson becomes their starting SG, and gives them that go-to guy on the perimeter. This team is full of go-to guys like Nash, Stoudemire, and O'neal, but Richardson gives them a different type of go-to player that can shoot, slash, and finish from the perimeter. Dudley is a decent young player(I am not to fond of him), but he can be a productive backup at the SF/PF positions. He can shoot and do many things pretty well, but is not great at any certain thing. In my eyes, even though Phoenix lost their lock-down defender(Bell) that can make opposing SG's like Kobe and Ginobli struggle in the playoffs, they get a far superior offensive player in Richardson that can light a team up for 30 points on any given night. I think this team could start running a bit more on the break, and I think this team could very possibly become the best offensive team in the league.

PG: Steve Nash
SG: Jason Richardson
SF: Grant Hill
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C: Shaquille O'neal
6th: Leandro Barbosa
Bench: Matt Barnes, Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez, Jared Dudley

The future is looking good for both of these teams, and maybe we can see which team got the better end of the deal in the next month or so. Many will question why Jordan and the Bobcats sent their "best" player Richardson to the Suns and failed to get a "star" player in return. I think he's onto something, realizing this is a team game and getting talented role-players might actually make them a better all-around team. Phoenix, on the other hand, could turn into a monster of an offensive machine. They could also turn into a team full of "me" players and struggle to develop any chemistry and fail to find a team identity. While I seem to think that Phoenix becomes better by adding a star guard, I am still questioning it.

Certain elements:
-the loss of a lock-down perimeter defender(Bell)
-adding a "star" player and high-quantity shooter in Richardson when Stoudemire is already complaining that he wants more touches and minutes

These key ingredients to success have me speculating if Phoenix will be as good on the court as they are on paper. Only the future will tell.

"The Ref That Hid His Whistle"

It seems the NBA has become a "soft" and "finesse" game. I am not a proponent of players running around harming each other in mid-air, but I do like to watch a basketball game that has some physicality to it. More often than not, especially in games that Wade or Bryant are playing, there exists a sense of premeditated whistle blowing by the refs. What happened to the good ole' days of power-forwards being allowed to do what's in their job description?

This game has gone from a raw sport to a massively marketed reality TV show(aka Marbury). But that game has evolved in a way to treat these players like Gods, and it's beginning to take away from the actual sport. Referees make foul calls at the slightest amount of physical contact, and over the past decade it has become far to noticeable. Can you remember when players were allowed to put a body on their opponent? Remember when they could contest lay-ups in a crowded paint? Remember when this was the NBA norm, and a referees first instinct was to let them play?

I put a lot of this on the refs. They are the ones that have the power to control a game. One, single referee can make a stand by not bailing out some superstar when he misses a contested layup. These refs can let their whistle lay silent while Luis Scola takes a charge on Nate Robinson. Didn't the NBA discuss penalizing "floppers" this past summer? It's always all talk and no action. David Stern has this league set-up to benefit him as much as possible. No, I don't have this huge conspiracy theory about him and the league, but I am pretty sure he is a big part of this leagues so called "evolution" into the world of finesse and footwork.

Now I am not suggesting that players should be allowed to undercut a guy who is four feet in the air....that's just dangerous. But this year, and recent years, I have seen clean hard fouls called as flagrant's, and some even resulting in ejection. It's a joke. We grew up playing this game physically, whether it was a high school team or playground. I am pretty sure these pro's played physical ball as well. Let's stop this progression of basketball becoming more like ballet(all about footwork and finesse), but let the game be the combination of ballet and brute force that it once was. Are you with me?

"Utah's future...Millsap or Boozer?"

Carlos Boozer is one of the better power-forwards in the game today. He's one of the few 20/10 guys in the league, and possibly the most consistent. Not only that, but he shoots well over 50% from the field, and this guy takes a lot of mid-range jumpers. His defense is pretty solid, although he is not a shot blocker he gets the job down. Why am I speculating he be traded? How could I possible think he is expendable?


The answer is plain and simple: Paul Millsap. In his third year with the Jazz he has shown that he is starter material. Boozer has been hurt the past few weeks, and Millsap has finally gotten his chance to show what he is made of. If you have watched any of the games(I've watched about four of them), you would notice this kid is the real deal, and not a tease. Let's take a look at the numbers he has put up in the past 8 games, all of which he has started with Boozer out:

16.8ppg 10.1rpg 2.8apg 1.3spg 1.0bpg 33.9mpg

Are you kidding me? While putting up these ludicrous numbers he has shot 55% from the field. In his eight consecutive starts this season, guess what? Eight consecutive double/doubles, and five of those games he had at least 20/10. Talk about a great back-up. He has shown his coach, team, and the league that he is a force to be reckoned with. I watched his last game, where he was matched up with Amare Stoudemire most of the game, and he managed to put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. If he was putting up these numbers against the Knicks I could realize they are inflated, but he is doing this against top tier teams.

This leads me to a wild, speculative discussion in thinking Boozer could be shopped. We have all read about Boozer's home life in the populated city of Miami. He calls Miami home, and just so happens to be a free-agent at the end of this year. With Millsap on track to fill in exactly where Boozer left off, it's a strong possibility that the Utah management is thinking about a trade. Rationally thinking, why let Boozer walk away this summer for nothing in return? His expiring and talent combine for a highly valued trade piece, in which they could get a solid return.

So Utah has a decision to make. Boozer or Millsap? If they sign Boozer to a huge contract this summer, well, they are basically telling Millsap that he is just a "backup" to them, and I doubt he stays with the team. Or they can let Boozer go and sign with Miami(or whomever), and have Millsap replace him starting at PF. Personally, I would choose the latter. Replace Boozer with Millsap, get identical production, yet save millions of dollars. What's not to like? Both are solid options though, so it's a win/win for them.

Utah's future is looking very bright, indeed. With Deron Williams as their franchise guy they have many options to explore. Young players like Millsap, Brewer, and Miles are all proving to be very solid players of the future. Okur and Boozer, their starting front-line, are both free-agents this summer. Kirilenko has a huge contract, yet is a solid player while also being a movable piece. Utah has many options ahead of them, and unless they get can get to the Western Conference Finals this year, well, I think there exists a strong possibility of change in their future.

"Any Given Sunday"

It seems the Detroit Pistons are not only struggling to gel with Allen Iverson, but also struggling to win games on Sundays. They are currently 0-5 in their Sunday games. Maybe they're just not morning people, but I think it's more likely they are just going through the motions. This once methodical team looks as inconsistent as Wall Street right now. One day it's doing great....the next day it's crashed and burned.

Less than a week after going into a healthy San Antonio and controlling the game for a solid 89-77 win, they manage to go into New York and get completely embarrassed in a blow out loss in which the score(92-104) doesn't pay justice to how poorly the team looked. Detroit scored 12 first quarter points(no, that's not a typo), and went down by 22 points at half-time. New York gets some credit. D'Antoni has done a fine job with their limited roster and tuned them into a fine offensive machine. Yet, they might be the worst defensive team in the league, and Detroit putting up 12 points in the first quarter, well, it's just that much worse seeing it at New York. Detroit must think they are so methodical that they can waltz out onto any gym, on any given Sunday, and come out with a win.

With a 7-7 record since landing future Hall of Fame guard Iverson they look like a true work in progress. Everybody I talk to seems to think the Pistons era is over. So many people are hopping on this bandwagon saying that Iverson is a horrible teammate, a cancer, and this team might not even make the playoffs. All I can honestly say, or do, in rebuttal is simply laugh at these blatantly ignorant statements. I have to step back, realize we live in an "ADHD Generation", and accept it.

This Detroit team, though struggling, is essentially as deadly as they have ever been. Just realize they are better than .500 right now, and are playing some of the ugliest basketball in years. Sure, Iverson is a part of this problem, but it's more the team as a whole. Iverson is playing like a great teammate, being unselfish while also doing what he does best, score. We are so quick to blame Iverson, but to me it looks like the entire Detroit team is questioning the move and management on a daily basis.

It will take another month or so for Iverson and everybody on the team to click with each other....but quote me on this: They will click. You can't expect a team full of good players, with the same exact roster/rotation throughout the entire decade to instantly adjust to having an all-star scoring guard and immediately dominate. It's going to take some time, and I believe that not only does Michael Curry and Joe Dumars know this, but many of the other GM's and teams in this league realize this as well.

All I am saying, as I say so often, is the NBA season is very long. We aren't even quite 25% the way through, yet people are already counting certain teams out and declaring that which cannot be declared. When the Pistons click as a team, and when they get into the Playoffs with a go-to player in Iverson, all of you doubters will instantly feel that stupidity and regret for having counted them out so soon.

"The Lakers Trilogy"

"Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in." Yes, it's the infamous quote by Michael Corleone in the last film of the Godfather Trilogy, but it seems to be coming up lately in the media. Kobe Bryant has been quoted saying this recently, and it seems the word "they" refers to the Lakers second unit. Phil Jackson needs to start playing the role of Godfather a little more, as he should start putting out "hits" on a few players that are under-performing. Otherwise, we will continue to see this second unit blow big leads...resulting in Kobe being "pulled back in".

I've lost track counting the amount of games in which the Lakers have let big leads diminish in the fourth quarter, essentially allowing for their opponents to get back in the game. It's definitely become an obvious trend, and one that can be a silent killer. Look at their recent game against Indiana. Up by 17 points in the fourth, Indiana was able to rally back against the Lakers second unit(or lack-there-of unit), and ended up winning the game by one point on a buzzer beating tip. Sure, that was only the Lakers second loss, but if you watched the game you would know that the Lakers should have won, and won it comfortably.

Critics are the first to praise the "depth" of the Lakers, and I am not saying I disagree. They are one of the deepest teams in the league. I'll give them that. The Lakers bench is a big part of their success, but I think all the praise has gotten to them. Remember, this unit consists of Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, and often Andrew Bynum anchors them. They are just kids out there....most of them could still be in college. I've even read an article on ESPN, by John Hollinger of all people, commenting on the unit in such an oblivious way: "a second unit so capable that it could probably make the Eastern Conference playoffs on its own". Are you serious?

Now I love my purple and yellow, and I'll pretty much agree we have a great bench, maybe the deepest in the league. But such overzealous statements get on my nerves. This second unit can't even hold a 20 point lead against the Wizards(last place in the East), and let's also realize their defense is a big part of the problem. This is the second unit that has blown countless leads in the fourth quarter and let teams get back into games. The same unit that causes the methodical Phil Jackson to call an angry time-out and put Kobe back in to save the team. I'm not saying he shouldn't do this, because he should......but maybe he might think about changing the rotation up a bit so this same late game situation disappears.

No, I'm not suggesting he benches all these young, athletic players. I will, however, suggest that he take a good look at individual players, rather than them as an entire "unit". It seems that Phil has tried to give them to much freedom, and let the second unit play it's own unique style. I think we'll start seeing a slightly tighter rotation, especially on the road. Remember when he used to mesh the starters with the bench players, depending on who was hot?

Sure, this team has been extremely successful this year, going an impressive 16-2 after their win over the Wizards tonight. Did I mention they lead by 16 in the fourth quarter? Butler missed a game winning three-pointer at the buzzer.....how could this possibly be close enough to happen? Kobe pulled a Corleone, again, thinking he was done for the night up by 16 points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, only to be pulled back in by the awful performance of the second unit(offense and defense). He was able to hit some clutch shots, but to ask him to come in like this every game and be the hero is a bit excessive, and unnecessary. At least he can thank them for getting more minutes and increasing his stats.

I'm not sold yet, even as a Laker fan. I'm sick of reading all these articles on how the Lakers might hit 70 wins, or that their second unit could be a solid team in the East. Let me see the Lakers dominate games consistently....I'll be sold then. The team I watched the first 10 or so games of this season looked consistently dominant in contrast to the team as of late. Their defense is a big, no, huge part of this problem....but I'll get into that another time. For now, I guess we can just hope the Lakers manage to sail through games against the medicore teams of the league, and hopefully hold them off for a lazy win.

Maybe I am just skeptical of this Lakers team. You have to realize that I was at Staples Center for Game 4 of the NBA Finals last year. I was a witness to the best comeback(or worst give-away) in finals history. After witnessing that series, and especially that game in person, I believe this team still needs to get to another level and toughen up to win a championship. You don't see Cleveland or Boston in very many close games do you? Maybe they were right. Maybe the Lakers are still a bit "soft".

"Rondo on the Rise"

Rajon Rondo had the best game of his young career last night(yes, against my "Giant Killers"), doing everything and anything he wanted to on the court. Finishing the game with his first ever career triple-double(16 points, 13 rebounds, 17 assists), and also adding 3 steals. He has been a subject of much scrutiny the past few years (especially last year), and has done nothing but live up to these high expectations.

When I talk to people about the "elite" point guards of the NBA it seems that Rondo is never in the discussion. I guess since the kid can't hit his three-point shot with any consistency he is out of the running as an "elite" point guard? As much as it hurts me to say it(he did pick apart my Lakers), Rajon Rondo is becoming a stud....plain and simple.

Not only is he averaging a career high in assists(7.7apg), rebounds(4.7rpg), and steals(2.2spg), but he is doing it with ease. Those are some phenomenal stats when you realize he is only playing about 31 minutes per game. Talk about efficiency. So many people these days don't realize what a point guard's main objective are: to run the team, get your shooters the ball, direct the offense, be the first back on defense, pressure the other teams ball-handler, and so many other things. It's not all about making long threes, throwing sweet alley-oops, and making flashy passes(which Rondo does plenty of). This kid does everything he needs to, and more, to make his team better and to win games. An NBA Championship caliber team tends not to have a "weak" player at it's most important position: point guard.

We could dwell deeper into the stats, and even farther into the more complex statistics like PER and PR36/PR40. You'd be surprised to find out he is currently ranked 7th on Hollinger's infamous "PER" ranking system for point guards, and realize he is only starting to play his best basketball recently. You can only go up from there. Another stat I find quite interesting is his TS%:.555(true shooting %). Most basketball fans I converse with are always knocking on Rondo's "weak" jumper, and saying that he is such a liability on offense. There are many arguments one could make, but I will keep it simple.

Offense is composed of a wide array of skills. These days people seem to think you have to shoot, and make, tons of threes and make flashy cross-over ankle breakers to be a great offensive player. The problem is this: it's just not true. Offense, especially for a guard, is about running plays, getting your team involved, being in the right spots, knowing when to pass/shoot/dribble/drive, hit open shots, set screens, and so many other things(I could go on for ages). Not only does Rondo do all these things well, he does them better than most of his competition. Not only does he run the offense and make the right plays at such a high rate, but he rarely turns the ball over. This kid has improved each year, in nearly every statistical category. Hell, he's even shooting over 51% from the field this year.

To all those fans who still think Rondo has a "weak" jump-shot.....take a look at this: In the 07-08 season Rondo hit 45.1% of his long two-pointers(shots between 15ft and the 3pt line). This shows his mid-range game is actually respectable. If that is the weakest part of his game, well, this kid must be freakishly great at everything else. Even us Laker fans can see this. As much as hit hurts me to be writing about how this young Celtics guard is one of the better guard in the league, it needs to be said, listened to, and understood.

Did I forget to mention this kid can get to the rim any time he so chooses, and that he's possibly the best defensive point-guard in the league?

"The Giant Killers"(Indiana Pacers)

It seems the Pacers have become today's "David" from the Bible. The Indiana Pacers have knocked off the two NBA Goliaths with their new, progressive slingshot. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are two teams at the top of their game, and both are respectively first in their conference. Nearly 1/5 the way through the season these teams combine for a mere four losses. Pretty impressive, I know. But this didn't stop a struggling Indiana team from knocking them out and pulling an old school "David and Goliath".

The Lakers and Celtics have been expectingly impressive. What could be more impressive than these two teams right now you ask? Maybe the Indiana Pacers? Most will say I'm crazy....and well, you might be right. But this Indiana team has shown a fierce competitveness in games against these monster teams. Sure, their record is currently 7-11, not that great. On the surface they look like a struggling team, failing to even maintain a .500 record....but under the surface lies a much more interesting story.

Not only have they beaten the two best teams in the NBA, but have also beaten teams like the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks(both playoff teams). Come to think of it, six of the seven Indiana wins have been over teams with a record currently over .500. This is hard to swallow. If they are beating championship caliber teams like the Lakers and Celtics, well, how could they possibly be below .500? Glad you asked.

I have watched most of their games this year(thanks to "League Pass"), and there is a reason I think the Pacers are a playoff team. The team just can't seem to finish out games....it's actually quite simple. They haven't lost a single game by more than 10 points, and have five losses decided by four or less points. This shows they are competing in every single game they play. In many cases, they have the lead and fail to finish the game. But this is all changing. No, it won't happen overnight, but this team is learning to win.....game by game.

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You know an important stat I have always followed is a teams Point Differential.

Boston:+8.7 Lakers:+12.8

This shows that both these teams are not only winning their games, but simply dominating most games.

Indiana: +.1

It's actually somewhat ironic. Usually, a team with a losing record displays a negative point differential. This stat just proves my point. All their losses are by incremental amounts, and many of their wins are by 10+ points. Over the course of the season, many of these close games, the ones they have been losing, will become wins. Indiana has basically been in every single game it's played in....is learning to win as a team, and has started to figure out how to finish games.

Simply put, the Pacers will be a playoff team by years end. Their "below the surface" statistics show they are a .500 team or better, and I actually think a record of at least .500 is very plausible, if not impending.

TJ Ford is mastering the Indiana playbook and learning to run this team as a true PG. Troy Murphy has come out of his shell and become the versatile PF/C that can stretch the defense and gobble up rebounds. A guy by the name of Mike Dunleavy, the teams second leading scorer last year, has yet to even play a minute this season. He will come back and provide another life of pure shooting that they need. Solid role players, but also newcomers to this Pacers franchise like Rasho Nesterovic, Jarret Jack, Brandon Rush, and Roy Hibbert are all contributing and starting to gel as a team. Of course, this team is built around Danny Granger, one of the most underrated players in the league. He does it all: defends, blocks shots, steals, 3pt-shooting, slashing, dunking, passing....you name it and this kid does it. He has become an "All-Star" caliber player, and is learning to take over games in the fourth quarter. He has, and will, single-handedly win games for them. He has become a clutch performer, and will begin to shine this year leading the Pacers to the playoffs.


Remember this thread, as I think Indiana will start bringing their "A" game, no matter the team, and will continue to finish closing out games. Just wait till the playoffs inch closer.