"I'm Gay for Gilbert Arenas"

No, I'm not literally gay for Gilbert Arenas. I just couldn't think of a more creative title for this blog, and rather than explain my logic I will just link you to a "youtube" video that inspired it further down this post. I'll initially warn you: there isn't much of a point to this blog. I guess I've just been curious to see if he returns any time soon, and what that result will be.

Where is good ole' Gilbert Arenas these days? It's a case of the "NBA Live curse"; whoever has the honor of being on the cover of the annual EA video games is usually cursed by injuries. It seems like it's been ages since he last played on the hardwood as an elite player. Remember last years failed attempt at a comeback? That Cleveland series was pretty ugly, and Gil had to shut it down after roughly 10 games. He was no more effective than Mike James is this year....alright, maybe a little more efficient. But you get my point; I am the overly skeptical guy that wonders if anyone will truly be "gay for Gilbert Arenas" ever again.




"Listen, I got your jersey, I got your shoes, and now I want your heart." Well said Chris.....that's not creepy in the least bit. It is damn funny though, I give you that.

Whoever the guy in this clip is(they call him Chris), he's still gay for Gilbert and he's got a "youtube" video racking up countless views and I swear I saw him on an ESPN commercial the other day; you know the ones with Stewart Scott and company on the ESPN bus/trailer. At least he's getting some use out of Arenas, even if it's a mockery.

The real joke is on Washington Wizards owners and the 6 year/$111 million contract they signed Arenas to over the summer. While Gilbert is only 27 and still has the chance to come back full strength(which I doubt), I really question what management was thinking over the summer. They are sticking with this same core of players that haven't even won a playoff series with this core. Yes, I know you fans will instantly rebuttal that they have never been healthy in the playoffs; my rebuttal to that is simple: shouldn't that be an even bigger sign to be cautious when handing out near-max contracts?

From 2005 to 2007 Arenas proved he was a legit "superstar", though I've never been his biggest fan because of the whole shooting-guard in a point-guards body aspect of his game. But this guy was becoming one of the best in the league. Take a look at his statistics from 2006-07 season:

• 28.4ppg 6apg 4.5rpg 1.9spg 42%FG

Those are really Kobe like numbers(aside from the percentages). He can obviously score, and those are definitely more like shooting guard numbers, but they will do for a point-guard. Will he ever be able to play at a similar level to this? I am talking in circles here; trying to analyze and guess whether or not Gilbert will ever be the player he once was is impossible. Judging from last years short stint back I would have to guess the answer is an emphatic "no". But he obviously rushed it. Maybe this year he is getting close to becoming the explosive player he once was. With the Wizards owning the worst record in the league right now there's obviously no rush for him to come back.

Maybe it was just the "youtube"that made me write about Arenas, because I realize I have little substance with this post(other than the amazing video). I guess I'll just sum up my circles of thinking: Gilbert might be the greatest example of the instant decline a player in this ever-competitive league can have, especially when surgery is involved. One day you're a superstar on the rise; the next day you are on the sideline blogging about the league. Then again, maybe I am far too similar to other critics that quickly hop on the "Darius Miles bandwagon" claiming he'll never be the player he once was.

Overall, Gilbert is a feel-good story too. One of those guys drafted in the 2nd round that overcame adversity and showed all the critics they were wrong. In high school he was told he would never make it. With a solid career at Arizona his NBA stock still wasn't very high as he fell in between the mold of an NBA point-guard and shooting-guard. He's been able to overcome each and every obstacle in his basketball career to this point, so who's to say he won't overcome the challenges faced from his surgically repaired me? Hopefully he shows critics like myself I'm wrong for writing this article and doubting him again. It would be good not only for himself, but great for his city and sport.

Poll Question(to the right side): Will Gilbert Arenas ever be the same kind of player he was in 05/06/07?

"The Timberwolves Arrive"

No, The Minnesota Timberwolves are not going to make the playoffs this year. Yes, they traded away future Hall of Fame power forward Kevin Garnett about 18 months ago, leaving the city of Minnesota and it's fans with a dismembered excuse for a team. The Wolves season last year was nothing short of a failure; though they did develop some of their younger players while going 22-60 for the season. You may wonder why it seems that I am bashing this team, and the answer is simple: it makes their turn-around that much sweeter.

No longer is Minnesota considered on the same level as the Grizzlies, Kings, or the dreaded Thunder comparisons. The last few years have been a frustrating bunch, I'm sure, for the die-hard Wolves fans. Nothing stays dormant for too long, and the Wolves are finally rewarding the fans. Recently, it seems they have come full circle; they look competitive every night, and teams are actually concocting game-plans and other schemes on both ends when going head-to-head with this young Wolves team.

Maybe this is a result of management firing then head coach Randy Wittman and forcing Kevin McHale to step down as GM and coach. Yes, McHale is the genius who built this teams current roster; the one who traded Garnett for Al Jefferson and fillers; the man who traded the ever-impressive OJ Mayo on draft day for Kevin Love and Mike Miller; and of course, the man who took Randy Foye over Brandon Roy in 2006. To his credit, he still stands by his Foye, and it's starting to pay off. No, he is not better than Brandon Roy(not at all), but he is playing some great basketball this year and the trade is no longer as horrible as it once seemed.

While McHale deserves some credit for coaching this roster to victories(changing some schemes and rotations), I tend to think more credit is due to the development of individual players, as well as the team and their chemistry. While Al Jefferson will once again be overlooked for the All-Star game, he is still an All-Star caliber player and the heart and core of this Wolves team. While they are currently 10th in the West, and still have a deceiving record(15-27), let's take a closer look at what they've been up to:

• 4-23 to star the season
• 8-2 in their last 10 games
• 11-4 in their last 15 games

From 4-23 to 15-27; I would say that's nothing short of a miracle. Further analysis shows it's not just a result of going against the worse in the league: they've beat Chicago(2 times), New York, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and New Orleans, and many of these games on the road. All of those are playoff caliber(or hunting) teams, so it's not like they've been going against the Wizards or Thunder every night.

I think a big part of this team winning goes to the change in line-ups and rotation. I think McHale might be the creative mind behind it, but whoever it was deserves some credit. Their starting line-up that changed the way teams view them:

• PG: Sebastian Telfair
• SG: Randy Foye
• SF: Ryan Gomes
• PF: Craig Smith
• C: Al Jefferson

The most important part: inserting Sebastian Telfair into the lineup, resulting in Randy Foye sliding over to the SG spot(where he belongs). Telfair is a nice, young player who is more of a pure point-guard, looking to create for others and get his teammates involved in the offense. While Foye is a respectable point-guard, most fans/analysts have always noticed his shooting-guard mentality and style. We kept wondering when Foye would finally get consistent minutes at the 2 spot, and he hasn't disappointed. In the 11 games Foye has started at the SG spot along-side Telfair:

• 19.7ppg 4.7apg 2.7rpg 1.5spg 46%FG 46%3PT
  

Impressive numbers to say the least. I should add that he is making nearly three 3point shots a game on that 46%3PT shooting, so it's not like he's only put up a couple shots. His overall game simply looks more natural and smooth. On the defensive end he is less of a liability; while he is still a bit short guarding other traditional SG's, it's not nearly as ineffective as him trying to guard the extremely quick and small PG's of the Western Conference. He is still improving, and the team should only win more with his progression and leadership.

The other plus of the change in lineups: depth. A result of inserting Telfair at PG the Wolves had to push someone to the bench, which is currently Mike Miller(has fought injuries though). Miller is an ideal 6th man type of player(though they could be better off with him starting at SF when healthy), but his ability to come in and hit shots is uncanny, and his overall floor game and basketball IQ is relatively high. Then you have rookie Kevin Love continuing to come off the bench and provide a spark of energy down-low. Love is already one of the most efficient rebounders in the league, and like Miller, has a quality floor game and IQ. Love is averaging nearly 9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game(in just 23 minutes a game); I'm not sure a more efficient player exists. I respect how management/coaching have kept his minutes down and continue to keep his role the same; it helps his conditioning and body adapt to the NBA game, without the risk of him getting hurt. McHale seems to be making up for many of the "questionable" trades we have seen in the past.

Of course, none of the Wolves success could be had without the player they traded Garnett for: Al Jefferson. Big-Al just turned a youthful 24 a couple weeks ago, so it's safe to say his best years are ahead of him. With that said, his future looks scary. His production has increased in each of his 5 seasons so far; this years current averages:

• 22.6ppg 10.7rpg 1.5apg 1.6bpg 0.7spg 50%FG 75%FT
  

One of the few 20/10 guys in the league; but what I like most is I can see room for improvement. His defense is a bit lacking still, yet he has developed into a decent shot blocker. His passing has slowly improved, but that's definitely an area we could see some serious improvement. With all the double teams he draws you would like to see 3 to 5 assists per game, so he can definitely work on that. Maybe his shooting-percentages could be higher, but when you are the go-to guy on a mediocre team taking 20 shots a game, many of which you are double-teamed(sometimes tripled), the percentages are quite respectable. This is purely my habit to nit-pick All-Star caliber players, but because of his age and ability to improve every year these are all very plausible areas that he will likely improve in the following years.

So with a solid young duo of Foye and Jefferson, other nice young players in Telfair and Love, they have a great core for the future. Other players have had breakout years as well, specifically Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, and Rodney Carney as of late. The make-up of this team is looking good, and while they aren't headed anywhere this year(other than the lottery), they could definitely be a playoff caliber team by next season. Mike Miller is also a solid piece they could use in a trade if necessary(friendly contract in relation to his skill); another nice option to have. Add in they might have up to 3(yes, three), first round draft-picks this up-coming year and they might be able to address some other needs.

The future looks bright for the fans and players of Minnesota. This season they have gone from a young, inexperienced team racking up the losses to a competitive team every night. They have developed an actual identity as a team, and the players have developed a chemistry within their system. I applaud you for making it through this blog, as I am sure it was rather bland. I just really wanted to point out that the Minnesota Timberwolves have finally arrived, and they aren't going away any time soon.

"Lebron FTW!!!"

For those of you who do not spend countless hours of your life in random basketball threads: FTW is an acronym meaning "For The Win". I have grown quite accustomed to this little saying; it can be applied to nearly any situation or discussion(ex: you end a rebuttal and debate by simply stating your argument and then signing off with an emphatic "FTW!"). Anyway, enough about my generations text-messaging acronym excuse of a language, on with the show.

This past week has been an interesting week for a young man by the name of Lebron James. You may of heard about him before. He's a 6'9'', 270 pound man-child that might be the most unique small-forward to ever play the game of basketball. On Monday he went into Staples Center and let Kobe and the Lakers control him and his team, easily defeating them. The Lebron/Kobe match-up was a blast to watch, but the game itself really showed that basketball is a team game, and the other four players on the court are just as important and essentially win the game for you.

The next day an article out of the Bay Area(Golden State Warriors land) stirred up some discussion. Legend Rick Barry was quoted in his observation of Lebron:

• Zinger from the Bay: In anticipation of James' annual stop in the Bay Area on Friday, Golden State Warriors great Rick Barry is greeting the Cavs' star with a zinger. In an interview with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area that will air tonight, Barry said he's alarmed James hasn't fixed some areas of his game and also sends one across the bow of the Cavs' coaching staff.
  
• "He's got major flaws in his game," Barry said. "He's six years into the NBA. How can a man six years into the NBA with his talent have a major flaw in his shot? How can he not use screens effectively? . . . I watch the game very carefully, he doesn't use screens effectively and this is not LeBron's fault. It's the fault of the people who are teaching him. . . . there is no doubt in my mind that LeBron, if shown these things would do them, because he wants to be a great player, he wants to win a championship. As great as he is, he should be better.

Rick Barry might be right. Lebron's jumper isn't what you would call fundamentally sound exactly(too much arm/elbow involved). He has quite a few "flaws" in his game, just like any other player in the game. The thing is, we tend to just overlook any missing aspects of his game because he is such an explosive and unique player. While the casual fan will usually use the argument that Lebron's only weakness is his jumper, well, I tend to nit-pick and go a little deeper. What stands out the most for me(aside from his suspect jumper), would be his lack of developing a post-up game.

Many of us forget Lebron has been in the league for over 5 years now; this is his 6th season. You think in 5+ years he would develop some type of back-to-the-basket game, right? All the greats like Jordan and Kobe had such a wide array of moves. Jordan's baseline post-up fadeaway was such an unstoppable shot. Kobe's mid-post game is nearly perfect; his foot-work is flawless, and his shot effective. So why don't we ever see Lebron posting up? With his height he could easily post-up anyone in the mid-range effectively, and with his size/strength he could be very successful on the low-block utilizing an up-and-under or other relatively fundamental post moves. I know I am nit-picking here, but after 5 years you think his game would expand a little more than it has.

This doesn't take away all the improvements he has made, not at all. He turned a really inconsistent jumper into a pretty reliable one, albiet a streaky one. He has improved his passing and rebounding respectively. Even this year he came in with an improved defensive mindset and leadership. But I still think he leaves so much more to be wanted. You look at his stats: since his 2nd season the kid has really been the exact same in every year; a 30 point per game scorer, and a guy that can give you 7 assists and 7 rebounds, as well as close to 2 steals and a block. He isn't really blocking any more shots or getting any more steals than the rest of his career; it's just the media telling us he has become this unstoppable defensive force.

Of course, Rick Barry and myself could be entirely wrong. James has made steps every year, albeit not major, and at the age of 24 who's to say he doesn't develop an all around game without a weakness by 28? I just hope he does, for the sake of the sport and his own career. He is a player that depends on pure athleticism so greatly; towards the latter parts of his career as he hits 30, well, I guess my question is really how will he maintain the kind of level he is at? When he can't run and jump twice as fast and high as every other guy, how can he stay this effective? Players like Jordan and Kobe had/have very reliable jumpers, in combination with a post-up game, exquisite footwork, and other seamless fundamentals that allow them to score without jumping out of the roof. What's Lebron going to do?

But as I said, this week was a very unique one for Lebron James. All the discussion created by Rick Barry in the Bay Area(Golden State Warriors country) about Lebron's weak jumper stirred up some heated conversation. Guess what? Last night Lebron James had his answer for Rick Barry, and all of us overly skeptical fans......but why bother using words when you are Lebron James?



LEBRON JAMES FTW!!!!!

"Halfway Point: The West"

Welcome to the Wild, Wild West. No, I am not trying to subtly imply the Western Conference is crap like the horrible Will Smith pop song and film, but rather the West has become a wild, wild place for the top nine basketball teams in the conference. It's basically a zoo for the top nine teams in the conference. There's the obvious Lakers at the top with a nice five game cushion half-way through this season, but the eight teams that follow are pretty much neck in neck, with only 3.5 games separating the 2nd place Spurs from the 9th place Mavericks. The problem? There only exists 8 playoff spots for each conference. One of these great teams is destined for the lottery.

Western Conference Standings:

1. LA Lakers: 31-8
2. San Antonio: 26-13
3. Denver: 27-14
4. New Orleans: 24-13
5. Houston: 25-16
6. Phoenix: 23-15
7. Portland: 24-16
8. Utah: 24-17
9. Dallas: 23-17
10. Minnesota: 12-26
11. Golden State: 12-29
12. Memphis: 11-28
13. Sacramento: 10-31
14. LA Clippers: 9-30
15. Oklahoma City: 8-33

Trying to figure out who that team will be is nothing more than guesswork. Similar to last years race in the West(without the Lakers so far ahead), there might be nine Western Conference teams to win 50 games, which means another 50 win team won't be in the playoffs. While the East has three elite teams at the top and every other team has a chance to still run at the playoffs(maybe not the Wizards), the West is almost the exact opposite. It's basically like jumping off a cliff when going from the 9th place Dallas(23-17) to 10th place Minnesota(12-26). None of the teams from 10th to 15th really have any chance at the playoffs, it's basically just 9 teams fighting for 8 spots.

From 1-15 in the standings, here is a short analysis of each team:
(Contender: any team I label as a contender will be further discussed in another article)

1. LA Lakers: Made it to the finals last year without Bynum. What more needs to e said? They are one of the deepest teams in the league, and their core of Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum is as good as it gets. Bynum hasn't looked quite as explosive as last year, but he's slowly getting into a groove and anchoring the defense. Kobe is as efficient as he has ever been in his career shooting a great percentage from the field(improved shot selection). Gasol is another efficient stud, averaging 20ppg with limited touches. Odom is slowly becoming more effective as he adapts to his 6th man role, but the rest of the bench has been great. Trevor Ariza might be the biggest surprise for them this year. He has stepped up his game, improved his shooting, ball handling, and defense. Ariza is slowly becoming their glue guy and perimeter lock-dow defender. Contenders.



2. San Antonio: 2009 is an odd year. 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, all championship rings for Duncan and company in those odd years. Now that's a scary trend. It will probably be their most challenging playoffs if they make a run at it, mostly because of a pretty new rotation with players like Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, George Hill, and other young players. Bowen and Finely are a year older, and Bowen's defense is not quite what it used to be. But when you have Tim Duncan, one of the greatest power-forwards to ever play, you are going to be competing every night. All this talk that they are "old and over the hill" is basically a joke, but people still hop on the bandwagon. Ginobli and Duncan are 32 and 31, and have shown very little, if any signs of deteriorating. Add in a Tony Parker entering his prime years at 26 having his best statistical year yet, and this team is still atop the eliete. Contenders.



3. Denver: This off-season fans and journalists rambled on about how Denver was no longer a playoff team, especially after they traded two-time DPOY Marcus Camby to the Clippers to cut their costs and avoid luxury tax. But a few games into the season Joe Dumars delivered an early Christmas present: Chauncey Billups. Iverson is a great player, but things ran their course in Denver and Iverson just wasn't the right piece. Billups has come in and taken this team on his shoulders, providing the leadership and pure point-guard play that have always needed. Carmelo has become a better all-around player focusing more on rebounding, passing, and defense as a result of the teams new look. Nene has emerged as a solid all-around center in the league, and is still a youthful 26. JR Smith has toned it down a little bit and become a better all-around player as well. Simply put, Billups attititude and style has rubbed off on the entire team, hell, even on the coach. Because of it they are winning games like never before. Right now I consider them "semi-contenders".
   



4. New Orleans: I think I am part of the minority when I say that New Orleans as a team is a "pretender". I don't think they have the make-up of a championship team, but they will manage to put up a solid 50+ win season. Chris Paul is playing as spectacular as ever, but it seems everyone else on the team is either the same or have taken a step back. David West is still an offensive beast, but his defense is less than stellar and his rebounding has become lazy. Tyson Chandler has stopped improving, and I think we all know he has already reached his ceiling as a player with Chris Paul. He is good for a block or two and an alley-oop dunk a game, but really nothing else can be expected. I just think so much hype surrounded this team because of the emergence of CP3, that we forget teams win championships. He has great shooters surrounding him in Stojakovic and Butler, but they are very one-dimensional players. James Posey was supposed to be their missing piece that put them over the top into contention, but he is just a solid role-player that can hit some 3's and play hard-nosed defense. I am being hard on this team right now, but only because they have potential. I think they are a solid all-around shooting guard away from contention, but that's not an easy piece to find. With all that said, they are still winning games and I consider them a pretty damn good team. Maybe it's just a gut feeling that I can't describe, but I just don't see them winning more than one series come playoff time, if that. Pretenders.
   



5. Houston: Looked like they were going to be serious contenders on paper. With the addition of Ron Artest in a trade that only cost them Bobby Jackson/Donte Greene, they looked like they could be the next Celtics big-3 with Artest, T-Mac, and Yao. I still think it's too early to really distinguish anything. McGrady, Artest, and Battier have been fighting through injuries for the most part of the season. Even without them for a majority of the time they are managing to put a solid record together and develop some younger players. The emergence of young backup PG Aaron Brooks has been very beneficial, and Von Wafer's natural ability to score has become obvious as well. Yao is playing great as of late, and he has been healthy all year(knock on wood). Scola is doing a solid job at PF, and when he has an off night Carl Landry comes in and get's the job done. I still think Alston is their weak link. Skip-to-my-Lou is cool and all, but he isn't really a pure PG, yet he's not really a scoring guard either(at least in his percentages at 36% FG). But come playoff time, if Artest and Battier are both healthy, and if T-Mac can manage to come into somet type of old form, well, they could be a very dangerous squad. It's all really up to health for this team. Contenders if healthy.
   



6. Phoenix: Similar to the Rockets, this team is a deadly contender on paper(and in video games). The duo of Shaq-Stoudemire seems like it should be impossible, especially now that Shaq looks like more of his old self. They changed things up even more a month ago, sending Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to Charlotte in exchange for Jason Richardson(and Jared Dudley). Richardson is a solid addition at SG: a very athletic slasher that is also one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Then you have solid veteran Grant Hill starting at SF, and the crazy Canadian Steve Nash running the show. Add in solid players like Leandro Barbosa, Matt Barnes, and Robin Lopez off the bench, and it's hard to think this team wouldn't be a contender. New coach Terry Porter still looks to be figuring things out, and the players are no different. One night they look extremely dominant and things seem to just click for everyone. The next night they look completely lost going to Boston and go down by 30 in the first half. Their defense is definitely still a cause of concern come playoff time, as they are currently 5th to last in team-defense. Adding J-Rich was a bold move, but they did lose Bell's savy defense and leadership that can be so important come playoff time. Stoudemire looks frustrated with his situation: less touches, but if he can push his ego aside for a year and let Shaq-Diesel do his thing along with Nash and company the Suns could be another dangerous team. This team really confuses me though, because one week you think they're settled into the new system and then it all changes. Possible contenders if egos and chemistry work come playoff time.....
   



7. Portland: Rise with us! Their advertising motto and slogan rings true with the team this year, as fans are welcome to "rise with them". The Roy/Aldridge/Oden trio is finally in full effect, and effective is the perfect word to describe it. After a scary start for Oden on opening night, he has come around the last 10 to 20 games and is finally learning how to play center effectively in the NBA, and without getting into foul trouble(though he will continue to fight through that). Aldridge has steadily improved his offensive game, increasing his range and improving his low-post moves. Most importantly is the emergence of a new star in Brandon Roy. He has continuously improved his game, and he has gone from being a good guard to becoming a legit franchise player and leader. He reminds me of a Joe Johnson, but one that is more vocal and can lead a team. Other role players like Steve Blake, Nicholas Batum, Travis Outlaw, and Joel Pryzbilla are the other key to the success of this team. Portland somehow continued to get young talent after last year. Rookie Rudy Fernandez is a legitimate player and solid scorer to bring off the bench, and was NBA ready on day 1. Lately, Jared Bayless is slowly emerging as a solid guard, and the fight for backup minutes between him and Sergio continues. The team is still so young yet they are likely headed for the playoffs. Whether or not they can make some noise come post-season will be something to look at, but I think it's more about experience for them this year. If they end up as a 7 or 8 seed I think they could scare some teams like Atlanta did last year. Not really contenders, but definitely not pretenders. One more year.
   



8. Utah: Another solid Jerry Sloan year. Deron Williams missing the first quarter of the season didn't help things, and having Boozer for only 12 of their games hasn't helped either. They are still a tough team(better than their record looks), and can still make some noise. Boozers injury has given 3rd year man Paul Millisap a chance to play heavy minutes, and this kid took off running the instant he became a starter. He has played so well that Boozer has become expendable, proving that he is also a 20/10 player, but also plays defense. Utah is methodical as ever, running their sets and playing hard-nosed defense. Okur is playing like he did a few years back as well, another great sign. I really like the move of moving AK-47 to the 6th man spot, as he brings great energy and versatility off the bench. Young players Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles are a bit inconsistent(especially Miles), but Utah is deep enough that it's not too big of a deal. I think with Deron Williams coming into full health recently, and with Boozer coming back relatively soon, that this Utah team will make a nice run post-All-Star break and could be anywhere from a 2-8 seed. Many are counting them as the possible team to miss the playoffs, but I think the exact opposite of them. Not quite contenders, but not pretenders.
   



9. Dallas: Mark Cuban and his crazy antics...I'll focus on the team though. Dirk is playing at an elite level; he's clearly the go-to guy and key to the teams success. But the re-emergence of Jason Terry has been a very welcomed phenomenon. Jet is putting up better than jet-like numbers averaging 21 points a contest: more than he has ever posted in his career, and at the age of 31. This is definitely a combination of playing with pure PG Jason Kidd, but I also give a lot of credit to Rick Carlisle for changing the Mavs style to better suit it's roster. I think Josh Howard will pretty much be their difference maker to finish the season. The one time All-Star has been riddled with injuries and has failed to find a groove this season. With rumors of him being traded surface, I think his play will determine whether the Mavs can make the playoffs and do anything. Whether they get talent for him in a trade; whether he comes into form and puts up 20 ppg and plays his defense; whether he continues to be the lost pot-head; these are the things that will determine the extent of the success this third Texas team has. Not contenders......
   



10. Minnesota: This is where the big drop-off starts. Minnesota is over 10 games back of number 9 Dallas, so it's safe to say the rest of these Western teams are focusing on the future(no I don't mean the playoffs). Minnesota has been playing some legitimately good basketball since the Christmas. If we can just ignore their horrendous start to the season; let's take a look where they are headed. Since Christmas their record is 9-4. Kevin Mchale is obviously having a positive effect on the team, and moving Foye to the SG spot where he belongs was a much needed boost as well. Telfair is a decent young PG running the team now(they could do better), but he gets the job done. Kevin Love is already one of the most efficient rebounders in the league, and as he improves his conditioning he will become a solid player next to their beast Al. Speaking of which, Jefferson is having, yet again, his best season averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks(a nice increase). He is one of the leagues most underrated PF/C's in the league, mostly because he is on a poor team, but they are showing signs of a future. Give them more time to build on this and they could be a nice surprise in the not so distant future. They have a coupe first round picks this year; hopefully they use them wisely. I also wouldn't be surprised to see savy veteran Mike Miller traded either before the deadline or on draft day to get a young guard or center.
    



11. Golden State: It's kind of sad isn't it? They go from upsetting the best team in the league(Dallas) in the first round of the playoffs in 07, to barely missing the playoffs last year(by one game), to becoming a garbage team this year. They lost Baron Davis in the off-season to the Clippers, so they retaliated by giving Maggette a 5 year contract at $10 million a year. Why not just pay Baron his $12 or $13 million a year....definitely worth it in comparison to Maggette. I'll stop flaming now; Golden State has made some nice moves this season, and they have some good, young talent that is developing. The trade sending Al Harrington to NY for Jamaal Crawford seemed kind of lateral, but he is a talented player that fits Nelson's style. Monta's moped accident was a good hint at the kind of season the Warriors would have, so nobody had too high of hopes. Stephen Jackson got his 3-year extension, and has been riddled with injuries as well. Maggette got his 5 year deal, and his hamstring has kept him from playing on too many games. Now the bright spots: Andris Beidrins is ever-improving and has become a stud center. Bellinelli, who saw little to no time last year, is finally getting some run and showing why he's in this league. He is a great shooter and will be an ideal off the bench scorer for any team. Brandon Wright was breaking through, though he has been injured lately, but he's showing signs of becoming a solid forward. They also have rookie Anthony Randolph, who I am quite high on, but I guess Nellie isn't too high on his attitude. Anyway, as bad as this season looks for the Warriors, the future is actually looking extremely bright. Next year they will start the season with this line-up: Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford, Stephen Jackson, Brandon Wright, Andris Beidrins, with Maggette(unless traded), Azubuike, Bellinelli, Watson, and Turiaf off the bench. That looks like a playoff team to me.
    



12. Memphis: They obviously didn't have really high expectations. After they traded Gasol to the Lakers last year it was obvious they were heading in a new direction. I felt they made a great draft-day trade attaining OJ Mayo/filler for Mike Miller/Kevin Love. Mayo has been hot out of the gate putting up nearly 20 points a contest, and he has displayed an overall knowledge of the game and high basketball awareness and IQ. I think him and Rudy Gay are great building blocks for this team. Marc Gasol has turned out to be a solid player too, basically a double/double guy that brings energy and toughness every night. Mike Conley has proven nothing, and Kyle Lowry has actually become the superior player and PG, which have thought all along. Arthur is developing into a decent PF, and Hakim Warrick is having the best year of his career. This has not equated into wins at all, but the team looks promising....and that's all that matters right now. It's also nice how they have managed to sign Darius Miles to two 10-day contracts and get him into games; consequently putting his $18 million over 2 years back on Portlands cap. Slick move Wallace, slick move.
    



13. Sacramento: This team is actually painful to watch. They were basically a .500% team last year, yet they are lucky to win one out of four this year. Kevin Martin, their go-to guy, was out for a huge part of the season; I guess that can help to justify it a little bit. Add in Beno Udrih(who just signed a pretty big contract) is failing to live up to expectations, having a worse year than last, and you have a struggling offense. Well, enough about this season's failings, but onto the future. John Salmons is having a career year, nearly doubling his scoring output to nearly 20 points a contest. He has been their one consistent and healthy force all year. He has a nice all around game: slashing, shooting, passing, defending; I really like his game. Fransisco Garcia, their 6th man, was also out for the first 25+ games as well. He is a gritty defense that has a nice all around game, so the season isn't a total failure. Spencer Hawes started off great with Miller suspended, and has been inconsistent lately, but he proved he is a solid player that can produce when given minutes. He is actually very similar to Miller, just more athletic. This makes Miller expendable, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him traded for an expiring and a young player. Also, we can't forget their productive rookie Jason Thompson, who has proven to be a great draft pick. While they are struggling this year I still think they have a bright future. A Hawes/Thompson/Salmons front-court in combination with a Martin/Udrih backcourt is promising. Give them a year or two.
    



14. LA Clippers: Wow...just....wow! There's not much to say about this team. They lost Brand and Maggette in the off-season, but replaced them with great players in Baron Davis and Marcus Camby. Then they made a nifty little trade that sent aging Tim Thomas along with the forced to retire Cuttino Mobley to the Knicks. In return they got the always productive, always cancerous, 20ppg/10rpg Zach Randolph and a backup Mardy Collins. Talent wise they come out on top, but talent doesn't equate into wins necessarily. Rookie Eric Gordon has been great since getting starting and minutes, proving to be the great scorer he was in college. Al Thornton has yet improved statistically, showing he is a solid SF of their future. With a line-up of B-Diddy, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Zach Randolph, and Marcus Camby you would think they could be a playoff team...right? WRONG! I haven't even mentioned Chris Kaman, who has been injured since the first part of the season. Who knows if he bothers to come back this season. Many had high hopes for this talented roster coming into the season; Dunleavy and company have done more than expected to knock some sense into us. I want to say that their future looks bright, because on paper they do(plus another lottery pick). But Clipper history tells us otherwise.
    



15. Oklahoma City: This is one of those bad teams that are actually fun to watch. They have great potential and a bright future. Expectations were low going into the season, as they are one of the youngest teams in the league. Management fired coach PJ Carlisimo after a horrid start to the season, and since then Interim Brooks has this team respectable. The biggest change was moving young franchise guy Kevin Durant from shooting-guard to small-forward. We have seen a solid improvement in his overall stats(scoring, rebounding, even assists) since this move. The team has also won quite a few games lately; hell, they are even 5-5 in their last 10. Sliding Durant over also moved his second year pal Jeff Green over from small-forward to power-forward. Green has had to adjust a little, but he seems to have benefited as well. He's having a great year and has put all the critics on mute for being the 5th pick. Russel Westbrook has also become the starting PG under Brooks, and though he is inconsistent and turn-over prone(like all rookies), he has some serious talent and potential. He has had a 30 point game or two, and while he is more of a combo guard he is a bright player for their future. Other guys like Desmond Mason, Earl Watson, Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison, Damien Wilkins, and freshly signed Nenad Kristic are all solid role-players as well. I think OKC is doing a fine job with their team, and as time goes on they are definitely going to become a bright spot in the league. How long it takes is the only question.
    

"Halfway Point: The East"

Now that most teams are right around or nearing 40 games played, I think it's finally time to do some analysis of the season so far. We can start to make more accurate post-season predictions based on how teams are doing, and I always try to wait until at least this point to do so. I really get frustrated while reading somebody write or blog 12 games into the season and drawing conclusions that: "Atlanta is the best team in the East" and "San Antonio is done and won't even make the playoffs". Honestly, during the first month of the season I think we all read about the Hawks success and Spurs failure daily. How many times have you talked to some ignorant fan thinking they can draw conclusions from the first 12 or so games of the season? Yet, it seems every year these same fans impulsively think and talk the same way. Teams need time to gel, involve new players, and get a good chemistry going. It can take a good 30-40 games to develop a real team identity.

I will break this up into a few articles: "The East", "The West", and "Contenders and Pretenders".

Today I am going to start with the East. Both the Western and Eastern conferences are intriguing in their own ways, but the East's unpredictability this year has me hooked. Aside from the top four or so teams, well, you could make an argument for any of the other teams to make the playoffs. While it's somewhat similar to last year, the competition level has risen and the lower seeded teams will be legitimately better come playoff time. The East is pretty solid from teams 5-14(Washington is the only team definitely focusing on next season).

Eastern Conference Standings:

1. Cleveland: 29-6
2. Orlando: 30-8
3. Boston: 30-9
4. Detroit: 22-13
5. Atlanta: 22-14
6. Miami: 19-17
7. New Jersey: 18-19
8. Milwaukee: 18-21
9. Philadelphia: 17-20
   
10. Chicago: 16-21
11. Toronto: 16-22
    
12. New York: 13-22
    
13. Charlotte: 14-24
    
14. Indiana: 13-24
15. Washington: 7-29

It's a close little race. Indiana is currently second to last in the entire conference, but they are still only five games back. If any of the teams ranked 9-14 go on a little winning streak the entire structure of the standings could change. Milwaukee is a great example. After starting off pretty poorly, they won 6 out of 8 recently, and have been playing .500 ball since that little winning streak. Now they are sitting with an 8th seed playoff birth.

From 1-15 in the standings, here is a short analysis of each team:
(Contender: any team I label as a contender will be further discussed in another article)

1. Cleveland: Lebron and company are at peak of the East, and share the best record in basketball with the Lakers. Lebron has turned up his defense, and the entire team has followed suit, resulting in them being the to defensive team in many categories. Even more impressive is their ability to defend their home-court, with a golden 19-0 record at the Quicken Loans Arena. If they can stay this perfect on their home-court and finish the season in first place they will be winning home-court games to the championship title. Contenders.
2. Orlando: Stan Van Gundy has this team flying under the radar still. Somehow people continue to talk about the Cavs and Celtics, yet Orlando has been playing amazing basketball and overtaken Boston in the standings. Superman is as effective as ever in anchoring the team on both ends, but they have added some elements. An improved team defense is a big part of their great record, as well as the improved leadership and play of point-guard Jameer Nelson. Contenders.
3. Boston: Enough said. Defending champions who are still at the top, though they are currently struggling to stay dominant. They appear to be missing Posey and his combination of defense/3-point shooting, and overall their bench/depth is a bit lacking. Their core is still in it's prime, and young point-guard Rajon Rondo has improved his leadership and game. While his jumper is still suspect, his ability to defend, lead, and run an offense are very mature. Contenders.
4. Detroit: The A.I. deal seems to finally be working. They recently had a 7 game win-streak, albeit not the prettiest one. They still appear to be searching for their identity, but are still winning games while doing so. Rodney Stuckey, the second year guard, has emerged on the scene as their starting PG and is putting up great numbers while leading this team. He's the reason Billups was expendable, and has proved his worth. A.I. has been great since moving over to the SG spot, and he is buying into the system as a team. Hamilton has been out for awhile, and if the coaches can manage to have Hamilton become their 6th man and buy into it, well, I honestly think they could become serious contenders again. Their starting 5 is solid, so if they could bring Hamilton and McDyess of the bench they could cause some serious problems for the top teams. It's debatable whether they are contenders or pretenders.
   
5. Atlanta: After an incredible start to the season(a time when people were ranting they had become the best team in the East), they have come down to Earth a bit. I really like this team, but they are the defintion of inconsistent. They started the season with 6 wins in a row, then cooled off, recently won 9 out of 10, and since have lost 3 in a row(which in one they lost by 40). They have the pieces and athletes to really challenge teams come playoff time, but I think they are just too inexperienced. Their young core players like Horford, Williams, and Josh Smith are playing well. Bibby is having a great year and fitting in perfectly, and Joe Johnson is a great leader and clutch performer. The loss of Childress was overplayed, and their free-agent aquisitions of Flip Murray and Mo Evans erased any traces of Childress missing. I think they are a solid young team, and have a chance to finish a great regular season and push for 50 wins possibly. But aside from Bibby, and maybe Joe Johnson, this team is quite young and inexperienced. I am not taking away from how well they are playing this season, but come playoff time I think they might struggle to win a series. They struggle matching up against more traditional/bigger teams, and I think this might hurt them come playoff time.
   
6. Miami: Dwayne Wade. What more needs to be said? Last year they were a joke with Wade shutting it down prematurely. A lottery pick later(Michael Beasley), and a gold medalist and healthy Wade present, this team has become dangerous. Wade is having the best regular season of his career on both ends of the floor. He has picked up his defense and intensity, averaging a block and two steals a game, and the rest of the team is following suit. Marion and Haslem are both playing solid as forwards, both athletic and strong. Mario Chalmers has been a great surprise for them, providing a solid PG on both ends of the court. Beasley is developing slowly, but his raw talent and ability to score are fairly obvious. This kid is going to be a stud in a year or two. The team consists of mostly role players and Wade, but they can be dangerous come playoff time. Any team with a player like Wade who can take over a game should be taken seriously.
   
7. New Jersey: Probably the biggest surprise of the league. Going into this season I don't think I talked to a single person that had them pegged as a playoff team. After trading Kidd, then Richard Jefferson in the off-season for Yi and to free up cap-space for 2010, I think it was only natural to think of them as rebuilding for 2010. There are simply two reason why New Jersey is a solid team: 1- Vince Carter 2- Devin Harris. Vince looks like his old self and seems to be leading this team in the locker room. The bigger story is the emergence of Devin Harris. He has gone from a solid young guard with potential to one of the best point-gaurds in the league...all in one season. He is having a career and all-star caliber year, averaging close to 24 points per contest along with 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals. The Nets might have the bets back-court duo in the league. Add to that rookie Brooke Lopez has become a solid 10/10 center that can block 2 shots a game, Yi Jianlin developing into a solid starting PF, and a decent bench, and you have yourself a pretty decent team. With all that said, I am not so sure this is really a playoff team. I enjoy watching them, I really do, but even with improvements they are still a limited front-court, and I just don't see VC hitting enough buzzer beaters to keep them in contention. I really hope I am wrong about that though.
   
8. Milwaukee: This was a team I pegged as a playoff team. Sure, they past few years I might of done the same thing....but this year is different. With Scott Skiles at the helm of this ship, they are finally setting sail in the right direction. It took them about 20 or so games to buy into his system, but the dividends are starting to pay off. They play like a playoff team: Defense first. The Richard Jefferson/Michael Redd combo seems to be clicking as of late, and even though this team has been fighting through injuries all season(mainly Redd and Bogut), they have found a way to win games. Shedding Mo Williams for a more pure PG in Ridnour appears to have been a solid move. They also got a steal in Mbah a Moute. I really think this is a solid playoff team(barring injuries), and as the season progressed they will only get bettere. They have finally found their identity...but can they perfect it?
   
9. Philadelphia: Adding a 20/10 stud like Elton Brand to an already on the rise playoff team can only make them better....right? It appears to be untrue, but Philly tends to make late season runs following the All-Star break. Brand has struggled through injuries, and the team just doesn't look to be clicking like everybody thought. Iguodala's numbers have gone down across the board, which has people questioning his recent contract. He has come on as of late though, and they are looking a bit better. Sam Dalembert seems lost, with or without Brand, and is getting limited minutes as a result. Thaddeus Young has shown flashes of All-Star potential throughout the year, and rookie Mareese Speights has been a solid contributor as well. While the team has talent, they are missing something. Having Brand out for a month could be a blessing in disguise or a disaster. This is one of those teams that just confuses me. They could easily push there way into the playoffs and even be a 5 or 6 seed, but they could also fall right into the lottery as well. Only time will tell.
   
10. Chicago: Derrick Rose has shown why he was the overall #1 pick of the draft, but it might not be enough. The Bulls are a talented squad, but injuries and lack of chemistry could result in another playoff-less season. Hinrich has been out for a few months with thumb surgery, and Luol Deng has been fighting through nagging injuries all season. He hasn't been himself all year. With that said, Derrick Rose is already one of the better PG's in the league, able to create for himself and others at will. With Ben Gordon at his side, having a career year in nearly every statistical category, they are carrying most of the load. Drew Gooden is a solid and consistent player, but they do lack the size you would want in a playoff team. Tyrus Thomas has shown his flashes of potential, and has had some of the best games of his career. Problem is he tends to follow those with a stretch of bad games. What's amazing is this team is still searching for it's identity and how to play around their new PG of the future, and all the while they are right at the edge of making the playoffs. While I don't personally think they make the playoffs unless they trade for a solid center, anything is possible.
    
11. Toronto: Adding Jermaine O'Neal and handing the team to Jose Calderon could only make the already playoff team better, one would think. Very similar to the Philly situation, they added a big and post presence that hasn't quite worked out yet. O'Neal has been fighting through injuries(like he has the past few years), and his stats are nothing but respectable. But the team just isn't clicking. I blame it on the wing positions. They don't have a legitimate starting SF, and while Parker and Kapono are good players, they are still inferior to most other starts SG's. I think Toronto is a trade away from being near contenders, but they could just as easily miss the playoffs all-together. While Andrea Bargnani is finally stepping up and showing he is not a bust, the team is a bit out of whack. They basically have zero perimeter defense, and until that changes I am not sure they can do much, maybe push for the 8th spot. Bosh is having a career year, and along with O'Neal, Calderon, and Bargnani the team could do something....but I doubt they make an impact if they make the playoffs(barring a trade).
    
12. New York: D'Antoni had this team off to a hot start. Then Walsh entered the
    "Lebron Sweepstakes". He traded Jamal Crawford for Al Harrington, and then followed that with a trade sending Zach Randolph to the Clippers for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley(forced to retire). These were moves that sent really talented players to other teams, and in return got decent players who expire in or before 2010. While Crawford and Randolph were possibly the two most talented players on the team, the Knicks seem to be playing like more of a team lately. Harrington is struggling to adapt to the system, but he's a D'Antoni type player. David Lee has improved even moreso, putting up crazy numbers and is a top 5 rebounder. Chris Duhon has proven to be a solid free agency pickup, having a career year and is a top 5 in assist man in the league. Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler are both having breakout years with career numbers, but this was sort of expected because of the pace factor. D'Antoni has this team running his system well, 7 seconds or less, and playing little to no defense. While they could make a push at the playoffs, I strongly doubt that as happening. But they really are damn fun to watch.
    
13. Charlotte: Hire coach Larry Brown and things will change. They traded away Jason Richardson for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, and are supposedly looking to trade Raymond Felton for a solid big-man, and possibly move Diaw/Bell again. Browns defensive philosophy is slowly rubbing off on some of the players, but they are as inconsistent as any team out there. One night they will beat Boston and the next get completely destroyed by Philadelphia. Okafor seems to finally be coming out of his shell and is really starting to looke like an All-Star. Aside from that I don't see much. Augustin and Felton are both very skilled players, but both are as inconsistent as the team. Gerald Wallace gives you what you expect, an all-around solid SF, but he seems disinterested. I doubt this team makes a playoff push, but it's not impossible. I do think they will be solid in the following years, as they have entered a Larry Brown era and will establish an identity. Just not this year.
    
14. Indiana: aka "The Giant Killers". Indiana is a very, very interesting and intriguing team. They have beaten the Lakers, the Celtics, and many other top teams in the league. They have also been beat by teams like Golden State and many sub .500 teams. Even with their current record and position, I still think they have a glimmer of playoff hope. They have played 13 games decided by 3 points or less. That is twice as many as any other team. Problem is they have lost most of those. That's 10 games they could of won had they hit a buzzer beater...which would change the entire landscape of the East. Danny Granger has become a sure-fire All-Star this year, putting up spectacular numbers. He is 4th in the league in scoring, and he is becoming very consistent, as well as clutch recently. They have a franchise player to count on come crunch time, something most of these weaker teams lack. Add in that Mike Dunleavy missed the first 34 games, and TJ Ford has been off and on with injuries, and you can see why this team still has hope for the playoffs. They are literally a center away from being a contender in my opinion, and while that might be a stretch, it's definitely plausible. They have solid young studs, a deep bench, a solid system, and an unselfish team. They just have to learn how to consistently win close games. I still smell a playoff push......and if not I would watch out for them next year.
    
15. Washington: Not a good year for those in the greater D.C. area. Arenas has yet to play a game after signing that $100+ million contract, and there are reports he is not even close to returning(why bother now?). The team just looked pathetic for the first 20 or so games, and lately has become competitive for the most part. I think Brendan Haywood is missed more than people think, as he had become a solid center on both ends of the floor. The combo of Butler and Jamison just isn't enough for them this year, especially with role players playing poorly. Nick Young, Javalee McGee, and Dominic McGuire have been the lone bright spots on a very ugly season so far. Hopefully they get lucky in the lottery and hit a top 3 pick. While this season is pretty much over, with Arenas/Haywood back next year, along with a lottery pick, well, they could be dangerous.
    

"Boston Hits A Wall"

Since the Lakers beat the Celtics on Christmas Day I have noticed Boston has looked like a completely different team. Boston started off the season as close to perfection that a team can, and all the gossip started that "they could break the 72 wins in a season record". It's funny how quickly things can change in the NBA. Just two short weeks ago on the eve of Christmas the Celtics sat with a record of 23-2.....easily best in the league and talks of the best regular season team ever being thrown around without any thought. Today, Boston sits with a 29-8 record, good for second in the East.

I admit, I am a bit giddy as I write this(Laker colors are showing). But seriously, when's the last time the Celtics lost two games in a row, let alone losing six of their last eight. They went from hunting for an NBA record with a 19 game winning-streak, to losing several games in a two week span. I know it's hitting that half-way point of the season, the time when players get bored and struggle to find that energy game in, game out. But I've watched all their games, and while that "wall" might be contributing to it, there is definitely other things going wrong.

It would be understandable if the Celtics were losing to teams like the Lakers, Cavs, and other top-tier teams, but this is just not the case. While some of their losses are to some of the better teams....more of them are to the bubble teams.....but it doesn't get much worse than Golden State. Their six losses in the last 2 weeks:

• Houston(85-89)

• @Charlotte(106-114)

• @New York(88-100)

• @Portland(86-91)

• @Golden State(89-99)

• @LA Lakers(83-92)

It seems Boston has become like any other team on the road. Losing a game in LA is understandable, but losing to the Warriors, Knicks, and Bobcats, all below .500 teams, just proves there is a problem. Making matters worse, while Boston has had it's entire team at full health, Golden State was missing Maggette and Crawford, Portland was missing it's best player Brandon Roy, and the Rockets were missing both Shane Battier and Tracy McGrady. Boston is getting beat by inferior teams.

I am still analyzing the play of Boston, as well as their opponents, but there is definitely some type of a phenomenon happening. Here are a few possibilites:

• Teams are no longer intimidated by the big-3 and image of the Celtics
• Opponents have figured out Boston's defensive schemes and know where to attack
• Opponents have figured out Boston's offensive schemes, and know how to defend them as a team and individually as well
• Boston's lack of depth has finally surfaced
• To be determined

I happen to think it's a combination of these key ingredients. I think all the trash talking the Celtics do as a whole has motivated all teams, good and bad, to give 110% against the Celtics and try to show them up. I also think the Celtics had this ora about them last season, and the start of this one, where teams were intimidated, nervous, and cautious when they played against them...while this is no longer the case. Teams probably saw how the Lakers controlled their game against Boston, and they have applied certain methods against them, both offensively and defensively. I have noticed teams play Rondo and Allen similar to that of the Lakers, and it seems to be working.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that. I might have to try and break things down a little more when I have time. For now, I think watching the Celtics struggle on the road and lose to lottery bound teams it's good enough for me.