"The Undervalued Bird"

Once in awhile I feel like dedicating an article to one specific player. I've done this a few times, but never have I done it on a "role player" type of guy. I'm giving a round-house kick to that wall; columnists need to write more about the glue-guys and the role-players that make championship teams what they are. Honestly, where would the Celtics of been last year if it weren't for guys like Eddie House and PJ Brown, and of course James Posey; coming in off the bench and literally winning games for them(PJ Brown in game 7 against the Cavs; Posey in nearly every game). These are usually players whom are overlooked by the casual fan, and it's a shame the modern day columnist doesn't talk about them more. Sure, they went through their James Posey phase last year because of the key role he played in that entire playoffs(and finals), but it's all too soon forgotten.

In the modern times where the discussion and spotlight revolves around the star players and players who shoot those game-winning shots, we sometimes forget about the players that even give them the opportunity. We must remember it wouldn't be a one point game with 11 seconds left(allowing a star to take a hero game-winning shot) if it weren't for these great role-players that do all their dirty work within the confines of the game; rarely is this ever a last-second isolation or 3-point shot that gives a team a one point win(though it does happen). But you get my point, and I think the stars ego are getting to the point where they don't thank or appreciate the other guys, the role players, that allowed him to make that game-winning shot and have ESPN replay it all night.

This is a tribute to the role-players out there this year that have helped lift their teams to better records and playoff pushes behind the scenes; the ones that get little credit. Some teams have made trades and attained another "star" level player like the Heat with O'Neal and Denver with Billups; players that overshadow any of the new and/or key role-players that are actually just as important as these new stars. Many of the teams have more than one role-player that have helped in their teams push to the playoffs, so this is a salute to all of you role-players and glue-guys out there. Guys like Nicholas Batum of the TrailBlazers, Ronald Murray of the Hawks, Scola and Battier of the Rockets, Millisap of the Jazz, Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem of the Heat, and the list goes on and on...


Then there's guys like Chris "Birdman" Andersen(above) of the Denver Nuggets. The undervalued, almost unappreciated, backup big-man of the Nuggets. The guy that is currently 2nd in the league in blocks(but barely playing 20 minutes). The guy that comes in and contests and alters nearly every shot. The guy that brings 110% of his game night in, night out. The guy that never complains about only playing 12 minutes on a night his coach feels his starting bigs are playing great. The guy that thinks team-first rather than me-first.

A quick glance at his per game stats won't blow you away necessarily:

Per Game: 6.1ppg__5.9rpg__2.3bpg__19.6mpg

But maybe I spoke too soon. His per game stats still impress the hell out of me when I see that last little statistic: 19.6mpg. This guy is 2nd(second) in the league in blocks per game ahead of guys like Marcus Camby and Jermaine O'Neal who play nearly twice the minutes that the Birdman Plays. But let's take a deeper look into his stats so we can all realize just how damn solid and productive he's been for the Denver Nuggets this season. As I usually do, let's take a look at his Per36. If you aren't familiar with Per36: it's a stat that simply adjusts a players production to 36 minutes. It's a great way to compare players in a much more objective fashion. Simply put, it's going to show a players production as a starter getting starter minutes. While fatigue is not a variable, most trends have shown that a players per minute stats(like these) are pretty consistent as their play-time increases. Anyway, here's a look at Birdman's:

Per36: 11.3ppg__10.8rpg__1spg__4.3bpg

I think it's pretty safe to say he'd likely lead the league in blocks if he were getting anywhere near 30 minutes or so a game, let alone 36 minutes. While you need to consider how many fouls he commits, you'll see I included that stat as well; while 4.5fpg is somwhat high it would not really impact his inability to stay aggressive on the defensive end if he played 36 minutes. Simply put: if he started at power-forward or center for any team he would be a guaranteed double/double guy and possibly lead the league in blocks as well. Not too shabby.

PER: 18.0

A quick lesson(in case you're not familiar): PER is a rating system that John Hollinger created that is an extremely complex equation that basically takes all aspects of the game(points, steals, assists, blocks, FG%, turnovers, etc), weights them accordingly, adjusts it to average pace, and includes a multitude of things; the result is one number that can basically sum up a players efficiency and produciton when he's on the court. 15.0 is the average for all NBA players. The equation is not a clear-cut tool that you should use to solely judge a player, but it is a surprisingly effective and accurate statistic that has become increasingly popular because of it's results. For example, the top 5 PER's this season, in order: Lebron, Wade, Paul, Howard, Kobe. I think that pretty much speaks for itself as being a reliable equation and tool.

So applying our knowledge of that to Chris Andersen; he is much, much more efficient than an average backup player in the NBA. There are only 25 players above a 20.0 PER, and only about 50 who are above an 18.0 PER; while it's not a fact that Chris Andersen is a top 50 player I think I could put forth a pretty valid argument that he is very plausibly one of the top 50 most efficient and productive players in the league.

So while the entire world thinks all of Denver's success this season is based solely on the Nuggets getting Chauncey Billups in a trade sending Allen Iverson to Detroit, you can know that players like Chris Andersen play a huge role in their success as well. There's obviously a reason they lost Marcus Camby(NBA's leading shot blocker last season) and somehow managed to increase their defense and block more shots this season. While there's no doubt that Billup's leadership and court savvy have helped this team, he's not some savior to the Nuggets that all your sports buddies claim. Next time it's brought up you should probably give a few remarks to counter their oblivious statement:

1-Chris Andersen leads the league in blocks and has made up for Camby's departure on the defensive end; the Birdman blocks nearly 10% of all shots while he's on the floor.
2-Let's not forget the Nuggets did win 50 games last season(w/Iverson) and are on pace to only win a few games more; so somehow the Birdman has made up for Camby being gone....and I guess Billups just made up for Iverson leaving. Wait..... I thought that Billups replacing Iverson made this team that much better? Isn't that what everyone is saying? Then why are they only going to win a couple more games then last season?
3-Their are other variables(like Nene, JR Smith, and Kleiza stepping up too), but this article is about Chris "Birdman" Andersen.

He simply gives his team everything he has every minute he's on the court. Then of course there's the things that don't show up in stats. His energy and hustle that other members of his team feed off of and result in the entire team's defense picking it up and playing harder. The fact that he not only blocks 10% of ALL shots while he's on the court, but the fact that he alters and contests an even higher percentage than that. I've watched him literally change an opposing team's offensive mindset when he stepped on the court, blocked 2 shots in 3 possessions, and then altered about 2 more shots causing them to miss.

Basically, the Birdman is like an Energizer battery: when Denver's starters are getting tired they bring in Birdman to recharge the team and provide the energy they need on both ends; he keeps going and going and going. The Energizer Birdman never stops.

"Rookie of the Year: PER Style"

The Rookie of the Year(ROTY) award is one of the more interesting and discussed topics of the NBA each and every year. I find it more and more interesting as the season progresses and the rookie stats slowly change as each game is played. My intent with this blog is to show that there is no "clear-cut ROTY candidate" which is said all too often about Rose and Mayo. This draft class has slowly shown why they were considered one of the best draft classes in a long, long time(Hollinger has them as the most productive class of all time). Now PER is not a definitive stat to conclude something as fact; but it's a very reliable system that shows the efficiency and production of a player. We can see why some players per-game numbers are higher than others(minutes per game) among other variables(pace of team, percentages).

Player____________PER____mpg____
Kevin Love, Min.-------------18.00-------24.6
Greg Oden, Por.--------------17.78-------22.9
Brook Lopez, NJ.-------------17.47-------30.1
Marc Gasol, Mem.------------17.15-------30.5
Michael Beasley, Mia.-------16.08-------24.4
Russell Westbrook, OKC----15.83-------32.5
Derrick Rose, Chi.------------15.46-------36.7
R. Fernandez, Por.------------15.41-------25.6
Eric Gordon, LAC.------------15.17-------33.4
O.J. Mayo, Mem.-------------14.62-------37.8
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The numbers are quite surprising to me(I haven't been looking at the rookies comparisons with stats, PER, and Per36 that much lately. I know ROTY doesn't just take the most efficient or productive player according to PER or Per36 and deem him Rookie of the Year; that would take away from the award slightly. But like Hollinger has stated, it's usually a rookie that's in the Top 5 PER of all the rookies that ends up winning the rookie of the year; so why should this year be any different?

So why are Mayo and Rose always considered the leading candidates for ROTY? Basically because they play 38 and 37 minutes per game(which then make their per-game stats better)? I know that is definitely worth some points, and Rose being the leading PG on a playoff bound team gets him more points in my book as well; but as these other rookies have shown an uncanny ability to play at this NBA level and have increased their minutes and overall production, it's hard to say anybody is really in the lead right now. I honestly think the Per36 stat is a very useful stat as well, and while I am applying the PER stats for this blog I mention the Per36 quite often. It really is a great tool in measuring a players production(just like PER), and I really think Per36 is a better indicator of how productive a player really is(assuming they are playing more than 20 minutes per game). It shows what a player will do per minute, rather than an entire game. Trying to compare two players overall stats when one plays 30mpg and the other 40mpg can be a difficult task, so PER and Per36 are very, very useful for this.

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A somewhat in-depth breakdown of the top 10 rookie's(according to PER):

Kevin Love: PER-18.00(1st overall) 24.6mpg
Wow. Nobody probably saw that coming. Kevin Love, that "that white-boy who's got stumps for legs and will never amount to much in the NBA" kid that everybody thought was a joke when he was picked as the 5th player in the draft. Obviously all those "haters" were wrong in their assumption, and while Love is not a stud PF that will be one of your top options on offense, he has proven that he can be a very solid and productive player in this league. I guess it's not a huge surprise that his PER or Per36 numbers are so spectacular, as he has shown to be one of the most efficient rebounds in the game. He's also tough player on the offensive glass and gets a good amount of put backs, but he's also got a decent shot as well. His passing ability is great for a big as well(especially his full-court outlet passes). So he is leading the rookies in PER now(which is not an easy feat), and his role has increased with Al Jefferson going down. Loves minutes have slowly increased to about 25mpg with his increased role, and his numbers are still just as efficient. He's posting 10ppg and 9rpg in 25mpg on the season, so he's simply a guaranteed double/double guy with 30mpg. Not bad, not bad at all. Whether he's considered a top ROTY candidate is beyond me; being in Minnesota hurts him as well as his lack of total minutes. But as the season progresses and his MPG slowly climb, he could become a serious candidate, even with his defensive liabilities. I'm not sure he is a top candidate for the award yet, but if he continues to start and play at this high rate averaging 16/12 in 30 or so minutes a game then he could easily force his way into the top nominees by seasons end.

Greg Oden: PER-17.78(2nd overall) 22.9mpg
Personally, I don't consider Greg Oden to actually be in the running for ROTY. The injuries he's gone through this season have kept him from being healthy, and the lack of minutes(and total games) are variables that really hurt his chances of being considered. He has shown that he is extremely efficient and productive when he gets on the court and is somewhat healthy; the problem is it's such a rarity to see him do that. But you can't deny his numbers: 9ppg 7rpg and 1.2bpg, and remember that's in 22 minutes. His Per36 and PER are right with, or above, Brooke Lopez' numbers; but I definitely consider Brooke Lopez the front-runner in terms of rookie of the year(he's discussed next). Oden has shown why he was a top pick at times with his ability to block and alter a high percentage of shots, his ability to anchor a defense, his ability to rebound on both ends, and his ability to run the floor and finish at the rim with authority. I saw a few games where he was putting up close to 20/10 with 3 blocks a game, but that only lasted about 5 or so games because of his health. So while he will definitely become a force that nobody wants to match-up with down the road, right now he has only played in 46 games and only averaged 22mpg; thus I think he is taken out of the discussion.

Brooke Lopez: PER-17.47(3rd overall) 30.1mpg
I consider him the leading big-man in the ROTY race, yet even Hollinger dismisses him in his latest article. Lopez has posted great numbers this season(Per game and Per36) so while his per-game numbers stand alone as solid(12.6ppg 8rpg 1.9bpg), when you adjust them to Per36 it shows how effective on the court he really is. Lopez surprised a lot(I mean A LOT) of people this year; GM's, coaches, and fans have all been delightfully surprised with this kids ability to not only score, rebound and block shots(which he does at a great rate), but his athletic ability and versatility in running the floor and finishing on the break. He's a very fundamentally sound player as well; he has great foot-work in the post, he understand spacing and getting position, and he is very effective at setting screens and running the pick-and-roll. He has ckearky become the third piece for the Nets alongside Carter and Harris, and plays a big pole in their playoff push. I can't imagine him not being a top candidate for ROTY, but it seems he is still somewhat overlooked. He's easily the most valuable and deserving big-man for ROTY in my eyes, and I consider him to be in the top 5 players in the running for the ROTY, and deserves more attention when people talk about it.

Marc Gasol: PER-17.15(4th best) 30.5mpg
Another one of those unlikely rookies that most of us tend to overlook. He's been a consistently solid big-man all year, putting up solid all around per game numbers(12ppg, 7.6rpg 1,1bpg), and while those don't stand out as great ROTY numbers you have to consider he plays only 30 minutes per contest(so his PER and Per36 are great). Gasol is a solid all-around big-man that can score, rebound, block shots, and even rack up assists at a relatively high rate. He's already shown that he is one of the better passing bigf men in the league. Overall, he's just one of those solid big-guys that contributes on both ends of the floor. Mayo seems to steal all the rookie glory out of Memphis, but Gasol is proving to be as effective and efficient of a player. Whether or not Gasol is truly considered for ROTY is something I can't really judge, but I can say he deserves to be in the discussion. While I doubt he is considered with the top 5 candidates, I think he is not far behind, and could make a push for it with a few more of his special 20/10/3 games we've seen him have.

Michael Beasley: PER-16.08(5th best) 24.4mpg
He's kind of like Kevin Love; the low minute average will hurt him, but his overall per game stats are still solid, and because his role and minutes have gone up lately(since the JO trade) he has become a solid force as a rookie. He has an uncanny ability to score the basketball is a blast to watch. He can hit 3's, penetrate off the perimeter, even post-up. His deficiencies on defense go against him a little bit(like Love), but his numbers don't lie. If he played 36mpg he would bea 20ppg scorer, that's no lie, but an objective trend. If he continues this solid production with his role and minutes increased, all while helping Miami get into the playoffs as a 4seed, he should most definitely be considered. Currently I don't know if he is a top 5 candidate(mostly because of his lack of minutes and defense), but if he can get his minutes per game near 30 and still be as efficient as he's been, well, he can very possibly have a chance at winning the award. I don't personally see that happening, but you never know with Spoelstra and Beasley.

Russell Westbrook: PER-15.83(6th overall) 32.5mpg
He's done the exact opposite of Rose/Mayo. Russel started off the season slowly(stuck behind Earl Watson with PJ Carleisemo), but his numbers(per game) have increased every single month of this season; Westbrook has proven why he was taken so high in the draft. He is a very solid two-way player, known as a defender coming out, but I think he's surprised some people with his explosiveness on offense. He can create his own shot very well, can get to the rim at will, and has a decent mid-range game. He's actually eerily similar to Derrick Rose in many aspects of the game(just look how identical their Per36 numbers are). He is a very productive player who's only real downfall is his high turnover rate. He has shown he is capable of playing, and defending, both guard positions effectively, and just has a good feel for the game on both ends. , but being on a really bad team(like Mayo) is going to hurt them both a little bit I think, but not much. I think Westbrook is easily a top 5 ROTY candidate that has a great chance at winning it.

Derrick Rose: PER-15.46(7th overall) 36.7mpg
He's a stud and I believe the current favorite for the award; enough said. But his numbers have slowly faded as the season progressed. He started off the season with a bang, looking like he could possibly hold up 20ppg and 7apg numbers, which were a result of playing 40+mpg, but not just that(i don't know what exactly, maybe teams have tried adapting, or it's just the Bulls crowded back-court). But Rose's per game numbers are still really solid, but he does play 37mpg, so his Per36 numbers are basically his per game averages, which are very solid, don't get me wrong, but they don't stand out from the other top rookies either. The main thing with Rose is he is a leader; he is the starting PG that leads the team; a team that's possibly headed to the playoffs. He does have Gordon, Hinrich, and even Salmons that are all quality back-court players, so he is likely sacrificing some scoring to just get those guys more involved. I think Rose could average more assists, but I understand that Salmons and Gordon are both dribble heavy shooting guards that can make it hard to rack up assists. Now the things that we all know about Rose: he has great size and athleticism; he can get to the rim at will(he's mastered that floated); he is great at penetrating and creating for others; he's not a bad defender; and he's just an overall great talent that is a natural born leader. Whether Rose is the "shoe-in" for the award is beyond me; I do know that Rose is easily a top 5 ROTY candidate that has a great chance at winning it.

Rudy Fernandez: PER-15.41(8th overall) 25.6mpg
Talk about a dark-horse coming into the season. This kid was traded by the Suns to Portland for cash considerations, not a bad move by Portland. He has come over from Spain this year and instantly been an effective player on the court. He plays a great role off the bench for Portland, and is already one of the premiere 3-point shooters in the league. The great thing about Rudy is his energy, and while he can be considered as a 3-point specialist, he has a natural instinct for getting to the rim as well. He showed us in the All-Star Weekend dunk contest(and in the Olympics against over Superman) that he could jump with the best of them and throw down some pretty sick dunks. Rudy's numbers don't stand out as anything spectacular, but all season long he has gotten the job done very effectively, all while being efficient. I don't think he really has a chance at winning this award, but he deserves to be mentioned because he has contributed quite a bit more to Portland's success than people think. While Rudy is probably not a top 5 candidate for the award, he deserves some attention.

Eric Gordon: PER-15.17(9th overall) 33.4mpg
Yes he plays for the Clippers, I know, it hurts my eyes to watch Clipper games too(like their collapse to Cleveland the other night). But let's put that aside for one second; Gordon is slowly becoming a stud, just like these other rookies, and he's putting up a good amount of minutes like Lopez, Westbrook, Rose, and Mayo. So why is he never in the ROTY conversation? He's averaging close to 16ppg, and while his rebounding/assist numbers could be better(though they are similar to Mayo's) Gordon has shown he's a solid defender as well. He's a potent scorer, slasher, and a great 3-point shooter; just because he's on the Clippers doesn't mean we have to fully ignore the kid. I think he's shown why he was such a high lottery pick, and why he should be considered in the ROTY race. When you look at it from an efficiency/production perspective, Gordon is a very, almost eerily similar player to OJ Mayo. Just check out their Per36. Gordon is on the brink of being a top 5 candidate for this award, so if he can finish the season off strong he will likely be one of the players that will really have a chance at ROTY.

O.J. Mayo: PER-14.62(10th overall) 37.8mpg
Pretty astonishing that Mayo has the 10th overall PER. I really would of thought he was in the top 3 from looking at his per-game stats and just his overall game. I know PER isn't definitive of anything, but it really shows that Mayo is no more efficient than these other rookies; or it just shows how damn good this draft class really is(possibly the best ever in terms of production). Mayo leads the rookies in scoring at 18.8 points per contest, a comfortable 2ppg more than any other rookie, but also leads all rookies in minutes at nearly 38 minutes a contest as well. So looking at it in context his scoring is actually no more efficient(maybe even less) than players like Wesbtrook and Gordon who average around 16ppg and play far less minutes. But I don't want to spend all this time discrediting him either, because Mayo is definitely worth of a top nomination or even winning ROTY. He has proven to be a very capable scorer for Memphis all season; he is what we call a natural scorer: capable of shooting 3-pointers at a high clip(38%) but also has a very effective mid-range game, and a very effective slashing game. I do think his passing is very underwhelming, as he only averages 3 assists per game while playing 38 minutes and being a big part of creating Memphis' offense. As much as I criticize Mayo, it's only because he is such a solid player. He's a very solid all-around player, not a bad defender, and will be a great shooting-guard for years to come. Whether or not he's ever a star is to be determined; for now he's easily a top 5 ROTY candidate that has a great shot at winning it.
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Realize that even my opinion and perspective doesn't just look at the top 10 rankings of rookie PER's and assume the top 5 candidates are the players with the top 5 PER's, because that's obviously not at all what I have suggested. But the PER is a great way to get a little perspective on each players overall game, efficiency, and production, so to dismiss it as a worthwhile equation is absurd as well.

When determining the winner of the Rookie of the Year I think quite a few things should be analyzed when coming to a conclusion: Per game stats, Per36 stats, PER ratings, +/- of the players, and all the intangible things like leadership, defense, energy, etc. You obviously can't just look at the stats and give the award to the most attractive stat line averages, but I also think stats are a big part of sports and play a major factor in individual awards like ROTY.

I actually think it's very possible this season results in a TIE for Rookie of the Year, but I don't think it will be Mayo and Rose...........


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Sources:
(John Hollinger's latest Rookie Ratings with PER)

(Comparing the Per36 of Rose to Westbrook and Mayo to Gordon with Basketball Reference):

"Spare Time With Boston/Lakers"

Now this is a relatively random post, but I realized it's been awhile since I blogged anything basketball. I spend quite a bit of my free time discussing hoops in a few different forums, and many times "sigs" are a great way to show off your true colors. A "sig", or signature, is what shows up below all of your posts. Many times it can be a favorite quote of yours, many times it can be a stupid comment like "peace"; but in these obsessed forums we all end up with a "sig picture". This is a photo(most likely photoshopped) that shows your true colors. To the left is my current signature; I was actually for Obama, but it doesn't mean I can't mock how liberal he is perceived.....and can be.

Now your "true colors" can be a wide array of things. It can be a photo of let's say....someone you despise and make a mockery of. Many times we will place bets on certain games and if you lose you have to wear a "sig picture" that the winner gets to make for you. An example: for the previous Lakers and Celtics match-up we made a "sig bet"; the smart ones who chose the Lakers(like myself) won the bet, obviously, so all those that chose the Celtics had to "wear" any signature picture we made for them.

So I used my Adobe Photoshop skills(yes they are amateurish) to make a few signature pictures for a few guys. There is a poster who goes by the screen name of "Mogrady"; obviously he is a bog fan of Tracy McGrady, and for some reason bet on the Celtics winning that match-up. To his chagrin I was able to concoct a very interesting, and somewhat weird, signature picture for this individual poster(yes I have excess free time):

While it has little to do with the fact that Boston was defeated by the unstoppable Lakers, I felt I should go the personal route and attack his favorite player. Is it stupid? Of course, but that's the entire point: every time this respectable fan of basketball makes any post this image will appear under it. So he could make a great, legit, objective post about McGrady's efficiency on the basketball court that makes complete sense, but at the bottom of the post we see a picture that shows McGrady as the pothead he really is, always stuck behind the shadows of the best shooting-guard of this era, Kobe Bryant.

Now to my personal favorite. It's a more general picture; one that suggest the Lakers are simply superior to the Celtics, a picture that fits the bet. I actually became so fond of it that I started sporting it as my own signature picture for awhile. But more importantly, the hardcore Boston fans(I call them homers) that think the Big 3 are an unstoppable force and the Celtics are better then every other team, these are the guys that had to "wear" the signature. I consider this my best work of art to date:

Obviously I am trying to point out that the Lakers "Big3" is a far better trio than the Celtics self-labeled "Big3". Even more ironic is the fact that one of the posters who bet on the Celtics goes by the screen name of "Big3", so to his chagrin it definitely made him look stupid. Now you might be thinking that Bynum should be the third of the trio; I would agree, but he was hurt(still is) and Odom was definitely the third musketeer that game, and he has been ever since.

Yes it is quite stupid, but then again, that's the entire point!

I am currently working on a few ideas and have compiled a few drafts; one is Chris "Birdman" Andersen literally flying with wings that shows how insanely good he really is; another of Tyson Chandler as Oscar the Grouch in his little trashcan(yes I believe Chandler is a bum). Anyway, if you have any suggestions for what would be a humorous, yet effective signature picture please feel free to comment and let me know.

"Timber!"

It's happened again. I guess Andrew Bynums log-like legs can only handle approximately half of a season. Last night against the Grizzlies, halfway through the first quarter I heard a fan yell "timber!" and a few seconds later Andrew was curled up on the ground grabbing his right leg in agony. After watching the replay it seems the "Black Mamba" crashed into Bynum following an off-balanced drive. Apparently the x-ray taken showed no structural damage, but I believe those only show major breaks in the bones. A torn ACL or similar injury(just as damaging) will not show up until they get extensive MRI done.

You really feel for this kid though...to some extent. I mean, sure, he signed a fat contract extension and is going to make more money next year than I will probably make in my entire life, but even so, some empathy is understandable.....maybe he'll pay me for it. It seems like whenever he starts to get a great feel for the NBA game something drastic happens. He has put together his best streak of games in his career recently; Bynum's averages from the 5 games previous to the Memphis game:

26.2 points 13.8 rebounds 3.2 blocks 65%FG 83%FT

All this while getting to the free-throw line eight times a game in that stretch(and a career best 42 point game). Most importantly, though, is the fact that he looked explosive and played with an aggression we have been hoping for. He no longer caught the ball on the block waiting for the double-team so he could pass out of it. He no longer took fade-away hooks going up against a defender several inches shorter than him. He no longer worried about committing a foul before contesting a shot. Simply put, he started playing instinctively; stopped over-thinking everything and let his natural ability take over.

I was on the verge of blogging about Bynum's recent surge and how he makes the Lakers that much better....so of course some freak incident happens. Bynum's presence was becoming Superman-like, causing opponents to think twice about driving the lane. His footwork in the post is incredibly agile and as fundamentally sound as any other 7+ footer. His soft hands and ability to catch passes on the fast-break are unusually superb. He was playing at a level that would suggest he is worth the big contract extension; a level that would put him up there with the top 5 centers. Here's a nice little display of his skills:



Then a random play changes it all. With Kobe off-balance after a shot he crashes into Andrew's leg. For some reason I felt like this was deja vu, but I wasn't sure why. The more I compared this injury to last years the more I felt a growing sense of loss. Why? Remember last years injury to Bynum? Let's take a look at the two injuries:

• Both injuries happened in January
  
• Both injuries happened against the Memphis Grizzlies
• Both injuries happened with Bynum playing at a career best
• Both injuries were caused by a teammate(Odom lasy year, Kobe this year)

A little eerie wouldn't you say? Of course last years injury was to Andrew's left knee, while this injury seems to be his right knee. That's really the only difference: different legs. It's possible that it's just a slight sprain, but it's also possible it's a season ending injury. With the ridiculous similarity to last years injury it's hard to think the outcome will be any different.

Sure, the Lakers are still a solid contender without Bynum, but I seem to think they won't be able to win a ring this year without him. Let's hope the similarities to last years injury are stopped once the MRI is taken. Simply put: it sucks. It seems this kid is cursed by the "random teammate injury monster". It appears this could be a trend with Bynum; whenever he's getting his explosion back and becoming the star we thought he would be........BANG!

"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.