Ballin’: 30-Games in Edition
NBA January 2nd. 2008, 11:27am
No NBA games last night, so we’ll take this opportunity to prattle on about casual observations 30 games into the season.
* Get out the TNT and blow these guys up, for their window is closed, and each team needs to begin anew: New Jersey (14-16), Miami (8-23), Houston (14-16). We’re still hesitant to pull the plug on Chicago and New York because each could turn it around in the second half or next year. We realize those are extremely minority opinions, and we can live with that.
* No need to savage the Cavs for their middling 14-17 start. Yes, they will make the playoffs. Sideshow Bob has only played 10 games (they’re 5-5), and we expect the Cavs – assuming LeBron is healthy – to finish with about the 6th seed in the East, and enjoy a thrilling first-round matchup with … Orlando. You know who we’re picking in that series, right?
* Team that’s been the most impressive, yet nobody’s talking about: New Orleans (20-11). Keep your fingers crossed that Peja remains healthy. Also, they have a player straight out of Gladiator: Marcus Vinicius.
* Team that right now looks playoff-worthy, but probably will implode at some point: Atlanta. Unrelated: Indiana doesn’t look playoff-worthy, nor will it reach the postseason.
* Meaningless, premature thoughts on awards: Coach of the Year, Phil Jackson, with Nate McMillan in the mix; MVP, Kevin Garnett (closely followed by, in no particular order, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul) ; Rookie of the Year, Kevin Durant; Most Improved Player, Caron Butler, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Kaman, or Rudy Gay; and Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard or Atlanta’s Josh Smith.
* Marko Jaric update: Best we can tell, he’s still with Adriana Lima, and it has resulted in career bests in field goal shooting and three point shooting, along with envy from opponents.
* Guess who went 8-7 in December after a 13-4 November? Still wondering? It’s Orlando. Not ready to call them frauds just yet, but you know we see them as title contenders. Look for more mediocre action in January, since they have a mini West Coast trip (should go 2-2) but then two games against Detroit and one against Boston later in the month. Still, Hedo’s got to be an All-Star reserve, mostly because he’s a major reason (career best averages in minutes, points, rebounds and assists) the Magic have the 3rd best record in the East.
* A bit surprised there haven’t been many (any?) stories about the Celtics and 70 wins. You will find no silly comparisons to legendary Bulls or Lakers teams here. But. The only other teams we can think of in the last 30 years with three Hall of Famers in their prime are the mid-80s Lakers, the mid-80s Celtics, and the 90s-Bulls. At any rate: Jan. 5, Boston at Detroit, and Jan. 31 Boston vs. Dallas and Feb. 10 Boston vs. San Antonio.
30 Responses to “Ballin’: 30-Games in Edition”
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January 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 AM
You could make the argument that the Bulls can turn it around since they’ve been in the playoffs the past couple years. But the Knicks?!! They’re a poorly constructed, mismanaged giant piece of crap. They’ve done nothing but disappoint under Dolan and Isiah.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 AM
paul pierce is no hall of famer TBL
Jan 9th TBL set your calander, Orlando pays a visit to LA to face the clippers
Dwight howard is going to make caveman look like a high schooler
Also, Hedo is doing great this year for the Magic and that game winner against Chicago was awesome especially after gordon hit a game tying three seconds earlier
and TBL, Orlando and Detroit will meet in the conference championships with Detroit moving on the play, you hear it first, LA Lakers
Kobe is carrying this team all the way to the finals this year
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 AM
If by carrying his team, you mean playing as well as he has the last 3 years while the players around him (Bynum mostly) play much better, then yep, he’ll carry them.
But they won’t make the finals.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 AM
nick your ridin again
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 AM
While Pierce is no lock at this moment, his career to date has him on that path there. If he adds a title this year or next, I think he’s in.
If the Lakers reach the finals, you got your post. If not … why don’t you send me $10 through paypal?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 AM
TBL,
No mention of the Pistons 14-2 December record? I am cool with that. We like being under the radar…
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I’ve tried to come up with configurations on how to blow up the Rockets. Nothing works. We are too old and too young at the same time. We have no athletes to offer in trade. And T-Mac’s injury history/playoff history prevents us from getting anything more than 30 cents on the dollar if we do try to trade him.
Ugh.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Shh…don’t let anyone in on the Hornets. I want them to sneak up on teams come April.
Meanwhile, Houston’s never healthy, the Heat got old in a hurry, the Nets appear ready to implode and the Knicks are…the Knicks.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Not riding, irish.
Go Cavs
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Maggs – the Pistons don’t exist at TBL.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:05 PM
You guys really think Flip gets to the Finals?
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Flip Saunders? He’s drinking the the Joe D kool-aid now. This is the best (maybe last?) shot the Pistons have to win again with their starting 5. Pistons – Spurs in the Finals. Although, I like to see a Pistons – Lakers rematch, mafia.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 PM
i see the pistons being a contender this year to win it all
solid group all around and jason maxiel is a beast
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 PM
No questions the pistons are kicking ass and taking names right now. really incredible run they’re on.
Just hope they don’t have to face LeBron in the first round.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:42 PM
no mvp love for lebron? cavs will still make the playoffs, and if you think lebron cant carry his team past the first round youre crazy.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 PM
You can go ahead and fork the T-wolves while you are at it. I won’t mind.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 PM
The Cavs aren’t even in the play-offs right now. How in the world is Lebron an MVP candidate?
Paul Pierce will likely finish his career among the top 20 scorers in NBA history and will probably only have John Havilcek in front of him in Celtics history when he is done. Considering that he has lots of time left to add to his numbers there is no doubt he is headed to the HOF.
Pierce was taken in the same draft as both Dirk and Vince and he has scored more than both. And yes there is more to his game. Pierce is and has been one of the best rebounding wings his entire career.
TBL, ESPN has a page where they compare the Celtics to the 72 win Bulls. They have a side by side tally going.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/features/best
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 PM
how in the world did A-Rod win an MVP on the Rangers? Oh thats right, he was the best player in the league despite being surrounded by crap.
cavs will be in the playoffs, doesnt matter if its the 8th seed, theyll still sneak in somehow. east sucks.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 PM
TBL–why do the Hawks implode? I don’t necessarily disagree (my pessimistic nature as an Atlanta sports fan has the wheels coming off any day now), but I’m curious what your reasons are…
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Hawks are for real. Their coach should be COY.
So because A-Rod won an MVP on the Rangers that is how the rest of the sports world is to vote on these things for the rest of eternity?
If you think Lebron has a chance in hell at touching KG in the MVP race you are nuts. The MVP has to be a Boston Celtic.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Shouldn’t they be blowed up?
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 PM
You honestly think the Cavs could knock off Detroit in the first round? I know you slurp Lebron on a daily basis, but that’s fucking ridiculous. And don’t talk about ‘last year’, because last year the Pistons had about 2 guys coming off the bench, and this year they have about 4. The starters are finally getting some rest, and besides, you think after what happened last year, they’d let the Cavs beat them again, in the first round no less?
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Spartan … come on, man. How can you discount the series? If you want to say the Pistons are improved, that’s fine, but you can’t forget about the 4 straight wins.
Statistically, the teams were nearly a wash.
Yes, the bench is nice to have, but you know the postseason – the starters get heavy minutes because it’s a slower pace and possessions are maximized. As for this great bench … is one of them going to stop LeBron? Cause that’s all that really matters.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:44 PM
with jordan, all he needed was to get past the Pistons in order for his Bulls to take over the east. Jordan had Pippen, that was all he needed. Lebron needs a lot of help. The pistons are VETs, who have been through the playoffs, finals and tough close games. I would love to see the Orlando Magic do what the Pistons do on a day in day out basis. FLip inherited a great team,and joe dumars doesnt get enough credit for the job he has done. LEbron is by himself on that team. too much moeny for sideshow bob and that # 3 of the cavs,larry hughes sucks and Big Z, gooden are a waste of money. Danny Ferry needs to get canned and someone like Brian Colengelo needs to come in and give that team a shakeup. Lebron wont win a championship.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 PM
dornoch…if anyone should get it, it should be kobe. KG is playing with 2 all-stars, kobe is playing with none, which is the same rationale i apply to lebron.
spartan…its obvious youre from Michigan but it isn’t 2004 and you don’t have the 2004 Ben Wallace walking through that door. you couldnt stop lebron last year, how do you think youll stop him this year or any other year until you get some new blood in there? good for the pistons that they have a bench now.
irish…gotta agree, lebron wont win a championship as long as hes with the cavs and their idiot GM (who lives in my old neighborhood, and if i was a real fan i could set his house on fire and speed up the replacement process).
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 PM
spence he lives in Westlake dont he(ferry)
i used to go to Shawn Kemps house and egg it all the time
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 PM
no, he lives in Shaker Heights.
i used to sneak onto Ozzie Newsome’s property in Chagrin Falls to smoke joints in high school. that guy has a fucking awesome place.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 PM
thats right you were on the east side
good stuff spence
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 PM
‘If the Lakers reach the finals, you got your post. If not … why don’t you send me $10 through paypal?’
TBL, do you need donations
is that why you asked me to send $ 10 through paypal
i dont buy shit online, the whole instant gratification thing you know
so i wouldnt know how to use paypal
is that why you are getting a second job on the weekends
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 PM
All I’m saying is that I don’t see Lebron knocking them out of the first round. I’m not discounting that series, what I’m saying is that with the way Detroit went out last year, I don’t see them letting Lebron beat them again this year. I can see Detroit getting to the Finals-unless, of course, Flip fucks it up. Which isn’t out of the question.
And in that Lakers-Celts game the other night, why the hell did Rivers still play his starters when the game was already won? The big question with Boston is gonna be how rested the starters are come playoff time. That was pretty dumb on Rivers’ part.