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A few thoughts, comments and notes on the NBA at one quarter of the way through the regular season. The Clarion Content noted in our NBA predictions that there was very little chance of anyone outside of Boston, Cleveland and Los Angeles celebrating an NBA title this season. Sorry Cleveland, but we have already narrowed that list to two contenders.
First... the NBA's Eastern Conference "The Least"
LeBron and Cavs have been up and down this season. Shaq has contributed little. They have lost to mediocre squads like Chicago, Washington, Charlotte and Memphis. Even the normally driven LeBron, periodically looks like he is thinking ahead to his impending free agency.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have leaped off the page. Rajan Rondo is an All-Star point guard, no doubt. KG finally appears fully healthy, although one has to wonder how he will hold-up with nearly 60 games to go before the playoffs start. Sheed is contributing off the bench. Eddie House is doing his Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson impersonation. They haven't even had Big Baby Davis on the squad yet, he was a valuable point scoring reserve last year.
Elsewhere the East is putridness. Don't be fooled by Orlando, who made a horrible call adding Vince Carter's chemistry and inconsistent effort to the mix. Is he already rubbing off on Rashard Lewis? Lewis started the season with a ten game suspension, and this week added to his list of accomplishments, refusing to go back in the game when told to by Coach Ron Jeremey, errr, Stan Van Gundy. Useful, Rashard, really useful. Dwight Howard still has no range and no moves. Last year's playoffs demonstrated that he is deadly from five feet and closer, but if teams can force his catches further away from the basket, he is a non-contributor. He is also woefully immature as a team leader, a problem on an Orlando squad lacking team discipline. Thrown-in the Vince Carter deal, Cal product Ryan Anderson has been terrific, averaging nearly eleven points in a mere nineteen minutes.
The bottom of the East is so bad that it appears as many as three sub .500 clubs could make the playoffs. The Milwaukee Bucks have cooled off after rookie Brandon Jennings' electrifying start to the season. The Bobcats appear poised under veteran carpetbagger Larry Brown to hang around the edges of the playoff race. The Bulls are underachieving and inconsistent in their focus and offense. The Pacers missing their best player Danny Granger, but may be developing something for the future. Rookie Tyler Hansbrough, from the University of North Carolina, has been getting more minutes and been producing with them. Last night he had a career high 21 points. Indy has also been getting production of late out of 7 foot Georgetown alum, second year player, Roy Hibbert. These bottom feeders along with Le Bullet and the Knicks should be grasping for that final playoff spot and the right to get swept by the Celtics in the first round.
The 2009-10 Nets will not challenge the Sixers 9 up and 73 down all-time NBA record for suckatation. There are too many other bad teams and the boys from East Rutherford are gradually getting healthy. They have, however, already imploded their chances at signing LeBron. And, the Clarion Content would still bet they never play a home game in Brooklyn.
It should be noted that we can hardly get a handle on the Atlanta Hawks. The have a passel full of talent. The have Bob Knight disciple Coach Mike Woodson running the show. Could they be for real? They are off to a strong 16 up and 6 down start.
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