After following the league semi-closely, I thought I'd act like I know what I'm talking about and present some musings. Here goes:
1. OK, I lied. I don't really know what I'm talking about. After taking a look at my sure-to-go-wrong predictions from one week into the season, I was just a bit off base. (Kind of like how Rush Limbaugh is just a bit mentally unsound. Did you see what he said about Michael J. Fox? Seriously.)
Let's start off with what I got right. New Orleans looks great: currently fifth in the west; unbelievable point guard in Chris Paul who said that playing in the NBA is easier for him than college ball (and I totally believe him); getting a free mulligan on a trade that would've sent Tyson Chandler away and what would've been the dumbest trade since the Grizzlies gave away Pau Gasol in exchange for a 10%-off coupon at Jiffy Lube.
Now, that Iverson-Billups trade. I made the case that they were clearing space for the Summer of 2010, when just about every great player will become a free agent. But the Motor City looks to be in a precarious position. Had it not been for a huge victory in Boston last Sunday, they'd have lost something like 8 straight games. And before that, they'd been slowly tumbling down the standings for a while. A quote from my earlier blog entry: "Detroit was good, is good, and will be good for a long time." Whoops. Don't bank on that; they just might be on the outs. Plus, given the long, standing ovation Billups received upon his return to Detroit a couple of nights ago, Piston fans seem to miss him.I also said the old big three in the West (Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio) would be cast aside in favor of the younger, more athletic likes of Portland, Los Angeles, Denver, and Utah. Almost right. I am still surprised every single year when the Spurs are right there at the top. HOW ARE THEY 40-19?? WITH MATT BONNER PLAYING CENTER?? THEY'RE SO BORING!! I THINK MY SHIFT KEY IS STUCK!!
But enough of that. To quote Mark McGwire, I have no desire to talk about the past. Let's move on, shall we?
2. Even though you've heard of him, Kevin Durant is still the "best player you've never hear of." Did you know he's still around? Did you know he's fourth in the league in scoring at 26.0 PPG? Did you know since February 1, he's at over 30 per game? Did you know he still can't legally order a Shiner Bock? I find it shocking that I'm almost three years older than him. I guess my NBA ship might be starting to sail.
3. Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh gets my vote for closest player resemblance to his team's logo. Seriously, he looks like a velociraptor or something, doesn't he? Especially from the profile view, with his dreadlocks. But I'd better be nice... there's rumors of him coming to Dallas in a couple years after his contract with Toronto runs out, and I think he plus Dirk would be one heck of a frontcourt. Now if we can just get Jason Kidd to start reversing his age, we'd be all set.4. I miss the NBA on NBC song.
You do, too. Admit it.
(I'm not alone...see the first few paragraphs of this Bill Simmons column. Watch the video, too, if you're a real NBA fan.)
5. If the Dallas Mavericks had won the 2006 NBA Finals, they would still be an elite team in the West. Talk about a crossroads. You have to wonder if Dallas would've been desperate enough to pull of that Jason Kidd trade if they had pulled off a championship with Devin Harris. I'm a little softer on Mark Cuban for doing that, though, because Jason Kidd really is just that good. (Incidentally I just now saw him make the best fast break pass I think I've ever seen.) I've personally learned so much just from watching him.
But I can't get over how confident they looked when they beat the Spurs and Suns that year. They walked out there and knew they could win. But that untimely four-gaming losing streak in the Finals sent them in a downspiral from which they just won't recover. (If I had a penny for every time I've complained about that series in the history of this blog...) Lots of the game is mental if you let it (and the Mavs are letting it), and those emotionally scarred Mavs just can't get it done.
But boy, are they still fun to watch. Sometimes. Man, it's frustrating when they lose by 20 to teams like Milwaukee or Oklahoma City. Good teams just don't let that happen.
Sidebar: If you want to learn a little something about how the game of basketball works, tune in to the local Mavs broadcast. Color commentator Bob Ortegel is BY FAR the best in the business. Way better than Hubie Brown or Jeff "Milhouse's Dad" Van Gundy.
6. Calling traveling is hip again.
It seems traveling has gotten called just a little more often this year. In fact, I'd say there's been at least one traveling violation called in every game I've seen this year, which believe it or not is a vast improvement. There's still probably about 5 or 6 situations per game where it should be called, but hey, progress is progress. I worry about this article, which suggests, it'll be legal to take a "second step"? That sounds a bit suspect.
7. I'm sticking with my pre-season NBA champs pick. Boston over L.A. in an epic 7-game series. This time, L.A. has home-court advantage, but Paul Pierce lodges a proverbial axe into the back of Laker-lover Jack Nicholson, a la The Shining, with a 43-point championship-clinching barage. (If I get this exactly right, I'd better get some props.)
Before we get there, though, It will be an interesting and unpredictable post-season to be sure. I see a coming-out party for Deron Williams, and Utah surprising Denver and San Antonio en route to the West Finals. I see Cleveland sailing past Detroit and the Jameer Nelson-less Orlando Magic, and giving an unbelievable but futile challenge to Boston. The Celtics and Lakers will be duking it out in the Finals, and Boston will win their 18th championship. Hey, if we've learned anything from the four-time champ Spurs, the boring pick is very often the right one.
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