NBA 2008-2009

[jon abbey]

it's a long, long way until the Finals.

if one more team in the West was bad, the vast majority of the regular season would be pretty irrelevant, even with 60 or so games left.

Detroit with a dreadful effort in NY today, Rasheed barely tried and Iverson just seems like an awful fit there. I'd be really surprised if he's back there next season, very curious to see where he ends up and for how much money, I don't think he helps teams win games at this point in his career.

oh, and 48 minutes for Chris Duhon today, severely outplaying both Iverson and Stuckey, 25 points, 9 assists, 5 boards, 2 turnovers. most improved player in the league?

[jon abbey]

in the nine games since Zach Randolph was traded, David Lee is averaging 18 points and 14.6 boards, shooting over 50 percent from the field in every game, all double/doubles.

[Enforcer]

Nothing has changed in the effort department for the Pistons. Iverson brings it every night, but this is still a team that can beat the Lakers on the road one night and lose to the worst team in the league at home the next.

Rasheed is the biggest offender. He just doesn't show up at all some nights.

[The G Man]

it's a long, long way until the Finals.

if one more team in the West was bad, the vast majority of the regular season would be pretty irrelevant, even with 60 or so games left.

Detroit with a dreadful effort in NY today, Rasheed barely tried and Iverson just seems like an awful fit there. I'd be really surprised if he's back there next season, very curious to see where he ends up and for how much money, I don't think he helps teams win games at this point in his career.

oh, and 48 minutes for Chris Duhon today, severely outplaying both Iverson and Stuckey, 25 points, 9 assists, 5 boards, 2 turnovers. most improved player in the league?

We'll see when he's matched up against Devin Harris on Wednesday night.

Kevin McHale is the new T'Wolves coach. I figure the Matt Millen of the NBA has one foot out the door as GM.

[jon abbey]

a couple of NBA trades today: Jason Richardson to Phoenix for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, and Antonio Daniels to NO in a three way deal.

on a related note, Steve Kerr couldn't be doing a worse job in Phoenix if he was on the Lakers' payroll. when Amare and Nash leave in 2010, the destruction of the roster will be complete.

[Noj]

Steve Kerr couldn't be doing a worse job in Phoenix if he was on the Lakers' payroll. when Amare and Nash leave in 2010, the destruction of the roster will be complete.

Bewildering moves, glad I'm not a Suns fan. Diaw AND Bell, wtf?

[jon abbey]

they have seven guys left, and that's including Shaq and Grant Hill.

Shaq/Amare/Hill/Richardson/Nash with Barbosa and Matt Barnes off the bench, that's a dreadful dreadful defensive team, not to mention a pretty fragile rotation.

[The G Man]

they have seven guys left, and that's including Shaq and Grant Hill.

Shaq/Amare/Hill/Richardson/Nash with Barbosa and Matt Barnes off the bench, that's a dreadful dreadful defensive team, not to mention a pretty fragile rotation.

It was sad for me sseing Barbosa's game regress last year.

Impressive win for the no-D Knicks over the no-D Nets. David Lee got hurt toppling over Carter in the third quarter leaving D'Antoni with a six-man rotation. The Knicks' game plan: abuse Yi. He can't guard anybody. Al Harrington had 39 points. Sean Williams twice committed fouls by contesting jump shots and awkwardly falling into the other player from the side of his back. He looked good for awhile as a rookie but looks lost out there. He can block shots but he can't guard anybody nor shoot.

D'Antoni could coach Oklahoma City to 30 wins.

[jon abbey]

Harrington and Tim Thomas, both Jersey boys, both with season highs, 65 points between them.

and yeah, imagine if D'Antoni could actually get nine guys into the rotation at some point.

[jon abbey]

whoa, Carmelo scored 33 points tonight....

IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

that tied the NBA record for a quarter, set on the last day of the 1978 season by George Gervin when David Thompson and Gervin were both going for the scoring title (Thompson scored 73 to take the lead, then Gervin scored 63 to pass him).

[walto]

Yeah, I watched the Celtics/Portland game the other night, and after the first period Portland was really awful. I feel bad for Oden--he seems lost now that he can't just body people out of his way.

BTW, I also agree with you about Duhon as the league's most improved player. I never expected these kinds of performances from him myself, and I keep expecting him to fall back to earth.

[Enforcer]

In other news, the Pistons suck.

[jon abbey]

Yeah, I watched the Celtics/Portland game the other night, and after the first period Portland was really awful. I feel bad for Oden--he seems lost now that he can't just body people out of his way.

that was easily the worst game Portland played all year, I wouldn't take too much out of it. obviously Boston/LA/Cleveland are well above everyone else right now, but Portland's right on that second tier, and Oden is doing fine.

BTW, I also agree with you about Duhon as the league's most improved player. I never expected these kinds of performances from him myself, and I keep expecting him to fall back to earth.

he's going to if they don't get him some rest. they really got screwed with this Mobley thing, and Nate getting hurt at the same time. if Dolan cares at all about winning games this year (which is doubtful, seriously), they need to clear some roster space of dead weight like Jerome James, and get some guys who can at least play a few minutes and give the starters some rest.

[Captain Hate]

I wish bo was still posting here because this is the first time I've ever been this excited about the Cavs, including when they went to the finals. I'm even impressed by the play of the Brazilian Fundamental because he's roaming the baselines where LeBron can hit him with a laser pass for a dunk instead of coming out top and getting the rock and producing WTF moments. Ben Wallace has bathed in the fountain of youth as has the Z man. And they are sooooo set at the guard position with Mo Williams and Delonte West. Plus they're getting solid work from their subs and even though Boobie is a bit nicked up, he's looked good too.

I realize that there's a long way from now to the playoffs but I've never seen a team just blow people away, either from the get-go or just staying relentlessly on them. Props to Ferry for being just like his old man in that he's a much better front office guy than a player and to Mike Brown for keeping the team focused. And props to LeBron for knowing when to raise his foot from his own personal accelerator.

[Jesse]

Right, where is Bo?

[The G Man]

I predicted Lakers-Cavs at the beginning of the season and still do. I think the Cavs will swing a deal for Wally's expiring contract and become favorites. If VC isn't available the Cavs should talk to the Wiz about Jamison.

[Steve Reynolds]

The only thing Vince Carter could do for the Cavs is allow them to lose to the Celtics.

Right now that would be one helluva series (obviously)

I see no reason why they would want Vince Carter

[The G Man]

The only thing Vince Carter could do for the Cavs is allow them to lose to the Celtics.

Right now that would be one helluva series (obviously)

I see no reason why they would want Vince Carter

He's unselfish, a good passer, and would be an offensive threat playing with LeBron. He's popular with his coaches and teammates in NJ.

[jon abbey]

yeah, it's not like LeBron is surrounded by stellar talents there. Ferry has just managed to build up enough competent role players (most of whom would be decidedly worse on any other team in the league), and LeBron has just gotten better and better and better. Vince Carter is similar to Mo Williams (all offense, no D), and Williams has fit in fantastically, but I agree that Jamison is a better fit than Carter would be. I'm also not sure if they need anyone else, though, as they're quite deep now.

[jon abbey]

wow, the Nets are just awful at home, down by 30 to Toronto late. I wonder how much of that is them trying (pretty unsuccessfully so far) to move to Brooklyn.