Beyond The Arc | Daily NBA Basketball News

NBA Rookie Rankings #2

Posted by: admin, on November 25, 2009 at 4:06 pm.

By Arash Markazi of Sports Illustrated:

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Tyreke Evans didn’t fall as far as Brandon Jennings in the NBA draft, going fourth instead of ninth, but the teams that passed on Evans, the fourth overall choice in June, are beginning to hear the same questions the teams who passed on Jennings have been getting for weeks.

While Jennings has gotten much of the press, Evans has quietly become just as explosive, scoring 20 or more points in his last seven games and joining Jennings as the only two rookies ranked in the top 20 in scoring with 19.0 points per game. For good measure Evans has also tallied 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game thus far.

With an impressive show of consistency since Kevin Martin went down with an injury two weeks ago, Evans has vaulted to the top spot in this week’s rankings.

(All stats and records are through Nov. 25.)

Last Week: 2

Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings

The most impressive part about Evans’ play recently has been his efficiency. In his last two games, he’s scored 57 points, hitting 23 of his 39 attempts (58.9 percent) while dishing out 14 assists. Evans has benefited from the constant coaching of Pete Carril, the 79-year-old architect of the Princeton offense and Kings assistant, who has been Evans’ shadow since entering the NBA. Kings coach Paul Westphal asked Carril to work with Evans on improving his shooting technique and eliminating any wasted movement. Now Evans is releasing the ball from the top of his forehead instead of behind his right ear as he did in Memphis. “The potential is enormous,” Carril told the Commercial Appeal. “When you look at him, you say: ‘Holy God.’”

Last Week: 2

Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks

This should have been one of those weeks in which we had co-leaders in the rankings. Jennings certainly did nothing to lose his top spot as he leads all rookies in scoring with 24.2 points-per-game and in assists at 5.7 per game. The problem for Jennings is he’s become a victim of his own success. After his 55-point scoring bonanza against the Warriors, every team he plays has focused their defense on shutting him down. Against the Spurs Gregg Popovich tried to wear down Jennings by sending Tony Parker and George Hill at him, a tactic that saw Jennings limited to 12 points on 6-for-21 shooting and commit 5 turnovers. “A lot of teams are starting to trap a lot, and teams are starting to be more physical,” Jennings told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “They’re not leaving me on pick-and-roll situations; a lot of the big guys are staying with me.”

Last Week: 3

Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves

In his perfect world Flynn would be doing what Jennings is doing in Milwaukee: running up and down the court, scoring off pick-and-rolls and being the playmaker he was at Syracuse. On draft night, that was Milwaukee’s dream, too, as the Bucks were set on drafting Flynn before Minnesota surprised everyone and took the former Orangemen after drafting Ricky Rubio. And while that has been good news for the Bucks and Jennings, who has thrived in Scott Skiles’ offense, Flynn has found himself handcuffed by his system. He still doesn’t fully understand Kurt Rambis’ Triangle offense, and the parts he does understand frustrates him because it won’t allow him to do what he does best. Yet, despite being in an offense not designed for a scoring point guard (ask Gary Payton how he liked playing in the Triangle), Flynn continues to be the third-leading rookie scorer with 13.6 points, even though he continues to average more turnovers (3.4) than assists (3.3).

Last Week: 5

Terrence Williams, New Jersey Nets

Williams continues to play four positions for the winless, injury-riddled Nets. He recorded his fourth double-double with a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Bucks recently; no other rookie has more than one double-double this season. Williams is also leading all rookies in total rebounds with (81) and rebounds per game (5.8). While Williams’ versatility has been a necessity early on, it’s clear that he’s flourished when he’s been put in the backcourt and matched up against undersized guards he can attack. Against Milwaukee it appeared he might single-handedly lead the Nets to their first win from the point guard position. He scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds and led the Nets on a 21-7 run. Unfortunately, Williams can’t play all five positions. If he could, the Nets might have won a couple games already.

Last Week: 6

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

After struggling to find his shot and being benched by Warriors coach Don Nelson in New York, Curry has finally found his touch. Some of that has to do with the Warriors finally trading Stephen Jackson, whose departure to Charlotte last week has sparked Curry. After averaging 7.6 points, 4.75 assists and 2.1 rebounds through his first eight games, Curry has averaged 13.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.75 rebounds in his last four games. “Early on, I was out there being kind of tentative, picking and choosing my spots to attack,” Curry told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We had Jack and Monta [Ellis] and sometimes Corey [Maggette] out there, and those guys need the ball a lot to be efficient offensively. It was a tough line to walk. But it’s a beneficial thing for me to put up shots and keep attacking, and I’ve got to be willing to do that.”

Last Week: 9

Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets

No player has benefited more from the coaching change in New Orleans than Thornton, who went from averaging 5.5 points through the first nine games of the season (he didn’t play in the first five) to averaging a team-high 18 points over the past six games despite coming off the bench. Thornton scored a career-high 24 points and hit 5-of-7 three-pointers in his last game against Miami and has only committed three turnovers in his past seven games (only 6 for the season). With Thornton’s role on the team continuing to increase, consider this stat: his scoring average per 48 minutes is 33.4, which ranks 10th in the league (for players with at least 8 games).

Last Week: –

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets

Collison was already poised to benefit from Byron Scott’s firing after Scott essentially refused to play the rookie point guard, but he’s basically been handed the keys to the team after Chris Paul sprained his right ankle and was sidelined for what may be a month. After averaging 1.2 points and 1.0 assist through his first eight games (he didn’t play in four games), Collison has averaged 14.0 points and 5.1 assists in the past seven games. The former UCLA Bruin has scored 10 or more points in his past seven games and has led the Hornets to three straight wins as the starting point guard, including wins over the Hawks and Suns.

Last Week: 4

Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets

Nuggets coach George Karl smiled when asked about Lawson this week. “I’ve already said enough good things about him,” Karl said. While it’s true Lawson has broken through Karl’s reluctance to play rookies, his performance as of late has dipped some, causing Karl to reel back his high praise. After averaging 11.4 points through the first seven games of the season, Lawson has averaged 7.4 points in the last seven. Despite seeing his scoring dip, Lawson is still providing a huge boost off the bench for the Nuggets. In Denver’s loss to the Clippers last week, Lawson actually helped chip the Clippers’ 19-point lead down to 2 before he was taken out. “I would have kept him in if I was the coach,” said Chauncey Billups. “He’s been playing great.”

Last Week: –

Omri Casspi, Sacramento Kings

After a one-week break from the rankings, Casspi is back after scoring a career-high 17 points at Houston and 15 at Memphis. Casspi also has improved on his free-throw shooting after hitting only 3-of-15 from the charity stripe through his first 10 games; in his last three, Casspi has hit 8-of-9 from the stripe. But perhaps the coolest thing that Casspi, the first Israeli player in the NBA, did this week was pose for a picture with Memphis’ Hamed Haddadi, the first Iranian player in the NBA, before their game. Everyone already knows the NBA is a global game now but nothing drove that point home more than that historic picture.

Last Week: –

James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

After an uninspiring start to his rookie season in which he averaged 5.8 points through his first 11 games, Harden has averaged 17.25 in his last four. Harden hadn’t scored more than nine points in a game before he exploded for 24 against Orlando and 25 against Washington in the next game, outscoring the Wizards reserves single-handedly. Harden also connected on 10-of-13 three-pointers in those two games, including seven consecutive at one point, which tied a rookie record for the most consecutive three-pointers converted by a rookie since Michael Dickerson made eight straight for the Rockets in 1999.

Honorable Mention

Tyler Hansbrough, Indiana Pacers (8.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg, fifth among rookies), Chase Budinger, Houston Rockets (8.7 ppg and 12 points against the Kings), Toney Douglas, New York Knicks (8.0 ppg and 12 points against the Lakers), DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs, (5.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg, third among rookies)

Dropped Out

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs, Chase Budinger, Houston Rockets, Toney Douglas, New York Knicks

BTA: Race To MVP Week 2

Posted by: admin, on November 23, 2009 at 5:49 pm.

By AboveLegit

Welcome back to yet another exciting Race to the MVP presented to you by Beyond the Arc Basketball. I’d like to talk about the Milwaukee Bucks, and more importantly, the player everyone has their eyes on, Brandon Jennings. The kid is still rolling through the league with a head of steam, leading this underdog Bucks squad to the best record in the Central Division.

Jennings is leading all rookies with just under 25 points per game to go along with nearly 6 assists per game and 5 rebounds per game. On top of that he’s shooting a respectable 47.7% from the field and is connecting on over half of his three point attempts, proving critics wrong who have cited the range on his shot as a weakness. However, questions still linger as to whether or not the Bucks can keep it up and whether or not Jennings can keep playing at a high level. A few issues stand in their way. First of all, will Jennings hit the rookie wall? It’s a common fear for first year players who have never played this many games in a season before. Can Jennings’ body handle the rigors of the NBA after playing 40 or 50 games? Only time will tell if Jenning-s can fight fatigue better than his fellow freshman.

Look out, the Thunder are playing solid right now, and Kevin Durant is on the verge of getting some MVP consideration. The kid impresses the hell out of me. He’s an excellent shooter, but his shot really isn’t falling right now….yet he is still dropping in 27 a game, getting to the line, and getting it done. I think he has a great unselfish attitude, can be a good leader, and will only get better. His numbers are already elite, and I believe he is on the edge of becoming a true superstar. You OKC fans have got something special so enjoy it.

I want to dedicate a small portion of my time to a former MVP and a sure Hall of Famer, Allen Iverson. He needs to realize the league is moving away from the one man show offense, this is not a league full of teams relying on one player to do everything. Say what you like, but even LeBron James relies on his teammates to score, hence his high assist averages. Allen has all the talent in the world, but is too accustomed to being the star of the team. I would love to see him end his career on a good note, preferably signing with a title contender to assure him a ring in his career. The future of this once great superstar looks very dark.

Well that does it for my weekly rant, now onto the list.

1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (10-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
12 38.1 30.2 5.2 2.8 3.3 0.2 .474 .192 .861
Last Week’s Rank – 1
The recharged Los Angeles Lakers powered by their captain, Kobe Bryant are looking great. With a healthy Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, this offense looks dominant, scoring from all cylinders, but that has not stopped Kobe from playing at a superstar level. He’s leading the league in scoring, shooting a respectable percentage from the field, and is makig good decisions on the floor.

joejohnson 2. Joe Johnson, Hawks (10-2)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
12 37.9 23.6 5.3 4.7 0.8 0.1 .464 .345 .870
Last Week’s Rank – N/A
The most underrated player in the league will soon be known as a sure MVP candidate if he keeps playing like this. What hasn’t he done? He’s scoring at will, shooting at an extremely efficient percent from the field, making plays for his teammates, and is playing like a true leader. The Hawks are slowly sliding into the Eastern Conferences’ Elite.

3. Steve Nash, Suns (10-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
13 33.3 16.8 2.6 11.8 0.2 0.2 .506 .440 .929
Last Week’s Rank – 2
Nash remains as the best Point Guard in the game currently due to Chris Paul’s injury. His impressive numbers still remain afloat, the Suns are still amongst the best teams in the league, and Nash is surely a huge part of it. He’s playing at such a high level, just a few days ago against Houston he exploded for 16 assists, keeping his assist averages at the top of the league.

dirknowitzski 4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (9-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
12 38.5 27.3 9.3 2.6 1.1 1.6 .447 .364 .902
Last Week’s Rank – N/A
This past week proves why Dirk has not lost a step in his game since winning the MVP title a few years ago. He’s willing to give up shots and save a bit of energy for important stretches of games. Nowitzki is playing the best basketball of his life right now, this past week he was incredible, but because of intangibles not because of his box-scores. His effort on defense has drastically improved, almost to the point where he is not considered a one sided player.

5. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets (8-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
11 35.6 29.9 5.8 3.0 1.6 0.4 .468 .360 .847
Last Week’s Rank – 6
Melo has been a beast so far to start the season off with. Sure his season opening dunk over Milsap left us all in awe with a glimpse of what he has in store + the 19 points in the 4th quarter game against Portland to seal the deal. However, he continues to get better on D, rebounds at a solid rate, is averaging 3 assists per game, & like George Karl & Chauncey Billups have said, he’s become a more mature team leader.

6. LeBron James, Cavaliers (8-4)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
12 37.8 28.3 6.6 8.1 1.7 0.8 .516 .364 .774
Last Week’s Rank – 5
The highly anticipated return of LeBron James to the top of this list will have to wait…for another week at the very least. He’s putting up MVP numbers, his assist averages for a SF is un-precedented, and most importantly, he’s still shooting with accuracy. He’s evolving into the complete player we all thought he would be, but the Cavaliers have yet to back him up. The Delonte West saga is still continuing as he remains in & out of the line up, Shaq has been injured, and most of his role players are not consistently playing up to standards.

7. Dwyane Wade, Heat (7-4)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
11 38.6 27.6 4.8 5.2 2.1 1.2 .431 .267 .772
Last Week’s Rank – 3
Miami have lost 2 out of the last 3 games, and are looking terrible on defense. Luckily, Dwyane Wade managed to hit a spectacular three pointer to keep the Nets winless, something that is very routine down in Miami. Wade is running the show, and that’s exactly what a MVP does.

8. Brandon Roy, Blazers (9-4)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
13 36.7 20.3 4.8 5.1 0.3 0.2 .448 .370 .830
Last Week’s Rank – 7
To a degree he hasn’t been playing up to our normal expectations. He seems less confident on his drives right now and at times I sense he’s struggling with whether to take over or to defer to others. The guy can still have a slow start and then you’ll look up at the board at 3/4 time and he’ll have 16 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Sooner or later the team is going to gel completely or he’ll just decide to take over more often. Nothing to worry about here.

9. Paul Pierce, Celtics (9-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
12 34.5 18.4 4.8 3.9 1.2 0.3 .511 .478 .809
Last Week’s Rank – 4
His numbers still remain above average, and his shooting is still stellar, but the Celtics are dropping. They haven’t looked fresh out there, Celtics are doing just what most people thought… aging. There’s the lazy Sheed we all know and the OLD Big 3. Right now… and its early, Rondo and Pierce look like the Big 2.

10. Brandon Jennings (6-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 34.8 24.8 5.8 4.7 1.1 0.2 .477 .558 .786
Last Week’s Rank – 8
How can a rookie be on this list for 2 weeks running? It’s simple, when that rookie explodes for 55 points, the highest point total in a game this season, you know he deserves it. This kid is just unbelievable, his shooting is great, his maturity on the court is above that of a Sophomore, and his decision making and overall court presence is phenomenal.

What about Chris Bosh?

Posted by: admin, on November 21, 2009 at 4:52 pm.

Written by AboveLegit

As we approach our 10th game in this young NBA season, it’s no surprise that the talks of the upcoming 2010 offseason are already swirling. You can’t come across a message board or a blog that doesn’t have five or six topics about where Lebron, Wade, Joe Johnson, and company will end up, or how much cap space certain teams have. One of those impending free agents, though, is a guy some might consider to be in the “second tier” in terms of player quality, and that is Chris Bosh. There are a lot of quality teams in this league, both good and bad, that could use a big man as versatile as Bosh; not that he’s the guy you sign to lead you to a title, but he is a guy you put next to another solid piece on your way to a title, and he is deserving of near max contract money (which means he will get max contract money). Now, lets take a look at Bosh’s status as a player, his teams status, and what his options will be for the summer of 2010.

What Has He Done?

Bosh, like I alluded too earlier, is a player who will almost always fall in the categories of “second tier” or “complimentary player.” This is to say that he isn’t on the level of your true superstars like Lebron or Dwyane Wade, or even on the level of other big men such as Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki. However, this does not mean that Bosh isn’t a great player in his own right, and I think he gets a little under appreciated around the league. Bosh is a player who has consistently put up 20 and 10 seasons, with the 20 sometimes going a little higher, and the 10 sometimes a little lower, but you get the gist. He’s a versatile, lanky offensive player who runs the floor like a gazelle and has absolutely perfected the 18-foot jumper; he can attack the rim like a guard, and even occasionally back you down (although he doesn’t do this enough). Another thing about Bosh is he is a very efficient player, never taking more than 16 field goal attempts a game for his career, en route to posting often scintillating True Shooting percentages that hover around 60. His weaknesses lie in both his defense and his ability in the clutch; his man-to-man defense has vastly improved since his rookie year, but he too often comes late on pick and rolls and this kills him, and there have been numerous occasions where Toronto fans have blasted him for not being able to take the final shot of a game. All this being said, Bosh is a 3-time All-Star and perennial 20/10 power forward in this league, and those are a hot commodity.

What is He Doing?

Of course, all his career accomplishments are for naught when talking about this season, as this is the year where it will determine not only where he stands, but where the Raptors stand as a team. Through the first 11 games, Bosh is playing like a mad man; he’s averaging 26 points and 12 boards on 50% shooting, and his added bulk is really paying off. He appears to be doing everything in his power to will the team to victory, with mixed success so far, as the Raptors are muddling along at 5-6 heading into tonight’s contest in Utah. General manager Bryan Colangelo went all out this off-season, dealing out large contracts to various players, including Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, and extending centre Andrea Bargnani to the tune of 10 million per, in hopes to create a winning team to persuade Bosh to stick around. The jury is still out, of course, on whether this will work or not, but one thing is for sure, Bosh is showcasing his talents to the league at a time when everyone is watching, and if the Raptors don’t pick it up, this could be very bad news for Toronto fans.

What Will He Do?

Alright, so here comes the big question: Where does Chris Bosh sign in the 2010 off-season? There are, if my research is correct, four teams that will have enough cap space to offer Bosh the max contract he undoubtedly desires, and they are Miami, Chicago, New Jersey, and New York. That being said, the Raptors themselves have a fair amount of cap space and would be able to re-sign Bosh this off-season should they (or he) desire. Chicago, too me, seems like an interesting proposition for Bosh; there, he becomes the first option without question, and gets paired with an incredible young talent at point guard in Derrick Rose, and surrounded by several above average types in John Salmons, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich. Would this core be any better off than the Raptors right now? Maybe slightly, but I really don’t think it’s too much of a gap to make Bosh want to sign there.

As for Miami, there is the always enticing option of playing with megastar Dwyane Wade, and a Bosh/Wade combination would definitely become a contender in the Eastern Conference, considering the remarkable defensive team Miami has put around Wade this year. With another scoring option in Michael Beasley, and a nice young point guard in Mario Chalmers, I believe Miami is the best option for Bosh this offseason; and the weather isn’t too shabby, either.

When talking about New York and New Jersey, you have two teams with almost infinite cap space that are in the ultimate rebuilding mode right now. The Nets have two solid pieces in place at point guard and at centre, while the Knicks are putting all there proverbial eggs into one large basket at this point, and I would have to write them off as a possible destination for Bosh, as there simply isn’t enough there to entice Bosh that he’d be going to a winning franchise. New Jersey is a more interesting option, and a threesome of Devin Harris/Chris Bosh/Brook Lopez certainly does look daunting. I would chalk up New Jersey as the second best option for Bosh this off-season.

Now, looking at his own team, the Toronto Raptors. They have a solid enough core, with Jose Calderon at point, Hedo Turkoglu on the wings and Andrea Bargnani up front, to go along with some decent depth and a promising rookie in Demar Derozan. All of these players will be there next season, so it’s really up to Bosh to determine if these are the guys he wants to play with for the next 5 to 10 years; the Raptors likely won’t win a championship anytime soon, so I wouldn’t blame Bosh if he bolted for greener pastures, even if the title hopes are the same, just to try something new.

As we approach our 10th game in this young NBA season, it’s no surprise that the talks of the upcoming 2010 offseason are already swirling. You can’t come across a message board or a blog that doesn’t have five or six topics about where Lebron, Wade, Joe Johnson, and company will end up, or how much cap space certain teams have. One of those impending free agents, though, is a guy some might consider to be in the “second tier” in terms of player quality, and that is Chris Bosh. There are a lot of quality teams in this league, both good and bad, that could use a big man as versatile as Bosh; not that he’s the guy you sign to lead you to a title, but he is a guy you put next to another solid piece on your way to a title, and he is deserving of near max contract money (which means he will get max contract money). Now, lets take a look at Bosh’s status as a player, his teams status, and what his options will be for the summer of 2010.

What Has He Done?

Bosh, like I alluded too earlier, is a player who will almost always fall in the categories of “second tier” or “complimentary player.” This is to say that he isn’t on the level of your true superstars like Lebron or Dwyane Wade, or even on the level of other big men such as Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki. However, this does not mean that Bosh isn’t a great player in his own right, and I think he gets a little under appreciated around the league. Bosh is a player who has consistently put up 20 and 10 seasons, with the 20 sometimes going a little higher, and the 10 sometimes a little lower, but you get the gist. He’s a versatile, lanky offensive player who runs the floor like a gazelle and has absolutely perfected the 18-foot jumper; he can attack the rim like a guard, and even occasionally back you down (although he doesn’t do this enough). Another thing about Bosh is he is a very efficient player, never taking more than 16 field goal attempts a game for his career, en route to posting often scintillating True Shooting percentages that hover around 60. His weaknesses lie in both his defense and his ability in the clutch; his man-to-man defense has vastly improved since his rookie year, but he too often comes late on pick and rolls and this kills him, and there have been numerous occasions where Toronto fans have blasted him for not being able to take the final shot of a game. All this being said, Bosh is a 3-time All-Star and perennial 20/10 power forward in this league, and those are a hot commodity.

What is He Doing?

Of course, all his career accomplishments are for naught when talking about this season, as this is the year where it will determine not only where he stands, but where the Raptors stand as a team. Through the first 11 games, Bosh is playing like a mad man; he’s averaging 26 points and 12 boards on 50% shooting, and his added bulk is really paying off. He appears to be doing everything in his power to will the team to victory, with mixed success so far, as the Raptors are muddling along at 5-6 heading into tonight’s contest in Utah. General manager Bryan Colangelo went all out this off-season, dealing out large contracts to various players, including Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, and extending centre Andrea Bargnani to the tune of 10 million per, in hopes to create a winning team to persuade Bosh to stick around. The jury is still out, of course, on whether this will work or not, but one thing is for sure, Bosh is showcasing his talents to the league at a time when everyone is watching, and if the Raptors don’t pick it up, this could be very bad news for Toronto fans.

What Will He Do?

Alright, so here comes the big question: Where does Chris Bosh sign in the 2010 off-season? There are, if my research is correct, four teams that will have enough cap space to offer Bosh the max contract he undoubtedly desires, and they are Miami, Chicago, New Jersey, and New York. That being said, the Raptors themselves have a fair amount of cap space and would be able to re-sign Bosh this off-season should they (or he) desire. Chicago, too me, seems like an interesting proposition for Bosh; there, he becomes the first option without question, and gets paired with an incredible young talent at point guard in Derrick Rose, and surrounded by several above average types in John Salmons, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich. Would this core be any better off than the Raptors right now? Maybe slightly, but I really don’t think it’s too much of a gap to make Bosh want to sign there.

As for Miami, there is the always enticing option of playing with megastar Dwyane Wade, and a Bosh/Wade combination would definitely become a contender in the Eastern Conference, considering the remarkable defensive team Miami has put around Wade this year. With another scoring option in Michael Beasley, and a nice young point guard in Mario Chalmers, I believe Miami is the best option for Bosh this offseason; and the weather isn’t too shabby, either.

When talking about New York and New Jersey, you have two teams with almost infinite cap space that are in the ultimate rebuilding mode right now. The Nets have two solid pieces in place at point guard and at centre, while the Knicks are putting all there proverbial eggs into one large basket at this point, and I would have to write them off as a possible destination for Bosh, as there simply isn’t enough there to entice Bosh that he’d be going to a winning franchise. New Jersey is a more interesting option, and a threesome of Devin Harris/Chris Bosh/Brook Lopez certainly does look daunting. I would chalk up New Jersey as the second best option for Bosh this off-season.

Now, looking at his own team, the Toronto Raptors. They have a solid enough core, with Jose Calderon at point, Hedo Turkoglu on the wings and Andrea Bargnani up front, to go along with some decent depth and a promising rookie in Demar Derozan. All of these players will be there next season, so it’s really up to Bosh to determine if these are the guys he wants to play with for the next 5 to 10 years; the Raptors likely won’t win a championship anytime soon, so I wouldn’t blame Bosh if he bolted for greener pastures, even if the title hopes are the same, just to try something new.

All in all, it’s too early in this season to truly tell which teams are best marketed for a player like Bosh, but some certainly raise more of an eyebrow than others. Toronto would miss Bosh dearly, and unfortunately, I get the feeling that he’s not particularly happy here anymore, even if we do make the playoffs. He’s constantly quoted saying things like “I want to play for a contender,” which is fine, but it also shows he isn’t willing to grab the team by the collar and lift them to contender status. Don’t be surprised if you see Bosh in a different coloured jersey by the time next season rolls around.
All in all, it’s too early in this season to truly tell which teams are best marketed for a player like Bosh, but some certainly raise more of an eyebrow than others. Toronto would miss Bosh dearly, and unfortunately, I get the feeling that he’s not particularly happy here anymore, even if we do make the playoffs. He’s constantly quoted saying things like “I want to play for a contender,” which is fine, but it also shows he isn’t willing to grab the team by the collar and lift them to contender status. Don’t be surprised if you see Bosh in a different coloured jersey by the time next season rolls around.

The Hawks Are Soaring

Posted by: admin, on November 17, 2009 at 8:08 pm.

By AboveLegit

joe_johnson ESPN and NBA.com have both released their weekly power rankings and if someone had been in a coma since 2003 or so, the number one team would’ve come as quite a shock (actually, it probably comes as quite a shock to anyone who has yet to really pay attention to the NBA this season too). The Atlanta Hawks are ranked number 1 in each poll. What’s the bigger shock though is that it’s not a misprint and they actually deserve the ranking at this point in the season.

Going into the season, it seemed like the Hawks only marginally improved on what they had last season. They upgraded slightly on the bench by replacing Flip Murray with Jamal Crawford and they signed Joe Smith to fill the veteran role off the bench (which they did not have last season or the season before that). They’re about the same defensively as they were last season, which is to say, a rather underappreciated defensive team that’s a little small up front. Offensively, they’re about the same as last season, albeit a bit more efficient (at least statistically, they’re running the offense much better than they were last season). All of the changes for the Hawks have been relatively minor, but for a team like this, a number of minor changes can mean the world.

It all starts though with the player who has usurped the mantle of best player on the team, Josh Smith. The minor change he made this season is only minor in the box score and is a major shift in the player’s mindset (and a sign a growth that seemed like a distant). This season Smith decided to stop shooting threes. It seems what started this trend was last season, after every three point attempt, the Hawks fans would boo Smith regardless of the outcome of the shot. Over the first 11 games, Smith has yet to attempt a three pointer and this had something of a snowball effect on the rest of his game. His defense is more fundamentally sound and not just based around getting blocks and steals, but actually staying in front of his man. And on offense, he’s limiting his turnovers and not making boneheaded plays. In essence, by taking the three point shot out of his repertoire, he’s just playing a smarter game and has been the key to the Hawks currently holding court as the best team in the league.

Josh Smith evolution into basketball maturity isn’t the only reason for the Hawks improvement. Al Horford has leapfrogged Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams has the third option in the Hawks starting line-up (Williams for the most part has absolutely disappeared on offense). This is rather huge for the Hawks even if Horford’s improvement has been rather slight. It’s not so much his number that have his improved but he’s becoming more aggressive inside and giving the Hawks an interior presence on offense that they were missing the last two seasons.

Of course it would be hard to overlook the addition of Jamal Crawford. When they traded for him during the offseason, the move was treated as a big deal for about five second before being forgotten about because of moves that involved Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, Richard Jefferson, and Shaq. But it’s easy to argue that Crawford has been just as big an addition as any of those admittedly bigger names. Crawford has always had the stigma of being a gunner who never helped his team win (a stigma for all intents and purposes proved to be true). He’d never been to the playoffs in his entire career, almost all of it as a starter. But when you take him out of the starting line-up, limit his minutes, and embrace his gunner tendencies, all of sudden he becomes a major asset coming off the bench. He gives the second unit more scoring punch than they had with Flip Murray last season, meaning that the first unit doesn’t have to kill themselves when they take a breather (or in some cases last season, if they take a breather).

josh_smith None of this really matters though if Joe Johnson didn’t remain the All Star caliber rock that he has been the last few seasons. Since joining the Hawks Joe Johnson has been consistently solid, playing at the same level regardless of how good the Hawks have been. All of these elements give a fair explanation why the Hawks have made a dramatic change from last season without changing much of anything.

Other Notes:

While the Hawks maybe a surprising best team currently in the NBA, the Bucks have to be considered the most surprising. Looking at their roster now in a vacuum and without context of what they’ve done this season, they have one legitimate starter on their roster at the moment with Michael Redd hurt and that’s Andrew Bogut. The rest of their rotation consists of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Ersan Ilyasova, Luke Ridnour, Hakeem Warrick, Charlie Bell, Carlos Delfino, and Brandon Jennings. Looking at that group, there isn’t a traditional big man (outside of Bogut) or scoring swing player. It helps that Brandon Jennings has broken out as a star and is carrying the team offensively right now (it’ll be curious to see if he can continue to build off of his record setting scoring output against the Warriors), but the real reason for the Bucks looking like a possible playoff contender is the embracing of Skiles defensive philosophy, right now ranking fifth overall in defensive rating.

The Nuggets have seemed to have turned the corner from being a team concentrating on tough guy posturing to a team that is actually tough. Their utter beatdown of the Lakers last Friday was eye opening. And they did most of it by pushing around the Lakers and just locking them down defensively, holding the Lakers to a franchise low 23 points in the second half (including holding Kobe Bryant to zero points in that span). What remains to be seen though is if they can keep up this kind of intensity with any kind of consistency. Early on this season they looked like a true title contender but their concentration has wavered since their opening few games. So an eye will be kept on them to see if they only get up for “big games” and then play down to lesser opponents, but as it stands now, they honestly look like they could make a serious run.

The Lakers on the other hand might have some major concerns lining up for them. They clearly miss Pau Gasol, not only for the elite level skills he provides but for the balance he provides to the roster. Without Gasol in the line-up the Lakers are forced to start Lamar Odom which really does a number on their bench. Without Odom the bench is absolutely awful, relying on the likes of Sasha Vuajcic, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, and Shannon Brown to carry the offensive load (including Mbenga and Josh Powell, do any of those six break any of other “elite” teams’ rotations?). Add that to the fact that the Lakers have been playing sloppy in general and that Kobe has decided to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more, the Lakers need Gasol back sooner rather than later (I haven’t been able to get a word on his time table, Jackson said something about Christmas, but I wasn’t sure he was joking or not).

BTA: Race To MVP

Posted by: admin, on November 15, 2009 at 12:51 am.

racetomvp
By AboveLegit:

nbmvp2 In this edition of Beyond the Arc’s Race to MVP, I’d like to focus your attention on Steve Nash. Ever so often you have that savvy league veteran who never appears to be on the decline. Last year, it seemed pretty evident Nash was not that player, but he has certainly opened up some eyes this year, as he’s off to a hot start with the Suns rolling right along with the second best record in the league.

Another interesting topic of concern are the Milwaukee Bucks led by their rookie sensation, Brandon Jennings. He’s playing like a true leader, and was not afraid to step up when Redd went down with his injury. But one thing that can’t be overlooked is that Scott Skiles has a proven record of getting the most out of journeymen and young players. He took a Bulls team that hadn’t won more than 30 games in 8 years and got them 47 wins in his first full season coaching them. The team didn’t go under .500 until the year he was fired, in a year that involved a lot of bad attitudes forming in players and a lot of other troubles outside of him and the players just not listening to him.

I’m sure the Bucks offense will get better when Redd comes back, because they do struggle to score when they don’t go to Bogut or Jennings, but the schedule will get more challenging as well.

The regulars, Kobe, LeBron, Wade look poised to have another great year, and should remain at the top of the race throughout the year, it’s no secret when you hear people say they are the best of the best. But with those three, enters Carmelo Anthony, someone ready to make his case as the leagues elite. Entering his 7th year in the league, Melo’s out to prove why he’s as good as they come, averaging career highs in most major statistical categories.

With no further adew, allow me to introduce to you this week’s edition of Race to the MVP brought to you by BTA Basketball.

1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (7-1)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
8 38.5 33.0 5.5 2.8 2.2 0.2 .500 .200 .840
Last Week’s Rank – 3
Kobe’s playing like he did in 2005, the only difference is his intelligence with the ball. He’s so methodical in his attack, picks his spots, and attacks any defensive flaw. It’s truly amazing to watch. Granted, his game against Denver wasn’t all that great, but he has played great basketball the past few weeks, and fully deserves to be on top of this weeks MVP race.

steve_nash_espn 2. Steve Nash, Suns (8-2)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
10 32.3 17.1 2.4 11.8 0.1 0.3 .539 .500 .931
Last Week’s Rank – 6
Nash is playing the best basketball we’ve seen him play in a long time. Put the ball back in Nash’s hands and speed up the tempo, all of a sudden he’s looking like the Nash of old (or rather the Nash of his MVP seasons). As it stands now, he’s poised to be only the fourth player in NBA history to notch five 10+ assist seasons. He’s already had 2 20 point-20 assist games, Nash has inserted himself into the second best point guard spot with a vengeance.

dwyane_wade_espn 3. Dwyane Wade, Heat (6-2)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
8 38.1 30.6 4.1 4.9 1.6 0.9 .450 .258 .783
Last Week’s Rank – 4
What hasn’t The Flash done to not put him in the top three of this weeks MVP Race? He’s hit game winners, he’s throwing down monsterous dunks, and he’s putting up tremendous numbers. Not bad for a guy carrying this Heat squad to a 6-2 record.

paul_pierce_espn 4. Paul Pierce, Celtics (8-1)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 34.3 18.1 5.1 4.3 1.4 0.3 .515 .528 .864
Last Week’s Rank – 2
I’m sticking with the argument stating the best player on the best team deserves to be in the MVP discussion. Paul Pierce is shooting so efficiently, he’s not making mistakes with the ball, and is closing out games. It was only time before the Celtics start to lose a few games here and there, but they still remain at the top of the NBA.

lebron_james_espn 5. LeBron James, Cavaliers (6-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 38.1 28.2 7.3 7.4 1.7 0.8 .509 .400 .766
Last Week’s Rank – 10
Let’s be honest here, who here thought LeBron would stay at the bottom of the MVP Race? The Chosen One has answered all questions this past week, all except where he’s going to play next season. He’s putting up numbers, the Cavs are climbing back into the Eastern Conference’s Elite, and he’s leading them to a 4 game win streak.

carmelo_anthony_espn 6. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets (6-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 36.9 30.2 6.6 2.9 1.6 0.4 .435 .375 .848
Last Week’s Rank – 1
The Nuggets luck is running out, and they’re currently looking at a 6-3 record, 5th in the Western Conference. They did look great against the Lakers last night, but this past week hasn’t been anywhere close to what we expected. His numbers are up, but he hasn’t been able to deliver wins.

brandon_roy_espn 7. Brandon Roy, Blazers (6-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 35.4 20.8 3.9 5.1 0.4 0.3 .444 .324 .838
Last Week’s Rank – N/A
Roy’s numbers generally do not fall under the category of “spectacular” and he doesn’t look flashy with the ball on every play, but he’s the clear cut leader of a team currently on a 3 game win streak. I fully expect his numbers to take a turn for the better as he enters an easy portion of the Blazers schedule, which results in a higher ranking next week most likely.

brandon_jennings1 8.Brandon Jennings (5-2)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
7 32.7 20.7 4.3 5.2 1.3 0.0 .457 .455 .857
Last Week’s Rank – N/A
This team is not being talked about at all, and they are playing surprisingly well without their star Michael Redd. They are 4-2, Brandon Jennings is absolutely ballin, and although the Bucks have not had the hardest schedule, they did beat a tough Denver team. If they play like they’re doing now, playoffs are a legitimate goal for this team. “Young Money” is playing like a veteran. No one ever expected him to be in this Race, but he fully deserves to be mentioned here. As a big fan of the Underdog story this is looking like a great season. Hopefully the Bucks can avoid injuries, particularly to Jennings and Bogut and keep stringing the wins together.

chris_bosh_espn 9. Chris Bosh, Raptors (4-4)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
8 35.8 28.9 11.5 1.8 0.8 1.0 .507 1.00 .781
Last Week’s Rank – 9
Bosh is the best Power Forward in the game right now. Don’t let the record fool you, this man comes out and plays his heart out every single game. He’s an absolute monster on the glass, he’s racking up points in bunches, and is clearly the most prominent player in the offense.

dwight_howard_espn 10. Dwight Howard, Magic (6-3)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 31.2 18.4 10.6 1.4 0.8 1.4 .647 — .629
Last Week’s Rank – 5
This is not the Superman we’re accustomed to seeing. He’s getting in foul trouble way too early in games, and he just looks out of sync in the offense. But the Magic are winning games, and Dwight is looking in on another 20-10 year. He’s slowly getting back into the swing of things as he displayed some fine, Dwight-esque numbers the other night against the Nets, 26 points and 12 rebounds en route to a victory.

A Look At The Troubled Knicks

Posted by: admin, on November 10, 2009 at 11:34 pm.

Mike D_Antoni
Sight For Sore Eyes, A Look At The Troubled Knicks
By Brian G.

On All Hallows Eve, the streets were bare and the wind was whistling through the trees above the telephone lines. The noise of a garbage can being blown over on the back porch let out and startled me greatly. But the reality was, there was nothing else going on. What a boring Halloween I had spent all night. The good news for you is if you’re a New York Knick fan myself, these symptoms feel all to familiar. Particularly when watching this franchise play defense.

The Philadelphia 76ers rolled into Madison Square Garden for a battle between Atlantic Division foes. Second year coach Mike D’Antoni is a run and gun type of guy and lets his players have a bit of freedom in the offensive system. Just look what he accomplished in Phoenix with Steve Nash and the Suns. Though no NBA Titles follow him to New York, many playoff appearances and over .500 records are on his resume. Seems like a good potion to mix up for the anxious New Yorkers who still somewhat fill the seats on a nightly basis. To those of us who watch and study the game of this franchise, we deserve much credit for withstanding the trauma.

The Knicks managed to score a total of 127 points including an overtime period, in which they only scored five. So you’re telling me that at the end of regulation the game was tied up at 122 points apiece? Simply inexcusable for a professional franchise that has a demanding fan base and rich history. I mean seriously, they play in the arena known as, The Mecca of Basketball.” The Sixers had a total of five guys scoring in double figures and four of them had 20 or more points. Andre Iguodala ended his night with 32, followed by Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young with 27 and 25 respectively. Marreese Speights, the second year man out of Florida chimed in with 20 even. This type of offensive production is not likely to happen often in the NBA. Mark my words on that comment. But, what is some what disturbing is that every time the Knicks take the court, these are the results.

In their opening game on Wednesday against the Miami Heat, they let three players score 20 or more points, lead by Dwyane Wade with 26. In their second game, Friday night, they were in the game until the final seconds and finished with a 102-100 loss on the road to Charlotte. Let’s face it, the Bobcats and their regime haven’t really had it in the last couple of years and do have trouble trading and moving players often. Tyson Chandler, Stephen Graham and Gerald Henderson are all new additions this season.

Three straight games, three straight losses and a consistent habit of giving up 100+ points a game. After the game tonight, Larry Hughes said in the post game conference that when Al Harrington fouled out early in the overtime period, it took their post presence away. Really? You see, Harrington moves around and takes jump shots and drives off the dribble often. He is not a true post presence on the floor by any means. I’ll take a quick gander at the roster and say there isn’t really a true post presence on this Knicks team, and that’s why they can run and shoot their way in and out of games. Do I consider Darko Millicic to be a true post presence? No. He hasn’t been a factor in this league since he’s been drafted. I tell you who can be and will be if used the right way. Jordan Hill, the rookie draft pick out of Arizona. At 6′10” and 235 pounds, Hill dominated the paint in college and can provide much needed intimidation on the defensive end for the Knicks. He can block shots and rebound with a physical presence. What is most impressive to me about Hill is his ability to finish at the basket and hit the mid range jump shot. He has a lot of upside and needs playing time immediately, but he’s only seen two minutes against Miami this year.

It’s time for all the LeBron hype and any other big time superstar coming to New York talk to stop. This is a professional franchise in a professional organization. They play like it’s pick up games and the Rucker and nothing phases them if they seem to drastically continue to miss the .500 mark and playoffs by a sling slot. The management needed to bring in some talent, though maybe mediocre to have a nucleus to build around. If Donny Walsh and his brilliancy like hiring Isiah Thomas has any merit, he will not roll over on this team. LeBron or Bosh could come, but I guarantee any superstar doesn’t want to be in a situation with no talent around them. Think about it and rationalize your answer.

Why Oklahoma City Lost To Sacramento

Posted by: admin, on at 11:21 pm.

kevin_durant
By Brian G.

First and foremost, I would like to say that having the ability to stream live NBA games right on the computer is an awesome thing. Tonight featured a last second call in Chicago, Dwyane Wade lighting up Washington and Dallas putting up 121 points. In the last game of the night, Kevin Durant and the Thunder took the court in Sacramento to try and stop the two game winning streak the Kings have going. Take note that the Kings have won two straight without their best offensive weapon on the floor in Kevin Martin.

With everything aside, Oklahoma City insists on keeping teams in the game. I know you’re going to say their defense is nonexistent like in previous seasons, but you are wrong. Their defense is not the problem here. The problem that the Thunder face is too much one-on-one play at the offensive end. When you look at this game tonight, Durant was able to put up 37 points and score at will like a man on a mission. True. But, how about in the third quarter when he came out and hit six straight shots to get the Thunder back into the flow of the game? Pretty impressive. Durant was 18-for-18 from the free throw line and was able to take his man off the dribble whenever he wanted.

In the fourth quarter, however, the offense didn’t go through Durant. There were four straight possessions down the floor in which Durant did not touch the ball on offense and ill advised shots were on full display. Russell Westbrook tries to create too much with too little space. Jeff Green had not found a shooting touch for the life of him in the fourth quarter. Nenad Krstic, well that’s enough said. The point is Durant was on fire and unstoppable and there was no urgency to get him the ball. After coming off a screen, the play had already gone the opposite direction and failed almost 100 percent of the time.

Kevin Durant needs the ball most of the time down the floor. He can create double teams and allow cutters to dive to the basket and create fouls and easy opportunities. When he is not factored into the offense, the defense guards their man straight up and sags off Durant on penetration attempts, causing a cluster of bodies in the lane and forced turnovers. His 37 point performance was impressive because he can create something out of nothing. His shooting numbers were not impressive with a 9-for-23 showing. That doesn’t tell it all. His 18 free throw attempts could have easily been in the twenties and essentially keeping his team within one to two points down the stretch. Instead, the Thunder struggled with missed shots and long rebounds lost while facing a five to six point deficit. That deficit in turn allowed for a 101-98 loss on the road at the hands of the Kings who have now won three straight.

Nuggets Survive Close Call, Nuggets vs. Bulls Re-Cap

Posted by: admin, on at 11:03 pm.

carmeloanthony
By Brian G.

The Denver Nuggets went on the road tonight to take on the Chicago Bulls in a match up of two teams really showing promise early in the season. Carmelo Anthony is on a scoring tear early on and the Nuggets have won some games convincingly. The Bulls on the other hand have really shown their strength to hold down the Central Division with their presence inside with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Also, Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng can all score from the perimeter. Tonight also marked the first game back for J.R. Smith who served a seven game suspension.

The first quarter showed some back and forth scoring between the two ball clubs that saw Denver take a 22-20 lead. Carmelo Anthony struggled early and was unable to get himself into that scoring assassin flow. Joakim Noah really did what he does best right from the get-go and that is simply rebound the basketball. Mid way through the second quarter the Nuggets took a 33-25 lead with the help of reserve guard Ty Lawson hitting two three pointers to help breathe life into the offense. Hinrich was on point with a few jump shots that countered any Nuggets attack, but did his scoring early and only ended with six points. By the half time break, the Nuggets were holding on dearly to their 46-43 lead.

derrick_rose
As the second half got underway, so did Anthony and the offense, scoring netting their highest point total in a quarter at 25. The Bulls simply would not go away. Noah as mentioned was all over the glass and displayed such tenacity en route to his 21 total rebounds on the evening. At the end of the third the Nuggets still led the Bulls by a count of 71-66.

In the fourth quarter, there were many valuable possessions on display for both clubs. Chicago was able to score some easy buckets and hit open jumpers to chip away at the Nuggets lead. Anthony countered a few Bulls’ runs with buckets of his own down the stretch. With under a minute remaining, the Nuggets were ahead 89-87 and Derrick Rose took his man to the hole. A foul was called and Rose sank the two freebies to even the score at 89 with 10.4 seconds left. The following Nuggets possession, the ball was knocked loose on a drive and went out of bounds on the Bulls. With 4.3 left, Billups took Hinrich off the dribble and sold the foul call. A veteran move for sure, Billups made the first free throw. On the second attempt he missed on purpose and the Bulls snagged the rebound as time expired. The officials then put .3 seconds back on the clock, which is enough for a catch and shoot or tip in.

With .3 left and down 90-89, the Bulls got the inbound pass on their side of the floor with a chance for a shot or tip in. The screens were set at the high elbow and Brad Miller released to the top of the key. With his foot just inside the three point line, he caught and flung a shot all in one motion in what seemed before the time expired. The ball swished through the net and the crowd roared in jubilation because the Bulls had just won. Not so fast, because the referees went to the scorers table to review the shot and if it was indeed released before time expired. The verdict; the shot was not in time and the Bulls lose a heart breaker at home against the surging Nuggets. The Bulls dropped to 4-3 and the Nuggets move to 6-2 with the win.

Game Notes:
Nuggets Scoring Leaders- Anthony 20, Billups 17, Martin 15, Nene 11, Afflalo 10.
Nene and Martin each had double-doubles with 12 and 10 rebounds respectively.

Bulls Scoring Leaders- Rose 22, Deng 21, Noah 12, Salmons 11, Gibson 10.
- Noah completed a double-double performance with his 12 points and 21 rebounds.
-Only got to the free throw line 13 times and made 9.

*Both teams combined for 31 turnovers.. the Nuggets had 18 and the Bulls 13.

BTA’s Full Court Press: A Look Into The NBA Season

Posted by: admin, on at 4:10 pm.

By AboveLegit

Welcome to the first installment of Beyond the Arc’s Full Court Press where we will be giving a unique outlook on the 2009/2010 NBA Season. In this edition you will read about the Celtics quick start to the season, Carmelo’s early MVP talk, the Spurs looking like the team we all come to know, and much more.

It’s roughly seven or eight games into the season for every team in the NBA, which leaves everyone watching in a curious position. There has been enough going on so far to give everyone a map of what to expect for the rest of the season, but nothing that’s set in concrete. Two or three games at this point in the season could dramatically alter the way any team is viewed and any analysis on players or teams is speculation at best. Still, there are some interesting things transpiring in the early stages of the season that should be noted.

The San Antonio Spurs are off to a slow start, muddling their way to a 3-3 record to begin the season. This is rather disconcerting for a team that many felt should be among the elite few competing for a title. What’s even stranger is that no one’s talking about it at all. They’ve done about the same thing the past few seasons that it’s become as routine as their midseason rodeo road trip or the fact that they’re pretty much guaranteed 50+ as long as Tim Duncan’s around. No one seems to be bothered by this because it’s become common knowledge that the Spurs always take the early part of the season to round into shape. They even did it last season with a rather pathetic roster (at least compared to this season), and people were prone to freak out about it.

Still they have some issues that are fairly hard to ignore. Ginobili looks to be back to reasonable health (especially after his dismantling of the Raptors), but Parker and Duncan are helping the cause by getting themselves banged up. They can’t reach their potential this season without Duncan and Parker, but that’s a given (and what team is going to do well without two of three top players). The holes that have plagued them in seasons past are still kind of there. They’re still a rather old and unathletic team. George Hill and DeJuan Blair definitely give them some youth (and in Hill’s case athleticism), but neither of them are playing enough to totally offset those issues. It wouldn’t be so big a deal if Richard Jefferson hadn’t gotten off to a slow start (although the aforementioned Raptors game might have set him on the right path). These are things to keep an eye on if the Spurs continue to stumble going into the one-third mark of the season, but like always, it’s far too early to count out the Spurs (and this line of thinking really shouldn’t apply to any other team really).

On the other side of the spectrum for the championship contenders are the Boston Celtics, who are storming out of the gate just like they’ve done since acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. It’s not so surprising that they’re doing this because they’ve done a good job of it the last few seasons. What is surprising is how they’re doing it (not so much the Celtics in general but teams that get off to quick starts). The trend for fast starting teams is usually based around offensive teams. The reason for this is that truly good offensive teams are able to take advantage of teams trying to find their footing in the opening weeks, which magnifies how good the team is offensively and exposes teams that haven’t quite found their identity.

Normally it takes good defensive teams a few weeks to round into shape because of how much teams need to gel to really be effective (this is normally true even with teams who have been together for awhile). Not so with the Celtics, who have stormed out of the gate, not with a blistering offensive pace (although they haven’t been bad there either) but by bludgeoning teams to death on the defensive end. Their point differential this early in the season is a staggering 14 points per game, which is a good six points higher than the next closest team (the Miami Heat with a point differential of a little less than eight points per game). This kind of cohesion is just not the norm this early in the season.

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