In a one man operation you have the right to label yourself as a Monarch.
It’s been a long time… In fact it has been about 7th months since I have updated this blog. I feel like Tim Thomas in that I had an incredible run through the playoffs. Then I got paid and decided to coast all the way through the regular season, put myself into a position where I could be released/traded just in time to turn it on again for the playoffs and get that next big mythical payday.
So, you ask what have I been doing with my time? Well, I could say coming up with the next hot statistical metric that would justify calling Luke Harangoady a serviceable player in the NBA, attending a Lil Wayne concert or contemplating the cultural and economic impact of the Japanese Tsunami. The fact is that I have been really busy with work related items, but that does not mean I have still not watched, read, listened, or tweeted a great deal about the NBA. I mean have seen this Rose kid play?? He’s going to be pretty good for someone without a qualifying SAT score.
Without question the 2010-2011 NBA season has been one of the best in the past decade or so. I think “The Decision” was a great kickoff to the season as far as raising the interest level of fans, not so much as a television program. The TV ratings have been fantastic and the resurgence of likable top tier talent has made the NBA into sort of a comeback story among casual fans (I’ll get to this in a moment). It also helps that in pretty much all of your major markets the teams have been pretty successful.
Living around Chicago has made this season a little more unique. It seems that people, who forgot the NBA existed after MJeff left the Bulls are finding a way to enjoy not only this Bulls team, but especially Derrick Rose. You go out around town and people are actually talking Bulls basketball, the sound of the game is actually on at local establishments and everybody and their brother has on a throwback Craig Hodges jersey like he’s Dennis Savard. That last thing has obviously not happened, but it would be great if it did. The reason I inserted Savard’s name there is because it seemed like the Blackhawks swept up the city into Hockey-mania last year from about April to June and I think to a certain extent this Bulls team could do that as well. In the coming week I will probably have a longer post about all things Bulls, but for this post I want to focus on the stretch run to the playoffs and my observations of the NBA so far.
So, on to some NBA power rankings or what some may call an easy writing ploy to help me get back in the swing of things.
Gone Fishing…
It’s pretty safe to say that the following teams can pack up their bags hit the golf course or strip club of their choice and get ready for the next season in 2014.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - With Lebron leaving most people expected the Cavs to be bad and guess what? They are bad as in worst in the NBA, but at least Baron Davis will play hard for them…
29. Washington Wizards - John Wall will be good at some point and JaVale McGee is a pretty solid player. I can't think of anything else so that tells you how exciting the 2010-2011 Wizards must have been for the people of Washington.
28. Toronto Raptors - I hear Toronto is great place for visiting NBA teams, so at least they have that going for them.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves - Kevin Love was a fun story, but I am guessing Lakers fans are happy that Kurt Rambis took this job.
26. New Jersey Nets - Just move to Brooklyn already and hire TV on the Radio as your house band for home games.
25. Sacramento Kings - Well at least 1st round pick Demarcus Cousins made it through the season without any altercations. Oh, wait…
24. Detroit Pistons - Charlie Sheen seems more functional than this band of misfits with bad contracts.
23. Utah Jazz - Jerry Sloan was ran out of town followed by the departure of D-Will and all your left with is a decent post player in Al Jefferson and season ticket holders, who have 7 wives.
22. Milwaukee Bucks - “Fear the Deer” was a cute little fan campaign, but for a team whose third best player is Johnny Salmons… enough said.
21. Golden State Warriors - I love watching the Warriors, but unfortunately league rules only allow you to play with one basketball at a time. Because they have a number of players, who need it in their hands at all times.
20. Los Angeles Clippers - The Blake Show has been fun to watch all season and if Eric Gordon could stay healthy the Clips could be dangerous in the near future.
So, you’re saying there’s a chance… Near playoff teams and the lucky few, who will be eliminated in round 1.
19. Phoenix Suns - Nash has still been solid, the trade with Magic at least netted them Marcin Gortat, who is a nice bench big, but the addition of Vince Carter immediately takes away any chance they have at making a slim run to get into the playoffs.
18. New York Knicks - Yes, the Knicks will still make the playoffs. However, they have been 7-12 since the Carmelo trade and 8 of those losses have come to teams under .500 and Chauncey Billups is their point guard…
17. Charlotte Bobcats - The Bobs are fighting for the 8th spot in the East. Although, they might as well save MJ the trouble of making the playoffs, so he can hit the golf course early and work on drafting Jimmer Fredette, so he can pair him with Adam Morrison in the backcourt.
16. Indiana Pacers - Pacer basketball is alive and well led by Tyler Hansbrough in the push for the 8th seed in the East. I really hate Psycho T so that last sentence was really hard to write.
15. Houston Rockets - The Rockets have the 3rd best record since the All-Star break, but barring a miracle won’t make the playoffs. At least they won’t have to cart around Yao Ming’s corpse after this season…
14. Philadelphia 76ers - Doug Collins has done a good job helping his team recover from a brutal start to the season, but their roster still needs a lot of work before they could win a playoff series.
13. Atlanta Hawks - Wow, they really love their Hawks in Atlanta… Joe Johnson may have been the worst signing of the summer. This team really reminds me of the late 80’s-early 90’s Cavs teams that would always make the playoffs, but never stick around long enough to make any noise.
12. New Orleans Hornets - David West’s torn ACL killed any chance the Hornets had of making a run. Chris Paul will be gone along with professional basketball in New Orleans in 2 years. So, I would say it is not a good day to be a Hornets supporter.
11. Memphis Grizzles - When he is not supposedly setting up major drug deals Zach Randolph is one of the best PF’s in the game
10. Portland Trailblazers - Another team I really enjoy watching. The Blazers have had horrible injury luck, but still have solid players like Aldridge and the newly acquired Gerald Wallace that could scare some teams in the West.
9. Denver Nuggets - George Karl has done a great job with the team both pre and post trade. I am also glad that Karl is back on the sidelines because I don’t think I could have read another Rick Reilly piece about him watching basketball with Karl.
The Contenders…
All of these teams have a shot at making a run to glory. Some not as much as others…
8. Orlando Magic - They dumped Vince Carter, which gave them an immediate boost to their title chances. However, they replaced him with Gilbert Arenas…
7. Oklahoma City Thunder - I love Durant and Westbrook has come into his own this season, but this team is still a legit third scoring option away from winning the West.
6. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk is well, Dirk. The Mavs have a roster loaded with some talent and savvy veterans; nevertheless it still will not be enough to get them through in the West. Although, I am looking forward to Mark Cuban ridiculously over paying an aging veteran center during the summer to help the Mavs make a title run in 2013.
5. San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs are running away with the 1st seed in the West. Then again it is the regular season; we will see what happens if Duncan can come back healthy and the Spurs are able to adjust to post-season basketball where you can’t always turn games into a track meet.
4. Boston Celtics - It is awfully quiet in Beantown… What was that Kevin Garnett?? I can not hear you after your muscle left in the form of Kendrick Perkins. Sure, the C’s can turn it on for the playoffs, but we’ll see.
3. Miami Heat - I hate to say it, but the Heat are slowly creeping up in the East. Only 2.5 games back of the 1 seed and playing some pretty good basketball. It remains to be seen how this group will perform in the playoffs, but I think we can say for certain that Chris Bosh is not a superstar.
2. Chicago Bulls - I will let Dan Majerle explain why this Bulls team works…
1. Los Angeles Lakers - Playing great basketball since the break. Lamar Odom has been awesome, but can Kobe be clutch for them down the stretch??
And with that we are finished with the first post in 7 months. Take it away Bob Seger...
