NBA 2010 12-8-10 Wrap Up

Denver @ Boston - The Celtics are moving along without all of the controversy and notoriety that you see in LA and Miami, and that's just where they want to be.  Without Carmelo playing the Nuggets could keep up with the Celtics despite a big game from Ty Lawson (24 pts, 7 asts, 2 rebs, 3 stls, in 34 minutes) off the bench.  The Celtics were paced by Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) and his effortless shooting (28 pts, 5 rebs, and 4 asts).  When you add in Rondo (13 asts), Garnett (17 pts, 9 rebs), and Pierce (17 pts, 3 rebs, 4asts) you can easily see why this is the team to beat in the East come playoff time.  Other than an almost altercation between Nene and Big Baby (I'm sure someone will get a fine for that one) and KG's brief discussion with George Karl after the game (about Garnett's cancerous statement to Charlie Villanueva) this was pretty much a no contest.  Next up for the Celtics are the 76ers and for the Nuggets the Knicks. 


Chicago @ Cleveland - Are we all just piling on the Cavaliers?  The Bulls went in to Cleveland and came from behind to beat a game Cavs team.  As usual, Derrick Rose (29 pts, 8 asts, 4 rebs) along with Joakim Noah (13 pts, 14 rebs) led the Bulls as Carlos Boozer (4 pts, 3 rebs) had a stinker in his old Cleveland home.  Just for a second, imagine this,......Boozer and LBJ in Cleveland with Big Z, and some shooters around them.  That's exactly what the Cavs needed, but as we all know, that is just a dream.  The Cavs were led Antawn (don't call him Antwan) Jamison (21 pts, 6 rebs) but the Cavs bench (8 pts on 3 of 15 shooting) wasn't able to make a shot for the majority of the night.  The Cavs are 7-15 and it's looking real bad (if it wasn't already) for this franchise.  Note to Clevelanders, yes LBJ left, the WAY he did it was wrong, but if you want to blame someone, start looking Dan Gilberts' way.  He is the owner and should have had a plan on what to do if/when LBJ left.  AND, if LBJ was all of the things that Gilbert said he was (after LBJ left) then he definitely should have had a plan in place for life after LBJ.  Just my two cents.  Up next for the Bulls, the Lakers.  For the Cavs, they get to play the Houston Rockets.     


Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers - Derek Fisher!!!  The Lakers ran into a rather pesky bunch of young Clippers last night.  The Clippers were the more physical team and they also showed just how athletic they are when they have Jordan (9 pts, 11 rebs) and Griffin (16 pts, 11rebs) on the floor together.  In the end, the young bunch fell to the old men on a last second layup by Derek Fisher.  Not sure if Bledsoe (11pts, 7 asts, 4 rebs) forgot but Fisher (6pts, 4 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls) is a lefty, who likes driving left, and Bledsoe played his right hand with time ticking away.  Kobe (24 pts, 4asts, 2 rebs) led the way for the Lakers with an efficient 9 of 15 shooting preformance (5 of 7 from the line).  The Lakers are still the cream of the crop in the NBA, but they may have some trouble with this Clippers team when they play them again.  Quietly, Shannon Brown (16 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts, 1 stl, in 17 minutes) has become a very reliable scorer, defender, or whatever this team needs off the bench.  Could you imagine him in a Bulls uniform?  The Bulls are up next for the Lakers and the Clippers get the Grizzlies next. 


Miami @ Utah - I'm not going to jump on the Heat bandwagon like everyone else (I've actually never gotten off) as everyone writes stories about the team gelling, but they did look good last night and they will get better.  I've said this before, once they get Chalmers (8 pts, 3 asts, 2 rebs, 2 stls, +16 when he's on the floor) back to playing like he was last year and put Arroyo (0 pts, 1 to, 1 stl in 23 minutes) back on the bench and they get Miller back (with a fully healed wrist) that this team will be dangerous.  LBJ (33 pts, 9 asts, 7 rebs, on 12 of 20 shooting) and Wade (28 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asts on 9 of 14 shooting, 8 of 11 from the line) played well together last night and even some of the Jazz players were saying that they might be close to putting it all together.  Utah got an impressive performance from Deron Williams (21 pts, 12 asts, 4 rebs, 1 blk), but it wasn't enough as the Heat held on late for a 13 point win.  Moose, the Heat have won 6 in a row and you've gotten WAY too quiet.  The Heat will run with the Warriors in their next game and the Jazz get Orlando (coming off a back to back). 

NBA 2010 Wrap Up 11-12-10

Golden State 90 @ Chicago 120 – The Chicago Bulls blasted the Warriors Thursday night.  The Warriors were coming off of a win against the Knicks the night prior and they were playing without David Lee.  Without Lee, the Warriors were led by Monta Ellis (24 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts, 1 stl, 4 to) and Stephen Curry (17 pts, 3 rebs, 6 asts, 5 stls, 5 to), but with no size the Warriors had no chance.  The Bulls pretty much had their way with the Warriors, with 6 players in double figures and they were led by an unlikely (based on last year) player in Luol Deng (26 pts, 11 rebs, 6 asts, 1 stl, 2 blks).  Deng has quietly (over a small sample) raised his level of play to average 20 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists (also 2 turnovers) a game.  If the Bulls can find a two guard that can shoot with range, they will be dangerous.  Write that down. 

Boston 112 @ Miami 107 – Round 2.  The Heat are having a rough time as of late.  Losses to the Hornets, Jazz, and the Celtics (again) have this Heat team in a Miami vice.  Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) was in rare form last night as he connected on 7 3-pointers and ended the game with 35 points and is probably hitting buckets as I type.  The Heat got down early and made this close at the end, but it wasn’t enough.  KG (16 pts, 13 rebs, 2 asts, 2 blks), Paul Pierce (25 pts), and Rajon Rondo (8 pts, 16 asts, 3 rebs, 2 stls) were the usual suspects for the Celtics.  The Heat were led by LBJ (35 pts, 10 rebs, 9 asts, 3 stls) and Udonis Haslem (21 pts, 10 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk), while D Wade had problems with the Celtic defense and ended a horrible game with 8 pts, 3 asts, 6 to.  The Heat’s problem can be spelled with one word, D-E-F-E-N-S-E.  When they buy in and get Marky Mark (Mike Miller) back they will be ok. 

Denver 118 @ LA 112 – This was a great game with lots of back and forth, but the Nuggets, to my surprise, pulled this game out.  I can honestly say this is about as bad as I’ve seen the Lakers this year, and yes this was their first loss, but they looked like they played down to their competition.  Kobe (34 pts, on 11of 32 from the field, 3 of 10 from the 3 point line) led the Lakers, but even his best effort couldn’t pull the Lakers out at the end.  That’s a lot of shots for 34 points.  The Nuggets were led by Melo (32 pts, 13 rebs, 2 blks) and a surprising small ball attack with Ty Lawson (17 pts, 5 asts) pushing the ball against a much bigger Lakers team.  The Lakers only outrebounded the Nuggets by 7, so this strategy seemed to work today.  We all know this was an anomaly because the Lakers are stacked at every position and barring an substantial injury to either Gasol or Kobe, this Lakers team is already playing in Game 4 of the NBA Championship in my opinion.  Note to NBA teams, if you can slow down Gasol, you have a real good chance of beating the Lakers.  Yes, Kobe is out there, but Gasol’s play is giving Kobe an extra 2-3 years on his knees. 

 

Things You Shouldn't Do to Friends

The nastiest dunk I've seen in a while. Thoughts?

NBA Round Up 11-18-08

Dallas Mavericks - With the accusations around Mark Cuban, I don't think the folks in Dallas wanted anymore stress but it seems as though Jerry Stackhouse wants his walking papers from the Mavericks. Jerry isn't getting the minutes that he wants and he's ready to move on to greener pastures. He hasn't yet demanded a trade, but the writing is on the wall. what team could use an older two guard/small forward with a knack for putting the ball in the basket? Yes, Stackhouse would be popular if he were bought out.

Miami Heat - And the season is already on the brink. Well, I say that because Dwayne Wade is feeling the effects of a sprained right ankle, but he is insistent on playing through this pain. Someone in south Florida needs to tie this guy to a chair or something until he's healed. The Heat can't afford to be without Wade for any significant time unless they have hopes of drafting high next year.

Detroit Pistons - No one looks at a calendar quite like the Pistons are these days. They are still front runners to sign Antonio McDyess after he was released from Denver during the AI trade. The fact that a lot of other teams are already making pitches to McDyess may not be comforting. The only thing the Pistons can offer is $1.9M and that comfortable feeling of being someplace you know. I'm sure some other teams can put together more money, but we'll see what happens.

Houston Rockets - With one of them going out (T-Mac) might we see another return (Battier). Battier has been cleared to join team practices starting today. That's good news for the Rockets as they lose T-Mac for who knows how long with an injured knee.

New York Knicks - What is your freedom worth? That may be the question that Stephon Marbury is asking after sitting so far this season. Should Marbury accept a lower buy out number than the $21.6M that he is owed from the Knicks? Or should he just sit out and stay in shape and collect all of that money? Marbury has a decision to make and that would be, what is your freedom worth? We'll see what number they decide on as talks resume this week on the buyout.

New Jersey Nets - Might Vince Carter be ready for a Robin cape? Insiders believe that the Nets will try to get rid of Carter as they near the deadline this year. The one place or team that would have Carter high on their list is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Could we see a pairing of LBJ and VC on the court together? That would be interesting, and more interesting to see if Carter would take the Robin role to LeBron's Batman.

NBA Round Up

The Heat have found their new center piece and it's none other than Jamaal Magloire. I know they need someone since Zo is still hurt and trying to get back on the court, but Magloire hasn't done anything but be tall for the past few years. The guy has the skill set, but he just doesn't apply it. The Heat better hope that D Wade, Matrix, and Beasley can get them to the playoffs, because the rest of the team isn't looking too good. They still need another point guard or two, even with the possibility of Chalmers starting for the Heat this year, so they are in the hunt for Shaun Livingston too.

Donyell Marshall may not be out of a job for long. It seems like the Sixers are close to signing the 6'9" 3 point shooting power forward (isn't that description an oxymoron?). Donyell will quickly add a veteran (read old) presence in the locker room and he may be able to give some of the bigs from Philly 5 or 10 minutes a night. For $1.26M, what more could you ask for?

Travis Outlaw wants to start! With a team as loaded as the Blazers, will he get that chance? Will he ask for a trade if he doesn't get that chance? The kid is young and one of the pieces that the Blazers could move in order to acquire a better point guard for that loaded team. I like Outlaw, it took him a while to show up but I think he was one of those kids out of high school that had to learn the pro game. With Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless on the 2nd team, will Outlaw get any shots? We'll keep a watch on this one. I think he gets moved to another team.

The Memphis Grizzlies sign Hamed Haddadi from the Iranian Olympic team. The 23 year old is 7'2", 254 pounds and averaged 16.6 points, 12.2 boards, and 2.6 blocks during the Olympics. If nothing, he adds another big body to a thin team.