Can Danny?

I'll admit that I'm somewhat hooked on Gossip Girl but I now have a new favorite soap opera and it's called "Golden State". "Golden State" is basically "The Hills" to Isiah Thomas's Knicks "Laguna Beach". It has a great cast of characters and it seems like everyone is backstabbing one another. In the latest installment, Don Nelson reportedly told his prized rookie Anthony Randolph to seek out a trade. Days later, Nelson argued with Stephen Jackson.

In case you haven't been tuning in, here are the main characters.

Mullin: The prodigal son returned to the Bay to help lift the local Warriors. While things looked like they were going well at first, the former troubled star is now facing issues everywhere he turns.

The Don: The coach is a wily veteran who wants things done his way. Right now, that's not happening and he isn't pleased. However, Don also isn't one to quit (especially when quitting would mean forfeiting a lot of money) so he's torn between his own way or the highway. Can this old dog learn some new tricks?

Stax: Ol' Stephen Jackson was a wild child who build himself quite the reputation but his time in Golden State has been marked by better behavior. He was named the captain but can he handle the added responsibility or will it cause him to snap?

Maggs: The new kid on the block, Corey isn't really all that interested in helping fix Golden State. He's out for himself and doesn't care who knows it. He could help the Warriors, but will he?

The Kid: Monta moved out to the Left Coast from Mississippi and is dealing with a new world and a new lifestyle now that the team has made him richer beyond his dreams. His first taste of the good life was anything but good and now he has to come back and prove his worth. Some people think he could be the savior but others see him as just more fuel to the already out of control fire.

Jamal Y'All: The newest newcomer, Jamal has stolen Maggs's thunder and possibly Stax's leadership role. He's gotten along great with The Don and everything seems to be going perfectly for him. But will things continue to go well with Maggs and Stax or is their trouble brewing? And what happens when The Kid returns and wants to take back his role. The honeymoon is about over: is this marriage going to be a match made in heaven or is stormy weather on Golden State's horizon.

The Phenoms: Brandan and Anthony are the new kids on the block and are trying to prove themselves. They get along with The Kid but they haven't proven themselves to all of the others, especially The Don who isn't particularly fond of either kid, not so much that they aren't good people but because they aren't the kind of players he's looking for. Whenever it seems like these guys get on The Don's good side, something happens (usually just a mood swing) and they are back in the dog house.

The Help: Gossip Girl has Dorota, Golden State has these three.English might not be their first language but they know how to do as they're told. Latvian big man Andris and the seemingly oxymoronic tough frechman Rony clean up the messes on the court and just try not to cause any problems in the locker room. The frisky Italian Marco came onto the scene in Golden State as a potential stud but he's since settled down into the shadows. Like the phenoms, he dreams of a starring role but hasn't been able to appease The Don enough to get consistent minutes.

'Buike and The Bums: A rag-tag group of misfits, 'Buike and the bums moseyed into Golden State unnoticed but have quickly made a name for themselves. In fact, some people think they might be better than their more celebrated counterparts. These guys just want to play and do their jobs but will The Don and their teammates let them? And how will they react to stardom? Will they remember their humble beginnings or get caught in the trappings of the NBA life?

And featuring Cohan, the absentee owner and Rowell, the meddling team president who is always doing something to tick off Mullin and/or The Don.

Posted by SoulHonky at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With Carlos Boozer announcing that he'll opt out at the end of the year, it might be time for the Utah Jazz to look to deal the All-Star forward. There might not be a ton of interesting parties because of the threat of Boozer bolting at the end of the year, but Carlos could help a number of teams.

Philadelphia deals Elton Brand for Carlos Boozer

The Elton in Philly marriage has not worked out and when Brand gets back, he might make some sense for Utah. He's a smart big man who should click with Sloan and he's also able to switch to center which could allow Millsap to play alongside him and let AK-47 move to his more natural PF spot as well. Philly get Boozer for the year and either tries to re-sign him or they just start over again with cap space and pretend the Brand Era never happened.

Carlos to Chicago

The Bulls are in a rare position. They actually seem to want to dump some of their young talent for cap space. If they can get Boozer, they'd improve their team this year, have a shot at retaining Boozer and teaming him with Rose, or just letting Booz walk and clearing some cap. The question is whether Utah is interested in Deng or Hinrich or Nocioni or any of the other Bulls that would be on the block.

Carlos Boozer to Houston for Shane Battier, Carl Landry, filler.

Landry is a solid backup PF and Battier slides into the three spot with AK-47 or Millsap playing the four. It's not equal value (maybe throw in an option of the Jazz getting a pick if Boozer does re-sign with Houston) but the Jazz would get players that fit Sloan's style and help fill the roster while the Rockets add what could be a missing piece to their team. Would Houston want to give a conference rival that missing piece? Probably not, even if it is just for one year but it's a possiblity.

Boozer for Beasley

The Heat would need to re-sign Boozer for this deal to work (and no, Boozer promising to re-sign won't be enough) but Boozer seems like someone who could fit the Riley system more than Beasley. Beasley is a work-in-progress but I like the AK-47/Beasley tandem and Beasley/Deron could be one heck of a duo for years to come. The question is whether the two teams could get the salaries to work.

Carlos Boozer and Matt Harpring for Michael Redd

I personally don't like this deal but the Jazz get an elite scorer in Redd who would be their best shooting guard since Jeff Hornacek. I don't think he's worth it and believe he's vastly overpaid so I wouldn't recommend this deal but I could see it happening. The Bucks improve with Boozer taking over the PF spot and giving the Bucks an impressive Bogut, Boozer, Jefferson frontcourt. Also, they get out from under Redd's contract if Boozer doesn't re-sign.

New Jersey deal Boozer for Stromile Swift, Brook Lopez, and Yi Jianlian

Adding Boozer would make the Nets a legitimate threat in the East and with the move to New York seeming more and more questionable, they might want to make a move now rather than crossing their fingers for 2010. The risk, of course, is that they could lose both Yi and Brook for nothing if Boozer walks. The bigger flaw in this deal is that I'm not sure how interested the Jazz would be since they have Millsap and Koufos waiting in the wings. Lopez is better than Kosta but we're talking about giving up Carlos Boozer for these two. A straight-up deal is unlikely but I could see a third team swooping in to take the young Nets and possibly shipping a talented player to Utah. This three way deal opens up the door for countless other teams to get involved in the Boozer sweepstakes.

Shaq Lake City

This would never happen but the Jazz could make a deal for Shaq. Honestly, if they could move Shaq for AK-47 and filler I think both teams should consider it but I can't imagine Shaq would be thrilled with the idea of playing in Utah.

Other teams that might be interested are Cleveland, Golden State, and Charlotte but I don't think they have what it takes (either in talent or matching salaries) to make a deal work. Stranger things have happened but I'd think the Jazz would be better off holding onto Boozer than dump him to those teams.

 

Posted by SoulHonky at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I haven't read it yet but the Boston Globe's Peter May has a book on the Celtics turnaround and title run called "Top of the World". It could make for a solid gift for those die hard Celtics fans out there or just something to read while you avoid your relatives.

Posting could be slow for the rest of the year so let me take this time to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. The 2000's are close to a close; let's make this last year count.

Posted by SoulHonky at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reggie Theus was the latest coach to get fired and this one really seemed strange. The Kings just aren't good. They've battled in some games, laid down in others, but they are a young team with no real veteran leadership, and no young franchise players who look like they'll be ready to take the reins (no Kevin Martin isn't a franchise player). On top of that, the players seemed to openly support Theus. The team was a work in progress and was playing like one so I'm not sure why you'd fire Theus, especially since the young kids like Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson are playing well and improving.

While I don't think Danny's plan for building his team through mid-first round picks is a wise choice, the way he handled Doc Rivers was top notch. While people were calling for Doc's head, not only did Danny support his head coach but he also apologized to him, admitting that he hadn't given Doc the players he needed to win in the NBA. 

Also, Danny needs to be lauded for hiring Doc Rivers. Doc had his doubters but Danny knew that team he wanted to build and knew that Doc would be the right man for that job. He might have been the best guy to coach the team of bench fodder we had in 2006-7 but he's almost perfect for this team. These other GM's don't seem to know what they want. Reggie Theus was an odd choice; he had some success in college (as well as on a syndicated after-school TV show) but he seemed like a stop-gap guy that you'd bring in to work with the young players. As expected, the Kings were bad but the young guys were improving so why fire Theus now?

Similarly, Sam Presti hired PJ Carlesimo who proceeded to immediately announce that he wanted to play the future of the franchise out of position. You think the main focus of any interview for the then-Sonics coaching position would have been: how are you going to use Kevin Durant? And if Presti was going along with that line of thinking, it seems a bit unfair to throw PJ under the bus when it doesn't work out.

This isn't to say that there might not have been legitimate issues for these coaches to be fired, but when the teams are flawed as the Sixers, Toronto, Wizards, Kings, Wolves, and Thunder are, it's hard to really fault the head coach for the problems they're facing 20 or so games into the season. Unless you have someone you want to bring in immediately, it would seem wiser to stick the coach you started with than hope that some assistant-turned-interim-head coach is going to turn things around.

Was Reggie Theus the next Doc Rivers? Probably not but I doubt Kenny Natt is going to turn the Kings ship around so why not, at least in this time of economic downturn, get the most out of the head coach you invested in.

Posted by SoulHonky at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The post position could be revitalized in a few years if all of the young big men pan out. While I didn't include some tweeners like Michael Beasley, Yi Jianlian, or Al Thornton in this list and some young big men didn't fall into the last five draft limits (Amare Stoudamire and Kendrick Perkins, for instance), there are more than enough big men to go around. So who are the brightest big men of the bunch?

1. Dwight Howard: Dwight Howard is the most dominant questionably skilled big man since Shaquille O'Neal. That might seem like a backhanded compliment but it isn't. Howard is a monster and an elite big man but nobody is ever going to confuse him with Tim Duncan or even David Robinson.

2. Greg Oden: Oden could battle Dwight Howard for the top of the list in the coming years but he needs to improve not only his game but his approach to the game. I get why he seems a bit dainty out there (he blew out his knee and then, in his first game, hurt his foot) but the big man needs to use his size and bulk. I stil have faith enough in Oden to list him at #2 but if I was actually in charge of a team, I'd think twice about actually taking him over some of the guys beneath him in the list.

3. Andrew Bynum: If Andrew Bynum was on a different team, he'd be putting up some great numbers. Of course, Bynum being on the Lakers might actually help him because he needs to get some hunger and passion. It's good to hear him complaining about being benched at key moments or at the end of the game. Competitors shouldn't be OK with being on the bench at winning time. The thing that elevates Bynum over most of the other guys is his defense. He has shown the ability to score but also is a difference maker on the other end of the floor as well.

4. Al Jefferson: Poor Al Jefferson. He's a month or so away from getting to play with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and then wakes up in Minnesota with Randy Foye and Rashard McCants. Although, it's hard to sympathize for Big Al when you watch him play and realize he still hasn't woken up to the fact that there's two ends of the court. Big Al is a dominant low post offensive player but he's an offensively lackadaisacle defensive player. It's hard to write off Big Al the defensive player because I don't think we've seen him really give an effort on that end but the fact that he hasn't might be the main reason to write him off as a franchise player.

5. Al Horford: A double-double machine, Horford might not have the potential of the guys ahead of him but if you're going to battle, he's arguably the guy you'd most want to have in the trenches. What Horford has in attitude, he lacks in actual low post skills. This isn't to say he's bad but he's no better than adequate in any phase of the game and needs definite time spent on developing some reliable post moves. If he can perfect an up-and-under or fall-away, he could be a real threat.

6. LaMarcus Aldridge: If Oden looks like he's tip-toeing, Aldridge just appears timid at times. Yes, he puts on a good scowl now and then but the former Longhorn shies away from contact and can be pushed out of the paint by anybody who puts their mind to it. That being said, he has an improving post game and a nice jumper with an ever expanding range. Blazers fans always hoped for a sane Rasheed Wallace and LaMarcus could be the closest thing to that. Of course, 'Sheed's insanity might have made him grating but it's also what's made him great.

7. Brandan Wright: If there's a candidate for the next Jermaine O'Neal, it's Brandan Wright. For two years, Brandan has been buried on the bench or stuck in Don Nelson's ever-rotatating rotations and hasn't gotten a shot at legit minutes. His game is improving and the thing he seems to need most is playing time. He could stand to work on his jumper more but the kid is a player and it's a shame that he's been stuck with limited minutes and no defined role this season.

8. Spencer Hawes: Hawes is a slightly poorer man's version of LaMarcus Aldridge. He's a multi-talented player who just needs to be a little tougher in the paint. He seems like he could be very similar to Brad Miller, a good center, got an All-Star appearance, but nobody teams will fear or whom fans will really remember.

9. Andris Biedrins: Biedrins has a motor and has been improving by leaps and bounds. Granted, he had a LONG way to go so he still needs to keep working but he's arguably the best garbage man in the business. He doesn't look like he'll ever be a dominant big man but he is someone who will make you pay if you don't know where he is at all times.

10. Emeka Okafor: Emeka Okafor has shown the ability to score and rebound with ease against lesser competition. He can also step up and hold his own against solid competition. But against the best, he just doesn't have it. Okafor is a very good role player but that's all he is. He might get paid like a franchise big man but that doesn't mean he is one. That and the fact that he's older, more expensive, and more banged up is why he's this low on the list.

11. Brook Lopez: I wasn't very high on Brook Lopez but he's been playing very well this season and, most importantly, has shown the ability to play within the offense and as a role player. Andrew Bogut is a better player but I've never gotten the sense that Bogut's ever gotten comfortable with his limited role. He might not be the 11th "best" big man but he's best suited for helping a team win.

12. Andrew Bogut: As I mentioned before, Bogut seems best suited as a primary or secondary offensive weapon but no team is going to win if Andrew Bogut is their second best offensive threat. He does everything well but he's yet to find his niche and I'm not sure he'll ever find it until he realizes what he is. Like Emeka Okafor, Bogut is good but if you're building a team, you could just as easily make do with a lesser and cheaper talent and be just fine. In fact, you'll be better for it since you'll have more money to spend on the other positions.

13. Mareese Speights: Speights might not amount to much of anything in the league but he should. The question with him has always been his work ethic but the bottom line is that the kid can play. Honestly, the best thing Elton Brand could do for the Sixers is take this kid under his wing and teach him the ropes. 

14. Paul Millsap: Paul Millsap is a very good low post who is at a disadvantage because very few of his peers care about playing in the low post. In the paint, Millsap is a load but when guys like LaMarcus Aldridge take him away from the basket, he doesn't fare nearly as well. Regardless, he's still a double-double machine, a bit of a poor man's Al Horford. He'll give you as much as a lot of the names above him on the list but for half or two-thirds the price.

15. Javale McGee: Well, I've totally fallen for the McGee athleticism. He could pan out to be a big Gerald Green but I love his energy and he's incredibly fluid for a big man. He's got a ways to go in terms of skills but I'd gladly roll the dice on him. I really can't imagine that he won't be an NBA big man for the next decade.

16. Jason Thompson: Thompson burst onto the scene with a great first month as a rookie but he's quieted down a bit which makes you wonder if Jason Thompson can be Jason Thompson if people realize who Jason Thompson is. He's the kind of guy who can make you pay for cheating away from him but if you stick with him, he's not going to be able to do much. He also strikes me as the kind of guy who makes a splash in his rookie season but then never really improves upon it (ala Charlie Villanueva).

17. Marc Gasol: Gasol, like Thompson and McGee, is best suited being The Other Big Man. Gasol is a very nice player but I'd think you'd want to pair him with a PF who is better than him. If the PF is worse than Marc Gasol, the team probably won't win many games. On the bright side, his post game is strong enough that he is someone you wouldn't mind give the ball to if you are slowing the game down and want to make it a half-court affair. If you NEED a hoop though, Gasol probably shouldn't be your man.

18. Carl Landry: I might like Landry's game a little more than I should be it's nice to see a guy who is athletic AND tough. It's a shame that the Rockets matched the Bobcats's offer for Carl because he'd be the starter in Charlotte and instead he's stuck in a logjam in Houston.

19. Andrea Bargnani: Bargnani is improving but the matchup problems he causes are still usually more probematic for the Raptors than thier opponents. Still, he's talented and improving so he's worth the 18th spot.

20. David Lee: I'm not a huge fan of David Lee but I haven't seen enough of Robin Lopez, JJ Hickson, or Kosta Koufos to put them over Lee who might lack a jump shot and isn't great at defense but does yeoman's work in the paint and is always vacuuming up rebounds. Will he be useful on a team that actually wins basketball games or will be be another solid but not altogether helpful Anderson Varejao.

20. Kosta Koufos: He could be the next Mehmet Okur or the next every other Turkish big man. Odds are that he'll land somewhere in the middle but he's a solid big man to have off the bench and he might blossom into a starter.

21. JJ Hickson: Potential. He's got it. Skills. He doesn't. Who knows where he'll be in five years.

22. Brandon Bass: Less heralded than Jason Maxiell or fellow LSU Tigers Ty Thomas or Stromile Swift (hell, even Big Baby is better known), Bass is a solid backup big man who can do everything a little: a little jumper, a little defense, some rebounding. He's cheap and talented and seems willing to do whatever the team needs.

23. Leon Powe: I'm might be biased but I don't care. POWE!

24. Robin Lopez: He could easily be a Top 15 prospect but the hair and lack of offense holds him back.

25. Jason Maxiell: A solid backup big man who got COMPLETELY overhyped last year. If you ever needed an example of how much Rasheed Wallace has calmed down over the years, people actually said that Maxiell could replace 'Sheed and Wallace didn't punch those people in the face. Maxiell is good but solid big men like him really aren't that hard to find. The team would probably be better off with an elder stateman like Joe Smith.

Posted by SoulHonky at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Charlotte Bobcats have been the model franchise when it comes to piss poor management. This team peaked at 33 wins and looks like they might be ready to decline. They have no superstars, nobody who looks like a future All-Star, and are close to capped out for the next few years. How does this happen?

1. Don't Add Any Names in the Expansion Draft

The Bobcats did a good job of wheeling and dealing with their expansion picks, getting a first rounder from Cleveland for Aleksander Pavlovic, moving from #4 to #2 in the draft for Peja Drobnak, and were wise to grab Gerald Wallace. What they failed to do, however, was add any solid players. The team took over showing extreme financial restraint. It was a bad decision as a) the team had limited cap space to start so they could just sign a bunch of free agents and b) who wants to sign with an expansion team? I'm not saying that Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie Jones, and the other available players would have made the team a playoff contender but at least they'd have some marketable names with a little trade value.

2. Waste Your Draft Picks

After adding bench players in the expansion draft, the Bobcats went into phase 2 of Project Pathetic by ending up on the losing end of every draft pick they made. They traded up to take Emeka Okafor. A good move but that draft was a deep one and they would have been better off by trading down and getting multiple picks. Still Okafor was a prospect and the Cats needed a name so they made the choice. You can't complain TOO much about that one.

A lot of people give the Bobcats the old "What might have been..." with the 2005 draft since they just missed out on Chris Paul and Deron Williams. The problem with that thinking is that the Jazz ended up with Williams and they had the pick AFTER the Bobcats. How'd they do it? They dealt the #6, #27, and a future draft pick for the #3 pick. The Bobcats could have easily trumped that deal. Not only did they have the #5 pick, but they had the #13 pick as well. So the team doesn't trade down to get more picks in 2004 but then won't trade up to get an elite pick in 2005. Instead they added Raymond Felton and Sean May.

In 2006, they grabbed Adam Morrison over Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy. Really, that's all that needs to be said.

In 2007, they dealt their lotto pick and gave up their cap space for Jason Richardson. They had an offer of the #17 pick for Sean May but turned it down. They then took Jared Dudley with the #27 pick they had from an expansion draft deal. Dudley is nice, but the guys who went directly after him were Wilson Chandler and Rudy Fernandez. Fast forward less than two years later and the Bobcats have just traded both guys so they essentially turned the #7 and #17 picks in the draft into Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, and Sean Singletary.

This past year, they confounded most by taking DJ Augustin with the 9th pick. Not only did other players fit Charlotte's needs better but they also still had Raymond Felton. Also, they probably could have traded down a bit and gotten Jarrett Jack and the Blazers pick (a deal that the Pacers took for their #11 pick). Making matters worse, the team then passed on a number of falling prospects to take project Alexis Ajinca.

So here they are. A team that has no stars and a lot of regrets.

3. Waste The Precious Cap Space

This is where everything comes together. In the expansion draft, the Bobcats focused on not wasting cap space. Ever since then, they don't seem to mind it so much. They gave up a lotto pick and cap space to get a good but not great Jason Richardson. They threw 4 million a year at Matt Carroll. They never really have seemed thrilled with Gerald Wallace but tossed him 10 million a year. And Emeka Okafor proved to be less than a stud but the Bobcats gave him a close to max deal anyway. But perhaps the oddest move was when they two small, short term contracts for Nazr Mohammed and his deal that had three years, 19 million left on it. Nazr Mohammed isn't going to do much for the Bobcats. If they desperately needed a center before the deal, they still needed one afterwards (yet still passed on Brook Lopez in the draft). For all of their talk of financial responsibility, the Bobcats passed on marketable stars to start their team with but are now sinking their team with overpaid role players.

And with that, you have a team that is destined to make the lottery and not make much of a profit (if they make money at all). 

Posted by SoulHonky at 02:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

20 or so games into the season and there have been a few surprises, a number of disappointments and the battle for the playoffs look like it could be more interesting that it has in years.

Most Disappointing Team: Washington Wizards

Yes they've had injuries but this team has been a disaster. There are a lot of teams that have been suspect this year but the Wizards just can't win and don't really seem all that broken up about it. I'm sure Abe Pollin is realizing what most everybody else realized this offseason: signing Jamison and Arenas to big extensions was a bad idea. 

Most Surprising Team: Portland Trailblazers

Most people would say the Nets but I had them ranked higher than most. I also had the Blazers missing the playoffs. The Blazers have been playing some great basketball despite having little to no experience. Their leaders are a couple of third year pros, three of their rotation players are rookie, and their grizzled veteran Joel Pryzbilla doesn't turn 30 until next season. The season has seemed awed and outclassed against the Lakers and Celtics but the fact that they have one of the best record in the league is an amazing feat.

MVP: Dwyane Wade

The Heat are a terrible team without Wade. No players carries his team as much as Wade does. The Heat without Wade could be worse than the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

LVP: Kevin Durant

The kid can get better but right now most of his shots are created for him and he pours in points but doesn't really do much in terms of helping his team win. Right now, he's a young Rashard Lewis without a Hedo or Dwight Howard (or Ray Allen, if we go back to 'Shard's Seattle days). 

Coach of the Year: Lawrence Frank

Eric Spoelstra is a close second but right now Frank is doing a great job with Vince, Devin, and a bunch of kids. A lot of experts had this team being one of the worst in the league and probably didn't expect them to even be close to the playoffs at this point in the season, let alone 2nd in the Atlantic.

Empty Suit of the Year: Don Nelson

Randy Wittman is the worst coach in the business but he really doesn't have much to work with. The Warriors may be the youngest team in the league but they are playing an awful brand of basketball and I'm not sure what Don Nelson actually does in terms of coaching. The Warriors shouldn't be as bad as they are.  

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose

OJ Mayo has put up better numbers but Rose is leading the Bulls towards a playoff berth. I think most people expected Rose to struggle a bit as he got used to the pros but he's already in the discussion of one of the best point guards in the East. 

Bust of the Year: Michael Beasley

I hate to say this because I'm a big fan and think he's going to get better but there's no way to say that the kid hasn't been a disappointment. The struggles so far are probably better for him in the long term but at the quarter mark of the season, no rookie has been more disappointing. 

6th Man of the Year: Rudy Fernandez

On top of being one of the best newcomers (he's not really a rookie), Rudy gives the Blazers a boost off of the bench and helps take advantage of other teams' second units.

12th Man of the Year: Stephon Marbury

I don't really blame him completely but Marbury has to be the 12th man of the year seeing as he won't even play when he's the 8th man available. Of course, if he does get bought out, he jumps to the top of the list of candidates for Comeback Player of the Year. People forget that Marbury is still a talented player and he will help whatever team he goes to.

The Contenders: Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs

Other than those four teams, I don't really see anyone having a real shot at the ring. Right now, I'd still take the Celtics but I'm not sure if the Spurs are going to have enough to beat the Lakers in a seven game series.

The Updated Prediction:

East: Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Indiana, Chicago.

West: LA Lakers, San Antonio, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, Houston, Utah, Phoenix

The Top 5 Draft Picks:

1. Oklahoma City: Blake Griffin - The kid plays at OU, is from OK St. and would be the low post threat that the team needs. Jeff Green slides to the 6th man spot.

2. Minnesota: Ricky Rubio - I'm not sure how the Wolves could screw this one up. They are currently starting Kevin Ollie at the point. Rubio is a no-brainer.

3. Memphis: Hasheem Thabeet - Thabeet is raw and doesn't do much on offense but that's fine because the Grizzlies don't need offense. Thabeet would help them on the defensive end and will let Rudy and O.J. continue to be the focal point of the offense.

4. Washington: James Harden - The Wizards could use a shooting guard and Harden looks like he's the best in the draft.

5. Sacramento: Stephen Curry - Curry has to be moving up the list of best guards in the draft. Sure, he might level off as a Damon Stoudamire type but let's not forget that Damon was a hell of player in the beginning of his career. 

Posted by SoulHonky at 03:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apparently Detroit is a very religious team and doesn't believe working on the Sabbath. Five of their eight losses have come on Sunday games and they've been blown out a few times. In fact, they are the weekday warriors, 7 - 1 during the week. 4 - 6 from Friday to Sunday.

The Sixers are 5 - 2 when Andre Miller takes less than 10 shots. I truly believe that the Sixers problem isn't becoming a half court team (although it doesn't help that they don't have a real consistent shooter) but the fact that Miller handles the ball more in the halfcourt sets.

The Lakers are starting to get complacent in games and testy with one another. There will be stories of infighting this season.

The Blazers need a vocal leader. Oden's a goof, Roy is quiet, Aldridge is soft. Batum isn't going to do it and neither is Rudy. The team is uber-talented but they need a Garnett or even an Antoine Walker type to get the team fired up when they are down.

Denver seems to have made out in the Chauncey Billups deal. They got the leader they needed and now everyone is involved. Hopefully Chauncey's leadership abilities will rub off on Carmelo.

The Hornets are disappointing people but everyone on the team has pretty much reached their ceiling. Maybe Chris Paul can get better but everyone else seems that they are who they are. That's still a upper tier team but they need to shake things up if they are going to take the next step.

The Suns and the Mavs also need to shake things up but I doubt it will happen.

The injury problems might be the best thing to happen to the Jazz as their role players are getting a chance to step up and get some minutes. 

It's easy to dismiss the Nets as not being that good but when you look at a lot of team in the bottom half of the league, they aren't that good either. The Nets might be young but they have more talent than a lot of team. I don't think they'll finish the season over .500 but they really could surprise people and grab the 8th seed.

I really don't know if the Heat would win a game without Dwyane Wade. The team is working on defense but they are a bit of a mess on the offensive end.

San Antonio has weathered the storm and should be on their way to establishing themselves as a threat in the West.

Ben Gordon is playing well and Luol Deng seems to be snapping out of his disasterous 2007-8 season. Not sure if that will be enough to right the Bulls ship and get them sailing into the playoffs but the upgrade from Kirk Hinrich to Derrick Rose is huge. The Gordon/Rose backcourt can be exciting but they can't really defend anyone and Gordon will probably demand more money than he's worth next season as well. Not sure if anyone will be dumb enough to give him that cash but if someone gave Corey Maggette 10 million a year, I could see Gordon finding someone dumb enough to overpay him.

Sam Mitchell took the blame but Bryan Colangelo has built a lousy defensive squad. It won't be the fault of the coaches if this team doesn't make the playoffs.

When I said Luke Ridnour would be comeback player of the year, I meant to say he'd be the "Why is this guy still starting?" player of the year.

Mike Conley Jr. has been benched for Kyle Lowry. The Grizz really need to trade him before his value bottoms out.

Nobody's reputation is saving them more than Don Nelson. The Warriors are an outright disaster. Not that Chris Mullin is doing anything to save his job. I really don't know why they extended Stephen Jackson when they should have been looking to trade him. 

How long until Jared Jeffiries starts so the Knicks can try to find a suitor for his contract?

Indiana's made some noise with big wins but don't let it fool you, this is still a mediocre team at best.

The Wizards could be a good team if they had a point guard. Unfortunately, Gilbert Arenas isn't the point guard they need.

Minnesota, Charlotte, and the Clippers should be folded.

Posted by SoulHonky at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The point guard position is experiencing a renaissance in the NBA. More and more great young point guards are entering the league and taking over their teams. So who are the best of bunch? Looking at the last five drafts, here's my ranking for the best young point guards in the league.

1. Chris Paul - Paul is a a complete player and a legit MVP candidate. He's not only the young point guard; he's the best point guard in the game period.

2. Deron Williams - I've never been a huge believer in Deron Williams but you have to admit that he's a top notch point guard and in the discussion with Chris Paul. He's been banged up this year but is still the second best prospect in the league.  You can't really cite numbers with him because he plays in Jerry Sloan's more controlled offense. If he was on a team like New Orleans, New Jersey, or Chicago, I'm sure his numbers would be eye-popping (and Jersey/Chicago would be better teams).

3. Derrick Rose - Rose is already the leader of his team and showing more poise than anyone expected in his rookie year. He still has work to do on his shot and defense but right now he looks like he could soon become kind of point guard who could turn a good team into a great one.

4. OJ Mayo - Like Rose, Mayo has lived up to the hype. He's a bonafide NBA star and a scoring machine. His defense is also impressive. The question for OJ is whether he is a point guard, can distribute the ball, and make his teammates better. The Mayo/Rose debate might not be as heated as the Deron/CP3 argument simply because Mayo may never get a chance to actually run the point.

5. Devin Harris - Harris took time to develop but he has become an All-Star and is currently the best point guard in the Eastern Conference. He's beaten up on a lot of sub-par PG's so far this year so it should be interesting to see how he fares against his upper echelon colleagues.

6. Russell Westbrook - Westbrook over Rondo could raise some eyebrows but Russell has the potential to be a more athletic version of Rondo with a better shot. He's not there yet but if Westbrook doesn't end his career as being better than Rondo, I think it would have to be considered a disappointment.

7. Rajon Rondo - Rondo's improvement has been amazing and there's a definite possibility that he hasn't reached his ceiling yet. His shot is still getting better and if he could become even a capable three point shooter, he'd be almost unstoppable on the offensive end. Rondo is still inconsistent and seems to struggle against quicker guards but luckily for him, there aren't many guards quicker than him. Rose and Harris are currently ahead of him but I still expect Rondo to become an All-Star.

8. Monta Ellis - I hesitate to put Ellis in this list because he quite simply isn't a point guard. He might have had the chance to become a point guard but starting his career alongside Baron Davis and in Don Nelson's system basically quashed any chance of that. 

9. Rodney Stuckey - Stuckey is another guy who is ever improving but while Rondo was facing his doubters, Rodney was getting overhyped, even compared to Dwyane Wade. I like Stuckey but he's no Wade. In fact, I think he could be the guy who is the line between good and great. Stuckey will be a key player for his teams but I just don't see him being a star.

10. Raymond Felton - Felton's biggest sin is that he isn't Chris Paul or Deron Williams. His next biggest sin is that he's stuck on the Charlotte Bobcats. But as a player, Raymond Felton is a good point guard who can create for his teammates and also is seen as a leader. Many Bobcats called him the key to the team. Unfortunately, Felton isn't spectacular at anything and his shot leaves a lot to be desired. Still, teams could do worse than have Felton running the show.

11. Ramon Sessions - A poor man's Rondo, Sessions is maybe a half-step slow which makes a world of difference. It takes him down a notch as a defender and makes him have to focus more on his defender if he wants to get by. It's is a bit troubling that he hasn't been able to beat out Luke Ridnour, though.

12. DJ Augustin - Augustin reminds me of other short PG's like Dana Barros and Damon Stoudamire. He can shoot and is a capable passer but his height is an issue that could keep him from ever being someone you want to rely on.

13. Lou Williams - Lou Williams would have been in the top ten last year but a new class of PG's knocked him down and he's also been one of the more disappointing players in the league so far. He could easily work his way back into the top 10 and it should be interesting to see if the Sixers entrust him with the starting point guard position next season. I'd like to see him get the chance to get consistent minutes but if I was a Sixers fan, I might be more interested in getting someone else and keeping Lou as a sixth man combo guard.

14. George Hill - George Hill could be a flash in the pan but that was quite the flash. He held his own against Chauncey Billups and outdueled Derrick Rose. This guy is the second biggest unknown on the list. He could pan out to be better than Rodney Stuckey or a lifelong backup.

15. Chris Duhon - Duhon is what he is but what he is is a very steady point guard.  You can count on him to make the smart pass and he limits his turnovers. He's the epitome of the point guard who you wouldn't mind starting but you wouldn't be satisfied with. You'd always keep looking for an upgrade but would find it surprisingly difficult to find someone better.  

16. Jerryd Bayless - I definitely bought into the Bayless hype before the draft and am having some serious buyers remorse. Bayless seems tiny when he's on the floor and has a lot to learn about playing the point guard spot. I still think he could be a great complement to Brandon Roy but a lot depends on his defense. If he has any trade value, the Blazers may want to consider dealing him for a veteran leader to help the young squad.

17. Javaris Crittenton - This looks foolish now and couldn't look foolish forever but I still haven't given up hope on Crittenton. He's in a lousy situation in Memphis and I'm really not sure why more teams aren't looking to pry him away. I'm not sure he'll blossom as much as his former Georgia Tech teammate Thaddeus Young but he could be a player.

18. Mario Chalmers - Chalmers isn't a star but he'll be in the league as long as he shoots the three well and defends. That being said, he still needs to work on his shooting and get up to 40% to be anything more than a role player. He'll be in the league for years but whether he'll be a starter for all of those years depends on how much he improves. 

19. Jarrett Jack - I don't know what it is about former Yellowjacket point guards but I'm also a fan of Jarrett Jack. He's by no means an ideal point guard and might be better off as a backup but he's a legit NBA player. I think the Blazers would be better off with him than Steve Blake or Sergio Rodrguez. 

20. Kyle Lowry - Mike Conley Jr. might be a better prospect but I just like how Lowry handles himself on the court. He seems like a tough guy who leads by example and gives his teammates a boost of energy. Probably best suited as a backup PG but he can handle himself as a starter.

21. Jameer Nelson - I am just not a fan of Jameer Nelson. I think he's a regular season point guard who will always have problems once the playoffs come around. He just doesn't do enough to help his teammates, isn't a great scorer, and is questionable at best on defense. Jameer is better than some of the guys ahead of him but he's also older and makes way more money so I'd rather take the other guys on my roster both today and in the future.

22. Jordan Farmar - Farmar may never blossom into more than he is today but what he is is a pest. The kind of guy that frustrates other teams. He does the little things and never seems to make too many mistakes. It would be interesting to see him get the chance as a starting point guard but odds are he'll best serve his team by playing off the bench.

23. Mike Conley Jr. -While I'm not a fan of what Jameer Nelson brings to the table, it's more than Mike Conley Jr. has to offer. Conley could be a solid Nelson-like point guard but he doesn't seem like he has any business as a starting point guard and he has to improve in pretty much every area of the game. He's quick and could potentially become a player but right now, I wouldn't bet on him. I think Chris Wallace should be looking to get what he can for Conley while the kid still has value.

24. Beno Udrih - He's good enough, I guess, but he's nothing special and his teammate Bobby Brown might actually have more potential. He's not worth 5 million a year.

25. Daniel Gibson - Gibson is young and still has a chance to grow but he needs to shape up or he'll be little more than a Damon Jones type three point bombadeer for his career. I still have faith in him and believe he could be good enough to start but he isn't there yet and I'm not sure he'll ever get there. 

Posted by SoulHonky at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While the Rookie of the Year and MVP races might be more glamorous, the race for the Most Improved player of the year might be the most interesting race to follow. Just tonight another name surfaced in the race with Jose Juan Barea suddenly becoming a legit player in the race. It's still early for Barea (and he is coming off games against the Clippers and Suns, hardly defensive juggernauts) but he's looking like he could settle into the starting spot. Jason Terry is apparently set for the 6th Man spot, Jerry Stackhouse seems out of the loop, and Gerald Green is, well, Gerald Green. 

Barea may just be a flash in the pan but there are a number of other players who could be vying for the hardly prestigious title of Most Improved.

Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets: People questioned the Jason Kidd trade when it was made. Now they look at it as a downright disaster. For the Mavs. Devin Harris should be the starting PG for the Eastern Conference and is helping carry a lackluster squad to respectability. As well as Vince Carter has been playing this season. Harris could arguably be called the team's MVP.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers: It's a little unfair to include Young in this discussion because he was a 19 year old rookie last year so improvement was expected. Still, Young has gotten better faster than most people imagined and is starting to make some people wonder if he isn't the best young swingman on the Sixers. The scariest thing about Young is that I wouldn't be surprised if he improved even more next year.

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics: Rondo is still inconsistent but when he's on, he's a force. He's gone from the Celtics' supposed weak link to a viable candidate for best point guard in the Eastern Conference. 

Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers: Granger was good last year but this year he's an All-Star. While most of the focus was on Andre Iguodala and Luol Deng, Granger has asserted himself as the best young SF in the East not named LeBron.

Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors: The growth of Biedrins last year was impressive and it's continue in 2008. He has a god awful free throw motion but he's a goddamned beast on the board. Teams are starting to respect him a bit which could hinder his numbers but the fact that he's someone teams have to game plan for is a sign of huge improvement.

Trevor Ariza, Los Angeles Lakers: Ariza is a super-sub who could, with a good playoff run, go from overlooked to overrated but he's a strong player who is finally get his shot. One reason for this might be because he's improved his own shot and is now a decent enough shooter. He's not consistent but you at least have to keep an eye on him. He's cooled down as of late but he's still a good defender and guy who can make you pay if you don't take him seriously.

Wilson Chandler, New York Knicks: If Isiah could do one thing, it was find diamonds in the rough in the draft.  Ariza was drafted by the Knicks and Chandler looks like he could be even better than Trevor. He went from an interesting prospect to actual NBA starter in one season and he's only 21 years old. 

Spencer Hawes, Sacramento Kings: Like with Thad Young, it's a bit unfair to include Hawes in the race but the kid is improving. He went from a kid who looked like he had a chance of being the next Robert Swift to a legit piece of the Kings core for the future.

Brandan Wright, Golden State Warriors: Honestly, the only thing keeping him from winning this award is Don Nelson. Wright isn't close to reaching his potential but he could be a legit player and possible star in this league if he's given a chance. Of course, he probably will never get that chance so it's another year of praying for a trade or for Nellie to get fired for people who want to see a good amount of Wright.

Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz: The fun might be over when Carlos Boozer gets back but while he's out, Paul will show off his skills. Averaging 16 and 10, Millsap is making a little name for himself. I still don't think he's a starting PF in the league but someone might be silly enough to pay him like he is.

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Pacers have a good enough team but I really don't see them making much noise in the playoffs, if they even do make the playoffs. Danny Granger is a bonafide All-Star talent and TJ Ford is an underrated PG but I'm not sold on the rest of the squad. Marquis Daniels is nice but he screams "Sell High" now that he's playing well and has a team option on his contract next year. They also have Rasho Nesterovic's expiring deal and a couple of good but not great (and probably won't even be very good) rookie in Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush.

The Pacers might want to make a push for this season by making a couple of move:

1) Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Roy Hibbert for Chris Kaman

Dunleavy Jr. could be just what the doctor order for the Clippers on offense. He can run the offense (and I'm sure his dad would be happy to have him do that) which would allow Baron Davis to focus on scoring in the halfcourt sets. He also is a good enough shooter that if Zach Randolph ever does pass out of a double team, he could nail the trey. The Clippers also get a solid enough young backup center who'd be a decent addition to the young Clips Al Thornton and Eric Gordon. 

As for the Pacers, they get a very good big man who gives them a post threat that they don't really have right now. Also, Danny Granger becomes the definite go-to guy in the offense. I'm not a fan of the Dunleavy/Granger duo because both guys seem to operate best when they can have the ball in their hands.

2) Brandon Rush, Rasho Nesterovic, and Marquis Daniels for Michael Redd

Michael Redd is vastly overpaid but he could be a great second or third option for this Pacers team. Redd as a primary option doesn't work for me but if he's feeding off of Granger and Kaman, he'd be deadly. His contract is ugly but it only has a couple more years left (same as Troy Murphy) and it's not like the Pacers were really going to have much of any cap space anyway.

The Bucks do it because they aren't going anywhere with Redd and the Daniels/Rush duo might actually be a better fit with Scott Skiles's style. They are both steady defenders who would help the Bucks buckle down on defense. Also, this move might allow the offense to flow more through Andrew Bogut. I'm not a huge fan of Bogut but the Bucks are probably better off with the offense running through the post than Michael Redd.

The Pacers would end up with Ford, Redd, Granger, Murphy, and Kaman. It might not be a team that's going to contend for the title but it has a better chance of making it out of the first round than the current squad does. In fact, despite some great wins, the current team might not even make the playoffs. It's time for Larry Bird to roll the dice and swing for the fences. Sure, the ceiling might be more of a ground rule double than a home run but at least they'd be making an impact.

Posted by SoulHonky at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The axe finally fell on Sam Mitchell, a man who saved his job a couple of years ago by doing such a great job that he won Coach of the Year and made it impossible for his GM Bryan Colangelo to fire him. The Raptors took a step back, record-wise, last season and you would have thought that Mitchell would have been gone this past off-season. Perhaps Colangelo didn't get along with them but there were two former Suns coaches in Scott Skiles and Mike D'Antoni available then and now, well, who knows who is out there.

And while I know everyone is tired of 2010 talk, that has to weight heavily on the mind of Bryan as he looks to his next coach. He can't really get a task master who could possibly help make Chris Bosh's decision to bolt Toronto even easier. 

As for Mr. Mitchell, he should have no problem finding a new gig. The Timberwolves are currently employeeing the worst coach in the league and should be impressed by the job that Mitchell has done with Chris Bosh. The Thunder also are looking for a coach and Mitchell could be a good fit. 

Toronto's focus now has to move to Bryan Colangelo himself. Bargnani didn't exactly pan out (although he's showing signs of being a solid role player), he overpaid Kapono, and rolled the dice on Jermaine O'Neal. While the Raptors haven't exactly been playing consistent or all that well, the blame can't all be place on the shoulders of Sam Mitchell.

Posted by SoulHonky at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's still early but if I had to vote for an All-Star team so far, my ballot would look like this (and I included reserves in parenthesis even though I know you don't get to vote for them).

East:

C: Dwight Howard (Zydrunas Ilgauskas)

PF: Chris Bosh (Kevin Garnett)

SF: LeBron James (Paul Pierce, Danny Granger)

SG: Dwyane Wade (Vince Carter, Joe Johnson)

PG: Devin Harris (Jose Calderon)

Some tough choices and I could see dumping Ilgauskas from the lineup in favor of someone like Antawn Jamison but he's having a solid season and the Cavs have been dominant this year. Ray Allen was tough to leave off and I might put him over Granger or Joe Johnson but Joe is keeping the injured Hawks flying high while Granger is having a breakout year that nobody seems to be noticing since he's in Indiana and on a mediocre team.

Unfortuantely, the voting will probably be screwy and could keep Devin Harris out of the starting lineup (replaced by fan favorite Allen Iverson) and I wouldn't be stunned if Chris Bosh found himself on the wrong end of the Manchurian Candidate: Yi Jianlian. It sounds odd but I wouldn't be surprised if he was close one of the top vote getters in the East.

The West is a bit screwy because of the glut of PF's and lack of SF's.  I'd vote for Duncan and Amare as my starters but, for the sake of this post, I'll keep it to the actual positions. Amare gets the asterisk for being voed as starter but appearing on my bench.

West:

C: Yao Ming (Amare Stoudemire*)

PF: Tim Duncan (Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Pau Gasol)

SF: Carmelo Anthony (Rudy Gay)

SG: Kobe Bryant (Brandon Roy)

PG: Chris Paul (Chauncey Billups)

I'm really not sold on either of my SF choices but I'll go with them for now. Tony Parker could edge out Rudy but right now he's just missed too many games. T-Mac has been banged up and hasn't done much, I can't in good faith put guys from the Clippers or Warriors on the All-Star team, and Nash has been down a bit this year. Odds are that, if push came to shove, I'd knock Rudy off the list but why not give one of the game's young stars a chance to shine? In fact, an argument could be made for OJ Mayo and Derrick Rose to make their respective All-Star squads. It's early but the kids are putting up some great games.

Posted by SoulHonky at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Heat need to move Shawn Marion but there don't seem to be many deals that really make sense. The Heat desperately need a big man but the available big probably aren't what the Heat had in mind: Brad Miller, Anderson Varejao, Eddy Curry, etc. Chris Kaman makes sense but the Clips seem convinced that Al Thornton is their SF for the present and future. The Heat will probably have to wait until closer to the trade deadline to exit the Matrix.

Kevin Durant is quickly climbing up my list of least favorite players. He just doesn't seem to get "it". When he celebrates his buckets, he usually looks like a petulant child and, even worse, he celebrates by beating his chest even though his shot was probably made possible by a teammate. Most of Durant's buckets seem to be wide open jumpers off of kickouts. 

There's no better remedy for a team's struggles than seeing Golden State on the schedule. I'm starting to think that Don Nelson's ever-changing starting lineups are just a cover for the fact that he isn't really doing much of anything in terms of actual coaching.

Memphis really should be better than they are. Not much better but better still. Once New York fixes up the Marbury mess, the focus should move to Memphis ending Antoine Walker's purgatory (which should probably include the Grizz moving one of their point guards). Part of me hopes that they make a deal with Cleveland so we could have Antoine in on the Cleveland-Boston fun in the playoffs.

If OJ Mayo wasn't making Wolves fans feel bad enough, they now have to start wondering whether Brook Lopez isn't better than Kevin Love.

The Sacramento Kings are very close to building their very own poor man's Pistons. A team with no real superstars but with a lot of good players who could come together to be very successful. If Donte Greene pans out, they're just a PG away.

Brandon Rush is the perfect Pacer because both he and the team look like they could make a little noise but just aren't good enough to really matter. 

The Nets have made it onto the list of teams to watch. They are an interesting group of players, Vince Carter is having a first team All-NBA caliber season, and if I had to vote for All-Star starters right now, Devin Harris would be my starting PG in the East.

Chris Bosh is my early pick for player most likely to disappear in the playoffs. I'd like to see him beat up some of the better teams/bigs before agreeing that he's made a step to the next level.

Trevor Ariza is making himself a lot of money this year. 

Everything about the 76ers reminds me of the 'Dre/Brand Clippers squad. The only difference is that the Sixers locked up Iggy before the season whereas the Clippers didn't re-sign Lamar Odom (and lost him to Miami at the end of the year).  

Posted by SoulHonky at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)