11/30 Observations
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).
