This may be the first time I have ever been able to say this, but I’m really having a blast following the Association this season. This past weekend the network showed four games, plus a fifth shown locally, and I actually watched a good portion of all five. Most years, the NBA bores me to tears, with little suspense. In the 80’s it was Sixers v. Celtics – the winner to play the Lakers. In the 90’s it was which Western Conference team will win the right to job to the Bulls in the finals. Or the past few years, two weeks of the Knicks v. Heat steel cage match – followed by two weeks of Knicks v. Pacers. It wouldn’t be so bad if the New Yorkers (or their opponents) could score 80 points a game. This year???
A refreshing change has occurred this season. Up-tempo teams such as the Sixers, Bucks, Kings, and Mavericks have found their way to the top of the standings. Even the Denver Nuggets are in striking distance – for the first time since the old Doug Moe run and gun days. The Knicks and Lakers are still in the mix, of course, but both those squads come with faults. New York lacks a true go-to guy. LA has two, unfortunately nothing beyond that. When your third option becomes an undrafted ex-truck driver from a NAIA school in the mountains north of L.A., you’re in trouble. I can see Beavis and Butthead cackling for a half hour about a point guard from the Master’s College (alright, I know it’s a Christian school). But I digress.
So Lets look at the contenders to make the Associations own 16-team version of Survivor this spring, starting with the East…
Philadelphia – You may not like his background or pedigree. But anyone who watched Allen Iverson’s 52 point performance against the Raptors last week (on a bum knee yet) has to come away with this – the Answer is one tough S.O.B. The dude’s 5’10” 155 lbs and doesn’t back down from anyone. Most fun player to watch. Theo Ratliff is the Association’s leading shotblocker. If Iverson and coach Larry Brown can avoid going to loggerheads the next few months – the Sixers should get the #1 seed and go far in the postseason.
Milwaukee – The squad the basketball world doesn’t know about, yet. Most explosive offense in the Association. If its not Big Dog Robinson, it’s Ray Allen, or Cassell, or Notorious Tim Thomas, or Lindsay Hunter comes in and drains a few threes. Team 22-6 after a 3-9 start. Defense team’s Achilles heel though. Old nemesis Knicks and Pacers may be waiting in playoffs, though Bucks ended seven game losing streak to NY recently.
New York – Same old. Spree, a little Larry Johnson, and a lot of D. Are always in the hunt. Why does Van Gundy take the bump every time the fistacuffs break out???
Miami – Knicks South. Another veteren laden contender. Will Mourning come back for playoffs??? Hush, Hush.
Charlotte – Hornets going south fast. Mashburn and Wesley having nice seasons though.
Toronto – Bad news, McGrady’s moved on. Good news, coach Butch Carter, Cris’s idiot brother, has also moved on. Would have been nice to see Tmac and Vince Carter together for another year.
Indiana – Lot of changeover this year. Reggie Miller a factor in any short series however.
Orlando – McGrady could singlehandedly make things interesting against the #1 or #2 seed.
Cleveland – Pray they don’t make it.
Now for the West…
Sacramento – Believe or not, the West’s best record. Chris Webber MVP candidate. Pedrag Stojakic is an absolute sniper.
San Antonio – Tim Duncan a little off this year.
Portland – Still the conference favorites. Deepest team in Association. Rasheed Wallace losing his cool and getting kicked out of a game their biggest worry.
Lakers – Everyones talking about the Kobe-Shaq “fued” on who should be “the guy”. Real problems is that there are no other contributors. Additional take on Shaq, we accept he’s not a good free throw shooter. He did once shoot 57 percent from the stripe, he’s now down to 40.
Dallas – West’s version of the Bucks, their international “big three” consisting of Nowitzki, Nash, and Finley. Let’s hope for God’s sake they don’t get eliminated on a controversial call.
Phoenix – Jason Kidd makes more turnovers than Dolly Madison. Backcourt 2000 has become Domestic Disturbance 2001.
Utah – When does Malone and Stockton’s 401K mature.
Minnesota – Their usual #8 seed, first round exit.
Houston – Rockets better than #7 and #8 teams in East.
Best players on bad teams: Jerry Stackhouse (Pistons) and Antawn Jamison (Golden State). Imagine the Carolina Tar Heels if they could have kept Vince Carter, Stackhouse and Jamison for say even, three years…
I’m going with experience and am taking Portland over the Knicks in the end. The finals could just as easily be Sixers-Mavericks, or even Bucks-Kings. For once, it will be fun to see the rest of the season unfold.