NBA East - In the wild wild East Boston has apparently lost it’s strangle hold and finds itself third in the standings and in the titular power rankings as they have lost a little of the “invincibility” stigma. Concerns about the “Big 3” playing too many minutes has rumors of ‘Starbury’ coming to town makes for interesting fodder on about messing up the chemistry lab at MIT. Meanwhile the best team in the country resides in the state of Cleveland for the first time since we had a president bearing the same name, but the hottest team in the league is the Magic who are coming off a very impressive western road trip where they knocked off all three division leaders (SA, LA, Denver) as a statement of prowess. After the break all three will battle to the last game as one only has to remember last year’s playoffs as the defending champs needed game 7’s at home to claim series against both Atlanta and Cleveland. This year the they may not have that luxury, but how dangerous will the Magic or Cavs be with it? Let us know who you think will represent the East in the NBA chat room and blogs.
NBA West - As opposed to the previous years there are several things that are different about the West as we go into the All-Star break. First and foremost is the fact that the West is not the dominant conference right now, as LA, SA, Phoenix, Dallas, and New Orleans have been replaced with Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando. The last three years it has come down to the final regular season games to decide not only the owners of the eight playoff spots but the seedings as well. However this year the eight participants are all but slated in half way through the year with just the rank and file to be determined. Even that may be anti-climatic as it appears the road to the finals will be on the 101 freeway straight through LA. It’s no secret getting hot at the right time is critical to a championship run and all of the contenders from the West have had to deal with multiple lineup changes due to injuries. The San Antonio ‘big 3’ is just now getting back to form as Ginobli makes his way back. LA still has not had the full force of the “bench mob” as Farmar, Walton, and Odom, and Vujacic have all spend time on the IR with only the two latter coming back. CP3 was down for a while putting NO in the whole. Now that teams are getting back to full strength will the Lakers finally be meant to atone for the lack of D? Have they been the beneficiary of a soft, home laden schedule? Who is your pick to take the West? Let us know in the NBA chat rooms and blogs, here are the current standings:
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Monday, January 19, 2009
NBA State of the League
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13 comments:
I know it's been a long time, a very long time for us LAKER fans but try to remember that Bynum has the best FG% in the league. I don't care who the 2nd option is but more than likely it will be bynum for the inside outside game cuz Bynum draws more double teams than Pau but I truly don't care how it goes as long as it works but please remember we were in first and one of the best teams with Bynum as the 2nd option and he also HAS proved he is consistent.... :)
Ageed. Bynums role will b e a lil different when gets back because he wont be relide on as much to score down low because of the Gasol additon. Defense and rebounding will be his main duties but that was his main duties prior to the injury. The scoring was just gravy. And as far as him adjusting to Gasol. I dont c it as a problem because of there games a different. Gasol will be at the top of the box while Bynum will be down low. Therefore they will not be occuppying the same area and that will allow Bynum to get a ton of offensive rebounds and put backs. I look at it like this, there is no need to rush Bynum back. As as he can get about 10 regular season games or so under his belt and mid April puts him around that, he will be fine. See u @ the parade on Fig in June. Go Lakers!!!!!!
The team has changed considerably with the addition of Gasol. It won't be the same for Bynum now that the Lakers have a low post player like Pau. That means Bynum will have to adjust to a different role. Even Phil Jackson stated this in one of his "Philosophy 101" segments. It would be better if he came back now so he could adjust to the play of Gasol but the way things are looking he won't be back until early to mid April. And you don't incorporate a returning player into an offense that is clicking very well right now. Especially going into the playoffs, where the #8 seed would be the #3 seed in the East. Bynum can change the defense though with his size, allowing Pau to go to 4. The biggest change when Bynum comes back will be putting Odom at 3. Mismatch every night with that lineup. No knock against Bynum, but he is still learning the game and took a huge hit when he went down. Age doesn't matter, it will be the experience factor when he comes back and to this point he has no experience. People who expect the same numbers are expecting too much. If he does, my apologies to you, and I'll see you at the parade in June. But if he doesn't, I'll still see you at the parade in June :)
As far as the Lakers having the best bench in the NBA, it's only the Laker fans who think that. I think the Celtic bench is much better and improving. The Celtics bench is better, more balanced."
that is one of the most ignorant statements I have read in a while... lets just go by this... who has the best defensive player coming off the bench... hands down the lakers, ariza is better than any bench player the celtics have... who has the best shooter coming off the bench... again the lakers in vujacic... who has the best scorer coming off the bench... again the lakers in odom... who has the best ball handler/passer coming off the bench... again its no contest, the lakers do in farmar... how can you even compare the celtics bench of leon powe, big baby, eddie house, scalabrine (lol that is pathetic that he even gets playing time), tony allen or whatever other scrubs you have coming off the bench, to the lakers bench of odom (by far better than anyone you have coming off your bench), ariza (same thing), vujacic, farmar and radmonovic... the lakers have the best bench in the nba and EVERY NBA ANALYST SAYS THE EXACT SAME THING THAT THE LAKERS ARE "THE DEEPEST TEAM IN THE NBA"... there is no doubt the lakers bench is far more superior than the celtics pathetic bench, for you to say otherwise is just ignorant and biased, which is exactly what you are... and btw how did the pats look in the playoffs this year, haha...
Hey Patsfan,
Its not my fault you don't have a bench. Its not my fault your clinging to last year cause its the only thing you have that even resembles success the last 22 years. Its not my fault your own coach thinks your bench sucks. And last but not least, its not my fault you got beat by us and smoked by the Cavs. I will use those two games as an example because guess what? You only play LA and Cleveland a combined 6 times between the two of them. So I will compare these last two times you played LA and Cleveland. Because that is what we have to go on. You can't see that Patty Cake. They beat the Cavs the first game of the season. That was well before we took your mojo away from you and sent you on that downward spiral. We're your kriptonite Patty Cake. We exposed your weaknesses. Made you merely a nother middle aged has been team. Clinging to the title of Defending Champion for as long as you can. Its like your mustache. I'm sure you think its cool. But we all know how outdated and redneck it really is. But most people wont tell you that Patty Cake. They'll just let you keep on wearing it. Cuz they don't want to hurt your feelings. Just like the Celts. Their time has come and gone.
"YOU DON'T HAVE A BENCH THAT CAN BEAT CLEVELAND OR THE LAKERS. Period. Just because you think they are playing better now against other teams doesn't count. They can't compete with L.A.'s or Cleveland's bench. The numbers speak for themselves. Look what your bench did against those two teams and then compare those numbers to what they did against all the other teams. It's a joke. Doc even said when asked if he thought his team has improved, he answered his starters have. Meaning Rondo and Perkins. He knows his bench can't cut it. He made that comment during your big streak."
This is an example of someone trolling. This moron is trying to make a point based on 2 games. The Celtics have played 46 games, and he uses two games for his example of Boston's bench. What do you think, the Lakers are so far advanced that no one can compete with them? Hello, come on back to earth, Zippy. The Celtics played the Lakers well, not well enough. They did play on the road. How did that road game against Sacramento go last month? You want to compare how team's do, then I'll pick out one game and use it for my example. The Lakers suck because they got BLOWN OUT in Sacramento! And, FYI, you bring out how the Celtics did against Cleveland, but you never mentioned that the Celtics also beat the Cavs this year also. Do us all a favor, Laker fans, and stay on your own board where you can kiss each others butts and suck each others little penile projections.
Hello Celts fans. Starbury is not your answer. Last I checked Starbury isn't 6'10" to 7' and a great perimeter defender who could also post up. Thats what you need. P.J. is not coming back. You lost Posey. That is why the Lakers beat you and will beat you again and again all the way through the finals. That's if you can get past Cleveland. I will say this for the last time. YOU DON'T HAVE A BENCH THAT CAN BEAT CLEVELAND OR THE LAKERS. Period. Just because you think they are playing better now against other teams doesn't count. They can't compete with L.A.'s or Cleveland's bench. The numbers speak for themselves. Look what your bench did against those two teams and then compare those numbers to what they did against all the other teams. It's a joke. Doc even said when asked if he thought his team has improved, he answered his starters have. Meaning Rondo and Perkins. He knows his bench can't cut it. He made that comment during your big streak.
They could use more size. But, Starbury would provide a better option for the second unit regarding running the offense. Pruitt is still learning and his future is dim at best.
He would also provid a much needed scoring threat off the bench other than Eddie House. He would NOT get a ton of minutes regardless. I could see Marbury maybe averaging around 18-22 minutes. He would take Tony Allens minutes and Pruitts minutes. He would allow Allen and Pierce more time to rest as well.
Boston's defense made Orlando look very average tonight----it's hard to believe that they lead the East in scoring---on another note, the argument to who is the Nba's best team has resembled a game of musical chairs these last few weeks. I think you have to take Orlando out of the discussion for now---they might be better suited playing in the Western Conference
Hey Celtic fans Got under your skin a little bit didn't I? I'd be emotional too if I saw my team get beat like it did. First by the Lakers then by the Cavs. Don't worry, it will all be over come June. Then you can sit with all your friends and talk about what a great Celtic team you had last year. Your memories will be fond, but then slowly fade into another Laker dynasty. In a way I actually feel bad for you. It must be hard watching your team go from best in the league and a lock to repeat, to second or third best in the East. There is a support group you can go to. Its run by big baby. Its called "Our bench sucks and I'll cry if I want to". You can get a free pass on line at I LIVE IN THE PAST.com
I am a cavs fan...I have to tell you that a couple of weeks ago when you were slumping, I was the first one to say that the C's are old and beatable...now they are playing very good again like they know how..I think whoever gets home court just like last year will win the ECF and go to the finals...it is going to be a great ride into the end of the season...best of luck and I woul love to face off with you again...we want redemption..you are still the champs and it would be nice to have the opportunity to knock you off your throne.
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