The Defending Champion Dallas Mavericks started the season horribly and are starting to find their stride, or what's left of it after letting Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea leave the Lone Star State. After winning their last 5 they're sitting in the 7th spot in the West.
The Boston Celtics decided to give it one more shot, even though the analysts said they were too old. So far, it looks like the analysts were right. The C's are currently not in playoff contention, though it is still very early and they could make a fight for the 8, possibly the 7, but I don't see them going any higher than that.
The Miami Heat, hailed as the best team in the league and expected to win the Championship this year, just finished a road trip to the Western Conference where they lost 3 in a row to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers on back to back nights, then to the Denver Nuggets rested. With these losses they have dropped to 6th in the Eastern Conference Standings.
The Los Angeles Lakers, the most loved and hated team in the league, currently reside in the 5 spot in the West after losing to the team across the hall, the Clippers. No one thinks they're the championship team anymore, but Kobe will continue to do as much as he can to get them as far as they can, even if it may hurt the team more than help at times.
With the greats falling spaces are opening up for other teams to make some noise and maybe get a little media coverage. The Sixers and Pacers have moved to the #2 and #3 spots in the East, which is a pretty big step forward for lower playoff teams last year, as the East was basically Chicago, Miami, Boston, Orlando and then a few levels down sat the rest of the East.
In the West some familiar teams are in the top spots, with the Thunder and Spurs sitting at the top, though no one planned for the Spurs to be that high before the season. The Nuggets currently sit at #4 since they lost a head-to-head matchup with the Spurs. The #3 spot is held by the Clippers currently, as their winning percentage is tied with the Spurs and Nuggets, though they haven't yet played as many games as them.
Stay fresh and keep calm,
KK
A blog dedicated to the NBA and the great game of basketball.
Showing posts with label Thunder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thunder. Show all posts
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, December 17, 2011
PULLINGforJEFFgreen
Jeff Green is out for the season. His recently signed 1-year contract with the Celtics was voided because he didn't pass his physical. The reasoning was hush until today. He has a heart problem, which will require surgery scheduled for Monday.
All of the coverage of this story described it as a "mystery illness" and said they didn't know what was wrong with him. The "mystery illness" has now been described as an aortic aneurysm, as reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The Celtics have dealt with things like this in the past, except they caught it this time. In 1993, Reggie Lewis died on a practice court from a heart condition. The Celtics also lost a draftee in 1986, when Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose while celebrating being drafted two days later.
Jeff Green was viewed as a solid player when he was in Oklahoma City, then was traded to the Celtics and has been seen as not so good. I still think he's a good player with good upside. He'll be missing this season, but I hope he returns to the NBA and makes some noise.
Stay fresh and keep calm,
KK
All of the coverage of this story described it as a "mystery illness" and said they didn't know what was wrong with him. The "mystery illness" has now been described as an aortic aneurysm, as reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The Celtics have dealt with things like this in the past, except they caught it this time. In 1993, Reggie Lewis died on a practice court from a heart condition. The Celtics also lost a draftee in 1986, when Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose while celebrating being drafted two days later.
Jeff Green was viewed as a solid player when he was in Oklahoma City, then was traded to the Celtics and has been seen as not so good. I still think he's a good player with good upside. He'll be missing this season, but I hope he returns to the NBA and makes some noise.
Stay fresh and keep calm,
KK
NBAisBACK
The NBA is back after the lockout, the season starts in 8 days, and I personally cannot wait. Christmas Day is usually one of the biggest days on the NBA calendar, and this year it's even bigger. Christmas Day is also acting as opening day and featuring 10 of the top teams competing on live television in 5 great match-ups.
Celtics vs. Knicks @ Noon ET on TNT
Heat vs. Mavericks @ 2:30p on ABC
Bulls vs. Lakers @ 5p on ABC
Magic vs. Thunder @ 8p on ESPN
Clippers vs. Warriors @ 10:30p on ESPN
Though my Denver Nuggets didn't make the cut for Christmas Day this year, I am salivating for some NBA basketball.
Celtics/Knicks
This should be a good match-up of an upcoming team and one that this may be their last shot at another title. Tyson Chandler joined up with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire in New York thanks to the amnesty of Chauncey Billups. The Knicks hope to use their strong front line to take down the aging Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to start the season.
Heat/Mavericks
The rematch of last years Finals should be another great game. The Big Three look to build on what they did last year and have already started spouting "Title or Bust" claims for this season. The Mavericks look a little different than they did in the championship last year. Tyson Chandler is gone to New York and J.J. Barea took his talents to the Great White North. The Mavericks did pick up Lamar Odom from the Lakers, it'll be interesting to see how the team looks without Chandler and Barea giving grit and effort.
Bulls/Lakers
The Bulls had the best record in the league last year and made it to the Eastern Conference finals. They're hoping Rip Hamilton's championships experience can help. Christmas Day they take on the Los Angeles Lakers who many people are saying are on their downhill swing, and one big man less with 6th Man of the Year 2011, Lamar Odom being dealt to Dallas. Passing of the torch?
Magic/Thunder
Dwight Howard is still with the Magic, and they'll need him taking on the Durantula and the young OKC Thunder. The Thunder are looking to get to the next step, they've been improving since they left Seattle and they're hungry for rings.
Clippers/Warriors
The NBA decided to put the most anticipated last, I guess. The Clippers, featuring newly acquired Chris Paul, look to make the playoffs for the first time since '06 and start a winning tradition to take the place of the ill views everyone has had about them forever. The Warriors are looking to take a step in the right direction as well and become a playoff team, but will they be able to stop the star power of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin? (The Clippers are one of my side teams, I've followed them since Kerry Kittles went there in 2004 to end his career)
The Denver Nuggets have the holiday off, but it'll be a great gift to watch these great games. Can't wait.
Stay fresh and keep calm,
KK
Celtics vs. Knicks @ Noon ET on TNT
Heat vs. Mavericks @ 2:30p on ABC
Bulls vs. Lakers @ 5p on ABC
Magic vs. Thunder @ 8p on ESPN
Clippers vs. Warriors @ 10:30p on ESPN
Though my Denver Nuggets didn't make the cut for Christmas Day this year, I am salivating for some NBA basketball.
Celtics/Knicks
This should be a good match-up of an upcoming team and one that this may be their last shot at another title. Tyson Chandler joined up with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire in New York thanks to the amnesty of Chauncey Billups. The Knicks hope to use their strong front line to take down the aging Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to start the season.
Heat/Mavericks
The rematch of last years Finals should be another great game. The Big Three look to build on what they did last year and have already started spouting "Title or Bust" claims for this season. The Mavericks look a little different than they did in the championship last year. Tyson Chandler is gone to New York and J.J. Barea took his talents to the Great White North. The Mavericks did pick up Lamar Odom from the Lakers, it'll be interesting to see how the team looks without Chandler and Barea giving grit and effort.
Bulls/Lakers
The Bulls had the best record in the league last year and made it to the Eastern Conference finals. They're hoping Rip Hamilton's championships experience can help. Christmas Day they take on the Los Angeles Lakers who many people are saying are on their downhill swing, and one big man less with 6th Man of the Year 2011, Lamar Odom being dealt to Dallas. Passing of the torch?
Magic/Thunder
Dwight Howard is still with the Magic, and they'll need him taking on the Durantula and the young OKC Thunder. The Thunder are looking to get to the next step, they've been improving since they left Seattle and they're hungry for rings.
Clippers/Warriors
The NBA decided to put the most anticipated last, I guess. The Clippers, featuring newly acquired Chris Paul, look to make the playoffs for the first time since '06 and start a winning tradition to take the place of the ill views everyone has had about them forever. The Warriors are looking to take a step in the right direction as well and become a playoff team, but will they be able to stop the star power of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin? (The Clippers are one of my side teams, I've followed them since Kerry Kittles went there in 2004 to end his career)
The Denver Nuggets have the holiday off, but it'll be a great gift to watch these great games. Can't wait.
Stay fresh and keep calm,
KK
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