Ten Early Season NBA Observations

Brought to you by Mike Nicastro: Just read it.

1.       It’s Rajon Rondo’s world and we’re all just livin’ in it

Remember when Rajon was a lanky, unpolished, inexperienced, turnover prone, never going to amount to much point guard? I certainly do, only because it wasn’t too long ago. About 21 months to be exact when he was the only question mark to an otherwise championship roster.

Today, he is the ace in the Celtics poker hand and most vital part of the team. Rondo’s maturation has been dramatic from year to year.  His assist totals have increased significantly from 3 his rookie year, to 6 his sophomore campaign, then 8, 10 and now 14. You could make the argument that the only reasons his assist totals are heightened are because of the talent around him. But I could make the argument that he radically makes the talent around him better. Nothing against Paul Pierce or Ray Allen, but take one of those guys off of this team, and you still have the 4th or 5th strongest team in the East. Take Rondo off the squad, and you have a team that would struggle to make the postseason. A steal in the NBA today should be referred to as committing Grand Theft Rondo. The Celtics committed Grand Theft Rondo when they traded for him on draft day after he was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 21^st pick. He has the Celtics looking like the team to beat in the East once again this year. Rondo could potentially be holding an MVP trophy when it’s all said and done this year, a good chance that MVP trophy reads Finals on it.

2.       Unless Dwight Howard has something to say about that

Admittedly, I was one of the cynics that went urghhhhhhhhhhhh, growled, and shook my head when the Magic selected Howard first overall above Emeka Okafor, who was taken by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 draft. Now the only object growling at Howard is the Tiger featured in the Nike commercial with Howard and Mr. Chow (tooodaloooo Bobcats!) This guy athletically is simply an unfair matchup. And that was before he developed a few back to the basket low post moves. He’s big, he’s bad, and he’s taking over the paint like Michelangelo. Recently, Howard has been remarkable, doing things Jim Jones hasn’t even seen. Take a look at just this past week;

Nov. 22 @ San Antonio: Had 26 points, 18 rebounds, three steals and two blocks
Nov. 24 vs. Miami: Posted 24 points and 18 rebounds
Nov. 26 vs. Cleveland: Netted 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals
Nov. 27 @ Washington: Rounded out the week with his fourth double-double, tallying 32 points and 11 rebounds

Orlando went 3-1 in those games, and Dwight Howard stamped his name alongside Rondo’s in early season MVP discussion.  He is a man among boys, and a lot similar to Rondo, has improved every year. The Sky’s the limit for Dwight. His team is Balllllllllin at 12-4, tied with Boston atop the Eastern Conference, and I got news for you, they’re the best team in the state of Florida.

3.       Jeff Van Gundy has less hair every week

The ESPN color commentator should shop at the same toupee store as his brother, Stan. Or ask Latrell Sprewell to borrow some locks.

4.       The Western Conference once again, is head and shoulders above the East

Just when you thought this conference couldn’t get any stronger, New Orleans decides to win twelve out of their first sixteen contests, and the Golden State Warriors young backcourt of Monta Ellis and Steph Curry start to look like a serious up and comer. The West features 7 teams with a winning percentage better then .62 percent in San Antonio, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Denver, Utah, Dallas and Oklahoma City. The East, has two. Boston and Orlando.

5.       BREAKING NEWS: Chris Paul is not getting traded

This makes me lol more than an episode of Full House. After the Saints triumph the hornets are looking to make some noise of their own this season in the Bayou. Chris Paul is the energizer behind the bunny, looks happy and healthy, and has his team compiling wins. Sure he would look great in an Orlando Magic uniform. Lets just take into effect what Paul did for Tyson Chandler.He made a sub par big man look like an all star. Just imagine what he could then do with basically the best big man in basketball already. The possibilities are endless. But we’re going to have to wait a year or so if we’re ever going to see that scenario.  I keep hearing “ Chris Paul would go to so and so and immediately make them a contender” Well, time to open your eyes. At 12-4 the Hornets ARE contenders. And CP3 is the reason.

6.       Shaq, is well, still Shaq

“Celtics coach Doc Rivers said center Shaquille O'Neal missed Boston's practice on Monday because the veteran center forgot the time it was scheduled to start”

Shaq defeats Pujols in Home Run Derby, beats Rachael Ray in a cookoff. . . . coming up this Saturday, can the diesel defeat the toughest challenge of them all? Tune in at 8, ABC, Shaq vs. Time!

7.       Eva Longoria divorced Tony Parker because he’s been more committed to other people

Namely Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Now i'm not suggesting that these three are taking a trip on the love boat together anytime soon, but on the court they’ve been nothing short of a happy marriage.  Parker and the spurs currently sit at 14-2, and have gone from a ’54 Oldsmobile to a 08 Cadillac. Interesting that Eva files for divorce and spousal support a month after Tony signs a 50 million dollar extension with the Spurs. Although it wasn’t a good deal for Eva, it was a great one for the Spurs locking up one of the more underrated point guards in the league. If I told you Tony Parker led the league in points in the paint last year, you obviously wouldn’t believe me . . until you looked it up. He’s one of the primary reasons San Antonio is looking like a championship contender out West. Manu Ginobili looks to be back in all-star form, Richard Jefferson has overcome some issues off the court, and Gregg Poppovich has one of the finest coaching resumes in NBA history.  But more importantly, Eva Longoria is on the market? Who’s with me!?!

8.       The Clippers are thankful for Blake Griffin

And turkey, and cranberry sauce, and stuffing, and sweet potatoes. But not much else. Prior to the season I admittedly picked the Clippers to be my surprise playoff team out west. I loved the young core of this team, Eric Gordon a slashing, crafty two guard, a steady, consistent former all star NBA center in Chris Kaman, and a PG that has seen it all in this league in Baron Davis, all surrounding prospective superstar Blake Griffin, rounded out what looked to me a team reminiscent of the Golden State team of 08 in which Baron Davis was also the PG. Well, it hasn’t really turned out that way for one of the most pathetic franchises in sports. They’ve been plagued by injury, but even when healthy they look like my sister’s 2^nd grade “backyard playtime” team.  It doesn’t help that they are in a Western Conference that features 6 perennial powerhouses, along with 2 rebuilding teams that are two jumps and a hop step ahead of them in Memphis and Golden State, but a team with this much talent should not be 3-15. Almost like the Bengals in football, you seemingly could put all the superstars in the world on the Clips and they would still underachieve. The Clippers are cursed. I deem this to be true… you could put Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all on this team and they would still barely break .500. Wait, I’m being told that...

9.       I have a joke for you that I just thought of while attempting to make the Lakers my number 9 observation.

Why did Ron Artest leave the game early?

Because he wanted to beat the crowd.

Sorry to get off topic, but there is really isn’t much to talk about in Jack Nicholson land. The Lakers are who we thought they were. Currently holding serve, they will be in the Western Conference Finals once again this year vying for a chance to achieve their second three-peat of the decade. The black mamba is still venomous, and throw Pau Gasols name in the mix with Howard and Rondo for midseason MVP candidates. And let’s be quite frank . . No matter how bad a day the Lakers could potentially one day have, they still aren’t the Clippers.

10   The Miami Heat are the biggest disappointment in Sports . . . today

And maybe soon to be sports history if this ship isn’t righted by the end of the season.  But key words, by the end of the season. Critics may still bash this team if they were to fall in the NBA finals or Eastern Conference Finals, but I actually think that this isn’t championship or bust and that a Finals appearance would be defined as a successful season for the Heat. One, because Boston and Orlando are just that good, and have that cohesiveness that Miami obviously lacks. Here’s the thing, I understand this team is held to a higher standard because of the prediction Lebron made at the big pizza party down in south beach this summer where he predicted “ not 6”, “not 7” championships (maybe he meant 3?). But anybody who has ever laced up their Lebron’s and played a game of basketball, or watched dynasties such as the Bulls and the Lakers, knows that it takes time to develop that chemistry, to understand your teammates tendencies, and to win meaningful basketball games. Give them the full 82 games before we start officially call them the biggest disappointment in sports history, and with that said even if they don’t win the trophy this year I STILL  believe they will have at least 3 forthcoming in the next 6 years. 

But by staying optimistic, I am absolutely cutting this team a break. Currently, they are a joke. When you watch this team, they look simple. Just like in Cleveland it’s LeBron and 4 guys watching him. I don’t care who’s on the bench if its Erik Spoelstra, Pat Riley, Stan Van Gundy, Carrot Top, this start is on the players.  Inconclusive Evidence’s own Matt Aaron has already told you why Chris Bosh is exceedingly overerrated, and if you’ve watched a Heat game this year when Lebron James and Dwyane Wade are on the hardwood together, you can basically rest assure that the offense will be stagnant. Two guys, with similar games, and gigantic egos. Two individuals so used to doing everything by themselves, they can’t do much of anything together.

http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=2&season=22010&split=9&team=Heat. Check out NBA.com recent stat breakdown of when they are on the court together. Believe it or not, they are the 18^th best two man combination on the Heat. Not 3rd, or 4th, but 18^th!  Simply mind blowing.The circus ride’s been fun since June, since the decision, for these 3 individuals. It’s a nice script for drama, basketball drama, and currently it's not a script translating in wins. And right now, this is a team of celebrities, and not basketball players.

In conclusion, as I alluded to earlier we’re ONLY 17 games into the season. Check back with me in February. If the ship isn’t righted, meaning they don’t significantly improve or are not a top 3 seed in the East, I’ll walk the plank.