Live diary on a busy night of NBA League Pass

Since the condensed NBA season has allowed me to consume my evenings watching several games for hours on end, I’m going to try to capture random thoughts I have for all of the teams playing in tonight’s games.

San Antonio Spurs @ Toronto Raptors

Spurs:  I’m 50/50 with my take on the Spurs.  First, I said early on in the season that no one should sleep on them yet – and now they are the West’s 2^nd best team at the moment.   With the Western Conference being up for grabs, I think they have potential to make the Conference Finals this year.  I was wrong about one thing, though:  Tony Parker should have been on my All-Star reserves list.  He absolutely deserves to be there.  He is the main reason the Spurs find themselves as 2^nd in the West. 

Raptors:  As the first team that the god-awful Wizards beat this season (after Washington started 0-8), Toronto was supposed to be awful.  Well, I’ve paid close attention to them in the last week or so, and they’re really not that bad.  Their point guard, Jose Calderon, is an above-average playmaker, averaging 8.7 assists per game; he’s 4^th in the NBA behind Nash, Rondo, and Paul – not too shabby. 

The unfortunate thing about Toronto is that they’re the epitome of talented-but-bad team that always finds ways to lose.  Against the Lakers the other night, they blew a 4-point lead and committed a crucial 5-second violation in the final seconds.  Monday night, they were victims of Linsanity.  And at this time of writing, they’re about to lose a close one to the Spurs.  They play well for about 40-45 minutes, but commit silly mistakes toward the end of games.  This is a team that badly needs veteran leadership and closers to contend – but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic

76ers:  I can’t quite figure this team out.  Sometimes they look like legitimate contenders, and other times they fall flat.  Tonight was a good example of the latter, getting their butts kicked by a highly dysfunctional Magic team.  This is the problem with a team that has more than two or three go-to guys; it’s hard to get a team rhythm when five or six guys have to get in a groove for the team to be successful.  It works on nights when the ball is moving well, but it’s hard to do when you’re sluggish overall.  Lou Williams looks like the team’s best player (especially in the clutch), but it’s not by a wide margin. 

Magic:  Dwight continues to pad his stats on his emotionally detached campaign with this team.  But the guy who’s really impressed everyone is Ryan Anderson, who scored 27 points in this game.  Btw, since the All-Star 3-point shootout contestants were announced, I can’t decide who I’m going to pick to win it.  But Anderson definitely has a great chance – a guy who doesn’t use a lot of energy to get his shots up, his shooting stroke might be built to win such an event.  But the shootout is one of the least predictable events, unless Steve Kerr or Larry Bird are participating.   Anyway, I think the shootout will come down to him or Anthony Morrow of the Nets.

Sacramento Kings @ New York Knicks

Kings:  As J.M. Poulard (ESPN Truehoop Warriors writer) says, this team is a playground unit masquerading as an NBA team.  Walt Clyde Frazier, who’s calling the Knicks broadcast, can’t help but express relief on the Knicks finally being on the favorable end of a blowout.  That goes to show just how terrible Sacramento is – especially on the road.  Much like the Raptors, they have talent, but not the veteran leadership to help cultivate the roster. 

Knicks:  Ok..impossible not to mention Jeremy Lin in this paragraph, right?  I’ll keep this short since everyone in the sports world has beat this to death:  the team is playing well – will be very, very interesting when Melo gets back. Melo is saying all the right things now – but the minute he holds the ball on isolation plays for more than 2 seconds, boos will start coming down on him from the Garden.  Wondering when he’s coming back?  Don’t worry, there will be plenty of media attention on this.

Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics

Pistons:  Surprisingly playing well tonight on the road, but it may be because no one in Boston bothered to attend this game.  For a team that lacks talent, they still play hard. 

Quick side note:  Ben Wallace announced he’s retiring at season’s end, and is fittingly finishing the season in a Detroit jersey.  The closest precedence to Jeremy Lin, he was undrafted out of Virginia Union and blossomed into a defensive beast for several years on a very good team.  He will get serious consideration for the Hall of Fame.  I don’t think he should, but a dominant defensive player will always get the benefit of the doubt.

Celtics:  Rondo is back, but the Celtics offense is not.  For a pass-first point guard, Rondo sure has been scoring a lot lately – including a career high 32-point game on Sunday vs. Chicago.  They’re about to embark on a 5-game road trip, so maybe they’re just coasting in preparation for that.  They did sit KG, after all. 

Memphis Grizzlies @ New Jersey Nets

Grizzlies:  Man, this team can’t wait until Zach Randolph comes back from a torn MCL (probably after the All-Star break).  Still, even without him they’re beating the teams they should beat – such as the Nets tonight.  My only complaint with them is to get rid of the gnarly gold and green retro jerseys – it’s the only thing that makes me not want to watch them.

Nets:  Typical New Jersey game – Deron Williams gets a double double (26 pts, 11 assists), everyone else plays mediocre, and the Nets come up short.  Let’s hope Brook Lopez gets back from a broken foot injury as soon as possible, so that we don’t have too many terrible teams in the East.  I mean, look at the list:  New Jersey, Washington, Charlotte, Detroit, Toronto – the list seems to be growing.  Good thing Cleveland and New York seem to be decent now, otherwise the “Leastern” conference jokes would have ran rampant once again.

And speaking of decent Eastern Conference teams..

Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Pacers:  Looked to still be shell-shocked after getting streamrolled by Miami the other night.  This no-show against Cleveland is their 5^th straight loss, and need to snap out of this funk as soon as they can.  With upcoming games against New Jersey, Charlotte, and New Orleans, I think they will. 

Cavaliers:  They managed to play well in Kyrie Irving’s first game back after sitting out with a concussion.  News flash – LeBron is returning to Cleveland to play this team on Friday.  Hopefully, the Cavs can actually be competitive against him this year. 

Charlotte Bobcats @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Bobcats:  Ugh – just a god-AWFUL team.  With a shortened season, they might not get past single digits in the win column over the entire season.  One of their biggest disappointments is the lackluster play of Tyrus Thomas.  When he was drafted by Chicago a few years ago, he had tremendous upside.  Now, I don’t think the Bulls miss him much.  I guess owner Michael Jordan still wishes there was still a lockout.

Timberwolves:  Kevin Love is a BEAST.  I mean, the guy gets more rebounds in games than people can in practice in a gym by themselves.  He’s putting up numbers that Wilt Chamberlain used to put up in the 60s.  And what some people don’t know is that he can shoot the lights out – which is why he was also invited this year’s All-Star 3-point shootout.   

New Orleans Hornets @ Milwaukee Bucks

Hornets:  Poor Hornets.  David Stern really screwed the pooch on this one.  First they pull of a blockbuster trade to get Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, AND Lamar Odom out of unloading Chris Paul.  Then, Stern rescinds the trade, and they get Eric Gordon, Al Farooq Aminu, and a draft pick from Minnesota.  Now, Gordon will basically miss the entire season, and Minnesota’s draft pick will not be as high as they originally thought (since the Wolves are playing well).  Stern not only is showing incompetence as a commissioner, but looks like a terrible team owner as well. 

Bucks:  Recently, Brandon Jennings said he’s looking into the possibility of signing with a bigger market team.  Why would he say that now, to the team that made him a lottery pick even after a year of playing terribly abroad?  Is that a slap to the face of the franchise or what?   He’s going to be a restricted free agent in the summer, so any offer he gets this year could be matched by the Bucks.  Still, with the new CBA, players get rewarded for staying with the teams that drafted them.  So, only time will tell if he actually leaves.  Such is the life for a small market team.

OKC Thunder @ Houston Rockets

Thunder:  As good as they are, I’m questioning whether this team is a shoe-in to the Finals this year.  First, they only have three guys (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) who can create shots for themselves and teammates. Second, they seem to be a jump-shooting team; Ibaka and Perkins don’t really have a low post game, and neither do any of their perimeter players.  Also, losing backup point guard Eric Maynor for the season hurts them more than people think.  If they don’t address these issues, I can see teams like Dallas and the Lakers giving them fits in the postseason. 

Rockets:  This team could upset someone in the first round of the playoffs.  In addition to keeping Martin and Scola, they have Kyle Lowry – the Rockets’ daily triple-double threat and an All-Star caliber player.  They’re my early favorite to earn the label “The Team No One Wants to Face in the First Round.”

Denver Nuggets @ Dallas Mavericks

Nuggets:  Much like Indiana and Philadelphia, Denver is a decent team that’s been struggling lately.  After playing Dallas tonight, they are going to go through a brutal stretch in their schedule.  Take a look at their next eight games:  Memphis, OKC, Minnesota, LA Clippers, San Antonio, and Portland, Houston, then again San Antonio.  For a team that’s struggling and could use some easy wins these days, that’s rough.  They could really use Gallo right now.

Mavericks:  With Dirk rounding into shape, this team is starting to look like an elite contender again.  If only Lamar Odom can snap out of his season-long funk, I still think they have a great chance of defending their Western Conference title.

Atlanta Hawks @ Phoenix Suns

Hawks:  Still baffled by the snubbing of Josh Smith from the All-Star team.  What’s it going to take for this guy to make it?  Hopefully, Melo sits out the All-Star game and Smith takes his place. 

Suns:  Somehow, Steve Nash continues to play with remarkable efficiency and make his teammates better, even at age 38.  Yes, even guys like Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, and Marcin Gortat are all beneficiaries of Nash’s brilliant playmaking.  Let’s try to admire Nash as much as we can before his inevitable departure from the game. 

Portland Trailblazers @ Golden State Warriors

Blazers:  After they were defeated handily by Washington at HOME last night, I’m not sure if this is a dangerous team anymore.  I know the Wizards have been playing surprisingly well lately, but still.  With the West being as loaded as it is, they need to address their issues in their backcourt.  I refer, of course, to guards Ray Felton and Wesley Matthews.  They’ve been subject to widespread criticism lately, and that’s only multiplied since their double-OT loss to Dallas on Saturday. 

Warriors: In my recent battle with insomnia, I’ve been watching the Warriors quite frequently even though their games are always on really late.  And I gotta say, I am very impressed with what first-time head coach Mark Jackson is doing.  He has the team playing pretty well.  The one major flaw this team has, though, is their lack of rebounding.  They are 30^th in the NBA, and it clearly hampers their ability to win close games.  On paper, they’re one of the more talented teams in the league.  But if they can’t rebound, they won’t even be a .500 team.

Washington Wizards @ Los Angeles Clippers

Is this even worth talking about?  I’m tired..