Paul Pierce kills Bulls on Halloween
The Celtics rolled to a 28 point victory over the Bulls at home today as their hot start to season 09/10 continues. In scenes reminiscent of the C's strong start last season, the Celtics dominated throughout the game, with Paul Pierce scoring 20 points in the third quarter to completely ensure victory.
Paul Pierce, 3rd quarter killer
The Lakers are also looking strong with Bynum especially active on both ends, which adds significantly to their defensive ability over last year. Orlando too look to have taken a leap with the additions of Brandon Bass, Vince Carter and Jason Williams. Let's hope Cleveland and San Antonio sort themselves out after their rocky offensive starts to the season so we have some real depth to that upper crust, because at the moment it's looking thinner than the paper skeleton hanging on my wall.
Lakers & Celtics… 16-0?
In the midst of everyone foolishly losing their collective minds regarding Cleveland's shaky start, plus the fact I'm not a big fan of Orlando, I thought I'd do some day-dreaming...
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are potentially poised to break a 15 year old record this year. The record is for the best undefeated start to a season. The record is 15-0 and it is co-held by the Washington Capitols in 1948–49 and the Houston Rockets in the 1993–94 season.
When you look at both teams' schedules for the first 16 games, there are a couple of danger games but nothing that would suggest it's impossible for Boston and/or LA to claim the prize.
First we have the Celtics, who are playing some great Basketball already this season and look extremely deep and talented. Of the first 16 games, the Celtics have already taken care of the Cavaliers quite brutally in Cleveland and have quite a favorable run. Currently sitting at a perfect 2-0, lets take a look at their schedule for the next 14 games:
- Chicago
- New Orleans
- @ Philadelphia
- @ Minnesota
- Phoenix
- @ New Jersey
- Utah
- Atlanta
- @ Indiana
- Golden State
- Orlando
- @ New York
- Philadelphia
- Toronto
Of the games shown here, there are obvious danger games. For example the Toronto, Orlando, New Orleans & Chicago games will be tough. But they're all home games! There is a genuine chance for Boston to go 16-0 to start the season.
Now let's take a look at the Lakers schedule for the next 15 games:
- Dallas
- Atlanta
- @ Oklahoma City
- @ Houston
- Memphis
- New Orleans
- Phoenix
- @ Denver
- Houston
- Detroit
- Chicago
- Oklahoma City
- New York
- @ Golden State
- New Jersey
Again, as with the Celtics, the Lakers have some danger games such as Dallas, Atlanta and a road trip to Denver but these match-ups certainly aren't lop-sided against them. It's safe to say the chances of going 16-0 are higher for the Celtics and in fear of sounding like a Laker fanboy I'm happy to admit that. But imagine the hoopla around the League if both of these teams managed to make it to that magical mark?
It certainly wouldn't do Cleveland, Orlando and San Antonio any harm to be shoved under the radar.
Good times ahead...
News just in: Derrick Rose is good
Okay, perhaps it's not a fantastic newsflash, but he has definitely improved over the off season. He looked more poised and ready to lead a team (admittedly based on a small sample size) in Chicago's first game of the season, a 92-85 win over San Antonio.
The other news out of Chicago is the development of Joakim Noah. His jumper still looks uglier than Amy Winehouse's new plastic shoulder puppies but he has significantly beefed up over summer and can hold his own defensively rather than just being an athletic pest.
Joakim Noahs jumpshot is uglier than this
Tim Duncan still had a fantastic game with 28 and 16, but Noah wasn't bullied around like he was last year, and he's still super-quick for a big man, making him a difficult surprisingly effective. Time will tell if he continues to improve, but I think he could be a difference maker for them this year.
2010
As far as predictions go, I realize this is practically impossible to get 100% correct. A full scale prediction of every team's win-loss record for the upcoming season. And worse yet, it's only September! However, I thought this would be interesting to look back on in June 2010.
Eastern Conference W L
Western Conference W L
Cleveland 60 22
Boston 56 26
Orlando 54 28
Atlanta 50 32
Toronto 45 37
Chicago 43 39
Miami 42 40
Charlotte 39 43
Indiana 38 44
Washington 37 45
Detroit 34 48
Philadelphia 32 50
Milwaukee 28 54
New York 27 55
New Jersey 24 58
LA Lakers 62 20
San Antonio 56 26
Dallas 54 28
Denver 50 32
Portland 50 32
Utah 48 34
New Orleans 42 40
Oklahoma City 41 41
Houston 38 44
Phoenix 37 45
LA Clippers 36 46
Golden State 35 47
Memphis 31 51
Minnesota 28 54
Sacramento 15 67
In making these predictions, I've taken into account all roster changes up to and including the 13th of September 2009. As soon as a blockbuster deal goes down, I may have to edit these figures.
I'm excited to see what Blake Griffin can do for the Clippers, what Allen Iverson can bring to the Grizzlies and how Amare Stoudemire will handle being stuck on a 37-win team. But most importantly, it will be interesting to see who can secure home court advantage throughout the entire Playoffs. This one fact alone may determine the Champion this year.
As always, time will tell and bring on the upcoming season!!!
Threads of success…?
I've had a theory for a long time now regarding NBA teams and new uniforms. This theory has been ridiculed before but the stats don't lie. If an NBA team makes a significant change to their uniforms, they are historically likely to experience a distinct improvement for the current or next season and in a lot of cases a trip to at least the Conference Finals. I'm not saying this is psychological, it just happens.
Let's run through a list of teams that have changed their uniforms and seen prompt results.
 2009 - Orlando Magic (2009 NBA Finals) |
 2008 - Atlanta Hawks (2009 ECSF) |
 2006 - Cleveland Cavaliers (2007 NBA Finals) |
 2005 - Dallas Mavericks (2005 NBA Finals) |
 2003 - San Antonio Spurs (2003 NBA Champions) |
 2001 – New Jersey Nets (2001 NBA Finals) |
 2000 – Los Angeles Lakers (2000 NBA Champions) |
 2000 – Indiana Pacers (2000 NBA Finals) |
 1997 – Utah Jazz (1997 NBA Finals) |
 1996 – Chicago Bulls (1996 NBA Champions) |
 1996 – Seattle SuperSonics (1996 NBA Finals) |
 1993 – Chicago Bulls (1993 NBA Champions) |
 1993 – Phoenix Suns (1993 NBA Finals) |
 1992 – Portland Trailblazers (1992 NBA Finals) |
I'm sure there's more that I can't recall...
So far I've only heard whispers of Philadelphia, Utah and Golden State making uniform changes for this upcoming 09/10 season. I wonder if any other teams are looking to make changes?
Will the trend continue?
Note: All images sourced from: www.sportslogos.net
Vs?
Everyone seems to be talking about LBJ vs KB24 a bit early this year aren't they? The media's incredible desire for a Kobe VS LeBron NBA Finals series is almost too much for some to handle it seems. There are a flurry of teams this season who, in my opinion, all have the right to be named genuine challengers to the Lakers' crown.
Boston are back, healthy and have some valuable new additions! Cleveland have re-loaded with some vengeance in their eyes considering last season's collapse. Orlando have arguably gotten a lot better... at least just as good. And finally San Antonio are partying like it's 1999 with all their injured players back and a good, (not quite Duncan) draft pick on deck in DeJuan Blair.
Photo source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
We feel that LeBron VS Kobe is not the right angle to take just yet... It's more about LeBron AND Kobe. What will they do differently this season? Will they be rested for the Playoffs? How will their teams combat the new and improved "contenders"? Ultimately, what can be done to give these two superstars and their respective teams the best chance to meet in June?
Finally, in the spirit of AND instead of VS... we're going to team up to bring you our take on the situation. Enjoy.
Songbird of our generation…
I laughed at that post.
It felt like an admission that Los Angeles were the better team, while also throwing in more hypotheticals than I've ever seen. LA caught them at the right time alright, and served them up a nice warm bag of summer vacation. The only hiccup in the Championship run was the blown games against Houston. That is where I give credit to Houston AND I say the Lakers were under performing.
If I can be sure of one thing, it's that you will never like or respect the Lakers while Kobe Bryant is associated with them, and it's sad. I did the same thing with David Robinson and the Spurs and now I regret it. Even though he was a completely un-interesting player whom I couldn't remotely connect with at the time... I now look back on him with respect.
Something you'll hopefully do one day with Kobe. Instead of finding every reason to water-down/criticize everything he does.
PS - I still hate the Spurs... Duncan is that guy for me now. *grin*
Blinded by the light
The Lakers needed 7 games to beat a Houston team without it's two best players (totally nearly 50 million in yearly salary), and they were starting a 6'6" centre! That's shameful. Even Denver, if they had any playoff experience at all would have beaten the Lakers. Talk about a charmed run.
But it is what it is. Wishing that San Antonio, Houston, Utah and Boston were healthy or that Portland and Denver had just a little bit more experience doesn't change the fact that the Lakers caught each team at just the right time. Even if all of those listed teams would have won a seven game series.
Killer Instinct: Fact or Fiction?
My esteemed colleague Paul suggests that there is no team with a killer instinct remaining in the playoffs. I'd have to agree. Boston and San Antonio were really the only teams to show a 'step on the neck' attitude, yet due to injuries both bowed out too early. Los Angeles hasn't had that attitude for years, as they have well and truly earned their soft reputation, and Cleveland, while great during the regular season and early in the playoffs, havent proved anything. Obviously the Nuggets and the Magic are in the same boat with their first deep trip to the finals since Mork was popular.
I don't see lack of killer instinct as a bad thing for us fans though, as it gives us the opportunity to see four evenly matched teams in a royal rumble. They are trying to figure out their opponents, while also figuring out themselves.
Whoever shows the most intestinal fortitude is going to go home with the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Sidenote: Is it just me, or does Ricky Rubio, he of all the draft buzz, look a lot like Mork from Ork?
