Recently espn did a 5 on 5 about the start of the season (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-120104/nba-most-impressive-disappointing-2011-12) and while it's very good, I disagree with a few things so I have decided to do my own.
1. Most Impressive team thus far.
Without a doubt, the Portland Trail Blazers. To me, most impressive entails that it's not expected for them to play at the level they are playing at, so that means I just can't say Heat/Thunder/Bulls because they were expected to be playing this well, but the Trail Blazers were expected to be good but there were questions as they had officially lost Brandon Roy, and they are once again without Greg Oden. They weren't supposed to be a team that beats the Thunder by 10 and goes 4-1 in their first 5 games and they have done so, so they are my most impressive team this year.
2. Most disappointing team thus far.
I have to say the Knicks, they were supposed to be a top team and the east and while that's still very much a possible goal, you have to be dissapointed when you see a team with so much promise come into the season and lose to the raptors, and give up over 100 points a game.
3. Most impressive player thus far.
By far James Harden, he's been clearly the second best player on that team, and for a team whose point guard isn't doing too well he's been making that offense look pretty good. Additionally he's made all the right plays at the right times. I know he hasn't been the best overall player, but for someone who didn't start last year he's been pretty dams good.
4. Most disappointing player thus far.
Demarcus Cousins, without question. Demarcus Cousins has always been talented and he's expected to produce, which I acknowledge, he has done while he's been on the floor. But, this is a year when many people were saying Demarcus Cousins was going to step up and become a relatively mature player to help his team and what he's been doing hasn't portrayed him as mature at all.
5. Biggest Surprise thus far.
New Jersey's monstrosity of a season. This was supposed to be the year that New Jersey would enter the an area that people care about in terms of basketball and that just hasn't happened. They have looked like they genuinely couldn't care less win or lose every game and Deron Williams has been lazy, while they weren't expected to be champions, they weren't expected to be an easy win either.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
What we Learned from week 1
1. Andrew Bynum is still good. In his first two games back, he's been the best player on the floor twice. If he can keep this up the question will move from if the Magic want to give up Howard, to whether the Lakers want to give up Bynum.
2. The Clippers have some problems, they play absolutely no defense, and they don't box out, and an their offense is having some trouble getting into their rhythm. The offense will come with time, and so will the rebounding but the concern is the defense. Looking at their roster it's clear why they are bad defensively; they're slow at the perimeter and bad inside with the exception of Deandre Jordan.
3. The Heat and Thunder are much better than everyone else. It's tempting to throw the Bulls into this but I'm going to stick with teams that are undefeated. For teams that want to win the championship, they need to start fixing up their roster to find a way through these teams.
4. The Kings are in a bad situation. I anticipated Tyreke Evans and Demarcus Cousins doing extremely well for them this year and it looks like that might not happen (although I'm not rescinding my prediction yet.) I was right that Cousins would do well on the court, but underestimated his immaturity. He's been shunned by the team and he's demanded a trade. As for Tyreke, either he's just in a slump, or last year wasn't a fluke. Only time will tell but I hope it's not the latter.
5. James Harden, and Marcus Thorton are both really really good. Marcus Thorton has appeared to be his teams best player, and James Harden has been his teams second behind none other that Kevin Durant (maybe Wrestbrook too.) He's giving the Thunder a big 3 that competes with that of the Heat.
6. Dwight Howard really wants out. He's had bad production and it doesn't appear to be lack of talent but lack of effort, the only way Dwight would not try is if he doesn't want to be there.
2. The Clippers have some problems, they play absolutely no defense, and they don't box out, and an their offense is having some trouble getting into their rhythm. The offense will come with time, and so will the rebounding but the concern is the defense. Looking at their roster it's clear why they are bad defensively; they're slow at the perimeter and bad inside with the exception of Deandre Jordan.
3. The Heat and Thunder are much better than everyone else. It's tempting to throw the Bulls into this but I'm going to stick with teams that are undefeated. For teams that want to win the championship, they need to start fixing up their roster to find a way through these teams.
4. The Kings are in a bad situation. I anticipated Tyreke Evans and Demarcus Cousins doing extremely well for them this year and it looks like that might not happen (although I'm not rescinding my prediction yet.) I was right that Cousins would do well on the court, but underestimated his immaturity. He's been shunned by the team and he's demanded a trade. As for Tyreke, either he's just in a slump, or last year wasn't a fluke. Only time will tell but I hope it's not the latter.
5. James Harden, and Marcus Thorton are both really really good. Marcus Thorton has appeared to be his teams best player, and James Harden has been his teams second behind none other that Kevin Durant (maybe Wrestbrook too.) He's giving the Thunder a big 3 that competes with that of the Heat.
6. Dwight Howard really wants out. He's had bad production and it doesn't appear to be lack of talent but lack of effort, the only way Dwight would not try is if he doesn't want to be there.
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