Le Basketbawl

There are many NBA sites that rely on “Weekly Power Rankings.” The reason that I decline from doing them, is in my opinion a week is not an accurate barometer in the Association. Since I was a child following the NBA in the 1960’s I have always divided a season into quarters, believing it is a better measuring system than a week, which is usually three games.

We have reached the end of the first quarter for the 2008-2009 NBA campaign, and it is time to give a synopsis of what has transpired during that time. There are some teams that have exceeded expectations, some that have fallen below what long time NBA observers had predicted they would do. And of course the majority of teams in the Association that have pretty much played just as expected.

During the first quarter the trends have shown that there are three franchises that are far and away better than the rest of the Association. After that there is a definite step down between other contending teams and the elite three. The third group of course are the teams that unless they make up a lot of ground during the rest of the season are destined for the lottery. Below you will find this long time NBA observer’s impression of the first quarter of the NBA campaign through games played up until December 14.

PLATINUM

Boston Celtics: The Celtics have not won back to back NBA Finals since 1967-1968 1968-1969. The way they have started this campaign, they very might well do it again. Through the first quarter of the season Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are playing better than they did a year ago, while the “Big Ticket” Kevin Garnett has lacked consistency. The real revelation on the “Green Team” so far though has been point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo far exceeded expectations last season, and he seems to get better with every contest. He recorded his first triple-double, and his points and assists production are ahead of last year. Tony Allen, and Eddie House, are the two main men off the bench, and Leon Powe is blossoming into a presence in the post.

Los Angeles Lakers: Last year’s Western Conference Champs may have a “Big Three” to rival the more celebrated one in Boston, with a healthy Bynum to go along with Kobe and Gasol. The most impressive thing about the Lakers is the team’s depth; Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, and Jordan Farmar would be starters on most other teams.

Cleveland Cavaliers: If you are a regular reader of mine, you are aware of my campaigning for Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry to put together a quality back court. Ferry did that this Summer as he traded with Milwaukee for Mo Williams and re-signed restricted free agent Delonte West. The results as I predicted have taken Cleveland to the next level. Having Williams running the offense has gotten Zydrunas Ilgauskas playing like an All-Star, and freed up LeBron James to utilize his skill-set, in which ever way he deems best.

GOLD

Orlando Magic: Orlando does not start a traditional NBA front court as Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are both realistically small forwards. Both players however can shoot the lights out, and when you have one of the few legitimate premier centers in the Association, as the Magic do with Dwight Howard you can afford to give up height elsewhere. Jameer Nelson, has been a streaky player in the past, but so far this season, he seems to be maintaining more consistency. Keith Bogans compliments the rest of the starting lineup at the other guard slot. Orlando has also gotten a boost from having a healthy Tony Battie back with the team, giving them a quality big man off the bench.

Denver Nuggets: Just as the Mo Williams trade has helped the Cleveland Cavaliers improve immensely, so has the acquisition of Chauncey Billups re-invigorated Denver. Billups has taken what was just another playoff contender in the Western Conference, to a legitimate choice to unseat the Lakers. Kenyon Martin looks as if he were back in New Jersey, Carmelo Anthony looks like the player that led Syracuse to a NCAA title. With an elite ball handler running the offense, Denver’s prospects have greatly improved.

SILVER

Atlanta Hawks: No surprise here at Le Basketbawl we told you the Hawks would be this good in our Preseason Predictions. Atlanta shocked the planet last Spring as they took the Boston Celtics to a 7 game series in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. This team a few seasons ago decided to build around free agent guard Joe Johnson. The process took a lot longer than Johnson or the Hawks would have liked but it came to fruition in the playoffs last season, and has carried over through the first quarter of this one. Mike Bibby seems to be revived playing in the East, and Al Horford will be an All-Star in the not too distant future.

New Orleans Hornets: They have arguably one of the three best players in the Association in Chris Paul, and if there is such a thing as an underrated All-Star David West would top that list. Peja Stojakovic is one of the most consistent players in the NBA, and the recent pickup of veteran Antonio Daniels, gives “Super-Sub“ James Posey some quality company on the bench. Tyson Chandler had a career year last season, which he has not so far duplicated this campaign. If he can, the Hornets will be playing very far in the playoffs.

Portland Trail Blazers: If Greg Oden can reach his potential, this will be one scary team! Even with Oden barely being a presence these guys are good, and will only get better. Brandon Roy is turning into a superstar, LaMarcus Aldridge is the real deal, and so far Rudy Fernandez looks like he is having no trouble making the transition from the Euro-Leagues to the Association. Steve Blake makes the most of his ability, game in and game out, and Travis Outlaw and Joel Pryzbilla give this team depth.

San Antonio Spurs: This team may have peaked in 2007, but they are still dangerous. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are almost a lock to give you between 50-60 points, between the three of them on a nightly basis. Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley may be on the downward slope, and they miss Brent Barry. Roger Mason and Matt Bonner have had strong starts though in the first quarter of the season.

Houston Rockets: Last season with Yao Ming hurt the Houston Rockets over achieved. This season so far, although they have been playing well, there does not seem to be the same sense of urgency/passion. The addition of Tru-Warrior Ron Artest should have this team at the top of the Western Conference, but it has not been that way through the first quarter of the campaign.

Phoenix Suns: I have ripped Phoenix Suns Director of Basketball Operations Steve Kerr many times on these pages. The acquisition of Jason Richardson from the Charlotte Bobcats for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw however gets nothing but praise from this corner. Bell and Diaw may prove to be valuable for the Bobcats, but getting Steve Nash as his back court partner J-Rich is a brilliant move. Look for the Suns to rise in the next quarter.

BRONZE

Utah Jazz: Considering they have not had their starting lineup in place this season, the Jazz are actually doing pretty well. Deron Williams was out at the beginning of the campaign, and Carlos Boozer has been hurt for the last couple of weeks. Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles have stepped up big time, and Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko have been steady. Once  this team is healthy they will be a force in the Western Conference.

Detroit Pistons: The trade worked a lot better for the Nuggets than it has for the Pistons. This is a team that is flailing right now, they are sporting the record that they have due to pure athletic ability. To watch one of the most disciplined teams in the Association over the past few years (Rasheed Wallace excluded) out on the hardwood looking like they do not have a clue is shocking. The Pistons need to make a decision, is A.I. the Answer long term in Detroit? If so then they must trade either Prince or Hamilton. If they acquired him to have future salary cap flexibility, and he is just there for this season, then play him off the bench. Rodney Stuckey must be in the starting lineup every night, but the lineup of Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Iverson, and Wallace, makes no sense.

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd is looking very old so far this season. Whether it is him getting used to new Dallas coach Rick Carlisle’s offense, or the Olympics wore him out the J-Kidd from the Nets has barely surfaced this season. Kidd’s play will determine how far the Mavericks go this year.

TIN:

New Jersey Nets: Considering the roster, this may be Nets coach Lawrence Frank’s best job during his tenure. New Jersey is not really rebuilding, or retooling, it’s a strange combination of veterans and young players. If Frank gets this team to the Post Season he should get consideration for NBA Coach Of The Year.

Miami Heat: Miami is another team that will get better in the second quarter. They have too much talent not too. This team will not go far in the Post Season, but with D-Wade, Marion, and the rookie Beasley they should make the Playoffs.

ALUMINUM FOIL

Chicago Bulls: I am still clueless just why John Paxson hired Vinny Del Negro as head coach. Derrick Rose is the real deal, Ben Gordon should be kept in the fold. When Drew Gooden is focused he is an elite player, as is Larry Hughes when healthy. Was Hinrich retained to get his trade value higher? If so his injury puts that on the back burner.

New York Knicks: Team Dysfunctional: The Next Generation. Where do you begin? Trading Jamal Crawford, and Zach Randolph when the team had gotten off to the best start in years? The ongoing Stephon Marbury soap opera? A team where the whole is less than the sum of the individual parts.

Milwaukee Bucks: This franchise may finally have a clue! There is no doubt about Scott Skiles ability as a coach, his temperament may be a different story. Bogut, Redd, and Jefferson all have skills, maybe enough to get this team to the next level.

Philadelphia 76ers: Without a doubt the biggest disappointment during the first quarter of the season has been the start by Philadelphia. Expected with the addition of free agent Elton Brand to be up at the top of the East with Boston and Cleveland, the Sixers can not reach .500. They will be fortunate to make the Post Season.

Toronto Raptors: Jermaine O’Neal being hurt most likely caused Sam Mitchell his job as Raptors coach. If they can get healthy should improve in second quarter.

Memphis Grizzlies: I like what Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace has done with this team since the end of last season. Marc Iavoroni is not the long term solution as coach, do not be surprised if he does not survive the next quarter.

Charlotte Bobcats: Boris Diaw and Raja Bell may eventually be good long term fits for the Bobcats, but was J-Rich traded to Phoenix to make the team better, or because he could not get along with Larry Brown? No one has brought this up, but it certainly would not be the first time Brown did not see eye to eye with a player.

Indiana Pacers: The Pacers are in rebuilding mode after trading Jermaine O’Neal and Shawne Williams during the off-season. Pacers Team President Larry Bird has some young talent on the roster, but it needs time to become a team.

Los Angeles Clippers: Under rebuilding program 4,748 since moving to the West Coast from Buffalo in the late 1970’s. This one does not seem to be working any better than most of the others.

Golden State Warriors: The two big questions for the Warriors; When can Monta Ellis play, and how effective will be when he can? The answers to both those questions will decide Golden State’s fate.

Sacramento Kings: Reggie Theus may not have been the solution, but he was not the problem in Sacramento. The problem began when the Maloof brothers blinked when Ron Artest started pouting. They traded him to Houston, and their season ended then.

CARDBOARD

Washington Wizards: Same old story, same old song and dance, injuries. Namely Gilbert Arenas, and his bad left knee. Arenas is starting to remind me of Brad Daugherty the former Cleveland Cavaliers center, who went from having a sore back to his career ending far too soon.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Firing Randy Wittman was a start, whether Kevin McHale has the fire in the belly to be an NBA head coach remains to be seen. The Hall Of Fame forward could be gone from the T-Wolves at the end of the season.

Oklahoma City Thunder: There is only one reason why a team that has Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook on their roster have just two wins. Karma pure and simple. Message to Team Owner Clay Bennett: you know what they say about pay back!