Well after all the talk and historical importance of momentum, it was the favorites that seemed to take home the prize this weekend. Arizona came in off a game where their offense looked unstoppable against a Saints team that been at best treading water for a month. But it was the Saints that won out. Indy came in not playing at all over the past month and destroyed the Ravens. Dare I say the Cowboys were the NFC favorites before football started this weekend and the Vikings ran up the score on them. It's hard to say which was hotter the Jets or the Chargers going into the game so I'll generally ignore that. In any event teams everyone expected a month ago appear ready to head off to the Super Bowl. So much, this year, for the importance of being hot in December.
I will say I'm still not sure what to make of the Jets win. How much was their win a result of great D and how much was the result of copious Chargers mistakes (missed field goals, forced throws, stupid penalties) I'm unclear. That said as I'm guessing the Colts will avoid self-mutilation and as such the Jets will have to play better in order to beat to Indy.
My last thought about the weekend is about the Colts' coach (Jim Caldwell) and his relative effect. In his first season the Colts are in the AFC Championship game. If the Colts make it to the Super Bowl (let alone win) how much credit should Caldwell get? And if they do, how does that (or does it) change our opinion of Tony Dungy? Not easy questions but something that seems completely ignored.
NBA
After reaching the halfway point of the NBA it's hard to say how much we've actually learned. Yes, we learned never count out the Spurs and the Cavs early season struggles wasn't a harbinger of missing the playoffs. Beyond that its pretty unclear
East
It does appear that the Big 3 in the East is really the Big 4. We've also learned that each of the teams have flaws. Hawks don't match up well against inside presences, the Celtics are old and injury riddled, in Orlando Howard's offensive game has regressed and the backcourt isn't good, and the Cavs seem to have adopted a Lakersesque attitude of playing hard only well they feel like it. While I shouldn't overstate these teams flaws, it seems certain that the outright dominance (i.e. 60+ win seasons) probably will not happen.
West
Much like last year the storyline out West is, if not the Lakers then whom? Partially the question I think will revolve around Kobe's health. At each turn he seems to pick up a new injury and with a slew of road games ahead the Lakers may struggle. However even if they do struggle, who can beat them in May or June? The Sun, Nuggets, and Mavs all seem to have potential but if they haven't in the past, why this year? Which brings us back to the Spurs. The addition of Jefferson and Blair and the lack of depth out in LA I think mean the Spurs have legitimate chance....provided they stay healthy. A fairly large if.
Trades
The biggest wildcard to the season is trades. The NBA trade deadline is up in a month and semi-big names like Bynum, Bosh, Iguadela, Jamison, and Al Jefferson have all been mentioned. So whatever he said today can and probably will change .
Finally...
I'd like to introduce you to our new Underwear Research Intern...Jennifer Metcalfe. So far she has found that underwear looks good on her. More research forthcoming....
2 comments:
I wasn't terribly surprised by the Saints/Cards or Colts/Ravens outcomes. I figured the Cowboys/Vikings would be way more competitive than it was and I was not in the least bit shocked that the Jets beat the Chargers.
I do agree, however, that the Chargers killed themselves as much as the Jets did anything to them. Perhaps if San Diego had played a cleaner game, the result might've been different. I happen to think so, but we'll never know.
I'm utterly dismayed by the idea of Favre and the Jets reaching the Super Bowl so for this week only I'm a Colts and Saints fan.
As far as the NBA goes, the storyline we should all be following is if the 2009-10 Nets will match the 1972-73 76ers for futility. Currently, the Nets are on pace for a 6-76 record which would be three fewer wins than the current 9-73 mark. As someone that hates the Nets, I'm rooting for them to make it to the record books. That would be tremendous.
1) The Chargers made so many mistakes it was just tragic.
2) I can't stand the Jets. Colts... please, please win!
3) I think a lot of credit should go to Dungy... hell, he trained Jim Caldwell and most of the other coaches on that staff.
4) It's true that the dominance of the top teams in the NBA never really happened due to the weaknesses Mighty cited. The spurs are always interesting and the injury problems never stop out there sadly. the trade season is going to without a doubt provide some shocking results... i'm not sure what will happen, but at least one of the western conference teams will probably take on added payroll in the belief that they can get to the final 4.
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