Surprise Teams:
Memphis Grizzlies - Here's what I said in my NBA preview: ""interesting" doesn't always translate to "successful." I just don't think Randolph and Iverson are going to breed a winning atmosphere. Call it a hunch." Well... I was really wrong about Zach Randolph (as well as everyone else in the country other than Randolph's family). Zach Randolph at the age of 28 has finally grown up, decided to play defense, and actually contribute to winning. It's unreal. For a comparison, check this out, from Basketball Reference.com, Randolph has already put together a 5.7 win-share season, which I believe means he will smash through his previous best of a 7.1 win season in 2003-2004. What's more, this would be the first time Randolph goes to the playoffs while logging substantial minutes (he sat on the bench his 1st two years while going to the playoffs). However, most important to the Grizzlies ascent is the pairing of Marc Gasol with Zach Randolph. That pairing in and of itself is what makes both of them both so effective this season. Moreover, the Grizzlies have amazing swing players in Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo. Their only problem? Absolutely no bench. But I'd still not want to play them in the playoffs. And for those who don't know, the Grizzlies started out 1-8... and are a ridiculous 23-11 since!
Disappointing team:
Washington - Even before Arenas and Crittendon got in trouble for bringing guns to work, this team was playing awful. Now, the season is certainly lost.
(I was going to say the Bulls... but they've somehow gone 11-6 since losing to Sacramento and blowing a 35-point lead in December).
Intriguing team:
Charlotte Bobcats - I don't want the Cavs to play them in the playoffs. In fact, they are the only team the Cavs have lost to twice. In addition, the Bobcats are a very difficult matchup for most any team. They have two absurdly athletic players in Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. They have two or three amazing defensive centers in Tyson Chandler (if healthy), Nazr Mohammed, and Desagna Diop. They have some solid little guards in Felton and Augustin. They also have the enigma that is Boris Diaw, a 6-11 freak who plays just about every position. Since acquiring Jackson on 11/17/09, the Bobcats are 19-15.
Breakout players:
Channing Frye, PF/C, Phoenix - He's cooled off a bit since the beginning of the season, but he's still averaging 12.2pts, 5.7 rebs, and a ridiculous 44% from 3-point land. If you thought Frye didn't shoot 3s you're not alone - he had never attempted more than 30 in any of his previous seasons... but this year? With Steve Nash? 257 attempts in only 47 games!
Stephen Curry, G, Golden State - He's averaging 14 ppg, 4 rebs, 4.5 assists, and shooting a great 42.8% for three, and 45.5% FG. Even more impressive, is the last month, where he's averaging 17.9 ppg, and shooting 47%, w/ 1.7 steals per game.
Marc Gasol, C, Memphis - 14.9 ppg, 9.6 rebs, 1.6 blocks, 60% FG%. See above discussion on the grizz.
Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Sacramento - 20.8ppg, 4.8rebs, 4.9assists, 1.5steals; rookie of the year; has been impressive though the Kings are still figuring out how to use him and Kevin Martin together.
Carl Landry, PF/C, Houston - 16.4ppg, 5.5rebs, 55% FG% - Rumor has it he's 6-6, though listed at 6-9. W/o Yao, Landry fills in at center at times despite being completely undersized. How he does it is beyond me, so he should be a coach after retirement.
Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee - 17.7 ppg, 3.6rebs, 6.3assists, 38% FG% (yuck!) - Has played well at times (yes, he scored 55 once) but he's also taken some lumps. Nonetheless, he's certainly exceeded all expectations.
Playoff Positioning
With the summer of 2010 fast approaching, and teams still clearing out space to go after the greatest free agency class of all time, some wacky trades will probably happen in the next month. In the meantime, the Western conference is just nuts with 2 games separating the 4th and 11th-placed teams. I've never seen a playoff race where THREE teams will be eliminated despite being in contention. It's anyone's guess as to who those teams will be.
In the East, the bigger question is how the top-4 will stack up. Who will be on what side of the bracket? While Wade's Heat have been struggling, I will still be more curious to see who draws the dangerous Bobcats.
NBA games of the Week-
last week's "Games of the Week" - The Cavs edged out the Lakers without Mo Williams powered in part by a surprising good play by Hickson and Varejao; Memphis beat Ok City in a 1-point game in a very tight defensive battle (though Durant got 30 still of course); Houston beat the Spurs by getting 23 points from BOTH PG Aaron Brooks and PG Kyle Lowry; Orlando beat Charlotte in OT through one of Jameer Nelson's better games; Denver beat Charlotte by 11 with 51 points from Billups and Affalo; the Spurs outrebounded and beat the Hawks throughly by a silly 21 point, 26-rebound performance by Duncan.
This week...
Boston @ Orlando - 1/28
Boston @ ATL - 1/29
Denver @ OkCity - 1/29
Memphis @ San Antonio - 1/29
ATL @ Orlando - 1/30
Lakers @ Boston - 1/31
Memphis @ Cleveland - 2/2
ATL @ Ok City - 2/2
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3 comments:
I demand more respect for Ty Lawson. First he's denied NBA rookie game love and now this.
Yes Memphis, specifically Randolph, has been very surprising. I'd add that Portland staying above .500 without having any big players.
I'd add Philly as most disappointing. No I didn't expect them to be good, but 15-30? Thats just horrid....
I actually was going to put Philly on the list... but then I wasn't sure what the expectations for them were. Maybe 8-seed at best? Yes, they are really disappointing also.
I should have mentioned Ty Lawson... but I was trying to focus on players who are breaking out statistically. Ty Lawson is going to be incredible, but he will make the list once he starts getting minutes.
It's also a good point about Portland. I actually could have done a sub-heading on Portland and Houston surviving without any big men!
I am very intrigued by some of these "surprise" teams. However, I think that this year's trade deadline will be extremely exciting and volitile. I expect lots of teams to make big moves in anticipation for this summer's free agency market. Are there any trade rumors/hopes that any one is aware of?
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