The Hawks Collapse

I said the gap was smaller, but it is evident that the Hawks still have some growing up. Catching Orlando on a back to back and losing this way is unacceptable. 22 points in the entire second half and none by Joe Johnson in the 4th quarter. Orlando has completely taken over and shown more energy in the 2nd half than the Hawks have and they had 3 days off. Unacceptable.

Joe Johnson Part 2

Uh oh, Orlando is making the push that championship contendors do to teams in the 4th quarter and the Hawks need a savior. Guess who that is going to have to be? Joe if you want more than $60 mil this is the game, on national tv, against the Magic, where you are going to have to be the man for your team. Wade, 16 pts in the 4th quarter against this same Magic team last night. Obviously the Hawks have more offensive weapons than the Heat, but you all get my point.

Joe Johnson

Kobe has by far the most moves of any player in the league and Wade and LeBron may be more complete players, but there is no other player in the league, outside of Kobe, with more moves than Joe Johnson. I've counted at least 6 different moves this dude has made and we are just entering the 4th quarter. I told my boys before the season started that if you are bold enough to turn down 60 million, you have to believe you have something in store for the rest of the league.

3rd quarter

Whew, the Hawks are frigid this quarter, but it's a reason why and that is they have stopped moving the ball. Joe Johnson's going with too much one on one right now and this has allowed a more energetic Magic team to get back in the game. Howard is much more active in the 2nd half and Lewis is going to the rim more giving Howard much more opportunity to crash the offensive boards. The Magic have also started to double team the Hawks pick and roll as I said they would and they have created a couple turnovers off bad passes from the Hawks. I'm should be paid to scout teams. This is too easy.

Real Talk Halftime

Orlando needs to move the ball. They are sorely missing Jameer Nelson tonight and probably will miss him for awhile. I haven't seen the ball move side to side at all allowing the Hawks defense to continually be set and ready to help throughout a 24 sec possession. They need to move Dwight Howard around as well. Put him in some positions to screen for some of these shooters and get the wings from the Hawks moving on defense. Right now they look very stagnant.
Defensively, Josh Smith hasn't been able to attack Rashard Lewis as effectively as the Hawks thought he could. It's obvious this was Woodson's plan in the first half. But what has happened is that the Magic's rotations out of their doubles have left their guards with a dilemma of covering either Joe Johnson or Mike Bibby, a pick your poison choice. I wouldnt be surprised to see Van Gundy start to double the pick and rolls and get the ball out of Bibby and Johnson's hands and make Smith, Williams, and Horford have to make a play in the 2nd half.

The Gap

The Celtics, the Magic, and the Cavaliers all at the top of the food chain. The Hawks were an afterthought this season. But they are 7-0 at home this season, but most importantly they are winning on the road thus far, something they haven't been able to do over the past couple seasons since their epic series against Boston in the playoffs. And now that they can win on the road some, that gap has shrunk significantly. Boston thus far looks their age, the Magic are ultimately still a jumpshooting team (most of them do not win titles), and the Cavs are still a one man show. The Eastern Conference playoffs should be fun again finally

The Hawks Bench

This is one thing I definitely missed when I thought of the Hawks and how good they could be this season, but their bench is so much better than last year. Not only the addition of Crawford, but Zaza is a better player. Put this with the addition of Joe Smith and they still have Mo Evans and this is a group that can hold it's own, just like it did against the famed Orlando bench tonight. If Jeff Teague ever becomes consistent at the backup pg spot, this group could be one of the top 3 or 4 bench groups in the league.

Woodson

Wow, what a terrible coaching move. The Hawks were rolling offensively and for some reason Woodson pulls most of his starters, they lose their entire offensive rhythm and allow the Magic back into the game. The Magic are not shooting the ball well and yet are only down 2 points because of all the turnovers by the Hawks once the bench came in the game. Why wouldn't you go to the bench later in the quarter, not at the 4 min mark? Their lead should be much larger than 2 points. Bad move Coach Woodson.

Hawks - Magic

Its kind of sad watching Vince be a straight jumpshooter, but at least he is on fire tonight. The Hawks move the ball very well, no wonder they are playing good ball. It's going from side to side and they are really making the Magic work to get in position on their rotations. The Magic on the other hand are trying to feed Howard, but his game is still limited offensively. His problem is not the offensive firepower around him, it's the lack of firepower in his offensive repertoire.

Thanks for the NBA Tonight

After suffering through two of the most boring games in my history of life earlier today, at least the NBA will give us something to be entertained with tonight. This whole dumb rule of even allowing the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders to be on television should be thoroughly scratched out, never to be written again. I would have rather watched HGTV today. No wonder after a combination of these games, some excellent food from my beautiful wife, and pure exhaustion from having to do no work today, I passed out into a dreamy 2 hour nap. Now, refreshed, I am ready to be entertained tonight. Thank you, NBA.

Tune in for several updates as I give you the fan's perspective of tonight's matchup, Hawks vs. Magic.

AI

When I was younger and didn't understand all the nuances of the game as I do today, I thought Iverson was going to be the best guard of his day and maybe he was, but my how his act has worn thin on me as I have gotten older and more mature. I guess that happens to some of us and some of us it never happens to. He could score with anybody and you never questioned the heart and desire he brought to the floor each night, but his actions and attitude totally diminish his greatness on 94 feet. His selfishness, refusal to be a team player, refusal to act like the veteran he is and pass on all the knowledge and experience he has to a young Memphis team who has enough talent to eventually turn that organization around. But they need guidance, they need a leader, they need a coach who can speak up for them and they don't have any of that now with the situation they are in. They need Chauncey Billups. AI is the antithesis of Billups. Why is Billups still winning? Why is he so revered around the league? Is he the best player in the league? Not by a long shot, but he is one of the most respected for not only what he does for himself but for his team, for the veterans and the young players on that Nuggets team. He is a winner. He understands that winning takes more than just you or the skill you possess. AI never learned this.

NBA Weekly Recap - Eastern Conference

Well Boston finally lost, they were due one right? But let's look at it more closely. Pierce was carrying a lot of this load early and now that the weight is as heavy as Big Baby himself, no one else is stepping up to unload this weight. The C's have struggled with Minn, NJ, and lost to Phoenix. Symptoms are starting to pop up. Watch out C's.

Is Miami really 5-1? That's what the standings say. How are they winning? Wade obviously has been consistent, but the re-emergence of JO is really what has gotten Miami off to this heated start. JO is playing not only the d end but is once again effective on the offensive end taking some of that same load I mentioned about Pierce off Wade. Now, I don't think he can maintain this but it will be interesting to watch for the rest of November.

Atlanta, I know it was the end of the road trip but it's no reason to lose to the Bobcats by 20. Most times the Bobcats cannot even score 20 in a quarter and you give up 103? No surprise you bounced back to defeat Denver on Saturday night, but that's what you did last year too and it got you bounced out the 2nd round of the playoffs. You can't lose games to Charlotte.

Brandon Jennings is a talent! I slacked on watching this kid in the pre-season because most times it's hard for me to evaluate secondary minutes which is what I consider pre-season ball, but I should have watched this kid. He has natural abilities that you cannot teach. He's a firecracker and plays with a passion that I wish I saw in some other players. Milwaukee has a winner in Jennings. Let's hope Scott Skiles doesn't wear out this relationship like he has in the past with other players.

Ok, I've been trying to avoid it, but I have to talk about Cleveland. I tried to tell you that this Shaq experiment was not going to work out. He clogs the lane, he can't score 20 anymore, and he takes shots from other players. He is offensively handicapped meaning not only his game but he slows down everyone else's game as well. Let's not talk about how atrocious he is in pick and roll defense which in this point guard league that we have today, is not going to work very well for the Cavs.

NBA Weekly Recap - Western Conference

What a surprise the Phoenix Suns have been. They are back to running and gunning, Nash looks great, Amare is rounding into shape, and G Hill and J Rich are filling their complimentary roles perfectly. But most importantly, these boys are playing a little d now, not a lot, but enough to win games. This starts with Amare who I said at the beginning of the season was one of the worst defenders in the league, but he has really started to make a commitment to the d end which has certainly helped this start.

Also, a team to talk about in the West is the Houston Rockets. Who would imagine this team would be sitting at .500 right now after all the changes, but a couple things are certain here. First, Rick Adelman can flat out coach. Second, this is the hardest playing team in the league. They just outwork you. Guys like Scola, Landry, and Hayes are as blue collar as the sky and they show it on a nightly basis. Also, this team can spread you out because they put so many shooters on the floor. Long rebounds lead to offensive rebounds when you have guys like these 3 working that hard for you.

What's going on with San Antonio? The Spurs look old. They look rusty and they don't look to be on the same page right now. Their classic defensive rotations aren't there. They don't have a legit 5 who can play off Duncan on the defensive end and their not getting much from their wings on the offensive end. I picked them 3rd in the West, I still think they can finish there, because Popp can get it done. However, TP better be healthy for that to happen.

Finally, you can see how top heavy the West is. The bottom is what it is, terrible. None of these teams will win 40 games except maybe Oklahoma City but as you could see from this week, they have a lot of growing up to do in the 4th quarter. I watched Durant three times this week take bad shots at the end of games. He's a super talent, an exceptional talent, but the next step in his learning curve is learning how to finish. He has to be that player for his team.

Family Life

I'm trying to watch the 4th quarter of the New Orleans-Boston game and my dog decides to golden shower my daughter's bed spread! Thanks, Coco!

New Orleans Answer

Do you want to know how to weather Boston's 3rd quarter storm?


CP3

Boston's Famous 3rd Quarters

Boston is on it's classic open up the 2nd half and it's time to end this game run. Will NO be able to deflect this new energy in the Garden and get back to running their offense? They are going to have to get some stops or this game is going to get ugly like Sam Cassell.

Portland vs. OKC

Oh I get to see how good Oklahoma City is tonight!

The Truth Part 2

I really tried not to do this because most of you probably don't even remember Julian Wright but in this lopsided battle of Kansas forwards, the Truth is showing Julian Wright how sorry he actually is. I guess Byron Scott just doesn't have anybody else. The announcer said, "Wright is active". Of course he is because is game is garbage. Not only can he not score, but he is being SVUed by the Truth

CP3 and Rondo

I told ya'll this was going to be a great matchup. We have our first double technical of the night between these two.

Big Hands

I remember seeing Rajon Rondo in Greensboro before he went on to Kentucky and telling the person I was with, I kept saying "Look at his hands, look at his hands, they are huge". I couldn't believe it. It's no wonder the things he can do with the ball on offense, and the pockets he picks on a continuous basis in the league including now, CP3.

The Truth

I know everyone. I know Melo is ballin this year. His numbers are absolutely sick. But as I continue to watch Paul Pierce score at will it got me thinking that is Melo just not a younger version of the Truth? As complete as both their games are, they are built similarly and Pierce was just as athletic as Melo when he was younger. I remember when Pierce was drafted 10th in his respective class, I thought it was ludicrous and whoever the GMs were who passed on him would absolutely regret it. If I was president of a franchise my GM has to be a talent evaluator. I'll find someone else to run the numbers.

Boston vs. NO

Boston has started a little cold tonight and New Orleans has taken advantage of it to start with a 9-6 lead. Both point guards have collected one foul apiece trying to check each other. This is going to be a great matchup all night. Rondo just tweaked his ankle slightly so we'll see how this affects his play.

The Biggest Question of the Day

Wouldn't you love it if the biggest question of the day for you was mine, "To buy League Pass or to not buy League Pass"? Man, this is driving my brain crazy.

WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 1 Part 4

The last segment and of course I save my Lake Show for last. Inexcusable what happened to them against Dallas. It's quite obvious that Ron Artest is going to have a long learning curve with the triangle offense. Gasol's injury seems to be more serious than it was originally portrayed so expect some bumps in the road with this team until all the parts come together. But the Pacific is theirs. This is the weakest division in the West and perhaps the entire league if it wasn't for our beloved Atlantic which is always terrible.

With that said when Dallas gets a healthy Josh Howard they can compete with the best in the West. The question is will they? I've always loved Dirk. He's one of my favorite players to watch in the league. For one year he dominated offensively and on the boards and they went to the Finals. Until he returns to that form, Dallas will live in the middle of the West rankings.

Blogging tonight duirng the games, stay tuned....

WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 1 Part 3

New Orleans may be worse than I originally thought. Oak is playing well and David West is his usual self, but they have been putrid on the wing. Byron Scott's experiment with Julian Wright is not paying dividends. I find it hard to see how a guy can't get 15 points with CP3 getting him every conceivable wide open shot.

Zach Randolph can flat out score from either block, wing, or the high post. His offensive repertoire is extraordinary. If he played any D and could get off weak teams he might be recognized as a top power forward in the league. He is the most offensivly complete player on Memphis including Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo who both show weaknesses. Get the ball to Z-Bo Memphis and you can be successful.

Denver will win the Northwest, but this division is the best in the league. I've watched Oklahoma City twice now. They are winning the games they are supposed to, that is a sign that this team is taking a step in the right direction. For Denver, Portland, and Utah beware of the little brother in your division. One day they will be beating you.

WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 1 Part 2

Man, it's sad watching Detroit. A team that dominated the East for nearly a decade, now looks completely below average. Ben Gordon is a little bit of a surprise so far, but yet all he can do is score. He brings nothing else to the table. CV is being CV. He'll be good some nights, but others he'll probably be thinking what he can twitter after the game. I mean their d has been solid yet they still couldn't win. Not a good sign.

If it wasn't for Orlando, this Southeast division would be really competitive. The only absolutely terrible team in this division is Charlotte (I hate saying that time and time again). Atlanta and Washington are playoff teams who can score and are athletic. Miami can beat you if Wade is on and they get a good effort from Beasley and O'Neal (what a start for him). But Orlando is miles ahead of all of them. It looks like Charlotte will lead the league again in fewest points scored for the second season in a row. Who do you look at and say "He'll get me 20 tonight?" much less who can get 30?

WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 1 Part 1

Clearly, I was not wrong about Boston. Hands down this is the team to beat in the East. Orlando, I like a lot, but Vinsanity is going to have show up in the playoffs and D Howard is going to need some moves against the vaunted defense.

Fans across the NBA said "OMG" Cleveland got Shaq. Why was this news, besides the fact that their probably would be a new sheriff in town? Ten years ago maybe, but now, this team is no better than the one last year and their two competitors are better than last season. Mike Brown is still the head coach and their offense is still predicated on LeBron. Don't be fooled by these past two victories. They were playing Minnesota and Charlotte.