NBA Western Conference

Read the entire article. Then rip apart the selections, agree with them, completely revamp the team if you so choose. This is just one writer's opinion, and I'm sure that there is more than one player that is left off these teams.

The NBA All-Star game is likely the most entertaining of all the four major sports. Its total lack of defense and supreme offensive firepower is the most involving game to watch for fans.

After the Olympics this past summer, the debate of Dream Team '92 versus the Redeem Team '08 was a popular topic among basketball enthusiasts.  

What about All-Time West versus All-Time East? What would that look like?

Below is a roster for the both Eastern and Western Conferences with a few honorable mentions. Obviously, every player is to be taken within their prime years. Players that were apart of both conferences were placed based on championships won.

Western Conference (starters in BOLD)

C - Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon

PF - Tim Duncan, Karl Malone 

SF - Oscar Robertson, Moses Malone

SG - Kobe Bryant, Jerry West

PG - Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich, John Stockton, Chris Paul, Steve Nash

Honorable Mentions - Gary Payton, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin, David Robinson

The West, as opposed to the East, is a big-man- and point-guard-driven conference. They have the best 6'9" point guard ever to play the game in Magic Johnson and the most athletic and physically dominating center. Both wore the purple and gold of the Lakers during their primes.

While the bigs and floor generals highlight this team, the small forwards and shooting guards are nothing to scoff at. Oscar Robertson and Kobe Bryant would demand double teams at all time during most contests.

And, we can't forget "the logo," Jerry West.

Eastern Conference (starters in BOLD)

C - Dwight Howard, Patrick Ewing, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain

PF - Dominique Wilkins, Larry Bird

SF - LeBron James, Julius Erving, Scottie Pippen

SG - Michael Jordan, Dwayne Wade, Reggie Miller

PG - Jason Kidd, John Havlicek

Honorable Mentions - Isaiah Thomas, Allen Iverson, Bob Cousy

The East features a guard and small forward set that simply cannot be defended. LeBron James is coming off the bench in this game.

That should tell you how good the East is.

With James having not yet reached his peak in talent, it's tough to give him the start over Dr. J. It's rather easy, however, to pick a starter at the two guard position.

Michael Jordan is the obvious choice as the greatest player ever to play the game. Having a sharpshooter like Miller to come in and spell Jordan is huge for the East, along with Dwayne Wade being able to come in and run the point or play the two.

While All-Star games typically have a lack of defense, this Eastern squad is made up of some former defensive player of the year winners.  

So, I'll leave the comments about the teams short and the debates up for grabs. Who wins a seven game series between these two teams? Who got snubbed? Who should be starting and who should be coming off the bench? Who guards who?

You decide.

I have finally been hooked by the NBA.

I didn’t think it would ever happen. I have always detested the NBA for as long as I could remember.

My stance was swayed though after watching a college basketball game and then a NBA game following it. 

I realized what a bunch of freaks the players are in the NBA. Sure I liked college ball more because of the team play and defense, but after watching a few games I realized what a great game the NBA is.

The players are top of the line athletes and are as good as the game in general. Sure defense isn’t always there, but who wants to watch defense anymore anyways? Give me dunks, fadeaways, and buzzer-beaters. I want to see some offense! 

That then gave me a new problem, I need a team to root for.

It is just the way I am. I can’t just follow a league without a team to root for. I need something to associate myself with. I might need some help.

Well for starters, the only NBA team in the Western Conference that I will follow is the Phoenix Suns.

I hate the Lakers (and Kobe) and the start times for game are way too late for me, seeing as I live on the West Coast.

The Suns I would follow because the games I have seen of them I really loved the way they played. Plus, they have five games on national television that have a start time before 10:00 PM (eastern). If I can stay up a few days, I can watch nine games of the Suns down the stretch in total.

Only nine games though? I might need to do better than that. 

Now I start looking at teams close to me.

Toronto and Cleveland are the closest cities with teams to me from my Buffalo, New York home. 

I personally don’t want to support a Canadian team (nothing against Canada, I just don’t want to do it, especially my hatred for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the Bills in Toronto). 

Cleveland though has one of the best players in the league, LeBron James. The Cavs are the team I have actually been watching the most and they really interest me with their play. They have 12 games on national television that I can watch on TV, with only one starting at 10:30 PM.    

Looking at the standing though, Cleveland is the second best team in the East and I don’t want to be considered a bandwagon fan (the worst kinds of fans).

If I jump on board with the Cavs now, and officially announce myself as a Cleveland fan, would I be considered a bandwagon fan?  If so, I’m out. 

So how about the New York-area teams. The New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.

Both teams I can watch regularly on the channels MSG and YES that I get on my TV lineup.

The Nets have one of my favorites Vince Carter, but he is aging. They also have young players like Devin Harris and Yi Jianlian that I can watch for years to come.  If they still had my favorite player, Jason Kidd, on the team it would be an easy decision. 

The Knicks are a team I can get behind now after some of the soap opera ways have gone from the team this year (all except for Starbury). Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, and Chris Duhon are all players I can root for. 

I don’t know if I want to root for a New York City team though.

So that brings me now to Orlando.

After watching Dwight Howard in a few games and the slam dunk contest for the second year in a row, I realized how great he is. One of the best players in the NBA, just a freak of nature. 

His personality is a plus for me too.

Orlando is a team I can see myself getting behind. It is a team I can watch every now and then. Although they only have five national televised games I can watch. That might not be enough.

Becoming a bandwagon fan could also come into play with the Magic too though.

This is where I need help for the fans of these teams (or even other teams); can someone convince me one way or the other?

I have it narrowed down to the following teams (in no order, with some of the strong points):

• Orlando Magic (Dwight Howard)

• Cleveland Cavaliers (Lebron James, 12 national televised games)

• New York Knicks (Nate Robinson, Can watch most if not all games)

• New Jersey Nets (Vince Carter, Can watch most if not all games)

• Phoenix Suns (Love the way they play, Steve Nash, Shaq, nine national televised games)

I am a passionate fan and I will always get behind my team. As a free agent fan signing, I will bring the best that my "fandom" can bring to a team‘s fan base. 

I just need to know what team to get behind.

I need some help from you, the fans of these teams. This is a big decision in my life as a sports fan. I need your help.

If you would like to help the cause, write a comment below, or send over an e-mail to buffbillsfan517@yahoo.com. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Have you ever been to a beauty contest where there were only two contestants? As a guy, you maybe go to a contest like that and think that you’d like to be dating one of the two, but you end up with the third one? That’s exactly what an NBA team did this past off-season.

When you watch an NBA game do you just watch the game or are you a more critical viewer and watch substitutions and time outs? What about when a team comes back from a time out, what are you expecting, or maybe an inbounds play. What you should expect when a team comes out of a time out late in a game? 

You also need to understand that every team knows every other teams plays. They have a scouting report that lists every players tendencies and what every play they have is. I have actually seen one. One of our players left one in a restaurant before a pre-season game, and I grabbed it. Very interesting reading.

I live in Oklahoma City and I think our coaching staff now is pretty good! When I watch NBA games and as I’ve said in the past I watch a LOT of out of market NBA games, the team that seems to have the worst coaching staff is the Chicago Bulls.

I’m not just saying Vinny Del Negro, their rookie head coach. I’m including the assistant coaches who are on the bench for every game.

One of their assistant coaches is Bernie Bickerstaff. When he was at Charlotte, I’d hear announcers talk about how he had no idea how to use his time outs, or what plays to call in a critical situation. A couple of announcers all but called him clueless. Watching his teams play I agree!

So why would you hire an assistant coach who was so inept at handling his own team, as a mentor type for a rookie head coach? Latest reports out of Chicago say that Bickerstaff now has “quit” on Del Negro and is just collecting a paycheck.

Ask the people of Charlotte, they thought it was all he was doing there for a couple of years. According to the people (especially the media types) he’s worthless.

Their other main assistant coach is Del Harris. He has been around for a while and been an ok head coach, but supposedly a good assistant coach.  I don’ see it at all. Their third assistant is a guy named Bob Oceipka, who I don’t know anything about.

A little over a week ago team owner Jerry Reinsdorf first called out his head coach as being bad, but then amended his words to be directed at his assistant coaches. This is the same owner who stalled when it came time to give Mike D’Antoni a contract, and D’Antoni saw the writing on the wall and bolted for the Knicks who were holding their checkbook out for him to take, and he did for $24 million over four years.

Then when the Bulls talked to Doug Collins and by all reports offered him the job and were ready to do the deal, Reinsdorf again balked at paying all that cash to a coach and told Collins that he was too good of a friend to have to think about firing him again.

Do you remember the reports of when Collins was fired by the Bulls and Phil Jackson was hired? Collins was reportedly having an affair with one of the Bulls Co-Owners female relatives. It was never made clear if that relative was a wife, daughter or “other relative” but that was the rumor at the time.

Another report said that Reinsdorf just did not want to enter into another large dollar multi-year contract with a coach, just after he had to pay off Scott Skiles to the tune of about $5 million. No matter, he went int o a delay game with D’Antoni and then told Collins that he was hired, and then decided against it.

So now John Paxson is left scrambling to find a third choice at that two person beauty contest. His first two were really good. Think about getting married and trying your first choice and getting a yes, but your Dad says NO. Then your second choice comes along and she’s darn pretty and will be a wonderful partner for your life, and your Dad again says NO. Now you have to go to your third choice and I can tell you.. that won’t be a pretty sight today or 5 years from now.

That’s just where the Bulls find themselves, with the third choice in a two person beauty contest. Third place gets you disorganized and with a few knives going into people’s backs. Bad place to be, and the Bulls fans are tired of it.

Well Bulls fans, stop blaming John Paxson for this particular mess and put the blame right where it belongs on the owners desk. He forced this hand and needs to own up to it. Stop blaming your coaching staff. You brought this all on yourself. Not anyone else.

You have a rookie head coach who is getting little to no help from his assistants and need LOTS of help. You wonder if Bickerstaff is hoping Del Negro will get fired and he will get the head coaching job. It sure looks like that’s what he wants, but it won’t happen.

He’s a disaster and my money says that Paxson knows that much.

Al   

When Boston started creeping back against Dallas Thursday night, I already knew Boston was going to win.

I didn't know this simply because Boston is the better team (although they are that). I didn't assume this because Boston was fired up after Kevin Garnett got in Dirk Nowitzki's face and coach Doc Rivers was tossed after being assessed two quick technicals.

No. I knew the Mavericks would cough up the lead and the game because of who their superstar is: Dirk Nowitzki.

Don't get me wrong. I love a lot of things about Nowitzki's game. He's a seven-footer with ridiculous range, making him almost impossible to guard. He's a taller, European version of Larry Bird.

And that's the problem.

Nowitzki is European. German, specifically. As talented as Nowitzki is, his background dissuades me from believing in him as a legit, all-out, killer-in-the-clutch superstar. 

Late in the fourth quarter, Nowitzki hit a timely three and then a fadeaway to tie the game for Dallas. Paul Pierce comes back the other way for Boston and hits an even more ridiculously in-your-face fade. The duel is on.

Nowitzki gets the ball at the high post, and, obviously frustrated by the extreme-close-up defense by Pierce, fakes one too many times and catches Pierce right in the face with his formidable elbow. Turnover, Dallas. Pierce, the self-proclaimed "I'm the best player in the world", promptly hits the sickest fall-back shot of the night. Game over.

I'd be lying if I said I knew that was the exact sequence that would play out. What I was sure of, was that Nowitzki wouldn't be able to match Pierce's "I'm the man" factor.

Maybe it's the style of play in Europe. There is no "I'm the man" factor overseas. The teams on the other side of the Atlantic preach ball movement, unselfishness. The open guy takes the shot, no matter who it is.

That philosophy taught Team USA a thing or two in 2004 and 2006. It's the kiss of death, however, for an NBA team that features a European superstar as its go-to guy. Look at Pau Gasol. He was "the man" in Memphis for years, but they could never be more than halfway decent with him as the face of the team.

Playing with Kobe, it's obvious that Gasol is more comfortable not being "the man." He still gets his 19 points and nine rebounds, but in the less pressured role as second fiddle.

That's the role Nowitzki would excel in. If he plays with someone like Kobe, Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, he's going to get an open jumper or a clearer opportunity that he can handle psychologically. As option número uno? Not so much.

In fact, if I look at the roster for the Western All-Stars, I'm more comfortable with anyone else (except Gasol) taking a game-winning shot than Nowitzki.

It's nothing tangible. It's just the way it is. And the only common thread is that Gasol and Nowitzki are both, well...European. 

Other Notes:

·         The Mavs were hurting without Jason Terry. After Nowitzki's 37 points, Josh Howard turned in 17 points on just 6-19 shooting. Antoine Wright was the only other Maverick in double-figures with 10...

·         When Garnett got into it with Nowitzki late in the third, even his teammates felt compelled to try and calm him down. KG went from intense to downright scary. Smooth-as-silk Ray Allen proved to be the perfect compliment, nailing a three off a screen right after Garnett was forced to sit with his fifth foul.

·         Sure, the talk from the Heat's 95-93 win over Chicago was all about Wade's pass to Shawn Marion for the dunk with 1.1 seconds left, but how about Michael Beasley? In a game that close where every point is critical, the rookie goes 9-10 on his way to 21 points. If nothing else, the outing could boost his trade value as Miami seeks a forward compliment to Wade they're more comfortable with...

·         The Bulls have now lost four of their last five, and are currently two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Other than rookie Derrick Rose, everyone else on the roster seems expendable. Will management stand pat and hope this team can sneak into the postseason, or will they shake things up?

·         The Blazers were uncharacteristically charitable with the ball Thursday night, committing 23 turnovers en route to their 105-98 loss to lottery-bound Golden State. LaMarcus Aldridge was particularly blatant in his giving spirit, turning it over five times before fouling out...

·         The second half of the season will be a feel-out process for Golden State. Monta Ellis is back from injury and getting into the flow with his team for the first time. He had 20 points on 7-16 shooting, but it's not a sure thing that he'll end up being the Point Guard they really hope/need/want him to be... 

 

Though the NBA is built upon the foundation of superstars and their outlandish contracts, it takes several role players who happen to overachieve, or in certain cases improve and develop, to fuel a team when A) the superstar(s) are resting on the bench or B) when they're simply having an off night.

This season the league has seen its fair share of surprises and improvement in player personnel, and here are the most substantial thus far this season:

 

PG Ramon Sessions

2009 Salary: $722,517

In Milwaukee's recent loss to Detroit, Sessions erupted for 44 points on 13-18 shooting while dishing out 12 assists and collecting five rebounds in 47 minutes of action. 

Though the most impressive unadminstered stat was all of his points came on two-point baskets, Sessions did not attempt a three-pointer and has only taken five all season long.

In his short career, Sessions has logged 40 minutes 10 times, and has scored 16 points or more eight times and more than 20 four times. The Bucks are an envious 3-3 this season when he plays at least four 10-minute sessions, while the second-year guard has managed to connect on 42-of-50 free-throws during that stretch.

Milwaukee is also 8-5 when Sessions hands out seven assists or more this season.

He is rapidly developing into one of the best reserves in the league. Next to Redd, Jefferson, and Villanueva, Sessions ranks as their best player and their best trading chip if the Bucks wish to acquire a specific need before the Feb. 19 deadline.

Rookie forward Joe Alexander (eighth overall pick in 2008 NBA Draft) and Sessions were rumored to be headed to Memphis for Mike Conley Jr. (fourth overall in 2007). Talks collapsed and the youngsters are still playing for the current teams. 

Lucky for the Bucks, who will continue to grant him extended minutes as starting point guard Luke Ridnour heals from a broken thumb.

 

SG Roger Mason Jr.

2009 Salary: $3.5 million

In the offseason, the Spurs exercised their mid-level option on Mason. This season he's seventh in the league in three-point shooting and the only player in basketball shooting over 45 percent from long range and over 87 percent from the free throw line.

While filling in for injured guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, Mason made the most of it and has scored over 15 points 13 times and more than 20 four times—all while blossoming into the team's clutch three-point shooter—in his first few months with the Spurs.

It's tough for a player to migrate to an entirely different conference and adapt to a new system as fast as Mason has, but the fact it’s been in the notorious Greg Popovich's defense-rived philosophy makes it even more impressive.

Not to mention his decisive threes over the Suns, Lakers, and most recently the Celtics in a nailbiter have provided wins for the Spurs and have allowed them to post a presentable 4-2 record (2-1 vs L.A. and Boston) against those respected teams which will be pivotal towards the end of the season in the form of playoff seeding.

 

SF Grant Hill 

2009 Salary: $1.9 million

Just how important is Hill to Phoenix? The Suns are 32-11 since Hill's arrival when he converts on five-plus shots from the field. 

But no stat may loom bigger than this—Grant Hill has played in all 49 games this season. It’s a monument in its own right considering the fact it’s the first time he's been able to accomplish that since his second year in the league, when Grant was a youthful gazelle sprinting up and down the court as a Detroit Piston. 

Needless to say, healthy Hill has always been one of the best players in the NBA and he's continued the streak to a lesser extent, as one of the best on his team. The 13-year veteran has two double-doubles this season after racking up only four in 70 games last season despite averaging the lowest minutes of his career.

Hill has reached double-figures 30 times this season and has six 20-plus-point games while shooting 51.6 percent, the second highest mark of his career and the highest since 2004-05 when he and then-rookie Dwight Howard for the Phoenix Suns. 

Even at age 36, Hill still shows youthful cuts and an uncanny vertical when converting on layups or dunks around the rim which would be difficult for any other player who suffered through multiple injuries and underwent six surgeries that normally constrict one's quickness and explosiveness, but yet Hill is still displaying a youthful bounce in the desert.

 

PF Chris Andersen

2009 Salary: $797,581

Andersen boasts the second-highest block-per-48 minutes mark in the entire league—which is remarkable, because he's only playing under 19 minutes per game on a score-abiding Denver Nuggets team who also have a quizzical defensive rotation.

He's blocked 15 shots over his past five games while only averaging 3.4 fouls and a measly 2.46 for the season.

He's also beginning to develop on offense. Seven of his last 14 rebounds have come off the offensive glass and he's shooting 15-28 from the field in his last five contests.

His intensity on defense is unmatched and he's a fixture at the root of most of the Nuggets' fast break opportunities by deferring blocked shots towards his teammate’s paths thereby contributing on both ends of the floor while actually being an impact player on defense. 

How golden is he to the Nuggets? The Nuggets are 13-3 when Birdman blocks three shots or more and only 7-8 when Andersen blocks one shot or fewer. 

 

C Paul Millsap

2009 Salary: $797,581

He's stabilized Utah front-line and kept Deron Williams' assist numbers afloat and has continued to enforce the Jazz's representation of one of the most physical teams in the league with his stalwart-toned stature low in the post. He's averaging 15 points, nine rebounds, and a blocked shot while shooting over 55 percent from the field in his first stint as a starter for Jerry Sloan.

 

He's quickly emerged as Utah's best post presence offensively and defensively and his strong hands and wide frame makes him a monster on the boards. With consistent strong play, the Jazz may be able to let Carlos Boozer inhabit free agency this offseason—and reports have it that Boozer is fond of Miami.

Millsap's string of 19 consecutive double-doubles was the highest the Utah Jazz have witnessed since the likes of Karl Malone who racked at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in 44 straight games during the '90s. He's racked up 24 of them on the year and will continue to notch feats as long as he stays patient and understands his role on the team.

Millsap is a restricted free agent after this season meaning the Jazz can match any offer thrown at him this summer. This is a major advantage for any organization to have when attempting to solidify a certain position for years to come.

While his numbers have declined lately, much can be attributed to the fact he's not used to receiving this amount of significant playing time and he's simply begun to burn out as a result. He's played 30 minutes or more 30 times this season after the Jazz only asked him to play that amount 11 times in his previous two seasons.

The All-Star break will replenish and unquestionably refresh the weary 6'8" power forward. Expect a strong continuation of the first half of the season's performance down the stretch to the playoffs.

 

This question is always a hot topic. This season the West and the East are looking identical and its not like other years where the West dominates. I am going to compare the NBA's Eastern Conference to the Western Conference.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Cleveland (39-9)

2. Boston (41-10)

3. Orlando (37-11)

4. Atlanta (28-20)

5. Detroit (26-21)

6. Miami (26-22)

7. Philadelphia (24-24)

8. Milwaukee (24-28)

9. New Jersey(23-27)

10. Chicago (22-28)

11. New York (21-27)

12. Charlotte (19-29)

13. Indiana (19-31)

14. Toronto (19-32)

15. Washington (10-39)

The Eastern Conference teams have a total of 352 wins and 378 losses.

 WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. LA Lakers (40-9)

2. San Antonio (33-15)

3. Denver (33-16)

4. Portland (30-18)

5. New Orleans (28-18)

6. Houston (30-20)

7. Dallas (29-20)

8. Utah (28-22)

9. Phoenix (26-21)

10. Minnesota (17-31)

11. Golden State (16-34)

12. Memphis (13-35)

13. Oklahoma City (11-38)

14. Sacramento (11-39)

15. LA Clippers (10-39)

The Western Conference teams have a total of 325 wins and 375 losses.

Overall

The Eastern Conference have 27 more wins than the annual leading Western Conference. The Western Conference only has three fewer losses than the Eastern Conference.

The six under 20 win teams in the West are the teams that the East like to take easy wins from and make the East a more powerful Conference. Although the West do have the best eight potential playoff teams.

Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland are the three teams to be reckoned with in the East while the Lakers, Spurs, and Nuggets are the three teams to be reckoned in West.

If it weren't for the last six teams in the West, the West will be the dominate conference. They have better potential playoff teams than the East. All the East have are the Celtics, Magic, and Cavaliers.

However, these three teams are all better than any team in the West and will go on and off with the impressive Lakers. So because of this and the significant amount of more wins than the West, the East will take the crown being the better conference right now in the NBA.

It would be interesting to know the inner reactions by Sixers' brass and players when they were informed this week that Elton Brand would be out for the rest of the season.

Team president Ed Stefanski could have felt a sharp pain in his backside around the area where his wallet resides; Brand played only 29 games in year one of his five-year $80 million deal. There's no telling how effective Brand will be when he comes back this season. That's an unknown with a huge price tag attached.

Coach Tony DiLeo is probably disappointed he didn't have more time to effectively mesh the differing skills of the halfcourt oriented Brand with his thoroughbred young core of Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and company.

The players themselves? I'm sure they felt sympathy for their fallen comrade-in-arms, but as soon as they hit the floor Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers, they had to be feeling loose and carefree knowing one thing:

They can run again.

And run the Sixers did, plugging in promising youngster Thaddeus Young at the four-spot, immediately making Philly's starting five much more athletic and potent in the full-court game. Center Samuel Dalembert can rebound (he amassed 20 caroms Thursday night) and outlet to any of the other starting four on the floor (Miller, Iguodala, Young, or guard Willie Green).

The result was high-octane movement that resulted in transition baskets. The perimeter troika of Iguodala (20 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds), Green (23 points), and Miller (13 points, 12 assists) benefited immediately, and Philadelphia outlasted the Pacers 99-94.

The loss of Brand does throw into sharp relief the lack of depth on the Sixers' bench. While the starters excelled, the bench combined for just 11 of the team's 99 points. Designated sixth man Lou Williams shot poorly (2-7 for five points), and no one else on the bench can be relied upon to give consistent offensive production.

Up to this point, Philadelphia suffered the same identity crisis that currently assails the Phoenix Suns. Both teams have legit big men who, when the offense is tailored to them, can put up big numbers against almost anyone.

The consequence for both teams was that their respective big men actually have a negative impact on their teammates' production due to the contrasting styles of play. If it weren't for Brand's injury, the Sixers might be as antsy for immediate improvement as the Suns are right now.

Luckily for Philadelphia, they've caught a lucky break (or tear, in the case of Brand's shoulder injury). They have from now until next season to figure out how to incorporate Brand in the team's overall scheme.

In the meantime, Philadelphia will look to run in an effort to catch up to their own lofty expectations.

Other Notes:

·         Indiana All-Star forward Danny Granger shot 5-8 on two-pointers and only 1-7 on threes. That's not encouraging for an invitee of the Three-Point Shootout on All-Star Weekend.

·         The Sixers' starting lineup all had plus-minus ratios of +14 or better. The bench players posted -12 or worse.

·         The reason the Lakers vs. Celtics game was so close? The Boston bench showed up. Well, Leon Powe and Eddie House showed up, but that's enough when the two of them combine for 26 of the bench's 30 points on 11-17 shooting. If Glen Davis or Tony Allen (2-11 combined for four points) have better showings for Boston, it's a different ball game.

·         Did Laker legend and league logo Jerry West watch the game? Did his chest swell with pride every time Pau Gasol scored or rebounded his way to a 24-point, 14-rebound night? Did he say to his friends, "Yeah, I'm the reason the Lakers are whoopin' on Boston. I gave them Pau and now they're knocking on the champs' door."

·         Where was Kevin Garnett during the most important game of the regular season? He took only 12 shots and two free throws on his way to 16 points. Throw in the four turnovers and six fouls, and it's safe to say he had a sub-par showing. Does he deserve the benefit of the doubt after playing fresh off getting over the flu?

·         Speaking of no-shows, Dirk Nowitzki was AWOL in the Mavs' 115-87 loss to the Jazz Thursday night. 14 points on 6-20 shooting will NOT get it done against a Utah team fighting for their playoff lives.

·         While there's concern whether Philadelphia can handle the loss of their All-Star forward, there shouldn't be any of the same in Utah. Paul Millsap (14 points, 10 rebounds) is the dream-case scenario for the Jazz in the wake of another injury-racked season for Carlos Boozer. If I'm running things in Salt Lake, I'm trading Boozer to a contender now so I can get something back for him before he hits free agency this summer.

 

What better day to reflect on an exciting first half to this NBA season than the day after Groundhog Day?

This season has seen the debut of a team in its new city (OKC), the Knicks in playoff contention, and one of the tightest three-team races in recent history.

We've seen young players arrive and take the league by storm, as well as big trades sending big names to other destinations.

We've seen the defending champions escape title hangover, and some teams survive bad injuries and have come back stronger than ever.

Regardless, this season has provided so many great stories. Not all of them can be encapsulated in just one article.

But just as exciting this season has been the tremendous surprises throughout the league, as well as players and teams that have left some fans scratching their heads in disbelief.

Looking at the biggest surprises and disappointments of 2008-2009, the common trend of most (not all) of these storylines involves players from Team USA.

Top Surprises of 2008-2009:

Miami Heat - New coach + misplaced superstar + second pick in 2008 draft = playoffs? Strange equation but the Heat has risen from the ashes of a dreadful season to return to respectability in the Eastern Conference. As of now, the Heat are 5 games over .500 and currently 5th in the East.

Led by Team USA superstar guard Dwyane Wade and former Phoenix Sun Shawn Marion, Miami has had a complete turnaround under first-year coach Erik Spoelstra. Time will tell if this young nucleus will stay resilient come playoff time.

But their current position gives fans in South Beach hope for the future, that they can win another title.

Atlanta Hawks - Arguably the biggest surprise in the 2008 Playoffs, the Hawks are on a mission to prove that their seven-game loss to the eventual champion Celtics was not a fluke. So far, so good.

Josh Smith and Joe Johnson are clearly the men in charge of this young group that resides in the fourth spot of the East, right behind the three-team juggernauts of Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.

An 18-5 home record suddenly makes the Philips Arena a hostile environment and a difficult assignment for any team.

Are they a fluke? Not right now they're not. And right now, the Hawks and Heat would provide an entertaining playoff series if the season ended today.

Eastern Conference PGs - Two years ago, the Eastern Conference was called a JV league. Nowadays, the tide has turned as three of the four best teams in the NBA reside in the East. Common denominator: tremendous point guard play.

Boston's Rajon Rondo has improved incredibly, although consistency and an outside shot still appear to be major weaknesses.

Orlando's Jameer Nelson has quickly become the Magic's best backcourt player, and a great No. 2 to Team USA center Dwight Howard.

Cleveland has Mo Williams, acquired on August 13 in a three-team trade, and he has not disappointed anyone. With low expectations, Mo has broken out and become the Robin to LeBron's Batman

It's no coincidence that the top three teams in the East are led by confident, young floor generals that show tremendous potential.

Portland Trailblazers - The youngest team in the NBA, Portland has served youth upon the Western Conference.

Jumping ahead of teams such as New Orleans and Dallas, the Blazers have arrived maybe a year ahead of schedule. Credit Nate McMillan for putting these youngsters on a path to success, but also GM Kevin Pritchard, who probably has set records for the most draft-day trades.

Landing 2007's top pick in C Greg Oden combined with young star Brandon Roy and a great complement of young Europeans, the Blazers are flying high, and have tremendous depth to boot.

The Blazers are the closest thing in the NBA to Fort Knox with the amount of potential this group possesses for the future. Don't be surprised to see this team near the top for years to come.

Biggest Surprise:

Denver Nuggets - What a rabbit the Nuggets pulled out of their hat: Iverson for Billups. And the standings do not lie, Denver is third in the West, after barely making the playoffs a year ago.

Billups provides tremendous leadership plus a defensive mentality that has improved the quality of play from a Denver team not necessarily known for its D.

He has teamed up with Team USA F Carmelo Anthony, who continues to improve every year, and things look brighter than ever in the Mile High City for this bunch.

This franchise could use a playoff boost, after losing in the first round the last three years, to the Clippers, Spurs, and Lakers. Clearly, the AI experiment has failed. And the Billups experiment is a resounding success.

Even more surprising for the Nuggets is the resurgence of the Birdman, Chris Andersen. Back from a drug suspension, Andersen has reemerged as one of the best bench big men in the NBA, No. 4 in blocks per game.

George Karl's bunch can make a solid playoff run in a deep West, which doesn't look as tough anymore.

Top Disappointments of 2008-2009:

Houston Rockets - The new Big Three was supposed to rival the Celtics' Big Three, but currently injuries have fans wondering what could be.

Team China leader Yao Ming, along with F Tracy McGrady and new Rocket G/F Ron Artest just can't seem to stay healthy for a stretch. In retrospect, this is no surprise to those who have followed the careers of these players, who have missed loads of games for various reasons.

Current good news for the Rockets is Artest has reportedly not caused problems so far. Vibes appear to be good. And there is still time for the Rockets to live up to their high billing and expectations.

The outlook appears foggy, as it's unclear whether the group can stay healthy long enough to make a long playoff run.

Toronto Raptors - The anomaly of the Eastern Conference, picked to be in the top 4 after the Jermaine O'Neal.

Now that they have hit the bottom, falling off the playoff radar, F/C Chris Bosh reportedly wants out. That's how far this team has fallen.

After having the third best record two years ago, sporting a talented roster full of young players, the Raptors have a major crisis. They are one of the many teams to fire their coach midseason, and like most of those teams, they have fallen apart.

In order to improve, the Raptors will need to play defense, and get a player who can slash instead of just shoot threes. O'Neal is not who he once was at Indiana, and the injuries have clearly taken their toll on him.

Canada's lone NBA franchise may have to go into rebuild mode unless they can find a great defensive-minded coach. If they don't, they may return to post-Vince Carter mode, which is mediocrity.

2006 NBA Draft Prospects (not all of course) - Many believe that by year three, a player drafted into the NBA should have broken out and start to be a great player.

Sadly, most players in the first round of the 2006 draft cannot say that. In fact, some are lucky to be in the league.

Players such as Patrick O'Bryant and Shelden Williams, top 10 picks, are having trouble coming off the bench. Others such as Tyrus Thomas and Adam Morrison are role players instead of superstars.

Although one can argue that the draft was not too deep to begin with, it still serves notice that fans cannot hinge the hopes on their franchise drafting well. The draft is always a crapshoot.

Biggest Disappointment of 2008-2009:

Detroit Pistons - How the mighty have fallen...

The franchise known for his lockdown D and the team that won the 2004 NBA Finals over the heavily-favored Lakers is a distant memory. 3/5 of that lineup isn't starting for the Pistons.

Billups and Big Ben have left town, and the effects have shown. Clearly, they have never quite recovered from Lebron's 48-point masterpiece in Game Five of the 2007 ECF.

People expect this team to compete every year. This year, they are fighting for their playoff lives, down to sixth in the East, and fading fast.

Their defense has been exposed and have never regained that swagger that they carried in the mid-2000's. Even with the improved offense of AI, they have fallen far off the radar.

As of today, Detroit is a whopping 12 games behind Cleveland in the Central, and will need a miracle to get back to where they believe they belong.

Many believe the Pistons don't have an edge, and no longer play with the emotion that the 2004 squad possessed. No confidence, and no emotion is bad news for Motown. The Pistons have a great history, but appear to be in freefall mode, and could put Piston fans in an unfamiliar position: traveling to start the 1st round of the playoffs.

One entertaining season so far, and yet it is only half over. With that said, here are the storylines to follow for the rest of the year.

4 Facts to Remember for the Rest of the Season Until the End of the Finals:

1. LeBron is the frontrunner for the MVP

As much as Laker fans don't want to hear that, Lebron is playing the best basketball of his life, incorporating much improved defense to his offensive repertoire. Plus, the Cavaliers are in the midst of their best start of franchise history.

Not to mention the current 22-game home winning streak. He is clearly the frontrunner just because of how he has carried his team during their bad run of injuries to Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West.

With Z back, he takes pressure off Lebron. But don't expect him to let up off the gas pedal the rest of the way.

2. Seven Good Western Teams for Six Playoff Spots

Denver, Portland, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, and Utah are all fighting for playoff spots, separated by a mere five games. One good team will miss the playoffs in the West that deserves to be in the playoffs in the East.

Honestly, any of those teams could sweep or go 4-1 against whoever is 8th in the East. Regardless, one talented team will be watching the playoffs at home in the Western Conference.

3. At Least One Elite Team in the East Will Miss the Eastern Conference Finals

Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando are clearly the kings of the East. However, only two can play in the ECF, meaning one will fall short.

At this point, Boston controls their own destiny for the top spot, though Cleveland is getting healthier by the minute, and still has huge trading assets.

Orlando will have to now survive the latest blow by which I refer to the potentially season-ending injury to Jameer Nelson. Their best backcourt player, Nelson helps to take pressure off Dwight Howard, and he helps to set up their other three-point shooters.

Right now, Orlando may be on the outside looking in. But anything is possible, as has been indicated by past history.

4. The NBA Finals Take Place in an Odd Year

While this may sound like nothing to most fans, not to San Antonio it doesn't. The Spurs have won the NBA Finals in every odd season since 2003, and including 1999.

This year's edition features the same parts in Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan along with new pieces in George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. Plus, never count out Gregg Popovich, arguably the best coach in the NBA.

No matter how good the Lakers are, don't count the Spurs out. People always do, and they always catch the NBA by surprise. L.A needs to watch out and keep an eye out for those Spurs.

If they meet up in the Western Conference Finals again, the script could be very different. Not saying it will be, but it always could.

Whatever happens, its gonna be an exciting rest of the season in the league "Where Amazing Happens." Sorry about the cliche, but come playoff time, everyone better get their popcorn ready.

Andrew Bynum had found his rhythm. He had become a dominant force on the inside. He had acquired five double doubles in five straight games. His impact was exactly what the L.A. Lakers needed.

Then he went and hurt his knee.

This is not to say that without Bynum, the Lakers will flounder.  Don't forget about the silver-medal-winning Spaniard Pau Gasol, or the greatest closer in the NBA in Kobe Bryant, or the biggest X-factor in the league, Lamar Odom. 

Yeah, the Lakers are going to be okay.

But the current long road trip is now significantly more difficult. This is a road trip that ends with Cleveland and the little green men in Boston. If I were the rest of the Western Conference teams, I'd be thinking that this is the time to step up.

Even if the Lakers were to go 2-2 in the next four games, they would still hold a significant lead in the Pacific division and be atop in the Western Conference. But this is still the time to make a move in the standings.

The Lakers have played the most home games during the regular season up to this point, which means that the end of the season will be littered with road games, including another seven-game, 11-day road trip at the end of March.  

Yes, the last 36 games are going to be a rough stretch, with 22 of them being on the road and six at the end of back-to-backs. That's a schedule I don't think any team wants to play.

Without Bynum, the Lakers are a little more vulnerable under the basket. But if Lamar and Pau keep stepping up their All-Star caliber play, this road trip and the following games should not be too difficult.

At this point in the season, it would be good for Phil Jackson to keep starting big in the starting lineup. I would like to see Fisher at the 1, Bryant at the 2, Rodmonovich at the 3, Odom at the 4, and Gasol at the 5. This was the championship lineup and it seemed to work pretty well.  

However, any guess at who will be in the starting lineup is just that, a wild guess. Jackson is notorious for sending out crazy units that surprise even the Laker squad. But as he has nine championship rings, I won't criticize.

There is no further report on the MRI on Bynum's knee as of Monday afternoon, so I don't want to keep up the what-if statements, but suffice it to say now is the time for other teams to hit the court hard to make up lost ground against the hot Laker squad.

Of course, this is the same team that went to the finals without Bynum last year, the team that is still the best in the West.

The Suns' struggles this season have been well-documented this season as contrasting styles and inopportune trades have whittled down team chemistry

Steve Nash's reluctance to submit to Terry Porter's now-indoctrinated vogue of more defense than offense has the former two-time MVP facing the realization of his lowest assist total in more than five seasons.

Despite his recent success, Nash has 10 games in which he recorded six assists or fewer though his first 40 games after failing to do so only three times at this juncture a year ago.

Meanwhile, fellow adjuster Shaquille O'Neal has flourished—he was elected to his 15th All-Star Game (2nd All-Time).

Surprisingly, former NBA phenom Grant Hill has quietly been the backbone of the myopic Suns' team this season and has begun to egress as Phoenix's most dependable journeyman not named Steve Nash or Shaquille O'Neal.

How about these numbers: The Suns are 8-4 when Hill logs 36 minutes or more this season; 3-1 when he blocks two shots or more and 11-6 when he makes five shots or more outscoring their opponents 107-43 in those games.

Furthermore, the Suns are 29-10 since Hill's arrival when he converts on five-plus shots from the field. 

But none may loom bigger than this: Grant Hill has played in all 44 games this season. It’s a monument in its own right considering the fact it’s the first time he's been able to accomplish that since his second year in the league when Grant was a youthful gazelle sprinting up and down the court as a Detroit Piston. 

Needless to say, healthy Hill has always been one of the best players in the NBA and he's continued the streak to a lesser extent, as one of the best on his team.

The 13-year veteran has two double-doubles this season after racking up only four in 70 games last season despite averaging the lowest minutes of his career.

Hill has reached double-figures 26 times this season and has five 20-plus-point games while shooting 50.8 percent, the second highest mark of his career and the highest since 2004-05 when he and then-rookie Dwight Howard for the Phoenix Suns. 

In the recent installment of their heated rivalry, the Suns and Spurs proved to be a proving ground for Grant Hill—not that he needed one—and displayed how important he is to their team.

Hill exploded on fastbreaks and featured an array of hesitation dribbles to draw defenders out of position an propel him towards the rim—he had 2 three-point plays on layups as a result—and he continued his hot shooting coming out of intermission, sinking his first three shots to fuel the Suns as the game progressed on his way to a 20-10 performance—a feat that is usually handed to bigs Shaq and Amare.

In the closing seconds of the game, Hill blocked Tony Parker's jumpshot and raced down the other end of the floor converting on a layup while being fouled. The and-one cut the deficit to three, though the Suns suffered the loss.