This week in the NBA

[Dangerous A 0]

Memphis is a power team now?

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With a 6-3 record in the West they are. Take a look at the Western Conference. It's not pretty, especially the Northwest and Pacific divisions.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Memphis is a power team now?

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With a 6-3 record in the West they are. Take a look at the Western Conference. It's not pretty, especially the Northwest and Pacific divisions.

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The Northwest is Pathetic, but the Pacific Division is strong, especially if you consider the Lakers still have to have time to gel, and that Amare isn't playing in Phoenix right now.

 

I don't put much stock into the standings this early in the season, as I think teams like Houston, Denver, and Indiana are underperforming at the moment, and teams like Milwaukee and the Clippers are overperforming. I think most of us called that the Warriors would play well coming into this season, and 5-4 isn't too bad for them at this point.

 

Probably even worse if you wanted to put the current standings into where they rank in each conference..

 

(in order of 1st-8th) East: Detroit, Philly, Washington, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana, and New Jersey. West: Spurs, Clips, Minnesota, Dallas, Memphis, Warriors, Lakers, and Portland.

 

Anyone expect it to stay even close to like this?

[Rendclaw 0]

Memphis is a power team now?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

With a 6-3 record in the West they are. Take a look at the Western Conference. It's not pretty, especially the Northwest and Pacific divisions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The Northwest is Pathetic, but the Pacific Division is strong, especially if you consider the Lakers still have to have time to gel, and that Amare isn't playing in Phoenix right now.

 

I don't put much stock into the standings this early in the season, as I think teams like Houston, Denver, and Indiana are underperforming at the moment, and teams like Milwaukee and the Clippers are overperforming. I think most of us called that the Warriors would play well coming into this season, and 5-4 isn't too bad for them at this point.

 

Probably even worse if you wanted to put the current standings into where they rank in each conference..

 

(in order of 1st-8th) East: Detroit, Philly, Washington, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana, and New Jersey. West: Spurs, Clips, Minnesota, Dallas, Memphis, Warriors, Lakers, and Portland.

 

Anyone expect it to stay even close to like this?

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No. At some point Indiana and New Jersey are going to wake up and start winning more consistently. Slot them in at 2 and 3 behind Detroit, with Miami at 4 by the All-Star break. And with the way the Pistons are playing, I can't see them collapsing to even a small degree by then. Keep them at 1.

 

The Spurs will stay right where they are, though at some point Dallas will start playing better, and the Clippers will come back down to earth. They're playing out of their minds right now, and I just can't see them maintaining it.

[Guest]

In the East, I think the Bucks are going to stay near where they are, and Chicago is going to be the odd team out. In the West, I think a ton of things are going to change. The Clippers will have a stretch in their season where they lose 8 out of 10 and drop out of it, Minnesota's not really good at all, the Lakers could move up, and Portland isn't a top 8 team. Phoenix really needs to make sure that they don't dig a huge rut before Amare comes back or they might not be able to get out of it.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Clippers beat the Lakers 97-91, third straight win versus them. All starters in double figures.

 

Brand is an absolute monster this season. 23 points 14 rebounds and 5 block shots tonight. This guy is in a whole new level now. His leaner, quicker and has improved his shot greatly.

[Krankor 0]

Beating the Lakers is not an impressive feat anymore. That team lives and dies on what percentage Kobe is shooting on any given night. The Lakers are not going to make the playoffs if they don't change the way the ball is being distributed around in that offense.

 

Brand has been a stud for a few years now. He's been putting up 20 and 10 a night except it didn't mean anything. He just hasn't had enough other players around him in the starting lineup to get some of the double teams off him. Now he finally does and he's finally getting noticed.

[Guest Vitamin X]

It doesn't help that Kwame Brown hasn't contributed the way management thought he'd be able to develop to. But I don't think that really surprises anyone.

[Dangerous A 0]

Damn, Kobe jacked up 35 shots to get his 36 points. That is why they lost. Just as Krankor said, they live and die by Kobe's hand.

 

Nice to see the Kings get a kick ass win against a decent Bucks team. I'd like to see the Kings a smidge above .500 before November lets out and I think they'll be fine.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Bulls started 0-9 last year, so I'm not too worried about them yet. They'll have to rattle off a big string of wins against division teams, though. Also, this 3-1 home, 0-4 road business is a tad worrisome, but then again, they weren't winning anywhere this time last year.

[Rendclaw 0]

Sheesh, the Pistons are 8-0 now.... granted, the Rockets aren't where everyone thought they should be, but they got put in their place last night. A local sports talk host said that the Pistons basically grind teams down until they have nothing left by the 4th quarter, and I have to agree with that.

 

But like the Lakers, the Rockets live and die by McGrady's hand, and he's not recovered from his back problems... I say it again: T-Mac has been having back problems since he was in Toronto, and the guy is only what, 25 or 26? He is going to have some major back problems when he is in his 30s... I just wonder what caused them.

[Precious Roy 0]

Bulls started 0-9 last year, so I'm not too worried about them yet. They'll have to rattle off a big string of wins against division teams, though. Also, this 3-1 home, 0-4 road business is a tad worrisome, but then again, they weren't winning anywhere this time last year.

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I'd be worried. They're still going to be a scrappy team that gives people trouble, but I really doubt they can duplicate the success of last season. Personally, I doubt they'll make the playoffs. The lack of size is going to kill them, Chandler seems to be having trouble adjusting to playing center and not having another big body playing beside him, and right now they're starting Nocioni at the 4. Sweetney looks to be playing well, but losing Curry and Davis really hurt them.

 

I know it's early, but Detroit, Indy, Miami, Cleveland, Philly, Jersey, Milwaukee, and Washington, barring any major injuries, look to be good bets for the playoffs. The first 6 for sure, and I like Washington and Milwaukee a lot better than Chicago right now.

[Guest Leelee]

Damn, Kobe jacked up 35 shots to get his 36 points. That is why they lost. Just as Krankor said, they live and die by Kobe's hand.

 

LIES.

 

The Clips are better.

 

Well, I don't know, it's not like I've been able to watch them this year.

 

The #1 seed in the Western Conference best get some national games, soon.

[razazteca 0]

The only team from California to make the playoffs will be the Kings.

[Rendclaw 0]

The only team from California to make the playoffs will be the Kings.

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And that's pretty far from a guarantee, as well.

 

Wow, imagine if the Clips, Lakers, and Kings all missed the playoffs?

 

Forget the earthquake, that alone would cause California to fall into the ocean.

[CanadianChris 0]

What about Golden State? They're not looking too bad, despite not having beaten anybody of note.

[Guest Leelee]

Clips beat Golden State by 40 in the preseason. Clips are for real. Golden State can fight with the Lakers for 8th.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yeah because preseason basketball means EVERYTHING.

[Precious Roy 0]

So, how long til the Lakers bring in Karl Malone/Dennis Rodman/Charles Oakley/Kevin Willis/Corey Blount/reanimated corpse of Bison Dele/reanimated corpse of Will Perdue?

[razazteca 0]

What about Golden State?  They're not looking too bad, despite not having beaten anybody of note.

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The Baron Davis, Troy Murphy, Adonyle Foyle show?

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Those that are writing off the Clippers need to realize that the only thing standing in the way of them making the playoffs is getting wins on the road.

 

Clippers play really well at home. Last Season they went 27-14 at home with 6 loses(Detroit, San Antonio, Boston, Houston, Sacramento, Minnesota) coming in overtime.

 

However they only won 10 road games all of last season. They have 4 already this season.

 

All they need is to get 18-21 wins on the road and they will be a lock for the playoffs

 

Anyway i guess will find out if they are for real in the next 5 weeks as they play Cleveland and Indiana twice plus Detroit, Miami, Phoenix, Houston and San Antonio

[Guest]

My concern is them playing well on the road and avoiding the huge losing streak that always comes to them.

[Just John 0]

Almost every NBA team goes through a rough stretch at some point in the season. The best thing the Clippers can do now is stockpile enough wins, so the streak doesn't hurt them and shatter their confidence. I'm not too fast to write them off, as a team with Cassell, Mobley, Brand, and Magette starting could be pretty solid. I highly doubt they run the table and take the 1 seed, but I can see them making a good push for a lower seed at the end of the season.

 

Another important thing to remember, is we can't make any accurate assessments on final standings until at least the all-star break. And even then, those won't be dead-on. Every team has a hot and cold streak at some point, and it's impossible to determine who's having them now until we can look back later.

[alfdogg 0]

...Will Perdue's dead?

[The Czech Republic 0]

T-Mac has been having back problems since he was in Toronto, and the guy is only what, 25 or 26? He is going to have some major back problems when he is in his 30s... I just wonder what caused them.

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Carrying the Raptors and Magic, har har har

[Rendclaw 0]

The Magic I can believe, inept managing drove him out of there.

 

Pistons got blown out, thus ends the unbeaten streak.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

meh, it was bound to happen soon or later. maybe now that there's no unbeaten pressure, they can develop their team in a more naturalistic fashion, ie getting the bench better developed, Dice back into the groove of things, tighten up the D. They played sloppy against Portland, Boston, and Houston, so hopefully this will be a good kick in the rear ends to tighten up their deficiencies (seemed like they kinda ignored them because they were getting Ws).

[Precious Roy 0]

...Will Perdue's dead?

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And the Clippers improvement on the road can be put solely on the head of Sam Cassell, he's a HUGE improvement over Jaric/Brunson/Livingston

[Ripper 0]

I don't know about that LIvingston part. That guy was great when he played last year.....WHEN he played.

 

He is going to have to gain some weight to survive.

 

The Suns fought hard against the Spurs, but with Barbosa going down, they just didn't have enough fire power to close out the win. I am still not worried.

[Precious Roy 0]

I don't know about that LIvingston part.  That guy was great when he played last year.....WHEN he played.

 

He is going to have to gain some weight to survive.

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I'm not saying he didn't show anything, but he was a rookie PG coming out of HS, he wasn't going to lead them to tough road wins. Cassell has been there and done that, the pressure that a guy like Livingston is going to feel in those situations is nonexistant for him.

[mike546 0]

Channing Frye has back to back to back 20 point games. He reminds me of Kurt Thomas in a way, with a little more range, and is more athletic.