Bibbz Basketball Debut Post: Early Leaders
November 3rd 2008 07:04
Five days have past in the NBA's 2008-2009 season. There are seven teams that remain unbeaten. Four from the ultra-competitive West and three from the East.
First let's make a short list.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers 3-0 (leads the Pacific division)
New Orleans Hornets 3-0 (co-leads the Southwest division)
Houston Rockets 3-0 (co-leads the Southwest division)
Utah Jazz 2-0 (leads the Midwest division)
Eastern Conference
Toronto Raptors 3-0 (leads the Atlantic division)
Detroit Pistons 2-0 (leads the Central division)
Atlanta Hawks 2-0 (leads the Southeast division)
Let's start off with the Lakers.
Their loss to the Boston Celtics in last year's Finals is not something to be frustrated about. Why is that? Because it only served as a preview of great things to come. Pau Gasol has yet to fully incorporate himself into the system and be more acquainted with teammates and Andrew Bynum was out the rest of the season and the playoffs. But despite those two factors they still topped the West and made it to the Finals.
That explains their strong start this season. Gasol is in firm control now of his role and Bynum is back. Gasol can now stay at the 4-spot and be more of a match-up problem for opposing teams while Bynum eases the pressure off him by being the main man at the slot.
Gasol can move to center from time to time when Bynum gets a rest and opens up spots for Lamar Odom or Vladimir Radmanovic to contribute significantly at the frontline. That is roster versatility at its finest. Of course, Kobe Bryant is constant and he will always be the great factor for the Lakers but their frontline rotation strength is the key why they are so dominant right now beating up opponents with a 21.6 average margin.
Going 3-0 this early sure is encouraging especially to Lakers fans but they have yet to be tested. Let's wait until they meet up with fellow title contenders and let's see what happens.
_____________________________ _________
Now if the Lakers are yet to be tested, the Hornets are going through them right now and they are passing with flying colors. They fended off Golden State in their first assignment then took out the supposedly "high-powered" Phoenix Suns and title aspirant Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in quality wins. These were accomplished with Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic in the injured list which proves that New Orleans is for real.
Chris Paul and David West are currently stepping up their games to compensate for the absence of two key players but the real deal has got to be free agent pick-up James Posey, who has two championship rings and his presence has been truly felt in the locker room and on the hardwood because of his leadership especially on the defensive end.
Head coach Byron Scott believes that Posey is the last piece of the puzzle in forming a Hornets team that will make a serious run at an NBA championship. Posey is such an experienced veteran that brings in the intangibles that completes team success. They were never able to close out the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference semifinals because of the absence of that factor with Tim Duncan and company being way more seasoned than they are.
As good as they are now, the two players that they are missing must make a quick and healthy return. Let's just hope that Chandler and Stojakovic doesn't get held up for longer because, sooner or later, their absences will be felt.
_____________________________ ___________
The Hornets are not alone at the top of the Southwest because the Houston Rockets are there to keep abreast of them.
Just like New Orleans, Houston has their share of problems. Shane Battier is still out because of injury and Tracy McGrady is still in shaky physical condition wearing shoulder and knee braces as he still has to get better from his condition in last year's playoffs. T-Mac is not having an explosive start this season judging from his numbers but the Rockets are 3-0 nonetheless thanks to Yao Ming's return and the acquisition of defensive demon Ron Artest.
Yao is back and is causing havoc lately averaging 22.3ppg and 11.3rpg thus far and Artest has been a great contributor by adding more intensity to the Rockets' defense that was discovered last season and his unquestioned offensive capabilities.
Artest, who was acquired in a trade in the last off-season, could very well be the security blanket that Houston needs. Houston is known to be an annoyingly injury prone team with their star players Yao and McGrady being the favorite targets of the bug. With Artest in the line-up, he would simply be able to step up offensively and defensively should the hex plagues the club again this season.
Rockets fans could only hope and pray that their team stays healthy all season. It's such a shame if a team as good as this does not make it to the NBA Finals one day let alone get past the first round of the playoffs.
_____________________________ _______________
To be continued...
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports
First let's make a short list.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers 3-0 (leads the Pacific division)
New Orleans Hornets 3-0 (co-leads the Southwest division)
Houston Rockets 3-0 (co-leads the Southwest division)
Utah Jazz 2-0 (leads the Midwest division)
Eastern Conference
Toronto Raptors 3-0 (leads the Atlantic division)
Detroit Pistons 2-0 (leads the Central division)
Atlanta Hawks 2-0 (leads the Southeast division)
Let's start off with the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant attacks the baseline.
Their loss to the Boston Celtics in last year's Finals is not something to be frustrated about. Why is that? Because it only served as a preview of great things to come. Pau Gasol has yet to fully incorporate himself into the system and be more acquainted with teammates and Andrew Bynum was out the rest of the season and the playoffs. But despite those two factors they still topped the West and made it to the Finals.
That explains their strong start this season. Gasol is in firm control now of his role and Bynum is back. Gasol can now stay at the 4-spot and be more of a match-up problem for opposing teams while Bynum eases the pressure off him by being the main man at the slot.
Gasol can move to center from time to time when Bynum gets a rest and opens up spots for Lamar Odom or Vladimir Radmanovic to contribute significantly at the frontline. That is roster versatility at its finest. Of course, Kobe Bryant is constant and he will always be the great factor for the Lakers but their frontline rotation strength is the key why they are so dominant right now beating up opponents with a 21.6 average margin.
Going 3-0 this early sure is encouraging especially to Lakers fans but they have yet to be tested. Let's wait until they meet up with fellow title contenders and let's see what happens.
_____________________________ _________
Now if the Lakers are yet to be tested, the Hornets are going through them right now and they are passing with flying colors. They fended off Golden State in their first assignment then took out the supposedly "high-powered" Phoenix Suns and title aspirant Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in quality wins. These were accomplished with Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic in the injured list which proves that New Orleans is for real.
Chris Paul and David West are currently stepping up their games to compensate for the absence of two key players but the real deal has got to be free agent pick-up James Posey, who has two championship rings and his presence has been truly felt in the locker room and on the hardwood because of his leadership especially on the defensive end.
Head coach Byron Scott believes that Posey is the last piece of the puzzle in forming a Hornets team that will make a serious run at an NBA championship. Posey is such an experienced veteran that brings in the intangibles that completes team success. They were never able to close out the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference semifinals because of the absence of that factor with Tim Duncan and company being way more seasoned than they are.
As good as they are now, the two players that they are missing must make a quick and healthy return. Let's just hope that Chandler and Stojakovic doesn't get held up for longer because, sooner or later, their absences will be felt.
_____________________________ ___________
The Hornets are not alone at the top of the Southwest because the Houston Rockets are there to keep abreast of them.
Just like New Orleans, Houston has their share of problems. Shane Battier is still out because of injury and Tracy McGrady is still in shaky physical condition wearing shoulder and knee braces as he still has to get better from his condition in last year's playoffs. T-Mac is not having an explosive start this season judging from his numbers but the Rockets are 3-0 nonetheless thanks to Yao Ming's return and the acquisition of defensive demon Ron Artest.
Yao is back and is causing havoc lately averaging 22.3ppg and 11.3rpg thus far and Artest has been a great contributor by adding more intensity to the Rockets' defense that was discovered last season and his unquestioned offensive capabilities.
Artest, who was acquired in a trade in the last off-season, could very well be the security blanket that Houston needs. Houston is known to be an annoyingly injury prone team with their star players Yao and McGrady being the favorite targets of the bug. With Artest in the line-up, he would simply be able to step up offensively and defensively should the hex plagues the club again this season.
Rockets fans could only hope and pray that their team stays healthy all season. It's such a shame if a team as good as this does not make it to the NBA Finals one day let alone get past the first round of the playoffs.
_____________________________ _______________
To be continued...
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports
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