Since Christmas
We’re 10 days into the NBA season so it’s about that time where I usually mention that the Warriors would be better off tanking to get a good draft pick instead of being a middle of the pack team with no direction and no hope for ever becoming a contender. This is also about the time where I mention that the Warriors first round pick looks like the third or fourth guy off the bench at best (because the pick is never high enough to yield a star). But I’m not going to mention those things because we already knew them. Instead, I’m going to list all the things I’ve learned about the NBA since Christmas Day with some random thoughts mixed in.
- Maybe there is an underlying issue between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but I just don’t think so. Everybody keeps waiting for the Avon Barksdale/Stringer Bell balcony scene to happen between them, but I just don’t see it happening. When I was in high school, I shot a 3 on the last possession. I missed and we ended up losing the game. In the locker room after the game, my teammate was fuming. He thought he was open and I didn’t see him. I have that Corey Maggette tunnel vision, apparently. Anyway, in the locker room, words were exchanged and F-bombs were dropped. But my teammate wasn’t just a teammate. He was a childhood friend. We grew up together. We learned how to play basketball together. The point is, we were and still are good friends and he still went off on me when I didn’t find him for an open look with the game on the line. In the heat of battle, things happen.
- I’m glad everybody is finally on the James Harden bandwagon. Like I’ve been saying since early last season, he’s the next Manu Ginobili. I wouldn’t shocked in the slightest if he becomes better than prime-Ginobili either.
- Best one-liner of the season: “[Jamal Crawford] would shoot at a funeral.” I’d also like to add Jordan Crawford and Michael Beasley to that list.
- Quickest way to find out that the Clippers to win the Pacific Division bet (+155) that Grant and I have is not as good as we thought: Bulls -2 @ Clippers on a back-to-back.
- If you had the Under 7.5 days before a DeMarcus Cousins blowup/trade demand, cash that ticket at the next available window. The next Kings prop bet: Which will happen first: DeMarcus Cousins gets kicked out of practice (-1000), Cousins gets suspended (-500), Jimmer gets caught with a hooker (+5500), Cousins goes an entire game without doing a reverse layup, falling on the floor, and then complaining to the ref for not bailing him out – in that order (+6000)
- Deron Williams is leaving New Jersey for Dallas this summer. Look at the other four guys that started for New Jersey on Monday: Sundiata Gaines, Damion James, Shelden Williams, and Mehmet Okur. As Hawk Harrelson would say, “He gone!”
- When Antawn Jamison was a rookie, I couldn’t stand PJ Carleisimo. Why was he playing aging veterans like Donyell Marshall, Terry Cummings, and Jason Caffey over Jamison when they were just going to lose anyway? That’s how I feel when I watch Luke Ridnour start ahead of Ricky Rubio. I just want to watch Rubio play 35 minutes a night because we’re only 10 days into the season and we already know he has that passing gene.
- That boy, Kevin Durant? He’s kinda good. But for everybody that is saying he is better than LeBron James because he has that clutch gene and LeBron doesn’t, stop. Just stop. Nobody likes Kevin Durant more than I do, but people are forgetting the countless shots KD missed in late-game situations all last season. People are forgetting all those times he failed to get open in the playoffs, leaving Russell Westbrook on an island with the shot clock running down. At the same time, everybody is so quick to forget LeBron’s game-winner against Orlando in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, his dominant Game 5 against Detroit, etc. Until Kevin Durant can become a lock-down defender like LeBron (e.g. 2011 Eastern Conference Finals) and make plays for his teammates, LeBron James will be a better basketball player. Edit: The Blazers just cleared it out and let Gerald Wallace go iso on Durant for four straight possessions down the stretch.
- Something needs to happen with Utah’s frontline. In the past year, they’ve traded for Derrick Favors and drafted Enes Kanter. However, they’re behind the Jazz’ two best players, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, on the depth chart.
- I never thought I would say it, but the Warriors need another offensive weapon. Losing Dorell Wright in the offseason hurt.
- Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league that can go 6-for-28 from the field, say, “I do what I do,” and everybody just nods their head.
- No surprise, Kendrick Perkins just got into a little scuffle with LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace. Yep, the NBA season is back.
