july said:

july said:

As much as it pissed me off everytime I saw the "Utah" Jazz (worst geographical referenced team name EVER!!), I couldn't stop watching and loving the NBA....

.. Utah Jazz....as if!!!

I prefer the CBA

MuthaFunka said:

I had a good day today, watching us take care of the Hornets.

Portland showed some grit after sleeping through the first three quarters. Utah is seriously undermanned and in serious need of some defensive stoppers.

Now T-Mac has a gimpy knee again. Damn, that cat has bad luck!

Updated Power Rankings:

1. L.A. Lakers- Other than the Detroit loss, the Lakers have looked dominant. They have a chance to make a serious run at 70 wins.

2. Cleveland- LeBron James has to be a leading candidate for MVP this year. He is willing his team to victories left and right.

3. Boston- The defending champs have opened up with a solid 9-2 record, but their wins don't seem to be as convincing as last year.

4. Phoenix- Shaq has turned the clock back this year, and the decision to not play him on back-to-backs seems to be paying off as Phoenix's depth seems equipped to handle it.

5. Detroit- The jury is still out on the AI trade. They have had some great wins (Lakers) and some puzzling losses since.

6. Orlando- They have nicely erased the memory of the bad start to their season and sit atop the Southeast.

7. Atlanta- They have come back to earth a bit since opening the season 6-0, but when Josh Smith returns, I expect them to stay strong.

8. Utah- After a disastrous road trip (1-4), Utah turns around and easily handles Phoenix at home. Having Kirilenko back surely helped. It is difficult to get a measure on this team, as they have been without Kirilenko, Okur and Williams for a number of games this year.

9. New Orleans- Chris Paul has played quite well, but he hasn't gotten the support he had last year to propel the Hornets to their gaudy record.

10. Houston- This team has many deadly weapons. The question still remains whether they can gel into a cohesive (and healthy) unit. If so, they could be a serious contender.

11. Denver- They have picked up steam since the trade for Billups, and he brings a much-needed defensive acumen and leadership ability to the motley crew in Denver.

12. Philadelphia- They are finally starting to put together the kind of performances expected of them.

13. Toronto- Another team that is hard to read at this point. Chris Bosh is playing very well, but Jermaine O'Neal still has a tendency to shrink under pressure.

14. Portland- They've survived a very tough opening schedule and stand with a respectable 6-4 record. Greg Oden is really turning a corner, and it couldn't come at a better time. 16 of their first 24 games are on the road. If they can stay at .600 or better over those 24 games, they will be a force in the West.

15. Chicago- They are starting to turn it on after a lackluster start to the season. Still, who is their leader? Rose? Deng? Gordon?

16. Miami- Beasley has had to pick up some of the slack for a slumping Marion. They have the look of a .500 team.

17. Indiana- They are performing better than expected, with an impressive victory over the Celtics to boot. If they can stay consistent, they have a great chance at making the playoffs.

18. New York- Well, they sure are fun to watch! I'm still not sold on them in spite of their 6-4 record, as most of those wins have come against poor opposition. Still, it is a vast improvement over last year, and Zach Randolph is adjusting well to D'Antoni's system.

19. Milwaukee- Redd and Jefferson form a nice duo, but you have to wonder when the bottom will fall out from under this team.

20. San Antonio- They are eking out wins at this point, but these wins are very valuable. In order to keep pace, they need every win they can get while Manu and Tony are sidelined with injuries.

21. New Jersey- Devin Harris is keeping them afloat for now, but it is hard to envision him keeping up this pace all year.

22. Dallas- That win in New York may have saved their season. The aging Mavs need to get some heart and they need Josh Howard back.

23. Charlotte- Doesn't this team just reek of 30 wins?

24. Golden State- While Monta is away, they are struggling. I don't think they'll be able to keep up in the West.

25. Sacramento- Salmons, Martin and an enthused Hawes have helped them revive a little after starting 0-4.

26. Memphis- OJ Mayo is a phenom, and Marc Gasol is also a big plus, but this team will struggle to compete over the long haul.

27. Washington- Another year, another poor start by the Wizards. This time, though, it seems like the East isn't so weak, and they'll have a lot of work to climb into playoff contention.

28. Minnesota- Their youth is showing in their 4th quarter collapses. They've got a nice young core, but they need to mature.

29. Oklahoma City- Is their poor start punishment for Clay Bennett's douchebaggery?

30. L.A. Clippers- Some touted this team as a playoff contender before the season. Yikes.

Moonbeam said:

They're not fun to watch for me - they're too small and play no defense. They'll be lucky to get 30 wins.

I should've known.

Wonder if Horford's going to be out.

Tough loss the Blazers had to the Warriors on the road. LaMarcus, it's time to step it up!

uPtoWnNY said:

Well, it beats last year, doesn't it?! The Knicks didn't exactly play defense last year, and bringing in D'Antoni as coach shows that they don't really value it, either.

Moonbeam said:

Which means they won't do sh!t even when they get better players. How do you go far in the playoffs? Defense & rebounding.

uPtoWnNY said:

Well... Phoenix did have some playoff success under D'Antoni, although they had a much better roster.

The Knicks aren't in a position to compete this year, and I don't think they'll advance in the playoffs even if they make it. However, they are in better shape than they were over the past 2 seasons.

Utah was up by 20 in the 2nd quarter and now trails by 2 at the half! How the heck does that happen?

Portland just absolutely humiliated the Bulls by 42 points!

And Utah pulled out the win, too!

Moonbeam said:

Well, that's a given. Knicks aren't going to compete until they get under the cap in 2010.

Utah

Portland

MuthaFunka said:

Thanks. It's been painfull since the OKC owners traded our beloved Ray Allen.




The out of state owners riped our team and the heart out of Seattle Basketball.
I'm mad local ownership were naive enough to sell the team OKC owners who gave nothing but a fingers crossed promise.
It's gonna take a while. But it's always gonna be. Until the NBA does right and gets a new team up here. I'm pissed. I'm distraught.

july said:

I can dig it. I felt the same when the Raiders left L.A. But here's some good news for ya - They JUST fired PJ.

I thought only girls played netball

MuthaFunka said:

They need to fire the owners. Sell the team back to Seattle. Not gonna happen. Ray Allen already won a ring in Boston.
Nothing is good for that team. The logo, the team colors, the new name. It's all doomed by bad faith. The karma is so bad.

MuthaFunka said:

That's different. The Raiders are back where they belong (although I wouldn't mind lettin' y'all borrow them until Al's gone ).

whodknee said:

Touche'.

Thank you, Donnie Walsh for doing what Knick management should have done years ago. Get rid of Isiah's ridiculous contracts, get us under the cap, and make a play for one of the big free agants in 2010(LeBron, Bosh or Wade).

uPtoWnNY said:

My son was devastated that they traded Jamal Crawford....his fave Knick...has his jersey...which continues our run of luck with buying jerseys...in order, we have the following jerseys of players that are now on different teams...

Pennington (Jets), Iverson (Denver), Billups (Detroit), Crawford (N.Y.), Ramirez (L.A.)...and it possible that we'll be mothballing Deuce McCallister's jersey as well....

Get ready for LeBron's Knick jersey in 2010.

Two coaches already lost their jobs - PJ Carlesimo and Eddie Jordan.

Updated Power Rankings:

1. L.A. Lakers
2. Boston
3. Cleveland
4. Orlando
5. Phoenix
6. Denver
7. Houston
8. New Orleans
9. Portland
10. Utah
11. Atlanta
12. Detroit
13. San Antonio
14. Dallas
15. Miami
16. Philadelphia
17. Indiana
18. Toronto
19. Chicago
20. New Jersey
21. Milwaukee
22. New York
23. Golden State
24. Charlotte
25. Sacramento
26. Minnesota
27. Memphis
28. L.A. Clippers
29. Washington
30. Oklahoma City

Portland has looked downright scary at time this year! A 38-point blowout of the Heat is niiiice!

And Utah couldn't get Deron Williams back fast enough.

Updated Power Rankings:

1. L.A. Lakers
2. Cleveland
3. Boston
4. Portland
5. Orlando
6. Denver
7. Houston
8. New Orleans
9. Utah
10. Phoenix
11. Dallas
12. San Antonio
13. Detroit
14. Atlanta
15. New Jersey
16. Toronto
17. Miami
18. Chicago
19. Indiana
20. Philadelphia
21. New York
22. Milwaukee
23. Charlotte
24. Minnesota
25. Golden State
26. Sacramento
27. L.A. Clippers
28. Washington
29. Memphis
30. Oklahoma City

Moonbeam said:

The Blazers are at the Garden tonight. Looking forward to seeing Oden and the boyz.
[Edited 12/2/08 14:34pm]