It's time for Round Three of my News, Notes & Observations.
1) The best is yet to come...
The season has 19 days left and a plethora of exciting games left, starting with tonight's game between the Mavs and Nuggets in Denver. The Mavs currently lead the Nuggets by two games in the playoff race.
Since the teams have split their first two games this season, the Mavs can go a long way towards securing a playoff spot with a victory tonight. A win would not only give the Mavs a three-game lead over the Nuggets, but by winning the season series, they would clinch the tie-breaker, making their lead a virtual four games.
If both the Mavs lose and the Warriors beat the Blazers tonight, then the Mavs and Warriors would be tied in the loss column for the 7th and 8th seed.
2) The Suns are playing much better but...
The Suns have won 7 out of their last 10 games and are now 10-8 since Shaq's arrival. Even though the team has had impressive home victories against the Celtics, Spurs, Warriors and Rockets they have yet to beat a team contending for a playoff spot on the road with Shaq. They are 0-4 against New Orleans, Denver, Detroit and Boston. Their only road victories have come against Portland, Memphis and Seattle.
The Suns play their next two games Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia and New Jersey, respectively. A win against the Sixers would be a good start since they still have road games left against Denver, San Antonio and Houston.
If they can't win more than one of the four against Denver, San Antonio, Houston and Philadelphia then I'm not convinced the Suns will get out of the first-round without home-court advantage.
3) I warned you, Laker fans...
Back in January I wrote an article about three non-playoff teams that would play a part in the playoff race: Sacramento, Atlanta and Charlotte. Well, the Lakers lost at home to the Kings on March 9th and lost to the Bobcats at home last night.
The schedule-makers did them a huge favor by giving them such a home-heavy schedule to end the season. They seem to be doing their best to mess it up. You can use injuries as an excuse for losing to the Warriors at home but you can't do it to justify losses to the Kings and Bobcats.
4) Tanking season is in full swing...
First it was Dwyane Wade. Now it looks like Shawn Marion is pretending that back spasms are keeping him out of action. Even Brandon Roy appears to be done for the year. Chris Wilcox is missing games with a pinkie sprain.
Have these teams learned nothing from the Celtics and Wolves? The Basketball Gods are not very fond of tanking. The Clippers are the only team that appears to be shooting for karma points. Elton Brand is hoping to play in the team's last five games.
5) The Grizzlies are targeting Larry Brown...
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
Marion is clearly tanking, and I would love to see Larry Brown in Memphis. And to Shaq, please shut your mouth. Shaq has to be one of the biggest babies in basketball.
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Chad Ridgeway about 1 year ago
Amare deserves the MVP over Garnett because KG doesn't play defense... LOL LOL LOL
And you're darn right about the Lakers and Warriors. I'm not worred about that team at all. AT ALL. That may sound crazy considering how helter-skelter the Warriors play, how the upset the Mavs last year, and took the Lakers to the limit this passed weekend (twice), but...
We dominated them with our size. And our size was Ronny Turiaf and Lamar Odom. There's a reason LO had two career rebounding nights back-to-back. When Bynum and Pau get back we will eat their lunch. I'd love to meet them in the first round.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
"Amare deserves the MVP over Garnett because KG doesn't play defense..."
Facepalm.
Probably the dumbest thing a basketball player has said all season long.
I don't think Roy is tanking as his injury isn't something fluky. The Sonics defense packed it in a long time ago. As for the Heat, I'm, not even sure to qualify them as tanking because they've been so bad this year. At full strength they were abysmal. Let their veterans sit out the rest of the year. Unlike up-and-coming teams, they have absolutely nothing to play for and need an offseason to cleanse themselves.
Chris Bosh calling his teammates soft should have been done a long time ago. Of course a team predicated on finesse jump shooting and no defense is going to be soft. Even Bosh himself is soft, relying on fadeaway jumpers instead of banging in the post. The only other tough players on that team are Anthony Parker and Rasho Nesterovic. And Bargnani may be the softest player in the NBA.
The Lakers interior defense sure looks strong closing out the year. In fairness, Gasol and Bynum are out, but the Lakers still don't have an elite defense and Kobe has struggled against the premier defenders in the league. They're still very strong, but they aren't the lock some people want them to be.
As it is you're exactly right about Dikembe and your first statement. The best IS yet to come!!!
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Steve Resnick about 1 year ago
You can mail me that tissue. I would welcome Shaq as team owner as I know he's a winner and all he wants is to win more championchips. Also, he was just a dumb kid when he left here in search of greater stardom in LA. However, I will go into a depression if he would hire Grant Hill. Grant was a great player...in Detroit. Then he came here to rehab and when he was finally healthy, what did he do? Went out west and signed with Phoenix. Disgusting. At least Shaq can blame immaturity on his depature...all GHill has to blame is stupidity.
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Matt Homdis about 1 year ago
Grant Hill is one of the most respected players the NBA has ever seen! He could have retired a few years ago, but stuck it out and is back to being a threat...
Stupid? Last time i checked he graduated from Duke...
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
Shaq is a supreme competetor in the money season when the games count, but he's never brought his all when a season was going downhill. With all Miami (and the NBA) has done for him, it's embarrassing to hear him dissing Miami on his way out. I have no problems with him asking for a way out of his hopeless season in Miami, but trashing them on the way out is disgusting.
As for Hill, he suffered serious injury, after serious injury, after serious injury. He suffered the kinds of injuries players retire from, yet he kept coming back and tried to play. He always suffered criticism from Magic fans for being some kind of spoiled brat, which he isn't. He never blamed anyone else, he always took the injuries in stride, and when he was healthy last year, he was a key piece in Orlando's playoff run.
He looked at Phoenix as an opportunity to get a fresh start on a successful team. He's playing for a team with a legitimate chance of winning a title, while Orlando is still a point guard and a power forward away.
I know you're bitter, but trashing Hill is uncalled for.
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Matt Bosley about 1 year ago
Mutombo should be admired if only for the way he continues to play great basketball at an age by which most NBA players expect to be retired.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
lol, Mutombo should be admired if only for the way he continues to play great basketball at an age by which most human beings are dead.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
1. Marion is definitely tanking - he barely missed a day at the office as a Sun.
2. Steve, that Hill comment - pure evil. Agree with Matt - most respected guy playing today with nothing but class. You must have been the guy who rudely and classlessly called him out during the national anthem when he came home this season. Stupid? I would never call someone stupid who knows when to cut and run. Look at both scenarios now -- Orlando hasn't played this well in years and Hill has a new life as a real player in the NBA and gets to go out with hope. Who got screwed in this deal? I see no victims. Blame your front office for signing him up for so long at $90 million plus when they knew he had a bum ankle.
3. Shaq. Big man....big mouth. Is this news to anyone?
4. Chris Bosh - come West young man, please come West!
5. Lakers - Warriors match up - I'd watch every minute of every game. I see it going 7. Davis wouldn't go out that easy. Lakers are hurt with almost no time left to put it all back together, which it never has been together with all the current player pieces this year. Probably won't take as much time as Kidd/Mavs or Shaq/Suns, but time it will take. Tic toc, tic toc....................................
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
Good comments, anon, good comments.
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