[Art]

The Kings are doing surprisingly okay without Bibby, and with Martin and Abdur-Rahim out. They could be a real threat for a low playoff spot when they get those players back, which makes me downright giddy.

[Mr. claw]

I still wish they'd one a championship back when they were amazing...the glory days. Were it not for a man named Robert Horry, they would have. Ah, well...

The 8 seed in the western conference playoffs this year will have no fun. San-Antonio or Phoenix...either way, I feel sorry for them.

Hey...kudos to Portland for being almost .500 without Odom.

[Art]

Kings won tonight. 3-2 on the road trip (WHOO!) They are up to 11-14, and they have been playing without Bibby, Martin and Abdur-Rahim. They should get Bibby and Martin back fairly soon. It will be awesome.

[Mr. claw]

Detroit dealt Boston their first home loss. It was really a sick accident at the end by a guy straight off the bench. Never foul Chauncey Billups when the game is on the line.

[wjarmusch]

Originally Posted by Mr. claw

Detroit dealt Boston their first home loss. It was really a sick accident at the end by a guy straight off the bench. Never foul Chauncey Billups when the game is on the line.

I think Detroit can beat Boston in a 7 game series. Hopefully that'll be the Eastern Confrence Finals. It should be fun.

[Mr. claw]

So....the Lakers are 18-10. They've beat Phoenix twice, and they're a game behind them for division lead.

Portland is on a 10 game winning streak. Uberly huge kudos to them for that. They're not even supposed to be in the playoff race this year.

Detroit's won 6 in a row, and only Boston has a better record now. Deeetroit....basketball, anyone?

Orlando's been struggling recently, but they're still comfortably on top of their division.

I don't know what the heck is wrong with Chicago. They just fired Scott Skiles, but their poor new coach got to play San Antonio for his first game. They got owned. Owned....

And Atlanta has won 8 of their last 10....

That's all for now.

[wjarmusch]

Originally Posted by Mr. claw

So....the Lakers are 18-10. They've beat Phoenix twice, and they're a game behind them for division lead.

Portland is on a 10 game winning streak. Uberly huge kudos to them for that. They're not even supposed to be in the playoff race this year.

Detroit's won 6 in a row, and only Boston has a better record now. Deeetroit....basketball, anyone?

Orlando's been struggling recently, but they're still comfortably on top of their division.

I don't know what the heck is wrong with Chicago. They just fired Scott Skiles, but their poor new coach got to play San Antonio for his first game. They got owned. Owned....

And Atlanta has won 8 of their last 10....

That's all for now.

Yeah, my Pistons are on fire. I'm liking it.

I'm really wondering what happened to Chicago. They were doing amazing last year, and have a ton of great young players. They just can't seem to get it together this year.

And, I told you Atlanta was going to improve...

[Oh!Gravity]

Go Suns!!!! The Suns have everything this year.

[Mr. claw]

Originally Posted by wjarmusch

I'm really wondering what happened to Chicago. They were doing amazing last year, and have a ton of great young players. They just can't seem to get it together this year.

Actually, I read a report on this, and for the last 3 years, Chicago has started off sluggish- below .500 just like they are now, and then improved steadily towards the end of the season.. This time, however, the GM got tired of it and gave Skiles the boot. But I don't know...this year they may stay sluggish. They certainly have no excuse to be.

So for now...San Antonio and Detroit are really the teams to beat. They relax all season, and hit the "turbo" switch come playoff time. 'Course, even relaxing, they stay on top of their divisions.

But both teams will have their hands chock full competition this year. Oh yes.

[Mr. claw]

Boston has returned Detroit the favor of beating them at home.

Phoenix lost to New Orleans at home...they really need to quit losing. NO is doing rather well this season, though.

Miami nearly beat Dallas....in Dallas....without Shaq or Wade. I almost cried.

[wjarmusch]

Originally Posted by Mr. claw

Boston has returned Detroit the favor of beating them at home.

Phoenix lost to New Orleans at home...they really need to quit losing. NO is doing rather well this season, though.

Miami nearly beat Dallas....in Dallas....without Shaq or Wade. I almost cried.

Well, Detroit won what...12 or 13 in a row before getting beat. I think the East will most definitely come down to Detroit & Boston...it should be fun.

[Mr. claw]

Conference leaders...
Atlantic- Boston - 30-5
Central- Detroit - 28-9
Southeast- Orlando - 23-16
------------------------------------------
Southwest- Dallas - 26-11
Northwest- Portland - 22-13
Pacific- Phoenix - 26-11

Other teams worhty of note....

LA Lakers - 24-11. They've won 9 of their last 10, and they're just 2 games back of Phoenix. No more Lakerless playoffs, I'm afraid.

Atlanta Hawks - 15-17. These guys had a pretty vicious december schedule, but I could still see them finishing above .500 and maybe even getting into the playoffs long enough for Boston to murder them.

New Orleans Hornets - 24-12. Has anyone seen them play this year? Very marked improvement over the sloppiness I was used to seeing from them.

Cleveland and New Jersey are both improving steadily after starting off rather...rough. Cleveland's problem is that they're worhtless without Lebron. 0-5 without him, I think.

Orlando is struggling, which makes me sad. They had a road trip to the western conference and I think they got beat up pretty bad.

New York needs to fire Isiah Thomas and get over it. Those guys need...I don't know....prayer meetings before each game. Long ones.

[Mr. claw]

NEW YORK WON 2 GAMES IN A ROW. Let it be ingraved in stone.

And the Lakers are the #1 team in the west.

But Bynum's out 8 weeks. Alas for the Lakers. (pfft. not really)

*I will say that Kobe Bryant, whether or not I like him, is an amazing player. The Lakers lose Bynum, and Bryant scores 24 points more than his average to ensure them their first victory without Bynum. The man has an "awesome" switch on his back, I swear. He scored the last 6 points of an overtime game against an admittedly medicore Seattle. Regardless...kudos to him.

[Art]

The Lakers are not the best team in the west, especially without Bynum. In my opinion of course.

[Mr. claw]

Oh, I was just stating the rankings.

Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio....the Lakers couldn't take any of them in a playoff series.