NBA so far

Mark · 12-18-2002, 09:42 PM

Ok, enough with the football talk. Let's discuss basketball for a minute. Anyone surprised so far with the NBA season.

Mavs hot start, will they be a playoff contender? (no opinions from art, please

)

Are the Lakers destined to not make the playoffs?

Is Yao Ming for real?

Who's the MVP so far?

Coach of the year?

Rook of the year?

Most surprisng team/player?

sound off!

.torrin. · 12-18-2002, 09:49 PM

Are the Lakers destined to not make the playoffs?

yep, but they will not win the championship. When you've got two of the top 3 players in the leauge (in their respective positions) and you STILL can't win, you aren't doing nothing. And it's about time too

Is Yao Ming for real?

it appears so. I'm quite shocked though, i didn't think he'd be a factor at all. Did you catch that sweet pass a couple weeks ago to Steve Francis? That's incredible

Who's the MVP so far?

tough call. I'm going with Jason Kidd. He's the best PG in the game, to bad they can't beat the Knicks, even with 39 and 11 from J Kidd! Now i love the Knicks, always have, but come on Nets.

Coach of the year?

Isiah Thomas. Unlike the Cavs, the Pacers are a team with lots of youth that can be a contender. I've always been a huge Thomas fan

Rook of the year?

Yao Ming

Most surprisng team/player?

Again, Yao Ming and the Rockets. They look really good

I'm a huge Mavs fan, so i'm pulling for them to go all the way. And it looks like they will, but if they can't beat the Lakers, then forget it.

***Art*** · 12-19-2002, 12:35 AM

So sorry, Mark, this is my forum now, and I am compelled to reply

Two teams in each conference have really established themselves as the top in each conference: The Mavs and Kings in the West, and the Pacers and Nets in the East. The Kings have impressed even me, with their tenacity through injury, while the Mavs have not only leapfrogged the Lakers, but also established themselves as more than just offense. (Still, I have much dislike for Shawn Bradley) The Pacers have some amazing young talent, and are extremely capable. The Nets... well, they are just good.

Mavs look like a sure bet to play in the Western Conference Finals, but it is REALLY early in the season still. My guess would be that the Mavs would knock the Lakers off in round two.

The Lakers... I just have to laugh

Yao... he's better than I thought, and he is learning fast... And yeah, I saw that pass. It was against my kings.

MVP so far... In my opinion, the options are Nash from Dallas, Kidd from NJ, and Webber and Jackson from Sac. If I had to vote right now, I'd go with Nash, though Webber is not far behind in my mind... After all, he was last week's player of the week. He's really stepped up.

Coach... I think Isaiah is overrated. He should have done SO much better with this same team last year, and his excuses were lame. I'll say... Hmmm... Pat Riley, for flaming the refs

Yao Ming seems to be running away with the rookie honors.

Most surprising player: Yao, probably... Jim Jackson and Bobby Jackson have been surprising for the Kings, Bradley for the Mavs, Howard for the Nuggets (surprisingly bad). Teams, The Pacers and Mavs for me. The Sonics were early.

Mark · 12-19-2002, 08:05 AM

Yeah, i think that the Kings and Mavs have established themselves as the top teams in the west, with the Spurs and lakers (if they pull it together) at the next tier. The problem with the Lakers is not so much Shaq and Kobe, but the role guys, they need to step it up. Added to that, Batman and Robin aren't playing well anyway.

Yao has pretty much shown he's the only true center out there with low block skills other than Shaq. Its to nice to get to watch yao because the Low Post players are a dying breed. He VERY much reminds me of Hakeem Olajuwon, with his smoothness and his ability to stay cool. He has such talent that, IMO i think by the end of his career he will be known as one of the best centers of all time.

.torrin. · 12-19-2002, 09:00 AM

i completely forgot about Nash for MVP. He's having a great year. I love how he does those insane layups. Like he runs 40 MPH at the hoop and just flips it up. That's hilarious.

Bobby Jackson is having a great year. He's definatly my vote so far the Most Improved player.

***Art*** · 12-19-2002, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by XsplitbAckX
Bobby Jackson is having a great year. He's definatly my vote so far the Most Improved player.

Funny that you say that... Bobby was most improved 2 or 3 years ago... then he was the runner up for sixth man. He's stepped up every year, and I think it's great. ESPN recently ranked him as the #5 PG right now... I'd put him at #3, behind Kidd and Nash. Of course, Bibby is making his season debut tonight, so I'm excited for that. They are finally getting healthy!!!! But yeah, anyhow, Bobby is playing way above where he used to.

Here's an injustice... Bobby's name is not on the All Star Ballot, but Kings 7th man, Hedo Turkoglu is.

Mark · 12-19-2002, 03:50 PM

Bobby is quite talented, but I would not rank him in the top 5, because his assist numbers are pretty bad (4 as of right now). To be a perrenial PG you have to be able to distribute the ball better. He does do a great job with shooting, but I'd rank him well below the top PG's.

Kidd
Nash
Payton
Miller
Stockton
Baron Davis
Jason Terry
Nick Van Exel
Bobby

add Bibby to the top 3-4 when he gets healthy

RogueWarrior · 12-19-2002, 11:16 PM

Mark, I know your a big Mavs fan and all..........but 2 of the top 8 PGs playing on the Mavs? Hey, I like Van Exel as much as the next guy, but if he was that good he should be starting somewhere.

RogueWarrior · 12-19-2002, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkO
Ok, enough with the football talk.

That is insane Mark. I know you're from Texas, so saying that is almost sacrilege. But anyway, the college bowl season is upon us and the NFL is winding down, getting the playoffs set, so we can talk as much basketball as you want come Feb.

Zooropa · 12-20-2002, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkO
Are the Lakers destined to not make the playoffs?

"And with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select LaBron James......"

RogueWarrior · 12-20-2002, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zooropa
"And with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select LaBron James......"

A bit of wishful thinking I suppose.

Zooropa · 12-20-2002, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RogueWarrior
A bit of wishful thinking I suppose.

Nah, I'm not a Lakers fan. But it would be something if it happened.

Mark · 12-20-2002, 08:17 AM

Mike, yes, i think that if you talked to the people around the league that they would agree that Nick Van Exel would be starting on about 18 other teams if he so wanted. But, he is winning with the Mavs, while still putting up good numbers, and so he is happy for now. If you look around the league, other than those guys i mentioned in my post above, the point guard position is pretty depleted. You are left with guys like Chucky Atkins, Rod Strickland, Sam Cassel, Troy Hudson, Alvin Williams, Darrell Armstrong, and other such minor PG's. Certainly Nick deserves to be among at LEAST the top 15, and in my book, the top 10.

RogueWarrior · 12-20-2002, 08:46 AM

I'm not up on the NBA as much as other sports, but doesn't Stevie Franchise play some point in Houston? And how about that Parker kid in San Antonio? Parker is probably a little rough right now, but I think most NBA teams would take him over Van Exel and you've gotta have Francis rated above him. I don't know if he's a full time PG, but I'm pretty sure he plays there some.

Don't get me wrong, if it were my team I'd love to have Van Exel as he's a good player, I just think you are rating him a little high. But that's what makes sports great, ain't it. Everybody's got their own opinion.

Mark · 12-20-2002, 09:54 AM

First, Francis is an awesome player, but is listed as a SG. He might play some point here and there, but he is a scorer.

I have to disagree with you about the Parker guy in San Antonio. While, like you mentioned, he IS rough, I would not take him above Van Exel. Many people have forgotten how great he was just last year in Denver. Just last year in Denver, he averaged 18 points and 8 assists a game, and he is still capable of taking over a team. The Knicks have been interested in Van Exel for a long time, but the Mavs have not been interested in any of their players. Sure there are some young guys like Jay Williams and Tinsley and Parker, but most teams with a winning record would take NVE over those guys.