Notes from the Weekend- 11/20/09-11/22/09

I am going to have to work on these throughout the day as work is really busy right now so hopefully this doesn't come across completely incoherent.  Ah, whatever, it probably will....

Let's start with the Eastern Conference.  What did we learn this weekend?

Atlanta is kinda hot right now, but they are beatable.  It looked like they ran into a wall Saturday against New Orleans who seem to be benefiting from the shake up, at least in the short term.  Collison is playing out of his mind which is really cool to see.  Still, this game lands more on the side of "Atlanta-let-down" then "New-Orleans-break-out."  After that wow finish against Houston, Atlanta just ran out of gas going 4-22 from 3 and shooting 37% overall.  4-22.  Yeah, that's not going to cut it.

Orlando had a good weekend in the W column but I am issuing a Tropical Storm Warning over the Orlando area.  Since we are out of official Hurricane season, let's come up with a random name for this storm.  How about.... Tropical Storm Vince.

If you pull up the box score for Friday night's game in Boston, one thing is very clear- it was an ugly game.  And that is on both sides.  Orlando should get credit for winning in a tough environment but if you watched the last quarter of this game, the entire Orlando offense was motionless as Vince Carter continually just gyrated around with his back to the basket.  Sure, he made some incredibly difficult shots, but I need to remind you he took incredibly difficult shots.  What made last year's Magic squad so difficult to beat was the Hedo got the ball at the end of the games and he worked from the top of the key.  He would look for guys off screens, draw defenders for open players, and kick the ball to guards who would be able to find Howard at angles on the post.  Vince.... he shoots.  26 points but that came on 29 shots.  29 shots... 29 shots.  When you have Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard on your team, there is never a good explanation for 29 shots unless you are this guy.  If you had to take a guess at how many assists he had during that fourth quarter, what would you say?  Yes, zero is right.  Couple that with 2 turnovers and you had a guy who hijacked the offense in the end game and really only got credit because Boston self-destructed.

Vince shoots 29 shots in Boston to steal a win from Boston in November.  Everyone is down with that.  Vince shoots 29 shots in April against anybody after shooting 29 shots many games this year.  I don't care if you win or lose, the team is going to be dejected; especially the core.  Orlando, right now, is only going as far as the goodwill for Vince and something tells me Orlando has given Vince just enough rope to hang himself...

Still, concerning Orlando, we kind of set a challenge for them when they fell to Cleveland 2 weeks ago and that challenge extends through this Thursday when they head to Atlanta.  In this stretch they have/will have played the five best teams in the East (excluding themselves).  After the loss to Cleveland, they have beaten the Nets (yawn), eeked out a win against the Bobcats (pass), handled the Thunder (good), won a stinker against Boston (now we are on track), won in Toronto (momentum).... the big challenges remaining.  Miami and Atlanta.  Let's just say that all Tropical Storm warnings aside, the Magic are doing their job.

Concerning Vince... the guy has ridiculous skills.  He has the body and athleticism to score on/against anyone at any time.  Maybe 3 other guys in the league have that.  But what makes Vince so different is he is so accepting of whatever effort he himself gives.  If he shoots 20% of 50%, to him, its only a matter of the shots not falling.  Changing his game, getting other guys involved, going harder to get to the line, working harder, forcing mistakes from the defensive end..... I just don't see it happening.  And this is where the Magic are gonna wear thin.  To work your butts off as this team truly does only to see a "leader" dogging it will zap morale and lead to finger-pointing.

Boston- do we say it?  Should we?  Ok, let's say it.... "What do you have to say now 'Sheed?"

I get it.  Boston is fun to love.  They are good for the league.  'Nothing like seeing those colors on the court' blah blah.  Can we focus on the facts?  They allowed 29 guns Carter to beat them on their own floor and then almost coughed up a hair-ball against those guys wearing Knicks uniforms before Captain Pierce saved the day.  Yeah, I am glad to hear Doc Rivers listens to his players and Pierce is a competitor, and Kevin Garnett would eat a baby if it were in the way of a victory but listen up, Boston is flawed!   They will hit a stride and win 60 games but they are not raising banners because

1. They are a year older and free agency made them even older

2. Garnett is not fully healthy and probably will not be for the rest of his career.   His knees are pretty much hanging it up.

3. Rondo doesn't have the same pressure to prove his worth
4. Brian Scalabrine is playing meaningful minutes
5. Eddie House's family has a reality tv show

Ok, maybe not the last one but all-in-all, there are issues with this Boston roster.  So, Boston is flawed, Orlando is philosophically flawed, and Atlanta is great but a wee-bit inconsistent in the long-term and in need of another quality big so where does that leave us?

Yeah, Cleveland is once again the team to beat in the East.  Ho hum.

Speaking more on Orlando, Dwight Howard is probably on everyone's short list for best big man.  Other names that you would fire off would be Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, Andrew Bynum, Amare.... My only question is where does Chris Bosh fit in?  At 27 ppg and 12 rpg, Bosh has the statistical resume to match and beat any of these guys mentioned.  I think you can safely say he outplayed Dwight despite the loss on Saturday.  Mind you, he does all of this on an under-sized roster that depends on him for board-work because Bargani is not a rebounder.  Translation: Bosh works his butt off nightly and deserves more credit.

Oh yeah, and Carter took 24 shots in this game.  Its coming....

Granger got worked by LeBron to the tune of 40.   Granger is still second tier on the superstar list but what about on the 3 Point Chuck List!!!  95 3s at the clip of 8.6 a game.
Seriously though, LeBron took it to him.  Doesn't it seem like LeBron is taking a lot of things personally this year?

Moving to the West:

Sacramento is spirited and willing.  That's good for volunteers, though, not NBA squads.  Sorry guys but keep up the work.

Portland played the Jekyll/Hyde bit to perfection this weekend leaving me with no clarity on this team except that I like to watch them and they have great players and I hope they make lots of baskets.

If you are playing the Lakers in the next 2 weeks... watch out.  I am just saying.

Finally, this is a must read on Dirk.  I really, really enjoyed it and am in the process of really assessing how I feel about this lovably 7-footer.
http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2009/December/Dirk_Nowitzki_Is_Saving_Dallas_Basketball_One_Shot_at_a_Time.aspx

Happy ball.