The Lakers visit Boston (Feb 9) and New York (Feb 10). Chicago at Boston on February 12th and the Clippers at Dallas on February 13th. All of this, in the first week after the NFL season ends? How did we get so lucky? I know that the play hasn't been what we are used to but this season has been as entertaining as ever so far. Kevin Durant hit a couple of game winners, because Durant hits game winners. Derrick Rose, the reigning MVP, picked up right where he left off and Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant. You're welcome!
Slowly creeping up on the mid-point of the season, there have been some familiar faces atop the league but also some surprises. Obviously, the Clippers are the biggest surprise. If the season started today, the Clippers would be the 2nd seed in the West and would play the Rockets in the first round. Yeah, I said it. The Clippers have a better record then the Lakers. Right now, the Lakers would be one loss from being out of the playoffs altogether being tied with Portland, Dallas and Houston at 14-11. Four teams can not occupy 3 spots. I'm not saying its time to panic. It is, after all, only mid-February. I am saying that teams can not afford to waste time watching and waiting. With this compacted 66-game season, teams need to strike now to set their teams up for a playoff run. Remember when the Spurs got hot and won the championship in 1999, another lockout shortened season. They went on to win 3 more titles and challenge the Lakers for team of that decade. Denver is still playing well having gotten the better of the Melo trade and Minnesota is starting to put a nice team around Kevin Love. Can Rubio be the answer for Minnesota? That all depends on if he can adjust his game for the NBA. They aren't championship level but the Wolves are no longer an easy win out west. Houston should be thanking the NBA for vetoing the trade that would have sent CP3 to the Lakers. Samuel Dalembert would not have signed in Houston had that trade happened. There is no way the Rockets would be above .500 with just Pau Gasol and a bunch of "whoevers". Only the teams from Golden State, New Orleans and Sacramento are not in the playoff chase out west, at the moment.
In the East, there have been surprises as well. The 76ers, Pacers and the Knicks are making a case for themselves. New York looks good on paper but the product so far this season has been lacking to say the least. The PG is the least of the Knicks issues right now. Amare and Melo still have not found a way to co-exist and Tyson Chandler's arrival doesn't seem to make it better. Harvard grad Jeremy Lin has provided a boost for the Knicks, who have won 2 straight with Lin leading them from the PG position. It is way too early to anoint Lin with the "PG of the Future" tag but he has been more effective then anyone else on that team. As for Baron Davis, his resume got him in the door but he will find out quickly that New York doesn't appreciate poor play any better then Los Angeles does. If he makes it back, then he will have to produce or he will find himself in a worse place than Cleveland. The Pacers and 76ers are looking for respect. Both teams feel they are better then they are. These teams are much improved but still not quite ready to go deep in the playoffs. Yes the 76ers have beaten the Bulls but does that mean they are championship ready? The Heat have lost twice to the Bucks, does that mean the Heat are done? The answer to both is no. The Pacers have 10 left over 15 days before the All-Star break but the first 5 games are against teams that are over .500 while the last 5 include two against the Bobcats. Its gut check time for the Pacers. Its fine to say your a contender but only the winners have shown it.
This season will be and has been filled with "head scratching" moments and great plays. Remember LeBron jumping over John Lucas III and Blake Griffen posterizing Kendrick Perkins? We will see losses that don't make sense and wins that are unexplainable. Teams have and will play multiple back-to-back games and all teams have or will play three games in three nights. As long as the injury bug stays away, the Heat and Bulls will finish at the top of the eastern conference, without a doubt. For every other team, their place is yet to be determined. There are still so many questions left that will be answered and it all will start with what Orlando does. This decision could possibly affect both the East and the West, depending on where Dwight Howard ends up. Sometime over the next 5 weeks, the shape of the 2012 Playoffs will begin to take shape. All I can say is enjoy the ride!!
D!
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