Saturday, February 24, 2007

Booze is back - NBA notes - 02/23/2007

Carlos Boozer came back today. Didn't play too well or for too long, but Utah didn't need him at Denver. Neither did they miss Mehmet Okur (out) or AK-47 (left the game very early with a tweaked knee). Essentially what I am saying is, Utah's B-Team punked the Nuggets at Denver. Melo had 36 and 6 assists on 12-18 shooting and AI shot 11-18 for 33 points to go with his 5 assists, but they still lost comfortably. The 2 stars are trying to be very well-behaved with the ball and still they keep losing. Chemistry is such an intangible. I can't even tell you what's wrong with them, but it's just not working out, at least not yet. It's not even that they gave up size to get AI. They have Nene and Camby starting and that should actually take care of rebounding and interior defense since Camby is also a good shot-blocker. Looks like the idea of having 2 monster scorers who both can't do anything else is not a good recipe for success. No wonder George Karl conceded the division a few days back only to back-track later. Utah is VERY, VERY good. Deron Williams is a stud. They have found their PG of the future not too long after Stockton retired. He is second only to Steve Nash as the leading assist-man in the league with 9.3. He had a 26 pt 14 assist night to show the Nuggets how it's done.

Marion had 27-14 and the Suns beat the T-Wolves to avenge the streak-breaking defeat they suffered earlier this season at Minnesota. Amare had 23-11, Barbosa had 24 and Nash had 9 with 15 assists. In other words, just another game for the Suns! Toronto and Chicago are on a roll right now. Both of them won big games today against Indiana and Washington respectively. Chris Bosh is blooming into a superstar right now and seems like a class guy too. Chicago beat Agent-0's 36 points and the Wizards. Luol Deng celebrated his non-trade with a 32 point night.

Indiana @ Toronto - 88-110
Washington @ Chicago - 90-105
Phoenix @ Minnesota - 116-104
Utah @ Denver - 114-104

Interesting games on the board for Feb 24-th (Saturday)

Denver @ Dallas - Not sure why I still think Nuggets games are interesting, but I still feel that way with Melo and AI on the same team.

Golden State @ LA Clippers - One of these 2 teams may make the playoffs in the West.

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