Christmas defines the holiday season and on the sports calendar, it also signifies the unofficial start of the NBA season. People start caring about the NBA starting with the Christmas day games on network TV. Actually, given NFL's popularity these days, it's more like the NBA gets some momentary attention on Christmas day, but sports fans still don't really care about it - or anything else for that matter, until the Super Bowl is over. It has gotten to a point where Nuggets coach George Karl actually suggested NBA should permanently open on Christmas day like they did after the lockout in 2011. That will never happen, but we did get our filling of 5 games on ESPN and ABC on Christmas day. The Lakers seemed to be energized by Steve Nash's return and won their fifth straight against a tough Knicks team but they lost again on boxing day. This team is still in a flux. There is widespread belief that they will right the ship and be there at the end, but experts are also coming around to agreeing this Lakers team may not be a contender after all and they are probably staring at a first round exit. I think the ceiling for this team might be the second round or may be the Western conference finals if they get lucky, but nothing more.
The real story in the league is LA's other team. The LA Clippers have won 15 straight and have the best record in the league. It's truly the bizarro world in the NBA this season with not only the Clippers but also the Golden State Warriors in the top 5 in the Western conference. Whats happening to this world? Actually, both these teams are for real and legit. The Warriors have a great collection of young talent in Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and Festus Ezeli to go with their potential All-stars in Steph Curry and David Lee. They have good chemistry, great shooting, and David Lee's activity and smarts keeps the painted area friendly and hospitable. The Clippers on the other hand have totally taken the next step from last season when they gained legitimacy with the Chris Paul trade. They lost a lot of their depth in the trade for him, but they have built their bench back up in less than a year. Now they have Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Eric Bledsoe, Grant Hill, and Chauncey Billups with some of those guys still not even back from injuries. I don't consider them to be contenders or better than the Thunder, but they should be in the final 4 in the West, which basically means the final 5 in the entire league counting the Heat.
With Nash aging and balling with the enemy in Laker-land, Chris Paul might be my favorite player in the NBA right now. This guy has an amazing attitude and phenomenal leadership credentials to go with a superstar game and is fun to watch when he is running with those athletes he has on his roster. CP3 is the best PG in the league right now. He is always connected to Deron Williams because of their draft class, but Deron seems to be getting more recognition for being a coach-killer than for being a point guard as the Nets fired their coach Avery Johnson today after their slump in December. I was expecting the Nets to be a force this year, but it looks like the East will still be a playground for the Heat and the Bulls, once Derrick Rose is back. The other team I am wishing well is the Houston Rockets. I like both James Harden and Jeremy Lin. Harden is having a great season and Lin seems to be turning it around lately. Thats a fun team to watch and I hope to see them giving some contenders a lot of trouble in the playoffs. NBA is always fun. It would be even better if my Phoenix Suns are winning, but we will be entertained by the NBA this year anyways.
The real story in the league is LA's other team. The LA Clippers have won 15 straight and have the best record in the league. It's truly the bizarro world in the NBA this season with not only the Clippers but also the Golden State Warriors in the top 5 in the Western conference. Whats happening to this world? Actually, both these teams are for real and legit. The Warriors have a great collection of young talent in Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and Festus Ezeli to go with their potential All-stars in Steph Curry and David Lee. They have good chemistry, great shooting, and David Lee's activity and smarts keeps the painted area friendly and hospitable. The Clippers on the other hand have totally taken the next step from last season when they gained legitimacy with the Chris Paul trade. They lost a lot of their depth in the trade for him, but they have built their bench back up in less than a year. Now they have Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Eric Bledsoe, Grant Hill, and Chauncey Billups with some of those guys still not even back from injuries. I don't consider them to be contenders or better than the Thunder, but they should be in the final 4 in the West, which basically means the final 5 in the entire league counting the Heat.
With Nash aging and balling with the enemy in Laker-land, Chris Paul might be my favorite player in the NBA right now. This guy has an amazing attitude and phenomenal leadership credentials to go with a superstar game and is fun to watch when he is running with those athletes he has on his roster. CP3 is the best PG in the league right now. He is always connected to Deron Williams because of their draft class, but Deron seems to be getting more recognition for being a coach-killer than for being a point guard as the Nets fired their coach Avery Johnson today after their slump in December. I was expecting the Nets to be a force this year, but it looks like the East will still be a playground for the Heat and the Bulls, once Derrick Rose is back. The other team I am wishing well is the Houston Rockets. I like both James Harden and Jeremy Lin. Harden is having a great season and Lin seems to be turning it around lately. Thats a fun team to watch and I hope to see them giving some contenders a lot of trouble in the playoffs. NBA is always fun. It would be even better if my Phoenix Suns are winning, but we will be entertained by the NBA this year anyways.
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