Brutalis
11-29-2005, 06:27 PM
I look at the standings I see Dallas now as our only real threat in the West. Not that there isn't a couple good teams that could pose some challenge.
Over the last several seasons it has been the Western Conference dominating the league. At one time on different occassions, 4 sometimes 5 teams in the West were scary. Being Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio, Dallas, Sacramento and Portland, and even Minnesota would make runs. Well, maybe not Minnesota.
So in 2005, and almost 2006, the power has shifted to the East it seems. Now, only Dallas and San Antonio appear to be left from the West. With teams like Denver, and Phoenix slowly getting it together. Any power movement to the East didn't happen because of Shaq. Of course it helps, but young players such as Wade and LeBron have capitolized and blown up since the media arrived. JO with the Pacers will regularly school anybody at any given moment from the post and still does it on a low key. There just seems to be a young blossom of players coming out of the East right now. While players like AI, Pierce, and even Carter seem to be having the same problems as they've always had over the years that everybody has grown tired of and mostly just moved on from.
Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash. These are the players starting to look for answers but in all different areas. Brand, being known for soft, slow ball even though he produces double double's seems to have found a role with a PG who knows how to direct an offense. KG seems to be coming to senses with Minnisota not going anywhere for a while. I don't know how loud and often a guy has to scream for some help. He had a few season with B average help, but still falling the same length short no matter the reasons. Nash found a good place and a good man to compliment his passes. Of course, Amare. But they lack several things, as well as a million questions to be answered so I won't even go there.
The league now calls for players who have the flare. That clutch play MJ left everybody speechless with. You have a lot more to prove in todays NBA. You can be as good as KG and own the court with stats but have a bad attitude, and you've already fallen 50 times.
The Spurs and the Mavericks are what's left from the West. Given, the Josh Howard injury really hurts the Mavs, with him they look the best they've looked... ever. It's at least something to look forward to this Thursday.
Over the last several seasons it has been the Western Conference dominating the league. At one time on different occassions, 4 sometimes 5 teams in the West were scary. Being Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio, Dallas, Sacramento and Portland, and even Minnesota would make runs. Well, maybe not Minnesota.
So in 2005, and almost 2006, the power has shifted to the East it seems. Now, only Dallas and San Antonio appear to be left from the West. With teams like Denver, and Phoenix slowly getting it together. Any power movement to the East didn't happen because of Shaq. Of course it helps, but young players such as Wade and LeBron have capitolized and blown up since the media arrived. JO with the Pacers will regularly school anybody at any given moment from the post and still does it on a low key. There just seems to be a young blossom of players coming out of the East right now. While players like AI, Pierce, and even Carter seem to be having the same problems as they've always had over the years that everybody has grown tired of and mostly just moved on from.
Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash. These are the players starting to look for answers but in all different areas. Brand, being known for soft, slow ball even though he produces double double's seems to have found a role with a PG who knows how to direct an offense. KG seems to be coming to senses with Minnisota not going anywhere for a while. I don't know how loud and often a guy has to scream for some help. He had a few season with B average help, but still falling the same length short no matter the reasons. Nash found a good place and a good man to compliment his passes. Of course, Amare. But they lack several things, as well as a million questions to be answered so I won't even go there.
The league now calls for players who have the flare. That clutch play MJ left everybody speechless with. You have a lot more to prove in todays NBA. You can be as good as KG and own the court with stats but have a bad attitude, and you've already fallen 50 times.
The Spurs and the Mavericks are what's left from the West. Given, the Josh Howard injury really hurts the Mavs, with him they look the best they've looked... ever. It's at least something to look forward to this Thursday.