of course its too early, but its just unusual that the two finalists last year are starting out the year as the two best teams clearly to begin the year (though some would say Dallas has reason to brag).
Detroit just -slapped Denver; they had 7 players in double figures, one of the wallaces had 15 rebounds and the other had 5 blocks, they shot over 50% and held Denver to 40% shooting.
So much for losing their D with the new coach.
Damn, they are looking better than last year.
Its going to be just as tough as last year's finals, if not tougher. Hopefully we will be healthier than last year and that will compensate for how much better Detroit looks.
don't be too sure . Miami is currently #2 in the East despite missing ShaQ.
But Detroit is playing good basketball right now, i agree with that.
But unless the team's best player is off the injury list nobody can tell esp when he's a 7footer/340 pounder like ShaQ
When Shaq comes back that would put Mourning, their best defender, on the bench which is what they desperately need. Scoring isn't their problem.
I would love to see that - Shaq benched for Mourning! (Won't happen but would be a humbling experience for the Shaq)
Haha sooo true!
The Cavs and Pacers are better then the Heat, with or without Shaq....
I give the Pistons props today in an article on www.hoopsworld.com (free side) see below:
The NBA has had an exciting start to this season, and has seemingly done everything it can to move beyond the terrible Pistons-Pacers-fans brawl last year. There are exciting teams, exciting players emerging and so most importantly, thank God no repeat of the violence of last year.
Therefore, on a day when we should all be thankful for this and many other reasons let’s have a friendly debate on some matters in the NBA through a question and answer format answered by the “SportsDoc to the Fans”:
Questions I and II.
Who will win the NBA championship and who will they have to beat in the finals?
Going into the season, I was adamant that the Spurs and the Pacers would meet in the finals with the Spurs prevailing. I still believe the Spurs will win the West but they will most likely be tested more on the way there than I used to believe. Folks the Mavericks are for real, as they as a team have bought into Avery Johnson’s philosophy of defense as an integral part of the game.
They could give the Spurs all they could handle, as could the Suns, if Amare Stoudemire returns healthy. The Suns have also improved the diversity and depth of their roster and are even holding teams under 100 – four straight times now. Guard Boris Diaw, James Jones and the injured guard Leandro Barbosa (knee strain, expected out a couple of weeks) are all emerging as scoring threats.
The strong starting Clippers behind MVP candidate (see below) Eldon Brand are a potentially tough team but probably need some playoff experience first. The enigmatic Nuggets could also be in the mix, and they have a talented squad being currently led by Marcus Camby, who has been a force on the boards and with several recent multi-block games.
However, I still see the Spurs emerging, they are just too deep this year, and Tony Parker has really stepped up his own offense so far this year averaging 21.8 PPG while still distributing 5.8 APG. Plus they have that guy named Tim Duncan, who is lighter and seemingly more energized. Despite playing only 34.5 minutes a game, Duncan is averaging 21.5 PPG, 12.0 RBG and 2.56 BPG.
Out East, I wish I had the luxury of seeing tonight’s Cavaliers versus Pacers game to see whether or not the Pacers can step up to an early season challenge. For the Cavaliers have to suddenly be considered in the mix for coming out of the East. The Cavaliers have won eight straight and have been very dominant at home. Cleveland is leading the league in scoring at 105.4 PPG and more impressively, has a double digit point differential at 10.36 PPG in running its record to 9-2. The story has not been all LeBron James (see MVP discussion below) as newcomer Larry Hughes is contributing 18.3 PPG and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been very steady in the post and is averaging 14.3 PPG and 8.3 RBG.
Miami behind Dwyane Wade’s incredible all around play (25.5 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 7.8 RBG) and a solid starting performance as the center by Alonzo Mourning (11.1 PPG and 7.1 RBG), has stayed an Eastern Power in the absence of Shaquille O’Neal. Antoine Walker has been a steady contributor as well and one cannot discount their chances, if and it is a big if, Shaquille O’Neal history of injuries the last few years, is a non-factor come playoff time.
However, I still see the deep Pacers as a greater threat to come out of the East, and they are beginning to gel behind stars Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal. European newcomer, G, Sarunas Jasikevicius, is a shooting threat and although averaging only 7.0 PPG is shooting 46% and should only improve as the season goes on.
That being said one right now has to consider the Pistons the favorite to come out of the East. This team is surging behind new coach Flip Saunders, and they are firing on all cylinders with improved team scoring at 99.30 PPG. Except for one lopsided loss to the Mavericks on a back to back on the road, the Pistons have looked unstoppable.
Mark December 25th on your NBA schedule as the Pistons and Spurs will face off on the same day as the new traditional Lakers and Heat game. However, it is the match-up of the last champions of the last three years (Pistons 03-04), Spurs (02-02 and 04-05). This will be a battle of probably the best two teams in the NBA right now (with apologies to the Mavericks who have beaten both soundly this year already, albeit on the 2nd game of road back to backs for the Spurs and Pistons).
I see the Spurs winning on the road in a close one, just like I see them winning another close finals, in 6-7 games, now over the Pistons instead of the Pacers.
Question III.
Who is now the “gold standard” for guard or swingman players in the NBA?
In reality this is a bigger list than most people appreciate. Lets look at six candidates for this honor:
1) I most definitely include Steve Nash in the equation, who not only is the reigning MVP but continues to amaze with his timely distributing and scoring ability. Nash is averaging 16.8 PPG and 11.3 PPG. Moreover, Nash probably gets more out of seemingly limited athletic ability than anyone on this list.
2) Defending scoring champion, Allen Iverson is just an amazing player for his size. Tough, durable and often leading the league in minutes per game, “AI” also has led the Sixers back from a 0-3 start to a 7-6 record on 32.8 PPG and an impressive 8.1 APG. Iverson has also increased his shooting percentage to 44.1% this year.
3) Tracy McGrady, perhaps should be considered MVP in absentia as his Rockets simply look lost offensively without him. Perhaps as athletically gifted as anyone in the league one wonders whether or not his chronic back injuries will dramatically diminish his career, not only this season. Despite his ails, he is still averaging 21.8 PPG and 8.1 RBG.
4) Kobe Byrant has been formerly called by me the “gold standard” in this category and he is still a great, great player. He has been criticized for shooting too much but he is hitting his field goals at about 44% and leads the league in scoring at 33.0 PPG shading out Iverson, and also adds 5.4 RBG and 4.3 APG. However, he has just not been able to prove that he can yet carry a team or merge his spectacular talents with Lamar Odom and other current teammates.
5) One player who is proving he can carry a team, at least for short stretches is Dwyane Wade. Wade simply took over a recent game versus the Sixers just missing a triple double with 32 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. He is such a compe or and seems to be able to drive on most players in the league at will. After this game, Alonzo Mourning said he saw shades of a young Michael Jordan in Wade, and it is hard to argue with that perception. Hint to the NBA – this guy is good and he should be in any MVP discussion.
6) Perhaps, only one player in the league right now has an even brighter future than Wade, and that may well be LeBron James. Just when one thinks this young man cannot get any better he does, and this year he is averaging 27.2 PPG, 5.6 RBG and 4.4 APG. LeBron is also my favorite for the MVP, and I see him edging out two great power forwards in Tim Duncan and Eldon Brand. (I would personally pick Duncan but LeBronn will get the vote if his team makes the playoffs).
Ok how would I rate these six stars right now top to bottom as the current gold standard of “guards and swingman”:
1) LeBron James. He is the truth. If he can keep his team winning into the 2nd round of the playoffs or so this year and further in subsequent years, he may be on track to the very top of NBA legends.
2) Allen Iverson. Don’t under-estimate his value to his team.
3) Dwyane Wade. Could usurp even James when all is said and done.
4) Kobe Bryant. This ranking is not a hit on Bryant’s skills; he just needs to lead a team better to move back up.
5) Steve Nash. I love this guy’s game but without his side-kick Amare Stoudemire, his team is up and down so far.
6) Tracy McGrady. Will injuries keep him from attaining true greatness, or is the knock that he cannot win a big game?
Question IV.
Can a case be made that Larry Brown is over-rated? I admit that he is a great coach. His teams are often seen as over-achieving and he is a great teacher. Mr. Brown has done some admirable turnarounds with teams such as the Clippers and the Sixers in the past, he has won a championship, and has certainly won a lot of games in a long and nomadic career. In fact he is closing in on 1000 regular season wins.
That being said his overall regular season record is fairly mundane at 990 and 749 or a winning percentage of 56.9%. His playoff record is 100 and 89 or a 52.9% winning percentage. His overall winning percentage is 57.1%. None of Brown’s teams have ever had a 70% winning percentage.
His overall winning percentage puts him behind among many current coaches such as George Karl, Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Rick Adelman, and Jerry Sloan. His success at reaching the playoffs (17/22) is also behind on a percentage basis that of Adelman, Sloan, Karl Popovich, Jeff Van Gundy, Jackson or an “upstart” like Rick Carlisle (who in only 4 years had not missed yet).
Brown looks and sounds by all appearances like a great coach, seemingly teaches like a great coach, and has a championship to his record. However, for all you Knicks fans out there, a valid case can be made that Brown’s career is at least a little bit over-rated, and he seems to alienate many players along the way to his vaunted turnarounds.
Therefore, if I was picking a coach, he would not be among at least my top three choices in the game today.
My choices:
Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich or Rick Carlisle.
I love to debate these or other issues in the game, and I will continue to respond to every e-mail sent a [email protected].
..actually, the Pacers are better than Detroit, IMO.
why this columnist kept repeating Elton Brand's name as "Eldon"?
Actually how is that? The pistons are playing the best now as they've done in the last 3 years. They are prime for a championship with a new coach and more motivation..actually, the Pacers are better than Detroit, IMO.
Apologies to Elton (guess my dyslexia kicked in on Turkey day!)
because they WON over Miami TWICE. the 1st one with Shaq playing.
Detroit beat team such as 76ers,Boston(2x) Sac, Char, Toronto, Suns(no Amare). I didn't see any power teams such as Spurs, Miami, Pacers, Cleveland in the list
Indiana was lucky to beat the heat both times. The Heat really didn't have a chemistry yet because of their new team. The pacers have not impressed me at all. Detroit will shut them down once again like the last 2 years.because they WON over Miami TWICE. the 1st one with Shaq playing.
Detroit beat team such as 76ers,Boston(2x) Sac, Char, Toronto, Suns(no Amare). I didn't see any power teams such as Spurs, Miami, Pacers, Cleveland in the list
that's your opinion. i respect that.
like i said IMO , there's nothing you can say or do can change that.
BTW, Detroit lost to the Nets twice in the playoffs too, look who's got a le at the moment.
this is a new season.
After the way the Pacers spanked the Cavs tonight, there's no question in my mind that they are the best team in basketball. Spurs fans tell me - how can you possibly win when Artest turns Manu into Vinny Del Negro II?
Untill Dirk Nowitzki reliezes he's a PF and not a SG, the Mavs will continue to be in the playoffs. The reason big men are so important is their great interior offense, rebounding, and most of all, interior defense. Not their ability to make 17' jumpshots.
The fact it that both Indiana and Detroit are deep and talented teams that would have a wonderful series between them with no love lost if they somehow met in the E. again this year.
i agree with the inclusion of Carlisle, for making it in the 2005 playoffs when his stars-JO'Neal, Artest, SJax missing so many games last season.Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich or Rick Carlisle.
well, I'm impressed the way Artest shut down LeBron in tonight's game.The pacers have not impressed me at all...
i like Lebron but that Artest holding him under 20pts and ending their 8-game winning streak was incredible.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Ron Artest shut down LeBron James and the streaking Cavaliers.
The former defensive player of the year held James to 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting in Indiana's 98-76 victory over Cleveland on Thursday night.
"It's nothing personal, like a one-on-one matchup with him," Artest said. "It's a team thing. I am a hungry defender and want to win and will guard anybody if that will help us win."
The victory snapped Cleveland's eight-game winning streak.
The rest of the Pacers knew that Artest was clearly the key to frustrating James on offense.
"He made him work for everything," said Jermaine O'Neal, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. "We made it tough on him tonight."
Artest also outplayed James on the offensive end, scoring 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
The Pacers (7-3) won their third game in a row while the Cavaliers (9-3) missed the chance to become the first Eastern Conference team to win 10 games.
Cleveland averaged a league-best 105 points per game coming in, but was held to 38 percent shooting and tied its season low for points. James called it a combination of the Pacers' defense and poor execution by the Cavaliers.
"We shot terrible tonight," he said. "It's not like we didn't have good shots. We had great looks ... You have to give it to them. They made us look bad."
James never found his rhythm with Artest guarding him. He missed his first eight shots and didn't make a field goal until 1:57 left in the first half.
Indiana played its second consecutive top-notch defensive game. The Pacers held Houston to 74 points on Sunday.
"Defensively, we had one of our better efforts," said Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. "This is a nightmare team to defend because of their ability to slash at the wing positions and their ability to shoot long range. Fortunately, they were missing some they might normally make."
Drew Gooden scored 16 points and Larry Hughes added 13 for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown was Indiana's associate head coach the past two seasons, and the Pacers made his homecoming memorable for all the wrong reasons. Indiana held the Cavaliers to 9-of-36 shooting in the first half and took a 47-30 lead into the break. The Pacers led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter.
Sarunas Jasikevicius scored 17 points and made 5-of-6 3-pointers, and Stephen Jackson added 14 points.
The Pacers' winning streak follows an embarrassing 122-90 loss to Charlotte. O'Neal said the Pacers are finally starting to play well consistently on both ends of the floor.
"This was probably the most complete game we've played this season." he said. "They're ranked ahead of us in the east, and we beat them soundly.
Game notes
Reggie Miller and Cheryl Miller both worked on TNT's television broadcast team, Reggie as a color commentator and Cheryl as a sideline reporter. It was the first time the brother-sister combination worked a game together. Reggie, a former Pacer, retired last year. The fans greeted him with a standing ovation during a break halfway through the first quarter.
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this Sarunas could be a threat to Detroit or any team in the East if he can keep his good shooting streak, guys.
Bowen did the exact same thing to him without all the acclaim.
yeah that's why we are Champs.
scary thing is : there's no stopper for ShaQ.
unless Detroit wins against a healthy ShaQ with another scorer Walker and Wade alongside him, there's still no guarantee Detroit is the best team in the East.
"scary thing there is no stopper for Shaq." Shaq will get his, but so will Duncan = no worries.
Artest can't shut down all 5 pistons players. Hamilton is a tough guard for him because he moves so well without the ball.
Without Hamilton the Pistons are .
Spurs v. Cavs 11/4/05
Rash: 12 points, 4-6 FG (3-3 on threes), 2 PFs
LBJ: 20 points, 7-16 FG (0-3 on threes)
Pacers v. Cavs 11/24/05
Psycho: 21 points, 6-12 FG (1-2 on threes), 2 PFs
LBJ: 19 points, 6-20 FG (0-4 on threes)
I think the reason Artest gets all the acclaim is because he doesn't just play amazing defense, he scores well too. He doesn't just park his ass in the corner and take wide open threes...he dribbles, drives, pulls up, and knocks down shots. Plus, three of his makes tonight were within 3 ft. of the bucket. When was the last time you saw Bowen drive to the hole and finish?
If Bowen put up 21 ppg it would be different...everyone would be singing his praises just like they do for Artest. And believe me, I hate saying this, but I've got to admit it...Artest is a better perimeter defender than Bruce. It's just icing on the cake that he scores a ton of points too.
I wonder why no one accuses Artest of being dirty. Is it because he has too much street cred? Or because he earns so much more respect from his opponents than Bruce does? Is his rap album just that good? No, I think it's because they're scared Ron will kill them if they say anything bad about him. Can you imagine Artest just wailing into Ray Allen, landing punch after punch on that little 's mug? That would definitely be worth a one year suspension....
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