The NBA All-Star Break: The "Mid" Season Review

   It's the NBA All-Star weekend, the "mid" point in the season (actually the 2/3 point) where the NBA desperately tries to woo fans with new All-Star event gimmicks, this year being the 3rd installment of the absurd waste-of-time "Shooting Stars" event where current/retired players continually heave up H-O-R-S-E-type and half-court shots one after another. Sound lame? It was. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Although the NBA's popularity doesn't seem to be waning significantly the All-Star game festivities don't seem to be the best gauge. Neither does the "Worldwide Leader in Sports". A quick click on ESPN.go.com will display the #1 sports headlines: Derek Jeter had a horrible off-season putting around his 30,000 square mansion. The poor thing. But I feel worse for the NBA. The Super Bowl marks the end of football and the beginning of February. MLB pitchers and catchers usually report to camp around mid- to late-February. So for less than one month the NBA has the sports world essentially to itself...oh wait, the NHL...whoops. That's what happens when a professional sports league strikes nearly an entire season away twice in a few years. My Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup two years ago - and I momentarily forgot the NHL existed...enough said. So, again, the NBA essentially has a month to itself - and the top story today isn't even the All-Star festivities for the mid-point of the only sports event going on that should garner interest. It's about a glimpse into the elderly Jeter's future. That's where I come in: to put things back into their natural order. I don't give a flying shit about Derek Jeter right now, but I am excited about the rest of the NBA season and the inevitably exciting playoffs. Here's my take on the season so far and the All-Star festivities that have capped off the first 50 games.

(Note: The front page on ESPN.com actually is all about the NBA All-Star break...but it sounds cooler to say the first article was about Jeter...because it was.)

Best Record

- Absolutely amazing that the San Antonio Spurs sit atop the NBA at mid-point. Coach Pop' is the Bill Belichick of the NBA, and he's done arguably his best job yet with this aging Spurs team. Anchored by ageless veterans, an ever-improving Tony Parker, NE-native bomber Luke Bonner, Danny Green, and the unknown beast Tiago Splitter, these systematic Spurs led by one of the best coaches in all of sports have a game plan in place to keep the vets rested and the young guys filling roles when necessary. Whether this translates into anything come playoff time...not so sure. The West boasts two of the other three best records, and being considerably younger (and some would argue deeper), teams like OKC (39 wins) and LA (39 wins)...the Clippers...could provide the youthful Kryptonite needed to defeat the perennially tough Spurs. However, the Spurs score (4th), they defend (9th), and they move the ball better than anyone in the NBA (1st in assists). If Russell Westbrook forgets his teammates or the Clippers can't stay healthy, the Spurs could waltz right into the NBA Finals...where they would most likely suffer a 4-0 beat-down, returned to them by the very man they embarrassed some years back as a kid. I think his name was LeBron something.

Best Team

- This one is clearly more subjective. I'm not one to necessarily correlate the best record with the best team per se, because too many factors play into it, but it would be hard to bet against the Spurs as the best team in the NBA, in addition to having the best record. But can you honestly say that the Spurs would beat OKC in a seven game series? I couldn't. What about the Heat? Tough to say. Considering Westbrook does facilitate, I think OKC is the best team in the NBA right now. Statistically, they're not. OKC scores and that's about it; same thing for Miami. In fact, Miami is so bad at rebounding it seems they wouldn't stand a chance against taller Thunder, Spurs, or Clippers teams in the Finals. Statistically we should be looking at teams like New York (10th scoring; 8th scoring defense) or Indiana (1st scoring defense; 1st rebounding). But if I told you NY was the best team you'd laugh and if I said Indiana was the best team you'd laugh harder - but statistically they're better than OKC or Miami in most relevant categories. The LA Clippers might be the best team statistically as they score (9th), defend very well (4th), move the ball around well (5th), and despite not being a monster rebounding team statistically, they have a few 7-footers. I just can't see LAC's health and experience benefiting them at crunch time. Considering OKC's depth, age, experience, and star-power I would have to argue for them as the best team in the NBA right now. A lot hangs on Westbrook's shoulders. (Runner-up: San Antonio Spurs)

Worst Team

- MICHAEL JORDAN'S Charlotte Bobcats. Happy 50th MJ, you have - by far - the worst team in the NBA right now. Fewest wins, statistically abysmal. I tried to make an argument for the Phoenix Suns, but the more Jordan opens his post-retirement mouth the easier this decision was. OHHH BURNED!!! But seriously, if Jordan was still a true competitor he would spend less time trying to convince others (himself?) that he can still play and prove to everyone he can run. As in a franchise. Take a page out of Magic's book MJ, that's the way you do it. Maybe he can still play...but trust me, no one wants to see 10.9 ppg (I get these numbers from Michael Smith's NNL show) or an "old" man trying to get back at younger guys who just dunked on him. So MJ beat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in a 1-on-1 game? That's says way more about Kidd-Gilchrist than Jordan, sorry. Get it together MJ, the legend dims with every bad draft pick (Kwame Brown) and every speech (HOF, any random interview).

Biggest surprise

- Has to be Spurs, right? At least in terms of having the best record and the 2nd best point differential - averaging 30 years old (experience). Coach Pop' never ceases to amaze...or coach. From picking up key additions to resting key players at key times (I REALLY wish SA had won that game v. Miami!) Coach Pop' continues to prepare his team for their perennial run. Besides that I'd have to go with James Harden. OKC is forced to trade James Harden due to cap reasons stemming from the new CBA, who ends up becoming a top-5 scorer. Not that Harden can't ball - he can ball big time (channeling my inner Stephen A. Smith) - but few saw him averaging over 26 ppg through 50 games. Not too much of a surprise? Teammate Jeremy Lin not living up to the giant contract...but that's not his fault.

Biggest disappointment

- Clearly it's the Lakers, right? I guess. I was actually going with the Brooklyn Nets on this one, but it's hard to argue with a 31-22 record. But that record should be more like 40-13. New arena, new city, new owners, big time players in D-Will, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson, and Gerald Wallace - but Brooklyn seems to have stumbled to this 31-22 record. In a relatively weak East the Nets have shown more weakness, capped by D-Will's busted ankle. My first fantasy draft pick has been killing me all season, especially after passing up on Chris Paul. Unfortunately I didn't do my homework with that injury, nor did the Nets. Counting on him to facilitate everything hasn't been working, as he's experienced career lows in many statistical categories. Without D-Will playing at his highest level the Nets don't scare many people in the East, especially not with a 0.5 point differential. So why aren't the Lakers my biggest disappointment so far? Aren't high expectations required to warrant high levels of disappointment? Who really thought the Lakers would be a top contending team? Lots of people, but never me. After the Lakers lost out on their chance to buy their 17th Championship by inexplicably obtaining Chris Paul (PG was the one position that would have cemented the Lakers), the LAL tried to duplicate their 2004 season by bringing in a couple of seriously over-hyped (Howard) and equally over-the-hill stars/veterans (Nash/Jamison). The Lakers had to land a superstar after Stern nixed the trade that reeked of a fantasy league guru pulling a trade over on the clueless noob (although I feel Stern was way out of line here). So Howard was the obvious choice...a little too obvious. It seems no one in the Lakers front office took one second to think about a Kobe/Dwight relationship. Kobe hated Shaq, the most dominant, championship-laden, force of nature of my NBA generation, but Kobe knew. He knew. This was Shaq. Dwight Howard looks like a 7-foot birthday party clown who has to be reminded he's in the middle of a professional basketball game at times. Who thought this would fly with Kobe? They're polar opposites when it comes to this game outside of numbers. The ridiculous additions of Nash and Jamison speak for themselves, as the Lakers were clearly trying to put veterans - with little to no championship experience - with the greatest player of our generation as he tries to tie Jordan's ring total. The Howard addition is about the future face of the Lakers. It's...not working. On a personal note, I was seriously disappointed about Rondo's season-ending injury...until the Celtics started playing better without him.

MVP

- LeBron James, who else? The choice is as clear as his headband-hidden receding hairline. I have one, too, LeBron, but I can't rock the headband. As someone who bleeds green, I basketball hate "King" James, but I'm not dumb. I baseball hate Derek Jeter, too, and I wouldn't count that guy out at any point of any baseball game - unless he rolls an ankle. About the only place on the basketball court I wouldn't want James is the free throw line at crunch time, but THAT'S IT. The dude balls. This recent streak of 30 ppg while shooting 60+% is just more proof. With the childish Dwaye Wade injured half the time, and absolutely NO ONE ELSE ON THE TEAM (wait, is Bosh still there?). LeBron has carried this team more times than not. OK, Bosh is definitely playing at his highest Miami Heat level, maybe career, but still, LeBron goes, the Heat are done. James snapped his aforementioned streak the other night at 6 games. He fell short of continuing the 30+ppg/60+% streak, but he did score 39 points...on 58% shooting! Are you serious, LeBron? Runner-up? I'm going to say James Harden, who has these Rockets contending for the last playoff spot in the stacked West.

Finals predictions 

Miami Heat v. OKC Thunder. 

I have the Thunder winning in 6 games IF Russell Westbrook can keep his head, despite Dwayne Wade's bullshit. Miami simply cannot rebound with OKC over a 7-game series, and Kevin Durant proved the other night that he can literally dominate when he gets hot. After seemingly going 0-for-whatever v. Miami in the 1st quarter a few nights before the All-Star break, he blew up for 40 by games end bringing a blow-out within reach. I believe another year of experience will only help the Thunder as they exact revenge for 2011-2012 Finals. Remember, James Harden wasn't there last year either.

Alternate Finals: New York Knicks v. LA Clippers

I would HATE it if LA won a title when that piece of shit Don Sterling was still alive. But imagine if he died and his late drug-addicted son, who by the way literally got away with murder, had run the team? The Clippers rise and subsequent re-fall would have been meteoric. Perhaps I would basketball hate it even more if the "There's no you in team, just me" Knicks (29th in assists despite having one of the best PGs in the NBA) won the title. That's just the Boston in me talking.

Doubtful, but possible Finals: Brooklyn Nets v. San Antonio Spurs

NBA All-Star Weekend Review

Rising Stars game - I admit, I don't pay much attention. With a furry of talented young players coming into the league (e.g. Wall, Irving, Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist) we see these guys nightly in regular games, and we see them versus already "Risen" stars. So when we see Irving knocking down shots against the NBA's elite, it's hard to watch him dominate relatively sub-par players. Especially with Shaq as a coach of one of the teams. He was preaching running and hitting a ton of jumpers - two things he NEVER did. Sorry, can't buy this. Side note: Dudes like Davis and Irving should be balling with the grown ups during All-Star weekend.

Shooting Stars - Great in theory, horrible in practice. The only thing I remember is several retired stars and a few WNBA players heaving half-court shots...and missing badly. I could only hear Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith gloat about how many they'd be knocking down shots if they were out there so many times. Take the charity away from this things and it's about as pointless as one could imagine.

Skills Challenge - Tony Parker looked old, Jeremy Lin dropped the hometown ball, Jrue Holliday was fast, Damian Lillard was faster. Not too much to report here. Holliday and Lillard were <30 seconds.

3-point Shot Contest - OK, dudes like Paul George do not belong in this competition. I'm not on any selection committee, but really? He is 10th in 3 pointers MADE, but he's not even top-40 for 3FG%. Probably why he bombed in the competition. I suppose players have to actually commit to the contest, and be healthy...so maybe George replaced Kyle Korver. But I can't figure out why Klay Thompson wasn't shooting. Regardless, it was very entertaining. My predicted winner Stephen Curry started out slow, eventually caught fire to set things off, but was no match for the likes of New England native Matt Bonner, or the eventual champion, Kyrie Irving, who surprised me and I think a few others by not only winning, but almost breaking the contest record! He hit 23 in the Final Round to oust the awkward shooting Bonner on his way to adding yet another feather to his cap. By the way, Paul George is about to take center stage during these NBA playoffs.

Dunk Contest - This got so boring at one point other NBA players started tweeting that they were submitting applications for next year's contest. That speaks volumes. Gerald Green's first (contest opening) dunk from a behind-the-back pass off the side of the backboard was monstrous. James White's two-handed free throw line dunk was sick...despite lame props. Eric Bledsoe has SERIOUS HOPS. SERIOUS HOPS. The Manimal forgot it was a contest. One guy couldn't even dunk. Jeremy Evans' dunk over Mark Eaton was kind of cool, but took WAY too long. And finally Terrance Ross stole the show by stealing one of Vince Carter's dunks from a long...time...ago. The bottom line? Some ridiculously athletic, slightly original dunking that took several tries for many, and failed to wow for a few. As I said, several players started tweeting that they had to enter next year...I'm assuming to "save" the contest. That's easy. LeBron?

There you have it, my NBA mid-season review. See you in a few months for the NBA Playoffs Review coming in May.

- The Sports A-Phish-ionado

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