12/29/2005

All-NBA appreciation list

By conference

1. East – they have Indiana… and Shaq.

2. West – not far behind though are the Spurs and Suns.

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By division

1. Central – let me count the ways. The strongest division along with Southwest, Indiana, Chicago, Cleveland. Four reasons to like this division.

2. Southwest – Texas Triangle, anyone?

3. Pacific – if not for Phoenix, Golden State, and the Clippers they would be sixth by default because of the Lakers.

4. Northwest – they have Denver, Minnesota, Seattle, Utah… and Portland.

5. Southeast – Miami and a little bit of Washington I like.

6. Atlantic – New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia… bad.

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By team

1. Indiana Pacers – MVP = O’Neal, DPoY = Artest… wait, let me replace that one. DPoY = Jackson. Then, ROY = Jasikevicius, Sixth Man = Jones, MIP = Harrison, Sportsmanship/Community = Jackson. A sweep of the individual awards, why not? But it would be sweeter if they got the big ring.

2. Phoenix Suns – questionable transactions here and there, releasing Q and Joe Johnson, but they still have the reigning MVP in their lineup. Plus Boris Diaw is impressing me and they have James Jones. Looks like that trade with Atlanta was just even.

3. Houston Rockets – three people: Yao Ming, Rafer Alston, and Juwan Howard. Might as well include Jon Barry and Felton Head. I say trade T-Mac for someone like Jason Richardson and they’ll automatically get second spot in my list.

4. San Antonio Spurs – what’s not to like with San Antone? TD stands for Totally Dominating, Tony Parker is the total package, and Manu Ginobilli is one mean ‘Gentinian.

5. Denver Nuggets – K-Mart aside, this is a likeable team. Marcus Camby has shed off his underachiever tag, Andre Miller is still steady, Voshon Lenard is back, Melo is cool, and they still have the NBA’s shortest player in their lineup. Thumbs down for Nene’s season-ending injury though.

6. Boston Celtics – it’s Paul Pierce and his crew. Finally, Celtics management has wisened up and released Antoine Walker to oblivion. Plus they have Dan Dickau. How cool is that?

7. Cleveland Cavaliers – King James, Z, Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and Drew Gooden are all good to me. Add to that they have former Pacer assistant coach Mike Brown as head tactician. Just get a better point guard.

8. Atlanta Hawks – I didn’t know that dumb team owners actually exist. Nevertheless, even if they have the worst record right now, I like them because they have two of the guys in the league that I like: Al Harrington and Joe Johnson.

9. Chicago Bulls – they may be down there in Central, but it just shows how strong that division is this year.

10. Memphis Grizzlies – Pau Gasol and Shane Battier. What is not to like with this team? Fantasy-wise, they also deliver.

11. Golden State Warriors – Jason Richardson, yes. Baron Davis, no.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves – if only for three guys. KG, Rashad McCants, and Wallly Szczerbiak. The Alien and the Predator are finally gone. You should have put your pay cut to better use, Kevin. Oh yeah, Marko Jaric is also in the lineup.

13. Los Angeles Clippers – it’s more because of Elton Brand and Corey Maggette and the fact that they are higher than their roommate Lakers in the standings right now. Have less of Sam Cassell though.

14. Washington Wizards – gone maybe is Hughes, but in return they have Caron Butler in replacement for dud Kwame Brown. They still have Jared Jeffries, Etan Thomas, and Michael Ruffin in the roster although Gilbert Arenas and Chucky Atkins are acting up as of late.

15. Toronto Raptors – how bad are the Raptors? Everybody has deserted them up to the point that the only guys worth mentioning are Chris Bosh, Mo Pete, and that Bonner guy. Chris Villanueva, who?
16. Utah Jazz – when would Jerry Sloan retire? Probably when AK47 finally wins DPoY. I heard they have a passable team out there with Mehmet Okur, Raul Lopez, and some quality rookies. Boo for Carlos Boozer.

17. Dallas Mavericks – I may be reading Mark Cuban’s blog, but it doesn’t I like his team or how he manages his team. Good thing they finally disposed Michael Finley. In comes Doug Christie. But I still couldn’t stomach that Jason Terry, Keith Van Horn, and Jerry Stackhouse are teammates. The young guys are good though. Why don’t they just waive the old underachievers so that the likes of Howard and Daniels get more playing time?

18. Sacramento Kings – Sacaramento, who? I don’t know this team anymore. They are so unrecognizable, Darius Songaila is already in a different team. If only they agree to a Peja-Artest straight up trade, then maybe I might be a happier person by then.

19. Charlotte Bobcats – there’s something with the team when the guy you like the most is named Primoz Brezec. Then again, they also have Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Brevin Knight, and Kareem Rush. Nothing special with them though. Just means I know some of the players in their lineup.

20. Milwaukee Bucks – after Andrew Bogut, all you have left is fantasy-unfriendly Michael Redd and new acquisition Bobby Simmons. Simmons should have stayed with the Clippers.

21. Seattle Supersonics – Vladimir Radmanovic is underachieving. Still, I have Rashard Lewis in my fantasy teams even if I don’t like Ray Allen.

22. New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets – who are the people in your neighborhood? After Chris Paul, what?

23. Orlando Magic – I like the Magic because they have Jameer Nelson. That’s it. I abhor the rest of the team. Maybe not Josh Howard, but he’s in no fantasy team of mine. And Kelvin Cato, my utility center is drawing up blanks recently.

24. Miami Heat – with or without Pat Riley, they would still be low in my list for the simple fact that the president-now-coach acquired NBA trash Jason Williams, Gary Payton, and Antoine Walker. At least all of the garbage would remain in Florida. I may like Dwyane Wade, but I hate the guts of the Heat’s new coach.

25. Portland Trailblazers – do you think I would actually go for Darius Miles? Maybe. But I like Sebastian Telfair more. Plus they have this cool Korean center. When would the time come when a Filipino would say, “Reprezent!”

26. New Jersey Nets – Vince Carter in your roster? Automatic minus points for you. Sorry, Scott Padgett and Richard Jefferson.

27. Detroit Pistons – you would eventually lose, I assure you that.

28. New York Knickerbockers – as long as they have Isaiah Thomas as team manager, the Knicks aren’t going anywhere. Now, would they bite with a Q-Artest trade offer?

29. Philadelphia 76ers – where Iverson goes, that’s where your team goes. Even if you have Willie Green, Samuel Dalembert, and Kyle Korver in your lineup.

30. Los Angeles Lakers – Phil Jackson could just do so much so that I would like a squad that has a Kobe Bryant in it.

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