Report Card Time!

The Thunder should definitely beat their parents home to the mail box.


So since every website, blog, and miscreant with an opinion will be giving a mid-season report during all-star break I figured I'd beat them to the punch. Could teams change their respective path between now and when Nate Robinson jumps over someone's head for the 400th time? Sure. That's why over the next few days I'll review each division and give an guestimation on their record by that time and where I see each team after the first 82 are over. Let's get it crackin' with the Southwest.

Memphis (not so) Bleak

The Grizz are setting at a less than impressive 11-27 as we speak. So why am I so excited about this squad? PO-TEN-IAL. These Young Bucks aren't as stacked 1 thru 15 as the Blazers are, but what they lack in depth they make up for in a ridiculously talented core of OJ, Rudy Gay, and Marc Gasol. OJ is turning a ROY race that looked like it would be over by Christmas into a photo finish with balanced offensive play and a smooth veteran-like jumper. Rudy Gay is already fulfilling that "upside" that everyone has been associating with his name since he was a freshman at UConn and Marc "The Tank" is making the Grizzlies front office look like they may not have made one of the worst trades in sports history by providing a solid low post scoring threat. Hakim Warrick has also been a nice surprise this season by improving his ball handling and jumpshot to go with an athleticism that Royal Ivey still has bad dreams about. Their biggest question mark is (still) at the point. Conley has been decent, but hasn't really wowed anyone yet or blossomed into the first round pick that the Grizz expected when they drafted him. Kyle Lowry has shown flashes of at least being able to possibly fill the spark off the bench role and they've recently added Steve Francis in a weird draft day diss dejavu twist of fate, but I seriously doubt he was brought here for more than cap fodder. Darius Miles has shown some signs of life recently, Darko has gone hulkimania and not much else, and Darrel Arthur has played very rookyish. I'd put these guys at 17-35 by All-Star break and finishing the season at 36-46 for the year. They'll be well out of the Western Conference playoff picture but they will continue to get better through out the season and will probably be a spoiler threat to teams trying to sneak into that 8th spot over the last two weeks. Overall Marc Ivanaroni has done a solid job. If the Grizz can stabilize the the point guard situation and add some depth to their bench, this team could supplant a rapidly decaying franchise like the Suns, Mavs, and eventually yes, even the Spurs, as playoff regulars for years to come.

Playing Mavericky

"I can't believe Mark traded Devin for your old ass."-Avery Johnson might have said.

Like my man Farmer Jones said one time, I'm the first to admit when I'm right. For those of you who need a quick history lesson, in the SLAMonline Mavs Preview done by yours truly, I predicted this...and I was crucified for it. I said Kidd would still make passes but hardly be able to guard half the starting points in the West. I said Jerry Stackhouse was finished. I said J-Ho had a 50/50 shot of still being a Mav by the break(But to Toronto?). I said Dirk would still put up numbers but he would still be damaged goods and the Mavs would struggle to make the playoffs. So lets see...check, check, check, and double check so far. Jet has still brought it every night just like he did in Atlanta and Brandon Bass has continued to show promise. Gerald Green has shown flashes of the ability he was drafted for during his inconsistent burn. But for a team whose owner has championship expectations Rick Carlise and the Mavs are coming up shorter than J. J. Barea. Ok, Jose has had some great games this year and been a well needed pleasant surprise for a franchise that needed one but if you think that he's the long term answer at the point then you probably have the same basketball I.Q. as Cubes. This squad will be 28-24 at the break and will end the season 43-39 and in the 8th seed in the West, waiting to get swept by the Lakers. The real question is will this be the offseason that Mark Cuban finally swallows his pride and makes the serious roster changes necessary to keep this team from free falling to lottery land for years to come.

Ron Ron bumps Nas, Yao bumps Wu-Tang, neither are big T-Pain fans

"If you don't let us trade you, I'm throwing this bottle at Ron and pointing at you."

Houston hasn't had in house drama like this since Pau Wall and Chamillonaire broke up the Color Changing Click. Like T.I. would say, " What yall know about that?". But on some real sh!t, Houston has a problem. Tracy McInjury has officially dethroned Vince as the biggest man-gina in the family with his "Maybe I'm hurt, maybe I'm not, but I'm not playing defense anyways."bullshit. The only people getting the last laugh in this situation are the other contenders in the league who no longer have to consider the Rockets a legitimate threat. Damn shame too. Ron Artest has been putting up solid numbers, being a great teammate, and basically doing everything that the Rockets could've ever dreamed of when they traded for him. Yao has beasted and stayed healthy for the majority of the season so far. Skip has flourished under Adelman's system. Aaron Brooks is blossoming into a future star. Scola, Landry, and even Von Wafer are all having productive years and they just got Mount Mutombo back. Unfortunately until this T-Pain situation is taken care of, the Rockets will continue to struggle against the top teams in the West and, you heard it here first, they'll be left out of the playoffs. They'll be at 30-22 at the break but unless they somehow ship Tracy out, they'll fade during a tougher second part of the season and finish the season at 41-41 on the outside looking in.

Louisianimal

Chris Paul is already one of the top 5 point guards of all time. Read that again. Let it marinate. First of all, let me say that when it comes down to the CP3 vs. D-Will I've always found myself on the Ryne Nelson side of the group. That being said, due to injury and an unfuckingbelieveable season by Chris the debate has to be shelved (for now). Chris is like a Isiah Thomas/Tiny Archibald hybrid with the athleticism of a pre-knee injury Baron Davis. I could go on all day about this man but lets just say that if Chris doesn't take home the MVP this season then Kobe and the Lakers better end up going 72-10 or LeBron and the Cavs better go undefeated at home. Basically, give the man the trophy. David West has continued to be underrated and hated on and has continued to give cats the business on a nightly basis. James Posey has provided a that veteran champion leadership and confidence that they brought him in for. Their biggest problem this season was one of their biggest strengths last year. Tyson Chandler has regressed. He has gone from avgs. of 12 and 12 to 9 and 8. That is a Star Jones before the lypo like drop off. Especially on a team like Nawlins with a paper thin bench. The Hornets will continue to need otherwordly performances from Paul, Peja to go into SacTown killa mode, and David West to punk dudes like their Dirk in order for them to make a run in the playoffs. They'll be 31-19 at the break and if Tyson can regain some semblance of the player he was last year in the second half of the season they'll surge and end up 54-28 in the second seed in the West.

It's Still an Odd Year, Right?


If Tim Duncan is really not a robot sent from the future to bring havoc on the NBA for decades then he's doing a horrible job convincing me. Timbot is still just as good as the dude was 3 years ago and that is scary as hell. He singlehandedly carried the Spurs on his back while Manu and Tony got healthy and had it not been for his stellar play and unrattled leadership this team would be paying attention to alot more Oklahoma Sooner games. Timmy is still Ice Cold. Manu is starting to get his Argentian swagger back and Tony Parker is playing like he didn't just come back from a nasty ankle injury. I guess going home to Eva every night helps the healing process.
George Hill is starting to show people why the Spurs drafted him so high out of I.U.P.I.Q.W.@.K. or wherever the hell he's from and Roger Mason is a stone cold clutch shot driller right now. If he can continue to contribute offensively and Matt Bonner can continue to do all the little things this team is gonna be hard to out come playoffs. They'll be at 33-19 at the break and they'll finish the season at 52-30 in the 3rd seed in the West. Just because these old fellas need an occasional nap, don't sleep on them come playoff time.