It’s Friday and I’m going to try something new of having a regular post on Fridays to recap the week, look forward to the weekend games, give random thoughts and such.
The Wizards need to fire Flip Saunders. He has lost this team. I think that’s one reason John Wall has struggled this year. Most of his teammates don’t care. You can tell they don’t care to be there. Let’s not forget this team isn’t pieced together too well. They have some nice pieces in Wall, Singleton, Vessley and McGee. Other than that they need help bad. Especially in the scoring department. Saunders is better suited for a team that has good veteran leadership. If I’m Washington I tell Jerry Sloan. “Look Jerry I know you want to win a title and we are striving for that but we need you as our coach. How much will it take?” Then pay him what he asks. Do that and just tell Rashard Lewis to stay home. We’ll pay you, just stay home Rashard. This link is why, it also has Blatche saying the players don’t listen to Saunders.
Top 10 Teams-
Unlike Most lists I’m going to countdown to the #1 spot.
10. Los Angeles Lakers- 8-4
Back to back 40 point games from Kobe will make any team look good but Andrew Bynum is playing like a boss right now. Gasol has played inconsistent this year so far but on the season averages he is not having a bad year. LA is in a predicament, If Kobe, Bynum and Gasol all play good they can beat anyone in the league. Problem is usually one of them is having an off night (I’m looking at you Pau). Outside of Matt Barnes their other players are irrelevant. I would suggest trading Pau to a team that would give up a couple of young pieces to keep their rookie spanish point guard happy. Hey Minnesota how are you? If you’re Minnesota would you turn down Pau for Wes Johnson, Derrick Williams and a pick? I mean you would then have Rubio, Love, Pau and Beasley. That’s a playoff four right there, this year.
9. Atlanta Hawks- 8-4
5 guys averaging double digit points is always nice. Even though Joe Johnson has looked even worse this year, Josh Smith is looking better. Jeff Teague is a legit starting point guard in the league. How long do they keep this up though? Can they really win a playoff series with this team? I really guess that all depends on the team they play. But as of now the Hawks have looked good.
8. Indiana Pacers- 7-3
The have six players averaging double digits in scoring. All 5 starters and then Tyler”The Ultimate Big Off the Bench” Hansbrough. Let’s not forget George Hill is scoring 9.4 ppg. So basically they have guaranteed 70 points every night. I know not a ton, but if you can guarantee 70 points the other 30 should come pretty easy. I see Indy making it to round 2 in the playoffs. This is a scappy, fiesty team that won’t be easily beat. They can match up with most anyone in the league.
7. Denver Nuggets- 7-4
I know in my preview I didn’t think they would be very good. But they are just running teams out of the gym, literally. They have the highest scoring rate and pace rate in the league. Not shockingly Andre Miller already can’t handle being a backup. He will blow this team up, if they don’t watch out. Miller is a cancer to any good team. He is a good backup point. But the last three years he should have been a backup. If Wilson Chandler returns to this team though, watch out they will be dangerous regardless of Andre “Sourpuss” Miller.
6. Orlando Magic- 8-3
This is really based on their record and they beat Portland at home this week. I think the D12 trade talk will start breaking this team down. Maybe not to the eight seed like I predicted but they are a one and done playoff team.
5. Portland Blazers- 7-3
I know they beat my #4 team but that was the first game of the year. Portland has played good all year except in Phoenix after the Lakers win. McMillan has finally switched to the uptempo style that he should have switched to four years ago, as yours truly had been saying. This roster is versatile in the eight deep. Their biggest issue will be later in the season when their elder big men start accruing miles on their old bones.
4. Philadelphia 76ers- 7-3
They already have four wins of 20+ points or more. Philly is taking off from where they left off last year. They have a great 8 man rotation. They play tough defense. Their issue is who is the guy that will take over when the games get tough?
3. Oklahoma City Thunder- 10-2
KD and co are rolling. I don’t see anyone in the west beating them in a seven game series. I think they should just start Harden. With Ibaka, Perkins and Sefolosha on the floor at the same time they really only have two good offensive players on the court (Durant and Westbrook), which makes them way easier to defend. The positive to that though is Sefolosha is only playing 19 minutes a game.
2. Chicago Bulls- 10-2
Da Bulls are rolling again this year. This is the only team in the league who are capable of beating Miami in a seven game series. They are the league’s deepest team.
1. Miami Heat- 8-3
They are the best team in the league this year. I don’t care if they have had some fourth quarter issues this week. The year is young. Their bench is better this year. The are better defensively too. I just don’t see anyone beating them this year.
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