By Jeff Phelps
ProBasketballNews.com
As the NBA season closes in on the annual spectacle that is the All-Star Weekend (the dictionary in my computer defines spectacle as “draw attention to oneself by behaving in a ridiculous way in public”), it’s the perfect opportunity for a quick thought on each and every franchise in the association. That, and I can use the $2.73 from Amico.
Part I: The Eastern Conference
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Boston: Never thought the Celtics would be as good as they’ve been through January. Don’t think they’ll keep it up. Could win
the championship anyway, but they’ll need all
three of the Big Three to pull it off. That means
stay healthy, Ray Allen.
Toronto: Former Milwaukee and Cleveland GM
Wayne Embry is a senior advisor with the Raptors.
Wayne has always loved point guards. While in
Cleveland he drafted Kevin Johnson and Terrell
Brandon when he already had Mark Price. The
Raptors lose T.J. Ford, Jose Calderon takes over,
plays beautifully, Raptors keep winning. Nice
advising Wayne.
New Jersey: Fascinating that a team with Jason
Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson (having
a great scoring season) is so underwhelming. In
the long run, Kidd’s trade request could be a blessing.
Philadelphia: Andre Miller is a nice young man. He deserves better.
New York: Isiah Thomas is a nice dresser. He deserves ... Uh ... well ... Uh ... did I mention Isiah is a nice dresser? Knicks have plenty of interesting players. Best example in NBA that talent doesn’t translate to winning team. Poor Jamal Crawford.
SOUTHEAST
Orlando: Congratulations Stan Van Gundy! Escape the mess that is Miami, end up with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and the surprise team of the Eastern Conference. Had a great start, but needs to get hot again to be a force in the playoffs.
Washington: Think Happy Gilmore, the Adam Sandler movie about the wacky hockey nut who becomes a great golfer, other than that putting stuff. After getting beat up by Bob Barker, Happy figures out how to putt and is unbeatable. Cavs head coach Mike Brown says Wizards are now playing very good defense, along with their always terrific offensive game. Yikes. Could be Happy Gilmore in sneakers.
Atlanta: Nice to see a good guy like Mike Woodson get the chance to see his awful young team of the last couple of years, mature enough to become a mediocre young team. Hope he gets the chance to see his Hawks become a good young team. Might not be too far away.
Charlotte: Remember Michael Jordan showed up at practice recently, to encourage his team? Played a little one-on-one with some of the Bobcats? Point guard Jeff McInnis told me that Jordan scored on everyone but him. Does that mean anything of significance to you? Me neither. Thus sums up the Charlotte Bobcats.
Miami: No disrespect to Shaquille O’Neal or Gladys Knight, but I always thought Dwayne Wade and the Pips could play .500 ball. Apparently the Pips have more game than what’s left of the rest of the Heaters. Where are you when South Beach needs you Jason Kapono! Bring back the Glory Days of James Posey! The last time anything tumbled so far, so fast, Evel Kneivel thought jumping the fountains at Caesar’s Palace was a good idea.
CENTRAL
Detroit: Flip Saunders, NBA Coach of the Year. Other than Byron Scott. The Pistons are going to get old, or bored, or both, eventually, aren’t they? This obviously isn’t the year.
Cleveland: No major moves in the off-season. Will there be one by the trading deadline? Slow start for a variety of reasons. Great run since Christmas. If the Cavs can stay reasonably warm until Anderson Varejao, and to a lesser extent, Sasha Pavlovic, return from injuries, they could make another deep run in the playoffs, much to the surprise of many NBA observers.
Indiana: Mike Dunleavy can play! Mike Dunleavy can play! Mike Dunleavy can play! If anyone has seen Jamal Tinsley, please contact Larry Bird, President of Basketball Operatons, Indiana Pacers, 125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204.
Chicago: Yes sir. The Bulls have really become the force in the East that everyone expected them to be. And don’t blame Scott Skiles. Or even John Paxson. Maybe Steve Bartman.
Milwaukee: I really enjoy the Bradley Center. Not too loud, not too busy, not too much hype in game presentation. Not too much solid basketball from the home team either. Wonder if Michael Redd regrets re-signing with the Bucks, rather than jumping to Cleveland a few years ago?
Part II: The Western Conference ... coming soon
Jeff Phelps is the sideline reporter and pre-game and post-game host for
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcasts on FSN Ohio. He has been a sportscaster in Cleveland for 20 years.
