It’s Christmas, which means family, food, friends, plus a chance to take stock of what’s transpired in the NBA over the first third of this season. If the playoffs were held tomorrow, Memphis, Toronto and Denver would make it, whilst last season’s playoff upstarts Orlando and Phoenix languish at the bottom of the league.
Time and season does not allow much more than a glance at the NBA standings, but with no games until tomorrow, a brief impression of the first 3 months of season 2003/04 is not only possible, it’s a must.
EAST
Playoff Probable
1st Indiana Pacers 21 8 .724
As strong as expected, PG remains an issue though.
2nd New Orleans Hornets 18 11 .621
Floyd and Baron Davis carrying the load sans Mashburn.
3rd Detroit Pistons 16 12 .571
Brown wishes he didn’t leave Philly, until he sees the ‘6ers.
4th Toronto Raptors 14 13 .519
Carter’s star shining, there’s new life in Canadian basketball.
5th New Jersey Nets 14 13 .519
All is not sweetness and light in this backfiring franchise.
6th Milwaukee Bucks 14 14 .500
This team would be last if Karl were still coaching.
7th Philadelphia 76ers 14 14 .500
Happily below the radar, but, as implied, not flying high.
8th Boston Celtics 14 15 .483
Ainge denies trade of Paul Pierce for Rasheed Wallace.
Lottery Likely
9th Miami Heat 11 17 .393
Young team all of a sudden coming together nicely.
10th New York Knicks 10 19 .345
Even if he doesn’t hire himself, Thomas will sack Cheaney.
11th Cleveland Cavaliers 9 19 .321
James as good as advertised, Silas as surly as expected.
12th Washington Wizards 8 18 .308
Missing Gilbert Arenas about as much as they’re missing MJ.
13th Atlanta Hawks 8 22 .267
Only shock of the year is they’re not actually running last.
14th Chicago Bulls 7 20 .259
It’s always trouble when a team relies on Pippen for leadership.
15th Orlando Magic 7 22 .241
Will not be last for long. Yet, Doc Rivers thought that too.
WEST
Playoff Probable
1st LA Lakers 20 6 .769
Deep, talented, and as stong as Karl Malone’s forearms.
2nd Sacramento Kings 20 6 .769
Peja and Miller the cores of a still Webber-less squad.
3rd Minnesota T-Wolves 18 9 .667
KG for MVP
4th San Antonio Spurs 20 10 .667
As reliable as ever, but calmness can be unconvincing.
5th Denver Nuggets 17 11 .607
The year’s most significant success story is no fluke.
6th Houston Rockets 15 12 .556
Couldn’t find points in a massive stack full of needles.
7th Dallas Mavericks 15 12 .556
Still potent, but lacking Van Exel’s backcourt guts.
8th Memphis Grizzlies 15 13 .536
Just how vast is West and Brown’s basketball IQ?
Lottery Likely
9th Utah Jazz 15 13 .536
Sloan’s direction of this team is awesome to witness.
10th Seattle Sonics 13 13 .500
Still in touch with the playoffs despite Allen’s absence.
11th Golden St Warriors 13 13 .500
It’s bad and good when Cliff Robinson’s your best player.
12th Portland Trailblazers 13 13 .500
John Nash still holding his breath in blowing up this team.
13th LA Clippers 11 13 .458
Dunleavy doing an under-appreciated job, good attitude.
14th Phoenix Suns 10 19 .345
The magic of last season’s synergy is long gone.
The season is a long way from over, and the dreams of 29 teams are still able to come true. Afterall, as even the Queen recognises, each of us achieves more as part of a team. Happy Holidays everyone.
What, we miss Arenas as much as we miss MJ?
But…uh…we don’t miss MJ. Unless we miss him screaming at us, sitting on the bench with ice packs on his knees and hitting on our strays in the hotel lobby, that is.
Ahhh, guys?
Last year, we got tonnes of respect from the officials, and despite a weak roster (not my fault) and injuries (not my fault) we finished just 5 games out of the playoffs.
How about you make the postseason without me and then start yapping???
Not your fault?
Weren’t you the GM for two years? That suck ass roster was all you, Mike.
I signed myself for p-nuts purely and simply to give _you_ the playing staff _you_ wanted.
Then, I gave all my mental energies, plus the last micron of knee ligaments, to this team.
You miss me. You know it…
One phantom is more especially crucial than any other today: the shade of Hegel. To drive this phantom back into the night we need a little more light on Marx, or what is the same thing, a little more Marxist light on Hegel himself. We can then escape from the ambiguities and confusions of the ‘inversion’. by online poker
Nice! We rather appreciated the website
Very exceptional pieces of information. Very nice webpage though. I applaud