It seems like every team in the league now employs their own stat guru. And while I’m not one to question the use of all these new statistics to evaluate NBA players (I actually kinda like them), I’m old school.

To me, all the new stats in the world can’t tell the story of an NBA game as well as the good, old fashioned box score.

Therefore, I’m starting a new feature today called “Fun With Box Scores”.

Every Monday, I’ll be posting some of the more interesting things that jumped out at me from the previous week’s box scores.

Continue reading "Fun With Box Scores"

After several hours parked in front of the NBA League Pass for the past two days, it’s time for some first impressions.

The Good

Ty Lawson

How good was he last night? I predicted the Denver Nuggets to be the third best team in the West this season, and that was assuming that Ty Lawson would play like a rookie point guard.

But his 17 points, six assists, and four rebounds, plus very solid fourth quarter minutes in a close game against a decent Utah team, shows that he may be a real X factor for this team moving forward.

Brook Lopez

Lopez was a monster last night, finishing with 27 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. Of course, the Nets lost, mainly because they couldn’t hold off the mighty T’Wolves down the stretch, but it certainly wasn’t because of Lopez.

Continue reading "First Impressions"

The Knicks will take on the Nets tomorow, 2pm, in Albany.It will give all of us, the first glance at the team that will take on this "hump year", one that is sure to leave the fans excited and in a frenzy. If the team makes the playoffs, free agency doesn't feel as bad, but if they miss it, then all the attention turns to attracting, two of the best players in the NBA, to their organization. Bringing back some MSG magic.

I think the team will be able to sneak in the back door of the playoffs this season and probably, take out a team like the Pistons. I'll write down how i think the East will shake out.

Continue reading "Knick of hope"

PG-RAYMOND FELTON 6

SG-RAJA BELL 4

SF- GERALD WALLACE 5

PF-BORIS DIAW 6

C-EMEKA OKAFOR 5

BENCH:

DJ AUGUSTINE 3--V RADMANOVIC 3--J HOWARD 1--D DIOP 1--S MAY, N MOHAMMAD, A AJINCA.

That is a total of 34 wins possibly returning.  Juwoon Howard and Scott May are free agents and are likely to leave.  May had some decent years until last year where he only play  20 something games.  Howard will likely leave to go to a contender before he retires.  If so, the Bobcats will lose a win.  But, they will gain 3 with draft pick Gerald Henderson.  The 12th spot in the draft generates about 3 wins for their team.   So that is plus 2 and moving the team up to 36 wins.  That is one more than last year's 35.  But, figure in playing together for a full year, and that may add more wins.  Also, the development of last year's first rounders Augustine and Ajinca.  Ajinca didn't earn any wins last year and might could move that up one or two as well as Augustine. If they can improve by a total of 3, then Charlotte has 40 wins and a shot to make it to the playoffs.  Howver, all this is must if Felton gets an offer that Charlotte doesn't match.  Felton is a restricted free agent, so Charlotte has the right to match any offers and keep him. If his 6 wins leave, that is devastating for the team.  Spend the money and keep him.  He is worth it.

Continue reading "Bobcats need to keep Felton to improve"

As he wrote, he showed up exactly at 4:30 in his Range Rover, and there were about ten faithful fans waiting, all yelling "The Truth." Mr. Pierce rolled down the window and  hooked up these loyal fans with his box seats and then went onto the court where he not only gave those fans, but all fans, a true show!  He scored 27 points, 20 of which came in the 2nd half being too much for the Thunder, awesome! Boston is behind their players and when they go out of their way like that it makes it all worth it no matter what happens.  Next game is Wednesday, April Fool's Day, 7:30 pm vs Charlotte Bobcats. KG is said to be returning Friday night against Atlanta and his knee sounds like it's getting better; Doc is just trying to rest it. So keep doing your thing Big Baby, and the C's should be good.  Let's go C's.   

Continue reading "The Boston Celtics Truth-be-Told Man"

Davis has been putting 110 % into every play he is involved in.  Davis scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and took an elbow to the head from Kevin Durrant which led to 10 stitches but that did not slow him down at all.  Captain Paul Pierce also stepped up as usual and led the game with 27 points, 20 of which came in the 2nd half.  Rondo and Marbury combined for 19 assists and House scored 16 off the bench which is going to be a huge factor come playoff time!   The final of the game was 103-84 making the C's 55-19 still .600 behind the Magic for the 2 seed.  If the Boston Celtics keep up the energy they played with today and give our starters a rest, they should be looking great heading into the 09 playoffs.  The C's next game is Wednesday, April Fool's Day against 33-40 Charlotte Bobcats at 7:30 so stay tuned; this is only going to get better.  Lets Go Celts!

Continue reading "Boston Celtics 10 Stitches"