My pal Brian Musto and I recently had a back-and-forth throwing our thoughts on the young NBA season. Here are our incoherent yet sometimes profound thoughts:
Musto:
Hey Roses,
What is wrong with the Lakers?
I'll
tell you whats wrong, Kobe "Hero-Ball-Bean" Bryant is already sick of
his teammates. He is already shooting glances around to people
indicating that people are not playing up to his standards.
Unfortunately for his stare it seems his personal standard includes
playing "Ole" defense and watching Metta World Fleece rip the Lakers off
with his contract. Dwight looks like DeAndre Jordan. Nash's body
already shows major signs of age. Antawn Jamison is pathetic, and Jordan
Hill needs a haircut.
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| Happy Kobe |
P.S. Did you ever notice how many pairs of glasses Mike Brown has?
Fascinating.
Rose:
After DeAndre and Dwight's respective performances last night (11/7), I'd
say Dwight has looked like a poor mans DeAndre... Regardless, this team
needs Nash back, but the defense could continue to be a serious problem.
The spacing has been the most disturbing part, especially with a lineup
that traditionally should fit well together. Mike Brown is part of the
problem, but the Lakers biggest issue stems from my next question:
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THE HEAT DON'T WIN?
Musto:
No. ... I feel so emphatically about that that I almost didn't
write anything else. There are a few reasons they will win it all but
I'll stick to the non-obvious ones (i.e. the T-1000 masquerading around
as a Magic/Larry hybrid.)
We're
avoiding the elephant(s) in the room. My favorite squad (OKC) and your
favorite squad (the 76ers) are each without two vital chips. Luckily for
you, that piece for the 6ers (Bynum) is hurt, while the chip for the
Thunder (Harden) is no longer with the team. Regardless, as Officer
Barbrady would say, "Move along people there's nothing to see here,"
with respect to either of these teams getting in the way of the Heat's
finals chances.
The way the ball
moves when you watch a Heat game is astounding. The open man gets every
shot, almost nothing is forced. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have
played well enough that no one clamors for LeBron to play the 1. Rashard
Lewis has some game left. Spo is the most underrated coach in the
league. Oh yeah, they have LBJ, Wade, Bosh and Ray Allen.
There's no number 2 team in the East. There's the Heat and 7 number 8 seeds.
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| The spread offense... on a basketball court? |
Rose:
My power came back on just in time for me to watch Nets at Heat last
night. LeBron is on another level. And this "Chip Kelly"/"No positions"
offense is incredible. Not to act like like the Nets are the '04 Pistons
on defense, but it doesn't look defendable. Not only does LeBron have a
ton more confidence, but Bosh, Chalmers and Miller understand their
roles and are thriving in them. Sucks to be a fan of any other team.
Your only choice is to sit back and watch what should be a historic
season for what should be an absolute legend.
Musto:
The Knicks are just too old to keep this up right? And there's no way
Mr. Potato Head (Woodson) seamlessly works Amar'e back in the rotation is
there?
Rose:
No, maybe as 6th man which Amar'e won't like anyway. I do love the
way Carmelo has been playing, I just still don't like that team. However the East is wide open, and if they can continue to score, the 2 or 3 seed is conceivable.
Musto:
The 76ers are terrible right now and probably cannot rely on
having a healthy Bynum for the next few weeks. While Jrue Holiday is
racking up high assists totals with the absence of Iguodala and playing
the best ball of his career, the jury remains to be out on Evan Turner.
We do not even need a jury to know what to expect out of Nick Young and
Kwame Brown.
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| Swaggy P (Nick Young) |
OKC
is not the same team, I do not care what anyone says. Kevin Martin will
score because he'll be open but unless Eric Maynor finds 4th quarter
minutes and can control
Westbrook this team could be in trouble. I believe the best team in the
West right now in San Antonio. If not for a ballistic game in the WC
Finals last year by Ibaka and Perkins the Spurs might have hoisted the
trophy. The Lakers are destined for a Jets like implosion. OKC has the
talent but I think they made an awful move.
Let's check back in a month and say the same things to each other because we won't feel differently about the Heat, shall we?
Rose:
I wouldn't say awful, but it was certainly a downgrade and seems unnecessary. I still think that they have the best chance to win the West, but as you said, without valuable 4th quarter minutes from Eric Maynor and legitimate contributions from (gulp) backup center Hasheem Thabeet, they have no chance against the Heat. And even then, they'll probably still lose.
