| 04 December 2010
Questions for the next week in the NBA! Asked by Jeff over at Hoops Manifesto... including Rob's (brumbygg) responses too.
1) While a lot was made of the crowd's hostile reaction to LeBron's return to Cleveland, a sub-plot came to light during the game - LeBron's constant fraternizing with the Cavs bench while the game was on. Do you have a problem with players from opposing teams openly being buddy-buddy with one another while the game is on?
Don: Word is now that it wasn't actually friendly... but I wouldn't have a problem with it if it were 'real'. For that to be true, he'd be that way win, lose or draw. And LeBron has a long history of being petulant and angry when losing - just see his reactions to previous seasons' losses in ECFs to Boston/Orlando. It's BS, it's a ploy... and it's not sincere.
I guarantee you one thing: you will never see Kobe Bryant making overtly friendly gestures towards an opponent during a game. Hell, after a game's even unlikely.
Rob: Happy to see a 'welcome back' before the game or an 'I didn't mean all those mean things I said about you, Kobe', and a 'well played, we'll beat you next time' after the game, but it was all a bit "chummy" during the Heat/Cavs game. It should be all about business from the first tip off to the last whistle. Maybe it was all part of LBJ's plan because the Cavs were pretty ineffective against him in particular.
2) NBA.com has Dwight Howard ranked as its leader in the MVP race. Agree or disagree?
Don: Disagree. It's a bit early to make the call, and honestly - until he's not a hindrance at the end of games to the Magic (with his FT% - at a career low 54%), then I'll never consider him a true MVP candidate. And don't go there on the "Shaq's FT% was awful too" argument. Howard's never been any where near the dominant beast that Shaq was in his MVP-winning halcyon days.
Rob: Disagree. He's the best C playing in the East right now, but his upsides don't overcome his weaknesses unlike Shaq in his prime. There are players doing more to help their teams right now that Superman. CP3, Gasol and Rondo to name but 3.
3) Which team so far's record is the most misleading (either postively or negatively)?
Don: Going to go with Chicago here, I think they're a MUCH better team than their record indicates.
Rob: Well, who thought the Clippers would be 4-16 at this stage? Oh, everyone. But seriously, the Spurs have been very quick out of the blocks this season, much more so than I would have expected. I'm also surprised at the collective record of the Central division (37-54 at the time of writing).
4) Game of the week - pick the winner: Wed, Dec 8th - Miami @ Utah
Don: Utah. Transcendent point guard, plus more than competent big men, plus unrest behind the scenes at Miami, plus an absolutely rabid ESA crowd equals an eleven point win to the Jazz.
Rob: Miami are starting to click. Heat by 10.
1) While a lot was made of the crowd's hostile reaction to LeBron's return to Cleveland, a sub-plot came to light during the game - LeBron's constant fraternizing with the Cavs bench while the game was on. Do you have a problem with players from opposing teams openly being buddy-buddy with one another while the game is on?
Don: Word is now that it wasn't actually friendly... but I wouldn't have a problem with it if it were 'real'. For that to be true, he'd be that way win, lose or draw. And LeBron has a long history of being petulant and angry when losing - just see his reactions to previous seasons' losses in ECFs to Boston/Orlando. It's BS, it's a ploy... and it's not sincere.
I guarantee you one thing: you will never see Kobe Bryant making overtly friendly gestures towards an opponent during a game. Hell, after a game's even unlikely.
Rob: Happy to see a 'welcome back' before the game or an 'I didn't mean all those mean things I said about you, Kobe', and a 'well played, we'll beat you next time' after the game, but it was all a bit "chummy" during the Heat/Cavs game. It should be all about business from the first tip off to the last whistle. Maybe it was all part of LBJ's plan because the Cavs were pretty ineffective against him in particular.
2) NBA.com has Dwight Howard ranked as its leader in the MVP race. Agree or disagree?
Don: Disagree. It's a bit early to make the call, and honestly - until he's not a hindrance at the end of games to the Magic (with his FT% - at a career low 54%), then I'll never consider him a true MVP candidate. And don't go there on the "Shaq's FT% was awful too" argument. Howard's never been any where near the dominant beast that Shaq was in his MVP-winning halcyon days.
Rob: Disagree. He's the best C playing in the East right now, but his upsides don't overcome his weaknesses unlike Shaq in his prime. There are players doing more to help their teams right now that Superman. CP3, Gasol and Rondo to name but 3.
3) Which team so far's record is the most misleading (either postively or negatively)?
Don: Going to go with Chicago here, I think they're a MUCH better team than their record indicates.
Rob: Well, who thought the Clippers would be 4-16 at this stage? Oh, everyone. But seriously, the Spurs have been very quick out of the blocks this season, much more so than I would have expected. I'm also surprised at the collective record of the Central division (37-54 at the time of writing).
4) Game of the week - pick the winner: Wed, Dec 8th - Miami @ Utah
Don: Utah. Transcendent point guard, plus more than competent big men, plus unrest behind the scenes at Miami, plus an absolutely rabid ESA crowd equals an eleven point win to the Jazz.
Rob: Miami are starting to click. Heat by 10.
