Winds of Change (or why trading for Jason Kidd might not matter)

Something pretty exciting in happening in the NBA. Once again, the young folks are taking over. It was about ten years ago that Sheed first started doggin Karl Malone, somewhere around the same time AI broke Michael's ankles, and Shaq started clowning Hakeem, Patrick and the Admiral.

The Shaq-Duncan Decade appears to be on the wane. The aforementioned principals as well as luminaries like Kobe, AI, Kidd, KG, Sheed, CWebb, Dirk, and johnny-come-lately Steve Nash have dominated the post-Jordan era. But just as fried ice cream is a reality, so too is age. All of these cats are in relative states of decay, and the youth is about to serve themselves.

New Orleans DESTROYED San Antonio last week to grab the best record in the West. Chris Paul and the young Hornets are crushing folks at a record pace over the past 8 or 9 games. We all know the Brandon Roy/Trailblazers story. Tens times more so with LeBron. Dwight Howard is straight beasting on the entire League. Chris Bosh is unguardable. Throw in DWade, Melo, and Al Jefferson and we begin to the outline of the next NBA era.

All is not lost for the aged ones, especially as far as team success. The Celts are lead by three thirty somethings, and the own the League's best record. Right behind them in the East are the veteran laden Pistons. Though their regular season struggles are alarming, the Spurs are still a favorite to defend their crown. Phoenix and Dallas both still merit a mention in the Championship mix.

But perhaps more so than it has been since His Airness left the building for the second time, there is room at the top of the NBA for the bold and brazen. The HEAT are clearly done. The Spurs may well repeat this year, but how good will they be next year with an older Duncan? Same for Nashy's Suns, Dirk's Mavs, the Celts and the Pistons.

I have throughly enjoyed the crew of top NBA ballers of the Shaq-Duncan Decade. Guys that didn't even get a mention above -- Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Chauncey Billups, Antoine Walker, Marcus Camby, Vinsanity, Jermaine O'Neal -- all have been spectacular to watch. Ever in Jordan's shadow, these cats played serious ball. And this crew is not done yet. I am just saying that the time to pass the torch will soon be upon us.

Phoenix good - Wolves Better - Big Al Best!

OK, so I guess calling people out publicly must work. The Wolves have won 2 in a row -- a huge milestone for this young team! I'd better get these posts in quick, before it all goes to hell.

The Suns were coming off a back to back -- and Nash was out on the floor shooting for at least an hour and a half before the game: Free throw after free throw. 3 after 3. The net barely moved most of the time he was practicing. He shoots so effortlessly, it was a thing of beauty. I was admiring the time he put into practicing, when he's already one of the best...then I thought, what a great cycle to be caught up in...I'd practice a lot too, if it went in that often! The Wolves made the mistake of leaving him alone a few times on the perimeter, and Nash punished them every time.

Then Rashad McCants would lapse on his man Raja Bell, and the ball would get in his hands for more 3s. You don't want Raja to get hot. After the first couple series Coach Whittman had seen enough. He sends Corey Brewer to the scorers' table. McCants comes out at the next whistle. He tries to sulk over to the end of the bench, but Whit makes him sit right next to him...cusses him out a couple minutes, then sends him back in for Brewer at the next whistle. Not punishing with the hook. Not a new rotation. Just a good talking-to.

The Suns went up early -- 10 to 2. Then the Wolves woke up and started to hustle, and they were tied with 5 minutes left in the first quarter. The Suns started resting their starters pretty quick -- Grant Hill just getting back from his surgery played light minutes. The Suns played what seemed like a lot of DJ Strawberry and Barbosa at important times in the game, and rested Nash (although the box score only shows 5 minutes for Strawberry). And the Wolves lead got to 20 in the first half. Neither Amare or Principal Skinner's goatee could guard Al Jefferson -- No one could. Big Al had 39 for a career high.

Here's what I love about Al Jefferson: He does whatever it takes to score. Even with several dudes draped over him, he is like a vine, going towards the light with the ball -- using whatever move is necessary to get up and around his man and put the ball into the hole. And he has so many moves. Then, if it is rattling around after his shot or one of his teammates shoots, he does the same thing to get rebounds.

Ryan Gomes has been getting a lot of boards too -- and the offensive boards were a HUGE difference in this game. The Wolves had so many 2nd chances in the first half...it didn't matter if they converted them or not. It kept the ball out of the hands of the Suns' potent offense. And when the Suns would finally get the ball, they would sometimes rush and uncharactaristically turn the ball over. Gomes was quiet in December, but has turned into the player that had Boston buzzing last year (even though we should've drafted him over Bracey Wright in the first place).

The Wolves held AGAIN in the 4th to beat the Suns for the second time this year, prompting the guy I sit next to, David, to say, "Gee, I wish we could play the Suns EVERY game." Hilarious!

The Wolves still have a lot to prove -- especially Randy Foye when he comes back. The draft day trade with Portland looked bad at the time, and looks like a huge screw-up now. But what I like about Foye was his ability to score and make big plays in the 4th quarter. We'll see if he can come through again soon. He's sat in at the broadcast table with Jim Pete and Hanny a couple times this year...and I was really impressed with the things he noticed about the game, and his eye for what worked and what didn't. Hopefully that will translate to the court very soon, and I can pull for Roy without feeling bad for another missed opportunity by the hometown squad.

Freezing Temperatures Fail to Stop Wolves' Bleeding

So which is worse -- a team with expectations like the Bulls have a losing season, or watching a team with seemingly no expectations like the Wolves drop like a rock to 5 and 40? (sorry, rounding up in light of upcoming games...)

I sympathize with Bulls fans. They had a rough stretch after the Jordan years, and just thought they were back in the middle of things. Not so fast! They stumbled hard out of the gate this year, and even now that they've evened it out a little, they remain well under .500.

But -- a little perspective. Try sitting and watching 10 Wolves home games...then through the miracle of DVR watching most of the rest. Sad like one of those religious fanatics who flog themselves thinking they'll get closer to God. Maybe I should've enjoyed my first year of cable TV when the Wolves were still good.

Ironwood, you were right to call us out, but there's your answer to the lack of posts. You and the Green have winning teams to enjoy, Flip, KG, Chauncey. You really want to hear about the Wolves' problems? OK. I haven't posted much about the Wolves since I saw hope in the opening game (which featured a healthy Theo Ratliff, and the expectation of Randy Foye coming back relatively soon. Me and the Shooters are still waiting on that one.)

Not much has changed since then. The Wolves have had bright spots and growing pains...and enough of the latter in enough games to tip the balance WAAAAY into the loss category. Most of the losses are like that first game -- not blowouts, but close enough that you'd think they could pull it out at least a little more often, which adds to the frustration. Al Jefferson has been better than I expected at least, but the team has been worse. Thank God for Britt Robson, for saying what needs saying and telling it in a way that makes for great reading anyway.

The best Wolves game I saw was when they beat Phoenix. I'll confess, I almost posted to this blog how lopsided it was going to be in favor of the Suns, but ran out of time and had to get to the game. Then, when I looked out and saw how every single Phoenix player was better than the Wolves player at the same position. Scary! But great games by Jaric, and foul trouble for Amare, and some lucky missed 3s by Steve Nash, and suddenly I had to blink...the Wolves didn't give up their lead? (That's been one of the most consistent of their inconsistencies.) Wow! I will say that when a team like the Wolves beats a team as good as the Suns, the win is pretty sweet.

The last victory against Miami showed me how much trouble the Heat are in, and the Wolves SHOULD be beating teams like that. But the Wolves' wealth of experience at giving games away almost killed them. They frittered away a big lead by trying to let the shot clock win the game for them -- it seemed like McCants (who had shot 10-13 in the first half) took every shot off one foot, from 8 feet behind the line feeling like he had done his job by wasting 23 seconds. Great. Inspiring. But thanks to some clutch plays by Ryan Gomes, the Wolves persevered.

So -- if the Bulls are so bad...lets see how they do against the Wolves next week. They have back to backs, one in Chicago and one in Minneapolis. If they split, I will say that yes the Bulls are in trouble. If the Bulls win 'em both -- quit whining about your team! At least they win games, and are 2 games closer to .500.

Other tidbits from Target Center:

• Scuttlebutt is that Corey Brewer asked for a trade. Seriously! They sure do learn 'em young these days. Why don't you learn to shoot first, kid! Or at least show a little fire, like former teammate Joakim.
  
• A feel good story -- the guy who directs the videoboards and dancers and music, Chadwick, was once an upper-deck chump like most of us. But he would e-mail the team his suggestions about how the entertainment aspects should go, and about how the howdy-doodie announcer should do stuff like chant DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE when the pups need a big stop. So they gave him a job! Now he sits courtside and runs the show -- (in Wolves purgatory, granted. But...Nice! Go Chadwick!)
  

And where is KG in the sorry state of the Wolves? He always said he'd bleed blue and green. Well -- is this painful for him, or is he just glad to be gone? Is he still in touch with people from the organization? How closely is he watching? And what will he wear to the Hall of Fame?

I'm sure we'll hear more about it as the February matchup between Wolves and Celtics approaches. Thankfully I will be far away in the rainforests of Corcovado then, where even the Yahoo Swiss can't find me. I'm sure that if we're really quiet that night, and the mosquitoes stop buzzing, Michelle and I will hear the opening ovation of Target Center fans who now realize that KG was all that stood between us and this.

Will they ever win again?

Staring a 12-game losing streak in the face, you gotta think that the HEAT thought they were going to handle the pitiful Knicks. Sure Miami had just dropped two in a row at home, but NY hadn't won but 3 road games all season.

Make that 4. Rookie un-sensation Daequan Cook airballed a three in the closing seconds that coulda, woulda, shoulda tied the game. Disgraceful.

Miami sucks. It was clear from the word go that Riley mortgaged the HEAT future for a chance for a Shaq-led Championship. Riley got what he wanted. Unfortunately, the HEAT's future is now. They are awful in every sense. Poor defense, bad shot selection and a general tendency to do the wrong thing at the worst time. Shaq's contract is horrible. Somehow he defense is worse. The one-time MDE an absolute liability on the floor. Wade remains spectacular. But with such a weak team, he is essentially irrelevant on the League landscape. Weird, right?

Sympathy for the young crazy Bull

No not Noah!

My main urinary brother JamesOn Curry. Here's a little of Four Beers and Tree redux.

Packer fans

Smart Son Bad Dad!

UPDATE

Here's the kind of fun loving good sportsmanship that makes Wisconsin such a fine place.

29 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers

Good god man, you call yourself an NBA team? What has happened to the Bulls!!??

We are in full fledged basketball freakout here in Chicago this week. With the Bears no where near the playoffs and hockey a memory of distant decades, the Bulls are getting full attention and it is ugly.

If you have been busy paying attention to winning teams, apparently Joakim Noah nearly went Latrell Sprewell on an assistant coach. The team suspended him for a game and was ready to move on until team leaders Ben Wallace and Adrian Griffin called a closed door players meeting.

Ben Wallace came out of the room to announce the team had unanimously voted to suspend Noah for a second game. This is where is gets crazy - both Boylan and Paxton went along with the mutiny.

Feeling his leadership oats, Ben Wallace goes on to be inconsequential in losses to both Atlanta and Orlando.

It kills me to watch LaMarcus Aldridge succeeding while Tyrus Thomas sits on the bench and PJ Brown is out of the league while Tyson Chandler is averaging 31 moonball points per game for a playoff team. Ouch.

Jalen, How I Love Thee

Some of the athlete-turned-sports-blogger columns that ESPN runs on their website have been pretty flimsy both in content and style. But if Jalen Rose can keep cranking of gems like his Checking the Disappointment Book piece, I will quickly change my opinion.

Here is my favorite part:

"3. New York Knicks -- When I play as them on the video game "NBA Live", they can compete against the Spurs, the Suns, anyone. I know my PlayStation3. The Knicks are as good as anyone in that game.

On the court, success has been harder to come by."

That sh*t is beautiful. His explanation of why players like to start in the Bulls entry is also great stuff.

p.s. How bout that crush job Portland put on GState? I am watching these games in amazement.

Great Game Pt 2! (plus Blaze in Tie for Division Lead)

As with their first meeting, the Celts and the Pistons played a superb game last night. Despite the Conference Championships won by the Cavs and the Heat over the past two seasons, Detroit clearly views themselves as the team to beat in the East. Their chemistry, poise, swagger and ability to make big plays on both sides of the ball distinguish the Pistons as one of the League's elites.

Enough has been said about the Celtic's credential and potential. They have the NBA's best record and arguably the best defense. Boston has as much offensive fire power as anybody with the their three stars and maturing group of role players. Be that as it may, they have yet to play a post-season game. As Sheed was correctly stating in pre-game interviews, the Celts have yet to establish an identity.

Well, its still January, and so as C's fan I can only get so excited about Boston's comeback in Auburn Hills. But whatta a game! The C's jumped out to an early lead until KG picked up his second foul. Then Detroit laid an 8 minute beat down on Boston, pushing out a 12 point lead. With KG, Tony Allen and Big Baby on the floor in second quarter, Boston crawled back into the game, leading to a see-saw for the last 30 minutes of regulation. Taking the only thing the Detroit D would give him, Paul Pierce spent the fourth quarter penetrating with the dribble and finding the big rookie Davis for an assortment of lay ups from the baseline.

These guys are playing very high-level, competitive basketball. The Pistons D was phenomenal, especially Rip Hamilton blanketing fellow Husky alum Ray Allen. Both benches played big, with Boston's coming through down the stretch. . . much like the Piston's bench game through in the first game. Can't wait til their third meeting. And lets all hope we get a 7 game spectacular this Spring.

In other news, Portland waxed the last team to beat them, division rival Utah. The Blaze crew has won 16 of 17. They clowned the Jazz without the service of emerging star Brandon Roy after the first quarter (he got beat up in the double OT victory over the Bulls). LaMarcus Aldridge was huge offensively in the first half, and then in the 3rd quarter, with the Blazers trailing by 2-3 baskets, Martell Webster EXPLODED for 24 points. Jumpers, post ups: Sickness. I had just watched Big Baby's 16 fourth quarter points versus Detroit, and I thought that was a show.

Blazers are going places this year. Insane!

p.s. Just before I wrote this, I watched LeBron score 24 STRAIGHT to lead an improbable comeback over the Raps in Toronto. Sorta puts Big Baby and Martell in perspective, cause somehow LeBron's heroics don't seem surprising.

Celts First Western Loss Pool

Put up your money and double your joy when the Celts lose for the first time out west.

$1 is the cost of a marker.

I'll start by taking Portland on 1/16.

All winners split the whole pot. A card layed is a card played. Notices must be posted before the start of games that day.

What will your day be?

Vote early and often, it only costs a dollar.

Let the Good Times Roll