As many of you know, I live for NBA basketball. But I know that there are plenty of people out there who live for NBA basketball even more than I do. So when I decided I wanted to have a weekly NBA column here on the site, I knew just who to go to!!
So, welcome to the first edition of “Roundball Soundoff”. It’s written by my buddy Jay, who runs the excellent “Brink of Sanity” podcast as well as a New York Knicks podcast (and God, bless him for that). Jay will be alternating columns every week with my friend Khendra, offering commentary on happenings within the league. Enjoy and please leave feedback in the comments section!
• The preferential treatment of stars by refs has to stop. Earlier in the game Nate Robinson got a technical after a foul was called on him by slightly raising his palms up. No words and no facial expressions. In the 4th quarter LeBron gets called for a foul and looks right at the ref and yells ‘Are you kidding me?’ three times. There has to be some consistency in these calls. I know people want to see the stars on the court but fouls and technicals need be called equally for everyone unless the NBA’s goal is to become the WWE. Also, does Erik Spoelstra have fake teeth? Because no human beings’ teeth are that white.
• Landry Fields is under a lot of people’s radars right now, but he’s quietly become a top 3 rookie so far this year.
• Boston has Miami’s number this year and as currently constructed, barring injuries, I don’t see that changing for the playoffs.
• Why do GM’s always pick the ‘big man with potential’ over the ‘sure thing’? Greg Oden is out for the year….for the 3rd time in 4 years. In 2009 we saw Hasheem Thabeet drafted at #2; who ended up in the D league within months. From 2001-2003 the #1 draft picks were Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic and Yao Ming.
Darko is playing well this season but all can be considered busts at the #1 pick. I get the allure of taking a chance at a big man and looking like a genius, but the majority of the time it just doesn’t work.
• Most people are writing them off, but the Phoenix Suns are going to be better than everyone expects this year.
11 comments
GG says:
Nov 22, 2010
Yay! An NBA column!
The technical foul business is so stupid. I’m not sure if it’s more star treatment (though it has to be some) rather than referees interpretation of the rule and patience level. As I watch my Warriors, I’m going to look for it more to see if it’s per ref or per player more so.
After the Thabeet deal, I think they finally wised up. Look at Greg Monroe. A team could’ve easily taken him in the top 5 just based on his size. However, I think they’re are going to be many more screw ups. In a league where there is one dominant center and only a few very good ones, GMs will take chances on size.
I do hope the Suns pick it up and contend because if not, I have a feeling they may deal Nash.
blerd says:
Nov 22, 2010
The West is way too crowded for the Suns to seriously compete, I think. I say they cut their losses, deal Nash and rebuild. That dude deserves a ring, man.
GG says:
Nov 22, 2010
@blerd
Send my man to Portland already.
blerd says:
Nov 22, 2010
Their players are dropping like flies. They could certainly use him.
Khendra says:
Nov 22, 2010
So true on the big man gamble. A lot of teams think they need a potentially dominant big man to win, but you would think the 1990s Chicago Bulls proved that to be completely unnecessary! The modern era is all about swingmen and versatility – most of the league’s most talented, all-around players are guys ranging from 6’6″ to 6’9″, and they are usually the ones to build teams around. After all, for every Tim Duncan, there are many more Odens out there.
For my own purposes, though, I’m sure glad Portland took Oden, because my Thunder wouldn’t be that great right now without Durant. 🙂
GG says:
Nov 22, 2010
If Brandon Roy’s minutes can be limited because of his knee, and they could add Nash, they’d jump from around 6 or 7, right into the top 4.
blerd says:
Nov 22, 2010
Yeah, but could they jump past the Lakers and the Thunder?
Jay says:
Nov 23, 2010
Even with Nash they’re going to need to find a big man that can stay on the court. They are down to 1 big man who is old and has a long history of injury. Big teams like the Lakers and Jazz will tear them apart in a 7 game series.
blerd says:
Nov 23, 2010
Well, the Lakers have fragile bigs too, so I think that’s a moot point as far as they’re concerned.
Utah would kill them.
GG says:
Nov 23, 2010
@blerd
Oh, I completely agree that the Lakers and Utah would kill a Nash driven Portland team. But to me, they kill everyone so it doesn’t matter. I just don’t want to see Nash out of the playoffs. The playoffs are better with Steve Nash.
And Khendra, you’re right about the big man thing and it’s so odd that people still take stiff bigs.
blerd says:
Nov 23, 2010
It’s an old-school mentality among the GMs regarding big men. Eventually, the young blood will thin that method of thinking out.