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NBA notebook: A look at the best and worst of the 2005-06 season so far
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, December 18, 2005
One-fourth of the NBA season is history, so it's early, but it's not that early. There are enough dunks and turnovers under the bridge to see which players and teams are doing it big and/or small.
Ballers and shot callers (NBA's best team) - Detroit Pistons. They have the best record despite playing the fewest home games. Depth might be a problem down the road, but in Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, the best backcourt is right here.
Meanwhile, the Pistons remain an athletic and aggressive defensive team that challenges shots.
Honorable mention: San Antonio Spurs. Tim Duncan is receiving more offensive help this season from point guard Tony Parker, and an ankle injury to Manu Ginobili has been offset by the acquisition of free agent Michael Finley.
Also, don't forget the Miami Heat. With or without Pat Riley at the helm, the Heat with Shaquille O'Neal will be a playoff force. There is too much talent around O'Neal for the Heat not to cause problems for the Pistons or the Indiana Pacers, if Miami can get its act together.
Big Willie Award (Most Valuable Player) - Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers. Brand excels in every aspect of the game, and, with imported veteran guards Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell, the power forward appears capable of leading the Clippers to their first playoff berth since 1997.
Honorable mention: Duncan, San Antonio. No mention of high value is complete without his name. Marcus Camby, Denver. The NBA's leading rebounder also blocks shots and scores.
Bill Belichick Award (best coach) - Avery Johnson, Dallas. Maybe not since K.C. Jones took over the Boston Celtics from Bill Fitch in 1983 has an African American coach had such a talented team. Johnson, though, has improved the Mavericks' defense.
Honorable mention: Mike Dunleavy, Clippers. Unless it was foreseen that the Clip Squad would be atop or near the top of the Pacific Division - and it wasn't here - Dunleavy has to get some love. In his starting backcourt alone, he has two interesting and unique personalities in Mobley and Cassell.
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio. All he does is win quietly. He treats every player the same, so he'll go off on Duncan or Sean Marks, the former Cal kid from New Zealand.
Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers. Look at the roster and the record.
Annual Michael Jordan I've Got To Spend More Time With My Family Award - Stan Van Gundy, Miami. The award usually goes to a player, e.g. Jordan, who retires to spend more time with his family but always seemed to be doing something else (serving as the Wizards' president, playing as the Wizards' captain and playing baseball). Van Gundy isn't likely to be all over the place like MJ, but you still have to wonder about the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Public Enemy Believe the Hype Award - Dwyane Wade, Heat. The kid is the truth. He plays as hard as granite and continues to improve as a perimeter shooter. His first step is explosive, and if you don't get help from your back line, you are in trouble.
Honorable mention: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks. Kobe Bryant, Lakers.
Richard Pryor Award - Ron Artest, Indiana. Who is damaging his career like this young homey, with all due respect to Terrell Owens? Ron-Ron, no one can do it better than you, dawg.
Give Up The Ducats Award - Bryant, Lakers. Say what you want about him, but if you had to shell out money to watch one player, it would be Bryant. The guy is the most potent offensive perimeter player in the game. He's a big Allen Iverson, a relentless attacker and great clutch shooter.
Honorable mention: Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers. Wade. Billups. Steve Nash, Phoenix.
Fundamentals, gentlemen
Here's an example of what drives coaches crazy: The Milwaukee Bucks lead 92-82 in Boston with six minutes to play. They get a steal, and guard Mo Williams leads the fast break. Williams decides to throw an alley-oop to 6-foot point guard T.J. Ford.
Noooooooooooooooooo! The pass didn't work, and somehow Bucks coach Terry Stotts did not throttle Williams.
The concept is knowing the time and score. In that situation, set up the offense, run a set and try to get a good shot.
What's in a name?
"Thumbs up-23." It's the name of a play, but why does it have to be like that? What happened to No. 5? It's not as if teams don't know what plays are called. There have been players who know other teams' offenses so well, they have told their opponents where they are supposed to go. And, of course, some players need that help because they can't remember or don't know their offenses.
Getting defensive
Matt Barnes is back with the 76ers and goes against Kyle Korver in practice. If Korver ever grows up, he'll become Peja Stojakovic, whom Barnes went against in practice when he was with the Kings.
Numbers game
* Five teams were averaging fewer than 90 points per game entering Friday. Among those were Houston, expected to be one of the West's top teams, and Memphis, one of the NBA's top teams despite a three-game losing streak that ended Saturday night.
* Seven players were averaging more than 20 field-goal attempts per game entering the weekend. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (26.6) and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson (26.1) were the only ones averaging more than 22.
* The Phoenix Suns led the NBA in assists per game at 26.1 entering Friday's action. Impressive in its own right, but the opponents of Phoenix, still playing without the injured Amare Stoudamire, were averaging just 15.7 assists. Detroit's plus-4.3 assists advantage was the next highest.
* During the early days of the season, Sacramento was one of the league's worst-shooting teams. Entering this weekend, the Kings' 46.8 percent field-goal shooting was second only to San Antonio's 47.5 percent.
* Of the NBA's top 15 rebounders, only No. 3, Spurs power forward/center Tim Duncan, is listed as a seven-footer. Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, the 10th-best rebounder, should be the second. He's actually a 7-footer but prefers to be listed at 6-11.
* Nobody is averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, as Garnett has in each of the past six seasons. Larry Bird is the only other player to do it five straight times. Garnett is very close, averaging 22.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
Rim shots
* Gary Payton, 37, can't stop on-ball penetration as he once could, nor can he finish around the basket like back in the day, but he sure hasn't lost the ability or desire to talk and play ball simultaneously.
* Very nice to see Orlando's veteran, oft-injured small forward, Grant Hill, return to action. Hill, 33, has missed much of the season following Oct. 31 surgery to repair a sports hernia. During the 1999-2000 season with Detroit, Hill averaged a career-high 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He also injured his ankle at the end of that season and never has been the same.
* Entering play Saturday, no team in the Atlantic Division or the Southeast Division had a .500 road record.
* Shareef Abdur-Rahim goes right so often, like on every touch, he has no future as a race-car driver. However, he had the league's third-highest field-goal percentage at 54.6 entering Friday night's action.
* The word has been the Eastern Conference is becoming dominant, but that's not what it looks like from here. Those four teams with a sub-.300 winning percentage somewhat cancel out Detroit's excellence and the potential of Miami with Shaquille O'Neal.
* Former Kings and Seattle Sonics center Jerome James took the $30 million of free-agent money and ran to the New York Knicks. Now, James, who has played in just 10 of New York's 23 games, might leave town on Greyhound. That's a bus for you youngsters.
About the writer:
The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
NBA notebook: A look at the best and worst of the 2005-06 season so far
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, December 18, 2005
One-fourth of the NBA season is history, so it's early, but it's not that early. There are enough dunks and turnovers under the bridge to see which players and teams are doing it big and/or small.
Ballers and shot callers (NBA's best team) - Detroit Pistons. They have the best record despite playing the fewest home games. Depth might be a problem down the road, but in Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, the best backcourt is right here.
Meanwhile, the Pistons remain an athletic and aggressive defensive team that challenges shots.
Honorable mention: San Antonio Spurs. Tim Duncan is receiving more offensive help this season from point guard Tony Parker, and an ankle injury to Manu Ginobili has been offset by the acquisition of free agent Michael Finley.
Also, don't forget the Miami Heat. With or without Pat Riley at the helm, the Heat with Shaquille O'Neal will be a playoff force. There is too much talent around O'Neal for the Heat not to cause problems for the Pistons or the Indiana Pacers, if Miami can get its act together.
Big Willie Award (Most Valuable Player) - Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers. Brand excels in every aspect of the game, and, with imported veteran guards Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell, the power forward appears capable of leading the Clippers to their first playoff berth since 1997.
Honorable mention: Duncan, San Antonio. No mention of high value is complete without his name. Marcus Camby, Denver. The NBA's leading rebounder also blocks shots and scores.
Bill Belichick Award (best coach) - Avery Johnson, Dallas. Maybe not since K.C. Jones took over the Boston Celtics from Bill Fitch in 1983 has an African American coach had such a talented team. Johnson, though, has improved the Mavericks' defense.
Honorable mention: Mike Dunleavy, Clippers. Unless it was foreseen that the Clip Squad would be atop or near the top of the Pacific Division - and it wasn't here - Dunleavy has to get some love. In his starting backcourt alone, he has two interesting and unique personalities in Mobley and Cassell.
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio. All he does is win quietly. He treats every player the same, so he'll go off on Duncan or Sean Marks, the former Cal kid from New Zealand.
Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers. Look at the roster and the record.
Annual Michael Jordan I've Got To Spend More Time With My Family Award - Stan Van Gundy, Miami. The award usually goes to a player, e.g. Jordan, who retires to spend more time with his family but always seemed to be doing something else (serving as the Wizards' president, playing as the Wizards' captain and playing baseball). Van Gundy isn't likely to be all over the place like MJ, but you still have to wonder about the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Public Enemy Believe the Hype Award - Dwyane Wade, Heat. The kid is the truth. He plays as hard as granite and continues to improve as a perimeter shooter. His first step is explosive, and if you don't get help from your back line, you are in trouble.
Honorable mention: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks. Kobe Bryant, Lakers.
Richard Pryor Award - Ron Artest, Indiana. Who is damaging his career like this young homey, with all due respect to Terrell Owens? Ron-Ron, no one can do it better than you, dawg.
Give Up The Ducats Award - Bryant, Lakers. Say what you want about him, but if you had to shell out money to watch one player, it would be Bryant. The guy is the most potent offensive perimeter player in the game. He's a big Allen Iverson, a relentless attacker and great clutch shooter.
Honorable mention: Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers. Wade. Billups. Steve Nash, Phoenix.
Fundamentals, gentlemen
Here's an example of what drives coaches crazy: The Milwaukee Bucks lead 92-82 in Boston with six minutes to play. They get a steal, and guard Mo Williams leads the fast break. Williams decides to throw an alley-oop to 6-foot point guard T.J. Ford.
Noooooooooooooooooo! The pass didn't work, and somehow Bucks coach Terry Stotts did not throttle Williams.
The concept is knowing the time and score. In that situation, set up the offense, run a set and try to get a good shot.
What's in a name?
"Thumbs up-23." It's the name of a play, but why does it have to be like that? What happened to No. 5? It's not as if teams don't know what plays are called. There have been players who know other teams' offenses so well, they have told their opponents where they are supposed to go. And, of course, some players need that help because they can't remember or don't know their offenses.
Getting defensive
Matt Barnes is back with the 76ers and goes against Kyle Korver in practice. If Korver ever grows up, he'll become Peja Stojakovic, whom Barnes went against in practice when he was with the Kings.
Numbers game
* Five teams were averaging fewer than 90 points per game entering Friday. Among those were Houston, expected to be one of the West's top teams, and Memphis, one of the NBA's top teams despite a three-game losing streak that ended Saturday night.
* Seven players were averaging more than 20 field-goal attempts per game entering the weekend. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (26.6) and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson (26.1) were the only ones averaging more than 22.
* The Phoenix Suns led the NBA in assists per game at 26.1 entering Friday's action. Impressive in its own right, but the opponents of Phoenix, still playing without the injured Amare Stoudamire, were averaging just 15.7 assists. Detroit's plus-4.3 assists advantage was the next highest.
* During the early days of the season, Sacramento was one of the league's worst-shooting teams. Entering this weekend, the Kings' 46.8 percent field-goal shooting was second only to San Antonio's 47.5 percent.
* Of the NBA's top 15 rebounders, only No. 3, Spurs power forward/center Tim Duncan, is listed as a seven-footer. Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, the 10th-best rebounder, should be the second. He's actually a 7-footer but prefers to be listed at 6-11.
* Nobody is averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, as Garnett has in each of the past six seasons. Larry Bird is the only other player to do it five straight times. Garnett is very close, averaging 22.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
Rim shots
* Gary Payton, 37, can't stop on-ball penetration as he once could, nor can he finish around the basket like back in the day, but he sure hasn't lost the ability or desire to talk and play ball simultaneously.
* Very nice to see Orlando's veteran, oft-injured small forward, Grant Hill, return to action. Hill, 33, has missed much of the season following Oct. 31 surgery to repair a sports hernia. During the 1999-2000 season with Detroit, Hill averaged a career-high 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He also injured his ankle at the end of that season and never has been the same.
* Entering play Saturday, no team in the Atlantic Division or the Southeast Division had a .500 road record.
* Shareef Abdur-Rahim goes right so often, like on every touch, he has no future as a race-car driver. However, he had the league's third-highest field-goal percentage at 54.6 entering Friday night's action.
* The word has been the Eastern Conference is becoming dominant, but that's not what it looks like from here. Those four teams with a sub-.300 winning percentage somewhat cancel out Detroit's excellence and the potential of Miami with Shaquille O'Neal.
* Former Kings and Seattle Sonics center Jerome James took the $30 million of free-agent money and ran to the New York Knicks. Now, James, who has played in just 10 of New York's 23 games, might leave town on Greyhound. That's a bus for you youngsters.
About the writer:
The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
