NBA Musings

The Nets Winless Watch 2009: O-fer fifteen. After whiffing against the Knicks, their Friday game against Sacramento presents another possible win. If they lose their next two, they tie the record for worst winless start to a season at 0-17. If there’s any bright spot in the Nets’ season, their defense has been solid, ranking as a top-ten unit in the league.

Home fryes: Channing Frye has never been hesistant to hoist the long mid-range jumper, for better or worse, but by increasing his range to the three point line, he has dramatically increased his value. It doesn’t hurt that he is making them at a 44% clip. He’s now attempted more 3’s this season than the rest of his career.

The other new Buck: Buried under all the talk of Brandon Jennings has been another surprising start by a Bucks newcomer, Ersan Ilyasova. After having a cup of coffee in the league three years ago, he played for FC Barcelona in Europe for two years, honing his game and developing into a strong rebounder and a three point shooter who can spread the floor. He’s started the last five games for the Bucks, taking over Hakim Warrick’s spot in the lineup, and boasts a robust 19 PER so far in the season.

Endurance: I have to give credit to the Golden State Warriors for one of the most impressive wins of the season. Playing with just six men, they beat Dallas on the road with Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, and Vladimir Radmanovic playing all 48 minutes. The team has been more competitive after the Stephen Jackson trade, losing close games to Cleveland and San Antonio, and beating Portland and Dallas. And although Jackson had value as a playmaker, he still loved to shoot, inefficiently, and taking away all those shot attempts and redistributing some of those to more effective scorers like Morrow, Maggette, and Curry has to help. The team should be even better once Biedrens and Turiaf return to shore up their front court situation. Anthony Morrow has quickly developed into one of my favorite players to watch play. He just knows how to move off the ball better than 99% of the players in the league, and you have to love his jumper. It’s a testament to the hard work he’s put in since graduating from Georgia Tech. As an avid follower of ACC basketball, I would have never guessed two years ago after Morrow’s last college game that he would even make it to the NBA, let alone be a legimate starter and arguably the best shooter in the league.

Trouble in paradise: What’s wrong with the Spurs? After the offseason additions of Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess, and Dejuan Blair, the Spurs were thought to be legimate title contenders. And while judging the Spurs from early regular season results are always a little foolhardy, it has to be a little worrisome that the team has struggled as much as it has. Part of the problem is defense, which has traditionally been a team strength. They rank 18th in the league in defensive efficiency, and at times, the team looks every bit as old as their league leading average age of 29.2 years indicates. But there are a host of reassuring things for Spurs fans. Their offense has been very good as virtually every player on the roster is an efficient scorer, and those who are inefficient now are spot up shooters like Roger Mason who should likely turn it around. The team has also been using their bench liberally, with no player averaging more than 33 mpg, keeping the legs fresher for the important games down the road.

Still nuts: Watch Ron Artest on the Jimmy Kimmel Show in nothing but his boxers and Jimmy Kimmel shaved in his head.