NBA Thus Far

NBA Thus Far

            With only three or so games gone so far in this young but exciting NBA season, already many things have come as a surprise. The Lakers aren’t going 82-0, but the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Nuggets, and Suns (seriously) still have a chance, all boasting undefeated records. Blake Griffin got injured…but he’s a Clipper and a first round pick, so that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, and much more, in this editions: Around the NBA…

            I recently read a stat that blew my mind, Carmelo Anthony, has played 114 minutes this season, and has scored 111 points. Now I understand, it’s not all about points to be considered an MVP candidate, (ie: Kobe averaging a near 36 a game a few seasons back) but ‘Melo is averaging 37.7 points, to go along with 4.3 assists, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game, while shooting a sizzling 54 percent from the field and has looked close to unstoppable in the Nuggets three victories, especially down the stretch. If the season were to end today, ‘Melo would walk away with the league’s MVP…

            All this talk about Blake Griffin has really been unfair to other rookies who are making a name for themselves in the NBA. One that has made sure to be included in the Rookie of the Year conversation is Brandon Jennings. In his debut NBA game, Jennings put up numbers of 17, 9 & 9. The only player to averages numbers even close to that in their debut NBA game was Oscar Robinson.  Jennings is averaging 20.5, 5.5 boards and 6 dimes with 1.5 steals and an efficient 52 percent from the field. Don’t be surprised to see Jennings, the Bucks leading assist and scorer, carry a majority of the load throughout the season, especially now with Michael Redd out at least two weeks nursing that injured knee.

            Rajon Rondo and the Celtics agreed in principle to a deal worth an estimated 55 million for 5 years. That’s better news for the Celtics than it is for Rondo, having locked up their triple threat point guard who definitely would have made big money in the 2010 free agency sweepstakes. Speaking of the 2010 free agency market…

            The Cavaliers have started out the season in a weak fashion, which is bad news for the city of Cleveland, and good news for the rest of the league. Lebron is the leading point, assist, and rebound man on his team, proving that any offseason acquisitions by the Cavs are not helping lessen the load on Lebron’s shoulders for an NBA titles. The Cav’s are definitely sweating about losing their superstar, who will be joining the likes of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, and many other superstarts. The teams fighting for the most salary cap room are the Knicks, Grizzlies, and the team that Cleveland should be most afraid of…

            The New Jersey Nets are flying under the radar until the 2010 market, where they are guaranteed to land at least one big name. Recently purchased by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, money is not going to be much of an issue for this team, who already has young building blocks in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. Not only is this team planning on moving to Brooklyn, New York, the big market that Lebron has been asking for, but rapper Jay-Z is also part time owner of the Nets. The same Jay-Z that has a developed friendship with Lebron, even going as far to record a rap song defending James in his feud with Washington’s DeShawn Stevenson. I still have my money on Lebron staying in Cleveland, but the Nets are definitely going to be one of the first to be knocking on Lebron’s door come 2010.